Hidden until recent years from Western eyes, this Mies van der Rohe 1930 modern masterpiece is now a museum in Brno, the Czech Republic. In this penetrating documentary, architect Paul Finfer and filmmaker June Finfer visit the unique home and reveal the story of the wealthy family that had it built, and their relationship to the architect. Featuring interviews with the Tugendhat daughter, architectural historian Daniela Tugendhat in Vienna, and the nanny in London who raised the children in the home, the 50 minute documentary also includes comments by colleagues and students of Mies who have visited the home.

Martie Lieberman worked with friends and volunteers to start the Sarasota Architectural Foundation after creating a five-day tour and symposium called An American legacy: The Sarasota School of Architecture in 2001 when she was president of the Fine Arts Society. Over 1000 people came to Sarasota to meet the original architects and tour the houses, churches and schools they created. Martie has worked hard to put together an amazing tour for us of her all-time favorites. Martie's website is: www.modernsarasota.com

Saturday: We will tour Sarasota modern architecture tucked away on barrier islands (Siesta Key, St Armands, Lido Shores) and mainland Sarasota, designed by mid-century modern architects including Ralph Twitchell, Paul Rudolph, Seibert Architects, Bert Brosmith, William Rupp and Carl Abbott. Our last stop is a cocktail party at the Rupp / Holladay house with Samuel Holladay, AIA, Principal of Seibert Architects: Rupp / Holladay House, William Rupp 1960, renovated Seibert Architects 2006

Sunday: Our Tour goes to Lakeland and Winter Haven Florida. We'll visit Frank Lloyd Wright's largest body of work at Florida Southern College (please bring walking shoes). In the afternoon, meet Gene Leedy FAIA, and tour his modern houses in Winter Haven. Our last stop is Lakeland House by Mark Hampton, for a cocktail party by the pool, hosted by Andrew Weaving and Ian Thomasson, with book-signing for Weaving's Living Retro and Sarasota Modern.

$200 per person includes both days of touring, including pickup to/from the host hotel. We will travel in multiple passenger vans. Participants will be responsible for their own arrangements and costs of airfare, hotel, meals, and transport to/from the airport. The tour will pickup passengers at the host hotel both mornings and return them to the host hotel in the evening.

Sample airfare, available as of March 16 via Expedia, on Delta from Chicago to Sarasota, connecting through Atlanta, $232 per person round trip. This is an example only. Check with your preferred ticketing service or travel agent for the best options currently available and book your own tickets.

Host hotel TBA, possibly the Hotel Indigo on Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota Florida is $129 per night (plus 11% tax) May 1,2,3 CBB Modern Sarasota Tour group rate. (usually $168 to $189) Hotel Indigo will block off rooms if we choose their hotel, and will honor $129 rate to April 1. Hotel Indigo has FREE shuttle to and from SRQ airport every half-hour. If we hear from you all soon, we can get things booked quickly enough to hold this rate.

If you want to know more or reserve a space, please reply to this email before March 24th and we will get you further info.