Sara Russo, curator at the Renee Foosaner Education Center in Melbourne, visits the Fritz van Eeden Gallery. Oil paintings by Jeff Filipski are hanging in the background. / MALCOLM DENEMARK/FLORIDA TODAY
Sara Russo, whom others may know as Sara Petrosky, is still getting used to her new last name.
The recent newlywed is a Brevard native who works as the curator of education at Florida Tech’s Foosaner Art Museum in the Eau Gallie Arts District. She nurtures her philanthropic spirit by volunteering with fundraising events, including Brevard Zoo’s Safari Under the Stars and Club Esteem’s Rock the Casbah.
We asked Sara to describe five things she’s wild about in Brevard. Here’s what she said.
1. Sundays at Wat Punyawanaram. Wat Punyawanaram is a Buddhist learning center and temple located in West Melbourne. The large, wooded property is peaceful and serene. Every Sunday, between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., vendors sell authentic Thai dishes in an open-air marketplace. The people are welcoming, the energy is positive and the foods are mouth-watering — especially the spicy pho.
2. Cosmic Café. Jason Reed owns and operates a mobile espresso bar in his retro ’50s Airstream trailer. His mobile coffee cart can be found at community events or it can be scheduled for your private party. If you love high-quality, organic coffee, seek out Cosmic Café. Jason is an excellent barista and keeps any event well-caffeinated.
3. Brevard Women’s Expo. Need to recharge and refresh? Visit the Brevard Women’s Expo. There are gourmet tastings from local restaurants, showcases of the area’s best beauty services, shopping, prize giveaways and more. It’s a fun way to spend the day with girlfriends and to learn about all of the businesses and organizations in the area that cater to the female demographic.
4. Biergarten at Coaster’s Pub. Coaster’s Biergarten combines many of the things I love: good food, artisan beers, being outdoors and flowers. The restaurant’s patio garden has grown into a lush oasis and is the perfect place for lunch, happy hour or dinner al fresco.
5. doTERRA essential oils. My mother recently introduced me to the life-enhancing benefits of essential oils through doTERRA. I’ve incorporated them into my daily routine and (have) seen noticeable improvements in my cognitive, physical and emotional self. There is a large network of doTERRA consultants in Brevard County and tons of educational opportunities. I love discovering new ways to detoxify my home and body with these amazing oils.