Cooper Levey-Baker has written about food, politics, civic issues, the arts, and music in Southwest Florida for a decade. His work has won an honorable mention from the Julia Child Foundation and a Bronze Award for Best In-Depth Reporting from the Florida Magazine Association, and he was named a finalist for Best Public Service Reporting by the Florida Society of Professional Journalists. His fiction earned him a John Ringling Fund Individual Artist Fellowship from the Arts Council of Sarasota County and his rendition of "Drunk in Love" has left karaoke audiences throughout the region bewildered.

Hello, Mellow

New Pizza Spot Mellow Mushroom Opens on the South Trail

Whether you’re stoned and starving or just starving, check it out.

07/18/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

At Your Service

Hungry for Dinner, But Too Lazy to Leave the House? There's an App for That.

Here's the lowdown on three popular restaurant delivery apps.

06/27/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Female Factor

Kelly Romanoff Wants to Help Babies Thrive During Their First 1,000 Days

A child's first two years are crucial to his or her development. First 1000 Days Sarasota County wants to help make them the healthiest they can be.

06/27/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Female Factor

With Her Emerge Sarasota, Samantha Gholar Wants to Bring Together Minority Young Professionals

Emerge Sarasota began with a handful of members but has grown to about 80 participants who attend the organization’s social mixers, arts outings and volunteer and charity events.

06/27/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Female Factor

Erinn Muller is in a Race to Save Florida’s—and the World’s—Coral

Muller—one of a small percentage of women to get an advanced marine science degree—won a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at Mote that gave her two years to build her own coral research program.

06/27/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Back in Business

Season Two of Claws Starts June 10

The popular TNT drama is set in a fictional nail salon in Manatee County.

06/05/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Best Brews

The Beer-Obsessed Create Their Own Brews

The Homebrewers Association of Manatee & Sarasota boasts a thriving membership.

05/30/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Best Brews

The Local Craft Beer Scene Just Keeps Growing

The industry here has seen an explosion of interest, with 11 breweries right in Sarasota-Manatee.

05/30/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Best Brews

Our Craft Beer Scene Has Never Been Hotter

With 11 breweries, an active homebrewers club and thousands of beer fanatics, our region’s craft beer scene has never been better. Here's what's on tap.

05/30/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

A Brewing Controversy

Are Women Welcome in the Craft Beer World?

While 29 percent of employees in American breweries are women, just 4 percent of active breweries have a female brewmaster, according to one survey.

05/30/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Made in Manatee

General Pneumatics Airplane Escape Systems are Made in Manatee County

General Pneumatics’ products open emergency slides and rafts.

05/30/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Rising Star

Star Thai and Sushi Brings Izakaya Style to Siesta Key

The eatery serves a long list of Thai and Japanese classics, but you’ll also find less common noodle dishes like lad na, a more inventive than usual sushi menu and an impressive pick of Japanese whiskies.

05/29/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Cheap Eats

10 Bucks or Less: Sabrosa Kitchen + Bar

Sabrosa Kitchen + Bar satisfies cravings from breakfast until the bars close.

05/29/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Downtown Update

The Rosemary District Continues to Grow

Twenty-eight residential and commercial projects are on the books, half already built, in just three years.

05/16/2018 By Ilene Denton

Gyro Hero

10 Bucks Or Less: All Greek

Pitas stuffed with beef, lamb and pork are the main attraction at this newish Greek street food spot.

05/08/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Best of Sarasota 2018

Best New Food and Drink

Here's what we ate, drank and loved this year.

04/26/2018 Photography by Staff

Do The Math

How Much Has the Opioid Epidemic Cost Sarasota?

Sarasota is joining more than 400 cities, counties, states and Native American tribes that are pursuing legal action against companies like Purdue Pharma, the creator of OxyContin, and Endo Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Percocet.

04/26/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker