Cooper Levey-Baker has written about food, politics, civic issues, the arts, and music in Southwest Florida for 15 years. His work has won multiple awards from the Florida Magazine Association and the Florida Society of Professional Journalists, as well as an honorable mention from the Julia Child Foundation. Follow him on Twitter: @LeveyBaker.

Burning question

Asking for a Friend: Am I Supposed to Be Drinking in Public?

A hang session in Bayfront Park made me curious about the City of Sarasota's rules for drinking in public. Here's what I found out.

11/05/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Amendment 2

Florida's Minimum Wage Will Rise to $15

Low-wage workers and labor activists on Tuesday celebrated the passage of an amendment that will gradually raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour.

11/04/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Count the Votes

Sarasota's Supervisor of Elections Urges Calm While Waiting for Election Results

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner walks us through how his office will count the historic number of votes being cast this year.

11/02/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

What I've Learned

Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight Looks Back on His 33 Years in Law Enforcement

"We should be more on patrol, out in the community, around children, embedded in the community."

11/01/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Food news

The Bijou Cafe Reopens Next Week

In addition to in-person service, the restaurant will be offering online ordering and curbside pickup options.

11/01/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Food news

New Mid-Sarasota Five-O Donut Co. Opens Saturday

Customers can snag one free doughnut at the shop's soft opening event.

11/01/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Time Machine

The Best Seasonal Cocktails Take You Down Memory Lane

“Nostalgia is amazing if you can portray that through a cocktail,” says Made beverage director Spencer Taliaferro.

10/31/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Food news

Ellenton Restaurant to Host Special Family-Style Greek Dinner

Popi Ameres, the co-owner of Popi's Place, says she hopes the event will become a monthly affair.

10/29/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Food news

Downtown Mexican Restaurant Expands Lunch Service

El Melvin Cocina Mexicana is once again open for lunch on weekdays.

10/27/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

1st of tha Month

Lakewood Ranch Farmers' Market Returns This Weekend

The seasonal weekly market starts up again this Sunday, Nov. 1.

10/26/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

🍴🍷🍴🍷🍴🍷

Next Year's Forks & Corks Scheduled for April 29-May 3

Details of how next year's festival might function have not yet been worked out, but organizers say it is happening.

10/26/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

R.I.P.

Remembering Arthur Lopes

The widely respected Sarasota chef died last week after receiving a cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

10/20/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

New Data Shows Progress in the Effort to Help Babies Born Addicted to Opiates

Sarasota Memorial Hospital has changed how it treats babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome, and the results so far look promising.

10/19/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

End of an Era

Nancy's Bar-B-Q in Downtown Sarasota Is Closing

But don't fret: The restaurant's Lakewood Ranch location will remain open for business.

10/13/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Playing Fair

Weekend Festival Showcases Fair Food

A new event in Manatee County will give you the chance to eat all the funnel cakes and corn dogs you want, without even having to visit the fair.

10/13/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Drink Up

Set the Bar Event Celebrates Great Local Cocktails

Every day this week, participating bars and restaurants are serving special new drinks, offering discounts and more.

10/12/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Best beers

The Best Breweries in Sarasota-Manatee

With a dozen breweries to choose from, our region’s craft beer scene has never been better. Here's what's on tap.

10/07/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

That time of year

Two Local Farmers' Markets Start Up Again Wednesday

Sarasota's Phillippi Farmhouse Market and North Port's Atlanta Braves Farmers Market both return this week.

10/05/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Amendment 2

Should Florida Raise Its Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour?

Workers and labor advocates say people can't live on $8.56 an hour. Opponents say raising the state's minimum wage will hurt small businesses.

10/02/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Breaking

Lila Chef Opening New Pizzeria, Wine Bar

Lucile Pizza & Wine Bar will open just down the street from Lila in mid-November.

10/02/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker