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.

Flight Club

A Group of Local Kids Gather Every Saturday to Build Real, Working Airplanes

In addition to encouraging young people with an interest in aviation, the Teen Aircraft Factory of Manasota is also aimed at helping at-risk kids.

12/31/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Best of the Year

Our 10 Most Popular Stories of 2019

MTV's Siesta Key, red tide, the new Sarasota Art Museum and more topped the list this year.

12/30/2019 By Megan McDonald

Staycation special

Your New Sunday Splurge: Brunch & Brushes at the Art Ovation Hotel

This fun weekly event lets you stuff yourself silly, then hang out in the hotel's rooftop pool.

12/20/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Deep impact

An Early Childhood Development Expert Explains How Trauma and Stress Can Derail a Kid's Life

Mimi Graham is the director of Florida State University’s Center for Prevention & Early Intervention Policy and advises agencies and nonprofits all around the state, including here in Sarasota.

12/19/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Good Luck Charm

Cotechino and Lentils Is the Delicious New Year's Tradition You Deserve

What's so special about this simple, luxurious meal? The memories.

12/19/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Pork for Your Fork

Family Farm Brings Its Pork to the Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market

At Sarasota's Tatum Ridge Farms, teamwork makes the dream work.

12/18/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Finally

New Main Street Coffee Shop Opens

O & A Coffee and Supply, the brick-and-mortar outpost of Justin Banister's mobile coffee cart Out and About Coffee, is open for business.

12/12/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Rescue Mission

Taste of Asia Nearly Closed Down for Good. Thank Goodness It Didn’t

While keeping its menu intact, the restaurant has made slight changes to how it does business.

12/09/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Cancel all other plans

Season Three of MTV's Siesta Key Starts Jan. 7

The popular Sarasota-set reality TV show is back.

12/05/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Copy and paste

Selva to Add Second Location Near University Town Center Mall

After 15 years in business, the ever-popular Sarasota restaurant Selva is expanding.

12/05/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Sky's the limit

New Oak & Stone Restaurant Opens

When completed, the new downtown Bradenton location will offer nice views of the Manatee River.

12/02/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Horse Power

Sarasota-Manatee Is Becoming a Destination for the Equestrian Set

Florida is big horse country.

12/02/2019 By Susan Burns, Hanna Powers, Hannah Wallace, Cooper Levey-Baker, and Kay Kipling

Plant This

A Venice Beautification Project Helps Fight Climate Change

When completed, the new Venice Urban Forest will cover nearly 1.8 miles and provide shelter for insects, birds and other animals.

12/02/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Müv-ing Up

A Retired Lakewood Ranch Executive Is a Major Player in the Smoking-Hot Cannabis Industry

“We’re real pioneers,” Michael Smullen says, “but we’re just scratching the surface of what this could really look like.”

12/02/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Horse Whisperers

These Three Pros Help Horses Perform Their Best

Yes, even horses need therapists.

12/02/2019 By Hannah Wallace, Kay Kipling, and Cooper Levey-Baker

Ugly Delicious

'Ugly Produce' Delivery Company Begins Shipping to Florida

Misfits Market brings food that's not aesthetically pleasing enough for the grocery store right to your doorstep.

11/18/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Storage

New South Sarasota Detwiler's Farm Market Opens Wednesday

The store will hold a ceremonial 'cutting of the pie,' and the first 500 customers will get a gift card worth between $5 and $500.

11/18/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

10 Bucks or Less

Rincon Cubano Excels at the Basics of Habanero Cuisine

Rincon Cubano translates as “Cuban corner,” and that gets right to the heart of what this restaurant is all about.

11/06/2019 By Staff

Sip, baby, sip

Forks & Corks Tickets Go on Sale Monday

The 2020 Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival is scheduled to take place Jan. 23-27.

10/31/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Eastward bound

New Libby's in Lakewood Ranch Opens Today

The new eatery will ape the menu and ambiance of the Sarasota location and seat 189 between its indoor and outdoor spaces.

10/31/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker