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.

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

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