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.

Smoke Out

Brick's Smoked Meats Opens Downtown

Sarasota's newest barbecue restaurant, Brick's Smoked Meats, opened for lunch and dinner on Tuesday.

05/15/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Neighborhood Guide

Where to Live on St. Armands, Lido and Longboat Keys

Looking for a home on one of these beautiful keys? Here’s some inside info on neighborhoods to browse—and some of the neighbors, too.

05/15/2017 By Robert Plunket, Ilene Denton, Susan Burns, and Cooper Levey-Baker

Top shop

A Quick, Handy Guide to the Region's New Grocery Stores

We'll soon have four new grocery stores. Here's what to look for.

05/08/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Pollo Grill

Pollo Tropical's First Sarasota Location Opens

The chain started in Miami in 1988 and has since expanded around Florida and into Texas, Georgia and Nashville and has even set up shop in a number of Latin American and Caribbean spots.

04/26/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Breakthrough Bands

Catch Some Rising Musical Stars at the Harvey Milk Festival

The festival runs May 11-13 at Five Points Park in downtown Sarasota.

04/26/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

People Person

Populism Inspires Sarasota Resident Jerry Springer's TV Show—and His Politics

Springer estimates that he’s done 200 shows a year for 26 years, with an average of 10 guests a show, which means roughly 50,000 Americans have appeared on TV with him.

04/26/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Made in SRQ

PGT Makes Storm-Resistant Windows

The company can manufacture some of the biggest windows in the industry without sacrificing strength and stability.

04/26/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Fry High

Another New Downtown Doughnut Shop Is in the Works

Five-O Donut Co isn't the only new doughnut shop coming to downtown Sarasota.

04/20/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Neighborhood Guide

The Best Restaurants in Downtown Sarasota

From French to Vietnamese, there's something for every palate in downtown Sarasota.

04/18/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker and Staff

Smoke Shop

Brick's Smoked Meats Plans to Open Downtown

The new restaurant is billed as an homage to the cuisine of central Texas, with brisket, tacos and a bar that emphasizes bourbons and tequilas.

04/18/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Glaze of Our Lives

New Doughnut Shop Coming to East Ringling Boulevard

Christine Nordstrom's Five-O Donut Co is set to open next month.

04/05/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

The Fate of the Fresh

Plated Modern Kitchen: The Newest Addition to the Cooper Creek Shopping Plaza

The restaurant offers a customizable pick of roasted and braised meats, salads, sandwiches and sides.

03/31/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Made in Sarasota

Made in Sarasota: MosquitoPaQ Sunscreen and Repellant

Summer just got more bearable.

03/29/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Such a Deal

Sarasota's Best Meal Deals

25 dining destinations where a great meal costs $15 or less.

03/28/2017 Edited by Cooper Levey-Baker

Beer Me

Your Guide to Sarasota's Best Breweries

Craft beer lovers’ cups are running over with several new and newish breweries in the 941. We tour their taprooms and sample the suds.

03/28/2017 By Hannah Wallace

Seoul Power

Ssam Bar, a New Korean Restaurant, Opens on U.S. 301

Ssam Bar is growing the city’s Korean scene with a menu heavy on the peninsula’s classics and lunch platters that start at just $8.

03/27/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Whiskeytown

An Insightful, Fun, Somewhat Blurry Taste-Test of Downtown's Best Whiskey Drinks

Whiskey's everywhere these days, but who in Sarasota is pouring the good stuff?

03/20/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Meating Agenda

6 Boss Butcher Shops

Our guide to local meat spots that are a cut above.

03/15/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker and David Hackett

No Place to Call Home

The Growing Affordable Housing Crisis

We’ve compiled statistics to provide a snapshot of our affordable housing challenge and asked some experts to shed light on the growing crisis.

03/13/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker and Brad Baker

Time Is a Lie

Ethan Hawke Discusses Success, Failure, Art at Ringling College

"Feeling like you don't belong or there isn't a place for you is very common, and it's not permission to not take a step forward."

03/09/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker