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.

Magnifique

New C'est La Vie! Opens Sept. 12

The new spot's menu will be 'exactly the same as the downtown location.'

09/02/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Sugar Shack

10 Bucks or Less: Paisano's Italian Bakery

An absurd array of edible articles at this Stickney Point sweet shop.

08/31/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Power Players

Meet the 25 Most Influential Men and Women in Sarasota Today

Each of the 25 power players on our list wields major clout in our community.

08/31/2016 By Susan Burns, Tony D'Souza, Pam Daniel, Ilene Denton, Kay Kipling, and Cooper Levey-Baker

Peculiar Child

How an Englewood Kid Dreamed Up the New Tim Burton Movie

Author Ransom Riggs says his Englewood childhood “fueled his imagination” and helped inspire his first novel, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.

08/31/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

In Town

Beach Boys' Brian Wilson Comes to Sarasota on Sept. 11 in Celebration of Pet Sounds

We asked Wilson about the 50th anniversary of Pet Sounds and his career.

08/31/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Flour Power

Bradenton's Flowers Baking Co. Produces Almost 2 Million Pounds of Bread Each Week

The bakery also goes through almost 59 million pounds of white and wheat flour each year.

08/31/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

The Feed

C'est La Vie and Jpan Open Second Locations Out East

Plus, news on downtown's new Lila and Boca Kitchen and Bar and the sudden glut of burgers in this town.

08/30/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Batch-elor in Paradise

10 Bucks or Less: Jim's Small Batch Bakery

You had me at "candied bacon."

08/24/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Out for Blood

Zika Has Landed

The disease is just the latest threat in Florida’s long-running war against mosquitoes.

08/22/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker Photography by Everett Dennison

Where Eagles Dare

What It's Like to Ride an Olympics BMX Course

Olympic champions competing in Rio were training at Sarasota's BMX track last week. We decided to join them.

08/18/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker Photography by Salvatore Brancifort

Biscuits and Grits and Toast, Oh My

New Southern Food Hangout Coming Soon to East Sarasota

The husband and wife team behind Buttermilk Handcrafted Food hopes to open the restaurant within the next couple weeks.

08/17/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Truck Tales

10 Bucks or Less: Happy Hour Cafe

Sampling Venezuelan street food in a gas station parking lot.

08/16/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

So. Many. Hamburgers.

10 Bucks or Less: BurgerFi

Does this new chain have what it takes to stand out in a crowded meat market?

08/10/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Gimme S'more

Try These Gourmet Takes on a Classic S'more

Happy National S'mores Day! Here are two ways to make a great dessert even better.

08/01/2016 By Megan McDonald

Gentle into the Night

Tidewell Hospice Workers Help People Die Peacefully

You might think working with dying patients would be draining and depressing. Those at Tidewell Hospice say you'd be wrong.

07/29/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

After Orlando

Fear and Resilience at a Sarasota Gay Bar

Patrons of Barrel 87, one of Sarasota's last remaining gay bars, come together after the tragic shooting in Orlando.

07/29/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Mushroom Cloud

Gulf Coast Mushrooms Grows Edible Fungi in Gillespie Park

An unorthodox trio of growers explores the mysteries of fungi.

07/29/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Bodega bites

10 Bucks or Less: La Sabrosura

Tucked away in the back of this north 301 market, you'll find tacos, tortas, quesadillas, gorditas and assorted antojitos.

07/27/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

The Breakfast Club

10 Bucks or Less: Keke's Breakfast Cafe

This Florida mini-chain does breakfast sandwiches right.

07/20/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Burger King

Has the Shakespeare's Burger Gone Downhill? An Investigation

Just give me my damn Pulitzer already.

07/19/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker