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.

Handcrafted Success

JMX Brands CEO Jim Miller Shares His Strategy for Success

Jim Miller's fast-growing JMX Brands uses technology to sell Amish furniture.

04/22/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker Photography by Evan Sigmund

Law & Order

Watch Jim's Small Batch Bakery on The People's Court

Jim Plocharsky of Jim's Small Batch Bakery in Gulf Gate made a surprise appearance on daytime TV.

04/22/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Street Meat

Food Truck Rally Intended to Call Attention to Restrictive County Rules

SRQ's First Food Truck Rally runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday.

04/20/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Beef chief

10 Bucks Or Less: BrewBurger's Pub and Grill

Burgers, burgers and burgers at this Venice hangout.

04/15/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Local Motion

Local-Focused Tampa Restaurant Chain Coming to Downtown Sarasota

Boca Kitchen Bar Market is planning to open on Lemon Avenue, just south of Main Street

04/08/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Lovely 'Rito

10 Bucks Or Less: Poppo's Taqueria

From small Anna Maria spot to burgeoning mini-chain, Poppo's has stayed consistent.

04/08/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Get Wild

20 Great Local Outdoor Adventures

Hike! Bike! Paddle! Camp!

04/05/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Family Matters

How To: Camp With Kids

Don’t forget to pack the kids.

04/05/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Meat Me

Renowned Cookbook Author Visits Sarasota

Love cured meat and literary fiction? Michael Ruhlman's talk Friday evening at Bookstore 1 is right up your alley.

04/05/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Cozy Campers

Vintage Campers Make a Comeback

Walter Sayers restores old trailers with Second Chance Camper Restoration.

04/04/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Into the Wild

Five Overnight Adventures for Campers Old and New

Whether you're a seasoned pro or it's your first time out, our region offers camping experiences for everyone.

04/04/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Put Your Oar In

Five Local Aquatic Adventures for Kayakers, Canoers and Paddleboarders

From lazy canoe rides to after-dark paddleboard excursions, there's something for everyone.

04/04/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Hoppy Days

Calusa Brewing Opens North of Clark Road

Calusa Brewing Co. joins Sarasota’s flourishing craft beer scene.

04/01/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Cheers

5 Things I Learned About Whiskey From Last Night's Whiskey Obsession Expert Panel

Wood matters, dynamite helps and other vital lessons from last night's whiskey tasting.

04/01/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

The Feed

Sol's NYC Deli Opens in Former Downtown Applebee's Space

Plus, Kickstarting a local restaurant's dreams of expansion, barbecue news and more dining dish from Cooper Levey-Baker.

03/31/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Dandy corn

10 Bucks Or Less: Mariscos Azteca Mexican Seafood Restaurant

Splendid sopes and huaraches in a shopping center right near Ed Smith Stadium.

03/31/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Get sipping

Whiskey Obsession Festival Appeals to Fanatics, Newbies Alike

Love Kentucky bourbon? Decades-old Scotch? Iowa rye? You'll find it all on the Obsession festival's mammoth list of pours.

03/29/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Bring the Cane

How Sugar Cane Syrup Fueled the Growth of One Manatee County Neighborhood

A new historical marker details the role an Alabama food company played in the founding of Whitfield Estates.

03/24/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Willkommen!

10 Bucks Or Less: Geier's Sausage Kitchen

A small corner grill at this South Trail specialty food store serves up classic German meats.

03/24/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

If It Bleeds

Movie About On-Air Sarasota Suicide Screens at Film Festival April 2 and 3

Kate Plays Christine comes to Sarasota after winning a special jury award at January's Sundance Film Festival and earning rave reviews from a number of critics.

03/23/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker