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.

Article

10 Bucks Or Less: World Bites Kafe

Cheap global street food at the North Trail eatery that has replaced Big E's.

01/22/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Article

10 Bucks Or Less: Sonic

Cheeseburgers, "waffleberries" and nostalgia make for a powerful combo.

01/14/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Space Race

Corporate Meetings Bring Big Business to Sarasota-Manatee

Corporate meetings are big business.

01/11/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Article

Two Sundance Films Revisit an On-Air Sarasota Suicide

Christine Chubbuck’s hair-raising on-air suicide has inspired not one, but two new films.

01/07/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Article

10 Bucks Or Less: Maximillian's Café

Maximillian's may have achieved peak brownie.

01/07/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Article

How to Sound Smart About The Mobility Plan

The county commission is motoring ahead on its new mobility plan.

01/01/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Here We Grow

Anna Maria Island's Building Boom Sparks a Civil War

On once-quiet and charming Anna Maria Island, developers and longtime residents are battling over growth. What's ahead for this piece of paradise?

01/01/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Article

10 Bucks Or Less: Camacho's Best Tacos

Life-altering burritos served out of the back of a pickup truck.

12/30/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Food and Drink Events

Seven-Chef Dinner Showcases Sustainable Meat

Local chefs are gathering Dec. 14 to promote the use of organic meat that comes from ethically and sustainably raised animals.

12/10/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Breaking Food News

New Nancy's Bar-B-Q Opens Next Week

The second Nancy's Bar-B-Q opens in Lakewood Ranch next week, with a name that distinguishes it from the downtown original: Li'l Nancy's at the Ranch.

12/08/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Beach Eats

Our Concession Stand Favorites

Where to grab grub on the beach.

12/01/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker Photography by Chad Spencer

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Tourism Beat: Vow Factor

Destination weddings boost the local tourism economy.

10/30/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker

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Tourism Beat: Where's Waldo?

New technology allows us to know where the tourists go and what they do.

09/04/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Real Estate

Rosemary Rising

With eight new planned projects, Sarasota's Rosemary District's long-delayed promise may be coming true.

09/04/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker Photography by Everett Dennison

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Tourism Beat: Heat Wave

Summer tourism continues to sizzle in Sarasota.

06/15/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Article

Suncoast Waterkeeper Executive Director Justin Bloom on Our Region's Water Problems

Suncoast Waterkeeper executive director Justin Bloom shares his thoughts on the problems our Gulf and bay face.

06/11/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Article

A Look at Benderson Development Company's Impact on our Region

A by-the-numbers look at the real estate giant's presence in Sarasota and Manatee.

05/04/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Article

Should Government Provide Economic Incentives to Businesses?

Plus, this month's Vintage Sarasota and what we overheard at a Tiger Bay Club debate.

04/30/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Article

Tourism Beat: Protect Your Rep

Customer reviews can be fatal, so manage your digital shadow.

04/01/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Article

Our Town: Sarasota Community News, March 2015

Hot topics, talk and history.

02/27/2015 By Cooper Levey-Baker