Smooth Operator

New City Manager Karie Friling Prepares to Step Into City Hall

Friling, the first woman selected for the job, talks about growth, local control, stormwater, housing and why her first year will begin with listening.

04/29/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Suncoast Searchlight

Red Tide Turning Point? New Research, Policy Shifts Offer Hope

At Mote Marine Laboratory, researchers are testing treatments that have shown promise in reducing algae levels without harming marine life.

04/17/2026 By Josh Dunbar/Suncoast Searchlight

Suncoast Searchlight

Scientists to Discuss Suncoast Environmental Threats at Free Sarasota Panel

The conversation will offer a chance to hear directly from the scientists and advocates studying the region’s most pressing environmental challenges, from microplastics in local waters to the loss of natural habitats.

04/13/2026 By Derek Gilliam/Suncoast Searchlight

For Land's Sake

A Sarasota Environmental Program Has Saved Miles of Open Space From Bulldozers

But will voters renew it?

04/01/2026 By Brad Edmondson

Ice, Ice Baby

Where to Get a Great Mocktail in Sarasota

Zero-proof is here to stay, so meet for mocktails at these great restaurants.

03/18/2026 By Lauren Jackson

Hot, Hot, Hot

Updated! Sarasota's Best New Restaurants

An update of the new restaurants that stand out from the crowd.

02/12/2026 By Lauren Jackson

Nice Slice, Baby!

The Best Pizza in Sarasota

We tasted pizzas for weeks to bring you our 20 favorite pizza pie spots, from hole-in-the-wall strip-mall joints to fine-dining restaurants.

02/09/2026 By Cooper Levey-Baker and Lauren Jackson

Built to Last

2026 Heritage Awards Honor Those Slowing the Tide of Teardowns

This year's awards spotlight local architects, homeowners, researchers and craftspeople committed to keeping Sarasota's history intact.

01/14/2026 By Kim Doleatto

The Hot New Neighborhood

The Limelight District Is the Next Cool Place to Live

This gritty up-and-coming neighborhood is filled with manufacturers, secondhand stores and affordable housing. Bob Plunket takes us on a tour.

01/08/2026 By Robert Plunket

Love Letter

The Case for Loving Sarasota

A city that inspires as much debate as devotion is rarely boring.

01/05/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Downtown Report Card

Did Sarasota Pass or Flunk New Urbanism?

Twenty-five years after the much-buzzed-about master plan to remake downtown Sarasota, our readers grade the city’s progress.

01/05/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Best of Sarasota

Our 10 Most Popular Stories of 2025

Out of everything we published this year, here's what you clicked on most.

12/23/2025 By Megan McDonald

Best of 2025

Our Top Food Stories of 2025

This year, we covered everything you need to know about Sarasota's local farmers markets, the numerous ways agriculture is shaping the local food scene, how restaurants are recovering from last year's storms, and more.

12/22/2025 By Lauren Jackson