A Star Is Born

The Literary World Is Finally Embracing Robert Plunket. Sarasota Has Known He's a Genius for Decades.

Earlier this month, New Directions Publishing reissued Plunket’s 1983 debut novel, "My Search for Warren Harding." Now new readers are discovering what we always knew.

06/21/2023 By Pam Daniel

Mr. Chatterbox

'My Weekend as a Tourist in Pinecraft'

What's a Sarasota vacation like for the Amish and Mennonites? Our humor columnist aims to find out.

06/05/2023 By Robert Plunket

Mr. Chatterbox Returns

Mr. Chatterbox Makes His Own List of Banned Books

Perhaps the following books once had some merit, but in these “woke” times they constitute a clear and present danger, and they need to be “canceled” ASAP.

05/10/2022 By Robert Plunket

Mr. Chatterbox

The Way We Were: Mr. Chatterbox, John D. MacDonald and the Herald-Tribune

To Mr. C, the paper’s greatest accomplishment is serving as literary muse to Florida’s greatest storyteller.

06/01/2020

Mr. Chatterbox

Mr. Chatterbox, Influencer for the Elderly

You've got to see it to believe it.

12/06/2019 By Robert Plunket

Mr. Chatterbox

Mr. Chatterbox Test Drives a Tesla and Sees the Future

It was like a ride at a theme park, Mr. C. says.

10/31/2019 By Robert Plunket

Mr. Chatterbox

Mr. Chatterbox's Five Favorite Sarasota Buildings

Taking a page from a popular Sarasota Herald-Tribune column, here are Mr. C's picks.

10/02/2019 By Robert Plunket

Mr. Chatterbox

Mr. Chatterbox Does Doping Duty at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships

The very integrity of the entire sport was in Mr. C's hands.

09/01/2019 By Robert Plunket

Mr. Chatterbox

Where Are Sarasotans Supposed to Retire?

Mr. C has a suggestion: Mount Dora.

08/01/2019 By Robert Plunket

Mr. Chatterbox

Mr. Chatterbox Throws His Hat in the Ring for President

Apparently it’s the latest smart career move when you’re stuck in a mid-level job, Mr. C. says.

07/01/2019 By Robert Plunket

Mr. Chatterbox

Mr. Chatterbox Reports on the End of the World

Is Mr. C the only one who is seriously getting worried that the world might end, like real soon?

05/30/2019 By Robert Plunket

Mr. Chatterbox

Sarasota's Weirdest Restaurants, According to Mr. Chatterbox

Shouldn't the weird get recognition, too? Mr. C. asks.

05/09/2019 By Robert Plunket

Inside Story

Mr. Chatterbox Talks with Tovah Feldshuh

Mr. C's old college friend is onstage here with Ed Asner in The Soap Myth, Tuesday, April 16.

04/11/2019 By Robert Plunket

Mr. Chatterbox

Mr. Chatterbox Returns to Havana

Sixty years after fleeing Havana during the Cuban Revolution, our humor columnist returns for the first time to the changed island nation.

04/02/2019 By Robert Plunket

40th Anniversary

The Best of Mr. Chatterbox: Mr. C. Breaks Major Political News, Pontificates on Art, and Attends Every Party He Gets Invited to and Quite a Few He Doesn’t

November 1986 was a busy month for Mr. C.

02/26/2019 By Robert Plunket

40th Anniversary

The Best of Mr. Chatterbox: A Night In the Life of Sarasota

There are eight million stories in the Naked City. Fortunately for us all, Mr. Chatterbox could only find about seven in Sarasota. Here they are. It’s Saturday, Feb. 7, 1987…

02/26/2019 By Robert Plunket