Gourmet Grocery/Market

Morton's

Publix; Whole Foods

A trip to Morton's expands the horizons of your culinary universe. You go in to buy fish and bread; you walk out with imported pastas, exotic pâtés and artisan cheeses. Morton's also offers meals to go, fine wines and an outstanding bakery. The shopping is almost as delicious as the food itself.

Bakery

Publix

C'est La Vie; Morton's

Ever try to steer your cart past the bakery section at Publix without stopping? Those shelves and cases laden with fresh breads, pastries, petit fours, pies and specialty cakes cry out like sirens, urging you to indulge. Resistance is futile.

Ice Cream Store

Big Olaf

Cold Stone Creamery; Kilwin's

One of the best things about living in a warm climate: Ice cream is always a welcome treat. The folks at Big Olaf know this. This Sarasota-based business is expanding across Florida, with four locations here. The ice cream is made locally and comes in 36 tantalizing flavors, including brand-new Butterfinger Blast.

Martini

Chocolate Martini at Ca d'Zan at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

Chocolate Martini at Bonefish Grill; Espresso Martini at Fred's

The secret of master bartender Peter Whitely's chocolate martini? Instead of syrup, he uses chocolate ganache for an oh-so-smooth and creamy texture. Dessert or aperitif? One sip and it doesn't matter.

Happy Hour

Chili's

Bonefish Grill, Fred's

The art of happiness is alive and well at Chili's. The restaurant tempts us with no fewer than 10 varieties of margaritas, each more enticing than the last. Liquid libations include rum, Blue Curaçao, Midori, Cointreau, Chambord, Grand Marnier, mango juice, sour and grenadine and, si, tequila. Get happy!

ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

Performing Arts Group

Asolo Theatre Company

Florida Studio Theatre; Sarasota Ballet

This season 14 acclaimed productions were presented at the Asolo's Mertz and Cook theaters, including works by Harper Lee, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde and Joe Orton. Now in its 47th year, the Asolo Theatre Company plays a leading role in our reputation as a cultural capital.

Local Actor or Actress

Carolyn Michel

John Arnold; Dick Smothers

Michel is an actor's actor. She's also a director, a philanthropist and powerhouse of a human being. Now in her 15th season at the Asolo, she performs at other regional theaters as well.

Black-Tie Event

UnGala Gala

Florida Winefest & Auction Gala; Sarasota Film Festival Tribute Dinner

Although the UnGala Gala was founded 20 years ago as an antithesis to black-tie snootiness, it's now the hottest black-tie ticket in town. Set in the splendor of the Ringling Museum's courtyard, this glitzy October event kicks off Sarasota's social season and raises a heckuva lot of money for the museum.

Place to work out

YMCA

Gold's Gym; Shapes

The YMCA is not just about dumbbells. Sarasota's three locations offer everything from ballroom dance lessons to martial arts to yoga and massage therapy, so you really have no excuse not to join. Today!

Festival or Special Event

Sarasota Film Festival

Arts Day; Florida Winefest & Auction

Why go to Hollywood when we bring the stars to Sarasota? Founded in 1998, this annual event showcases more than 100 movies and the filmmakers, writers, producers and stars who create them during a week of films, discussions, community outreach and glamorous parties. Could Sarasota become the next Cannes? C'est possible.

Place to watch a performance

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

FSU Center for the Performing Arts; Florida Studio Theatre

Frank Lloyd Wright's style lives on in this airy, intimate, purple seashell of a hall, which presents a diverse schedule of programs every year and has probably convinced many a cultured Midwesterner to make Sarasota their Florida home.

Place for Live Music

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

5 O'Clock Club; Cà d'Zan at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

Where else but the Van Wezel can you experience Arlo Guthrie, Willie Nelson, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and Tony Bennett, all in the space of a few weeks? The Van Wezel's performance line-up is the epitome of eclectic.

Place to Play Tennis

University Park Country Club

The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort; Meadows Country Club

With 11 lighted Har-Tru courts, lush landscaping, a USPTA- and USPTR-certified tennis instructor, USTA and local tournaments played on-site, University Park Country Club has major game.

Place to Play Golf

University Park Country Club

Meadows Country Club; TPC at Prestancia

University Park's picturesque and challenging Ron Garl-designed course has been rated topnotch by major golf magazines. The course, surrounded by pine and oak trees, stretches to 7,247 yards with five sets of tees to accommodate players of all skill levels.

Museum

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

G.WIZ; South Florida Museum

The Ringling is not just about art on the walls, although its collection is world acclaimed. The Cà d'Zan mansion celebrates Venetian style gone tropical, and the Circus Museum roars with the art of the Big Top. Add courtyard concerts, cocktail gatherings, seminars and family programs, and you'll know why it's a Sarasota treasure.