May 2007 Issue Best of 2007 Presenting 227 Great Reasons to Live In Sarasota Plus, The new Downtown Crowd Live With Comic Caroline Rhea Great New Restaurants & Party Pictures

Feature Stories Comedy Tonight  A snowstorm has delayed the headliner's flight, the crowd is small for the second show—but Les McCurdy has to keep the laughs coming at his North Trail comedy club. Pomp & Circumstance  New College graduates love tradition—but their tradition isn't the typical cap and gown. The Best of 2007  Presenting 227 great reasons to live in Sarasota. The Downtown Crowd  A stylish new generation is living, working and playing under the lights of our expanding city. Departments Before & After  Faux finishes bring real life to a Cherokee Park redo. Bring on the Barbecue  Finally, barbecue gets some local respect at Bradenton's Lee Roy Selmon's and from a great new caterer for backyard feasts. Fashion Statement: Eleana Najmy Hall  Spotted at the Butterfly Ball at G.WIZ. Forever Fit  They may not have discovered the Fountain of Youth, but baby boomers are learning how to defy the passing years. From the Editor  We editors pick our personal "bests" of 2007. Good Vibrations  Sand and sea provide the inspiration for this Siesta Key beach house redo. Homefront  Tips, trends and happenings from our advertisers. Made in Sarasota  Shawn O'Malley turns old building materials into brand-new treasures. May Events  Kay Kipling's guide to the month's best cultural and special events. Mr. Chatterbox  THIS MONTH: Mr. C unveils his new blog and a new award in his name. Natural Selection  An illustrator's notebook of Sarasota flora and fauna. This month: Sea grape. One Great Room  Outdoor living, island style. Real Estate Gossip  Everything you want to know about Sarasota luxury property sales. Sarasota's Design Trends  Enjoying the great outdoors, Sarasota-style. Shopping  Carol Tisch searches out the greatest new goods in town. This month: Southside Village, nesting tables and more. Street Talk  News, views and faces from the city beat. The Cheapskate's Travel Guide  We love traveling and we love first-class service. But we don't love paying first-class prices. The Human Touch  Thanks to John Nolen's inspired city plan, Venice has blossomed into a lovely—and livable—city. The Social Detective  Up & Coming