If you’ve been a regular reader of this column, you’ve probably gathered by now that one of my favorite golf course architects is Donald Ross, the legendary creator of Pinehurst in North Carolina, Oakland Hills in Michigan, Scioto in Ohio, and SaraBay in Sarasota. Well, nearby our great city, in Bradenton, is another wonderful course [...]

It’s the last Wednesday of the month, and some 30 women are huddled around tables at Sam Snead’s Tavern talking about life, love-and seahorses. They’ve been meeting for the last 15 years, and the group-all members of Sarasota High School’s class of 1952-calls itself the Seahorse Society. Gold, silver and sequined, seahorses dangle from their [...]

Forsaking his little start-up location in an uninspiring Sarasota strip mall off Clark Road, chef Darwin Santa Maria of Selva Grill (selva means jungle in Peruvian) has earned cheers from his faithful fans by moving to downtown Sarasota. Now he can feed the cool downtown crowds in a congenial indoor-outdoor setting. "Ceviche for everyone" could [...]

Every year, we ask our readers to choose "The Best of the Best" in all sorts of different categories. This year, you responded by nominating close to a thousand outstanding restaurants, shops and experiences in the Sarasota area. You’ll read about the top vote getters inside-more than 191 winners and finalists in all-but being the [...]

Much has been said in recent years about our apparent inability to prevent the loss of important elements of our architectural heritage. Examples such as the Lido Casino, the downtown Atlantic Coastline railroad station and the John Ringling Towers Hotel come to mind, but there are others to lament, including many residences. In addition, some [...]