First of all, someone has hijacked my car’s radio, because OH MY GOD: Katy Perry, Adele, Pitbull, Katy Perry, Adele, Pitbull. When you find yourself longing to rock out to some Ke$ha, you’re in sad, sad shape. (Never mind that I had Kid A in my CD player; the drive home from work demands mindless [...]

So, say you’re an archeologist from a thousand years in the future, and you came across this collection of things, laid out as an obvious tribute to a single person: Recipe box Long brown skirt Quiche, croissant and coffee (breakfast delivery) Purse White noise machine Shower clock Peanut butter cookies Maker’s Mark Homemade white pizza [...]

You’d think I’d be better prepared, but my birthday sneaks up on me more as an adult. Which I thought was a good thing—no more agonizing for the weeks and months waiting for it. Now it’s more like, “Oh, sweet, presents this weekend.” But then I think about whether or not I’ve checked off enough [...]

Start Thursday around noon, a barbecue joint: Jim ‘n Nick’s bustling Birmingham location for lunch with CCB’s oldest brother and a couple of former co-workers from the IT caves of Alabama military bases. I damn near succumb to the creamy, peppery cheddar-ness of a pimento cheese hamburger, but opt instead for the pulled pork plate, [...]

Siesta Key’s gold and silver rums. Coming very soon: a spiced variety. Some days, my job ain’t so bad. Like, for instance, last Thursday. I had to interview Troy Roberts for a Biz(941) story—just a little interview, easy enough to do over the phone. Except Troy is the founder/owner/operator/chief dishwasher at Drum Circle Distilling—makers of [...]

I told you! I TOLD YOU! Sunday’s much-anticipated quarterfinal World Cup match, U.S. versus Brazil, was epic, as the kids—and now, professional journalists—say. It had everything—highs, lows, heroes, villains, early scores, ridiculous calls, unconscionable time-wasting and, best of all, a literal last-minute, shorthanded comeback. Wow. I tried to write a slightly more detailed rundown than [...]

[Edited July 1 to add: I'm off on grand adventures (read: mowing the lawn) while our office is closed July 4-8; in the meantime, check out my latest entry in our Off-Season Survival Guide.] God bless the women’s World Cup—just the thing to spice up this stretch of spectator sport desert between the Stanley Cup Finals [...]

Big J sidled up to me on the treadmills at Uppercut on Monday, and we discussed our weekends while warming up (so to speak). “I dunno,” he sighed. “I just haven’t felt like doing much lately.” “Dude,” I said. “It’s the heat.” And then we proceeded to swing a sledgehammer in the steamy parking lot [...]

Two weeks ago we kicked off Savor Sarasota with a fantastic media tasting at Libby’s. Tuesday night could’ve been the capper, since our much beloved restaurant “week” officially ended on the 14th. But as of this writing, two-thirds of the participating restaurants have officially extended their three-course prix-fixe deals through to the end of June [...]

Ok, I really think I’m still having a crisis about turning 30, y’all. And that’s something, ‘cause I’m about to turn 32, so, y’know, ‘bout time to get over it. I had a dream the other night that took me through, as I told Web Editor Megan, all the stages of childbirth, “from labor to [...]