When we first met Tony D’Souza, 38, back in 2005, he was waiting tables at the old Metro Café on Osprey Avenue and about to publish his first novel, Whiteman, based on his experience with the Peace Corps in Africa’s Cote d’Ivoire.   Fast forward a few years and D’Souza has gone on to publish [...]

Congratulations to Alina Warner, who won our first-ever “Best of Sarasota Summer Fun” Pinterest contest! “Alina’s board showed a variety of iconic local images,” said Sarasota Magazine creative director Gigi Ortwein, “but at the same time had an interest mix of both current and retro-feeling photos.” Click here to view her winning board.    Alina [...]

    One of downtown Sarasota’s many landmark buildings includes the beautiful Sarasota Opera House. We love the light and angle of this photo.    Photo by Tim Gilbreath  

On New Year’s Eve of 1939, Jungle Gardens became Sarasota’s “most beautiful attraction,” according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.  Exotic plant species were brought in from all over the world, harmonizing with those indigenous to Florida and Sarasota. Since then, Jungle Gardens has hosted multiple events, including the Miss Florida pageants, and now holds bird and [...]

By Pam Daniel Like lots of other locals, I love to escape Sarasota summers for northern Michigan, where along with (usually) cooler temperatures you’ll find some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. Quiet roads wind through evergreen forests and along farms dotted with cherry orchards, and every now and then you’ll catch stunning glimpses [...]

Tuesday night found us—bliss!—at Libby’s, where congenial hosts Steve, Joe and Patrick Seidensticker treated us to a parade of summertime small plates that were huge on flavor. Our favorite: a toss-up between the “Besh” barbecued shrimp—a tasty little morsel served Creole-style with lemon-Worchestershire butter on garlic toast—and the Greek lamb micro-burger smothered in feta and [...]

Mindy, a golden retriever, looks happy to be relaxing on Venice’s Brohard Beach and Paw Park. Life as a dog doesn’t seem bad at all!   Photo by Stephenie Smith  

Many families of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus became closely allied with St. Martha’s Church during the mid-1900s. Because of that that, Monsignor Elslander and his altar boys routinely blessed circus trains each year before going on tour.  John Ringling North, pictured at right, was the president of the circus until he [...]

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  You’ve read the "Guide to Summer Fun" in our July issue–now we want to see what exemplifies the "Best of Sarasota Summer Fun" for YOU! From July 16 through July 30, create a Pinterest board that you think represents a perfect Sarasota summer–be it a burger, the beach or a baseball game. The best [...]