Sarasota Stories: Places, People & Events
Spotlights from the Sarasota Scoop newsletter: the restaurants, people, festivals, and institutions that make Sarasota worth knowing.
November 3, 2026
The Sarasota Medieval Fair Turns 50
The Sarasota Medieval Fair opens its 2026 season Saturday, and Sarasota Magazine is marking this one as the fair's 50th anniversary. The gates open at…
October 27, 2026
The BMX World Cup Comes to Tuttle Avenue
This weekend, more than 400 riders from over 25 countries race in the final two rounds of the 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Cup, and they're doing it at…
October 20, 2026
The Bay Turns Four
The Bay opened in October 2022, and this month the city is throwing it a birthday party: more than 70 events running through Nov. 1 under the banner "One…
October 13, 2026
The Sarasota Ballet Celebrates 20 Years of Iain Webb
On Oct. 23, The Sarasota Ballet opens its 20th season under director Iain Webb. Program One runs through Oct. 25 at the FSU Center for the Performing…
October 6, 2026
Stone Crab Season Opens Oct. 15
Stone crab season opens Thursday, Oct. 15, and runs through May 1. Starting that week, claws start showing up again in fish-market cases and on menus…
September 28, 2026
The Downtown Sarasota Craft Festival Turns 30
On Oct. 17 and 18, the Downtown Sarasota Craft Festival sets up at Five Points Park for the 30th time. White tents will run along Central Avenue and…
September 22, 2026
Mimi's Brasserie & Speakeasy
If a French brasserie with a hidden speakeasy in the back sounds like something out of a movie, that's more or less what Mimi's is going for — and…
September 15, 2026
V&Co Pizzeria
If your pizza standards were set somewhere north of Jersey, point the car at Fruitville Commons. V&Co Pizzeria opened there in July in the former Irma’s…
September 8, 2026
The Sarasota Opera Food & Wine Festival
Circle Saturday, September 26: the Sarasota Opera Food & Wine Festival returns to the Opera House on Pineapple Avenue, and it’s one of the more…
September 1, 2026
Summon the Heroes
Next Thursday, September 10, the Sarasota Orchestra and the Van Wezel mark 25 years since September 11 with Summon the Heroes — one evening of music…
August 25, 2026
The Labor Day Regatta
On Labor Day weekend, hundreds of sailors from across the U.S. and Canada point their bows toward City Island for the 78th Annual Labor Day Regatta,…
August 11, 2026
Venice Turns 100
Venice is celebrating its hundredth birthday, and the exhibit built for the occasion is entering its final stretch. "Venice Turns 100!" has been running…
July 28, 2026
Alma de España
Every so often a kitchen opens here with a résumé that stops you cold. Alma de España, tucked into a small Southside Village storefront on Osprey Avenue,…
July 21, 2026
Delany's Public House
Lakewood Ranch has spent years building the kind of Main Street that fills up on a Friday night, and this week it gets something it hasn't had before: a…
July 14, 2026
El Greco Kitchen & Market
Some comebacks take twenty years. From 1990 to 2007, El Greco Cafe held down the corner of Main and Orange downtown, run by George Soublis, who came over…
July 7, 2026
Lovely Square
Tucked into a Gulf Gate storefront on Gateway Avenue, Lovely Square is the kind of place you'd drive right past if you didn't know better. The exterior…
June 30, 2026
Crab & Fin on St. Armands Circle
Some restaurants chase trends. Crab & Fin has spent nearly fifty years doing the opposite, serving fresh seafood at white-tablecloth tables on St.…
June 23, 2026
Manatee Village Historical Park Turns 50
This July, one of the area's quietest treasures hits a big round number. Manatee Village Historical Park turns 50, and it's throwing a party on Saturday,…
June 16, 2026
Your Fourth of July Game Plan
The Fourth is still a couple of weekends out, but it's the one worth planning ahead for, and this year there's a little more reason to. 2026 marks…
June 9, 2026
The Summer Circus Spectacular
There is a reason "circus" and "Sarasota" belong in the same sentence. This was the Ringling circus's winter home for decades — the place where the big…
June 2, 2026
Sarasota Music Festival Turns 61
Every June, Sarasota becomes a landing spot for some of the most promising young classical musicians in the world, and the master artists who teach them.…
May 26, 2026
Savor Sarasota Restaurant Weeks
Circle June 1. That's when Savor Sarasota kicks off its 21st year: two full weeks, June 1 through 14, of prix-fixe deals at restaurants all over the…
May 19, 2026
Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week
If you have been waiting for an excuse to plan a couple of nice nights out, here it is. Savor Sarasota is back for its 21st year from June 1 through June…
May 12, 2026
Memorial Day Weekend in Sarasota
Memorial Day weekend is the one stretch on the Sarasota calendar that quietly runs end to end — Saturday on foot across the Ringling Bridge, Sunday…
May 5, 2026
Sea Turtle Nesting Season
If you've taken a sunrise walk on Lido or Siesta lately, you've probably noticed the new yellow stakes and pink flagging tape going up along the dunes.…
April 28, 2026
Allswell
Out at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch, there is a new addition worth a Friday night. Allswell is relatively new on the scene and already feels like…
April 21, 2026
L’Opera Bakery
Step inside and the smell hits you first: warm butter, fresh bread, espresso pulling behind the counter.
April 7, 2026
The 28th Sarasota Film Festival
The Sarasota Film Festival kicks off Friday, April 10 and runs through April 19, and this year's edition is one of the bigger ones in recent memory: 47…
March 31, 2026
New Restaurant Wave
Handful of new spots are opening across Sarasota right now, and they couldn't be more different from each other. A bagel shop on the Key, a Japanese fine…
March 17, 2026
100 Years on Pineapple Avenue
A hundred years is a long time for any building. It's an especially long time in Florida, where things tend to get torn down, blown over, or turned into…
December 16, 2025
Bad Ass Coffee
This week, I stopped by Bad Ass Coffee over in Lakewood Ranch. I immediately knew they had something special going on. The line was nearly out the door.
December 2, 2025
Kuro Sushi Review
After three straight days of leftover turkey, I needed a hard reset. We headed over to Main Street in Lakewood Ranch to try the new Kuro Sushi spot, and…
November 25, 2025
Sarasota Scoop Giveaway
🚨 Winner winner, chicken dinner!! 🚨
November 4, 2025
Make your voice heard!
Hello loyal readers of the Sarasota Scoop! As you know, I’m always looking for ways to improve the content of the Scoop.
September 30, 2025
Athens Family Restaurant
Athens Family Restaurant is one of those spots where friends had recommended checking it out but I kept putting it off. I finally got over there last week.
September 23, 2025
Sarasota Scoop Brewery Guide
ICYMI!! Missed last week’s newsletter? Check out our new Brewery Guide!
September 9, 2025
9/11 & Sarasota
Thursday marks the 24th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/1/2001. Sarasota has an unfortunate connection to the attacks that day that many don’t…
August 26, 2025
Enjoy the long weekend!
Take the weekend to go slow and enjoy the down time.
August 12, 2025
Sun King Sarasota
Last week, I stopped by Sun King Sarasota as I continue to build out the Scoop’s Guide to Sarasota Breweries.
August 5, 2025
Capo Pizza
I swung by Capo Pizza the other night and I was wowed.
July 29, 2025
BigTop Brewing Co
First stop on the Sarasota Scoop brewery tour… BigTop Brewing Co.
July 15, 2025
Decide the Next Sarasota Scoop Guide
**Answer only if you didn’t vote last week**
June 24, 2025
Breaking Wave Coffee
If you're downtown and need a quick caffeine fix, Breaking Wave Coffee is a great choice.
June 17, 2025
Classico Italian Chophouse
I stopped into Classico this Saturday while walking around after the farmer’s market.
June 10, 2025
Sarasota Orchestra Music Festival
The Sarasota Orchestra present the Sound of Summer.
June 3, 2025
Savor Sarasota
I haven’t ever spotlighted something twice, but Savor Sarasota is worth it.
May 20, 2025
Honor the Fallen 🇺🇸
Memorial Day is a special opportunity to honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice.
May 13, 2025
Mademoiselle Cafe & Bakery
Mademoiselle Cafe & Bakery is one of the better breakfast spots in town, especially if you’re into breakfast pastries.
April 29, 2025
Spotlight Activity: Day Trip to Dakin Dairy Farm
If you haven’t been to Dakin Dairy Farms yet, it’s worth the short drive east. Tucked away in Manatee County, this family-run operation has been going…
April 8, 2025
Summer House
The Summer House is one of those spots that just works.
March 25, 2025
Restaurant Spotlight: Percoco’s: Hyatt Hotel Update & Percoco's Pizza
I first mentioned Percoco’s about a month ago, but we’ve had so many readers join since then that I wanted to highlight them again.
March 18, 2025
Dancing at Lughnasa
📍Asolo Repertory Theatre | 🔗 details
March 11, 2025
Celebrate St. Patty’s Day
This weekend, Sarasota will be alive with all-kinds of fun celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day.
March 4, 2025
97th Annual Arcadia Rodeo
📍Mosaic Arena, Arcadia
February 25, 2025
Percoco’s 🍕🍝
Over in Lakewood Ranch, Percoco's Pizza & Pasta has quickly become a local favorite.
February 18, 2025
Spring Training Openers
Spring training is here, bringing Major League Baseball back to the Suncoast.
February 11, 2025
Valentine’s Night Out
Looking for the perfect spot for a memorable night out? Whether you're planning a special Valentine's Day dinner or just craving an exceptional meal,…
February 4, 2025
Where to Watch the Super Bowl
Looking for the best place to catch the big game? Whether you're after a lively crowd, great food, or plenty of screens, these local spots have you…
January 28, 2025
Restaurant Spotlights: Vino Vino: Airport Updates & Favorite Italian Spot
📍 2063 Siesta Dr, Sarasota
January 21, 2025
Event Spotlights: Forks & Corks: Gulf of America? & Arts + Wine Festivals
Since 2008, Forks & Corks has been showcasing the talents of locally-owned restaurants.
January 14, 2025
Restaurant Spotlights: Luxury Condo Construction & $210M+ in Recovery Funding
Pizza isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Sarasota.
January 7, 2025
Restaurant Spotlights: Construction Watch: Two Major Projects Move Forward
📍 1301 6th Ave, Bradenton
December 31, 2024
Restaurant Spotlights: Cold & Closed: Cold Snap Coming to SRQ
This week feature’s College Football’s first ever Quarterfinal round, which means New Year’s day is packed full of football.
December 24, 2024
Restaurant Spotlights — Fine Dining: Sarasota Housing Slowdown (And Why That's Good News)
When you need the perfect spot to celebrate a special occasion, Sarasota offers some exceptional options.
December 17, 2024
Restaurant Spotlights: 10 More Christmas Activities Before the 25th
📍 1551 Main Street Sarasota
December 10, 2024
Restaurant Spotlights: Turtle Power: $10.5K Donation Lights Up Local Conservation Efforts
📍 1301 6th Ave, Bradenton
December 3, 2024
Event Spotlight: Best Things To Do in SRQ: 12/4 - 12/8
📍 Florida Railroad Museum, Parrish
November 26, 2024
Restaurant Spotlight: Best Things To Do in SRQ: 11/27 - 12/1
📍Sarasota