SARASOTA/BRADENTON - Florida

—COOPER LEVEY-BAKER

Go Shop

BOOGIE WOOGIE
3404 Clark Rd • 941-921-7410
www.myspace.com/boogiewoogie1
This labyrinthine CD shop continually turns up treasures from every genre under the sun. Before paying up, you can give any disc a free spin at one of the store’s convenient listening stations.

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA FARMERS’ MARKET
Lemon Ave btwn 1st St and Pineapple Ave 941-951-2656, ext 2
www.sarasotadowntown.com
Every Saturday between 7am and noon, residents flock to this outdoor street market, which features locally grown produce, freshly caught seafood and a host of crafts and specialty items.

EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL
430 Central Ave • 941-954-8800
www.shopebtg.com
Stop by this women’s clothing store and you’re all but guaranteed to leave with something one of a kind. Owner Laura Daniel Gale presents fun, inventive and often handcrafted pieces by local artisans.

SARASOTA NEWS & BOOKS
1341 Main St • 941-365-6332
www.sarasotanewsandbooks.com
A downtown institution, Sarasota News & Books is the perfect place to start your day. Browse the incredibly rich selection of newspapers from around the globe and settle in for a long, leisurely wake-up.

Go See

G.WIZ
1001 Blvd of the Arts • 941-309-4949
www.gwiz.org
A great place to bring the kids, G.WIZ features both permanent and traveling interactive exhibits on every subject from dinosaurs to magnetism to the energy conservation, all of which aim to make science fun and engaging.

THE JOHN AND MABLE RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART
5401 Bay Shore Rd • 941-359-5700
www.ringling.org
The grand old dame of the Sarasota arts community displays its extensive collection of Renaissance and Baroque works year-round, but don’t miss this month’s groundbreaking exhibition of visual art by the Cuban avant-garde. It’s held in the museum’s sumptuous new wing.

MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS
811 S Palm Ave • 941-366-5731
www.selby.org
Over the last three decades, the Selby garden has expanded from seven to 13 acres and now claims a plant collection numbering more than 20,000. It is a natural oasis just minutes from Main Street.

MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARK
13208 State Route 72 • 941-361-6511
www.myakkariver.org
East of Sarasota proper, this state park sprawls more than 50 square miles of lush, verdant territory. Kayak, hike or camp in a setting that reminds visitors of what all of Sarasota was once like.

SIESTA BEACH
900 Beach Rd, Siesta Key • 941-861-1602
www.siestakeychanber.com
If there’s one reason why this beach is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful in the world, it’s the powder-soft sand. It’s so pure white that it never gets hot.

Go Eat

MAISON BLANCHE
2605 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Longboat Key 941-383-8088
Chef Jose Martinez serves refined and mouthwatering French creations in the sleek modernist dining room of Maison Blanche. Short ribs and sweetbreads are impeccable, but Martinez also excels with the delicate flavors of the sea. $$$$

CAFÉ EPICURE
1298 Palm Ave • 941-366-5648
www.sarasota-italian.com/_epicure/e-main.htm
Epicure prepares authentic, delicious pasta dishes in an unfussy atmosphere. Round out your meal with dessert from the neighboring gelateria, which serves the best ice cream you’re likely to find in town. $$

D & R BARBECUE
2719 18th St • 941-951-0632
Every Saturday morning, Dale Hill and company roll up to a nondescript Sarasota street corner and break out the barbecue, smoking some of the finest ribs in town. Zero ambiance, but the scent alone is downright heavenly. $$

BEAN STALK MARKET GRILL
2324 Gulf Gate Dr • 941-927-3838
One of the best places to catch lunch on the south side of town, the Bean Stalk features fresh re-workings of old favorites like meatloaf and burgers, as well as vegetarian specialties. $$

HOB NOB DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT
1701 N Washington Blvd 941-955-5001
The Hob Nob is a true Sarasota landmark; it’s been slinging greasy grub for decades now. Don’t expect niceties like air conditioning, but you can always depend on fast, friendly service from the Hob Nob’s seasoned crew. $

Go Party

SARASOTA BREWING CO.
6607 Gateway Ave • 941-925-2337
This watering hole always has a fine selection of beers brewed in-house, as well as the usual accoutrements, like flat-screen TVs. Regulars purchase their own mugs and leave them hanging from the ceiling until next time.

ESCA
1888 Main St • 941-365-3722
www.escasrq.com
The late-night gathering place for Sarasota’s expanding class of the young, hip and upwardly mobile, Esca keeps the kitchen open late and serves stiff drinks on a balcony with outstanding views of downtown.

SIESTA KEY OYSTER BAR
5238 Ocean Blvd • 941-346-5443
www.skob.com
With live music every night and close proximity to the nicest beaches in the area, SKOB is a natural party spot. Enjoy draft beers and a selection of classic beach grub.

BAHI HUT
4675 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 941-355-5141
A dive in the truest sense, the Bahi Hut is dark, reeks of cigarette smoke and pours some of the strongest drinks on the globe. What other joint has a two-drink maximum?

Go Day-Tripping

CORTEZ FISHING VILLAGE
9 miles west of Bradenton
The last remaining fishing village on the Suncoast, Cortez is a sleepy Old Florida neighborhood where you can still see fishermen repair crab traps, watch boats return with their catches and slurp down oysters as fresh as they come.

Fun Fact!

Paul Reubens—better known as Pee-Wee Herman—grew up in Sarasota, where the circus industry sparked his interest in entertaining.