Drink It In

What It's Like to Attend a Ceremonial Cacao Circle

Carrie Eckert says cacao healed her autoimmune conditions and anxiety. She hosts local cacao circles to help others reap its benefits, too.

01/10/2024 By Isaac Eger

Looking Back

The Biggest Local Environmental Stories of 2023

From our summer heat wave to improvements in our wastewater treatment system, these are seven of the biggest environmental crises, and successes, of the past year.

12/01/2023 By Isaac Eger

Angola's Ashes

Angola Highlights Florida’s History as a Haven for Escaped Enslaved People

The settlement has been called one of the most significant historical sites in Florida and perhaps the United States.

10/19/2023 By Isaac Eger

Purity Test

How Clean Is Our Drinking Water?

We sent out four samples from different water sources throughout Sarasota to a private lab that specializes in analyzing environmental data to find out exactly what we are putting in our bodies.

09/21/2023 By Isaac Eger

Once Upon a Time in Florida

A Journey Through Old Florida With the State’s Last Cowboys

The seven-day, six-night reenactment offered 350 people on horseback the chance to push 500 head of cattle through 80 contiguous miles of Florida that few people ever get to see. 

08/31/2023 By Isaac Eger

Devotional

A Love Letter to Pho Cali

The Vietnamese restaurant Pho Cali is one of Sarasota's best spots to grab a meal. Isaac Eger pens an ode to his favorite restaurant and its talented chef, Kim La.

07/05/2023 By Isaac Eger

Hot Topics

Sarasota’s Dating Scene Can Be Discouraging. We’ve Got Tips.

A matchmaker discusses why it’s tough for women to find a partner in Sarasota and offers ways to overcome it.

07/05/2023 By Isaac Eger

Let's Go!

Go on a Vision Quest to Cassadaga

According to legend, the historic town vibrates on a higher spiritual plane than most places because it lies at the intersection of a significant latitude and longitude.

06/29/2023 By Isaac Eger

Father's Day

The Best Massage Tools for Dad

Father's Day is an often-neglected holiday, but dads need some tender attention, too. Here are the three best massage tools for his aching muscles.

06/15/2023 By Isaac Eger

Fighting Fire With Fire

Florida Is Burning, Too. Why Aren't Our Skies Orange?

“We set good fires, or else we get bad ones,” says Jay Bailey, Sarasota County’s wildfire mitigation officer.

06/09/2023 By Isaac Eger

Companion Cats

Cat Depot Has Partnered With the Pets for the Elderly Foundation to Help Seniors Adopt Cats

The foundation will provide funding for Sarasota's seniors to adopt companion animals, which can benefit the health of both the cats and their elderly caretakers.

06/08/2023 By Isaac Eger

We're No. 1!

Florida Is the Lightning Capital of the U.S. Here's How to Stay Safe During a Storm.

The danger isn’t because of some karmic retribution upon the residents of this state—it’s due to the density of our large population, our tropical weather and our outdoor culture.

06/06/2023 By Isaac Eger

Oh, Great

That Huge Sargassum Bloom Is Filled with Plastic and Possibly Deadly Bacteria

Research shows there are massive quantities of plastic floating in the seaweed that encourage the presence of deadly flesh-eating bacteria.

06/02/2023 By Isaac Eger

They Only Come Out at Night

The Night-Blooming Cactus Is Here

Here are the five best spots in town to see these ethereal flowers, which bloom just once a year.

05/26/2023 By Isaac Eger

The Inescapable Sport

Can a Millennial Love Pickleball?

Pickleball grew nearly 40 percent between 2019 and 2021, making it the fastest growing sport in America, and nearly 5 million people now play the game.

05/25/2023 By Isaac Eger

Weather Patterns

What Does El Niño Mean for Sarasota?

Grave warnings of record heat for the next five years have scientists concerned, but weather doesn't affect everyone equally. What will that mean for the Suncoast?

05/19/2023 By Isaac Eger

Foiled Again

What's an eFoil and Is It Worth the Cost?

We tried the expensive new water toy that Silicon Valley dads are loving.

05/10/2023 By Isaac Eger

Wild at Heart

Shot by Shot, Photographer Carlton Ward Jr. Is Saving Wild Florida

This week sees the publication of Path of the Panther: New Hope for Wild Florida, Ward's new book of Florida wildlife photography.

05/03/2023 By Isaac Eger

Head Above Water

Could the Catastrophic Flooding in Fort Lauderdale Happen in Sarasota? 

As Sarasota’s skyline looks more like Miami with each passing year, can we avoid the same flooding issues that beset Florida’s southeast coast? Local experts weigh in.

04/27/2023 By Isaac Eger

Fair Food

Sarasota's Fair Food Standards Council Was Featured on Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

Its work was highlighted on an episode about the plight of migrant workers.

04/18/2023 By Isaac Eger