Since summer 2004 when I moved back to Sarasota — and my family/hometown roots (just in time for the sweep of hurricanes that occurred that year) — I’ve been buying or subscribing to Sarasota Magazine. And, when it started offering a daily newsletter, I signed up for that too.
There are too many reasons to appreciate Sarasota Magazine, but here are my top five whys.
Why #1: I came for the gossip …
Back in the day, I first fell in a hate-to-love relationship with man-of-multiple-talents writer Robert Plunket who penned the simultaneously lust-worthy and pragmatic “Real Estate Junkie” column, as well as the snarky and hilarious “Mr. Chatterbox” column. And truly, to this day, I’ve never been enough of a Sarasota insider, or enough of a smart-ass, one or the other, to ever decipher his columns for what was true, what was wink-wink-nod-nod for those-in-the-know only, and what was hyperbole. I was always equal parts laughing my ass off and astonished that he could get away with some of the things he wrote. The man knew how to walk (and write) a small-town tightrope.
Why #2: … and stayed for the goods
Attracted by Plunket’s Sarasota-fied version of streetwise, I ultimately stayed for the in-depth feature writing over the years — too many great pieces to list here, but if you haven’t read David Hackett’s 2019 analysis on the devolving situation at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — you can still read it here. Or check out Cooper Levey-Baker’s insightful (and award-winning) reporting on how the opiod epidemic ravaged newborns on the Suncoast.
More recently, writer Heather Dunhill has been creating must-read profiles in the magazine’s “Listen to Black Voices” series. I particularly liked her piece titled “Creating Change and How Racism Affects Black Families Through Generations.”
Sarasota Magazine rakes in awards year after year. This year, the writers, editors, digital folks, designers, photographers, contributors and all those behind the scenes, collectively nabbed 23 awards at Florida Magazine Association’s 2021 Charlie Awards — a level of accomplishment not uncommon for the magazine.
Why #3: Money, bylines, and love
They employed me sometimes. I had the good fortune to be emailing, meeting, and occasionally working with some of the magazine’s editors over those first early years I was back in town: highly regarded professionals like Pam Daniel, Susan Burns, Ilene Denton, Kay Kipling, just to name a few. I was fortunate to also end up working for Susan Burns writing a couple of business pieces here and there— it was a big thrill for a just-starting-out writer to see my byline in Sarasota Magazine’s erstwhile sister publication BIZ 941. Later, for a year or so, she hired me again to help her edit the daily business newsletter.
Their readers showed me some love … at least for a little while. In 2009 and 2010, Sarasota Magazine readers voted me Best Blogger (2010) and Best Blogger (finalist 2009).
And I didn’t even blog for the mag! — I was just blogging over at my old, pre-THINK platform “Reality Chick Online” — where I wrote too many navel-gazing pieces, but also covered local news (the near-demise of SNN) and events including the magazine’s annual must-attend swanky Selby Gardens soirées.
Why #4: Friendships that have gone the distance
One of those early years, maybe 2005? — Susan Burns invited me to attend the magazine’s annual holiday gathering being held that year at the Hyatt Regency. I went solo and shy.
When I decided to leave after 45 minutes of walking around feeling invisible, as I was saying my goodbye to Susan and thanking her for inviting me, another woman approached and Susan introduced me to one of her contributing writers, Kim Cartlidge. Et voilà, one of my closest and longest-standing friendships in Sarasota blossomed. It’s been 16 years and I’m so grateful for that long-ago introduction to one of the smartest, funniest, and most decent people I know.
Shortly thereafter I met local writer Su Byron, a longtime contributing editor for Sarasota Magazine. Su was one of the first writers I met in Sarasota and to call her generous and supportive to other writers would be an understatement. Outside of her contributions to the magazine, Su has run her own communications business for years and since day one of us meeting, she has steadfastly sent work my way (and the way of many others). More importantly, as both a colleague and a friend, she’s been a bedrock of reality and real talk in a town where way too many people are increasingly addicted to double-speak.
Why #5: Lastly, apparently, Sarasota Magazine is a talent incubator
Cooper Levey-Baker wasn’t with the magazine in its early days, though he’s now been with them for several years and is currently the pub’s award-winning Senior Editor/Food Editor. I know Coop from my days writing for him at Creative Loafing 2009/10-ish (he was the editor there, fresh off the success of organizing Sarasota area volunteers to bring Obama to within 211 votes of becoming the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Sarasota County since FDR in 1944).
Somehow, despite the demands of his day job, and the time-intensive joys of being a Dad of two and husband to wife Rachel, Cooper’s always found (or made!) time to work on his debut novel “Dead Fish Wind” January 2022; Madville Publishing.
The book’s title and description sound to me like “Dead Fish Wind” will be a no holds barred, dystopic (but all too realistically possible) imagining of what will happen to places like Sarasota when the moneyed masses have finished having their way paving over paradise with high-rises and hotels — and the environment — the beaches, the dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, sandy plovers — is in ruins. Scary, but necessary, reading and I can’t wait! (You can pre-order now.)
The Biggest Why
It’s been years since I’ve done any work for Sarasota Magazine, but the passage of time hasn’t dampened my enthusiasm for the content they create. If you’re not a subscriber to their mag — you should get it (click here). $20 bucks gets you all their monthly digital content and six in-print publications a year. That’s short money for the goods they deliver.
And no, I’m not getting anything in return — they have no clue I’m writing about them. But as someone who knows — and appreciates — every single subscriber to my own THINK, I want to encourage people far and wide to support the art of story-telling, whether through Substacks like mine, or through the many offerings of a publication the size and scope of Sarasota Magazine with all its fashion, fun, and food columns; amazing photography; and in-depth profiles and feature pieces. Even more crucial is the art of storytelling through literature like Cooper’s upcoming book — which through a frightening look at the future should make us reevaluate how we’re living in the present.
The art of storytelling is the art of connectedness. It helps bond us together. It helps us see the humanity in one another. It gives us glimpses into people and circumstances we didn’t even know we didn’t know about.
And it’s an art and a passion that’s needed more than ever in our world right here, right now.
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