Best of SRQ
You spoke up, and we listened. From vets and videographers to cocktails and chiropractors, BOSRQ Local is back with a brand new batch of the cities’ finest fare, favorite services, most sought-after places and beloved businesses—a grand tally thanks to all your voting (a record-breaking 78,000 votes to be exact!). And now we are happy to present you with the leading legends, the new voices and the rising nominees of this year’s competition. And this time around, we’ve themed the visuals of this feature around the iconic images of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe—a timely homage to the current exhibit showing at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, ‘Flowers, Poetry, and Light’. This vanguard artist of the late 20th century, combined with the entrepreneurs, designers, restaurateurs, physicians and specialists listed among the proceeding pages, continue to put Sarasota-Manatee Counties on the map—proving evolutionary and eclectic aren’t just for the big cities. Ready, set, celebrate!
SRQist
Banyan Coffee Co. owner, Josh Schmitt, spills the beans on how this specialty coffee roaster came to be. Blaise Ryndes, creator of the Spheres Bubble Show, dazzled audiences at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime.
Culture City
The Sarasota Film Festival returns for its 24th year this month with fresh programming and events. Dramaturg and Literary Manager at Asolo Repertory Theatre Adam Ashraf Elsayigh discusses how his unique background impacts his new role.
Cargo
April showers takes The Goods by storm. King of vintage designer, Cameron Silver, discusses his passion for fashion after a local visit at T.Georgiano’s boutique.
Forage
Capturing the ramen revival in its elevated art form from the menus of FushiPoke, Rokkin Ramen Pop-Up Kitchen at 99 Bottles, Motoneko Cafe & Izakaya and Goichi’s Sushi Cafe.
Giving Coast
A good hero to countless boys and girls, Lee DeLieto is a man who knows how to make good things happen.
SRQ Inside the Brand 