Twenty-six years ago, Luz Maria Nevarez arrived from Mexico and took her first hostessing job in Vero Beach. She bussed tables in Port St. Lucie for two years, served in Fort Pierce for two more, then managed for thirteen years in Okeechobee. Last month, she celebrated the fourth anniversary of Takos Cantina, the Bradenton restaurant she now owns.

Veer off I-75 toward Lakewood Ranch and join a Day of the Dead fiesta. Skulls in floral headdresses grin from the walls. Starburst lights glitter upon black lacquer tables and white leather chairs. The pungency of red onion and cilantro fills the air. Mariachi melodies weave with clinking margarita glasses, hissing fajitas and chortling from the bar.

“I saved my money, and they gave me the opportunity,” Nevarez says of her former bosses, the Rodriguez family. “Now we’re partners.” Hector Rodriguez also co-owns La Casa Patron in Sarasota. Here, Nevarez runs Takos Cantina with the help of Vincente de La Cruz, manager and longtime colleague. Her brother, niece and daughters, Hally and Giselle, round out the team.

The menu brings Jalisco and “something for everyone,” says Nevarez. Meals commence with tricolor chips and salsas, while guacamole is mashed table-side with lime and salt. To start, there’s tropical mango ceviche or La Torre, a bright stack of seafood. Street tacos arrive on house-made tortillas: pineapple-kissed al pastor, melt-in-your-mouth carnitas or cauliflower chicharron with jalapeno jam. Birria tacos arrive golden and adobo-stained alongside rich consommé for dipping. “You never get it wrong with fajitas,” says Nevarez, pointing to her menu. She also recommends the poblanos.

Lunch specials run weekdays. Happy hour stretches daily from 11 to 7 through February: $5 margaritas, $6 sangria. The bartender serves Cazadores tequila, shaken with mango and jalapeno, or a smoky mezcal blended with orange cream and agave. Adventurous “Ritas” feature blueberry, guava and dragonfruit. Every cocktail gets a send-off with salt rims and floating flowers.

Since opening, Takos Cantina has drawn a steady crowd. Singles and coworkers perch bar-side while friends and families pile into booths. Hands reach across tables for Molcajete Ranchero: a big bowl of fire-licked meats with rice, beans and chile.

The hostess, Giselle, waves goodbye to diners with a smile nearly identical to the owner’s. At 16, she is Nevarez’s youngest, learning the business her mother spent decades mastering. Nevarez traveled a long road to get here. One espies more cantinas ahead.

Takos Cantina, Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun11am-9pm, 5770 Ranch Lake Blvd., Bradenton. 

With Valentine’s Day landing on a Saturday this year, Sarasota couples have the perfect opportunity to turn date night into a true destination experience. Located in the heart of The Quay Sarasota, Ocean Prime Sarasota sits within the city’s 14-acre waterfront destination in the Arts & Culture District, where a scenic marina setting meets luxury residences, upscale shopping, and premier dining. It’s an atmosphere designed for lingering, celebrating, and making a full evening out of the occasion.With its waterfront setting and new-to-market appeal, we would love for Ocean Prime Sarasota to be considered for any Valentine’s Day roundups highlighting must-try date-night destinations or waterfront dining experiences in the area. 

Recently, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) proudly announced the installation of its 2026 Board of Directors Executive Committee, featuring seasoned leaders with more than 215 years of combined experience in the hospitality industry. Celebrating its 80th year, FRLA is Florida’s leading hospitality trade association, dedicated to serving the industry and its members with unmatched commitment to excellence. With a mission to protect, educate, and promote Florida’s $112 billion hospitality industry and its two million employees, FRLA remains a steadfast advocate for this vital economic engine and the heartbeat of the great state of Florida. 

To learn more, visit

Lefty's Oyster & Seafood Bar & Ruck9 invite you to the Lefty's 0.31K, a Fun Run for the Wheelie Warriors. Guests who have enjoyed our specialty cocktail, Lefty's Lemonade know that Lefty's makes a donation to Ruck 9 every time you enjoy this philanthropic cocktail. The mission of Ruck9 is to raise awareness and build a community of supporters whose focus is to assist uniquely created canines. Now its time to lace up those running shoes, grab your furry friends, and join us for 1017 feet of fun! Then stay to enjoy special drinks from our sponsor, Tito's Vodka and sample coastal seafood fare from Lefty's Oyster & Seafood Bar. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 Lefty's Oyster & Seafood Bar, 428 N. Lemon Ave. Sarasota. Register here: RUCK9 8:30 am registration, 9am Go with the 'wheelie warrior" dogs, After: Stay for the post-run refreshments! 

 The Ed Smith Stadium Box Office and Team Store will be open for in-person sales beginning Tuesday, January 20, at 10 a.m. ET. The Box Office and Team Store will remain open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until the end of the 2026 Spring Training season. Parking will be available in the East Lot. The Orioles will kick off their 17th season at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, February 20, when they take on the New York Yankees at 1:05 p.m. The 2026 Spring Training schedule features 17 home games, including 13 afternoon games, all beginning at 1:05 p.m., and four night games, each slated to begin at 6:05 p.m., including one of Major League Baseball’s Spring Breakout Games when Orioles prospects face off against Boston Red Sox prospects on Friday, March 20, at 6:05 p.m. For a complete list of promotions and special events at Ed Smith Stadium visit Orioles.com/Spring. 

As several cultural institutions and cities across Sarasota County mark 100 years in 2026, Visit Sarasota County (VSC) is compelling visitors and residents to take part in these once-in-a-century celebrations. In-depth guides on VisitSarasota.com – one forcountywide milestones, the other for the City of Venice’s centennial – walk vacationers through special events, history, and ways to engage with local businesses, particular through two mobile experiences. To complement Venice’s 18-month program of festivities, VSC has created in partnership with the City a Venice Centennial Pass to serve as a mobile guide to the area’s most iconic historic buildings, parks, and landmark sites. Another pass – dubbed the Circus Legacy Trail – will feature a curated list of tours, shows, and sites that harken to Sarasota’s identity as the “Circus Capital of the World.” This pass will accompany circus-themed PR pitches to national and international press leading into 2027, which will be the 100-year anniversary of John Ringling’s decision to move the winter quarters of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey to Sarasota. Both passes are free to sign up for and encourage discovery without the need for downloading an app. For a comprehensive list of events, passes, and planning resources, visit https://www.visitsarasota.com/blog/sarasota-countys-centennial-celebrations 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is thrilled to announce the return of its beloved cabaret Feeling Good, an original revue created by Rebecca Hopkins and Richard Hopkins, with musical arrangements by Jim Prosser, for a limited engagement. Featuring hits from Michael Bublé to Bette Midler, this stylish show celebrates the velvet-voiced singers making waves today along with the greats who inspired them. Previews begin February 19, with an official reopening on February 20, 2026, in FST’s Keating Theatre. For more information, visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org or call (941) 366-9000. 

Sarasota’s First New Luxury High-Rise Residences With Three-Day Minimum Rental Freedom.

Where Sarasota’s cultural energy meets sophisticated fun, Saravela introduces a new standard for downtown living. This striking luxury high-rise blends refined design, resort-style amenities, and rare ownership flexibility. Saravela offers turnkey condominium residences, penthouses, and townhomes starting at $900,000, complemented by ground-level retail and professional on-site management. Rare three-day minimum rental freedom allows owners to enjoy their residence on their own terms. Life unfolds across six thoughtfully curated levels of amenities totaling more than 47,000 square feet. Residents enjoy elegant social spaces, co-working lounges, family-friendly experiences, and elevated wellness offerings including rooftop pools, spa facilities, and state-of-the-art fitness studios. Residences reflect a turnkey approach to luxury, with interiors fully furnished by renowned designer Steven G. Enhanced by concierge, valet, and optional lifestyle services, Saravela reimagines downtown ownership with confidence, ease, and distinction.

For more information, visit Saravela.com. 

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