There are so many ways that one can experience 99 Bottles. At this versatile downtown Sarasota gem, you can sit at the sleek bar for a drink with friends, tuck away solo in a comfy corner with a book and enjoy the atmosphere, or you can pick up bottles of rare, innovative wines. You may also, as my wife and I did this past Sunday, swing by for their signature Real Deal New York Bagel Brunch.

Since it opened in spring of 2019, 99 Bottles has cultivated a loyal following, including a fair share of regulars. It’s made such an impression on local beer connoisseurs that Wine Enthusiast recently listed it as one of the best bottle shops in the entire country.

It’s well-deserved accolade. Staffers are always knowledgeable about their selection — whether it’s the 34 draft beers they offer or the phenomenal selection of 99 bottles on the wall. So amazing is this staff that I have come in to buy a gift, described the person for whom I’m purchasing a 6-pack, and they’ve made perfect recommendations based on just that. Plus, they never judge me when I tell them that IPAs make me sneeze.

Mark Tuchman, who owns 99 Bottles, called the Wine Enthusiast recognition “an honor.”

“It’s our amazing customers, local community and incredible staff that have been extremely supportive and led us to this recognition,” he says.

And while I had been to 99 Bottles several times, I had only heard second-hand praise of the bagel brunch. It lived up to the hype. Bagels are flown in from New York, where it’s theorized by many that the local water just makes a better bagel. They’re par baked, flash frozen, delivered to 99 and finally finished in their oven every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

I opted for the wild salmon with cream cheese, cucumber, sliced red onion, tomato, and capers. You can find some great versions of this classic elsewhere in Sarasota, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a better one. The salmon was smoky and tender, the onions didn’t overpower. Ingredients were crisp and fresh, perfectly complementing the cloudless sky we encountered as we ate outside at the long picnic table.

You’ll also find pop-up dinner kitchens most nights at 99 … as if I needed another reason to return to one of the best beer shops in America.

99 Bottles, 1445 2nd St, Sarasota, (941) 487-7874, 99bottles.net/ 

Pictured: 99 Bottles offers its Real Deal New York Bagel Brunch every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Photo courtesy of 99 Bottles.

Tucked away in the corner of a shopping center on the corner of Bee Ridge Rd. and S. Tuttle Ave., the #Cafe (pronounced “hashtag cafe") is a hidden jewel. Owners Bianca Bendraouia, her husband Elias Bendraouia and their son, Mohi Bendraouia, opened the cafe on Oct. 30, 2022.

German-born Bianca and Moroccan-born Elias are no strangers to cafe culture. Bianca grew up with kaffeeklatsch, the German practice of gathering in the afternoon to enjoy coffee and baked goods, while Elias became familiar with the warm hospitality of Moroccan cafes. While watching his father help a child in a Moroccan cafe, six-year-old Mohi first dreamt up the idea of owning a cafe. “I fell in love with the idea of helping others and the vibe of a coffee shop,” he says.

The family tossed around the idea of opening a modern cafe, and while brainstorming potential names, they were inspired by the trend of using hashtag as a prefix to various words. “We joked about having a #Cafe, and the name stuck,” says Bianca. After finding the perfect location, the business was born. The bright and airy space invites in patrons from all walks of life. Moroccans are frequent visitors, as well as people working remotely. “Mohi attracts young kids,” says Bianca, “but we also get old guys who come in to ‘sip and snitch.’”

The cafes offerings are as diverse as its clientele. Drawing from the family’s heritage, #Cafe serves authentic Moroccan mint tea, poured from silver teapots into tall glasses with intricate geometric patterns as well as German and Italian coffee. “I never drank coffee, but after experimenting with our coffee maker, I discovered how to create a balanced blend,” says Bianca. Throughout the process, Mohi taste-tested each batch, and now even Bianca is a coffee convert. The cafe currently offers hot teas and coffees and cold beverages like frappes.

“I ask everyone who comes in what they’re looking for,” says Mohi, eager to help patrons find something to suite their taste.

#Cafe also sells baked goods, like their napoleon pastry, homemade by a local baker. Many of the other pastries, like croissants and muffins, are baked in-house by the owners. Bianca  doesn’t believe in comparing the business to other coffee houses. “Every single cafe is special and is here to serve the community,” she says.

After two months in business, the #Cafe is a buzzing community hub. The owners greet each guest, many by name, with genuine enthusiasm and friendliness, creating a welcoming atmosphere. “In the future,” says Bianca, “we hope to continue being an awesome place where everyone can have a good time.”

#Cafe is located at 2781 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota, and is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more, visit hashtagcafesrq.com or follow the cafe on Instagram @hashtagcafesrq. 

Pictured: The delicious peppermint mocha is a fan favorite at Hashtag Cafe. Photo taken by Laura Paquette.

#Café

Bijou Garden Café is pleased to announce its first wine dinner of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 18 from 6:30 - 9p.m. Presented by executive chef Christopher Covelli, the evening will consist of a six-course dining experience, expertly paired with award-winning, estate-grown Bordeaux wines from Vignobles Sullivan. Michael Kasper, director of national sales, will be in attendance and guests will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with him. Limited to only 50 guests, the evening will begin with a reception that features select appetizers, including bacon and quail egg spoons with white truffle remoulade. The five-course meal will be comprised of vadouvan chicken; pan seared scallop course with Pernod and fennel puree, and pickled red onion; milk bread cube with mushroom, shallot and mustard mousse medley; sliced entrecote, fondant potatoes, winter squash and bordelaise sauce; and canelé with blackberry gelee, cassis and sea salt creme glacée for dessert. Throughout the evening, each course will be expertly paired with Bordeaux wines, including Château Auguste 2021 Grand Rosé, Château du Parc 2015 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru and Château Gaby 2010 Silver Label. The all-inclusive wine dinner is $185 per person, which includes tax and gratuity. For reservations, call Bijou Garden Café at 941-366-8111 or email admin@realmrestaurants.com. 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to present the Regional Premiere of Network, adapted by Lee Hall and based on the Academy Award-winning screenplay by Paddy Chayefsky. Network is a fast-paced drama following the downward spiral of Howard Beale, a longtime news anchor who has worked at a television network, UBS, for 25 years. When Beale learns that he is being fired for poor ratings and low viewership, he unravels live on air during his final broadcast. As a result, his show’s ratings soar, and Howard becomes the biggest thing on television. Seeing Howard as a new populist prophet, UBS decides to leverage Howard’s newfound popularity to boost its bottom line. Network begins playing January 25, 2023, in FST’s Gompertz Theatre, and is part of a four-show subscription package. Also included in the Winter Mainstage subscription package is the ten-time Tony Award-nominated musical, Something Rotten!, the Obie Award-winning play, What the Constitution Means to Me, and the World Premiere of Visit Joe Whitefeather (and bring the family!). Subscriptions for all four Winter Mainstage shows can be purchased for as little as $69. Single tickets to Network range from $25-39. Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or at 941.366.9000.Rod Brogan plays Max Schumacher, Howard’s best friend and the Head of News at FST’s production of Network is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The production is also supported by Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues, and the Shubert Foundation. Thank you to our media sponsors, SCENE Magazine and SNN. 

To learn more, visit

One Eight Oh PR, a Sarasota and Denver based public relations agency, recently promoted Kate De Michieli to director of public relations and welcomed Suzanne Bokish as social media coordinator. De Michieli joined the agency in 2018 as a PR and social media coordinator and has worked with clients in multiple industries promoting brands, launching social media campaigns and writing press releases. She has spearheaded campaigns that have created compelling content for businesses nationwide, earned national media coverage for clients and has increased engagement tremendously on various platforms for One Eight Oh customers. In her new role, De Michieli will help oversee public relations and account management activities, including PR planning, media relations and social media management for the agency’s clients. De Michieli was recently named a 35 under 35 award recipient by SRQ Magazine. Prior to One Eight Oh PR, De Michieli worked for an internet marketing company. In her spare time, she is a social media influencer and runs a lifestyle blog called Life With Kate Rose that focuses on travel, food, fashion and more. A Sarasota native, she attended the University of South Florida, where she received a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical communication. One Eight Oh PR also added Suzanne Bokish to the team as social media coordinator. In her role, Bokish handles social media content creation for multiple clients and launches strategic campaigns to earn engagement across multiple platforms. In her spare time, Bokish is a lifestyle influencer with a fashion background. She launched her social media presence by visiting all 50 states and blogging about her experience. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus in fashion merchandising from Berkeley College. 

Join us on March 7, 2023 at Michael's On East for a dynamic luncheon symposium centered on conversations focused on regional philanthropic topics. The luncheon will include a panel discussion to explore the ever-changing world of non-profits and honor outstanding individuals who have made a meaningful impact within the community. 

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