Suzy Leonard

Feb 28, 2025 | floridatoday.com | Suzy Leonard

I remember rocking my nephew to sleep when he was just a few weeks old. Tyler was a tiny thing, with a big, round head and a curious nature. Even as an infant, he didn’t want to miss anything. As we gently swayed back and forth, he stared up at me with wise, blue eyes, his eyelids getting heavy. He fought sleep as long as he could, raising his brows like he’d been surprised, a last-ditch effort to keep those eyes open.

Feb 14, 2025 | floridatoday.com | Suzy Leonard

Suzy LeonardFor FLORIDA TODAYAhhhh, brunch. The word conjures images of leisurely meals that include decadent sweets, plenty of bacon and mimosas, of course. Ladies love brunch. Gentlemen who love ladies acquiesce and join in. Brunch offers the perfect opportunity to celebrate food, friendship and the weekend, along with the perfect excuse for an afternoon nap. But did you know brunch can also can have a higher calling? That’s the case when we’re talking about the Feb.

Feb 12, 2025 | yahoo.com | Suzy Leonard |Liz Johnson

The USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year 2025 list was a great collaboration — and it's one we're thrilled to share with you. Here's how we did it. Hundreds of journalists across the country contributed. This is not your usual best-of list, where food writers fly in for a whirlwind weekend of eating and drinking, often relying on the institutional knowledge of the locals who know the scene best. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis list, instead, comes from our own locals.

Feb 2, 2025 | floridatoday.com | Suzy Leonard

Suzy LeonardFor FLORIDA TODAYIt’s coming up on a year since I left the ranks of the gainfully employed, and holy cow, it’s gone by fast. Before I retired, several people told me I would get bored; that I would be working again in less than a year. Some even offered suggestions of jobs I could consider, things that would make use of my unique and not always practical skills. But here’s the thing: I loved my job as a writer and editor. I didn’t leave it because I wanted a change of careers.

Jan 17, 2025 | floridatoday.com | Suzy Leonard

I finally saw the white pelicans. Since moving to the Space Coast in 1999, I’ve heard about these majestic creatures. One Christmas, FLORIDA TODAY even published a short fiction story by my former colleague Pam Harbaugh about a lonely white pelican who had gotten separated from his pod. I’ve always loved pelicans. I feel like a VIP when our native brown pelicans decide to fly escort as I cross Brevard’s causeways.