1. 40 AMERICA’S BEST BEACHES
Once you visit St. Pete/Clearwater, you may never want to leave.
May we suggest taking part of it home with you? Shopping local is huge,
and fortunately for us, our little piece of paradise is home to some serious talent.
From a $1.75 piece of artisan chocolate to a $500,000 powerboat,
here are just a few of the amazing things that are made right here.
SHOPPING TRIP
CUFF BRACELET $1,250: Evander Preston
is an iconoclast and local legend, known for
his flowing white beard and inspired jewelry.
Every piece is handcrafted and singular, a
treasure to be admired and a reminder of your
time on the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches. His
Pass-a-Grille gallery is a sight to behold — half
jewelry showroom, half private art collection —
that you simply have to see to believe.
WOOL SPONGE AND T-SHIRT $16, $24.99: Nobody leaves Tarpon Springs without a sponge — at least no
one should. Natural sponges grow slowly in the water here, which makes them durable and resistant to bacteria
(so they won’t get moldy or smelly in the shower or kitchen sink). You can pick one up for just a few dollars, but
the soft wool sponges cost a little more and are well worth it. While you’re strolling the docks, pick up a super-
soft T-shirt from Sponge Diver Supply. They’re locally designed and screen-printed and oh so comfy.
WEARABLE SCULPTURE
PURSES AND BOW TIES
$65 - $800: St. Petersburg’s Scott
Durfee and George Medeiros
combine fashion, art and upcycling
with their unique Spathose brand. A finalist in Martha Stewart’s 2014
American Made contest, Spathose creates gorgeous, wearable art from
sustainable, organic material — namely the palm spathe — with an
industrial edge. Each piece is handmade in their St. Petersburg studio
and is one of a kind. Their work is available at the Museum of Fine Arts or
through the pair’s website. spathose.com
BACON FLIGHT $10: Okay, maybe
we’re cheating a little bit here. You
can’t actually take the bacon flight
home with you, but it’s an experience
you can’t go home without. This
appetizer — three styles of American
bacon with (trust us) maple syrup for
dipping— from Rococo Steak in St.
Petersburg is positively decadent. If
you could smell this, you’d be there
right now. rococosteak.com
LOCAL ART $1,250:
St. Pete/Clearwater’s
thriving arts scene
attracts tons of talent, and
our locals have plenty of outlets
for their work. Get your art fix at
St. Petersburg’s Morean Arts Center and
Morean Center for Clay, whether you’re looking to create
or just admire. See something that speaks to you? The
center will ship it safely home so you can travel worry-free.
moreanartscenter.org
SEA SALT AND SPICE BLENDS $5: Tucked away
among the bars and souvenir shops of John’s
Pass in Madeira Beach is a tiny culinary haven
called the Spice & Tea Exchange. The walls are
lined with flavored sea salts, peppers, spice blends
and loose teas — many of them mixed right there
in the shop. Since you’ll no doubt be leaving St.
Pete/Clearwater with a grouper obsession, we suggest
picking up the Grilled Fish Blend. spiceandtea.com
VISITSTPETECLEARWATER.COM 41
CUSTOM E-BIKE $4,000+: Cruise the coast in style on a custom bike
from Rob's Radical Rides in St. Petersburg. The e-choppers go up to
20 mph and run on a lithium battery that will take you up to 15 miles
without pedaling (20 with a little effort) on a 4.5-hour charge. They
can also convert a bike you already own starting at $1,350. Looking
to spend a little less? Rent one and tour downtown St. Petersburg for
$20-$55 per person. robsradicalrides.com
SCOTTISH TARTAN SCARVES $30:
Dunedin gets its name from Dun Eideann,
the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, capital
of Scotland, and the town proudly celebrates its
ancestry. At the Celtic Shop of Dunedin, they’ll
take your measurements and create a custom kilt
from material woven in Scotland. But if you don’t
have 8-10 weeks to wait for it to be made, you can
walk out of the shop with an authentic Scottish
tartan scarf — more practical and more affordable.
celticshopdunedin.com
WILLIAM DEAN CHOCOLATE $1.75: You might think these little beauties are too
pretty to eat, but you’d be missing out. William Dean Chocolates are as pleasing
to the palate as they are to the eye, with intriguing flavors like Rosemary Caramel,
Lemongrass and Apple Pie. The treats are painstakingly handcrafted, but they were
ready for their close-up when they were featured in the Hunger Games movies. Visit
the shop in Belleair Bluffs and try not to be overwhelmed by the selection — no one
says you can’t taste them all. williamdeanchocolates.com
STATEMENT POWERBOAT $275,000 - $500,000: So your Gulf
Coast vacation has come to an end, but now you have a taste
for the salt life? Cancel your plane tickets and take the long
way home on a custom powerboat. Whether you’re in
the market for a high-performance catamaran (up to
190 mph) or a luxury center console (up to 75 mph) is
more your speed, Statement Marine will manufacture
your dream boat in their St. Petersburg factory. The
company is only 7 years old, but it has already made
quite a name for itself: One of its 42-foot Ultimate
v-bottoms was featured in the 2013 blockbuster
movie Pain and Gain. statementmarine.com
DOLPHIN UMBRELLA $12.95: Don’t forget
something for the kids! Clearwater Marine
Aquarium has all manner of Dolphin Tale
paraphernalia: shirts, jewelry — plush dolphin
toys with detachable tails! — but this sweet
Winter umbrella is perfect for a rainy day. Net
proceeds from every purchase go directly to
the CMA’s mission to restore and preserve the
local marine environment. seewinter.com
TIARA TOPPER $35 - $45: While
you're browsing the Grand Central
District in St. Petersburg, be sure
to stop at Janet's Antiques. (You'll
know you're there when you
see the tailless dolphin ride out
front with a sign that says "Not
for sale!") Inside you'll meet
Janet (once a professional tennis
player) who has combined her love of sports
and whimsy to create the Tiara Topper. Pick up one in the colors of your favorite
team, or buy just the tiara to pin to your favorite winter hat. Instant princess!
CRAFT BEER $1.99 - $14.99: Our award-winning
craft breweries are booming, and among them you’re
guaranteed to find something to suit your taste.
Luckily, many are now bottled for sale in shops
both locally and around the country, like Saint
Somewhere’s Belgian-style ales (brewed in Tarpon
Springs) or St. Pete Brewing’s popular Orange
Wheat. You can also walk out of almost any one
of our breweries with a growler of something
delicious — we recommend the chocolate peanut
butter stout from Rapp Brewing in Seminole.
For more information about local shopping,
go to VisitSPC.com/Shopping