Explosions of elegant excess with a seasonal theme make the big display window of The Gift Box a highlight of the lively retail block that runs from 4th Avenue to Beach Drive NE in downtown St. Pete, just around the corner from The Chihuly Collection. A willow-branch chandelier is the usual centerpiece, but depending on what it’s been festooned with it can be unrecognizable from one season to the next. Display artist Scott Velez is also an interior designer, and his training shows. His window has become a kind of gift box in itself, bringing back repeat customers just “to see what we’ve done.” Right now they’ll see a window in an autumnal mood (a refreshing change from the red-white-and-blue-for-the-RNC theme that stayed up just a little too long), but we can’t wait to see what Scott comes up with next. 400 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-209-8300, thegiftboxstpete.com.
This article appears in Sep 20-26, 2012.