Best Outfitters: Bill Jackson
The store’s been around for decades, and it still never ceases to amaze. Stop in to buy a fishing reel or a box of shotgun shells and you might end up just wandering — to the gun range, the swimming pool, the indoor carpeted ski slope, the lake out back. Bill Jackson is set off U.S. 19 in a wooded area, lending it a real air of authenticity. Probably no grizzlies hiding behind those trees, but you can let your imagination run wild. Whatever your outdoor pursuit — hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, hunting, inline skating, scuba diving — this expansive complex will get you set right up. And the store has about as friendly and helpful a staff as you’ll find. 9501 US 19 N., St. Petersburg.
[map]
Best Liquor Store: B-21 Fine Wines & Spirits Pulling into the parking lot, it’s hard to believe that this big-ass warehouse just north of Tarpon Springs can actually be entirely dedicated to booze — particularly when you see that they’ve got grocery carts and that lots of people are using them. But it is, and B-21’s massive inventory allows it to offer a lot of premium brands for a couple of bucks below the going rate. There’s an impressive wine selection as well, not to mention plenty of accessories, from pro bar equipment to glass sets and other thirsty-lifestyle accoutrements. There’s no better place for folks who not only like to drink, but like to find new things to drink and drink out of. 43380 U.S. 19 N., St. Petersburg, 727-937-5049. Upcoming Events at B-21 Wine & Spirits
– B-21 SATURDAY TASTINGS – Saturdays, 1-4 p.m.
[map]
Best Cigar Store: La Herencia de Cuba It’s no surprise, given its history in the cigar industry, that Tampa is blessed with an abundance of great options to buy the coveted sticks. Edward’s Pipe and Tobacco in Tampa and Tampa Sweethearts in Ybor City are two longtime fixtures. But we like a relative newcomer: La Herencia de Cuba, where Cuban immigrant and master torcedo Roberto Ramirez rolls them daily while his son takes care of the business side of things. Unlabeled bundles are the authentic deal; who needs fancy boxes and cigar bands anyway? Ramirez’s Giant Torpedo is a rare find and a strong blend. But it is the smaller Perfectos that score at the top of the card: Tapered at both ends, they have a throwback shape that smokes so well you’ll want to put a roach clip on it to get every last puff. 1817 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City, 800-324-9803.
Best Place to Shop the World: International Bazaar
Thick sticks of burning incense saturate the 16,000-square-foot space with heady perfume, and world music adds an exotic feel to this eclectic superstore, which has featured a huge variety of goods from around the world for nearly four years. Nestled between Gameworks and Victoria’s Secret in Centro Ybor, International Bazaar is owned and operated by Kenny and Jacqueline Conley, who’ve managed to cram the store full of reasonably priced goods from some 150 countries. Delicate figurines, kaftans of all colors and varieties, exotic teakwood furniture, hand-painted tea sets, purses, jewelry, coffees — all this and more is offered. 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa, 813-241-2885. Upcoming Events at International Bazaar: Tampa Film Review – Second Friday of every month, 8-10 p.m.
[map]
Best $6 Dickies Cap: Army Navy Surplus Market These days, even the uber-Marts are charging boutique prices for the same Dickies work-wear that’s been hipdom’s Uniform of the Proletariat for decades. But fear not, dude who’s new to rockabilly or dudette who knows that butch can be chic — you can score the shirt, shorts or chapeau with all that built-in cred and still have money left over for beer the night of the Reverend show. Located right at the edge of downtown Tampa, longtime open retail secret The Army Navy Surplus Market has a great selection of Dickies merchandise hidden in there among the fatigues, tents and SWAT gear. And it goes without saying that those of you who know that broken-in camo cutoffs never really go out of style can always stock up there. 1312 N. Tampa St., Tampa, 813-229-2172.
Best Men's Department Masquerading as a Discount Store: Dillard's at International Plaza
You know those stores with all that breathing room between the racks and displays, the stores with like five jackets and four pairs of shoes on the floor? Apparently, the extra space is supposed to make a place look classy, but to us it just means we can’t afford anything — and by just walking in we’ll have to look and act a certain way (plus, the salespeople make us nervous). That’s why we like the Dillard’s men’s department. Rack after stuffed rack of clothes fill the floor, to an almost claustrophobic degree. More important, the rags are priced right; many of the racks boast 25-, 30-, 50-, even 75-percent-off signs. And if you catch the right sale, you can get an extra 30 percent off that. Dillard’s features most of the mid-level designer brands — Hilfiger, Polo, Perry Ellis — along with a handful of decent house labels. Bottom line: You can overhaul your wardrobe (a few times a year) without breaking the bank. 2223 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa, 813-342-1220.
Best Thrift Store for Fashionistas: St. Pete: Salvation Army
Face it fashionistas, baby-boomers are the key to good thrift stores: They’re eager to get rid of old clothes; they have no idea the worth of their ’70s hip-hugger bell-bottom jeans; and they generally take care of their clothes by getting them dry-cleaned. This alone makes Florida one of the best states for those hipsters seeking retro and vintage wear at frugal prices. Of course, this all depends on the thrift store’s knowledge. Do they know this London Fog raincoat is worth a lot more than a 75-cent blue tag special? While Goodwill seems to have caught on to the buzz and raised its prices accordingly, the Salvation Army still puts up passably chic clothes on the rack along with flannel shirts and paint-stained jeans. Out of Tampa Bay’s several locations, the St. Petersburg store on 66th Street consistently yields the best finds; recently, we uncovered a vintage yellow silk evening gown, orange and brown cowboy boots, and a wool sweater that would make Chewbacca jealous. And yes, they now accept Mastercard and Visa. 5885 66th St. N., St Petersburg, 727-541-7781.
Best Thrift Store for Fashionistas: Tampa: Soho Sal's
OK, so it’s actually called the Salvation Army store — on MacDill in South Tampa. But with its Italian marble floors, lounge area with stuffed couches and juice bar, this is a Sal’s Army like you’ve never seen. OK, so it actually looks like pretty much any other Sal’s Army store — the point is that it’s in South Tampa, where many well-dressed, well-off people just might look at that couture gown or Armani suit and mutter, “Oh, this old rag,” and bring it down to the drop-off. You can find upscale stuff here — not all the time, but occasionally you can really score.2815 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-839-3730.
Best Haircut: New Team Salon at J.CON
In this day of the metrosexual, male dislike/fear of the hair salon has begun to abate. Perhaps it’s the higher quality of haircut available at a salon, or maybe it’s all the delightful young ladies who staff the place. Either way guys, if you’re still lining up for $7 haircuts at your “barber shop,” it’s time to get with the now. The New Team Salon at J.CON is a great place to start. New Team’s stylists are all recent graduates of the Aveda Institute, the St. Pete trim school where cutting hair is more religion than trade. (“New Team,” get it?) Subsequently, everyone’s a little more down-to-earth than at some other salons. New Team is full service (and full price) for the ladies, but a dude can get in and out for $20 plus a little something extra for the stylist. Trust us: It’s money well spent. We don’t want to play favorites, but we’re going to anyway. The nod for Best Stylist goes to Kara Pullan. 5811 Fourth St. N., St Petersburg, 727-525-9876.
Best Full-Service Gas Station: Bob Lee's
Sometimes it’s just too hot or you’re just too lazy to get out of the car. Those are the times when you long for the days of yore when full-service gas stations were the norm. But they haven’t all vanished: You can still stop in St. Pete tire institution Bob Lee’s for a fill-up without ever having to leave the air-conditioned comfort of your car. They’ll even check your oil and tire pressure while you’re there. 1631 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-822-3981.
Best Home Store for When You've Overgrown Pier 1: Being: The Art of Living
Nothing against the Pier, but when you’re looking for furnishings a little less mass market and a lot more high style, it’s time to move to another state of Being. As epitomized by the casual élan of its dreadlocked furniture maestro Elle, Being (celebrating a fifth anniversary this year at Baywalk) is all about unpretentious but unmistakable chic. Nothing’s cheap, but nothing’s break-the-bank expensive either, and everything’s of good quality. Like an amazingly comfortable woven-leather wing chair, a classy update to the canvas butterfly chair that has long graced dorm rooms. Or the handsome “plinyl” (that’s polyester vinyl) place mats and area rugs from Chilewich. Or anything by master modern furniture mavens Mitchell Gold. Plus witty kids’ toys, Florida postcard coasters, unusual jewelry, candles in scents (and colors) like papaya and coconut, and enough throw pillows to smother every upholstered surface in your house — not that a Being customer would do anything that excessive. Baywalk, Second Avenue N. and Second Street N., St. Petersburg, 727-822-6252.
Best Old-Fashioned Hardware Store: St. Pete Beach Hardware
If you’ve ever despaired at finding what you want, let alone anyone to help you, in the cavernous aisles of Lowe’s or The Home Depot, then St. Pete Beach Hardware is for you. Whether you’re in search of major DIY gear or just need a single nut of a certain size, the helpful staff here will know exactly where to find it and whether it’ll suit your needs. The down-home customer service isn’t the only thing that provokes nostalgia; this place also smells exactly like all hardware stores used to smell. What is it? Sawdust? Turpentine? Whatever it is, it smells like home … improvement. 320 75th Ave., St. Pete Beach, 727-367-1959.
Best Adult Goods: XTC Supercenter of North Tampa
Theoretically, you can get your dirty goods at any adult retail store, but why chance having to visit multiple sites when you can pretty much find anything and everything you need all in one place? Of the several XTC Supercenters located throughout the Bay area, we recommend the North Tampa location for its clean showroom and friendly staff. In addition to row upon row of shelves jam-packed with pretty much every genre of porn you could ever want, there’s a huge selection of vibrators and dildos, harnesses and strap-ons, penis pumps, lubes, lotions and love kits. Looking for a transsexual blow-up doll, or perhaps a glow-in-the-dark pussy? The place has these and more. The best feature? The video arcade is separate from the retail space, so you don’t have to worry about any awkward run-ins with flustered customers. 330 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-930-0069, www.xtcsupercenters.com.
Best Place to Buy Toner and Ink Cartridges: Carrco
This Clearwater company is just as cheap as using eBay, much more reliable and a helluva lot quicker. After you’ve shaken your toner cartridge and squeezed out every last drop, just call the folks at Carrco and by the next morning you’ll have a new (recycled of course) cartridge in hand. And no delivery fee. 800-889-5187 or 727-572-8866, or www.carrcocartridges.com.
Best Place to Tap Your Inner Mexican: RoCo Traders
Situated on the eastern edge of St. Pete’s Grand Central district, this shop is classily arrayed with exotic furniture, jewelry, pottery, art and tchotchkes galore, the large majority of it imported from Mexico. Owners Durella Rodriguez and Mary Coyle take regular buying trips south of the border to give the RoCo its distinctly ethnic flavor. The merch ranges from heavy wood barstools to delicate faux flowers, and lots and lots of neat stuff made out of silver. Oh, and make sure you check out the plateful of $10 watches. 2115 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-895-8922.
Best Place To Buy One-Of-A-Kind Greeing Cards: Cherie's Eklectika
The address of Cherie’s snazzy website — which is almost as fun as the shop — is welovestpete.com. That’s apt, because Cherie and Britt Doughtie’s corner store is one of the places that make St. Pete lovable. Everything here lives up to the slogan, “Future retro with a slice of kitsch.” From the blue bucketful of “ugly dolls” by the cash register, to the touristy-on-purpose T-shirts, to cards you won’t find anywhere else, Cherie’s is a treasure trove of stylishly tacky fun and a great place to gift shop (there’s L’Occitane soaps and cool kids’ books, too). Plus, the owners are art collectors, and shoppers can find works by such famous outsider artists as Howard Finster and local heroes like Chad Mize. 202 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg, 727-821-4336.
[map]
Best Place to Buy Obligatory Greeting Cards: GCO Gift & Card Outlet
Along with bikinis and Rolling Stones tickets, greeting cards are the most overpriced consumer items around. A joke card for $8.95? C’mon. The giftee shucks it from the envelope, forces a chuckle, throws it aside and gets to the real business at hand: opening the damn present. (The card gets ignored even more if there’s cash inside.) Now, if you’re one of those people who like to spend a couple hours and three stops to find the perfect card, then GCO is not for you. But if you recognize that gift cards are little more than throwaways, and it doesn’t really matter how they look or what they say, then GCO is it. Cards are 59 cents, two for a dollar. You can even find some nice ones, if you don’t mind surveying the racks for a bit. But spend all of 14 seconds and grab a dull one. Hey, the price is right. The person who opens the thing will at least pretend to like it. 5225 Fourth St. N., Suite C, St. Petersburg, 727-521-4592.
Best Place to Find Your Mother (Or Your Favorite Drag Queen) a Wig: Paramount Wigs
How does a business stay successful for 36 years in a desolate block of downtown Tampa? Because Paramount Wigs owner Connie Kim knows her clientele. She’s fitted thousands of wigs on mothers, daughters, grandmothers — sometimes all from the same family — as well as drag performers with names like Chi Chi Lalique and Chanel Stevens, and her first priority with all of her customers is to “make them feel comfortable.” One CL staffer’s mother is a case in point; she was anything but comfortable with the idea of purchasing her first wig, but with Connie’s patient guidance she wound up delightedly buying two. 902 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-228-9242.
Best Improvement to What was Already a Great Airport: Newfangled parking lots at TIA
First, there’s the new economy parking lot. After you get your ticket at the gate, you see a sign at the entrance ramp to the garage that tells you exactly how many parking spaces are open at each level. Instead of driving around and getting angsty about the possibility of missing your flight, you can head straight for the level with the most space — and park for just $7 a day. Not far from the economy lot there’s the new cellphone lot. Waiting in your vehicle for arriving flights is verboten at the terminal, of course, so the cellphone lot provides a welcome alternative: no time limit, an information board that tells you when flights have arrived — and free Wi-Fi! Situated off the George J. Bean Parkway near the post office.
Best Exercise Class: Brian Gadson's Aerobics Workout at the Y
Every Monday and Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., Brian Gadson breezes into the upstairs aerobics studio at the Central City YMCA, greets folks with a high-watt smile, kibitzes, teases, picks out some music and starts leading the class with a simple march in place. It only gets better from there. Brian is part dance instructor, part playful drill sergeant, and (big) part friend. You CANNOT help but feel good after going through Brian’s hour, which includes about 45 minutes of cardio and 15 of floor exercise. He makes it fun — and a bit competitive if you want it. A lot of exercise teachers can take you through the motions; it takes a gifted one to make a simple hour of moving around a special experience. And let’s give a little shout-out to the class regulars — Kim, Ovetta, Mary, Carolyn and the rest. They definitely help keep the energy (and good times) at a high ebb. 110 E. Palm Ave. Tampa, 813-229-9622.
Best Car Salesman: Aretta Sevastakis
Best car salesperson? An oxymoron, you say? Doesn’t have to be. Aretta Sevastakis sells at Crown Mercedes with style and panache, combining just the right amounts of feistiness and humor. With Aretta, the car-dealer experience is like hanging out with a friend — albeit a friend who just happens to want to sell you an expensive German automobile. Please understand — no one at Creative Loafing has actually bought a Mercedes from Aretta. Didn’t seem to have that extra $80K laying around. We happened across her during another story and she really charmed us. Let’s just say that we can hope and dream to someday shop for a Mercedes, and when that time comes, we’ll be asking for Ms. Sevastakis. 6001 34th St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-526-3738.
Best Travel Agent: Rebecca Falkenberry, Hills Travel Service
Planning that big trip to Machu Picchu or an adventure trek in Alaska? Head over to Hills Travel and talk to Rebecca. Specializing in adventure vacations, she really knows the ins and outs of the travel game and can be invaluable in helping you plan. Rebecca’s been nationally recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the best 100 travel agents in the U.S.; by Travel and Leisure as a “Top Travel Agent;” and National Geographic Traveler as “Best Travel Expert.” 1500 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-896-7161, www.hillstravel.com.
Best Rims: RZ Motoring
Gotta have blades, right? Even that ’94 Hyundai’s gotta have some custom 20s, let alone the Mercedes. RZ, situated near the corner of Himes and Cypress, has bunches of the shiny beasts — by Lowenhart, Maya, RH Pro, Project IX and others — and if they don’t stock ’em they can get ’em, big as you like. The clean, pleasant showroom is staffed with knowledgeable dudes who can help you make the right choice and avoid those deadly rim faux pas. And for extra eye candy, in one area sits a bright yellow Lamborghini — just in case you want to let your fantasies run free. 3614 W. Cypress St., Tampa, 813-873-2235, www.rzmotoring.com.
Best Plumber: Gary Forbes, Forbes Plumbing
Home maintenance is stressful enough when you know what you’re doing; when you don’t, it can have you eyeballing sharp objects. It’s nice to find a tradesman who can be trusted to fix whatever might need fixin’ without trying to screw you at every turn. Gary Forbes is one of these, a Massachusetts native who’s practiced his craft in sunny Florida for the past 26 years, the last 11 or so as a licensed contractor serving Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough and even Manatee counties. Forbes is the type of guy who can put you at ease almost at once with his friendly, straightforward manner. He’ll look you in the eye when he tells you what needs to be done, won’t beat around the bush about the price and will try his best not to inconvenience you in any way. If he can’t perform the task at hand, he’ll help you find someone who can rather than try to wing it. Likewise, if Forbes is working on a project and can’t locate a contractor to perform a task that he can do but normally doesn’t (such as installing tile), he’s not afraid of getting his hands dirty if it means completing the job quickly and efficiently. Most important, he’ll explain everything he’s done so you’re not left scratching your head. 727-804-6721 or 727-544-0684.
Best CL Staff Colonoscopist: Dr. John Stauffer
This year, three CL staffers and one life partner of a staffer had to get colonoscopies. That’s where they stick a long tube into your rectum and, once in the intestine, take pictures, remove polyps and that sort of stuff. Decorum and oppressive HIPAA laws prevent us from giving you names and details, but suffice to say that two of the procedures were routine, two were because of pain symptoms. Dr. Stauffer (affectionately known hereabouts as Dr. Stuffer) was our man in each instance. He takes time and care with each patient and is a master with the scope. Here’s the best part: The two diagnostic procedures turned out fine, and the two sick people got better. That’s some fine doctorin’, if you ask us. Stauffer is aided by the excellent nursing and support staff at Memorial Hospital (which – full disclosure – includes CL staffer Eric Snider’s wife Bonnie), where he does about a gazillion colonoscopies a day — and yet it never feels like a production line. Stauffer’s actual specialty is gastroenterology. But to us, he’ll always be Dr. John Stuffer: Colonoscopist. Memorial Hospital of Tampa, 2901 Swann Ave., Tampa, 813-873-6400.
Best Ethical Repair Shop: Gulfport Transmission
Those of us with limited auto repair experience and a healthy distrust of all mechanics know it’s hard to find a good repair shop. Almost everyone has suffered a hit in the pocketbook after a mechanic has taken advantage of our ignorance or desperation. That’s why it’s so important there are people like Ed Buckinger. For the last 18 years, the owner and chief mechanic of Gulfport Transmission has offered honest service at a reasonable price. He has nary a complaint at the Better Business Bureau and relies on his good reputation for business, instead of traditional advertising. Except for tires and alignment issues, Buckinger is all the repairman you’ll ever need. 4936 15th Ave. S., Gulfport, 727-323-0854.
Best Dentist: Sebastian J. Castellano, D.D.S., P.A.
Let’s face it: Nobody likes to go to the dentist. It’s uncomfortable, expensive and one office visit can leave you a drooling, mumbling fool. Fortunately for your mouth, there are dental practices like the one run by Dr. Sebastian J. Castellano. Family owned and operated (that’s Dr. Castellano’s wife behind the desk), these folks know how to keep a patient comfortable. A CL staffer went to Dr. Castellano for a series of cleanings, including one multi-visit extravaganza that involved deep ultrasonic cleaning of different quadrants of the mouth, all of which was completed with a minimum of pain and without any injections at all. (The good doctor preferred a numbing gel for the procedure.) Low pain and no needle? Chew on that for a moment. Dr. Sebastian J. Castellano, D.D.S., P.A., 302 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-878-0300.
Best Post Office: Crossroads Post Office, St. Pete The Crossroads Post Office on the corner of 13th Avenue and 66th Street in St. Pete is something to behold. The people who work there are extraordinarily friendly and helpful and seem to like each other, too. If it’s all a big act, give them each a People’s Choice Award. They explain the various services, give advice on the best way to get your mail wherever it needs to go without spending too much and always ask if you need stamps before you leave the counter. The service is so good, you half-expect to hear them say, “You want fries with that?” This group could redefine the term “going postal.” 1275 66th St. N., St. Petersburg, 800-ASK-USPS.
Best Smelly Tourist Gift: A Sea Sponge from the Tarpon Springs dock
Nothing quite says “I thought of you while on my Florida vacation” like a sea sponge from the Tarpon Springs dock area. I mean just look at it. It’s the perfect gift. It’s useful; even while wet, the naturally scratchiness of the sponge rakes off the first couple of dead layers of skin you’re always carrying around. You can also bestow a Tarpon Springs sponge on loved ones with a hygiene problem as a gentle clue that they should shower more lest they become as smelly as the sponge you’re giving them. The sponge also makes a perfect decorative item, giving off a unique scent that’s somewhere between red tide and old salt.
This article appears in Sep 20-26, 2006.