This colorful neighborhood along Gulfport's Beach Boulevard is a treat just to wander around in. Plenty of artists call the area home, and it shows in the brightly painted, mermaid-bedecked houses, front doors and mailboxes. The Village has an art walk each month, where you'll find the shops open late and a block-party vibe going on. Or just drive over on a Saturday afternoon, meet some of the friendly locals and shop for gifts with a distinctly Florida feel.
Beach Bazaar (3115 Beach Blvd., 727-381-8548). A slew of vendors rent space in this crammed shop, selling … well, whatever they can get their hands on, resulting in a mishmash of old clothes, antique jewelry, china sets and all manner of bric-a-brac. For that sci-fi geek in the family, stop by for some Star Wars collectibles cheaper than you'll ever find on eBay.
Domain (3129 Beach Blvd., 727-302-9299). Domain represents about 60 artists from across the Suncoast, and we're not talking about the fish and flamingo set. "We try to keep functional art, not just dust collectors," says occasional employee Brian Kane. Every spare inch of this tiny shop is filled with one-of-a-kind chandeliers; hand-painted mugs, glasses and lamps; gorgeous, semi-precious stone jewelry; and the most eclectic collection of switchplate covers ever. The wino on your list could do worse than a super-cool desk lamp fashioned from a cabernet bottle ($45). (Bonus: Domain is connected via a doorway to H. T. Kanes restaurant. Save enough money to wander over for some of the restaurant's specialty — whole-belly Ipswich clams.)
Tropical Gale (2908 Beach Blvd., 727-321-9228). Speaking of fish and flamingoes, your grandma will go ga-ga over the Hawaiian-print caps and mermaid- and fish-inspired gifts at Tropical Gale. The cool steel wall sculptures of geckos, frogs, crabs and manatees were made for Florida rooms. We were particularly fond of the "Floozie" — a colorful fabric-covered, fur-lined can coozie. Perfect for Red Hat Society divas.
Nancy Gable Makin' Art (2914 Beach Blvd., 727-327-9992). Local artist Gable sells her work out of this quaint shop, which fronts on the equally quaint Art Village Courtyard (Tropical Gale is in this little enclave as well). We found walking canes decoupaged with bits of colorful paper; a hand-painted director's chair; and emotion-filled portraits and cityscapes. And any couple celebrating their first holiday together needs a pair of Gable's delicate, hand-painted glass ball ornaments for their tree ($15 each).
This article appears in Nov 16-23, 2005.