BEST LOCAL LOST WEEKEND
Granger House
Nestled between all these condos are renovated, intimate cottages. Upscale, very modern. There are hot tubs, a heated pool, upstairs deck. Instead of mints on your pillow, Beverly Granger gives you wine. A romantic adult getaway, without the mirrors on the ceilings. It's not sleazy adult. Right on the water, with a great view.
Granger House, 618 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach, 727-593-5518.
BEST GUY WHO'S DONE IT HIS WAY (AGAINST THE GRAIN)
Evander Preston
He produces real cool stuff in his gallery/studio on Pass-a-Grille. Looks like a biker, was a member of Chaine des Rotisseurs and the International Wine and Food Society. Knows cigars, and has a mean streak I can really get close to. Evander Preston Gallery reflects its owner's eclectic personality. A contemporary art collection, an African mask collection, a vintage Russian motorcycle. New Orleans-esque, with a wrought-iron balcony railing. Three Great Danes walk throughout. A butler answers the door, yet it's cool if you're wearing beach attire. The staff offers you Evander's own white sangria. It goes down like lemonade — turns your knees to gelatin, your logic to a pulsing miasma of froth.
In a good way. Evander's also a gourmet cook; he specializes in kind of an Indian/Asian fusion thing that he was doing way before anyone talked about fusion cooking. Does it all on a wok stove. A great jazz improv pianist and practical joker. He makes stunning jewelry — like a gold bubble blower with a diamond encrusted shaft, and a working toy train made of gold and gems. Pop Jewelry. He makes stuff you can wear, too. Shiny love tokens for that "special" occasion. Shiny baubles of contention when you get "divorced." Evander's a lovable asshole. Well, not THAT lovable.
Evander Preston Gallery, 106 Eighth Ave., St. Pete Beach, 727-367-7894.
BEST IMPROVISATIONAL ICONOCLAST ON WHEELS
Dick Schaal
A founding member of Second City in the late 1950s, Dick is looking to open a Second City down here. He's a very funny guy; improvisation is his thing. Played on a bunch of sitcoms and movies. Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, Once Bitten, Slaughterhouse Five, The Russians are Coming… — to name a few. In a motorized wheelchair now, he races around on that thing, often with women on his lap. ("Dancing" he calls it…) Has great energy. Still engaged and active. Loves to talk politics and religion. He's in his 70s and still building on the local arts/theater scene. I made ramps in my backyard for him … gotta install a half-pipe.
BEST SALON
Salon Vachon
OK, having said all that other stuff about not liking salons, this is an exception. Coolest thing about it is it's a studio salon, kind of like hanging out in a living room with some friends, friends with foils on their heads, while Mary Beth and Becky Vachon work their magic. They make me feel pretty.
Salon Vachon, 4601 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-522-8424.
BEST OLD FAVORITE
Salt Rock Grill
I like Chef Tom Pritchard. His philosophies and partnerships with Frank Chivas are proven. Salt Rock has consistently great food, attentive service, freaky-funk ambience, a good view. It's fun, loud, there's a vast wine selection, but you can still be very casual. A Salt Rock meal is as good as it gets. It's big and crowded. Usually when that happens, the consistency falls off. Not this place. Plus, they collect art.
Salt Rock Grill, 19325 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, 727-593-7625.
BEST NEW FAVORITES
Café Asado; Fresco's
Café Asado, on Pass-a-Grille, does kind of a Chino-Latino thing. Asian and Cuban food. It's intimate, and the food's Chinolatinalicious. Owner/chef John Delaney makes certain. Fresco's is at the base of The Pier. Features Italian, great Italian seafood. It's becoming a good hang, a cool gathering place. Davio will make you feel special — because you are. Try Sunday brunch.
Café Asado, 118 Eighth Ave., St. Pete Beach, 727-368-0246; Fresco's, 300 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg, 727-894-4429.
BEST SHRINK
Donna Fleece
She's a psychologist for Pinellas County Schools for at-risk middle school kids. Jeb Bush may not want to put much thought into this. Luckily, Donna, and those like her, do.
BEST PLACE FOR WINE
Pic Pac Fine Wine & Spirits
Lee Neal shares his knowledge of what's good and new without coming across like a priggish sommelier. If he's ignorant about something, he'll tell you and then find out about it. Having a dinner party? Tell Lee your menu and budget. He almost always comes in under budget and suggests the perfect pairing. He holds a casual wine tasting every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. Lee's off on Thursdays, so go a different day. Lee swears he taught Tom Pritchard everything he knows about wine.
Pic Pac Fine Wine & Spirits, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-347-0743.
BEST NOT-SO-EVIL DEVELOPER
Morin Development Group
Had we not met over a painting, Ken Morin and I probably would have dismissed each other as stereotypes: him developer, me artist. He's become a patron of the arts and a friend. One of Morin's developments is Suncoast Crossings. At first glance, you'd think it was just another subdivision at the Pasco-Hillsborough line. It used to be a beautiful cypress hammock and wetland, but the land was drained and waters re-routed for sprawling cow pastures and all the environmental unfriendliness that goes with that. Morin Development hired environmental engineers to route the waters to their original flows. The cypress stands are making a huge comeback. Instead of putting in palm trees where there were oaks or pasture, they are planting only indigenous habitat. Somebody was going to develop that land. I'm glad it was this company.
BEST GALLERY/ STUDIO COMPLEX
Galleries at Salt Creek/ Salt Creek Artworks
Of course I'm prejudiced, so what? Azell (we call him "Raise-hell") Prince, Pat Burgess (We call her "Sunshine") and the Prince family turned an old furniture manufacture and retail space into Salt Creek Artworks. It's the largest gallery space in Tampa Bay that's not a museum, often featuring provocative, innovative exhibitions. Working artist studios have an industrial feel. This isn't the "art mall." Go to an opening. See the featured artists work in the gallery. Buy some art. Wander throughout the vast building. Visit artists at their studios. Buy some of their art. Come to MY studio. Buy MY art.
Galleries at Salt Creek, 1600 Fourth St. S., St. Petersburg, 727-894-2653.
BEST FRIENDS OF THE ART GRAZERS
Emmanuel Roux and Franck Bouvard
Art grazers are people who show up at receptions for free food and then say they support the arts. Restaurateurs Roux and Bouvard have been serving edible delicacies and beverages for art/theater/museum/etc. events since they opened the Garden Restaurant eons ago. Ex-pat French heroes. True "givers." I mean that. If you're going to be myopic enough to be pissed off at the French, pick on somebody else! 
Editor's note: Lance was interviewed for this issue before his illness. We wish him a speedy recovery.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2003.