Events

1. Coastal Clean-Up. Feel like doing something environmentally sound? Come to Dunedin Causeway and join the others armed with trash bags to clean up the area. Sat., April 19, Dunedin Causeway, 8 a.m. For more info, contact Dunedin Volunteer Services, 727-812-4545.

2. Films in Pioneer Park. Join the citizens of Dunedin for an evening screening of John Huston's The Maltese Falcon (1941). Humphrey Bogart stars as Detective Sam Spade. For more information, contact Jan Sebald, 727-812-7598. Fri., April 11, Screening starts at dusk.

Attractions

3. Dunedin Fine Art Center. A thriving community art center with classes for both kids and grownups, DFAC is also, amazingly enough, a great place to catch artwork on the cutting edge. Shows like the Contain It! Installation Fest and the always-outrageous Wearable Art extravaganza attract big crowds of the young and deeply hip. 1143 Michigan Blvd., 727-298-3322, dfac.org.

4. Honeymoon Island. A short drive across the Dunedin Causeway will lead you to this preserve of mangrove swamps and nature trails. The cozy beach offers a nice alternative to the neon wasteland of Pier 60 and Clearwater Beach. 8 a.m. until sundown. Honeymoon Island State Park, 727-469-5942, floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland.

5. Knology Park. This modest stadium has been the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays since 1990. It was renamed Knology Park in 2004 in a naming-rights deal. Both the Canadian and American national anthems are sung before the game, and Labatt Blue is on tap. 373 Douglas Ave., 727-733-0429.

6. Pinellas Trail. Extending from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, the Fred E. Marquis Pinellas Trail provides a safe and fun domain for biking, jogging, walking and skating. This linear park and recreation trail, opened officially in 1990, runs directly through downtown Dunedin and behind Skip's Bar & Grill (see below). pinellascounty.org/trailgd.

Food & drink

7. Bellini. Familiar classic Italian fare, complete with faux plaster on the walls, murals and a gorgeously lit patio area. 487 Main St., 727-733-5449, bellinidunedin.com.

8. Black Pearl. Long a destination spot, the Black Pearl often shows up on "Most Romantic" lists due to its cozy dining room (and Dunedin location, perhaps). The fare, while not surprising, shows flashes of eclectic imagination. 315 Main St., 727-734-3463, the blackpearlofdunedin.com.

9. Cafe Alfresco. An odd but tasty mishmash of New Orleans, Florida, Italy and Greek cuisines. 344 Main St., 727-736-4299, cafealfrescoonline.com.

10. Casa Tina. This family-owned downtown Mexican restaurant, which recently expanded, offers fresh and healthy takes on authentic classics. It's all here — ceviche, black bean soup, fajitas, chayote relleno, posole, fish tacos, etc. Plus, where else can you find the Starving Artist Special — a large plate of vegetarian rice, beans and warm tortillas for under $6? Also worth a try: their new wine bar, Pan y Vino, which occupies the old space next door. 365 Main St., 727-734-9226, casatinas.com.

11. Dunedin Brewery. With seven ales brewed year-round and five or more seasonal offerings throughout the year, the Dunedin Brewery boasts some of the best beer in Florida. There is live music every night and a friendly open mic on Wednesdays. Bring your guitar and try the Apricot Wheat Ale. It's brewed with natural apricot puree harvested in the Willamette Valley of North Western Oregon. 937 Douglas Ave., 727-736-0606, dunedinbrewery.com.

12. Eddie's. With 40 draft beers on tap and a 3,000-square-foot game room with pool tables, darts and air hockey, this sports bar & grill is great for family dining. (Try the grilled chicken pasta salad.) Live music from 6-10 p.m. 1283 Bayshore Blvd., 727-734-2300, info@eddiesbarandgrill.com.

13. Flanagan's Irish Pub. Celtic fun with traditional dishes like bangers and mash, corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips and gallons of Guinness. Dim lighting and Irish folk sing-alongs don't hurt the experience either. 465 Main St., 727-736-4994, flanagansirishpub.net.

14. Kelly's … For Just About Anything. CL's Brian Ries captured the spirit of this aptly named establishment when he wrote, "It's a crazy place that manages to be the unexpected heart and soul of Downtown Dunedin." Plus, as you'll read elsewhere in this issue, Kelly's makes a burger good enough to make the Final Four in this year's CL Tournament of Burgers. 319 Main St., 727-736-5284, kellyschicaboom.com.

15. Sea Sea Riders. With a great view of the Dunedin Marina, Sea Sea Riders is the perfect spot to enjoy fresh salad, seafood and steak. The nautical décor provides a great backdrop for supper with family of all ages. 221 Main St., 727-734-1445, seaseariders.net/index.htm.

16. Skip's Bar & Grill. The quintessential bar of the Pinellas Trail. In addition to the staples, Skip's offers two customized brews: the Jogger Lager and the Trail Ale. Both are tasty and prices of pitchers are reasonable. The outdoor seating area, complete with brimming dog bowls for thirsty canines, is among the most charming and friendly in the area. 271 Main St., 727-734-9151.

Cool shops

17. The Energy Conservatory Bike Shop. When the Pinellas Trail runs right through the middle of your town, it makes sense that you'd have a really good bike shop, right? Dunedin has just that in the Energy Conservatory, which not only has a cool name but a really cool website, with features including Bike Pictionary, This Month in Cycling and more. 745 Main St., 727-736-4432, energybicycle.com.

18. Kismat. Listen to world beats while looking over imported goodies from places like Morocco, Mexico and Indonesia; unique jewelry and natural gemstones; Baltic amber earrings, pendants and bracelets; Celtic and fossil adornments; and even jewelry produced from old Turkish coins. 355 Main St., 727-733-0040.

19. Palm Latitudes. A huge collection of Key West and Caribbean-style gifts, including arts and crafts, home accessories (like hula girl lamps and totem pole salt-and-pepper shakers), CDs, jewelry and clothing. 340 Main St., 727-733-7343, palmlatitude@tampabay.rr.com.

20. Purple Moon. Located in a cute purple house originally built in the early 1900s, this coffeehouse and gift shop is a Dunedin mainstay with its cozy ambiance and incense-saturated air. Here, you can find all sorts of inspirational gifts, books like Meditation Made Easy and The Disappearance of the Universe, CDs, jewelry, crystals, cards and prints by fantasy artists. 833 Douglas Ave., 727-738-1540, purplemooninc.com.

21. Stirling Winery. One part gift shop, two parts winery, this establishment carries an assortment of cool and kooky gifts as well as a respectable selection of tropical wines, from the popular, award-winning Mango Mamma to Cracker Hammock Tangerine Champagne, all produced in St. Petersburg. To make the decision-making process easier, you can sample any of the wines for free. 461 Main St., 727-734-4025.

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This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2008.