Hanging Around

By Caron Schwartz

SOUTH PASADENA ... It may not have Caltech or the Rose Bowl like its California namesake, but tiny South Pasadena has a lot going for it. My sweetheart, Lenny, and I recently discovered a few gems.

One Monday evening we wandered into downtown Gulfport seeking drinks and dinner. Sadly, not much was open, and we were hungry. We ran into our friend Susan who was in the same boat, so the three of us decided to head west to the Horse & Jockey, a British-style pub with live country music the first Thursday of the month and jazz the third Thursday. On Dec. 15, they will have a Christmas sing-along. The place was noisy and pleasantly packed. Susan took advantage of the British theme and ordered steak and ale pie. Lenny and I were less adventurous: conventional burger for him, veggie for me. We washed it down with pints of English ale and left feeling quite jolly indeed.

A practical guy, Lenny asked where I kept sewing needles so he could replace some errant shirt buttons. “Not sure,” I said, “But I know just the place to find them.” For 50 years, Jay’s Fabric Center is legendary. Lenny found just what he needed, and, at Mr. Jay’s suggestion, I bought needles for my ancient sewing machine, vowing to repair my pile of ripped hems.

For refreshments we wandered into Florida Orange Grove Winery where we went the whole hog, including a backstage tour and tasting. Although only the citrus is grown in Florida, all the wine has been manufactured, aged, and bottled on-site since 1991. I enjoyed the “Midnight Sun,” a Florida orange wine made with coffee, a caffeine connoisseur’s delight. Lenny liked “Florida Grapefruit,” so we took home a bottle. Other delish discoveries included Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish. The smoked fish spread with crackers makes a lovely afternoon snack for two and Leverock’s, perfect for date night. At Pasadena Liquors, owner Jim Valenty knows his grapes; he pointed my sister and me in the direction of the old vine Zin we were looking for. Lenny reports that Pasadena Bar and Grill is a friendly neighborhood watering hole with great burgers. I love the olive and feta at Pasadena Produce (aka Spiro’s) but my weakness is the halvah. Vino Simpatico features live music on weekends. After we shared a delicious six-pour flight at this boutique wine shop we were ready for naps.

ALL CDC GUIDELINES FOLLOWED, PLUS SOCIAL DISTANCING

With the change in season, it’s time to refresh your home and garden. As we live in Paradise, there’s no need to batten down the hatches for a frosty winter.

Is your indoor plant SAD? Just like people with seasonal affective disorder, indoor plants yearn for natural light during the winter months. Why not add a grow light to support strong, healthy growth, increase nutrition and accelerate flowering? For most, full-spectrum, LED grow lights are cost-effective and energy-efficient. Place the grow light within a couple of feet of a plant directly above rather than off to the side. Set your timer for 8-10 hours daily, imitating natural sunlight.

Spot check your home exterior.

Clean your gutters. Make sure there is no damage to your gutters post-storm season as well as clean out fallen leaves, nests, and other debris. Ditto for screen. Do they need repair at a local hardware store? Is it time to rinse pollen and dirt off and look around window exteriors for mudwasp nests or other issues? If your outdoor plastic furniture looks dull or has mold, Mold Armour and a little Lysol cleaner can do wonders for your patio chairs. Sacino’s Cleaners cleans patio cushions and provides free pick-up and delivery to your home.

Add pizzazz with local artisans.

We discovered some home décor and furniture vendors we love at November’s Shopapalooza including Treehouse Gallery, Love Liz XO Designs, Avis Adele Creations, Berry’s Vintage Boutique, Costa Bohemia, Eurolaz, Florida Outdoor Mat Co., Gopali Imports, Great Scott Designs, Sunny South Love, The Seashellmichelle Shop and Two Chubby Seacows.

The Treehouse Gallery was founded by owner Marc Georgian in July 2001 as a rather humble, tiny Mexican rustic furniture store in Odessa, Florida, and is now located in downtown St. Pete, with a 20,000 square foot treasure trove of showrooms, warehouses and garden spaces full of one-of-a-kind furnishings, accessories and statement pieces made from salvaged materials like old doors from Mexico, beams from demolished agricultural cabins, boat wood from Indonesian fishing vessels, oil drums from Haiti, bulkhead lights from decommissioned ships and architectural carvings from India to name a few.

For more design and home improvement ideas, visit these recommended professionals: Granite Girl, Van Selow Design, New Closet Today, The Shutter Man, Budget Blinds, The Shutter Guy, and Beacon Windows and Doors.

Granite, Quartz, Marble Call for your FREE Estimate 727-800-2013

Check out our 5 star reviews at www.GraniteGirl.com

Residential & Commercial - Liscensed & Insured 3725 131st. Ave. N, Clearwater, FL 33762

FREE SINK with countertop purchase. Expires 1/31/23

Contracts for the Purchase and Sale of Real Estate

Real estate transactions in America are nothing if not complex. The number of terms involved in even the most basic deals is surprising.

In addition to the purchase price, there is the closing date, as well as the amount of escrow funds to be deposited and when. The amount of the price to be financed, along with the method of financing is quite complicated. Closing costs and who pays for which are important.

The right to inspect the property is important, along with the timing of inspections, and the ramifications of the inspection revealing information that disappoints the buyers’ expectations.

A great deal of information about the property needs to be disclosed to the buyer.

Even after the basic terms of the transaction are agreed to, there are several things that the legal duty to close are contingent upon, that is, the buyer may be able to walk away from the deal without losing his or her deposit. What happens when there is a disagreement about any of these items, and what procedures are required to cope with such disagreements?

This is a very short list of the complexities that have to be coped with to successfully get to closing. The good news is that a good contract form, skillfully executed, takes all of these things (and much more) into account, and just reading such a contract can help you understand how all of these details are reconciled.

There is a form in almost universal use throughout Florida, which was drafted by a committee of Florida real estate lawyers and Florida Realtors, known as the FR/Bar or FAR/Bar Contract. Happily, it is designed not to give an advantage to the buyer or seller over the other, but rather to balance the needs and interests of both sides to the transaction as fairly as possible. It is 12 pages long, and if you can read it all the way through you will know a lot of real estate contract law. Of course, there are also addenda that accommodate the additional details of buying and selling condominiums, arranging seller financing, and other complications.

More good news is found in the fact that almost all real estate agents have been trained in the use of these contracts, and there are many real estate lawyers who have used them for years and can bring a great deal more skill to the table in working with them. The Florida courts have also handled a great many cases based on these contracts, and we all feel sure about how their language will be interpreted by the courts.

ANDERSON & BRODERSEN, P.A.

350 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706

727-363-6100 www.PropertyLawGroup.com

Life Of The Party LLC, has provided singing telegrams and entertainers throughout the greater Tampa Bay area for 20 years, from Venice, Lakewood Ranch and Lakeland to New Port Richey, and especially on the beaches. They have singing telegrams and entertainers for all occasions, including birthdays, holidays, promotion, romantic, going-away, last day, get-well, anniversary, retirement, Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s, Boss’ & Secretary’s Day, or just to say “I’m thinking of you!”

Jay, who loves to dress up in drag, has a magical voice that can sing just about anything! His most popular singing telegram is the “Funky Chicken.” It is interactive, and, in the end, everyone does the chicken dance. The pink and black gorillas are hilarious and well received. Other great telegrams include Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Sinatra, Dean Martin, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, and others.

The musicians and singers bring everything they need, including lights and sound, to provide the best in party entertainment. You need only provide space and power. Entertainer variety includes: DJ’s, karaoke, clowns, belly & hula dancers, jugglers, magicians, comedians, variety acts, acrobats, stilt walkers, face and body painters. They are adding new entertainers constantly.

Entertainers for children include: princess parties, pirate parties, mermaids, clowns, balloon twisters and artists, face painters, children’s magicians, jugglers, kiddy karaoke, DJ’s and more.

Entertainers can be booked 9am-midnight, sometimes later. Your entertainer will be in contact before the performance to work out any special details at that time. They like to personalize every performance.

Life Of The Party LLC is highly rated online. Reviews can be found on Yelp and Facebook. Email them details, the date and time, the address, your name and phone number and the type entertainers or entertainment requested. Email to lifeofthepartyllc@icloud.com, text or call 727-363-4343, 9am-8pm daily.

Searching for holiday and football Sunday appetizers beyond chips and onion dip? Why not try some local favorites? We adore Kalamazoo’s Basil Pesto, Tomato Pesto and Eggplant spread from Delicious & Sons. Go crazy with Trader Joe’s Sour Cream Spinach Dip, Everything But The Bagel Greek Yogurt Dip, Organic Buffalo Style Hummus or Spanish Romesco Dip. Pre-order from Publix their app-to-go: Classic Hummus, Chili Lime Hummus, Olive Tapenade, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Buffalo Chicken Dip, Toasted Pita Chips, Sliced Naan, Bagel Chips.

The best smoked fish spread dip in town is Nachman’s and Ted Peters.

Want to pick up a holiday meal to go for two or 10? Go traditional or ethnic. Order now from Fresh Market, The Club at Treasure Island, Mazzaro’s

Italian Market, Da Sesto, Belleair Market, Outer Banks Boil Company, Pipo’s, Nori Thai, Basil Leaf, Slyce, Brooklyn Pizza, Coastal Pizza, The Helm,

Athenian Garden, Sea Grapes and Zom Hee.

Fresh Market’s 5-Layer Mexican Dip Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, combine seasoning mix with sour cream. Spread cream cheese on bottom of an 8x8 oven proof dish. Layer black beans, salsa, sour cream mixture and cheddar cheese on top. Bake 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with green onions, black olives and jalapeno peppers. Serve with tortilla chips.

WE ARE OPEN FOR DINE IN AND TAKE OUT CURBSIDE PICKUP AVAILABLE 727.209.2695

Safer, More Intimate Private Booths Reservations Recommended Tuesday-Thursday 12pm-9pm Friday 12pm-10pm Saturday 4pm-10pm 7201 66th St N, Pinellas Park

HOLIDAY PETS

It’s the season for giving and we have a lot to celebrate. We’ve made it through Covid and have a renewed sense of normal. During this period, pet adoptions were at an all-time high. There were lines out of the doors of shelters, people were sleeping in shelter parking lots so they could be the first in line in order to adopt a pet, and for the first time in a while shelters were not overflowing. They were emptying. This activity has subsided and shelters are filling up again. Fosters and pet parents are needed at an increased level.

However, pets are not gifts and should not be treated as such. Whether adopting or purchasing a pet from a responsible breeder, neither should be thought of as a gift. There is always, no matter how much one knows a person, a question on whether the recipient is willing or ready to have a lifelong commitment to a pet. Pets are not an object that you can leave in a room and forget about until you are ready to play with them.

They require constant love and attention, training, food, water, vaccinations, regular health checkups, care and medications when sick and the list goes on. Pets are an emotional commitment as well as a financial commitment.

Even if you are sure of the recipient’s commitment level and readiness to have a pet, there is a certain amount of responsibility of the person gifting the pet. Should something go awry then you share responsibility to correct the situation. This may include providing a home and taking responsibility for the pet or finding another responsible home to adopt the pet.

The bottom line is pets are not gifts. They are a commitment, responsibility, and decision that really should be left to oneself. Consider other gift options for your loved one’s current pets, making a donation to a shelter of your choice in their honor, or even giving the gift of pet insurance for a loved one’s pet to help ease the financial burden. Happy Holidays everyone!

Island Life Animal Hospital

Dr. Danielle Gallo & Dr. Johnathan Pierce 5901 Sun Blvd., Suite 107, St. Petersburg

727-289-3776 islandlifeanimalhospital.vet