4 minute read
A Florida Elf's Guide to Gifts
No one really wants to send their hard-earned money to a faceless megacorporation; we’d all rather support a locally owned shop. But while it’s super easy to say “shop local,” where do you start?
We got you! The Gabber’s elfatorial staff put together a list of ways you can shop South Pinellas small businesses and create a meaningful, memorable holiday for you and your loved ones. Feel uncomfortable shopping in a pandemic? These businesses can arrange for shipping, contactless delivery or socially distanced shopping.
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Cathy Salustri
A Friend Who Bakes
Breakfast at Stella’s is a no-brainer for us. (The new Gabber offices are across the Village Courtyard, and we may or may not have a problem with
fport gathers
their Irish Omelet.) Their expanded outdoor seating means you can stuff a gift card in someone’s stocking and know they can eat there safely. stellasingulfport.com
Canoe Country Outfitters can outfit the person on your list who lives for the outdoors, from kayaks to paddleboards and much more. canoecountryfl.com
Donate to a charity or nonprofit in someone’s name: Gulfport Multipurpose Senior Center Foundation, Enroy Foundation, The Gulfport Historical Society, and Gulf Beaches Historical Society all come to mind. guidestar.org
Equality Florida has a rainbow of gifts online. equality-florida. myshopify.com
Funky Flamingo has produce and
Gulfport-famous chicken salad; order a platter to nosh on while you wait for Santa and get some local honey for stocking stuffers. fb.com/ FunkyFlamingoGPFL
Gulfport Beach Bazaar
Gabber subscriptions – yes, we do mail subscriptions – make perfect gifts that keep giving for those on your list who can’t get down to Gulfport this year. thegabber.com/ contact-us
Hand-crafted art and decor from boutiques and galleries on Beach Boulevard, Corey and Central Avenues, and Gulfport’s Third Saturday
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IndieFaire. visitgulfportflorida.com, grandcentraldistrict.org, coreyave. com
Italian – not Italian-American – food from Pia’s Trattoria is a gift you kinda want to keep for yourself, but here’s a solution: give your family a gift card along with a nice bottle of wine for all of you. piastrattoria.com
Jack Providenti has a 2021 calendar featuring a different Gulf beach painting every month. jackprovidenti. fineartstudioonline.com
Kayak Nature Adventures offers socially distanced kayak and paddleboard tours. Gift the gift of getting outside! kayaknature.com
Let It Be Ice Cream is our local ice cream hero. Cakes, pints and dog ice cream… check out their holidaythemed cinnamon Gabberwocky. letitbeicecream.com
Marketplace, hosted by LocalShops1, represents more than a thousand local makers and artists – and you can shop online. localshops1.com/marketplace
Neptune Grill offers seafood and Greek cuisine, with dining outdoors overlooking Gulfport Beach. Bring the family or get a gift card for the finicky eaters on your list. neptunegrillgulfport.com
OLLI at Eckerd offers ongoing classes. Buy a membership for the lifelong learner, or a pass to one of the classes. Their Explore Florida membership comes with a Floridathemed gift. eckerd.edu/olli/holiday
Pasadena Produce makes delectable Greek desserts, and has a respectable wine selection. facebook. com/Pasadenaproduceanddeli
Quirky gifts from the Gulfport Beach Bazaar. They also have great holiday decor, books from local authors, and Gulfport-themed ephemera. gulfportbeachbazaar.com
Readers on your list will love local authors as well as the classics from indie bookstores like Tombolo Books, Haslam’s and Cultured Books, to name a few. tombolobooks.com, culturedbooks.com, haslams.com
Shrimp at PJ’s. Or any seafood. Also, they have a fantastic beer selection. Wrap a gift card in a PJ’s t-shirt and remind the recipient PJ’s has an outdoor patio. pjsoysterbar.net
Tuesday in Gulfport you can find homemade pet treats, artisan food, and handmade items for dogs and humans on your list. gulfporttuesdayfreshmarket.com
Upcycled clothes are hot this year.
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Get customized jackets and more from Spenny Lane made just for that special someone. Reporter Laura has a kitten shirt from them that she loves like it’s a real kitten. spennylane.com
Vegans love Golden Dinosaurs
Vegan Delicatessen and will no doubt wear one of their logo totes with pride. Tuck a gift card into the bag and throw in a Narragansett tall boy. Cheers! goldendinosaurs.com
White Gate Court is the only non-Pinellas gift option on our list, but hear us out: This seven-unit dog-loving resort in Islamorada is perfect for the dog-lover on your list. They’re a leash-free resort and yes, that includes the beach. The owners live on-property, so your money goes to a small business, not a hotel conglomerate. whitegatecourt.com
Xeriscape sounds daunting, but it’s actually the easiest way to maintain a yard. Willow Tree has exceptional plants that make great gifts for the gardener on your list. willowtreenursery.com
You need to take care of yourself. After all, 2020’s been a year. We love Acupuncture by Cate, Maddy Spa, Art of Massage and, when we want to feel good, we buy flowers from Thai Orchids. Bransfield-acupuncture.com, fb.com/ lovemaddyspa, myartofmassage.com, thaiorchidsandleis.com
Z aiya ArtiZen Market bills itself as the “coolest little hippie beach store” but that only scratches the surface. From celestial leggings to crystals, we think it’s the most Zen place in town. fb.com/zaiyamarket
Golden Dinosaurs Vegan Deli
Tombolo Books
