Perspectives

What better way to transition into the future than to tip my hat to the past. Next week begins the new, improved "pithier Chris", but the future is not here yet, so I complete one era with homage to those individuals and businesses that have consistently provided superior service or products.

I have, intermittently, over the decades, provided the Winter Park community (and Central Florida) with my version (vision) of "The Best of Winter Park." First, a disclaimer or two. In all of my recommendations, I have personally used their services, purchased their products or enjoyed their cuisine and libations. No one asked me or anticipated I would "plug" their virtues. I receive(d) no kickbacks, discounts or "favors" of any kind. This specific column simply recognizes those individuals and businesses that are consistently exceptional. Hats off to the following:

Best Ceramic Tile Store: Specialty Tile Products on Orange Avenue, in Winter Park. No competition in this category. Simply luscious tile. Gorgeous! Great service. Honorable. It's worth a visit to the showroom to drool over the possibilities. Talk to Tracey Miller at 407-647-9355.

Best Garden Accessory Store: Bocelli Inc on Orange Avenue, in Winter Park. Store adjoins Specialty Tile Products. Visit one, see both. Great assortment of ceramic stoneware and pottery for your garden. Unique bronze figurines of classic nymphs, fairies, etc. They'll plan and build your garden, too. See Monte Livermore at 407-644-9949.

Best Artistic Craft Store: Timothy's Gallery on Park Avenue in Winter Park. I've spent more money in this store buying one-of-a-kind jewelry and art than any other. You can always, and I mean always, go into Timothy's and find something for yourself or a gift for someone special. Without fail. It's their 20th year in business this month! Celebrate with them. Spend. Talk to the store manager, Jill Daunno, at 407-629-0707.

Best Antiques and Gotta Haves: Antiques On The Avenue on Park Avenue in Winter Park. In the last year, I purchased an exquisite standing Victorian candelabra (holds nine candles) and a not so old, hand-painted Japanese, six-panel folding screen. Both were real finds but I don't know how anyone lives with out a candelabra, the lighting is sublime. Great stuff! See Hardy Hudson (doesn't the name alone inspire you!) at 407-657-2100.

Best Fabric & Furniture Reupholstery Shop: Decorative Home Interiors on Highway 17-92, Maitland. The shop has a great fabric selection and superior craftsman in the backroom to rebuild your furniture. High marks all the way around. 407-339-4432.

Best Granite Countertops: Amazon Stone located on Highway 426 in Oviedo. Exquisite selection. Superior service. Fair pricing. Contact Andrea Saraiva at 321-765-4950.

Best Ceiling Fans: Dan's Fan City on North Semoran Boulevard, Orlando. This business honored its warranty and replaced a fan several years after I purchased it. I like that kind of service. Talk to Neil Sapoff at 407-658-0771.

Best Pump Repair Business: A&D Electric Motor & Pump Repair in Fern Park. I saved $200 by simply "refurbishing" my old swimming pool pump. Quick, reliable service. Talk to Al Darling at 407-331-1213.

Best Well Drilling Service: Brothers Well Drilling. It's kind of an esoteric business, but when you need a well, these are the boys for a good drillin'. Talk to Mike Sikes at 407-328-8221.

Best Swimming Pool Deck Resurfacing: Deco-Crete. I just had my deck resurfaced and it's beautiful. Talk to Joseph Wood at 407-733-3252. He's a good soul and an artiste when it comes to decking.

Best Roofer: Batson Roofing of Orlando. When's the last time the owner of a roofing business was up on your roof overseeing the job? Great pricing. Fine service. Delivered as promised. Good people. Call Robert (On the Roof) Batson at 407-423-7570.

Best Floor Installer (Wood or Tile): Allen Installation: I've used this gentleman for wood and tile. He's fair on pricing and a quality installer. Contact Josh Allen at 497-435-1100.

Best Cabinet Makers: The Midnight Carpenters. These folks are artists with wood. They just built all my kitchen cabinets and an exquisite counter that makes my heart hum. I've known the owner for more than 20 years — as honorable as they get. Contact Gabe Lindsey at 321-229-6524.

Best Place to Drink Champagne in the Afternoon: Houstons in Winter Park. Sitting on the back veranda is a fabulous spot in Central Floreeeda to toss one back. The lake, the breeze. The birds. Even when its 90 degrees in August, it's comfortable (to me). Houstons has good food, too. High marks.

Best Bar for Atmosphere: Dexter's in Winter Park. I liked the old bar too, but now it's located on Hannibal Square. It has the feel, sometimes, of that TV show bar in "Cheers." It's a friendly, happening place. Try one of their pressed sandwiches. Good food. Good management.

Best Blue Cheese Burger at a Bar: Hannibal's on New England, Winter Park. Consistently good burger if you're in to that "sort" of cuisine. Tasty spuds, too. Nice ambiance. Good jazz music on the weekends.

Best Barbecue: Bubbalou's Bodacious Bar-B-Q on Lee Road, Winter Park. Consistently good food. I love the pork sandwiches. Great beans, slaw and fries, too. Can't go wrong.

Best Roasted Chicken Lunch: Antonio's in Maitland. "Birdy-num-num!" As Peter Sellers might have said. When on, this chicken is as good an eat as there is out there. Mmm-mmm good.

Best Vietnamese Food: Little Saigon on Colonial, Orlando. Consistently fresh. Exquisite summer rolls. It goes down like candy. I recommend Item 34. Substitute the spring roll for more sliced pork. Get a pot of hot tea and you are set.

Best Day In Winter Park: Out-of-town guests arrive and the parks are not an option. Here's eight hours in Winter Park. All walking. Do the following. Visit (in an order of your choosing) the Morse, Polasek and Cornell Fine Arts Museums. Take the boat trip on the Chain of Lakes. Eat a light breakfast and a late lunch. Shop Park Avenue. Time permitting, take a cab or drive to the Mennello and the Orlando Art Museums. Cab up to Houston's for champagne on the lake. Bid your adieus.

Best Art Gallery In Sanford: Jeanine Taylor Art Gallery/Gallery on First. A sweet, sweet gallery on First Street. It has a Good vibe. Good shows. Good artists. Good, good, good!

Best Night in Sanford: Sanford downtown has regularly-scheduled shindigs that involve music, food, art and festivity. It has several decent restaurants, a wine bar (The Sanford Wine Bar on South Palmetto) that has an intimate atmosphere (with live music) and then you can drift (walk two blocks) over to The Alley (a Blues Bar on S. Park Ave., Sanford) and dance to blues/honky-tonk music. Sanford has a great sidewalk along Lake Monroe and it's a delightful stroll.

Best Jazz Radio Station: WUCF-FM 89.9. For straight-ahead jazz!

Best Newspaper in Central Florida: The Winter Park-Maitland Observer. Peerless.

Well, that's all the room left for this edition of The Best of Winter Park. If you have personal favorites, simply write the name of your recommendation on the back of a crispy $50 bill (That's Grant) and send it to Chris Jepson, c/o The Observer. One recommendation per $50 bill. Please. Crisp.