Peacocks

'. . . . Written this past Friday. . . . it didn't work very well until I FINALLY learned to add the photos! SUCCESS!

Some Fridays just seem to put the F in the TGIF! Or, well, something like that. You get my drift.

It’s Friday and there’s a nice, fresh scent in the air. Yeah, the rain helped!

Stuck closer to home today . . . . had a few appointments, so just wandered around the Avenue meeting new people and seeing new stuff.

Had a wonderful crab cake salad at The Bistro and enjoyed talking to new co-owners Erika and Hugo Boesch with Randy Parsons. That salad was yummy. Crab cakes VERY moist and flaky. Hit the lunch spot! And I was relishing them because there’s a diet in my future. Maybe it will stay there! Nah, looks like next week so when I mention food next week I’ll try not to be boring.

Anyway, looks like I may be doing some fun new things with The Bistro. I think we think a lot alike on some things and you just may see some new celebrating of Winter Park and Park Avenue done in a new way there. Always nice to work with a good group! They’ve got lots of new things in the works inside The Bistro, as well, and I’ll fill you in as they go. Their courtyard is atmosphere on steroids!

From there I went on a trek to hunt down Bobby Simmons. There'd been sightings, so I knew I was close. Hunting skills and persistence paid off, as I finally found him. Wow, Simmons Jewelry . . . so difficult! If you haven’t heard, the deli taking the Brandywine Deli space will be called The Tiffany Deli. Watch for my column in The Observer this coming week for more details on just what’s going on behind the covered windows! I'm meeting with Bobby tomorrow to get the full scoop.

While I was down around Brandywine Square I went around and visited with the ladies at Rosey Wray’s Roost. I was on a peacock hunt today and they had none. Those ladies, however, are PERSISTENT! I like tenacious personalities, and when they pulled out a 1940s vintage Goebel owl figurine by Hummel, I couldn’t resist. They’d gotten me with two faves . . . owls and vintage! Cute little guy, maybe even a tad Parkeresque! They’re supplying a ten dollar gift certificate for the ‘What? Where? Win!’ which will begin today on facebook, so maybe the winner will want him. But there’s tons to choose from there, including some really awesome jewelry I think you just may LUV!

Wandered further down the street and into The Tug Boat and the Bird. I was initially drawn in by the cute as heck doggie luggage piece in the window, but got my footing once inside and was back on peacock patrol. I had success here with two gorgeous peacock feather hair clips and a girls t-shirt. Such cute stuff in that shop. Why didn’t they have stuff like this when I was a kid? Also, nice to finally meet one of my facebook friends in person, Missy Riegel.

Next I stopped by Earth Inspired Living. I knew Linda Semmler would have something peacock and I was correct. The colors on her peacock coasters and trivets were really nice, bold and bright. What Winter Park home doesn’t need one? I usually like to just wander around in here to check out the cool recycled products, but duty called today. Linda did share that the Park Avenue Area Association is in the works of putting together a cool new travel website we should look for in August or September. As I hear any more about that I’ll surely share here as well.

My next stop wasn’t for peacocks, but for a quick picture of the Winter Park sweatshirts carried at Wright & Company. I received a message last night regarding these and thought the timing was too coincidental not to include the info and a shot in this Winter Park related items found on Park Avenue blog. The sweatshirts have ‘WINTER PARK’ big and bold across the back, with ‘Est. 1882’ below. You’ve likely seen one around town. Remember business owners . . . . I’m always happy to include items you carry with Winter Park or Maitland, College Park or Casselberry, any of the individual community names which make up our larger community. This space and all of my efforts are about COMMUNITY! If it’s located within 5 miles of any part of Park Avenue and it celebrates the community we call home, tell me about it! My spotlight is your spotlight, but I need to know about it! And if you’ve got quite a few possibilities, I just may need to pay you a visit!

From here I was back down to Downeast for a peacock necklace and gift box (also a peacock) I think is really stunning. Intense colors and intricate design, the enamel peacock box opens providing a gorgeous storage case for the necklace. If you LUV peacocks, this one’s a twofer! They’ve also got a great selection of other peacock items including vases, coasters, napkins and more. There’s also a t-shirt with a peacock on it often hanging just behind the counter.

Last on my North Park Avenue tour today was Through The Looking Glass. These ladies have so much fun, cool jewelry all over, but there in the front window a super cute peacock necklace and earrings which jumped out at me. Cool, colorful design -- it's a peacock after all -- but also a tad abstract. And with matching earrings, you can peacock out! When you wear peacock anything around Winter Park it’s like being some place and wearing the school colors . . . . you just naturally get attention, oohs and ahhs, fit right in, cause everyone LUVs our official bird!

Watch my merchandising pages on ILUVParkAve.com . . . . lots of cool new stuff to be listed, including some great flower shots taken along Park Avenue and at Casa Feliz. These are pretty cool, if I do say so myself! Also two new t-shirt designs forthcoming.

AND . . . . watch for more and more info to come on your best and ONLY LOCAL credit card processing opportunity. And this isn’t just LOCAL, we’ll – my new partners at Nuvo and I – beat the rate you are paying OR I will pay YOU $250! Yes, you read that right. On top of that, 10% of everything I personally make from this endeavor is pledged to Pet Rescue by Judy! Again, LOCAL and guaranteed LOWEST rates or I pay YOU! Business owners . . . . keep me in mind. And, of course, remember . . . . ILUVWinterPark.com is a FREE site for use by LOCAL businesses!

Everyone have a LUVly weekend! Soooooooo glad it’s FRIDAY! 

Til next time . . . otherwise known as tomorrow.

(Praying now I figure out this photo thing! This one's a bit VISUAL.)