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Some of our favorite Ozona Florida things…

• Ozona is eclectic waterfront community with an ‘Old Florida’ feel.  There’s nothing pretentious about it though homes can get quite pricey.
• It is a rare golf-cart friendly community.  Parents drive their kids to school in golf carts!
• The fact that Ozona is not really a city – a somewhat secret part of unincorporated Palm Harbor. This is great for our home buyers who want to avoid living in a covenant controlled subdivision.
• The annual Ozona Christmas golf cart parade – funkadelic!
• Ozona Blue Restaurant – the only restaurant we know of in north Pinellas with a pool, the gulf, great food, drinks AND live music!
• ‘Downtown Ozona’ is only a block long and we love the long-time staple Chocolate Studios now expanded into Ozona Pizza.
• Molly Goodheads – fab grouper sandwiches and cold beers and a really fun ‘yesteryear’ setting.  A favorite biker (the Harley kind) hangout.
• Ozona Elementary School – home of the ‘Ozona Ospreys – the best loved school by parents all around Pinellas. It has a reputation that people out of state looking to move here even seem to find out about.
• The Osprey nests on top of light poles around town. Seeing Osprey flying over head all the time coming in from the gulf with fish in mouths headed back to the light poles.
• The abundance of funky, cute marinas – our personal favorite just for the sheer cuteness of it is The Spreckled Trout

Click the link if you would like to learn even more about the Waterfront community of Ozona FL!

Steve’s Proudce at 515 Alt. 19  in Ozona Florida can’t be beat.  Steve’s has the best prices in Palm Harbor on fresh local produce and offers a funky and fun roadside shopping experience.  Enjoy fresh gulf shrimp daily, homemade breads, cakes and cookies, fresh feta and salsas and just about every delictable gourmet Greek and Florida fun food you can think of.

Steve’s Proudce is just one more reason why investing in Ozona Fl real estate is a great decision!

Ozona Pizza and Chocolate Studios

Yesterday, Ozona Pizza was at the Palm Harbor Little League closing ceremonies serving up free snow cones for the kids.    It reminded me that we should give up two thumbs ups for this long-loved establishment that’s not only been an Ozona Florida favorite for years – yet has also given back so much to our Ozona community.

Go find them at 404 Orange Street, Ozona 34683 !

One of our favorite spots is The Black Pearl Restaurant  at 315 Main Street. We’ve dined in some excellent restaurants in big cities in the states and across Europe, and the Black Pearl stands up very well against that kind of competition.

It is not the least expensive place to dine in Dunedin, Florida; but as a treat, or to celebrate a significant event, or to toast your favorite Palm Harbor business partner, you cannot beat the cuisine and the service.

We love being one of the hard working Palm Harbor Realtors, but after a long day of showing Pinellas short sales and Pinellas foreclosures, we love to treat ourselves to the exceptional service and soothing ambiance of this very fine establishment. Enjoy!

The Black Pearl
315 Main Street
Dunedin, Fl 34698
727-734-3463

A Taste of Pinellas is happening this weekend and it looks like it’s going to be even bigger and better than last year.  The setting alone (on the waterfront in Downtown St. Pete) is spectacular, but the celebration of great food and music makes it one of the best annual parties in Tampa Bay.   This event is like the Taste of Palm Harbor on steroids!  Admission is free and all of the proceeds go to support All Children’s Hospital. 

Food and drink can be purchased from the restaurant booths with tickets — a sheet of 8 tickets sells for $5 and can be purchased at the event. There will be a Kids’ Zone for children and a specialty & import beer garden.

But central to this great festival is the tremendous opportunity for local restaurants to present selections from their menus.  As of this writing some 40 restaurants are scheduled to set up and show off their extraordinary fare.  Just some of the tasty treats will be served up from the ever-popular Bob Evans, the succulent ribs from Brady’s Backyard BBQ,  the Courtside Grille , famous Crabby Bills , classic favorites from Five Guys Burgers and Fries , perfect sausage and peppers from Gratzzi Ristorante , and the local favorite, Hurricane Seafood Restaurant.

There will be music for every taste throughout the weekend but the headliners include: Night Ranger with Lita Ford on Friday night, Travis Tritt on Saturday and the ever-consistent KC and the Sunshine Band  on Sunday!

Visit the parking and shuttle map to get yourself situated.  We hope to see you down at beautiful Vinoy Park in St Petersburg!

Friday, May 29, 5pm-10pm
Saturday, May 30, 12pm-10pm
Sunday, May 31, 12pm-7pm

The entrees are reasonably priced. The restaurant is clean and although not dripping with ambiance, it is open and friendly. The owners are those of the Michele’s Italian Restaurant that closed some years back.

Corteo’s offers “Parties on the Patio” for up to 20 guests for birthdays, anniversary parties etc. They only require a 5-7 day advance notice. Catering Trays “To Go” are another option with only 3 days notice required from order placement. Early bird specials are featured daily from 2:30 – 5:30 offering courses from appetizer to dessert.

The absolute best bet though is calling ahead and swooping in to pick up a Sicilian pie to go! Corteo’s is located at 32922 US 19 in the shopping center by Hops. Mangiare!
 

The Pinellas Peach will be there!  Will you?  If you want to chat about why we believe this is an outstanding business opportunity not to be missed, feel free to contact us.  Plus, did we mention, there will be lots of great FOOD?!  Usually there are at least 20 Palm Harbor area restaurants for this gastronomical experience.

Our fabulous beach was recently voted the #1 Beach in the United States!   To get an idea of what a day at Caladesi Island beach is like, see Visit Florida or Caladesi Beach.

This white-sand beach is secluded and on many days you’ll be able to watch dolphin splashing about just off the shore.  

If you’re a sea shell collector, go early in the morning and prepare to be blown away. 

You can have a simple lunch at the Caladesi Cafe where you can grab a hot dog or an ice cream (the food’s nothing to get excited about – bring a bag lunch if you can).  Beach chairs and umbrellas are also available, and on most days, our friend Bonnie will be there to help set up your chairs.  Bonnie even supplies sand buckets and shovels for the kids if you forget yours. 

I don’t know about you, but it’s the first day of summer and the lightening and thunder outside right now are amazing – but we’re ready to stop by Steve’s Produce stand in Palm Harbor and pick up a peach.  And head for the beach. 

Located at 1023 Florida Avenue, in the heart of quaint Old Downtown Palm Harbor Main Street, The Thirsty Marlin offers some of the best fresh seafood available.  The grouper sandwiches are to die for, served blackened, grilled or fried, and they have an endless menu that includes lots of seafood, appetizers, salads and homemade soups.   The fried green tomatoes are scrumptious.

You can even enjoy expertly prepared Sushi after 5PM Wednesday to Sunday, and enjoy a cocktail or two out on the patio. 

Portions are hearty and can often be split for two.  The staff is friendly.  If it’s a Key West atmosphere you’re after, this is the place.

The Thirsty Marlin is located just off the Pinealls Trail, so grab your bike and make an afternoon of it.  They are open daily for lunch and dinner starting at 11:30.  Download their menu  and enjoy.

Sometimes a gal just wants a quick bite on the cheap – and it can be found in a very ordinary restaurant, very popular for it’s great breakfasts. Emily’s Family Restaurant at 2609 Alt. 19 in Palm Harbor, just south of Alderman Road. In fact, if you’re in town searching for that Crystal Beach, FL home, Emily’s is right on the corner of the road into Crystal Beach. If it’s a great cheap no-frills meal you’re after, drive right past the Lucky Dill and bee-line it to Emily’s and slide into a comfy red-leather booth.

Emily’s Greek salad is, hands down, the best salad for miles. Steve, the proprietor, says he has a couple of secrets – only a few of which he has shared.

Get a load of this!!! First, they chop the lettuce, wrap it in paper towels, and freeze it for a few minutes. Bizarre? Huh? Then they

soak their Vidalia onions so there really sweet and never hot. I only wish I knew the potato salad recipe, where he buys his feta cheese and how they make that salad dressing. Wow!

Free lunch, anyone? If anyone can get Steve to divulge the answers about any of the other ingredients, call me with the answer and we’ll buy you lunch for two! Seriously.

Better yet, you can pair the salad with a Gyro sandwich or a generous slice of spanikopita (spinach pie) for under $7.00. And this is better than any Pinellas Investor secret I could possibly share – the single order is plenty for two to share. Matt and I split an order for lunch here at least once a week.

I’m sure Emily’s has lots of other fine eats, but honestly, I can’t stop ordering the Greek salad so I probably will never find out what I’m missing.

Dine in – or call 786-7407 to place your “to go” order. They are open for breakfast and for lunch daily until 2:30. By the way, the wait for breakfast on the weekends can be a bit much, but it’s worth it.

Tell ‘em Julia and Matt sent you. Enjoy!  Here’s a map to get you there. 

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