E
is for Eyes
Shopping for eyeglasses at The Optic Shop is an eye-opener; in both South Tampa and Downtown St. Pete, the selection is wide and the proprietors are unfailingly helpful, perceptive and patient (even if you’re one of those annoying people who have to try on every frame in the store). The boutique-y feeling and designer looks at Belleair Opticians are right in keeping with the casual chic of Belleair Bluffs. And if you think eyeglasses make you look brainier, you’ll love shopping at Warby Parker at the Oxford Exchange, which shares its space with OE’s smartly curated bookstore. (Warby Parker’s prices, convenience and Home Try-On policy will make you feel pretty smart, too.)
F
Photos courtesy The Optic Shop
is for Flowers
Popping up everywhere from Palm Harbor to Hyde Park Village (and at the occasional wedding, where the flower-filled truck makes for Insta-ready photo ops), Posies Flower Truck is a fresh and welcome addition to the landscape. The Potting Shed has been making floral dreams come true in Tampa Bay for more than four decades; quality is key, and a keen eye for beauty, from knockout orchids to tiny terraria. At The JillTed Florist in Clearwater, the arrangements (and the flower-arranging classes) are as bright and light-hearted as the name suggests (yes, there is a Jill and a Ted, though it would be pretty great to send breakup flowers from a place called JillTed, wouldn’t it?). In Largo and environs, customers from near and far depend on the keen eye and one-extrastep service at Carlson Wildwood. And we can’t leave this category without mentioning Botanica and Ian Prosser: after all, he doesn’t just do weddings, he does presidential inaugurations!