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Saturday's All Right For Shopping At Vibrant St. Petersburg Market

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By KAREN HAYMON LONG

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 25, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - It's maddening to hear people in Tampa say they never go to St. Petersburg - and then complain that the Bay area doesn't have enough fun things to do.

Downtown St. Petersburg's Saturday Morning Market is well worth the trek from Tampa, Brandon, Tarpon Springs or anywhere else. It spans a full block at Central Avenue and Second Street and has spilled over to a second lot filled with jewelry, yard art, handcrafted furniture and other treasures.

The market feels like a throwback to the '60s, with kerchiefed dogs walking around and 80 vendors hawking everything from tie-dyed dresses and T-shirts to homemade granola better than any grocery store sells.

There's always a live band, fresh produce and flowers, jewelry, honey, freshly baked breads, olive salad, potted plants, orchids, Adirondack furniture shaped like fish … You get the drift.

It's the best of the best street markets in the area and one of the largest in Florida. It runs every Saturday from the first week in October through late May from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The food stalls alone are worth a visit. Someone's always selling barbecued turkey legs, cakes and cookies and grilled corn cakes stuffed with cheese and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

I always buy granola made with Splenda and nuts. On my last visit, I picked up a jar of olive salad and a crusty olive bread and made great muffuletta sandwiches. The honey booth sells a honey for every season, while other vendors hawk handmade soaps, smoothies, sculptured garden art, spices and stained glass.

You'll see people of every age and lots of baby strollers. One woman a few Saturdays ago pulled a train of two red wagons - the front car for her toddler, who walked beside her, the caboose for her purchases.

Just about everyone eats while they stroll around, but tables and chairs are set up in the middle of the street for those who want to sit and eat, or sit and listen to the band. Sometimes, you'll even see people dancing around the band - or dancing in the street, for that matter.

Park along the side streets or in a nearby parking garage. And if you're not full from sampling the market's goodies, have lunch at Tangelo's Grille, 226 First Ave. N., an easy walk. Try the roasted pork Cuban with an imported beer on tap. For dessert, you can always double back to the market for sweet potato pie, blueberry crisp or a Key lime tart.

For more, see www.saturdaymorningmarket.com.

Reporter Karen Haymon Long can be reached at (813) 259-7618 or klong@tampatrib.com

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