I should have reported on this one long before now....BUT.

A great vacation event while in PCB is to plan a day or 1/2 day of your shopping/sight seeing time in Panama City to venture downtown and check out Paul Brent's art gallery and snoop around to the other shops and eateries as well. Also a lot of history down there as well as the Bay County Chamber with loads of info.

Back to Brent Gallery. THIS is where I would save my souvenir money and buy something a bit more special for my home to remember my trip. Also, you can come back year after year and add to your collection. Although this is a TOP notch gallery, many items are not that expensive. I really and truly have not seen such a nice collection that I like under one roof ANYWHERE. From beach scenes to pottery to many unusual items, you will NOT be disappointed and I dare you to leave without something. I still need to get the wife over there from Destin.....and speaking of Destin, Brent has NEW location here as well.

Anyway, there are some great restaurants for lunch and dinner too. Hunts Oyster bar is famous. There is a place called Wisconsin Cheese Factory or something like that where I had lunch and it was great.A bit different too as you can imagine. I also had lunch down the way with Mark Fuss, Brent's manager,at a little bistro with a GREAT lunch and nice selection of desserts. You can just go for dessert and coffee....Sorry BUT I forgot the name. Someone help me out here....

If you go to Brent's Gallery on the edge of downtown, tell Mark I said hi and I sent you. Won't get you anything BUT....;0)

I would suggest going on a rainy day at 10 AM, tooling around, buy your art and then look like a major collector when you head to lunch....


KeithGoesCoastal
www.KeithGoesCoastal.com

The bistro you refer to could be Chef Imondi's? Great place for lunch and the best deserts in town.

There are several places we enjoy downtown...
Ferucci's for a great Italian lunch or romantic dinner.
Cheese Barn on Harrison Ave has the best sandwiches, crepes and quiches.
Of course, Chef Imondi's.
Hunt's is great (they're actually in the old Cheese Barn location on Grace Ave.)
Warehouse Market and Cafe for shopping, antiques, lunch, dinner, live entertainment, comedy shows.
Tom's Hot Dogs! Yum!
Bayou Joe's (used to be Dock at Jr's, Eat at Joe's) - try the "trash bruger" and the fried pickels.
Hawk's Nest - pull your boat up and grab a drink or dinner.
Tidewater Deli on Beach Drive (on Watson Bayou) for awesome BBQ and home cookin'.

Lots of shopping up and down Harrison Ave which has recently been renovated by the Downtown Improvement Board.

Catch a show at the historic Martin Theater.

And don't forget the Visual Arts Center of NW Florida. Always a good show there.

We also have a great article on Downtown Panama City in our Panama City Travel Archives.

While you're in town, you should also visit old St. Andrew's which is near the end of a revitalization stage. Good restaurants including Granite Cafe, Uncle Ernie's, and local favorite Capt's Table.

Enjoy!

Yes that is IT! Great place as was Cheese Barn! Completely different places BUT both good.

Yes! I highly recommend Granite Cafe in St. Andrews. It's a neighborhood Martini Bar where you can sit out on the patio, smoke a cigar, and sip your martini while listening to live acoustic guitar. It's a very laid back, yet intimate atmosphere in a still somewhat undiscovered part of town (I'll probably be kicking myself when word gets out and the lines get long), but the Sunday brunch is to die for!!! They even grow their own herbs out in a tiny herb garden on the patio. Very cool place.

And if your in St. Andrews during the day, make sure to check out Tessie's Boutique right off of Beck. It's a little gem of place with a great selection of silver jewelry from Hawaii, gorgeous handbags, and other unique gifts at very reasonable prices.

Also the St. Andrew's CoffeHouse is right across the street and serves fresh breakfast and lunch. And last I heard they were opening on Saturday evenings for a couple of hours to serve dessert made by a local baker - cheese cake and bread pudding... heavenly.....

I'll have to get my wife into Tessies. That is my nickname for her!


20 big ones next week. Dennis is putting a crimp in my style. I was going to buy her a Benz and a boat until he happened. ;0)

Sheesh, I have heard of the other guy BUT.....


And I have some land in Florida for you too.

Staying at Seacrest Beach for a week the end of July. Will have 2 teenage girls and 2 moms who love to shop for clothes. Would like some cool back to school clothes that no one else will have in Arkansas. Any suggestions?

Thanks