Top Ten Tuesday: Nifty Lauren's List

*Here we are, another Tuesday, another list from one of our very own! This week we are featuring Nifty Lauren's top ten list! Lauren is our newest Nifty employee, but a longtime Venice local. You can also see her frequently in shows at Venice Theatre!*

Nifty Lauren's Top Ten Things To Do In Venice, Florida (other than Nifty Nic Nacs, of course!)

#10. Antique and thrift shopping on Miami Avenue: Many unique stores; from consignment to specialized clothing and jewelry. A must stop for anyone looking for a rare or one of a kind find.

#9. Shop at Treasures in Time: This store has some of the coolest clocks, ornaments and other gifts!

#8. Eat at Pop's Sunset Grill: Kick back, relax and have a great time. I know you will enjoy the delicious, fresh seafood, specialty drinks and beautiful views of the Intercoastal Waterway. It will keep you coming back time and time again!

#7. Visit the North Jetty beach: Just past Pop's Sunset Grill, and to the left of Nokomis Beach, lies one of the least-populated beaches in town, North Jetty Beach. You can always find a parking space and a nice spot on the sand to relax. They even have the "North Jetty Fish Camp" where you can grab a beverage or burger if you're in for a long day at the beach.

#6. Have a beer at the Old Venice Pub:  Old Venice Pub (or OVP as the locals call it) has some great beers on tap as well as bottled. They also offer a nice wine selection. If you're staying for an extended period of time, sign up for their "Pub Text" promotion, and several times a month you'll randomly receive a buy-one-get-one-free drink offer.

#5. Dinner with friends at the Back Eddy Bistro: This is one of those awesome restaurants that just seems to feel so cozy, yet pleasantly upscale. The menu is excellent, with a variety of dishes that will satisfy everyone. The deserts are all homemade. The wine list is wonderful and the staff is extremely friendly & attentive. They also have live music, provided by Bud Buckley a few nights a week, too.

#4. Enjoy a glass of wine (or two) at La Dolce Vita Wine Bar: " Proprietors Anthony & Jennifer Dolciotto have provided a serene atmosphere for their guests that might be looking to unwind at day’s end. Flickering candlelight warms this cozy lounge interior, thus soothing the mind, while the musical serenity of old school “Swing-Jazz” sets the mood. Offering fine wines and specialty beers, this Tuscan setting will surely make you escape life’s everyday hustle & bustle. Escape for a “Taste of the Sweet Life” at La Dolce Vita."

#3. Take a look at the local talent at the Venice Art Center: A must stop for Art lovers. The facility is beautiful and new exhibits are constantly in circulation. They also offer a wide variety of classes for all skill levels.

#2. Nokomis Beach Drum Circle: "The Drum Circle takes place on Casey Key Public Beach, Nokomis, Florida. Starts about an  hour before sundown, every Wednesday and Saturday. Depending on the weather, the drum circle has an attendance between several hundred to several thousand people. Everyone is welcome! The Drum circle features Drumming, Dancing, Playing, Spectating, Communicating and ... Belly Dancing. What can be better than sitting on the beautiful beach, listening to drums? Well ... bring a djembe, a drum, a cowbell, a shaker, a flute, a guitar, or anything that makes noise, and enjoy. Its free, fun and everyone is invited!"

#1. Catch a show (or be in one!) at Venice Theatre: There truly is always something going on at Venice Theatre! Catch a show, class or a concert! You won't be disappointed.

Famous Birthdays: George Harrison

Today would have been George Harrison of the Beatles 69th birthday.

Known as the "quiet Beatle", Harrison played lead guitar in the famous foursome. Some of his famous songs with the Beatles are "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Here Comes The Sun", and "Something".

When the Beatles broke up, he had a very successful solo career, producing such hits as "My Sweet Lord", "Isn't it a Pity", and "What is Life". George Harrison succumbed to lung cancer in 2001. He has one son, Dhani Harrison, who is a musician.

For more information on George Harrisons music and spirituality, read this book.

Happy birthday George.

Introducing: Top Ten Tuesdays!

Thank you to everyone who left a review for us on TripAdvisor.com! We shot to the top quickly! It is wonderful to know how much our fans love us!

We have a lot of people ask us about the things they should do and see here in Venice. All of our employees live in the Venice area, and are active in the community, so they know what's going on!

Each Tuesday for the next 5 weeks, we will list one of our employees top ten things to do in Venice, Florida! Of course, we all think a trip to Venice isn't complete without at least one stop in at Nifty Nic Nacs, but here are our fearless leader, Nifty Jeff's,  other favorite things to do here.

Nifty Jeff's Top Ten Things to do in Venice Florida

#10: Walk from the downtown shops to the beach and back: This is my favorite way to spend a lunch break -- other than eating! I walk up one side of West Venice Avenue and back on the other. This will take you past City Hall, by some of the beautiful homes and apartments from various periods from the 1920's to the present, by several motels, to the iconic Venice Beach Pavilion and back by the tennis courts and basketball courts. A fifteen-minute-or-so walk with the perfect proportion of sun and shade!

#9: Visit the Jetties: This is what all the locals like to do, to watch surfers, fish, have a snack and people watch. Watching the variety of boats go by is fascinating as well.

#8: Ride the Island neighborhoods on bikes: While Venice Island is not a true barrier island, its separation by the Intracoastal Waterway creates a community of its own, where riding bikes on neighborhood streets is relaxing and safe. Other than a couple of main thoroughfares, you will not be fighting any traffic and will ride by several parks in which to stop for a break.

#7: Visit Snook Haven: This is the perfect break from the beach that will provide a real "Florida Cracker" experience. Venice Avenue runs from the Gulf of Mexico to the Myakka River. For casual dining and live music, this laid-back locale instantly transports you to "old Florida".

#6: Ride or walk the Venetian Waterway Park Trail: Popular with joggers, walkers, runners, rollerbladers, stroller-pushers and people walkers, this option is perfect for the active visitor!

#5: Electric boats at Crow's Nest: Many a customer has told me how fun it is to do this. This is actually still on my "to-do" list!

#4: Drive along Casey Key: I ALWAYS tell people heading back north out of Venice to head out Albee Road and drive north on Casey Key until the road takes you back out to US 41 (Tamiami Trail).  It is a narrow key with a switchback road that will lead you along both the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico with only one house on the side of the road as you go --whether it be sitting on the Intracoastal or the Gulf. The bridge at the north end is the only one of its kind in Florida: it is a one-lane drawbridge that swings open to allow boats to pass. The state has tried to replace it in the past, but the locals fight for it to be maintained since it is a piece of our history. By the way, you'll see some awesome real estate on Casey Key as well!

#3: Watch the Sunset at Sharky's with a frozen drink from the tiki bar: A Venice tradition! Order a cool, colorful, tropical libation from the tiki bar out back and take it up on the second-floor deck at sunset. Ah, Florida!

#2: Look for shark's teeth at Casperson Beach: Use a "Florida Snow Shovel" (available at other shops downtown) to sift through the sand and find fossilized sharks' teeth will little effort. Great for kids and big kids, too!

#1: We know we've said it before, but it needs to be said again: of course, the number one thing you should do while in Venice is shop at Nifty Nic Nacs!:  For a fun, memorable and light-hearted break from standard vacation shopping, this is THE place to be for those of us with a sense of humor. Sourpusses converted for free.

What are some of your favorite things to do when you come to Venice?

Did you know...

You can read all of our previous Nifty Nic Nacs Newsletters and even sign up to receive them in the future by clicking this link!

Yes, we sell American-made products!

Nifty Nic Nacs proudly sells many products that are made right here in the USA! To see them, click on the "Made In The USA" category in our web store!

All of our products are of the highest quality we can find, but we are especially happy to sell products that are made right here at home by workers in our country!