This is not your typical listing description. What you’re about to read is the seller’s response when I asked him what he will miss most about this boutique style building, The Walker-Whitney and his unit #603.
“Our family loved the Walker Whitney’s proximity to prime downtown venues, including terrific restaurants and bars, museums, nightclubs, live theatre and performing arts.
My favorite eateries include Seb café’s outdoor patio for Thai food; the Park Shore for seafood dinners; the Bodega Cuban restaurant; Pete’s Bagels; Casita Taqueria; and Bella Brava, an Italian restaurant with a friendly staff. I also enjoyed stopping by Book & Bottle, a bookshop with a wine bar. Occasionally, we’d have a drink at the Renaissance Vinoy resort hotel a few blocks away.
I love hearing jazz and blues at the courtyard of The Ale and the Witch, and my younger daughter and her husband—who took over the condo for six months during Covid—made a point of dropping by the Witch’s weekly country & western jam sessions. They also tuned in to St. Pete’s other nightclubs and loved the huge murals on various buildings.
I found the condo’s floor plan very flexible. At various times, we used one of the two larger bedrooms as either an office and small library or as a second bedroom. At other times, we turned the den with adjoining half-bath into a guest room.
I especially enjoyed reading on our balcony and admiring the view across the tree-lined Old Northeast neighborhood. Nothing was more soothing to me than the sight of the red-tile roofs at the Palladium performing arts theatre, where we also heard music and attended live theatre and contemporary dance concerts.
And too, we treasured our occasional meals and holiday celebrations on Walker Whitney’s rooftop, with its barbecue facilities and panoramic views of St. Petersburg and its surroundings.
I liked to walk to the downtown supermarket to shop for groceries, glad not to have to drive and park my car each time. Sometimes I’d stop at a café along the route. I often worked and relaxed at St. Pete’s premier cafes, including Kahwa (down the street) and Craft (a half-mile away) in downtown. It’s such a small city that it’s really no surprise to run into older friends and new acquaintances.
Our family also enjoyed our day-trips to the beach at Siesta Key in Sarasota, a Greek restaurant in the fishing village of Tarpon Springs, kayaking through the mangroves at Fort Desoto, attending ‘spring training’ baseball games in Bradenton and Clearwater, catching a drink at St. Pete’s newly-rebuilt pier, heading south to Fort Myers and taking a fast boat to Key West. I was also able to crew on a friend’s sailboat a number of times. One thing I’ll miss the most are my long walks and bicycle rides along the shoreline. There’s such an incredible variety of wildlife here to see. It’s always a thrill to spot two or three dolphins patrolling near the seawall. And there’s no shortage of egrets, heron and other exotic seabirds.”