Three years ago Maggie Anderson quit her job as a bus routing coordinator for Pinellas County Schools to devote herself full-time to teaching others the benefits of arts and crafts.  “I painted all my life.  My parents owned a ceramic shop,” she said.  My husband asked me, ‘why don’t you quit your job and do this?  Do what you love and love what you do.’"   And so she did, opening a store in Clearwater where she taught decorative painting. This past Labor Day weekend was a labor of love for Anderson.  She moved Maggie’s Crafts to a bigger location on Highland Avenue in Largo and hired several…

George Boyer and Nick Hall are not new to the bar scene. "We both had bars in Ohio," explained Boyer. "He [Nick Hall] moved down here first, and convinced me to come down after him." Their joint venture opened February 10th, but the space itself had seen other drinking holes before. "There have been bars here for fifteen years," Boyer said. "The regulars have adopted us as their new home." It is not difficult to understand why. "We have the best service in the area," Boyer said, "The bartenders remember customer's names and drinks as soon as they come in the door." The afternoon crowd is a …

There’s a new studio turning up the heat in Largo and it’s calling all yogis. It’s Hot Yoga Largo and since their opening last month, yoga enthusiasts have flocked to the studio for their expertise and their calorie burning classes.  Instructors with a combined experience of overs 45 years lead students through a hot power yoga class that incorporates core strengthening, balance and vinyasa flow (vinyasa is a type of yoga that involves moving from one pose to another in a systematic flow).  It’s the one place in Largo where you can increase your flexibility, build strength, work on your soul …

Alana Lewis was tired of driving the distance from Largo to St. Petersburg to eat blue crab legs every weekend. One day it just clicked. “There’s no place in Largo that serves blue crab legs,” she said, “So why not me.” With this idea and her grandma’s 30 year-old blue crab leg recipe, she set up shop in Largo. Her restaurant, co-owned with her brother Andy Lewis, is Nanny’s Kitchen, 1013 Highlands Ave. The restaurant which features island décor and long bar, was named after the Lewis’ nana, Nanny. She died in April last year. Nanny may not have lived long enough to see her recipes served to …

Heads turn toward Nick Pastis, as he shares a greeting to everyone entering the Largo Library. As owner of RG's Bookmark Café, Chef Pastis sends a hearty "Good Morning" or "How are you?" to patrons, whether they're headed into his café, asking for directions or entering the library. Some are surprised at his greeting, but his regulars enjoy the friendly banter. "People may think I'm doing that because we just opened but no, it's not," said Pastis, who retired as a chef for Disney after 19 years. "That's how I do things. It's something I learned from my years at Disney. Gracious hospitality…