What's New At LuLu's Get ready for Gecko Fest! September will kick off with both Artwalk on the first Friday and Gecko Fest all day the first Saturday in September. Music, art, crafts, gecko merchandise galore. Come spend the weekend in Gulfport this labor day!   Coming soon... Bike rentals - rent a 60's era bicycle, an adult trike or one of our funky art painted bikes.  A strolling alternative, enjoy biking to the beach, clam bayou or just around the quaint city of Gulfport and take it ALL in!    Where has "ugly man" gone?  Tampa Tribune Press Release Though Doll Stolen, Retailer Loves Gulfport By JUDY HILL jhill@tampatrib.com Published: Feb 26, 2006

"Ordinarily I am a nice person - not today. To the total scumbag jerk who stole the doll off the bike I hope you rot in H E double hockey sticks."

I don't know whether the hand-lettered sign has had any effect on the jerk who stole the doll. He or she certainly hasn't returned it and apologized.

But it sure caused me to put on the brakes and pull into a parking space in front of LuLu's on Beach Boulevard in Gulfport.

Inside the gift shop, co-owner Leslie Altieri still wore a dark look when I visited Thursday.

Turns out, the doll took some time to steal. It was tied on the bike with an intricate web of nylon rope. The jerk had to burn through the rope in a number of places to "liberate" the life-sized soft sculpture from a rusty old bike that hangs from the deck in front of the shop.

It wasn't the first "rider" to disappear.

A Pee-wee Herman replica used to occupy the seat. But he, too, was stolen.

A Taste Of Old Florida

I went to Gulfport on what turned out to be a wild goose chase. I found LuLu's while killing time driving around and enjoying the beach district's old Florida funkiness, which is punctuated by structures colorfully painted in the Caribbean style.

If you haven't been to what used to be called Disston City in a while, you're missing a treat.

So far, most of the development turning the Tampa Bay region into condo heaven has missed the little city.

So far.

But there has been a renaissance of sorts in the beach district, which fronts on Boca Ciega Bay.

There's a bed-and-breakfast, and several bars and restaurants with outside seating overlook the water. There are galleries, shops, and art walks from 6 to 10 p.m. on the first Friday and the third Saturday of each month. (For information, go to www.artvillagevoice.org.)

There's even a French Restaurant, La Cote Basque. Havana Cafe, serving authentic Cuban food, is nearby.

And the old Gulfport Casino with its Quonset hut look still stands where Beach Boulevard dead-ends at the water.

No, there's no gambling at the casino. Never was. In the old days, it was the last stop on the trolley line from St. Petersburg. From there, folks who wanted to continue their trip to Pass-a-Grille could take a ferry to Merry Pier.

Now, the casino hosts dances, concerts and shows.

Gulfport Gets Under Your Skin

LuLu's, open just six months, is part of the beach district's renaissance.

Altieri and her sister-in-law, Lauri Thomas, own the shop.

Altieri staffs LuLu's. Thomas lives in Houston and only comes to town every few weeks.

The pair love the offbeat flavor of Gulfport. Altieri, who has lived in Pinellas County for 20 years, lives in Gulfport with her husband, Mike, and three kids.

Thomas developed her passion for the area during her childhood, when her grandparents lived in Gulfport. She hopes to return one of these days.

LuLu's is the first step in the trip.

As for the stolen doll, Altieri won't be thwarted by crooks.

She says she'll replace it.

"That's the kind of person I am. Persistent. It they keep stealing it, I'll just keep replacing it. There's just no telling what kind the next one will be."