“Our business is open to the public on Saturdays as a service to restaurant customers,” she says. By happenstance, that’s the day I walked by. Rustic Grill is adorned with many works from the couple’s prized collection, and Las Antiguas seduces with a fascinating cache that includes a selection of room-sized 19th-century Turkish Caucasian rugs (Al’s passion), furniture from the Ringling estate, an exquisite chandelier that hung in the historic Vinoy hotel in St. Petersburg (football star Dan Marino bought its mate), and several of the 300 Emanuel Romano cubist paintings the Tomlinsons recently acquired. Make time on a busy Saturday afternoon. This gallery requires serious browsing. Las Antiguas, 1525 Fourth St., Sarasota, (941) 349-3200.

SAKES FIFTH AVENUE: THE FIFTH AVENUE CLUB

Tucked away as inauspiciously as a dressing room, the Fifth Avenue Club at Saks Fifth Avenue is actually a suite of luxuriously appointed private salons, including a sitting room, bar and serving kitchen equipped with Limoges china, sterling silver and fine crystal. One look at the elegant entry door tells you the Fifth Avenue Club is all about impeccable service. The big surprise at this quintessential back room is that it offers access to the most coveted couture in the world.

Director Marilyn Goldfarb and three personal shopping experts can literally bring the pages of fashion magazines to life. If you ask, they’ll requisition samples from names like Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta or Zang Toi. Clients are fitted, measurements sent to the designer—voila, custom couture! Any line carried in the flagship New York store but not in Sarasota can also be brought in, including Dolce & Gabbana, Badgley Mischka, Chanel Boutique and Gucci. Consultants will special order any Chanel bag or Cartier watch you like. Nothing is outside the realm of possibility.

But the free service is not just about rarified labels. The staff will walk the sales floor with you to provide total wardrobing, from bras to shoes. They’ll e-mail photos of new items to clients, even hand-deliver samples or purchases to the home. Birthday or cocktail parties may be held at the club at no cost. You can lunch and sip white wine or champagne while you shop, or indulge in a private cosmetic makeover. “When it comes to specialized services, our store is untouchable,” Goldfarb says. As for last-minute alterations: “It’s rare to hear ‘no’ in an emergency.” The Fifth Avenue Club, Saks Fifth Avenue, 100 Southgate Plaza, Sarasota (941) 634-5311. www.saksfifthavenue.com.

CRISSY GALLERIES

The back room at Crissy Galleries is anywhere you’d like it to be: Bruce Crissy has developed a network of sources to help track down specific antiques (decorative objects, fine art, furniture and estate jewelry) for both passionate and would-be collectors. A rarity in today’s high-profile antiques scene, Crissy is a generalist who’s willing to invest the time to analyze clients’ interests and tastes, fuel their passion with education and even provide reading lists. Then he’ll home in on a plan for developing a collection, even helping novices navigate the international auction world.

With art and antiques’ connoisseurship an ever-more important aspect of the luxury lifestyle, the Sarasota gallery offers a smattering of fine examples in every category. You want Tiffany? No problem. In one visit I found an incredible diamond bracelet, circa 1890, in its original box ($18,500); a superior green and blue signed Tiffany lamp with penguin base, circa 1905-1910 ($35,000); and the pièce de rèsistance: a sterling silver bowl with art deco ribs and lungs designed by Arthur L. Bawer for Tiffany’s exhibition in the 1939 World’s Fair (price on request).

“It was gifted to a Sarasota woman by the original purchaser,” Crissy says, adding that most of the gallery’s estate jewelry finds have never left the purchasing family’s possession until he acquires them. “Going to the source makes a significant difference to the next generation of users,” he explains. If you’re into ageless style, incredible workmanship and objects of quiet elegance, this is the place to look and learn. Crissy Galleries, 640 Washington Blvd. S., Sarasota (941) 957-1110. www.crissy.com.

A. PARKER’S BOOKS

Behind the cluttered cacophony of its public shelves, Parker’s Books’ quiet, private browsing room is stacked with rare antique tomes. Complete with worn leather chair and J. Peterman-style reading lamp, this back room is open by chance or appointment. Owner Gary Hurst’s treasured leather sets have fascinating histories.

“Originally in France, almost everything was published in paper. To some extent that happened here and other parts of Europe as well,” Hurst says. He explains that books were rebound into leather sets after purchase. Many sets that include up to 18 leather volumes were originally four or five volumes in cloth. “The owners had them customized and expanded with extensive illustrations at relevant places,” Hurst says. Today these sets have value as leather sets and as extra-illustrated sets; the same set will go for $1,500 in leather as opposed to $200 with cloth covers. Prices for sets can soar to $15,000 and more.