Nightlife by Nanette Wiser
From Downtown St. Pete to Gulf Beaches, every day is funday. Live music, trivia, karaoke and games take the sting out of blursdays. Here are some of our faves. (Events/dates/times subject to change; check Facebook or call ahead.)
Intermezzo’s craft cocktails and coffee, Mezzo Market and live music Tuesday and/or Thursday is hip and buzzy. Next door Green Bench Brewing serves up movies in the garden, live music, games and more. Grab a bite to eat at Red Mesa Cantina, where you can enjoy Mexican cuisine with a Latin and Caribbean twist. DTSP
The Hideaway’s outdoor Saturday sessions are fun, and the recording studio/café feature multiple genres, from indie to rock. You can catch some of our favorite acts nightly including Kid Royal Band, Ronnie Dee and the Superstars, Kirk Adams Band, Gale Trippsmith, Joseph Interrante and Boxcar Hollow playing Phish. DTSP
Ruby’s Elixir features live music nightly with some of the best acts in Tampa Bay including Latraia Savage, Shawn Brown, Joshua Pockrus, Barefoot Bob and the Hope, Shevonne, The Branson Welsh Group, Ella Jet & Future Soul, Tony Tyler Trance, Connor Alexander, The New Rulers, Josh Magwood and Family Funk. DTSP
Other regular day/night music hotspots in Treasure Island are Ricky T’s, Ka’Tiki (Sunday mimosa buckets $11.50) and Caddy’s Sunset Beach. A new Caddy’s is in the works for Madeira Beach with a Gulf view, and the Indian Rocks Caddy’s also serves up live music.
Head over to Gulfport for live music at O’Maddy’s. Be sure to check out Tutto Bene Italian for live music under the stars on Wednesday for BOGO entrée, early bird specials 4-5:30pm and happy hour 4-6pm. On Sunday, come for lunch and enjoy the $5 drink specials.
Chill Restaurant & Bar’s new owner continues the tradition of outstanding live music, craft cocktails and festive fare and a regular Wednesday stop for Tony Castellano and The Chill Tones and one of my favorites, Motel Funk. Sea Hags Tuesday with Act III puts the funk and soul back in your life. St. Pete Beach
Jazz aficiandos can enjoy music at Flute & Dram Sunday (Gloria West & The Gents), St. Pete Beach’s Boulevard Burgers & Taphouse Sunday (and a taco/trivia Tuesday night) and sometimes at Middlegrounds. Redington’s Wine Knot showcases charcuterie, wine, craft beer and live entertainment Friday and Saturday, a mix of jazz, indie and comedy.
It’s a tradition in our family to catch the sunset at tiki bars like Bongo’s (Saturday with Carlos & Joe) and Thunderbird’s Tiki Woo (catch Fiona Frensche here or enjoy French food and conversation at Marquise Café “Chantez Avec Nous”).
In Tierra Verde, you can catch some of the town’s best bands at Island Grille and Raw Bar (Friday with Carlos & Joe), the rooftop at the Marriott and Billy’s Stone Crab, Seafood & Lobster Restaurant/Bar with Tony D, Jeremy Thomas and others.
Are you a trivia queen? Bring your posse to Gulfport’s Caddy’s Thursday, Ferg’s Sports Bar Thursday, Pinellas Ale Works Wednesday, Wine Knot Wednesday and Seminole’s Angry Pepper.
Sing along Bingo kicks off Largo’s Mugs N Jugs Wednesday night, Caledonia Brewery hosts a Music Bingo and trivia in Palm Harbor Wednesdays.
Coconuts Comedy Club in M.J.s next to Caddy’s St. Pete Beach is the longest running comedy venue in Tampa Bay and we’re hoping for a return of comedy open mic night when the Pandemic subsides.