With all the food, touristy things to do and history, Tarpon Springs is one of my favorite places in Pinellas County. But at night, the city seems to shut down, and the few open bars are pretty quiet.
With one notable exception: the Zone Lounge. It's a hopping little venue with live blues, rock and alternative music, a decent crowd on sports nights and an even bigger crowd on the weekend for dancing. The bar has a good mix of young and old, so whether you're there to dance the night away with your friends or throw back a few whiskeys and remember the good old days, you should feel at home.
The Zone is eclectic and arty. The brick walls are covered with colorful renderings of pop culture icons like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. For a moment, with the hardwood floors, dark lighting, luxurious drapes and plush sofas, I felt more like I was in an art gallery than a bar.
After we ordered drinks (my martini was incredibly strong), I took a look at the other half of the building. The lounge is split into two sides: One is all tables, chairs and a couch, with one long bar; the other houses the dance floor, another bar and an intimate, roped-off area with couches and an indoor canvas gazebo implying VIP. The floor plan allows the two faces of the bar to stand apart from each other — it can be a dance club or a place to grab a drink and a great conversation with friends, and the people on the other side of the wall will never be the wiser.
Outside is another bar and a surprisingly large patio area, where a live band plays most nights. There are high tops, large benches under fabric awnings and torches to create ambience under the stars. Around 10 p.m., a guy with a cart starts grilling burgers, hot dogs and sausages. It seems a bit odd to have a hot dog stand in the back yard of a bar this swanky, but given the amount of beverages consumed, I'd bet the cart does pretty good business.
The Zone Lounge might be the perfect spot if you're not sure where the night will take you. If you're thinking about dancing, drinking, chatting with friends (or a date) or watching the big game, the Zone Lounge is your place.
. If You Go
The Zone Lounge
121 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs; (727) 934-5599. www.myspace.com/thezoneintarpon
On tap: Bud, Bud Light, Sierra Nevada, Sam Adams and Sam Adams Special Brew. Full liquor and specialty martini menu. Beers cost $3 to $5; wells are $5; martinis start about $9.
Deals: Ladies night is Thursday with $3 you-call-it martinis and $1 wells, wines and draft beer until midnight. Monday is hospitality night for bar and restaurant employees.
Special night: "Girls Gone Wild Tuesday" has a Coyote Ugly theme.
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