Carlie's Lounge

By Leigh Armstrong, Times Staff Writer
In print: Friday, April 25, 2008

Off the Wall performs Pour Some Sugar on Me at Carlie’s in Pinellas Park.
	[Leigh Armstrong/tbt*]

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Vitals: 7020 49th St., Pinellas Park. (727) 571-2222. carlieslounge.com. Live music on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Opens at 2 p.m. every day except Sunday.

The spot: Carlie's has been around for a while, and it shows. Walking in the door is like walking into a time warp that takes you back to the late '70s. The main bar that greets you winds across half of the place like a gigantic snake. After you walk past it, the stage area opens up. It's a sight to behold just because it fits exactly with the '70s style that this place oozes. It's a decent size, and with its height above the audience and the flashing lights and spotlights, it's enough to make even the most junior rocker feel like Eddie Van Halen. (Not to mention there's actually a banner on the front of the stage that says "Party like a Rockstar!") This is an old-school rock 'n' roll bar, and they make no apologies for it.

The crowd: When you see that a side of the bar has been reserved for motorcycle parking, you know the crowd isn't going to be a bunch of hip Ybor kids. A lot of the people at Carlie's look like stand-ins for characters in Rob Zombie's The Devil's Rejects. Once the fist shock is over, though, the crowd at Carlie's is the same as any other crowd at a bar. They just want to come out and have a good time and chat with buddies. In fact, in some respects, they're a lot nicer than patrons of other bars. A man spilled my drink, and he immediately replaced it and apologized. On the other hand, if you're even a mildly attractive female, expect to have some guys run game on you. My friend who came with me got hit on seven separate times, even though she was obviously with her girlfriend. The guys here can be relentless.

Music: They have an Internet jukebox, which is a definite plus. But the real draw is the live bands. They're of a more obscure lot — you won't be hearing any huge Tampa Bay superstars here — but it's still fun. A lot of the bands have that late-'70's rock feel that this bar personifies. If you don't feel like listening to artists like Ted Nugent and Black Sabbath, then you probably want to avoid this place.

Service: The service is extremely attentive and fast. When I walked in and ordered my drink, I pulled out a cigarette and was preparing to light it when the bartender appeared with a lighter and an ashtray. When I sat down to watch the band, one of the bartenders walked the room to make sure everyone who wanted a drink had one. This is the type of service I expect at a fancy restaurant but never get. The workers at Carlie's take pride in taking care of their customers and it shows.

Juice: If you want cheap, strong alcohol, then Carlie's is the place to go (just make sure to bring a designated driver). Beer is the drink of choice at Carlie's, and domestic brands are $3 a bottle. If you want to make the bartender work for his tip, you'll find that the most expensive mixed drinks are in the $7 range, with most drinks cheaper than that. Considering the strength of the drink, take the money you're saving and give it as tip.