If ever there were a week to write about nightlife, it’d be this week. It’s the last week of 2017, and everyone’s looking for a place to be when the clock strikes midnight on December 31. Most people will hit Tampa, St. Pete, and Clearwater, but what about my hometown? What’s there to do in Palm Harbor this weekend?
1. Listen to live music at Local Brewing Company (LBC)
It's often standing room only at this local hot spot. Every weekend they've got live music and lots of beer. Two great cover bands are slated to play this weekend — Stormbringer on Saturday night, and a Led Zeppelin tribute band on New Year's Eve.
2. Drink some local beer at The Pint and Brew
The Pint and Brew is a small bar in a Palm Harbor strip mall, which makes it sound pretty unremarkable. But don't be fooled. They are one of the Tampa Bay area's best locations to sample local craft brews. At any given time, they'll have beers from over a dozen Florida breweries. This Sunday, they are hosting a New Year's Eve party with $1 off all local drafts and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.
3. Check out our microbreweries – we've got four
There are some great microbreweries hiding out in Palm Harbor — Stilt House, de Bine, Lagerhaus, and Palm Harbor Brewery. All four will be open this weekend, including New Year's Eve. de Bine's New Year's Eve party includes a buffet dinner at 8 p.m. catered by The Thirsty Marlin, one of Palm Harbor's best seafood restaurants, for only $35. Glass Onion, a Beatles cover band, is the entertainment for the evening. If you want to get the party started early, Stilt House is having a "Get it Started" New Year's Eve party with Bay Street Burgers and Nathan Allen Music from 2-4 p.m.
4. Head downtown for Peggy O’s New Year’s Eve bash
\\
Peggy O's is practically the only place still alive in downtown Palm Harbor after 9 p.m., so their parties are always well-attended. Peggy O's New Year's Eve party will include a special dinner — flank steak with lobster tail — for $17.99. It's super cheap to reserve a table here, too — $25 for a two-person table or $50 for a four top. Your table comes with one drink per person, party favors and live music from the Clearwater-based alt rock group Lie Low.
5. While you're downtown, have a wine slushie at Two Lion’s Winery
Two Lions Winery hasn't been around for long, but already it's got regulars. They'll be gathering here on New Year's Eve for brews and live jazz music. No cover.
6. Drink some more beer at Palm Harbor House of Beer
\\
Palm Harbor House of Beer is hosting a New Year's Eve Around the World event with an open bar and hor d'oeuvres from Nina Dunedin Catering. Buy your ticket in advance (at the bar) and dress up the day of — it's semi-formal.
7. Get the joke at Snapper's Grill & Comedy Club
I really like our local comedy club here in Palm Harbor. It's got cheap food and tickets are usually pretty cheap too, like $10-20 cheap. They booked Angel Salazar, a.k.a. Chi Chi from Scarface, for New Year's Eve. Shows are at 7 and 10 p.m.
8. Go to Fairway Pizza & Sports Bar for pizza, live music, and drinks
Fairway Pizza looks more like a bar than a pizza parlor. When I visited around five o'clock on a Wednesday night, there were more people having drinks at the bar than eating pizza at the tables. It's a huge place, with an Old Florida look, a sizable patio, and a nice stage for live music. SPF 40 is playing there Friday night, The Railway Kings on Saturday, and Flying High on New Year's Eve. (Editor's note: These guys are also super-good to one of our favorite animal rescues, Suncoast Animal League, so show 'em some love.)
9. Go to Mixers for mixed drinks, NYE party
Mixers has really got that friendly neighborhood bar vibe down to an art. They don't have a signature cocktail, but they'll mix up anything you'd like — and it will probably be good. Don't be surprised if the bartender greets you the moment you walk in the door. They'll have a DJ on New Year's Eve along with party favors and a free champagne toast at midnight. No cover.
10. Innisbrook
Um…How'd Innisbrook end up on this list? Oh yeah, I remember now. Innisbrook hosts a New Year's Eve gala. It's from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., so you get five hours of open bar, food, dancing, and a champagne glass for $160.
This article appears in Dec 28, 2017 – Jan 4, 2018.