Best Upgrade
Orpheum
Earlier this year, we bade a fond farewell to the old Orpheum at 1902 Republica de Cuba Ave., Ybor, and gave warm welcomes to the club’s bigger, splashier digs on the east end of the Seventh Avenue strip — near Empire. The new venue offers a larger room, with comfy and discreet seating, cool flatscreen TVs, a great sound system, and an, um, really high stage. Punk bands have wisely opted to play on the floor. Can you imagine if they didn’t? Stage dive! Splat! 1915 Seventh Ave., Tampa, 813-248-9500, theorpheum.com.
Best Na Strovya!
St. Petersburg Nights
It’s a Russian restaurant, a haven for belly dancers and a discotheque — and, mother of God, they’ve got dancing bears! This world-class haven of kitsch and awesomeness on St. Pete Beach features ’70s-’80s decor, mirrors galore and big private booths, where you’d swear KGB agents and Muscovite mobsters are lurking. On some nights, a hookah-smoking DJ spins hits from the ’80s. On others, you can watch va-va-voom burlesque. Whatever’s going on, you can count on St. Petersburg Nights being a total hoot. 6800 Sunset Way, St. Pete Beach,727-363-3832, stpetersburgnights.com.
Best Reggae Bar
Club Prana’s rooftop skybar
Cant take that trip to the Bahamas? No problem; just relax and listen to the cool Caribbean beats every Friday and Saturday at Club Prana in Ybor City. The club offers five different floors and five different types of music, but if you’re a fan of reggae and soca, grab your drink, head for the roof and dance all night long. 1619 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa, 813-241-4139, clubprana.com.
Best jazz club
The Fox Jazz Cafe
If you like jazz, great food and lots of fun, then The Fox is for you. Located near West Shore Plaza, this snazzy jazz club has a 1920s feel that will make you want to put on those flappers and dance. Whether you want to listen to the live band or chill to the smooth tunes in the piano room, you’ll find an option to suit you at The Fox. 5401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-289-8446.
Biggest Loss to Local Music Retail
Vinyl Fever Closing
It appeared Vinyl Fever was holding steady amid a volatile indie music retail market; hell, we even wrote a story about how the venerable 30-year-old indie record store was successfully maintaining its viability. But in January, barely a month after our story ran, owner Lee Wolfson announced he was closing Vinyl Fever for good, as he was unable to rationalize the expense. While those of us who loved the place will always wonder why Wolfson didn’t try to sell it to some eager local music enthusiast, we will certainly remember Vinyl Fever fondly.
Biggest Local
Music Retail Success
Mojo Books & Music
While Vinyl Fever was in the midst of liquidating all its inventory, Mojo Books & Music was preparing to move to much bigger digs. The store’s new, tastefully appointed 4,200-square-foot space is located in the same USF-area plaza a few doors down from the old storefront, and not only has Mojo expanded upon its stock to fill up all the additional racks and shelves, but the store now includes a beverage bar with a selection of Kahwa coffees and Rishi teas. If that wasn’t enough, Mojo has beefed up its live music offerings, with live music events that have featured the likes of beloved alt folk singer-songwriter, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. 2540 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-971-9717, mojotampa.com.
Best Hangover Garage Sale
Rock & Roll Swap Meet
For eight years now, Roger Peterson (Pretty Voices, Crippled Masters) has organized the annual Rock and Roll Swap meet — a kind of hipster flea market where artists, craftspeople, musicians, off-duty bartenders and more can buy a table, hawk their wares and nurse a bloody Mary or a PBR from behind a good pair of shades. The event consistently features two (yes, two) stages of solid local musical talent and has moved to new (and sometimes strange) locations every year, including Jannus, The ACL Club, Shackleton’s Folly and the St. Pete Shuffleboard Courts.
