On Friday night, September 16, St. Petersburg's resident "classy dive bar" The Bends held a "Stranger Things" party in honor of the popular Netflix show. Colored Christmas lights covered the ceiling as bartenders dressed as "blonde-wig" Eleven and Dustin from the show, among others, served up specialty drinks. The Upside Down was a delectable mix of pineapple sweetness with ginger bite and a generous helping of Goslings Black Seal rum, while the Demogorgon combined three different liquors with orange juice, lime and grapefruit to create a truly formidable drink.
DJ's Shadow_Run/Brothers mixed the show's soundtrack with some of the decade's most tubular new wave. Later on, Joe Seul served up a "blend of new wave no wave electronic darkness."
Dressing up was encouraged, and some of the best costumes included "hospital- gown" Eleven, government agent in a Hazmat suit and the alphabet wall which Joyce Byers uses to communicate with Will. Even those who didn't bring costumes could grab a mask of one of their favorite characters from the staff. I got Nancy Wheeler.
The Bends put in the work and the crowd brought the fun. Let us know when the Season 2 Party premieres.
This article appears in Sep 15-22, 2016.