Let´s face it, there are tons of piercing places these days. Everybody and their mother are getting pricked by anyone with a needle and a bottle of rubbing alcohol. So it basically comes down to two things: price and comfort (your needle-wielding friend´s drunken double-dog dare notwithstanding). Our readers get holey at Monique´s in Ybor and Clearwater, which are shiny clean and staffed with professional, comforting, experienced piercers. Prices range from $35 for some eyebrow bling to $45 for a tongue stud, with a few more bucks for fancier jewelry (like Monique´s custom gold pieces). And if you´re feeling saucy, g´head and get a tattoo while you´re there. It´s your basic one-stop body modification shop.
Monique´s, 1603 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor, 813-248-9153; 1861 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, 727-462-8346.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2004.