ULTRA-WORST NEW CLUB TREND

Several years ago in numerous metropolises far larger and hipper than St. Petersburg, the term “ultra lounge,” which means the exact same thing as “nightclub,” became chic. In the ’Burg’s well-intentioned-yet-at-times-laughable attempt to distance itself from the “God’s waiting room” stereotype, the city’s downtown decided it needed not one, but three “ultra lounges.” Not nightclubs, mind you, “ultra lounges.” There’s Push Ultra Lounge on 3rd Street, where Benji Madden (of the mall-punk band Good Charlotte) DJ’ed and caused a ruckus by dragging along his girl-bot Paris Hilton. Then there’s Vintage Ultra Lounge on 2nd Street, next to Jannus Landing. Lastly, there’s The Globe Coffee Ultra Lounge. It’s a cozy, unpretentious java joint/folk venue — unlike the other two downtown “ultras,” which specialize in pricey drinks, techno, and VIP perks — that simply needs to drop the U-word from the moniker. The place used to be called, that’s right, The Globe Coffee Lounge. Nice unpretentious ring to it. Vintage Ultra Lounge, 16 Second St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-898-2222, vintageultralounge.com, The Globe Coffee Ultra Lounge, 532 First Ave. N., St Petersburg, 727-898-5282, myspace.com/theglobecoffeelounge