Doing the rounds with bartenders, bikers and Betties.
by Daniel Figueroa IVYou’ve got a choice when it comes to St. Petersburg’s late-night whirl.
“Downtown has a lot of nightclubs and more of the dress code and higher drink prices. It’s where people are going to go to be seen,” says Amy Dee, owner of Octave on Central Avenue’s 600 Block. “Down here it’s more a place where people want to chill and hang out and be with friends rather than put on a show and be seen.”
Bars like Octave and The Bends have formed an unspoken alliance with restaurants like Engine No. 9 and Angelo’s. You’ll find rock ‘n’ roll types shoulder to shoulder with men and women still in their uniforms from various bars and restaurants.
“We’re all homies here,” says Jacob “Loafy” Carpentier, bartender at The Bends. “It’s a close-knit circle of bartenders and customers.”
Each establishment offers something a little different. Octave is a hybrid karaoke/dive bar. On one side is a stage with a dedicated karaoke sound system, on the other a touch-screen jukebox. On Mondays, service industry folks get 50 percent off, and every other night it’s 25 percent. A recent album release show for local band set and setting saw the bar swell to capacity and beyond.
The Bends sees itself as a showcase for local talent more than just a bar. Weekends are always jam-packed, but during the week you’ll find work by local artists like a recent show featuring Bask. A monthly Cloak + Dagger party adds an element of mystique.
Both bars pride themselves on their relatively low price points. And while they have cultivated a niche, all are welcome.
“Everyone feels comfortable in this bar,” says Dee, “no matter what their income level, orientation or field of work.”
Comfortable not only includes a frosty beverage in a friendly atmosphere, but a meal at times, too. Located steps away on First Avenue North, Angelo’s offers a diverse menu from pizza and salads to bar foods and beer. Want an antipasto salad with extra meat and cheese, but light on the veggies, like Dee often does? Bruce, the delivery man/counter guy/all-around nice dude, who has become a downtown mainstay, will walk it to you. Dee just asks for an “Amy.”
“I would say Bruce is a lot of the reason people keep going back,” says Stephen Fury, Octave bar manager. “Bruce is awesome.” He will take your order, remember your name, strike a conversation, and smile the whole night through. Operating with delivery until 3:30 a.m., Angelo’s goes the extra mile for a clientele that usually doesn’t get a chance to grab a hot meal until late at night.
The scene, open to everyone, is home to the bartenders and bikers, the Betties and the Brandos, and anyone else willing to join.