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Palm Harbor Merchants Plan Pub-Crawl

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: July 26, 2008

PALM HARBOR -- Many locals already know one of the area's best kept secrets is the fun that can be found in downtown Palm Harbor's growing night-life. Walking from tavern to tavern, visiting with friends, munching on a variety of food and quenching thirst with tasty libations in the historic district just east of Alt. 19 is becoming the thing to do for those who don't want to venture too far from home.

Six downtown Palm Harbor pubs have joined forces to add to the excitement by offering a monthly pub crawl on Florida Avenue, the downtown's main drag, and adjacent streets. The pub crawls are scheduled to start next week.

The first trek among the crawl participants - Old Town Cafe; Thirsty Marlin Grill and Bar; Billy Jack's Burger Shack; Boyle's Backyard Bar and Grill; the Witches Brew; and Peggy O' Neill's Irish Pub and Eatery - starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1. The crawl ends at 11 p.m.

There will also be a prize drawing. This month's prize is two tickets to the Aug. 9 stop on the "Hippiefest" concert tour at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall. The "Hippiefest lineup includes Cream alum Jack Bruce, British Invasion veterans Eric Burden and the Animals, the Turtles, featuring Flo and Eddie,l and Melanie.

To be eligible for the drawing patrons will have to get their ballots stamped at all six participating establishments.

Lesley Klein, owner of Oak Trail Books and the Witches Brew, remembers the days when downtown did not have enough pubs to host even a short walk.

Now there is a growing variety of restaurants and taverns, proving local entertainment within walking and bicycling distance, she said. There are also plenty of places to park downtown for groups wanting to be able to walk between pubs, she added.

She got the idea for the local pub crawl after visiting similar events in Key West and Delray Beach, Klein said.

"It's a good way to help our local economy and have some fun. Many pubs will be offering their own entertainment, food and drink specials," she said.

"People don't have to go to Ybor City or Channelside to have a fun evening," she said, referring to a pair of popular entertainment areas in Tampa.

Each pub on the crawl will have a box to collect completed ballots, with the winner called the next day, she said.

The plan is to have the event on the First Friday night of each month, and offer more prizes as it grows, she said.

The participating pubs and restaurants, not Old Palm Harbor Main Street, is putting on the pub crawl, Klein stressed.

The private Main Street group, which supports local downtown redevelopment, has other things on its plate, said Klein, who is a member of its board of directors. In case of bad weather, the event will be held the following evening on Saturday, Aug. 2.

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