Other entertainment in Florida
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Mck's Tavern
Just want a low-key spot to enjoy a beer? Chill over drafts and darts at McK's Tavern.
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Jackie Robinson Ballpark
On an island in the Halifax River, Jackie Robinson Ballpark is home to the Daytona Cubs, a Class A minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. In 1946, the Montreal Royals, Jackie Robinson’s team, was in Florida to play an exhibition against their parent club, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Other Florida cities refused to let the game proceed due to segregation laws, but Daytona Beach cried, ‘Play ball!’ and Robinson later went on to be the first African American baseball player in the majors. The ballpark, seating 4200 people, was renamed in his honor in 1990.
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John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center
The John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center, home to the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, holds performances of Shakespeare stand-bys like Macbeth and As You Like It, as well as classic theater, two children’s shows a year, an annual theatrical premier, and holiday favorites – well, perhaps A Tuna Christmas isn’t a favorite, but it’s certainly an interesting holiday option.
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Cucina Dell’arte
Reminiscent of a Florentine cafe, this high-end eatery overflows with warm colors, art and some of the finest glitterati in Palm Beach. Around 10pm, they shove the tables out of the way and blast the music. Expect to see dancing botox queens, beautiful visiting fashionistas, desperate old guys and totally normal people soaking it all in. Pretentious enough to be fun, if you arrive wearing a serious face, you’ll be sorry.
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Café Eleven
Decorated by an Ikea-ophile, this slick hangout is a full-service coffee shop/restaurant during the day. At night, the tables get shoved aside and it transmogrifies into a theater for some of indie rock’s biggest names (recent acts include Vampire Weekend, Modest Mouse and the Walkmen). Super-intimate but roomy enough to avoid crazed dancers, it’s simply the best small venue on the east coast to catch a live show.
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Miracle Theater
This gorgeous, 80-year-old theater is one of the best bits of deco anywhere off the Beach. Today, the Actors’ Playhouse company puts on productions in the three performance spaces – the 600-seat main-stage auditorium, a smaller children’s theater and a black box for cutting-edge works – although the theater is nice to visit whether you’ve got tickets or not.
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717 South
Young professionals gather after work to mingle and sip martinis (there is a rainbow of flavors) in the posh lounge at one of Tampa’s top spots to see and be seen. If you need something to eat after all the vodka, head to the restaurant dining room for imaginative takes on Italian classics served amid art-deco paintings, high ceilings and an open kitchen.
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Tim & Terry’s
This general-store-meets-the-big-city dive is initially disorienting, but the friendly vibe sets you straight. Part sandwich shop, package store and instrument dealer, there’s also a stripped-down performance space showcasing bluegrass (Tuesdays) and other folk-country-rock music the rest of the week. Fantastic beer selection. A hippie favorite.
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Wally’s Mills Ave Liquors
Everyone seems to find their way to Orlando’s favorite dive bar. It’s been around since the early ’50s, and while its peeling naked-women wallpaper could use some updating, it wouldn’t be Wally’s without it. Nothing flashy, nothing loud, just an Old Florida bar with a jukebox and cheap drinks. The adjacent store sells liquor, wine and beer.
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Maitland Art Center
Since 1938, this art center has provided classes and studio space to area artists, as well as galleries where they can display their work for the public. The facilities, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, boast lovely gardens where live music, usually classical, is performed on an occasional basis.
reviewed
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Orlando Youth Theater
Offering children’s theater performed by children, they stage everything from High School Musical to Les Misérables at the Studio Theater. It also has venues throughout the city. Check the website for information on special events (like monthly teen cabaret night), classes and audition schedules.
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2nd Street Speakeasy
If you’re not paying attention, you’ll cruise right past the dark door leading into Gainesville’s chillest bar. Fringe-tipped crimson lamps, a mellow azure aquarium and cushy burgundy sofas are some of the cool features here. What’s coolest though, is that the volume of the lounge music is set so you can actually chat with people.
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Mr G’s Rock Bar & Grill
During the week, there’s Beer Pong (Tuesdays, also Biker Night), open mic (Wednesdays) and college night (Thursdays). Weekends rage with live rock blasting among a sea of pool tables. The menu features music-themed dishes (Phish dip), but don’t arrive too early: the party doesn’t get going till the dancers show up after work.
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Purple Lotus
Surrounded by tiki torches, tribal masks and mellow music, guests can enjoy a coconut bowl of kava, a legal intoxicant that’s near the intersection of Beer and Valium. Consumed throughout the South Pacific, the bitter drink increases relaxation without disrupting mental clarity; a trip here promises a laid-back night.
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Roxy’s
Home to the county’s first liquor license, this joint has changed hands (and locations) several times, but the 42ft mahogany and brass Brunswick Bar has remained since 1935. With 55 beers on tap, a great pub menu and frequent live music, the recently renovated Roxy’s is one of West Palm’s newest hotspots.
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Northern Miami Terminal
One of Greyhound's major terminals. There are several buses daily to New York City ($115 one-way, 27 to 30 hours) and Washington, DC ($109 one-way, 23 to 25 hours); five daily to New Orleans ($95 one-way, 20 to 22 hours); and 10 daily to Atlanta ($95 one-way, 16 to 18 hours).
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Mill Top Tavern
Located on the 2nd story of a 19th century mill that’s hugged by a huge oak, grooving at the open-aired Mill Top is like hanging out in a treehouse – that has a full bar and kitchen. The Mill Top boasts live music nightly, unmatched views of the Castillo and a cooler vibe than any bar in town.
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Cad’zan Bar
Inside the Ritz-Carlton, this swanky lounge serves the best chocolate martini in Sarasota – it’s liquid dessert that gives you a buzz, and don’t be surprised to find yourself licking the glass after the last heavenly sip. The atmosphere is old-world elegant, complete with jazz and dancing.
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Automatic Slims
Slim’s sells itself as a seedy rock bar, but it’s really a marketing consultant’s idea of what a dive should be. The Harley outside, Coyote Ugly ambience and manufactured ‘edge’ make it the Blink 182 of Miami’s nightlife universe: watered-down punk and pretty nonthreatening.
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Raleigh Hotel Bar
You’d best be orderin’ a Manhattan if you’re gonna sidle up to this cologne-and-leather bar. Like everything else in the Raleigh, this lounge evokes South Beach’s good old days, when guys like Al Capone and Meyer Lanksy cut deals in the corner and jazz set the soundtrack.
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Push Ultra Lounge
DJs spin hip-hop and top 40 at this pulsating club that uses lots of colored lights and imagery to set the trippy mood at this popular club. Exposed brick walls and ultramod decor grace all three levels, and there’s a rooftop bar if you need to get some air.
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Orlando Repertory Theater
The Orlando Repertory Theater offers theater for young audiences year-round. Local productions of national shows include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, A Year with Frog and Toad and Chronicles of Narnia.
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Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
Folk and blues are deep-running currents in Florida music, and pioneers Ray Charles and Cannonball Adderley both hailed from the state. For folk, visit the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, near Suwannee River State Park.
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No Name Pub
The proprietors at the No Name Pub, 1.5 miles north of US 1 on Big Pine Key, know where their retirement is coming from: the approximately $60,000 in $1 bills stapled to the walls by customers; stop by for pizza and beer.
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Taberna del Gallo
Sans electricity, only flickering candles light this 1736 tavern, which serves beer and wine to guests in the stone-walled interior and outdoor courtyard. On weekend nights the Bilge Rats sing sea shanties that get progressively bawdier.
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