Back to normalcy. The holidays are regrettably over and so are the holiday parties. The madness of New Year’s Eve has receded into a fresh, new year. But this doesn’t mean the local pubs are taking off. Below is a suggestion for each day of the weekend starting tonight where you can test your pipes at a local dive on Cortez Road, take in an alt-country concert at Ace’s Lounge on Friday then lounge at the bar with one of the best seats in the house on Saturday at Tarpon Pointe Grill & Tiki Bar. We’re leaving Bradenton on Sunday for Peggy’s Corral in Palmetto where a number of local bands are …

We survived the apocalypse and Christmas. And now there's one more weekend of reveling left in 2012. Will we survive all this partying? New Year’s Eve is a Monday night so we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention a few events happening this weekend. But the majority of the 13 (for 2013, of course) nuggets listed below fall on Monday. And while it may be a Monday, there’s plenty going on this particular Monday. Happy New Year – and be safe! Gecko’s Grill & Pub, 4310 S.R. 64 E., isn’t waiting until Monday to host of New Year’s Eve celebration. So if you want to get the party started early, the crew …

The world ends sometime next Friday. At least that’s how some are interpreting the Mayan calendar and the way it ends on Dec. 21, 2012. But not many are taking these dire predictions too seriously. We've heard the doomsday predictions before and survived. I think we'll make it through this one, too. But let’s pretend for the sake of this column that the world does in fact end on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Let's say it ends sometime after the bars close early Saturday morning and before they reopen later that day. Apologies to the Grateful Dead for borrowing their song title, but if the Mayan …

This weekend in downtown Bradenton is primarily about the blues, but not in a sad way. It’s the Bradenton Blues Fest and it kicks off with a teaser on Friday followed by two events on Saturday. Even though Saturday’s main event is happening on Riverwalk, we still like the idea of closing down Old Main Street on Saturday evening to coincide with the party at the park. That’s because there is easy access and bar-hopping opportunities at places we love like Old Main Pub, McCabe’s Irish Pub, Lost Kangaroo, O’Bricks Irish Pub & Martini Bar, Cork’s Cigar Bar and Distillery Tavern. And Old Main …

Bar Tab is publishing a day early this week because some of the best Thanksgiving parties are happening Wednesday night. That’s definitely the case in downtown Bradenton where the Old Main Street Merchants Association is hosting its annual thanksgiving Eve party on historic Old Main Street from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday. It's one of the busiest nights of the year downtown as the street closes from Manatee to 3rd Avenues West for live music, bar hopping and more. Live music from Glass Onion starts at 6 p.m. The stage is located near Manatee Avenue. Vendors selling food, drinks, arts and …

Last Call Sports Bar & Grill, 2604 Manatee Ave. E., is hosting a benefit this Saturday to help out a friend in need. The event is a Cancer Awareness Benefit is for Maggie Riester, who has recently been diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer after beating breast cancer years ago. All proceeds will go toward helping Maggie and her family with medical bills and other daily needs, said her longtime friend and co-worker, Mary Pendleton-Brown, an organizer of the event. There will be activities all day, live music, food and more starting at noon with a pool tournament. Registration for the …

Badda Bing! Bar, 7004 Cortez Rd., prides itself on being all about football, especially during football season. And that’s what drew us there Sunday afternoon. Subscribing to NFL Sunday Ticket is a bit out of my price range, but Badda Bing! has it. My wife (and photographer) found a table in the corner with two flat-screen televisions on either wall. I watched my Bears win, she watched her Dolphins lose and we both listened to the Packers and the Cardinals – the featured game of the day on the center television behind the bar. Prior to the 1 p.m. games, the bar already had a decent crowd. In …

Every coastal town in Florida needs a place like Tarpon Pointe Grill & Tiki Bar, 801 Riverside Drive E. Its location on the banks of the Manatee River, the palm trees around it and the straw roofs of the tiki huts are what Florida natives mean when they say "Old Florida." Listening to the live, tropical music on a sunny afternoon while the palm trees shimmer in the breeze, well, it's Key West here, right in our own backyard. It blends classy and laid back. It’s a destination where guests can eat, dine or just hang out comfortably in a dress shirt and khakis – or cut-offs and a pair of flip …

In observance of Halloween 2012, we've found a dozen local parties happening across town - and it wasn't difficult because most of Bradenton's bars are getting into the spirit! Halloween falls on Wednesday, but the celebrations are this weekend. Most local pubs are hosting Halloween parties Saturday night, a few on Friday and one is waiting until Nov. 3 (Hi-Way Bar. Details next Thursday). Here's what we found. Anything missing? Let everyone know on the comment board! Clancy's Irish Sports Pub, 6218 Cortez Rd., has a Rock N' Roll Halloween Party Friday night with live music from Matt Brow …

If you plan on attending the grand opening of Bradenton’s revamped Riverwalk on Thursday — which everyone is going to do of course! – it's 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. with live music, skateboarding, volleyball, tai chi, public art talk and walking tours. But don't forget about the street party on Old Main Street! Main Street Live (formerly known as Get Down Downtown) will be from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with drinks, plenty of food vendors and live music from Lauren Mitchell Band. Old Main Street between Manatee and Third avenues closes to vehicles around 1:30 p.m., so don’t park there after lunch!  Here's …

A couple of well-known musicians are coming to town this weekend. A third already lives in the area and is performing at a benefit Saturday. Former NFL great Henry Lawrence, who lives in Bradenton, is among the live music lineup at the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium Saturday night to help raise money for Manatee Children's Services. Also this weekend, country star Jerrod Niemann's latest tour is taking him through Bradenton on Saturday night and the bassist from the rock band Cinderella is playing at the Lost Kangaroo on Thursday. Check it out: The Lost Kangaroo, 406 Old Main St., has live …

The Hi-Way Bar, 420 301 Blvd. E., is hosting a benefit this Saturday to raise money to help in the fight against cancer. It may have a humorous name, games and a bit of campiness (an Elvis impersonator is performing), but behind it is something quite serious. That’s because the benefit, “Stop the War in My Rack,” is dedicated to the memory of Linda Dorics, who lost her battle to breast cancer about five years ago. Linda and her late husband, Ted, were the first generation of Dorics to own the Hi-Way Bar when they bought it more than 50 years ago. Their son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Susie…

I looked up the term “dive bar” on Urban Dictionary.com out of curiosity. I’m familiar with the term, but I wanted to consult an official source not called Wikepedia. And I can’t find a Webster lying around. Urban Dictionay provided more than one definition and even had readers rate them with a thumbs up or thumbs down. Clearly Urban Dictionary is leaving it up to readers to decide which of its definitions is the most suitable. Most of the definitions weren't that flattering. But they also were marked with a lot of thumbs down, so apparently readers didn’t like Urban Dictionary’s definitions …

Hookah helped put The Cellar on the map. And now it’s back. The Cellar Bar, 4307 26th St. W., announced recently that it has brought back its hookah practice along with 20 varieties of shisha, a flavored tobacco that is smoked out of the multi-stemmed hookah instrument. Flavors include grape, apple, watermelon, strawberry, lime and a dozen more. The cost is $10 per hookah. While Hookah is legal for adults 18 and over, you can’t get into The Cellar if you’re under 21 – yet. The Cellar’s owner, Bill Hatoum, said he’s considering one or two 18+ nights at The Cellar. We’ll keep you posted. The …

Tequila Beach Sport Grille made its name as a popular destination for drinks, dancing, live music and karaoke. It had a kitchen dining room in front – a good one, at that. But the new owners want to take the establishment in a new direction, with a renewed focus on food. It's been rechristened Mannatees Sports Bar & Grill, 7423 Manatee Ave. W. The new place reopened June 1. But this doesn't mean the end to the lively atmosphere fans of Tequila Beach grew accustomed to. There’s still live music, DJs and karaoke happening in the back bar where the lighting is lower and the music a few decibles …

Anyone ready for football?  Well, the local bars are ready. With the conclusion of the NFL preseason - finally - the games matter starting this weekend. If you aren't attending a game in person, below are some close by locations where, short of a major power outage, I guarantee there will be plenty of football on TV.  And recapping what I learned last season: Fan-Atics Sports Bar & Grill, 4669 Cortez Rd., is home of all things Pittsburgh. So, Steelers fans, that's where you should be. Mannatees Sports Bar & Grill, 7423 Manatee Ave. W., the former Tequila Beach, remains loyal to the Cleveland …

When I met the owner of Oneco Beach Bar, 5151 15th St. E., around the first of the year, he summed up the place in a couple sentences. “It’s just a watering hole for the locals and anyone else,” Al Kochanowski told me. “I like to call them the ‘One More Club’ because they always want one more beer before calling it quits.” Accompanied by my wife and her camera, I occupied a barstool at the little, old pub to get a first-hand account of the One More Club and their “headquarters.” It’s definitely old; The Beach Bar has been around since the 1950s, according to its patrons. Kochanowski has owned…

Friday night looks like a busy one. There's a benefit at Westminster Manor with a name sure to make you chuckle, or cringe, and live music from The Lacs at Joyland. Or visit a couple of the Old Main Street bars featured below. The Lost Kangaroo is trading shots for school supplies and Distillery Tavern has one of the best pizzas in town - and it's available until last call. Speaking of Last Call, if you plan to lay around all day Saturday in your jammies, no need to get dressed for their party later that night: If you have yet to try the pizza at Distillery Tavern, 450 Old Main St., you’re …

Step back in time with the sweet, soulful sounds of Motown and other classic ballads this Friday when Verceal Whitaker and Allen Holland join the Dan Toler & Steve Tucci Band this Friday at Ace’s Lounge, 4343 Palma Sola Blvd. The show starts at 7 p.m. Cover: $20. Whitaker and Holland have performed with The Platters, a Motown group that started in the 1950s and continues to tour with various members today. Whitaker is lead vocalist for the Powerhouse Group, a Florida-based band that covers everything from rock, R&B, Motown, and Disco through the 1960s-90s. Holland is an accomplished cellist, …

A fund-raiser doesn’t have to be boring. Live music and a cash bar can help put the FUN in fund-raiser, and that’s certainly the case this Saturday. Local bands GoodbyEddie and Lawyers, Guns & Money are performing live at a benefit starting at 7 p.m. at the Manatee Players Community Theatre, 102 Old Main St. Money raised at this event will go toward construction of the new Manatee Performing Arts Center, being built on the Promenade at Riverwalk. The Promenade lies just northeast of downtown Bradenton’s core. The Manatee Players will relocate from its current 67-year-old building and into the…