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Business & Tech

Thanksgiving Specials at the Bars Wednesday, Thursday

Old Main Street is hosting its annual celebration on Thanksgiving Eve; Bars around town have drink and food specials Wednesday and Thursday.

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 crafts and other wares will line both sides of Old Main Street.

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When the City closes Old Main Street for an event like this, open containers of alcohol are permitted on the street, but please remember to keep your drinks in a plastic cup if you’re leaving a bar to mingle on the streets. Glass bottles are still prohibited on Old Main Street.

Also around Bradenton during the Thanksgiving holiday:

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Cork’s Cigar Bar, 424 Old Main St., continues its efforts to get aid to the victims of Hurricane (or Superstorm?) Sandy. Bring in donations of clothing, blankets or any other non-perishable goods and get a free Jell-O shot for each donation.

Pier 22, 1200 Barcarrota Blvd., has its usual Wednesday night special of two-for-one sushi rolls from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the dockside lounge, patio and sushi bar. Also in the dockside lounge and patio during that same timeframe are $2 martinis. Click here for info about Pier 22’s special Thanksgiving dinner.

Tommy Knockers Saloon, 5627 14th St. W., will have DJ music, dancing and karaoke every night starting Wednesday through Saturday. Drink specials all week, including $3.50 Smirnoff bombs of any flavor. Tommy Knockers also sells package alcohol and select six-packs of beer are on sale for $5.99 and liters of well vodka are $8.99. Also, discounts on Holiday Haircuts in Tommy Knockers “Salon."

Tarpon Pointe Grill & Tiki Bar, 801 Riverside Drive E., is for the dogs from 6-9 p.m. every Wednesday during “Pooch Night” with free dog treats, live music and even some drink and food specials for people, too. The “people” happy hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. features $2.50 domestic bottles. $2.25 domestic drafts $3 wells, $4 calls, $5 on select premiums, $4 Smirnoff martinis and $6 Bar Bite snacks. Live music from Taylor & Taylor from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Mannatees Sports Grill, 7423 Manatee Ave. W., has live music from Billy Rice Band 7-10 p.m. Wednesday. Get there early for happy hour specials from noon-7 p.m. Specials include 16-oz. select drafts for $2.50, house wines for $3 and a buck off wells and select calls. Pitchers of domestic beer are $8.99 all day every day. Click here to visit the Mannatees website for information on their Thanksgiving dinner special.

Joe’s Bar, 5254 S.R. 64 E., is open Wednesday from 3 p.m. to midnight. Specials all day include $6 pitchers of domestic beer and $9 pitchers of import beer. If smoking isn’t your thing, Joe’s is the place to be because smoking inside is prohibited.

Old Main Pub, 313 Old Main St., has select beer bottles on sale for $2 and bomb specials for $3.50 during this holiday week.

Gecko’s Grill & Pubs on 4310 S.R. 64 East and 7228 55th Avenue East are closed on Thanksgiving Day but have trivia starting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Happy hour prices are good all day Wednesday and feature two-for-one well cocktails, margaritas, frozen drinks and house wines.

Last Call Sports Bar & Grill, 2604 Manatee Ave. E., is hosting its Thanksgiving party starting at 3 p.m. Thursday with dinner and sides along with beer and wine specials all night.

Badda Bing Bar!, 7004 Cortez Rd., is opening for a Thanksgiving pot luck dinner on Thursday from 7 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. Bring a side and swing by.

The Steelers aren’t playing, but Fan-Atics Sports Bar & Grill, 4669 Cortez Rd, is open Thursday from 7 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. with its usual lineup of Touchdown Thursday specials: $6.25 family pitchers of Budweiser, $10 domestic buckets, two-for-one wells and 55-cent wings during the football games.

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