pegasus: naked people, but no strip club
jasonA while back, a nice young couple I met at a wedding told me they worked at a place called the Pegasus lounge. They seemed nice enough, but for some reason I thought the place was a strip club. Maybe it is the phallic nature of the word Pegasus. Then I kept hearing about the great shows the place had and thought, “gee it is odd that a strip club has a lot of concerts.” Then I realized that I was just a nitwit and the Pegasus was a bar with a great attitude towards hosting local bands and I should make it there to check the place out.
Wednesday night found me with nothing to do and a commitment I had made here on Sticks that I had done nothing to fulfill so I headed north on 30th street in Tampa to check out the little bar across from Busch Gardens. Located just north of Busch Blvd and south of Linebaugh, the Pegasus occupies part of a small strip mall that I knew primarily for the story my father told me about the owner of the convenience store at the end of the strip shooting a shoplifting child.
The area has gotten somewhat better since then.
The Pegasus website indicates they have been open since 2001 and it has the relaxed, easy feel of a neighborhood bar. The patrons were almost exclusively college age, and the bouncer - Norm - advised me that the majority of their customers are from the nearby University. It is a laid back crowd, with draft beer and pitchers being the drink of choice. You aren’t going to get many surprises - there is the bar, two poor tables, a jukebox, two crappy small bathrooms and a decent seating area in front of the stage. For you heavy drinkers they do have a package license and the liquor store stays open until 3am, when the bar closes. Draft beer selections include Killians and the usual suspects from the good folks of the Anheuser Busch corporation.
Although they seem to host as many nights of live music as they can, they fill out the week with karaoke. Except on Wednesdays, when they change things up and host pornaoke.
Yes, pornaoke. Naked folks bumping… well… just about everything. Hey, it is no cover and I am broke these days so I’m not going to be picky.
I guess the theory is, if you won’t laugh at the the five guys’ warbling rendition of Tenacious D’s “F*ck Her Gently” you can laugh at the nekkid folks projected in fuzzy red tinted quality on the screen behind them.
It gave me a whole new perspective on Elton John’s “Rocket Man”.
For a friendly atmosphere with a younger crowd the Pegasus is a great choice. If you go, say hello to Norm who works the door and hit the tip jar for him. Play some pool, and if you drink enough beer you might just get the courage to let loose with a little Heart or Black Sabbath. Don’t worry, all those people are laughing at the bouncing bodies behind you. At least you hope so.
Loading ...
February 1st, 2007 at 2:33 pm
It is quite the experience. Adds that extra touch to your run of the mill karaoke.
February 1st, 2007 at 3:07 pm
oh my god that is the coolest place. Everything it’s been has been cool. Of course, I remember Oz … which was right next door… (the good old days)
February 1st, 2007 at 3:21 pm
First of all, there is nothing phallic about a winged horse. Seriously. Secondly, you must have missed the fat guy in the tight shorts and roller blades who yells at people and gets shitty up at the bar. I’ve played a number of shows there and it’s just a typical dive bar. Which is what I like about it. Don’t leave out the Yuengling and PBR.
February 1st, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I really like the Pegasus. I used to play there on Tuesdays many many months ago. They have PBR, too.
February 1st, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I’ve always wanted to go there for pornaoke. Before I leave…
February 1st, 2007 at 6:23 pm
btw- the pool tables are not poor. In fact with all the quarters those kids were dropping they were likely the wealthiest objects in the room.
Kate let me know when you are going, I want to be younger than somebody there this time.
April 16th, 2007 at 11:41 am
[...] of us “writers” If you don’t know anything about the Pegasus you can check out my post on it here. Usually pitchers are cheaper that buying bottles and the clean bathroom is the one hidden near the [...]