Punta Gorda Midnight Not at 9 Anymore

As I have been noting regularly here, Punta Gorda with its many music venues within a concentrated area has become a weekend mecca for those seeking an entertaining bar scene. A plethora of low and high brow choices make it easy to bar hop or choose a particular hang-out for the evening to suit one's mood.  Last night we  made the round of a few local hot spots.   

The Punta Gorda night loomed below with the lights from the the Bridge and Sheraton Hotel highlighting the harbor.   We listened to the pulsing sounds of American Made, a band playing rock at the top of the Wyvern. Drinks were reasonably priced, and the atmosphere with the a sweeping view of the lighted harbor was awesome.   The roof bar was crowded and the band, a fairly new formation delivered newer and classic rock to a very enthusiastic audience  watching fireworks in the distance probably from the Stonecrabs last game of the season.

We checked out several other  local places last night as well including the Ice House, which we knew would be packed when we saw cars squeezed into parking spaces up  and down Virginia Ave. 



A unique touring duo, Hymn for Her,  were loudly entertaining an overflowing crowd with their three-stringed broom handle/cigar box, banjo, dobro, bass drum, hi-hat, and harp.

Nearby at Deans, the sounds of Kapos were also drawing in a large group.   And as we passed by,  Jacks  and the Slip Not were both brimming over and going strong.   This was probably about 11:30 or so last night --  and I wondered somewhat gleefully whatever happened to our sleepy little town where  people used to refer to 9 p.m. as Punta Gorda midnight?