Liquor At The Ole Ballpark

It was inevitable that McKechnie Field would get a liquor license because, after all, there’s really no way to operate a tiki bar without one.

That isn’t necessarily a reference to the tiki bar that’s currently operating at McKechnie Field. Sure, it’s a nice spot to have a few drinks, especially on Thursdays when the beer is only a buck. But that tiki bar is just getting fans by until construction starts on a wrap-around boardwalk and a bigger and better tiki bar behind the outfield wall. It is expected to open for spring training in 2013.

That may seem like a ways away, but at least the “temporary” tiki is now selling the hard stuff. More information below.

• The Bradenton Marauders, class A-Advanced minor league baseball team of the Pittsburgh Pirates, open their third season at McKechnie Field, 1611 Ninth St. W., at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Free fireworks show after the game. The usual Thursday gameday special that fans have come to know and love - $1 Bud/Bud Light drafts and $1 Pepsi products – isn’t happening on opening night and there aren’t any other Thursday night games this month. However, May has FIVE nights, so save those bucks. New to McKechnie Field this season is a liquor license! The tiki bar behind first base and the concession area behind the left field bleachers will have all the usual favorites in the whiskey, vodka, rum and tequila department. Get game tickets at the ballpark box office.
• , 5131 14^th St. W., has Karaoke contest No. 3 Thursday night starting at 9 p.m. All types of music available: country, rock, gospel, hip hop, R&B and more.
• , 424 Old Main St., has happy hour seven days a week from open until 7 p.m. with $2 domestic drafts and $3 wells. Live music every Friday from 8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. This Frida,y Cork’s welcomes Those Guys, a Florida band that plays a unique blend of rock, folk and country.
• , 420 301 Blvd. E., hosts its monthly party this Saturday starting at 5 p.m. This one has a Hawaiian Luau theme with pulled pork (courtesy of owner Roger Dorics) and all the fixings (courtesy of the bar’s loyal patrons). Food comes out around 6 p.m. – and it’s free.
• , 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., has live music from The Lauren Mitchell Band at 9 p.m. Saturday. This is a non-smoking show. No cover!