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Nite Out

Barfly on the Wall: Dino's

By LEIGH ARMSTRONG
Published December 23, 2004

Vitals: Jazz bar at 16 Second St. N in St. Petersburg. No cover. Open Monday through Saturday. On Mondays, Al Santana from WSJT-FM 94.1 plays host to live jazz acts from 7 to 11 p.m. Singer Theo Valentin comes this Monday.

Decor: The former home of Bertoni's Italian restaurant looks like an upscale restaurant. To the right is a dining area, very minimalist but cozy enough. To the left is a lengthy bar. The piano is up against the front windows to the left.

Vibe: The laid-back feel is pretty much what you'd expect from a jazz bar; so are the plenty of old-time jazz lovers. Overall, the music is wonderful, especially when Carl Fuerstman sits at the piano Tuesday through Saturday nights. National acts have been lined up to play there as well. The first is Jan. 13, when Nat King Cole's brother brings the Freddy Cole Quartet. On Feb. 5, you can see the Maynard Ferguson band.

What they're wearing: Upscale casual. The first time I went in, I was wearing my combat boots, tattered jeans and jean jacket with about 20 band pins on it. I felt a little out of place. Nice jeans and a button shirt or polo shirt should suffice next time.

Bar code of conduct: At first, I felt silly as a 20-something among the older customers, but I really got into it. If I can like a cover of Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca on the piano, everybody can.

Mood and food: There's a casual menu, full of Caesar salads, wraps, shrimp and sandwiches, and a full liquor bar. Lunch is also served. The one downside (for some of us) is that you can't smoke inside.

Bathroom breaks: Probably the best bathrooms I've seen in a bar.

At your service: My friends and I ordered our drinks, and within the 21/2 minutes it took to get them, we were asked three other times if we'd been helped and if we needed anything else. This service continues all over the bar, including upstairs.

Go or no? I would definitely recommend this place. It's a good weekend bar venture with some buddies (or your date) to get something to eat and have a few drinks. The bonus is the piano playing; it makes the whole place come alive (you'll see lots of people dancing).

[Last modified December 22, 2004, 08:23:05]