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Courigan's

By Julie Garisto, tbt* staff writer
Published August 31, 2007

Vitals: 1 Beach Drive, St. Petersburg. Open 11 a.m. to midnight daily; kitchen open until 10 p.m. Major credit cards are accepted; wheelchair accessible. ATM on the premises. (727) 551-9019. www.courigans.com

The spot: It's a hybrid, folks: Irish-UK modern American sports bar. The clean, dark pub serves a full menu of American and British Isles goodies, so it's no smoking inside. Watch the game from a few fancy high-definition TVs, big and small, around the bar. Sit at a table or booth or shoot darts.

Smoking view: Attractive tall tables outside offer a view of the marina.

Stop in after the game: It's right next to Progress Energy Park, home of Al Lang Field, so it's a good watering hole during spring training.

Saturday night oasis: Visit in between stops at Mastry's, the Lobby and Emerald for a more chill hangout spot.

The crowd: Laid back and cheerful. Softball and kickball teams gather on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. USF-St. Pete students stop in, and there are some older and younger regulars.

Live music: Weeknights feature Irish folk performers such as Ryan Stroh, Brendan Nolan and Noel Cooney. Visit the bar's Web site to find out who plays when.

The juice: A well-suited army of imports and beer-lovers' brews report to taps: Murphy's Red, Samuel Adams seasonals, Blue Moon, Key West Sunset Ale, Strongbow, Boddingtons, Smithwick's, Stella Artois, Bass, Harp, Yuengling and the standard domestics.

The grub: Pretty darn good sports pub fare and traditional Irish-English entrees. The corn beef is tender and flavorful; shepherd's pie fills you up nicely and the potato skins are more like potato halves and can easily provide a snack for two.

Join the club: Courigan's has a mug club where you purchase your own numbered mug for $45 and get in on discounts for a full year. The biggest deal is the $1 domestic drafts.

[Last modified August 31, 2007, 10:16:19]