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Restaurants, bars to serve up Horror

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By ERIC HORCHY

The Suncoast News

Published: October 24, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - The term "local haunt" will have a whole new meaning tonight when seven downtown bars and restaurants will be decked out with classic scary movie motifs.

Dubbed Downtown Hollywood Horror Night, the event is the second installment of Greater New Port Richey Main Street's bimonthly "Bar Wars" competitions, which allow customers to judge each participating business based on a theme.

Patrons will be able to interject a few boos with their booze this time around as each establishment, employees included, will cast itself as best it can to a classic Hollywood horror movie of its choice.

"This is going to be exciting," said Main Street executive director Judy DeBella Thomas. "It's just another reason to bring people downtown."

True Oldies WJQB, 106.3 FM, which will broadcast a three-hour live remote show from Village Pub, is helping to promote the festivities.

Sharon Miller, manager of Boulevard Lounge, said the theme and promotional help from True Oldies has her staff looking forward to the night.

"We think it's going to be a lot of fun, especially with the radio station downtown promoting the businesses," she said. "We're hoping it will draw people from other areas."

After its successful launch in August and the buzz about Hollywood Horror Night, regular customers can expect more Bar Wars events.

"We're starting it as a series of very fun things downtown," DeBella Thomas said. "It's an ongoing annual event, and the activities associated with it every other month are going to be something interesting and exciting."

The initial Bar Wars competition, dubbed the Punch Out Contest, was held during August's Night in the Tropics.

That challenge pitted downtown establishments against one another to create the best punch concoction, as judged by festivalgoers who purchased tickets to participate.
Village Pub won that contest and the right to host the True Oldies' remote broadcast.

Bars and restaurants will be judged tonight in three areas: Best Decoration, Best Wait Staff and Best Drink. Drinks are expected to reflect the theme.

To participate in the judging, patrons will have to go to "Hell," which actually will be the Progress Energy Art Gallery, at 6231 Grand Blvd., and purchase a "movie ticket," DeBella Thomas said.

After people have hit up all the businesses, the tickets, with ratings on each, are to be taken back to the art gallery for a tally of results.

Prizes will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place winners in each of the three categories. Those who vote will be entered in a drawing for a grand prize of gifts and cash.

All voting will take place from 7 p.m. through midnight.

For information on the event and how to participate, call New Port Richey Main Street at (727) 842-8066 or e-mail info@nprmainstreet.com.

Reporter Eric Horchy can be reached at (727) 815-1071 or ehorchy

@suncoastnews.com.

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