8. Sipping Sarasota

( Brian Krista, Patuxent Publishing / February 6, 2013 )

There's no shortage of postgame watering holes in and around Sarasota. I took an immediate liking to O'Leary's for its fantastic view of the sunset and warm breeze off the bay. If you catch the O's on the road in Dunedin, you'll want to visit the Dunedin House of Beer (927 Broadway Ave., 727-216-6318; dunedinhob.com), where you can get two of the 40 craft beers available on tap for the price of one if you have a ticket stub from the day's game. Growlers Pub (2831 N. Tamiani Trail, Sarasota, 941-487-7373; growlersonline.com) has 30 American craft beers and imports on draft. I stopped in for open-mike night on Tuesday, a vibrant scene where a familiar gang of regulars who also happen to be musicians hang out and entertain each other in a very supportive and encouraging environment. They don't serve food here, but they keep a bunch of menus from neighboring restaurants that will gladly deliver. Many of the regulars work in the service industry in nearby restaurants and bars, which tells you all you need to know about the place.