August 23, 2003
A.O.F. TOUR STOP No. 7:
NORMAN'S HIDEAWAY LOUNGE
It was a little out of our way. Okay, it was way the fuck out of our way. But when wings are the prey during The Asses of Fire Tour, not even the hassle of going to a a hole-in-the-wall place like Norman's Hideaway Lounge can dissuade us.
When they call it a hideaway, they ain't kidding. They had to use a D.O.T.-orange awning to draw attention to the damn lounge. This place is so tucked away, D.B. Cooper might be living out back.
The event got off to a flying start when Rommie decided to test the integrity of the walkway bannister with his testicles in an effort to shortcut his way from the car to the bar. The bannister won.
As the sign out front attests, this is a smoker-friendly bar. But that barely scratches the surface. People were chain-smoking with such fervor, you'd have though it was a rehab clinic. Albeit one with alcohol. I could have sworn I saw someone dragging on a Lucky Strike through her tracheotomy hole.
The bottom line: The wings were good. Spicy, but not debilitatingly so. I don't know that I saw a lot of nasal seepage or misty eyes induced from the sauce, but sometimes a slow burn is better than a wildfire. Or something like that.
For more photos from No. 7 (you've gotta see the guy at the video game machine), click here.
The next stop: Raymond James Stadium. Why? Because Wing Zone only delivers. What better place to deliver to than to the home of the world champion Buccaneers?
