The Flamingo is a must-see for any Jack Kerouac fan, as this is the last place to see Jack alive…read more(unless you want to count the hospital, where he died). Yes, believe it or not, the iconic Beat generation poet spent his remaining years living in St. Petersburg, Florida (of all places), with his mother and third wife. He loved the anonymity that the city afforded him, The Flamingo was his frequent hangout dive bar, and the night prior to his death, October 20, 1969, was no exception. After a few hours of being home, he complained of stomach pains, vomited blood, and was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery and died at 5:15 the following morning, October 21, age 47; cirrhosis of the liver from lifelong drinking did him in. The Flamingo is where he had his last drink.
The bar essentially remains the same as it was when he spent his time here. It is a known pilgrimage site for fans of "On the Road", and the bar has decided to pay tribute to him by having his picture on their window, a Jack Kerouac special drink in his honor, and a lovely, colorful mural on the wall that Jack himself would have been proud of. I heard that there are also photos of him inside the bar. The Flamingo is Vietnam-Veteran owned. The owner had the privilege of meeting Jack in the flesh, and it is said that Jack enjoyed hearing about his time in Vietnam, and that he was a pretty good pool player. On occasion, The Flamingo will hold musical performances, and poetry readings in his honor. I thought I read somewhere that they use the money for the Friends of Kerouac nonprofit.
I did not have the honor of stepping foot inside the brightly-painted sports bar, as it was early morning, and closed at that time. Even if I had stuck around until opening time, there is something about drinking in the morning/day time that just does not sit right with me, so I didn't have the privilege of trying the Jack Kerouac special. If I do find myself in St. Pete one night, I'd like to check out the bar, maybe catch a jazz or blues act, and give the Kerouac special a try, in honor of this special gentleman. It'd be interesting to see what types of diverse crowds this bar attracts as well!
