VALDOSTA — The sound of footsteps can be heard strolling in and out of bars and nightclubs. Smoke passes through the doorway as patrons explore one of their city’s premier spots.

Melodic notes come from stylings of area musicians. Barstools are occupied with partygoers pouring over the latest drink specials.

During trivia nights, patrons test their knowledge. In other venues, singers show off their talents on karaoke.

Men and women laugh at comedians between bites of saucy buffalo wings.

This is the Georgia and north Florida nightlife arena in the SunLight Project’s coverage areas of Valdosta, Moultrie, Tifton, Thomasville, Milledgeville and Dalton, Ga., and Live Oak, Fla.

After Hours

As the sun goes down outside Rum Runners in Valdosta, manager Daniel Keesee serves drinks and tends customers’ needs.

The North Valdosta Road bar opens up at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and closes at 2 a.m.  

“It looks like a biker bar from the outside,” Keesee said. “It doesn’t look like a dive bar, hole in the wall.”

Rum Runners is not just a place to grab a beer after work. It also hosts a dart league on Tuesdays, karaoke, trivia and the occasional band. 

“(Customers) have a really good time up here,” he said. “The weekend is when it’s really hopping.”

Keesee said the audience at Rum Runners is diverse and the bar’s regulars have been faithful and loyal. 

“It’s a little bit of everything, especially at nighttime,” he said. “During the day, it’s more Southern, classic rock.”

The crowd is older and laid back during the daytime, Keesee said, but that changes at about 6 p.m. when the more youthful patrons start entering the bar.

Keesee said the welcoming and accepting customers contribute to the 21-and-older business by bringing in food items for Sunday pot lucks. 

“We have some great customers; they take care of everything,” he said. “They actually stop a lot of our problems before we even have to deal with them.”

His place is just one of many located in Valdosta and Lowndes County.

Another prominent Valdosta location is Ashley Street Station, owned by Bryan Gay. Once located on Ashley Street, the bar and music venue took its name to a larger spot at 607 Baytree Road, Suite A, a few years ago. 

A self-described dive bar, Ashley Street Station offers free pool every Wednesday and live music as often as possible. Not only do local groups such as the metal band Machinist! and the versatile jam band Dirty Bird and the Flu set the stage, national acts such as Trapt, Trace Cyrus (brother to Miley) and Nappy Roots have entertained Valdosta residents. 

Ashley Street Station not only offers entertainment but also gives back to the community by serving a free Thanksgiving dinner each year.

For Moultrie residents, the after-hour nightlife is actually linked to day life, as people can be seen walking or jogging around the courthouse square after work.

An area that, at one time, went dead when businesses closed, is now often clogged with cars after the sun goes down. With an increasing number of apartments on or close to the courthouse square, the people living there are on the hunt for things to do.

“We are one of the few cities with a town square that has apartments on it. That’s where our community was formed; we’re fortunate to have it,” said Amy Johnson, director of downtown development and public relations.

Residents can take advantage of the usual restaurants with bars such as Blue Sky Grill, a coffee shop and now, a new gym recently opened by the Moultrie YMCA.

Stores stay open later, and workout facilities have expanded their hours to be open later, as well, Johnson said.

The Downtown Scene

Johnson said a younger crowd is setting its sights on the Downtown Moultrie area, surrounding the courthouse square.

“Studies are showing that millennials like to live in downtown areas,” she said. “They like to walk, to shop and eat. … People who live downtown want something to do after 5 o’clock when they get back home.”

Meanwhile back in Valdosta, a downtown “eats and treats” attraction is gearing up for its nightlife offerings at Jessie’s Restaurant and Catering, 205 N. Ashley St. The eatery partners with other downtown retailers for First Friday, a popular event that’s hosted on the first Friday of each month.

“A lot of the merchants are open later,” Mikki Hudson, owner, said. “The restaurants have live music (and) drink specials.”

Patrons can buy First Friday cups at one of the participating locations and bring their drinks into other locations, Hudson said.

Jessie’s has various drink specials and live music during First Friday from 6:30-9:30 p.m., Hudson said. She said Jessie’s occasionally has karaoke.

Local artists Jen Anders, Zach Lambert, Tanner Strickland and Luke Ferguson have all played at Jessie’s, Hudson said.

The Downtown Pub Crawl, that premiered in March, was successful, she said.

Guests sampled drinks, cocktails, craft beer and more during the charity event that benefitted the Children’s Advocacy Center. Hudson said there are plans to host the crawl again.

Paint parties in Valdosta are on the rise, and Jessie’s has joined others in hosting the artistic event monthly. Paint parties are held in partnership with the Blush Brush.

“The artist, she picks the painting, and then, we do canvas art,” Hudson said.

Pub Theology is another activity Jessie’s hosts where guests can communicate about social matters.

“It’s just a broad discussion of different things happening,” Hudson said.

The venue also hosts monthly beer, wine and food tastings, as well as sip and shops.

“I do these different events so that people can come in and see what we have available,” Hudson said.

She said Jessie’s participates in Girls Night Out yearly through Valdosta Main Street, a go-to information source concerning all things Downtown Valdosta.

During the nighttime activity, women can create shopping lists filled with items they’d like their boyfriends or husbands to buy them. Visit valdostamainstreet.com to locate information about all of the area restaurants and retail stores. People interested can check out an event calendar.

Lots to do in North Georgia 

Nightlife in Downtown Dalton is also on the rise.

“There does seem to be more places opening up in just the last few years to go at night, more to just hang out,” David Taylor, resident, said. “You can go to Cherokee Brewing for trivia or to Dalton Brewing.”

Taylor’s friend, Jim High, said the city is transitioning for a more youthful population but at a slow pace.

“It’s changing, not fast,” he said. “But there does seem to be more places for young people, especially downtown.”

Several new restaurants have opened in the past two years, and Burr Park is set to open in the middle of downtown May 19. The park has a performance stage that can host concerts and other events.

John Davis — a member of the board of the Downtown Dalton Development Authority, which represents downtown business and property owners — agrees there are more Downtown Dalton features.

“We have more businesses that are open later, open on Sundays,” he said. “There are more things going on downtown, more people coming downtown.”

A South Georgia Mainstay 

If one frequents any of the city’s parties regularly, then he or she has probably heard of “Big” Nick Harden.

The self-proclaimed lifestyle specialist and jack-of-all-trades has been involved in the Valdosta nightlife scene for almost 19 years. A former radio DJ on both 102.7 and 107.9, Harden has experienced his share of the latest hours happenings.

“It started from college parties,” Harden said. “I’ve done a little bit of everything.”

Harden is still active as he hosts Nick-at-Nite parties at The Patterson during downtown’s First Friday, and is contributing his expertise by helping to build an audience at D’ Truth Nightclub.

Driving down Baytree Road, one might even see a “party on the patio” at his soul-food restaurant, Big Nick’s, with a DJ and games. 

“The parties that I threw at 18 are completely different than what I’m throwing now at 37,” he said.

He brings televised comedians to Valdosta by hosting monthly comedy shows at Mathis Auditorium, an event he deems successful. 

“It’s all kind of comedians, BET comedians, mostly that came from Comic View and Comedy Central,” he said.

He holds events for homecoming and an annual birthday bash in March. At his restaurant on Baytree Road, Harden offers his guests weekly live music and paint parties.

“It’s something for those folks that are a little too old to go to the club but young enough to still want to turn up,” he said.

Harden said he has partnered with the Brush Up to host weekly paint series, an event that will pair the arts with musical genres. It is currently set to debut June 6. 

“We’re going to correlate those paintings with the music, so that’s coming up,” he said. “Just trying to be creative.”

Visit bignickradio.com, or search Big Nick Radio on Facebook, for more information.

Thomasville’s Signature Nightlife

The Billiard Academy is as traditional in Downtown Thomasville as the brick-paved streets.

“Pool room,” an employee says when answering the phone.

The establishment, which opened in 1949, embraces an interior and exterior that is the same as they have been for decades. A bar was installed 69 years ago.

Owner Trip Brock purchased the 121 S. Broad St. business in 2009. Coming here from Atlanta and previously employed by a haberdashery, Brock worked in bars but had never owned one.

Customers play darts and pool, drink beer and mingle at the Billiard Academy.

Famous for its chili dogs, the favorable food items cost $2. A new version with shredded cheese and jalapeno peppers is available. Open seven days a week, dart tournaments are conducted Sundays at the Billiard Academy.

Sonny Scully, a retired technical school welding instructor, goes there in the afternoons to drink a beer and eat a hot dog.

“I catch up on all the news that’s out there,” Scully said.

The Billiard Academy opens at 7 a.m. and also caters to people who work night shifts. Brock said night shift workers eat a couple of dogs, drink a beer and go home.

When truck driver Cochran Moore was asked what he likes about the Billiard Academy, he said, “What’s not to like?”

Moore usually visits the Billiard Academy on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The place gives him a sense of home, he said. He compared it to being a member of a club and considers the owner a friend.

“You can let your hair down in here,” Moore said.

Sarah Baggett, City of Thomasville CNS marketing director, said Thomasville nightspots have been drawing young professionals for a couple of years. 

“Thomasville’s night life is growing by leaps and bounds,” she said.

Nightlife evolves, and the scene in Georgia and North Florida seems to be changing with the times. Nightclub owners are thinking outside of the box and people looking for a good time are benefitting. 

A plethora of venues are popping up within the SunLight Project coverage area, which includes Valdosta, Moultrie, Tifton, Thomasville, Milledgeville and Dalton, Ga., and Live Oak, Fla. 

Nightlife Growth

Since Milledgeville’s downtown area began rapidly attracting bars and restaurants in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the city has become a local destination for nightlife.

With annual music festivals such as Deep Roots, Milledgeville residents hope their town is entering the golden age of music and nightlife.

“I would describe the current music scene as being ‘in growth,’ and what’s even better is that the bars and other local venues you can play at are embracing that,” said Ian McNeal, a musician.

In addition to hosting musicians on weekend nights, Buffington’s hosts open mic nights Mondays, karaoke nights Tuesdays and specials for Atlanta sports events throughout the year.

Buffington’s, The Brick, Amici and Gringo’s all hold trivia contests on various nights of the week.

Valdosta’s nightlife is missing dance clubs, said “Big” Nick Harden, a self-proclaimed lifestyle specialist.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of dance spots or dance clubs, so you kind of have to make them up or use other venues to create that party,” he said.

Harden said community support is necessary for local entertainment headers to thrive.

“We can’t jump out there if we don’t have support from the community, so if we can get that support, I think we can continue building on the nightlife scene,” he said.

Valdosta is becoming more diverse with the introduction of paint parties and live musical performances, Harden said.

Mikki Hudson, owner of Jessie’s Restaurant and Catering, said the city should be more consistent in catering to all ages and people should be more aware of happening events.

“If you look on that downtown calendar, there’s plenty to do in this town, even if it’s just downtown,” she said.

Daniel Keesee frequented other bars before working at Rum Runners, which he manages. He said Valdosta’s after-hour scene is refreshing and relaxing, though it’s not as busy as other towns.

Keesee said the bar is considering a ladies night and offering military specials. 

New in Town

Bliss Nightclub and Lounge opened almost a year ago and offers something a little different to Valdosta partygoers.

In an attempt to bring New York nightlife to the city, owner Suhail Saqi said the hookah lounge has more than 100 flavors of hookah that customers can mix and match.

“With our hookahs, it’s everything premium, icehouses, stuff you won’t get down South, but in New York, up north,” he said.

Saqi said Bliss has premium tobacco, as well as non-tobacco and non-nicotine products for those only interested in the flavors.

Some of the flavors for Egyptian and Saudi Arabian hookahs are purple haze, Code 69, blueberry muffin, watermelon ice, strawberry ice and gummy bears.

“Pirate’s Cave kind of tastes like Skittles; you put it with strawberry, and so you have strawberry Skittles now,” Debby Earle, manager, said. “It’s really interesting the things that you can mix and match with; it’s really good.”

DJ Fatboy Rhymer of radio station WGOV spins for guests in the two-sided venue, Earle said. The lounge is for those wishing to relax, and the nightclub side is for customers looking to dance.

Patrons can customize any hookah to their liking, selecting from apple bowls, pineapple bowls and more.

“My thing is with customer service, we strive for the best part,” Saqi said. “I don’t want to take any shortcuts on that.”

Live music and open mic nights can be experienced at Bliss, Saqi said.

Bliss regular Wesley Charles visits the lounge two or three times per week and said he likes the close vicinity and staffing of the business. His favorite flavor is a combination of mint, peach and citrus.

“The staff that they have is very friendly and easygoing and also very knowledgeable when I ask about the different flavors of the hookah,” he said. 

Around Town

Depending on one’s taste, choosing a special nightlife venue can be difficult for partygoers. Tifton provides a slew of bars, nightclubs and musical venues.

There’s 41 and Main with Margarita Mondays, $2 Tuesdays, Wine Down Wednesdays, Ladies Night Thursdays and Beer Bucket Fridays.

Also present are the Crazy Loon Saloon, Fresco Italiano, Logan’s, The Gin, The Local, The Pub and Wing Addiction.

Thomasville’s nightlife arena consists of So. Ho. Broadstreet, Bloch Piano and Music Center, Rose Bowl Lanes, Henderson’s, Michael Angelo Restaurant, Georgia and Louie’s and Hubs and Hops.

In Live Oak, Fla., there’s Heritage Square, an upcoming entertainment district.

“We are hoping there will be something for everyone,” said Kim Smiley, project specialist for the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Heritage Square encompasses the area between U.S. Highway 129 on the west, Duval Street on the north, Mussey Avenue on the east and the railroad on the south.

One of the few restaurants in Live Oak considered to have a nightlife is The 406 on Duval, owned by Russell Cockburn and City Councilman Don Allen.

“When we opened the restaurant, we wanted this to be a destination,” Allen said.  

People from Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Valdosta are coming to dine, he said.

The SunLight Project is a team of journalists who contributed to this report. It includes Amanda M. Usher, Sarah Warrender, Charles Oliver, Alan Mauldin, Patti Dozier, Eve Guevara, Will Woolever, Jessie Box. To contact the SunLight team, email sunlightproject@gaflnews.com.

Amanda Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.