For over a decade I am strolling through the beach bars. Red Lion was one of my favorite stops, one of the places where I would go and not expect too much, just like a hooligans pub somewhere in England ! Some month and a half ago I was pleasantly surprised seeing banners and posters of Sandy Atkinson performing in Red Lion. Knowing this talented singer and gifted song writer I stayed for the show and talk to the artist, asking how she decided to to do Red Lion gig...? Sandy smiled and said: "Doing friend a favor and promoting my new , soon to be released CD..." It seemed to me that Sunday night will be a Sandy Atkinson night so me and group of my friends were dedicated for three hours of entertainment by Tampa Bay Blues Queen herself. It was strange that Red Lion had that caliber of a singer, but hey, we were ready for a treat. And after five consecutive Sundays of awesome performing, party going, drinking and dancing by the audience... Sandy was gone??? Goof of all time is that she didn't leave, but Lana the owner of famous Red Lion wanted "some changes" ?! Knowing Lana and her methods of work for about 15 years now, I can freely say that she was very rarely making an intelligent decisions in her entertainment part, in any of her restaurants and pubs or bars. Is it time that this unfortunate woman finally realize that even a beach bar is something more then buying booze cheap-selling it expensive and serve wings and fries...? Are we as society getting more stupid every day and our entertainment will be chosen by people who didn't move step forward from karaoke machines and Hawaiian shirts? What a disappointment. To end this story and have a peace of mind I called Sandy Atkinson and ask when she is coming back? She responded: "I miss my audience, my fans who were coming to see me. We had so much fun and had a great time... Other then that have nothing else to say except that now I have my Sundays for me, maybe put few more songs on that new CD"! When I asked where we can see her again she responded with a smiling voice:" I ll be in HIDEAWAY CAFE on Friday, following SKIPPER'S SMOKEHOUSE on Saturday..."! So, I went to both shows, Hideaway gig was duo with Cannon Quinn, great guitar player, followed by Jayne Kelli and Skipper's Smokehouse was total blast with her full band TRUE LOVES where this awesome artist were in her element totally appreciated by couple hundred visitors who, not like Miss. Lana, know, understand and love true musician and talent. As far as Red LIon goes-it will never be the same. The stamp that Sandy Atkinson left in only five weeks will be remembered more then decades of mistakes and bad judgement calls of an owner. Red Lion just lost several customers. Thank God for locals and bar-flies, karaoke machines and bad taste, 'cause this bar would be done and gone thanks to the owners.