Entertainment in Tampa Bay
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Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
This is the largest performing-arts center south of the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. It hosts major concerts, touring Broadway productions, plays, the Tampa Ballet and special events. The complex has five theaters: Festival Hall (a 2500-seat venue where touring Broadway shows and headliners perform), Ferguson Hall (with 1000 seats), the Jaeb (a three-floor cabaret), the Teco (with 200 seats) and the 100-seat Shimberg Playhouse, a ‘black box’ venue for cutting-edge performances by local and national artists and groups. Free backstage guided tours are offered Wednesday and Saturday at 10am, by reservation.
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717 South
Young professionals gather after work to mingle and sip martinis (there is a rainbow of flavors) in the posh lounge at one of Tampa’s top spots to see and be seen. If you need something to eat after all the vodka, head to the restaurant dining room for imaginative takes on Italian classics served amid art-deco paintings, high ceilings and an open kitchen.
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Hyde Park Café
This downtown late-night indoor-outdoor café, pizza place (pizzas $9 to $15), and VIP club gets really packed on Tuesday nights with eclectic music. Patrons drop by on other nights to check out the DJ spinning tunes. Happy hour (with no cover) dominates from 8pm to 10pm, while silicone implants and South Beach slick attire pick up the slack after 10pm.
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Legends Field
The New York Yankees play spring-training baseball games in March at Legends Field, the 10,000-seat stadium modeled after the ‘House that Ruth Built’ (ie Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York). The Yankees’ minor-league team, the Tampa Yankees, plays at Legends Field from April to September (tickets $3 to $5).
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Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
This casino sucks in those who love the thrill of winning big-time. But don’t bet on it. Like a spider spinning a web with high-stakes bingo and stud poker, this place has it all and has designed on keeping it.It's about 15 minutes from downtown Tampa off the I-4 (head east to Orient Rd and then head left).
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Empire/Climax
Techno, hip-hop and booty tunes draw a diverse crowd here, where DJs spin R&B and reggae to color laser lights on Friday and Saturday. On Thursdays you can drink all night (for free) after paying the cover, which increases as the night goes on.
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Green Iguana Bar & Grill
A cool, laid-back bar and restaurant by day (with Floribbean food, fish sandwiches and good burgers), by night the Green Iguana is actually two clubs in one. Head here for high-energy cover bands or DJ-driven dance music; $1 drinks on Wednesday.
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Hub
This fun downtown hangout, complete with jukebox and cheap drinks, looks like a hole in the wall, but the bar gets packed on weekends with a Jack Daniels-and-Coke crowd. Be prepared to call a cab after ordering a few too many.
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Sun Dome
On the USF campus, the Sun Dome hosts rock, jazz, pop and other concerts – from Jimmy Buffet to Ludacris, from Luciano Pavarotti to the World Wrestling Federation (now there’s some ‘performing arts’ for you!).
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Outback Bowl
If you’ve never seen a US college football game, definitely don’t miss the Outback Bowl, an NCAA (National College Athletic Association) football game on New Year’s Day.
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Adobe Gilas
The 2nd-floor balconies at this bar are a fabulous vantage point from which to take in the street scene below (and the bartenders also happen to mix fabulous margaritas).
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New World Brewery
This bar and disco draws a hugely lubricated crowd with its great dance music but it also has a great jukebox. DJs and live music grace the place a few nights weekly.
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USF School of Music
Home to the USF Theater, this venue stages concerts and recitals open to the entire community. It’s accessible from Fowler Ave exits on the I-275 and the I-75.
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Gameworks
A high-tech play place with virtual-reality free-falling simulators and the like, Gameworks has plenty of decent eateries and bars to keep you entertained.
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Florida Orchestra
This 90-piece orchestra plays at the Performing Arts Center as well as venues in St Petersburg and Clearwater; look for free park concerts, too.
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Metropolis
This gay dance club with DJs draws more men than women (could that have anything to do with the strippers?), but girls are certainly welcome.
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Tampa Bay Brewing Company
This fun brew-pub has a good selection of microbrews, $4 liters on Wednesday and weekday happy hours (4pm to 7pm).
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St Pete Times Forum
Enjoy professional hockey at St Pete Times Forum with Tampa Bay Lightning.
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Improv Comedy Theater
In addition to hosting some national acts, this Improv joint mounts good doses of nightly comedic shtick.
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Raymond James Stadium
Watch the Buccaneers play NFL football at Raymond James Stadium.
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Tampa Theatre
For independent and classic films, try the elaborate 1926 Tampa Theatre.
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