Nightlife

When the sun goes down over the Gulf of Mexico, we’re not quite ready to tuck ourselves in for the night and call it a day. Instead, you might find us shimmying and shaking to a Latin salsa or doin’ some boot-scootin’ two-steppin’ at one of the area’s dance clubs.

Others of us cheer on our favorite teams at a local sports bar or rack the balls and chalk up a cue for a friendly game of billiards. Still others prefer the uptown sophistication of places like the Blue Martini or the old-world atmosphere they find at Four Green Fields, an Irish pub with an authentic thatched roof.

And sometimes we head to one of many hangouts on the water just to escape four walls and air conditioning. Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill on Clearwater Beach and the Hula Bay Club in Tampa are a couple of spots from which to toast the sunset, but there are others. Lots of others.

The nightspots in Tampa tend to be clustered in particular areas, so we’ll give you a rundown on each cluster plus info on a spot or two in each area that seems unique. Pinellas nightspots are spread out a bit more.

Sometimes we just want to take in a movie, so we’ve listed the major movie complexes here, too. There’s also a listing of Irish pubs, with a brief note about their St. Patrick’s Day activities.

Don’t forget to check the Arts chapter for live-performance theaters and the Parks and Recreation chapter to find out where to go night fishing. Some of the Annual Events and Festivals have late night activities, so look there, too.

Some places have cover charges—an entrance fee you pay just to get in and enjoy the music—some places don’t, and some places it depends on who’s playing. Call ahead or check the Web site to be sure before you go.

The legal drinking age is 21 in Florida, and many places won’t allow anyone younger inside. There are a few places open to all ages until evening, at which time they are adults-only places. Pinellas County bars close at 2 a.m., while Hillsborough County bars close at 3 a.m.

Be careful where you park. If it’s posted “Residents Only” or “No Parking,” they mean it. Tow trucks make money every weekend because some people don’t take the signs seriously.

Finally, this is a family guide, so we’ve tried to be circumspect. For a less inhibited view of Tampa Bay’s nightlife, check out Wingman: The Guy’s Guide to Tampa Bay (http://blogs.tampabay.com/wingman), which is published by tbt* Tampa Bay Today—the tabs are “Gawk,” “Gulp,” “Brag,” “Gamble,” and “Recover.” TBO.com’s “Nightlife” tab is another source of information, which includes a calendar of events (www.tboextra.com/nightlife).