Tampa info

[Ed Fuqua]

Hey, I gotta maybe do a bidness trip to Tampa in April, Museums Association convention at the Convention Center. Which Googling and aerial photographing looks like it's in the middle of nowhere. I'm going to be taking cabs or public transportation everywhere, so bear that in mind when making recommendations. I'm not going to be able to get over to St. Pete conveniently, stuff like that.

Anyway,
1. what's the "downtown" like and where is it (street name boundaries) in relation to the convention center?
2. good restaurants - organic is nice, local produce is nice, Japanese, Americanized continental, nice joints.
3. live jazz? jam sessions? I'll be spoken for a lot during the day, but if there's a chance at a nice session, I can make arrangements. But I won't have a bass.
Hanging out is always good, too.

Lemme know...

[Fetzu]

The convention center is located in Downtown Tampa on the southwestern side of the peninsula. Don’t know which hotel you will be staying at, but I am sure it will be one of the ones that are close to the CC. Within walking distance from the CC itself is the Ice Palace(The St Pete Times Forum now) http://www.icepalace.com/ , The Florida Aquarium http://www.flaquarium.org/ ,and Channelside. http://www.channelsidetampa.com/index.html There is a map on the channelside page showing the downtown area somewhat. Even though I haven't been down to Channelside in a few years, I always enjoyed myself.
I don’t know if the trolley still runs down there or not, but Ybor City is also close by. Not walking distance, but either the trolley or a short cab ride and you’re there. http://www.centroybor.com/ and http://www.ybortimes.com/what-is-ybor.cfm Ybor can be a little crazy/scary on certain weeknights and definately will be on the weekends! Venturing a little further away from downtown (To the west and 15 mins tops) is both SoHo(South Howard) and Hyde Park.
http://www.sohotampa.com/d/restaurants.htm and http://www.oldhydepark.com/

I hope that this info can be of some help to you.

Mike

[FL Knifemaker]

Columbia Restuarant in Ybor City!!!

[neurotictim]

And that game place... ESPN Zone or something like that...?

Pretty decent local music scene in Tampa/Orlando area, too.

[Ed Fuqua]

Thanks for the links and personal recommendations , guys!

[EddieN]

Downtown is pretty much a 9-5 place.

Jazz club? Probably The Fox. About 4-5 miles west of downtown: http://www.tampabay360.com/NightLife...xJazzClub.html