Streetcar Charlie's. A gay-centric (but not gay-exclusive) restaurant that manages to combine white-tablecloth service and good food with a neighborhood-hangout vibe. Plus, the windows offer a great view of the passing (and/or cruising) throngs. 1811 N. 15th St., 813-248-1444, myspace.com/streetcarcharlies.
Also of note in GaYbor:
MC Film (1901 N. 15th St., 813-247-6233, mcfilmfest.com), a packed-to-the-rafters gift emporium and the unofficial GaYbor headquarters, thanks to coalition founders Mark Bias and Carrie West.
Burn Sundays at The Castle (2004 N. 16th St., 813-247-7547, myspace.com/thecastlesundays), gay night at a club that has always welcomed polymorphous perversity
TAMPA (beyond GaYbor)
KiKiKi III. A classic dive bar indistinguishable from its straight counterparts except for the clientele, which includes "its share of regulars looking for generous friends," as tampa.gaycities.com so delicately puts it. The bar serves beer and wine only, with Natty Lite on tap. 1908 W. Kennedy Blvd., 813-241-4188.
Baxter's Lounge. With its mirrors, leather banquettes and small black-and-white checkered dancefloor, Baxter's has a slightly worn '80s vibe that reflects its venerable status (23 years in Tampa, 12 of them in this strip-mall location). The bartenders are friendly and the video screens are huge (as are some of the endowments on the video screens). 1519 S. Dale Mabry, 813-258-8830, http://baxterslounge.com/.
City Side. The bar of choice for South Tampa's A-gays, City Side has style, from the huge designer bouquets to the giant karaoke screen. Sing it loud and proud on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in the WOW Lounge. 3703 Henderson Blvd., 813-350-0600, clubcityside.com.
The Body Shop. Formerly Keith's Bar. 14905 N. Nebraska Ave., 813-971-3576
2606. A bit scary in look and reputation (this is the leather/Levi bar where Steven Lorenzo and Scott Schweickert, convicted in 2007 of conspiring to commit drug-facilitated crimes of violence, allegedly picked up one of their ill-fated tricks), 2606 is less intimidating inside. There's a leather shop on the second floor, and dark niches here and there, but the overall vibe is comfortable and welcoming (including lots of bargain drink nights) no matter what you're wearing. 2606 N. Armenia Ave., 813-875-6993, 2606.com.
Valentine's Nightclub & Showbar. Valentine's is known for its five-nights-a-week drag shows, but the club is especially popular for its Latino night. "Always an experience on Saturday nights," says one CL stalwart, "if you enjoy a good mix of straight/gay with a splash of chips 'n' salsa." 7522 N. Armenia Ave., 813-936-1999, valentinesnightclub.com.
Also of note in Tampa (beyond GaYbor):
Boxxxers (1801 N. Tampa Road, myspace.com/boxxxers), which bills itself as "The Bar with Balls" and a "gay mega-center," male strippers included; Rainbow Room (421 S. MacDill Ave., myspace.com/rainbow_room), a "local lesbian bar that's welcoming to the boys, too," according to tampa.gaycities.com.
PINELLAS
Christopher Street Bar. Strippers, karaoke, strippers, game nights, strippers, dancing and ... strippers — in a club whose name evokes an historic location in Greenwich Village. 13344 66th St. N., Largo, 727-538-0660, christopherstreetbar.com.
Detour Green Light Club. Located in the former home of the venerable St. Pete bar Grand Central Station, Detour occupies a prime spot next to St. Pete's bungalow-rific Kenwood gayborhood. Faces directly onto the St. Pete Pride parade route. 2612 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-327-8204, detouroncentral.com.
Georgie's Alibi. The center of Tampa Bay's gay universe may have shifted to Ybor, but Georgie's (2008 Loafie for Best Gay Bar) will always be its heart. There are few bars anywhere that manage to juggle so many balls at once so successfully: good food and strong drinks, amiable staff, stellar DJs, live performances and an eclectic clientele with something (or someone) for everybody — gay, straight, male, female, hot, not. The St. Pete Pride Parade kicks off at Georgie's every year, emblematic of its centrality to Tampa Bay's gay community. 3100 Third Ave., N., St. Petersburg, 727-321-2112, georgiesalibi.com.
Hideaway/Haymarket Pub. The folks at tampa.gaycities.com call Hideaway "the country's oldest women's bar, ... like Cheers for women." The reviews for Haymarket, which shares a parking lot off of Fourth Street N., aren't quite as complimentary. 8302/ 8308 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-570-9025/727-577-9621.
Oar House. "Back when dinosaurs walked," remembers one CL wag and gay-bar vet, "the Oar House was the spot you hit for last call if you struck out at all the other bars." But more recent visitors had a different take, comparing it to nearby Pepperz: "They're both smoky, fun, local bars" catering to men and women. 4807 22nd Ave. S., St. Petersburg, 727-327-1691.
Pepperz. Gulfport neighborhood bar for men and women, with events like Monday's "Get over the blues" night (when everyone gathers to watch The L Word) and a hoedown fundraiser for breast cancer. "Fun music, fun crowd," reported one recent Saturday night scout. 4918 22nd Ave. S., Gulfport, 727-327-4897 fl.local.yahoo.biz/pepperz.
