Super Bowl, super party in Tampa Bay

On Feb. 1, all eyes will be on Tampa Bay as it hosts Super Bowl XLIII. The time is ripe for the region to claw its way to a respected position in the hierarchy of Places That Matter.

First, a quick initiation: Tampa Bay is a body of water in west-central Florida. Tampa Bay is also the name of a region -- but not a specific city -- that includes Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and smaller towns, for a total population of about 4 million.

With new condos and restaurants popping up all the time, downtown Tampa has a somewhat lively, if not quite bustling, daytime vibe.

Come sundown, the real action takes place three miles northeast, in Ybor City. In this historically Cuban neighborhood you’ll find elders speaking rapid-fire Spanish during games of dominoes, while the younger crowd browses the vintage shops.

Ask Tampa residents what Ybor City is really known for and they’ll tell you about the night life. When the sun goes down and the last drop of cafe con leche has been sipped, Ybor (pronounced EE-bore) transforms into party central.

Rap music pulsates inside Club Skye (1509 E. 8th Ave., [813] 247-6606), while inside the Castle nightclub (2004 N. 16th St., [813] 247-7547), the black-nail-polish-and-eyeliner set rocks out to alternative music. Throw in a few live concerts, gay bars and drag queen shows and Ybor City offers something for every partyer.

Super Bowl parties will be spread throughout the bay area -- at a Diddy-hosted “Good Life” party in St. Petersburg and at Pamela Anderson’s “Athletes and Angels” party near downtown Tampa.

But Ybor City is a party every weekend, and the big game is no exception. The highlight is Maxim magazine’s party at the Ritz Ybor nightclub (1503 E. 7th Ave., [813] 247-2555). Dozens of venues both straight and gay-friendly are hosting their own bowl-related soirees too.

Whether you visit for the game or later, there’s also trendy South Tampa, whose streets are lined with gelato parlors, “green” grocery stores and swanky salons. Spend an afternoon checking out the boutiques, then grab a nice dinner at the Asian-inspired Restaurant BT (1633 W. Snow Ave., [813] 258-1916) or Timpano Chophouse (1601 W. Swann Ave., [813] 254-5870.)

Across the bay in St. Petersburg, you can take in a Florida Orchestra concert at the stunning, glass-lined Mahaffey Theater ( www.mahaffeytheater.com) or enjoy a tour of the Salvador Dali Museum (1000 3rd St. S., [727] 823-3767). With numbered streets, downtown St. Pete is easily navigable.

On a weekend, head to the outdoor Saturday Morning Market at the Progress Energy Park parking lot at 1st Avenue South and 1st Street ( www.saturdaymorningmarket.com), where you’ll likely find kids dancing to the acoustic guitar stylings of Mayor Rick Baker.

And in spring, Tropicana Field, home to the American League champion Rays, comes to life. It’s just a few blocks from the heart of downtown St. Petersburg.

Twenty miles northwest, there’s Clearwater. Traffic’s a headache, but if there’s a good concert at Coachman Park, it’s worth the trip for some alfresco jazz or salsa.

Of course, for many visitors, the Super Bowl is just an excuse to enjoy Florida weather.

With sunny skies and an average high of 72 degrees (lows in the mid-50s) in February, the region attracts outdoorsy types looking to bike, fish, boat or just dine outside without getting frostbite.

Florida’s west-central coast is dotted with more than a dozen beaches, and sun worshipers can be divided into two categories.

For those seeking to join a game of beach volleyball, there’s bustling Clearwater Beach. Laid-back types looking for a quiet place for a romantic picnic will prefer Fort DeSoto Park in Tierra Verde, which was named TripAdvisor’s 2008 top beach in America for being a “portrait of tranquillity.”

To get in a workout, locals flock to Bayshore Boulevard, flanked by stately South Tampa mansions to the west and inky Hillsborough Bay to the east. For family-friendly fun in the sun, head to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, which includes three children’s play areas.

There are beaucoup seafood haunts in the area, of course. Then there are the unexpected treasures. Arguably the best known eatery is Bern’s Steak House (1208 S. Howard Ave., [813] 251-2421), where entrees start at $20. It is a Tampa institution specializing in succulent cuts of meat and impeccable service. Up in the second-floor Dessert Room, with its intimate wine barrel booths, don’t be surprised if you see a guy get down on one knee.

Of course, engagement and Super Bowl rings aren’t guaranteed, but a visit to Tampa Bay is always a great way for vacationers to score big.

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travel@latimes.com