Headed to St. Petersburg, where do I wanna go?

[captain53]

Originally Posted by Mark C

I'm packing up the wife and baby and heading down to St. Pete in late Sep for a baptism, Im planning my fun time now before our schedule gets filled up with 'not fun time'. Assuming I have some time to kill Fri night or Sat, if I'm looking for cigars and/or rum, where should I spend my time/money? I hear Tampa's great for both, any places not to miss?

The Columbia Restaurant - a Florida tradition since 1905.

A Florida tradition since 1905, the Columbia Restaurant (in Ybor City) celebrates its centenary this year. The St. Petersburg location at the Pier downtown offers breathtaking waterfront views of Tampa Bay complimented by the family’s award-winning, century-old Spanish-Cuban recipes.

Address:
800 2nd Avenue N.E.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Telephone:
(727) 822-8000

http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/st_petersburg.asp

My Selection: Paella "A la Valencia"
Our version, prepared in a traditional paella pan, features clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, calamares, chicken and pork, baked with Valencia rice, extra virgin olive oil, green peppers, Spanish onions, ripe tomatoes, garlic, spices and splashed with white wine.

I think St Pete has banned smoking in restaurants though.

$$$-$$$$

[Coach Deg]

There is Blue Smoke in Clearwater. Scott(TripleF) is manager. Great smoking place. Not real smokey so if wife doesn't mind it she would enjoy also(or there is a mall across street.)

There is plenty of cigar shops, but actual bars is questionable. There is a place in St Pete Cigars on 3rd I believe. It looks neat,but service was horrible, cigar selection was avg, prices were outrageous. Tampa has a few neat places.

Really depends on where in StPete you are. The Trop even has a cigar bar that is open during Rays games. And every year after a Saturdy game(not announced yet) they have a smoker with players and coaches after the game.

If you want to PM me I could help you alittle better if I knew where in StPete you were staying. How far do you want to drive? Bringing wife/friends? Taking cab? Designated driver? Are cigars a must? Is beer and wine an option instead of Rum? A lot of variables. There is a lot of places you could hit.