What is Ybor City? [Click here for interactive maps and directions] Ybor City comes alive with funseekers after the sun sets. [Times file photo] What is Ybor? It's an enchanting evening at the Columbia eating paella or trout a la rusa while waiting for the flamenco dancers to perform. Ybor in the round With these IPIX images you can see from earth to sky, floor to ceiling, horizon to horizon. To immerse yourself in an IPIX, you must first install the free IPIX Viewer Plug-in. Each IPIX image is about 250k. It's finding that rare antique you've been hunting for months. It's stopping for a cold local brew at one of the many outdoor cafes. And on weekend nights, it's I-4 traffic at a near standstill as cars filled with party-hungry revelers stack up at the 20th Street exit. For good or bad, Ybor City has made a name for itself as party central in the Tampa Bay area. Tampa's Latin Quarter knows how to heat things up. The entertainment district, with more than 60 restaurants, bars and nightclubs, draws up to 30,000 people on weekend nights. It's loud, it's colorful (think tattoos, tight skirts and Margaritas) and energized. Walk past the many clubs and hear techno, then blues, then rock, then jazz, hip-hop, alternative, pop and probably anything else you can think of. It just depends on the day and the band that's in town. Traditionalists say the bar scene has taken over Ybor City. Others say it has brought vitality and business to a dying area. Beyond the highly charged nightlife, though, there's much more to the place called Ybor. Visitors can sample everything from Creole delicacies to good old fashioned American barbecue. But, the staple of Ybor is its authentic Spanish and Cuban cuisine. Don't leave Ybor without trying Tampa's version of the Cuban sandwich. And really don't leave without a trip to the Columbia Restaurant. In business since 1905, the Columbia is a must-see. Check out the nightly Flamenco show. Check out the Spanish tile, the fountains and the mahogany bar. Inside the historic Ybor Square, the Spaghetti Warehouse offers diners the chance to chow down on pasta while sitting in a real trolley car. Though Ybor City fancys itself a nightlife hot spot, it's also dotted with unique retailers. La France specializes in vintage clothing, Romeo Stylish Furniture sells contemporary decor and artwork. Don't forget, Ybor City was once the "Cigar Capital of the World." Tampa Rico, a store inside Ybor Square, still sells locally made hand-rolled cigars. The really cool thing about Ybor City is you can have a great time without spending any money. It offers some of the best people watching in the entire Tampa Bay area.

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