Lots of food and drink happenings are scheduled throughout the weekend. Luckily, CL’s narrowed down the options to five solid picks so you didn’t have to.
On Friday (and Saturday), Caledonia Brewing celebrates its first year in business with A Year of Beer, featuring special beer releases, food and live music from noon to midnight. Stay updated on the details through the brewery’s Facebook event page. Free, money for beer and food. 587 Main St., Dunedin, 727-351-5105.
A Center for Autism and Related Disabilities fundraiser now in its sixth year and larger than ever, Saturday’s Food Trucks for Autism has complimentary bounce houses, face painting and games in store for children, alongside live tunes for the older kids at First Baptist Brandon. The stellar food truck lineup from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. includes Sarge’s Smokehouse BBQ, The Revolution Ice Cream Co. (buy-one-get-one-free deals on ice cream and snow cones, anyone?), South Pacific Grill, Soul Food Street Kitchen, and Foundation Coffee Co. Free, money for food and drinks. 216 N. Parsons Ave., Brandon.
Haven’t checked out The Refinery’s new digs yet? Do it on Saturday for Adopt-A-Husky, a special event that hopes to match adoptable Siberian huskies from Husky Haven of Florida Inc. with their forever homes between noon and 2 p.m. Human guests can flip through the Husky Look Book to find their new four-legged best friends while scoring drink deals, lunch specials, Husky Haven raffle baskets and free training advice from Paws ‘n’ Rec. Leashed and well-behaved pups are welcome at the on-site ice cream social Health Mutt has planned, too. To top it off, Gary — the husky Refinery owners Greg and Michelle Baker adopted from the rescue organization back in August — will be attendance, acting as the most gracious pooch host. Free, money for food and drinks. 5910 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-234-3710.
Um, so, does it get better than Yoga with Baby Goats at In the Loop Brewing? The answer is no, no it doesn’t. Don’t miss this class, hosted from 10:45 a.m. to noon Sunday and led by instructor Erica Nelson of Yoga Mat Magic, which might not turn out to be the greatest zen-inducing experience, but, hey, there are adorbz little creatures playing all around you. Tickets — available for purchase online (it’s a wonder there are any still available, really) — include one draft beer, glass of wine or beermosa. $35. 3338 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes, 813-997-9189.
Discover which local empanada purveyor makes the best soul-warming pocket of goodness during c.1949’s Empanada Showdown — and see if CL Music Editor Ray Roa (an esteemed judge for the inaugural event) agrees. Ten competitors, from well-known restaurants and food trucks to home chefs, battle it out — from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, aka National Empanada Day — for bragging rights in three categories: traditional, specialty and vegetarian. There’s a fully loaded tap list of Florida brews, too, for those looking to get their day-drinking on. This celebratory contest raises money for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay by donating a percentage of both its food and drink sales. Free, money for food and beer. 6905 N. Orleans Ave., Tampa, 813-990-8883.
This article appears in Apr 5-12, 2018.
