Carrie Honaker, who appears at Gasparilla Distillery & Cocktail Bar in Ybor City on Aug. 30, 2025. Credit: Photo via carriehonaker.com

For Ybor City locals Laurie and Teresa Rodriguez, co-owners of pop-up bookshop ‘Bookends: Literature & Libations’, Carrie Honaker’s “Florida Cocktails” is a dream come true.

Laurie is a cocktail enthusiast, sporting a collection of 60 such books at home. When the sisters found out their favorite City Cocktails book series was adding a Florida issue, authored by food travel writer and Florida resident Carrie Honaker, they immediately invited her down to Ybor for this month’s special event.

Inspired by the signature drinks at various bars across Florida’s cities, the book reads like a cocktail-themed treasure hunt. Many of the drinks require locally-made, one-of-a-kind ingredients, explains Laurie at Bookends’ Saturday morning pop-up at Centennial Park in Ybor City. In order to make the special featured from Sloppy Joe’s Bar, she traced their rum to a Key West distillery, sold in grocery stores as Papa’s Pilar Rum.

The sisters have their own drink special at pirate-themed bar Gasparilla Distillery in Ybor City, where the event will be held. Inspired by Laurie’s “Florida 206,” made with guava juice and Campari, the distillery’s “Tampa 206” adds a twist with an in-house cherry liqueur. The drink is featured on the bar’s regular cocktail menu, along with a newly-launched tiki menu, available at a cash bar during the event.

Join Laurie and Teresa at Gasparilla Distillery & Cocktail Bar on Saturday, Aug. 30 starting at 3 p.m. for a Florida-themed pop-up. Enjoy cocktail trivia, prizes, and a make & take coaster craft. Honaker will join 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. for a Q&A, book sales & signing. RSVPs are requested.

Look below to check out some of the best book and literary events happening in Tampa Bay between Aug. 28-Sep. 4. For more (free!) events, check out your local library at hcplc.org/events.
Book + Bottle: Fiction Book Club discussing ‘Parable of the Sower’ by Octavia Butler Thursday, Aug. 28. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. No cover. Book + Bottle, 17 6th St. N, St. Petersburg

Tombolo Book Club discussing ‘Florida Palms’ by Joe Pan Thursday, Aug. 28. 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. No cover. Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Romantasy Study Group discussing ‘Shield of Sparrows’ by Devney Perry
Saturday, Aug. 30. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. No cover. Gasparilla Distillery, 2102 E 4th Ave., Tampa

Mystery Book Club discussing ‘All the Broken Girls’ by Linda Hurtado Bond
Saturday, Aug. 30. 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. No cover. Gasparilla Distillery, 2102 E 4th Ave., Tampa

‘A Lesson in Deceit’: Book Launch with Allie Shante Saturday, Aug. 30. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. $23 ticket. Steamy Lit, 2832 S MacDill Ave. Unit C, Tampa

Lady Leaders + Readers Book Club discussing ‘Million Dollar Women’ by Julia Pimsleur Sunday, Aug. 31. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. No cover. Book + Bottle, 17 6th St. N, St. Petersburg

Tampa Girls Book Club discussing ‘The Midnight Feast’ by Lucy Foley
Sunday, Aug. 31. 1 p.m. No cover. COhatch West Tampa, 2130 W Main St., Tampa

‘The Tilting House’: An Evening with Ivonne Lamazares Tuesday, Sep. 2. 7 p.m.-8 p.m. RSVP requested. Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

‘Heart Strings’: Book Signing + Convo with Ivy Fairbanks Friday, Sep. 5. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. $22 ticket. Steamy Lit, 2832 S MacDill Ave. Unit C, Tampa

‘Take Up Space, Y’all’: An Evening with Kelly Coon Saturday, Sep. 6. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. $7 ticket. Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa

Horror Book Club discussing ‘Girl in the Creek’ by Wendy N. Wagner Sunday, Sep 7. 9 a.m.-10 a.m. No cover. Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

‘As A Last Resort’: An Evening with Kristin Wollett Sunday, Sep. 7. 3:30 p.m. $7 ticket. Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa

Social Justice Book Club discussing ‘Solito’ by Javier Zamora Monday, Sep 8. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. No cover. Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Oxford Exchange Book Club discussing ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald Monday, Sep. 8. 6:30 p.m. $33 ticket. Oxford Exchange, 420 W Kennedy Blvd. Tampa

‘The Secret Book Society’: An Evening with Madeline Martin Tuesday, Sep 9. 7 p.m.-8 p.m. RSVP requested. Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Shut Up & Write: Tales & Tea Wednesday, Sep 10. 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. No cover. Steep Station, 2235 1st Ave. S, Saint Petersburg

‘No Ordinary Bird’: An Evening with Artis Henderson Wednesday, Sep 10. 7 p.m.-8 p.m. RSVP requested. Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Crime Travel Book Club discussing ‘King of Ashes’ by S.A. Cosby Thursday, Sep 11. 7 p.m.-8 p.m. No cover. Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Readers are invited to submit their own events to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s things to do calendar.

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