Your weekend: Sponge-worthy

Sometimes you have to make hard choices, and this weekend is one of them. There just isn't enough of it to go around, so you have to decide which of the events are, to quote the great Elaine Benes, sponge worthy. So, let's dodge those rainstorms the nasty weather man keeps promising, and get to it. 

Maybe with all the holiday fun in town this weekend (spring break crowds in your favorite restaurant? Um, no thank you), you should head out of town. This week I penned my first travel piece for CL's Road Trip, in which I encourage you to check out the Two Egg Stump Jumper. It's a thing, y'all, and to-tal-ly sponge worthy… and sort of Easter-related. Plus, you know, caves.

Before you head out, though, check out downtown Tampa's (fairly) new Fourth Friday, which comes with free water taxi rides, extended hours for museums , and, of course, waterfront food and drinks. 

The CL editorial staff has the kind of kid who never flushes crayons down the toilet (woof!), but statistically, we realize some of you may have the human variety. Live it up fancy with the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association's Easter Egg Hunt, because, despite what some overpaid bloggers may try and make the world believe, Old Northeast is apparently a great place to raise families. While you're there, stop by one of my favorite Monday night haunts: Old Northeast Tavern. They have this turkey and sliced strawberry sandwich that makes you believe all is right with the world.

If your life could be furrier (get your minds out of the gutter, people, I'm talking about puppies), meet Suncoast Animal League at Palm Harbor's Fairway Pizza and Sports Page Saturday to foster a pup. SAL spent three days in the Redland (if you're savvy enough not to take Alligator Alley when you head to the Keys, odds are, you've driven through Redland) area of Florida. Why? Because the area's become a popular dumping ground for unwanted dogs, and Suncoast Animal League is single-handedly trying to atone for the assholes who don't deserve the love of a pet. They're returning home Saturday, and they need foster parents to meet them at Fairway Pizza in Palm Harbor. The foster application process is easy, and SAL provides meds and food. All you have to do is provide a safe place, fresh water and love. 

While you're up north to foster an appreciative ball of fuzz, edge your way north a bit. If you've never tasted a loquat, first read the almost-sexual homage to the tiny fruit David Z. Morris wrote about last year (put it this way: he definitely thinks the loquat is sponge-worthy) then head to the Loquat Festival in New Port Richey

Now that you've had loquats and a new furry friend in tow, head to the dog-friendliest I know: Salty's in Gulfport, where the newly-re-elected mayor's band, Hot Tub Club, will play on the patio. Couple of cool things here: One, it's a dog bar. Two, the mayor has a band. Three, it's called Hot Tub Club. Oh, and four: he's also the town bartender. #BecauseGulfport, y'all.

And then there's Easter, or, as I like to call it, Zombie Jesus Day. If you missed Saturday morning's annual Scottish breakfast at Flanagan's, consider a (crowded but delicious) brunch at the Rusty Pelican, where $35-ish gets you apparently all the things.

To round out the weekend with a Jesus theme, check out the last day of Inherit the Wind, which our critic Mark E. Leib called "totally sponge-worthy" (OK, so he didn't actually *say* that, but I think he said it with his eyes.)

I've given you puppies and naked ladies, Hot Tub Clubs and brunches, loquats and stump jumpers. I have no more to give… until next week.

This article appears in Feb 25 – Mar 2, 2016.