A nice mix of Bay area food and drink happenings to keep you busy Friday through Sunday.
• The area-made artwork adorning the walls of Hidden Springs Ale Works is impressive, and the brewery’s support of local talent continues with Grand Visions, which runs through Aug. 17. Featuring everything from collages and watercolors to acrylics and photographs, the new show spotlights a bill of 11 artists — including first-time exhibitors like Emily Rodriguez, Samson and Marina Mulholland. There’s no cost to attend the opening reception at 6 p.m. Friday, and the public is welcome to bring their kids or pets. But buy a beer will ya? Free, money for beer. 1631 N. Franklin St., Tampa. 813-226-2739.
• Summer nostalgia is the theme for H.A.G.S., an all-female art show (it stands for “Have a Great Summer,” kids) featuring work by Carmela Zabala, Daisy Robles and Soojin Brown at the Independent Bar and Cafe. The grill is getting fired up (with 3 Dot Dash providing vegan eats), alongside the DIY ice cream truck that’ll be on hand — because what other kind of fucking ice cream truck would you expect to see in Seminole Heights? — and Betty Dawl playing DJ. Proceeds go to Feeding Tampa Bay so that kids on vacay can still eat, too. Free, money for beer and food. 5016 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. 813-341-4883. —Ray Roa
• The third annual Brew Off Competition Pub Crawl plans to get regionites pumped for the Dunedin Orange Festival on July 7. A portion of the fest is dedicated to a local brewery throwdown, and that’s exactly what this bar hop, hosted at 5 p.m. Saturday, intends to highlight. The crawl kicks off at the home base of reigning champ Woodwright Brewing Co., taking beer buffs on a sudsy exploration of the other area breweries participating in the Brew Off. Better known as the “Orange Peels,” the fest committee will showcase the coveted trophy at each stop while selling Brew Off tickets. Hoppers are asked to don their finest orange-themed attire for the chance to win free entry for two to the competition. Free, money for beer. 985 Douglas Ave., Dunedin.
• Also on Saturday, Empire Oyster founder Kevin Joseph presents a smorgasbord of premium cold water oysters during the Sunshine City Oyster Social — paired with Pinellas Ale Works beer. Guests can watch as Joseph shucks 15 to 20 varieties of East Coast and West Coast bivalves from the U.S. and Canada live at the brewery from 5 to 8 p.m. Expect a lineup of accoutrements like sauces, dressings and other toppings as well. Tickets are available online in advance. $70 for unlimited oysters & 3 beers, or a la carte. 1962 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-235-0970.
• Safety Harbor’s citywide effort to set a new Guinness World Record for Most People to Participate in a Watermelon-Eating Contest — Melons for Moolah, hosted during the weekly Market on Main and open to participants of any age who’ve registered by June 23 — has a very clear purpose. The current record, after all, is set at 200 eaters. However, the second annual event on Sunday aims to raise some money for worthwhile charities as well. In addition to the melon-munching competition, which begins at noon, expect other fun activities throughout the day. Free. 110 Veterans Memorial Lane, Safety Harbor.
This article appears in Jun 28 – Jul 5, 2018.
