CL knows you're out and about around town, living your best life, but here's our handy guide to five food and drink happenings you won't wanna miss this weekend.
• Beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, down Crooked Thumb's newest brew — for a good cause. Lose My Rind is a watermelon Florida weisse inspired by Safety Harbor's Melons for Moolah. In addition to the Beer Release, the brewery plans to support Melons for Moolah by participating in its second annual event — a citywide effort to break the Guinness World Record for Most People to Participate in a Watermelon-Eating Contest — while raising money for the Homeless Empowerment Program in Clearwater through the MightyCause website. Proceeds from Lose My Rind also benefit the local charity. Free, money for beer. 555 10th Ave. S., Safety Harbor. 727-724-5953.
• Remember when Tampa Theatre was testing out that weekday happy hour at its bar? Well, Pause — a program that encourages locals to spend a little time lingering with friends over drinks and conversation between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. — has come to fruition. On Friday, celebrate the start of the weekend inside the historic movie palace, where beverage specials and $2-off house popcorn await. Free, money for food and drinks. 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa. 813-274-8981.
• Gulf Coast Sourdough & Wild Yeast Breads' monthly Freezer Stock-Up Pop-Up returns from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. In the spotlight are the artisan bakery's pepperoni rolls (which went fast in May) — plus discounted freezer loaves priced at $4 each, or available as a buy-three-get-one-free offer. Bonus? Customers receive a complimentary cinnamon roll with every purchase. Free, money for food. 5214 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-563-7687.
• Leading up to the annual Beer Project on July 19 and 20, Flying Boat Brewing Co. and the Museum of Fine Arts kick off the beer-loaded celebration with the first in a series of discussions. MFA Senior Curator of Early Western Art Dr. Michael Bennett and John Arthur, associate professor of anthropology at USF, are set to explore the "enduring influence of beer through the ages" during Saturday's Beer Project Talk, hosted from 2 to 3 p.m. Free, money for beer. 1776 11th Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-800-2999.
• On Sunday, Leaven Brewing teams up with the Smokin' Bowls food truck — and another special guest — on a Brunch spread that's sure to make fans of the in-between meal proud. Customer favorites from the West Coast-style mobile kitchen are planned, as are breakfast dishes. The newly opened brewery also promises to pour mimosas, beermosas, Bloody beers and other sudsy surprises. Free, money for beer and food. 11238 Boyette Road, Riverview. 813-677-7023.
This article appears in Jun 21-28, 2018.