Multiple illuminated vintage pinball machines, including an X-Men themed machine, lined up indoors at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York — Credit: Shutterstock

OPENINGS/CLOSINGS

New pinball bar The Lucky Flipper coming to downtown St. Pete this winter

That deaf, dumb and blind kid is probably old enough to enjoy a beer. So if you’re looking to play a “mean pinball” in The Edge District (stylized “EDGE”), then The Lucky Flipper might be your new spot. The new St. Pete pinball bar will open at 915 Central Ave., within the former 1,600-square-foot venue Machine Shop Barber Company space. “We’re bringing an incredible lineup of pinball machines, local craft beer, and a laid-back atmosphere to the heart of downtown St. Petersburg,” reads a Lucky Flipper social media post. According to St. Pete Rising’s Kyla Fields, the new concept will allow guests to pay a flat rate of $14, which gives them unlimited access to 16 to 18 vintage pinball machines and a few classic arcade games, as well. No exact opening date has been announced, but Lucky Flipper is aiming for a December opening. – Colin Wolf

New Mexican restaurant La Victoria opens in downtown Tampa

The absence of margaritas isn’t going to stop downtown Tampa’s latest coastal Mexican restaurant from opening. La Victoria, located at 105 W Tyler St. in the former Melting Pot Social spot, announced on social media Monday afternoon that it will finally open its doors, despite the fact it’s still waiting on approval for a liquor license from the City of Tampa. “A little patience on the pours, but absolutely no compromise on the plates,” wrote La Victoria on Instagram. The new concept is led by Gus Thieken, former general manager of The Pearl, alongside real estate investor Erick Felipe Meza, and executive chef Terrell Manning. Neither operating hours or a full menu have yet to be released, but Thieken previously told the TBJJ that La Victoria’s regular menu will include classic Mexican dishes like ceviche, chilaquiles and shrimp tostadas and have a full-service bar. The new 3,800-square-foot space also allows guests to rent a “tequila locker,” which essentially allows one to store their own tequila within a glass locker within the restaurant. La Victoria is just a block away from another new coastal Mexican spot coming to downtown Tampa, Matilde, which hopes to open next year. – Colin Wolf

TOP FOOD & DRINK EVENTS

Clearwater GreekFest offers food, church tours, dancing and more this weekend

At nearly 60 years old, the Clearwater GreekFest is one of the oldest cultural celebrations in the Bay area. A fundraiser for the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, the three-day pita party includes tours of the grand cathedral (which was severely damaged by fire in 2015 before reopening four years later), an “opa!” party tent, and hordes of beloved Greek foods from lamb shank, to salad, plaki, pastitsio, gyros, souvlaki, desserts and more. Cooking demonstrations and Hellas dancers of all ages round out festivities. Operating since 1969 the local Greek Orthodox community emphasizes that folks don’t have to be from the motherland to join, adding that “in fact 80% of marriages in our church today are between Greeks and non-Greeks.” Bring some breath mints then, too. There’s no cover, but bring money for food, during Clearwater GreekFest happening Friday-Sunday, Oct. 23-25 at the Greek Orthodox Church in Clearwater. – Ray Roa

WEDU visit from five-time James Beard winning author

There are some homes where the PBS is never not on, and those loyalists know about Steven Raichlen. He’s been the host of many programs from the once-publicly funded channel (“Barbecue University,” “Primal Grill,” “Project Smoke,” “Project Fire”), and had bylines in Food & Wine, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times, where his cookbooks have appeared on best-seller lists. Raichlen, a self-proclaimed nice Jewish boy from Baltimore, has also won five James Beard awards for cookbooks like “BBQ USA” and “Healthy Jewish Cooking.” The 73-year-old calls Florida home now and is on tour after finally cooking up a memoir—“Man on Fire: Of Life, Love, Literature, and Really Good Barbecue” due Oct. 20—that tracks his life from the early Charm City days to his transition from French literature nerd to acclaimed kitchen and TV-newspaper guy. Raichlen comes to Tampa’s local PBS station, WEDU, for a night of BBQ (from Jimbo’s in Tampa), along with drinks, fire, and book signing. All-inclusive tickets for the “Man on Fire” BBQ & book celebration with Steven Raichlen, happening Friday, Oct. 23 at WEDU PBS in Tampa, are still available for $87.21. See more food & drink events coming to Tampa Bay between Oct. 22-29 below. – Ray Roa