Credit: Perry's Original Roadside BBQ / Facebook

Openings

Popstroke This week, PopStoke Entertainment Group said the company’s latest location will debut at noon on Feb. 17 within the Cypress Creek Town Center in Lutz. A collaboration between Woods, the TaylorMade Golf Company and founder Greg Bartoli, PopStroke centers around two 18-hole putt-putt courses, featuring synthetic turf, bunkers, rough and other obstacles normally found on a typical golf course. “The shape of this property allowed us to get very creative and build one of our most unique set of courses,” said Woods in a statement. “I am thrilled to have PopStroke join the Tampa community with recreational and professional golfers and people of all ages and interests. PopStroke offers a fun way to enjoy time with family and friends.” Because there are no beer carts at PopStroke, guests can order cocktails, beer or wine on the course from an app, which also doubles as a digital scorecard. The complex also sports a full dining menu, covering everything from veggie burgers to Reuben egg rolls, as well as an ice cream parlor, an outdoor game area, and a playground. 25297 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz. popstroke.com—Colin Wolf

Ybor City’s Big Storm Brewing taproom After almost two years of anticipation, Big Storm Brewing Co.’s fifth location debuts in the heart of Ybor City this weekend. Located inside of Centro Ybor, the new 11,000 square-foot brewery and taproom celebrates its grand opening on Saturday, Feb. 11. The taproom’s first guests can sip on craft beer and snack on chicken wings while watching the Super Bowl on Sunday, or enjoy a front row seat at Ybor City’s annual Sant’ Yago Knight Parade, which starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday. In addition to its massive new taproom, Big Storm will also debut an intimate cocktail lounge called the Storm Cellar on the side of the building that faces 8th Avenue—the first of its kind for the Clearwater-based company. While Big Storm is most known for its local brews, it also distills bourbon, gin, rum, vodka and other spirits. Although a full menu has yet to be released for its newest location, if Ybor City’s offerings bear any resemblance to Clearwater’s, patrons can expect flatbreads, wings, tacos and sandwiches alongside a wide variety of Big Storm’s craft beers. 1600 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. bigstormbrewery.com

Coming Soon

Nauti Duchess A new nautical-themed, seafood-focused bar and restaurant is headed to one of the most bustling blocks in all of St.Pete. From the owners of downtown hotspots Yard of Ale and 260 First comes a brand new concept called Nauti Duchess, which will debut out of the former Caddy’s space at 217 Central Ave. St. Pete Rising says that Nauti Duchess will occupy the entirety of the 7,000 square-foot building, and hopes to open its doors by April 2023. Although intense renovations might delay the bar and restaurant’s complete buildout, its courtyard will be open for casual drinks during every First Friday starting on March 1, according to ILovetheBurg. Although fresh seafood will certainly be a star on Nauti Duchess’ menu, the upcoming bar and restaurant will also offer tapas, rustic small plates, and charcuterie with “an array of locally and sustainably sourced meats and protein.” When Nauti Duchess opens its doors later this year, guests can expect live music in its courtyard (which former Caddy’s patrons will appreciate), modern takes on classic cocktails and a multi-million dollar buildout. 217 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. nautiduchess.com

Events

Sunshine City Smokeout If you’re at the St. Pete Pier this weekend and see smoke in the air, don’t worry. Teams from across the country are in The ‘Burg to find out who has the best barbecue pulled pork, ribs, sausage and sauce. After being postponed late last year, tickets to the Sunshine City Smokeout—happening Saturday, Feb. 11 from noon-9 p.m. at Spa Beach Park in the shadow of the St. Pete Pier—are on sale now and start at $15. VIP includes seating in the shade, drink tickets and light snacks. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is also offering a $10 deal for general admission and $45 for VIP). Attendees will be able to vote for their favorite pit crew, and food costs anywhere from $5-$20, according to event organizers. It’s supposed to be in the mid-60s on Saturday, with minimal chance of precipitation, but the event is happening rain or shine. 615 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. sunshinecitysmokeout.com—Ray Roa

All the best Valentine’s Day dinners, specials and events happening throughout Tampa Bay Whether you actually believe in the romance of Valentine’s Day doesn’t really matter, chances are your partner wants to do something anyway. From pre-fixe dinners and wine pairings to shareable specials for two, here’s a list of special Valentine’s dinners and events throughout Tampa Bay you can hit up with your loved one(s)—and don’t forget to make those reservations. There are some particularly exciting specials taking place at popular restaurants like Haven, Forbici, La Setima, Boulon Brasserie and Flor Fina, but a few of our favorite non-dinner V-day events include the Tampa Theatre’s massive vow renewal and a romantic candlelight concert at Ybor City’s Centro Asturiano de Tampa.

Tampa Bay Chocolate Festival Food trucks and people with sweet teeth will soon line the streets of Port Richey for the 10th annual Tampa Bay Chocolate Festival coming back to the Bay area this weekend. Tampa Bay Chocolate Festival takes place Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Port Richey’s Gulf View Square Mall. The outdoors event is free to attend and pet-friendly (although, you shouldn’t feed your dog chocolate). The free food truck event promises dozens of vendors all following a new special theme: “Sweet and Spicy” All vendors will serve their signature dishes plus chocolatey specialty items. And for the first time, they’ll add some heat to their menus as well. Also live from the fest will be the free Generation Championship Wrestling 2023 “The Love of Wrestling IV” showdown. Chocolate and chokeholds, hell yeah. 9409 U.S. 19, Port Richey. @GenerationEntertainmentFlorida on Facebook —Chloe Greenberg

Bad Mother’s first latte art throwdown One of The Burg’s newer coffee shops is ready to pop its throwdown cherry. Bad Mother—located on the first floor of Station House—hosts an educational coffee panel on Friday, Feb. 10 and its inaugural latte art throwdown on Saturday, Feb. 11. Dozens of brave baristas from Tampa Bay and beyond will duke it out behind Bad Mother’s bar to compete for a cash prize, merch, brewing equipment, a Black Rabbit coffee grinder and more. Bumping music from a DJ, local food vendors and drink specials will certainly keep this throwdown party going, while tattoo artist and owner of Tampa’s Bed of Roses studio Josh Agostinelli inks a few lucky patrons at the event, too. Both events are free to attend, but RSVPs for folks who would like to compete can be made via Eventbrite. 260 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Badmother.co

ICYMI

Two food and drink concepts look to open out of downtown Tampa’s historic Harness and Wagon building Orlando-based Team Market Group looks to bring The Robinson Room—described as “part coffee and disco room, providing the best of both worlds”—and Mather’s Social, an intimate cocktail lounge with boutique spirits, to downtown Tampa. According to documents uploaded to Tampa’s permitting website Accela last month, both concepts will fill out the building’s whopping 16,680 square-foot, three-story space, in addition to 5,560 square-foot outdoor area. “The intended scope for the property is a fully renovated, adaptive reuse project that will bring new life to the historic Tampa Harness and Wagon building, which hasn’t had a tenant since the 1980’s,” the document reads. The hospitality group describes Mather’s Social as a “sophisticated, yet alluring” cocktail lounge—which is also open out of a 130 year-old building in Orlando—while The Robinson Room is a ” coffee room, bar and restaurant for all times of the day.” hteammarketgroup.com

Dog Bar’s Puppy Bowl, plus more Tampa Bay bars and restaurants celebrating the Super Bowl The Big Game is here (that’s the Super Bowl, for American football, people, on Sunday, Feb. 12), and there’s no shortage of food and drink options whether you’re going out or staying home. We squeezed in as many local spots offering specials or catering below—which include popular sports bars like Ferg’s, Hattricks, Pour House and Top Shelf Sports Lounge. See an expanded listing at cltampa.com/food-drink.