Friday, March 12: Downtown Dunedin
Second Friday Wine Tasting and Art Walk. There's the usual array of arts and crafts vendors, drink specials, giveaways, wine tastings, local cuisine and live entertainment by Natural Blend. But what really makes the artwalk worth the trip is the fabulous Florida weather that's finally blowing into town this weekend. $10. 5:30-8:30 p.m., Dunedin, 2ndfridaydunedin.com.
Saturday, March 13: The Dubliner
St. Puppy's Day. The pub offers a traditional Irish brunch (meaning it’ll soak up all the bad decisions of the night before), and they’re fencing off the paring lot to create a playspace for pups. There’s also a “Most Irish Dog” contest and a performance by the Irish Dancers. Everyone who brings six or more pounds of dog or cat food to donate to Humane Society gets a free Guinness, too. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 12836 Henderson Road, Tampa, thedublineririshpub.com.
Saturday, March 13: Tampa Street Market
St. Patrick's Social. Today's Re-Green opening offers a new twist on traditional Irish foodways from Loko Cuisine, with a menu that includes: green champ patties of pan-fried mashed potato and spinach with herb mascarpone mousse; Irish Whiskey cured and smoked salmon with whipped dill cream cheese, cucumbers and flat bread; vegetarian shepherd's pie -- a tart shell with vegetarian mushroom crumbles, veggie stout gravy, peas, carrots and potato mashers; a proper full Irish breakfast, frittata-style with sausage, brisket, bacon, fried onions, potatoes and a zesty mustard drizzle; and fnally beer and nut doughnuts, where cake doughnut holes are given a Guinness cocoa glaze and paired with salted peanuts. RSVP at lokocuisine.com. $20. 6:30-9:30 p.m., 4715 N. Florida Ave., Tampa.
Saturday, March 13: Downtown Largo
Largo Art Hop and Taste Fest. Paint the town at Largo Art Hop and Taste Fest, the once-a-year street fest that gets sleepy Largonians out into the street and kicking up beach sand. Board the buses at the Largo Public Library and hop around Largo’s quaint downtown area tasting local cuisine, meeting the artists, and bidding on silent auction items to benefit the non-profit Greater Largo Library Foundation. Featured showcases this year include the world-famous Tom and Mary James collection (commonly known as the “Raymond James collection”), artists Clayton Swartz and Keith Martin Jones, and “rising star artist” Kelly Reaves. Of course, unlimited live music and dancing are included in your ticket price, and there’s no cap on time spent lying in the grass. $25 in advance, $30 day of show, $50 patron ticket. 5-11 p.m., Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Dr., Largo, greaterlargolibraryfoundation.org. —Sarah Gerard
Saturday, March 13: Feather Sound Country Club
Birds of a Feather. Today's wine, spirits and food tasting features more than 70 pours from 11 wineries, cuisine from revered local restaurants (The Venue, Cafe Ponte', Bascoms Chophouse, Salt Rock and Island Way Grille), poolside mojito and martini bars, and spirit stations stocked with rum, single malt scotch, gin and organic vodka. It's weekend events like this make trudging through the workweek worth it in the end. $75-$100. 6:30-9 p.m. general admission; 5-9 p.m. VIP, 2201 Feather Sound Drive, Clearwater (727-573-5666)
Saturday, March 13 - Sunday, March 14: MacDinton's and Paddy Burkes
Leprechaun Pub Crawl. Whether you’re in Tampa or St. Pete this weekend, you can embarrass yourself at MacDinton’s and Paddy Burkes, respectively, at a Leprechaun Pub Crawl, where you’ll get free green beer at each stop. Be forewarned: you’ll save a few bucks (which equals more booze) if you come in costume, so suck it up, channel your favorite marshmallow cereal mascot and thank your lucky charms for free booze. MacDinton’s makes a weekend of it with a hair-of-the-dog Sunday specials on Guinness Harp, Smithwicks and Jameson cocktails. MacDinton's, 5:30 p.m. Sat., March 13, 405 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, $10, $15 without costume, macdintons.com; Paddy Burkes Leprechaun Pub Crawl, Fri., March 12, 100 Fourth St. S., St. Petersburg, paddyburkesirishpub.com.
Sunday, March 14: Datz Deli
VinoVersity: Frankly French. Learn about the virtually-unknown region of Alsace, which produces dry, crisp white wines with wine columnist (and former CL wine critic) Taylor Eason. Taste six wines, all paired with palate-pleasing snacks. Tonight's highlight: Zind Humbrecht, one of the region's finest winemakers. $29. 6-7:30 p.m., 2616 S. MacDille Ave., Tampa (813-831-7000)
Sunday, March 14: Sweetwater Organic Community Farm
Healing Herbs Workshop. Herbalist and organic gardener Willow Lamonte explores ways to use and organically grow herbs in Florida growing conditions. Learn about tropical, cool temperate, dry-loving Mediterranean, and humid-craving herbs. RSVP to Sherry at [email protected] or call 813-625-5550. $10-$20. noon-2 p.m., 6942 W. Comanche Ave., Tampa (813-887-4066)
Monday, February 15: Hyatt Regency Downtown
Top Chef of the Year. The esteemed heavyweight chefs of local haute cuisine cookeries -- like Aquanox, Armani's, Avanzare, Chez Bryce, Oyestercatchers, Mangroves, Kona Grill and more -- specially prepare a five-course meal with accompanying libations for a table of 10, and receive points on taste, style and originality to become the Tampa Bay's Top Chef of the Year. Proceeds benefit the Child Abuse Council. $250. 6 p.m., 211 N. Tampa St., Tampa (813-873-4646)
Monday, February 15: Publix Apron’s Cooking School
The Indian Spice Cabinet. And what an array of spices it holds! Today's menu is just the tip of India's culinary iceberg, and includes: Indian lemonade; tomato rasam; spicy squash, eggplant and lentil stew; coconut chicken with Cashews; and homemade chai ice cream. $35. 6 p.m., 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-926-4465)
Monday, February 15: Central Cigars
Hospitality Night. If you’re in the hospitality industry, you can start the week off right with 50 percent off all drafts and $2 shooters. Our guess is that your friendly neighborhood bartender might just give you the same deal no matter what industry you’re in — depending on what kind of tipper you are. 273 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-898-2442)
Wednesday, March 17: Tank's Tap Room
Todd the Bagpiper. I thought that was a Scottish thing? Anyway, Todd entertains patrons at Tank’s Tap Room, where they’re serving up steamy plates of corned beef with colcannon, Irish soda bread and specials on Smithwick’s, Guinness, Bushmill’s and Jameson’s. Now that’ll keep Irish guys smiling. Free. 2 p.m., 13150 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, tankstaproom.com
