Wednesday, March 10: The NoHo Bistro
Wine Wednesdays. The wine and tapas change weekly, so come back regularly and bring your BFFs, blind dates, co-workers, boy/girlfriends or, hell, someone else’s boyfriend. $15 for two glasses of wine paired with two tapas. 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691)
Thursday, March 11: Michael Murphy Gallery M
TAPA Wine Tasting. The Tampa Alumnae Panhellenic Association hosts its seventh annual auction and wine tasting, with all proceeds going to academic scholarships for local collegiate women involved in panhellenic organizations. Datz Deli provides tasty eats, and live jazz music rounds out an arty evening on the town. Contact Shannon Walsh at swalsh3d@hotmail.com or 813-758-5881 for tickets and info, or visit tampahellenic.org for info on the organization. $35. 6:30 p.m., Michael Murphy Gallery M, 2701 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa.
Friday, March 12 – Sunday, March 14: Vinoy Park
Cajun Zydeco Crawfish Festival. More than 10,000 pounds of crawfish are trucked in for this weekend-long event. Need we say more? But it gets even better: Mardi Gras costumes, eating contests, a crawfish race, dance lessons, and music by The Porch Dogs, Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, Don Fontenot and Les Amis De La Louisiane, Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys, Lost Bayou Ramblers and Same Old Two-Step. Visit mahaffeytheater.com for tickets and info. $12-$15. 4:30-10 p.m. Fri., noon-10 p.m. Sat., noon-8 p.m. Sun., Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg.
Friday, March 12: Bennigan's Channelside
Rough Riders St. Patrick’s Day Trolley Hop. Your destinations may not be traditionally Irish (unless you consider Bennigan’s a boon) but this I promise: a good Irishman wouldn’t turn down a proper pint, no matter where it came from. You’ll also stop at Teatro on Seventh, Gaspar’s Grotto, Tampa Bay Brew Company, Rock ‘N Sports and more. $20-$35. 6 p.m., meets at Bennigan’s, 615 Channelside Dr., Tampa.
Many more events after the break:
This article appears in Mar 3-9, 2010.