Happy 4/20, bruh. No munchies will go unsatisfied — as long as you follow this guide to weekend food and drink events.
Join Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe on Friday for Revolver, Wine + Rock N' Roll, beginning at 6 p.m. Bryan Page — founder of Revolver Wine Co., named for The Beatles' 1966 Revolver album — pours samples of his downtown Napa Valley winery's Dreams & Desires Sauvignon Blanc, Blood & Roses Rosé, Purgatory Merlot and Fury Cabernet Franc for attendees (who should come dressed in their favorite throwback band T-shirts). The featured wines are available by the glass and flight. No cover. 2927 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-800-2810.
Now in its 11th year, the two-day Aficionado Taste of Ybor celebrates the historic district's best in bites and beverages. From 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, local breweries and distilleries like Coppertail Brewing Co., The Florida Cane Distillery, Tampa Bay Rum Company and Rock Brothers Brewing join forces on a beer and spirits festival on the Italian Club of Tampa's second floor. Then, on Saturday, the Tapas Trail take overs Seventh Avenue during a flavorful tour of Ybor food and drink spots between 1 and 4 p.m. — an event (kicking off at Tequilas) that also plans to honor the first rolled cigar in April 1886. Check out Eventbrite for tickets and more details. $25-$60. The Italian Club: 1731 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa. Tequilas: 1613 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa.
Join Kelp Sushi Joint for a lesson in the craft of sushi-making. There are two sessions of the restaurant's Sushi Class — which includes one cocktail, one starter and three rolls that participants make on their own — to choose from on Saturday: one at 5 p.m. and another at 8 p.m. A $25 nonrefundable deposit is required at the time of reservation. Call to sign up. $50. 3401 W. Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa, 813-831-2222.
On Saturday, the fifth annual Bad A** Beerfest V brings more than 60 Florida breweries and 200-plus beers to Tampa Bay Brewing Co.'s Westchase facility for an unlimited sampling from 6 to 10 p.m. Good thing there's a bill of four food trucks on-site, right? Merch and lifestyle vendors and a four-hour live concert on the festival stage are set to round out the evening. VIP tickets are sold out, but general admission is still available online. Proceeds help support the Ocean Media Institute. $35. 13937 Monroe's Business Park, Tampa, 813-247-1422.
During the 2nd Annual Mac & Cheese Competition, home cooks put their ooey, gooey recipes for mac 'n' cheese to the test. Limited to 20 entries, Six Ten Brewing's mac-down (get it?) spotlights all sorts of takes on the comfort food favorite made with the contestants' choice of pasta and cheese, plus house beer, from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Five judges are selected at random the day of to blindly critique each recipe on flavor, texture and consistency, while the crowd ultimately crowns the Fan Favorite. But don't worry — trophies go to the Best in Show and Runner Up, too. The entry fee serves as a donation to the Parkinson's Foundation. $5. 7052 Benjamin Road, Tampa, 813-886-0610.
This article appears in Apr 19-26, 2018.