Whether the plan is to hang with food and drink indoors or out, here's a lineup of CL-recommended events scheduled throughout the weekend. Make sure to browse our guide to bars, restaurants and other venues ringing in Saturday as St. Patrick's Day, too.
Spend Friday hunting for wallet-friendly treasures at Webster's legendary 35-acre flea market, which spotlights plant and produce purveyors. Then, peruse the USF Botanical Gardens in Tampa. Paid reservations for this Sunken Gardens-organized Bus Trip from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. include transportation (read: an air-conditioned coach), a snack, admission to the botanical gardens, and tips. To register, give Sunken Gardens a call. $40 for members, $50 for nonmembers. 1825 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-551-3102.
Also on Friday, the 2nd Annual St. Pete Seafood & Sweets Festival invades the Mirror Lake area with 15-plus restaurants-on-wheels. The lineup of participating movable feasts — which includes St. Pete Taco Lady, Anju Korean Gastrotruck, Maggie on the Move, Craving Donuts and Vanchetta Food Truck — has indulgent eats for sweet tooths and seafood-inspired dishes planned between 6 and 11 p.m., alongside each truck's regular menu. Adult beverages are available for purchase, while picnic chairs and blankets are welcome. Free, money for food and drinks. Mirror Lake Drive North and Third Avenue North, St. Petersburg.
I know a few food enthusiasts who wouldn't mind spending Saturday at Big Green Egg 101. Just Grillin has timed its latest class driven by the popular kamado-style cooker perfectly — that way, participants won't feel too bad about picking up a few new tips for their Green Eggs instead of grabbing a green beer with their pals. Parmesan polenta, braised short ribs and Baileys brownies are on the menu from 10 a.m. to noon. Tickets can be purchased online. $25. 11743 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, 813-962-1700.
Sunday's Tamale Cook-Off is a community recipe battle hosted to raise money for the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Folks interested in competing with their finest takes on the beloved Mesoamerican tradition that is the tamale should stop by Flying Boat to sign up — free of charge. The winner is acknowledged as the crowd favorite and scores a cash prize. As for the spectators, admission includes samples of each tamale entry and the opportunity to vote, plus beer tasters from the brewery, from 1 to 5 p.m. $15. 1776 11th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-800-2999.
A lively and informative workshop at Sweetwater Organic Community Farm, Grain to Grist explores the difference between commercially available grain products and home-milled flour with Matt Houser on Sunday. Houser — an experienced hobbyist miller of wheat and other grains — is also set to demonstrate the process behind milling your own flour using various equipment. Participants leave with a bag of freshly milled pancake flour. Get tickets online. $10. 6942 W. Comanche Ave., Tampa, 813-887-4066.
This article appears in Mar 15-22, 2018.