Wednesday, March 14: Cru Cellars
Wine Tasting Wednesdays are back by popular demand. Relax at the wine bar while enjoying the featured wines of the evening. Choose your favorite, and receive a 10% discount on it. Reservations can be made by phone or by emailing [email protected]. $15; 6-8 p.m., 2506 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-831-1117, crucellarstampa.com.
Wednesday, March 14: Pollo Tropical
Help women in distress, and get a free quesadilla wrap. Simply donate a used cell phone (with battery), and you will be handed a hot quesadilla wrap. If you donate three old phones, you will receive three quesadilla wraps, and so on. This event benefits the Women in Distress charity. 10:30 a.m. to close of business, at all Tampa Bay locations. Pollotropical.com.
Thursday, March 15: Flicks and Food Trucks
Watch independent short flicks, listen to rockin' tunes by Hymn for Her, and of course, eat. Fill your belly with your favorite food truck selections, and wash it down with microbrews. Keep'n it Reel is now included in the food truck lineup, for your tastebuds' pleasure. 6-10 p.m., 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, tampabaymarkets.com.
Thursday, March 15: Pan y Vino
Feast on a three-course dinner at FEAST Pinellas. This dinner series will benefit budding artists. During the dinner, a few of the artists will present projects that need a little financial boost. After dinner, vote on your favorite project. Cocktail and social hour, with the artists, begins at 5:30; dinner begins at 6:30. Purchase tickets at feastpinellas.org. $25; 5:30 p.m., 369 Main Street, Dunedin, 727-734-7700, creativepinellas.org.
Friday, March 16: Vintage Wine Cellars
If you want to focus on "green" wine rather than green beer this weekend, this Wineries that are Going Green event is the perfect place to do so. Learn how winemaking is becoming an organic, sustainable and biodynamic trend around the globe. Sample ten "green" wines, such as Petite Sirah Tower Road. Reservations are encouraged. $10; 7 p.m., 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-879-2931, vintagewinecellars.net.
Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17: Irish 31
Who says St. Patrick's Day can only be celebrated on March 17? Irish 31 provides at least thirty-one reasons why this St. Paddy's Palooza (benefiting Mike Alstott Foundation) should be a two-day event, including a two-day concert, Irish culinary selections, eating contest, cornhole tournament and contests. The winner of the St. Patrick look-alike contest will win a trip to the St. Patrick's Day motherland, Ireland. The streets of Hyde Park will be shut down for St. Paddy's Palooza. Tickets may be purchased online, and range from $10 to $20. 4 p.m.-2 a.m. on Friday, 12 p.m.-2.am. on Saturday; 1611 W. Swann Ave., Tampa, 813-250-0031, irish31.com.
Saturday, March 17: Bern's Park
If you prefer ice cream over beer, you are in the clear at this 1930s Ice Cream Social in the Park. Blue Bell Ice Cream is serving scoops in honor of Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association's tenth annual home tour. Eight of these historical homes will be open for the public to tour. Home tour tickets are $20 in advance, $25 the day of. Ice cream will be scooped between 10 a.m.-2 p.m., home tours will occur between 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 1400 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-915-6633 x2, eyydepark.org.
Saturday, March 17: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
Join Mayor Bob Buckhorn for River O'Green Fest in downtown Tampa, where the river will be...you guessed it...green. Specifically, Hillsborough River will be dyed Kelly green for the occasion, between Cass Street Bridge and Kennedy Bridge. Enjoy food trucks, such as O'Macalicious, vendors and entertainment. Children will enjoy the activity areas and crafts. Mayor Buckhorn and Tampa Downtown Partnership will co-host this event. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, tampagov.net.
Saturday, March 17: Durty Nelly's Irish Pub
Get down and "durty" at the St. Petersburg Block Party, sponsored by Durty Nelly. A section of downtown will be blocked off to accommodate the "Irish" crowd, twenty bands, food vendors and more. This may just be the longest St. Patrick's Day party in St. Pete, with almost twenty-four hours of partying. 8 am.-3 a.m., 129 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 813-220-1799.
Saturday, March 17: Flanagan's Irish Pub
Who wants to be stuck inside a pub, when you could be partying in the street instead? Flanagan's feels the same way; hence, the annual St. Patrick's Day Street Festival. Listen to pipe tunes by Dunedin Pipe Band and watch Irish step dancing and other entertainment. Bring some "green" for the Irish food that will be available. Free; 11 a.m., 465 Main St., Dunedin, 727-736-4994, flanagansirishpub.net.
Saturday, March 17: Fresh Market
Watch the creation of Crepes, Savory and Sweet at this Fresh Flavors Demo, in either Clearwater or Tampa. Savory crepes include Provencal chicken crepes with Hollandaise sauce. Sweet crepes include chocolate strawberry crepes. Talk about a sweet ending! 1-4 p.m., 25961 U.S. 19, Clearwater, 727-669-6111; 3722 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-875-7400, freshmarket.com.
Saturday, March 17: Streets of Ybor
Put on your most festive Irish attire (leprechaun costume, anyone?), and take it to the streets. Specifically, the streets of Ybor, for the Rough Riders St. Patrick's Day Parade. Enjoy Irish-inspired festivities, entertainment and food, and of course, the plethora of nearby pubs and clubs, which are sure to be packed. 8 p.m., 7th Avenue, Ybor, 813area.com.
Saturday, March 17: World of Beer Westchase
Forget green beer and drink Irish beer. Beer connoisseurs, Irish or not, will enjoy the $3 Irish drafts, $2 Sam Adams Irish Red bottles and $1 Irish beer shots, instead of the watered-down green taps and kegs associated with St. Patrick's Day. 10 a.m., 9524 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, 813-852-2337, westchase.wobusa.com.
Saturday, March 17 and Sunday, March 18: Renaissance Festival (MOSI)
Get involved in shenanigans at this weekend's segment of Renaissance Festival, Shamrocks and Shenanigans. Check out the Celtic Village and look for a "village idiot." Put on your favorite kilt and participate in the kilt competition, then the highland games. Take advantage of the free beer tasting while watching Irish dancers. Participate in the pub crawl. Admission is $18.95, free parking; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 11315 N. 46th St., Tampa, 800-966-8215, bayarearennaissancefest.com.
Saturday, March 17 and Sunday, March 18: Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks
Barbeque will be the culinary focus this weekend, not Greek, at the Tarpon Springs Barbeque Festival. Barbeque items will be provided by numerous restaurants and vendors. Listen to live music, courtesy of musicians who love barbeque. Will it be Greek music, or perhaps in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, Irish music? You will have to hear it for yourself. 10 a.m., 20 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs, 727-776-7261.
Sunday, March 18: Beach Bistro
Take a ride to Anna Maria Island for this 15th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, hosted by the award-winning Beach Bistro. Over 15,000 parade-goers show up annually for the pipe bands and marching bands, many dressed as leprechauns. The parade will begin at Eat Here, and end at the intersection of N. Palm Drive and 79th St. Free; 4:00-5:30 p.m., 6600 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 941-778-6444, beachbistro.com.
Tuesday, March 20: BRIO Tuscan Grille
Say ciao to National Ravioli day by snagging a ravioli entree at half price at BRIO. These entrees include Lobster and Shrimp Ravioli with Crab Insalata, Ravioli Caprese and Mushroom Ravioli. Reservations are recommended. 2223 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa, 813-877-3939, brioitalian.com.
