This weekend's roundup of food and drink events includes things for beer enthusiasts, vegans and music lovers to do. Oh, and did we mention the mac and cheese bar?
Brave the crowd that will likely — and understandably — swarm Pizza Box starting at 7 p.m. Friday (maybe even a little before) to celebrate the EDGE District wood-fired pizzeria’s 1 Year Birthday Bash. Throughout the evening, guests can enjoy any of the gourmet pies for half off, plus $1 off domestic beers. Live music and giveaways are planned, and the winner of Pizza Box’s first T-shirt design contest gets announced. Free, money for food and beer. 923 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-623-0444.
For more fun at 7 p.m. Friday, check out the Collaboration Beer Release from Craft Life Brewing and Tonka’s Taphouse Brewing. Their new double IPA, whose launch party takes place at Craft Life’s home base in Land O’ Lakes, clocks in a 9.2 alcohol by volume and showcases Chinook, Simcoe, Centennial and Cascade hops. Frankie Raye provides live tunes throughout the evening from the stage, and patrons can park at Meineke Car Care after 6 p.m. Free, money for beer. 2624 Land O' Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes, 813-575-8440.
Need to satisfy a sweet tooth — a vegan sweet tooth? From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, stock up on freshly baked vegan-friendly goodies at the 7th Annual Tampa Vegan Bake Sale. Here, locals can grab tasty treats like pastries or cookies, and feel good about ’em, too. Proceeds from the event, held in conjunction with the Record Store Day festivities at Mojo Books & Records, benefit homeless and feral cats and kittens. Free, money for goodies. 2540 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-971-9717.
Nosh on $3 burger samples from 12-plus Bay area restaurants vendors, washing them all down with complimentary homebrews and other local suds while supplies last, during the annual Safety Harbor Beer & Burger Throwdown. Attendees help the family-friendly event, running from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, determine the day’s Best Burger and Best Brew. Other highlights: artists, crafters and a 2,000-square-foot kids zone and adult gaming area. Proceeds go to the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation and Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce Foundation. $5, money for goodies. 110 Veterans Memorial Lane, Safety Harbor.
From 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Rapp Brewing Company has a Loaded Mac and Cheese Bar planned for its Seminole taproom. Featured alongside the release of Final Winter Precipitation — the chocolate coconut porter Jeff Stiebel brewed at Rapp — patrons can top their customized bowls of mac with toppings like bacon, chives, caramelized onions, lobster, chili and more. Free, money for food and beer. 10930 Endeavour Way, Seminole, 727-544-1752.
