Food and drink, served up with a side of live music, for summer's last three-day weekend.
Get to The Bends on Friday for an all-night birthday celebration. Starting at 8 p.m., bargoers sip $5 drink specials for the dive’s fifth year among the other festivities: a photography show, eats from BCA BBQ and live screen-printing. Jam out to live tunes from Polyenso and Loose Talk, too. Free, money for food and drinks. 919 First Ave N., St. Petersburg, 727-202-8931.
Bourbon and Bluegrass, the third annual dinner and concert series for The Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club, kicks off Friday and Saturday. In celebration of Bourbon Month, bluegrass stylings from Asheville’s Town Mountain are in store from 9:15 p.m. to midnight, alongside dining stations and a full bar with classic and specialty bourbons. (Catch the next dinner and concert Sept. 8 and 9, when Austin’s Wood & Wire takes the stage.) Free, money for food and drinks. 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, 727-894-1000.
Brunch it up between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the crew at Anise Global Gastrobar. The downtown Tampa hangout’s Labor Day Weekend Brunch spotlights a $30 mimosa bar, special food menu and music by DJ King Knoxygen. Upstairs, guests can throw down $10 for access to the all-black rooftop festival. Free, money for food and drinks. 777 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, 813-781-6129.
Saturday is also for rum lovers during the nearby Summer of Rum Festival, hosted from noon to 11 p.m. at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. A variety of specialty rum drinks — including Rum Runners, frozen daiquiris and Cuba Libres — await, as does island-themed and reggae entertainment headlined by Shaggy (yup, that “It Wasn’t Me” guy). Did we mention the fireworks? Find tickets online. $20-$125. 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, 813-274-8615.
On Sunday, fight your hangover with more booze at Arkane Aleworks. The Largo craft brewery is putting on a Summer BBQ, featuring food by Out of the Pot Catering & Events and special beer releases from noon to 11:30 p.m. Just the Tip, Arkane’s first barrel-aged beer, is a dark sour with a bit of bourbon flavor. Brothers Gabriel provide the soundtrack for the gathering. Free, money for beer and food. 2480 E. Bay Drive #23, Largo, 727-270-7117.
This article appears in Aug 31 – Sep 7, 2017.