Local beer, a lesson in Italian food, Afro-Creole specialties and a lobstah smorgasbord — what more do you need to know?
From 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, enjoy craft brews and art at Hidden Springs Ale Works. The Tampa Heights brewery’s Art Splash showcase plans to feature works from Bekky Beukes, Terrena Conson, Anna Schermerhorn, Heather Rippert, Brandon Marshall and others. Tree Dog Roots & Salsa will be serving up tasty eats all night as a part of this Fourth Friday celebration. Cheers! Free, money for beer and food. 1631 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-226-2739.
Join Chief's Creole Cafe in celebrating a milestone in U.S. history — the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture — plus a moment in local history: the 1968 strike that granted equal pay to St. Petersburg's black sanitation workers. Between 9:30 a.m. and noon Saturday, an Afro-Creole lunch, special presentation by Abdul Karim Ali (the son of Joe Savage, the sanitation strike's leader), and music from jazz maestro Henry Ashwood will follow a live stream of the museum's grand opening ceremony in D.C. The St. Pete eatery's menu items include gumbo paired with shrimp and grits, crawfish fritters, and bread pudding or beignets. Tickets are available for purchase online. $25. 901 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg, 727-498-8979.
Later, cook Italian with downtown St. Pete restaurant Sea Salt. From 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, chef Ken Tufo will teach participants how to make the signature pasta dish of a small Italian town called Amatrice. The plate, bucatini all'amatriciana (whose sauce traditionally has tomato, cured pork cheek and pecorino), will pay homage to its namesake city, which was recently destroyed by an earthquake. After the cooking class, guests will enjoy lunch in the dining room. Reservations can be made over the phone, and space is limited. $35. 183 Second Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-873-7904.
Starting at 5 p.m. Sunday, finish off the weekend with a splash. Ocean Prime has plans to celebrate National Lobster Day with lobster-laced dishes like truffle mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and lobster bisque. Guests may also dig into whole Maine lobsters, or classic lobster rolls. Free, money for food. 2205 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa, 813-490-5288.
Check out Sea Dog Sundays at Clearwater's Sea Dog Brewing Co. This all-day happy hour will have attendees clinking glasses filled with drink specials offered in the brewery's tasting room or beer garden. Free, money for beer. 26200 U.S. Highway 19 N., Clearwater, 727-466-4916.
This article appears in Sep 22-29, 2016.