When you're done celebrating Little Greek's birthday, getting your Pokémon Go on for the first time with our introductory dining guide and judging the Salsa Showdown at Rapp Brewing Company, check out these five weekend food and drink events.
Head to a cider tasting at Jug & Bottle Dept. in Seminole Heights, where Progressive Distribution will be on site pouring samples from Slim Pickens Cider & Mead and Argus Cidery. Hosted from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, guests may sample Argus’s Ciderkin Apple Cider and Ginger Perry Pear Cider, or switch it up with the Make Momma Proud Passionfruit Cider from Slim Pickens. Free. 6203 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-675-4522.
Later, locals near the Sarasota area should find a new favorite beer at Mandeville Beer Garden’s Fat Tire & Friends CollaBEERation from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday. New Belgium has teamed up with a number of brewers to reinvent its Fat Tire Amber Ale, and brews like Firestone Walker Brewing Company’s Fat Hoppy Ale will be featured. The Essentials will provide the soundtrack for the evening, covering tunes by Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley and more. Plus, Mandeville’s kitchen will cook up yummy bites available for purchase. Free, money for beer and food. 428 N. Lemon Ave., Sarasota, 941-954-8688.
From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, snag free pizza and a cheap concert at The Emerald in St. Petersburg. Moon Flag is set to rock out all night, so order a no-fuss drink from the bar and down a free slice from Pinellas Park’s The Pizza Joint. $3 at the door, or pay what you can. 550 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-898-6054.
At Ybor City’s First Chance Last Chance Bar, heat up the weekend with a spicy whiskey and metal jams. Starting at 9 p.m. Saturday, the Blackcraft Spirits Official Florida Launch will celebrate Blackcraft’s new Ghost Pepper Whiskey. Patrons are invited to sip free samples of the spirit and snag ghoulish $5 cocktails that include The Glampire and See You in Hell. Nick James will spin rock and metal tunes throughout the event, too. Free, money for drinks. 1707 N. 16th St., Tampa, 813-248-5555.
Get crafty in the kitchen with William Dean Chocolates, who will teach students how to make cupcakes and French canelé. Lunch, a drink and finger foods come with admission to the lesson at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Registration is required. $50. 2790 West Bay Drive, Belleair Bluffs, 727-593-0656.
This article appears in Jul 21-28, 2016.