From live music and tasting wine with furry friends to gourmet fungi farming and a brewery hop, use these CL event picks to plan your weekend.
Downtown St. Pete has some great music and drinks lined up for First Friday. First, get to Janus Live for a free concert at 8 p.m. While listening to the Jeremy Thomas Band cover classic hits and modern rock, grab $3 house wines, fireball or cans of Bud and Bud Light. Also happening at 8, the Local 662 hosts the popular Motown, funk and soul sounds of The Black Honkeys. The venue has a full bar to keep the good times comin'. Jannus Live: Free, money for drinks. 200 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-565-0550. Local 662: $7. 662 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-258-4829.
Learn how to grow gourmet 'shrooms from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Hosted by Ben Dion at New Port Richey's West Pasco Habitat for Humanity ReStore, this farming class will teach folks how to cultivate organic and medicinal mushrooms on a small scale. Participants will leave with an edible oyster mushroom growing system, as well as plenty of tips and tricks on growing great fungi at home. Hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be served, but participants are encouraged to pack a lunch. $50 in advance, $60 at the door. 4131 Madison St., New Port Richey, 727-843-8786.
Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, bring your pooch to the third annual Pasco Pet Fest in Land O' Lakes. The event, held at the Florida Estates Winery, will showcase adoptable dogs and great vino. A large amount of the proceeds will benefit the Pit Bull Happenings Rescue and Jeremiah's Foundation. Now that's something to drink to. $20. 25241 State Road 52, Land O' Lakes, 813-996-2113.
Hop on the Tampa Bay Brew Bus's Local Loop for a really hoppy end to the weekend. The ride-all-day shuttle will take riders to various stops in Ybor City and Seminole Heights from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, traveling to places like Coppertail Brewing Co., the Independent Bar and Cafe, Angry Chair Brewing and Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe. A full stop schedule is available online. No beer will be served on the bus, but riders will be provided with complimentary H2O to stay hydrated. $10, 3924 W. Spruce St., Tampa, 813-990-7310.
This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2015.