A quintet of weekend events based around St. Pete Pride and other local happenings, including two beer brunches and the first Palm Harbor Taco Festival.
Kick off St. Pete Pride weekend with brews and bikes at 7 p.m. Friday. Meeting up at downtown St. Pete’s Williams Park, Critical Mass riders will embark on the medium-paced Pride ride, then head to Green Bench Brewing Co. to enjoy craft drafts. The brewery plans to give bikers 10 percent off their tabs, and DJ RePete will spin the soundtrack for the evening. Free, money for beer. 1133 Baum Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-800-9836.
Starting at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, learn about native plants and exotic tropicals, take home orchids, or join a beekeeping walk-and-talk discussion in Tampa. The Summer Plant Festival at the USF Botanical Gardens will feature multiple workshops, as well as butterfly plants, herbs, plumeria and more available for purchase. $5, free for members. 12210 USF Pine Drive, Tampa, 813-974-2329.
Jug & Bottle Dept.’s One Year Ampersand-iversary will offer complimentary mead, coffee, wine and live music, plus wine and cheese pairings, between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday. The Seminole Heights shop will have Chaos Creamery scooping tasty flavors (including one made with Angry Chair Brewing's hazelnut English porter) and Commune + Co. pouring at a pop-up espresso and pour-over bar. Plus, don’t leave without nabbing a new 64-ounce growler filled with beer from locals like Late Start Brewery, Angry Chair and Coppertail Brewing Co. Free, money for goodies. 6203 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-675-4522.
Stop into The Cider Press Café from 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. before hitting up St. Pete Pride’s street festival. A traditional vegan, gluten-free spread of banana, maple and pecan-stuffed pancakes, cinnamon rolls, eggplant bacon, fresh fruit and banana bread will be served during The Big Pride Brunch. Diners can expect bellinis, mimosas, margaritas, fresh juices and smoothies, too. 601 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-914-7222.
Game of Thrones and beer enthusiasts, rejoice! There’s an Ommegang Game of Thrones Beer Dinner — scheduled for the season finale — inside Tampa’s World of Beer off Fowler Avenue. Hosted from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, the series-inspired feast will spotlight four courses, five beers and GoT trivia and prizes. Seating is limited, and tickets must be purchased in-person at WOB. $40 in advance, $45 at the door (limited to the first 25 people). 2815 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-559-1530.
This article appears in Jun 23-30, 2016.