The 17th annual Abilities Wine & Food Festival is even more of a gorgefest than in years past: the Grand Tasting boasts 400 wines from around the world, 40 restaurants to sample and 400 silent auction items to browse. You can also hobnob with winemakers and principals from Sonoma Valley. The restaurants in attendance read like a Who's Who of former Best Of winners: Salt Rock Grill, Island Way Grill, Roy's, Red Mesa, Pacific Wave and Seven 17 South, among others. All proceeds benefit Abilities Foundation of Florida, a nonprofit that serves the employment, housing and health needs of Floridians with disabilities. Sat., March 11, 7-9 p.m., Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, $75/$85 (VIP, 6-7 p.m., $150/$175), 727-538-7370, www.abilitiesfoundation.com.
This article appears in Mar 8-14, 2006.