Fans of bubbly, mead and beer have it made this weekend. Peep the latest rundown of CL-recommended food and drink happenings.
Spend First Friday with a Valentine's Day-themed selection of gluten-free and vegan sweets, plus nut-free options, from Retrobaked — including fudge brownies, oatmeal cream pies and frosting shots. But a family-friendly mini market during the annual Sweetheart Stroll Artwalk spreads the love, too, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Expect comforting soul food from Ray's Vegan Soul (seriously, order the mac 'n' cheese), as well as artisan wares from GoodEarth Pure Soaps, Blue Sage Market Co. and Village of the Arts. Free, money for goodies. 933 12th St. W., Bradenton, 941-713-3051.
Musical performances and a marketplace of arts and crafts accompany all the good eats that the two-day St. Pete Beach Seafood & Music Festival plans to bring from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There's everything from seafood dishes that incorporate sustainable Florida catches to vegetarian options and an array of desserts. The event is family-friendly. Free, money for food and drinks. 398 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach.
On Saturday, Mermaid Tavern joins forces with New Jersey's Melovino Craft Meadery on a Viking Brunch, hosted between noon to 4 p.m. The mead-inspired menu — which is meant to be paired with suggested Melovino selections — showcases PB&J pancakes, coffee-rubbed ribs with fried egg, bacon sage grilled cheese, root veggie salad with citrus mead dressing, and apple streusel. Are you drooling yet? Free, money for food and mead. 6719 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-238-5618.
Tampa Beer Works is turning 2, and the Anniversary and Special Bottle Release Party helps celebrate this most awesome occasion. First comes the restaurant-on-wheels, Say Cheese Mobile Food Trailer, at 4 p.m. Saturday — then the debut of "2," the bottled barrel-aged stout made in honor of the brewery's birthday, followed by live tunes (among them '80s hits spun by DJ Vorlauf). Free, money for beer and food. 333 Falkenburg Road N. #D-407, Tampa, 813-685-1909.
To round out Wine Weekend St. Pete, which is the Museum of Fine Arts's largest fundraising event, Le Champagne Brunch takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Bubbly produced in various regions is in the spotlight, alongside a "special surprise." Find tickets online. $60. 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-896-2667.
