Wednesday, October 12: A Taste For Wine
Taste selections from Santa Rita, one of Chile's oldest wineries, tonight at A Taste for Wine. $12; 6-8:30 p.m. 241 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-895-1623, tasteforwine.net
Wednesday, October 12: Bianchi's Enoteca
It's "Pasta Wednesday" at Bianchi's and that means they're serving up yet another pasta special. This week, get a dish of butternut squash ravioli with sage brown butter and a glass of wine for $19.95. The catch: only 10 orders will be made and it's first come, first serve. 6-8 p.m. 3215 S MacDill Ave. Suite G, Tampa, 813-837-2233, bianchisenoteca.com
Wednesday, October 12: Cru Cellars
Taste through five South American and Aussie wines and then enjoy a glass of your favorite at this tasting. A 10% discount will be offered on the featured wines. Email Jen at [email protected] to RSVP or call 813-831-1117. $15; $15; 6-8 p.m. 2506 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-831-1117, crucellarstampa.com
Wednesday, October 12: Vintage Wine Cellars
Join Vintage for a special presentation and tasting of the JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery's portfolio by their National Sales Manager, Steve Lister. He will illuminate details on four of his frontline wines and sample four sought-after reserve wines that are limited production and quite exquisite. Seated seminar; RSVP required. $25; 7-9 p.m. 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-879-2931, vintagewinecellars.net
Thursday, October 13: The Roosevelt 2.0
Experience "experimental music and experimental cocktails in a beautiful experimental space in Downtown Tampa," with the Philanthropic Young Tampa Bay (PYT) group. Admission gets you access to an array of all-you-can-drink molecular mixologist cocktails — featuring examples of spherification, solidification, and classic cocktails on trial of fire and ice — as prepared by Tampa's own Left Coast Bartenders Guild, and live experimental music by local performers. Proceeds from the event benefit the Fall philanthropy project of PYT. Purchase tickets here. $15 in advance, $20 day of event, $10 for PYT members; 6-9 p.m. 1812 N 15th St., Ybor, creativityincommerce.com, pytampa.org
Thursday, October 13: Double Decker Tampa
The Double Decker in Ybor is going Deutsch again this year by throwing another Oktoberfest Bash full of beer, music, traditional German games and karaoke. Drink specials include $9 liters of Beck's Oktoberfest and there's no cover charge to get in. Free; 7 p.m.-3 a.m. 1721 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, 813-248-2099, doubledeckertampa.com
Friday-Sunday, October 14-16: The Heights South Tampa
Get out your lederhosen and dust off that giant boot-shaped glass because Oktoberfest Tampa is coming back to The Heights in South Tampa. This three-day beer fest will offer an array of German and domestic craft brews, plenty of brats and jumbo pretzels for sale, "Beer School" for homebrewers and some rather interesting drinking competitions, like stein-holding, keg-tossing, "Carry the Wench", "Schultz" burping contest and plenty more. Bonus for beer geeks: This event is the only spot in Florida to offer the limited Bavarian Royal Wedding Festbier from Warsteiner & Konig Ludwig. Book a VIP table for your crew and never have to leave your table to get beer, as it includes a server, plus you'll get a stein full of Warsteiner Oktoberfest and VIP parking. Purchase tickets and get more information on the event website. $8 pre-sale for drinkers or $15 for a weekend pass, $10 per day at the door, $75 each or $1000 for a group for VIP seating, $5 for designated drivers; 3 p.m.-12 a.m. Fri., 11 a.m.-12 a.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun. 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa, oktoberfesttampa.com.
Friday and Saturday, October 14-15: Taste Cafe Safety Harbor
Enjoy the cooler weather, beer and wine tastings and live music at Taste Cafe's "beer garden" every Friday and Saturday evening throughout the fall season. Call for more information. 5-7 p.m. 500 Main St., Safety Harbor, 727-723-1116, tastesafetyharbor.com
Friday, October 14: Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits
At this Crush Hour tasting, sample offerings from Piedmont's Fontanafredda Winery along with cheese selections from Bern's 'Cave du Fromage.' Call to RSVP. $25; 6:30-8:30 p.m. 1002 South Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-250-9463, bernsfinewines.com
Friday, October 14: Pour House Tampa
Hop heads rejoice! The Pour House will be tapping a cask of Stone Brewing's Double Dry Hopped Ruination. Get it while it lasts. 7 p.m. 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd. Suite #112, Tampa, 813-402-2923, pourhousetampa.com
Friday, October 14: Vintage Wine Cellars
Go "Down Under" with Vintage at this tasting featuring three whites, six reds and a tawny port from Australia. $10; 7-9 p.m. 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-879-2931, vintagewinecellars.net
Friday, October 14: The Florida Aquarium
Have you ever seen a scuba diver in lederhosen? If it's something you need to scratch off your bucket list, head to the Florida Aquarium's annual Brews by the Bay event. Put on by Pepin Distributing, this beer fest will feature over 85 different brews from all over the world by both craft and macro breweries to sample for free in cute mini steins — from Beck's and Hoegaarden to Labatt's and Southern Tier. Also in attendance will be an array of Bay area restaurants offering complimentary small plates — 400 Beach, Datz, Taco Bus, Grass Root and many more. You can catch those German scuba dudes making a scene in the Coral Reef Gallery. Purchase tickets on the event's website or at the door (if still available. $50 early admission, $45 for Aquarium members, $60 on day of event; $75 for VIP (includes early admission); 8-11 p.m. 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, 813-273-4000, brewsbythebay.com.
Saturday, October 15: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
It's going to be a day full of soulful blues music, mouthwatering barbecue and great locally brewed beer at the 2nd Annual Bluz and BBQ event at Curtis Hixon Park this Saturday. Enjoy finger lickin' 'cue and more from Holy Hog BBQ, Big Papa's, Press Box Sports Bar, Slice Pizza and BBQ, Smokin Oaks and Beachwood BBQ, and wash it all down with brews from Cigar City and Yuengling. Best of all, this event is free to attend and lawn chairs are welcome (no coolers, though). See the event's website for the full music lineup. VIP tickets can be purchased for $125 from the event's website and include free food and drinks, special seating in a covered area, musician meet-and-greets, Tampa Water Taxi Cruise on the Hillsborough River during event, and a complimentary goodie bag. Free; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park at the Tampa Riverwalk (Kennedy and N. Ashley Drive), bluzandbbq.com
