Can a week be 10 or 11 days? Why not. The annual Tampa Bay Beer Week event just keeps getting longer and more packed with hundreds of events, this year running Saturday to March 11. For just a sampling of what's to come, from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday there's a traditional Filipino Kamayan feast with beer pairing, $40 which includes food and two beers, at Ichicoro Ramen, 5229 N Florida Ave., Tampa. (813) 517-9989.
On Sunday, head to the Brewers' Ball After-Party at Independent Bar & Café, with special brews on tap, burgers and brats served and musical entertainment provided by Poetry in Lotion. Beer prices vary. 5 to 11 p.m. 5016 N Florida Ave., Tampa. (813) 341-4883.
On Monday at Rapp Brewing there's a beer and cheese pairing, with four cheeses paired with small batch, handcrafted beers (Carrot Cake ale paired with vanilla cheddar, Chocolate Peanut Butter stout paired with blue cheese and caramel, Lichtenhainer (a smoked sour ale) paired with smoked Gouda, and one TBA). 4 to 10 p.m., no cover. 10930 Endeavor Way, Seminole. (727) 692-7912.
Then on Tuesday head to Crush Hour at Haven in Tampa, joining Motorworks Brewing head brewer Bob Haa for a sampling of a selection of Motorworks beers paired with food prepared by Haven executive chef Chad Johnson. $40. 6 to 8 p.m. 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. (813) 258-2233. For a list of all other Tampa Bay Beer Week events, visit tampabaybeerweek.com.
MORE BEER WEEK: More than 100 beer events planned
Fan of Bodega in St. Petersburg's EDGE District? Now you can double your pleasure, with owners Debbie and George Sayegh opening a second location in Tampa's Seminole Heights this spring. It's an open-air concept, similar to the first location, but includes a courtyard. There will be two shuffleboard courts (this seems de rigueur in Seminole Heights right now, with an indoor shuffleboard concept called Shuffle opening soon and Ferrell Alvarez and partner Ty Rodriguez opening a second restaurant with a shuffle component soon), with indoor and outdoor seating. And while the menu will be the same as St. Pete (Cuban and pollo asado sandwiches, Cuban-style burgers, etc.), with juices and smoothies, they are adding something exciting: an on-site rum bar. Bodega has collaborated with the owners of the Mandarin Hide to create a new craft cocktail program curated for Seminole Heights, called Mandarin Heights. An exact opening date hasn't been determined, but the address is 5901 N Florida Ave., Tampa.
A fundraiser for the historic Tampa Theatre postponed because of Hurricane Irma, this is an opportunity to warm up the couch for three days of "Wine's World" with a movie-under-the-stars screening of Wayne's World (tonight), elegant wine tasting with a multicourse menu by Mise en Place's Marty Blitz (Friday) and a two-tiered wine tasting of boutique wines with restaurant fare from Carne Chophouse, On Swann and many others (Saturday). Must be 21 or older. Film screening $10, $25 VIP at 7:30 p.m. today; wine pairing $275 or $500 per couple, 7 p.m. Friday; $55 premium tasting, 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday; and $90 grand tasting, 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday. 711 Franklin St., Tampa. (813) 274-8982.
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From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, restaurants, local businesses and chefs cook up their own style of chili at this tasting with street vendors, drawings and live music, which benefits the Grand Central District Association. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 day of; for children 12 and younger it's $10 in advance, $15 day of. Grand Central District, 1800 block of Central Avenue, St. Petersburg. (727) 828-7006.