Friday, March 23: Corey Avenue Food Truck Festival
Food truck fanatics can start their weekend off right by hitting up 4th Friday Food Truck Festival. "Keep it real" and enjoy food truck favorites such as Keepn it Reel, Jimmy Meatballs, Sinful Pleasure, Fire Monkey and many more. Check out the rocket ship car that will be on display. This Friday only, you can enjoy this unique attraction, formerly a Euclid Beach Park amusement park ride. It was built in 1935, removed from Euclid Park when it shut down, and recently resurrected and rebuilt. Enjoy tunes by a six-piece band, Freddie Mack and the Dixie Express. Corey merchants and restaurants will be open for business as well. Free admission and free parking. 5-9 p.m., located just off Gulf Boulevard, between Blind Pass Road and Boca Ciega Drive in Downtown St. Pete Beach, 727-498-8778, coryeave.com.
Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24: Total Wine and More
Wines of Spain take reign at this Selections of Spain wine tasting. Castoano Yecla Solanera and Aspaldi Rioja Reserva will be among the featured wines. Sip the Spanish selections, and then purchase your favorite with the coupon you will receive. Free; 12-6 p.m., 1720 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-350-9601, totalwine.com.
Saturday, March 24: Cypress Run Golf Club
Hop to the Vines, Hops and Berries annual fundraising event, at Cypress Run Golf Club. Taste wines, beers and various types of foods and desserts. Grab a golf club and participate in the putting contest. Participate in the silent auction, games, raffles or Wine-Pull (bring your favorite bottle to exchange for a chance wine selection). Sponsored by Tarpon Springs Rotary Club, and proceeds will go towards their programs. $25; 7-10 p.m., 2669 St. Andrews Blvd., Tarpon Springs, 727-938-3774, tarponrotary.org.
Saturday, March 24: MOSI
The huge annual fundraiser has become a local favorite, earning Tampa Bay Magazine's vote for Best Wine Tasting Event. Sip on exclusive wines, including selections from Hazlitt's Red Cat Cellars and Time for Wine, while enjoying favorite culinary selections from top-notch restaurants such as Melting Pot, Mimi's Cafe and ItaliAsia. Then vote on your favorite items to determine the winner of the "Best Food at Einstein on Food and Wine" contest. Participate in the silent auction and win a prize from participants such as JetBlue, Sunset Vistas and Vigo and Alessi Products. Proceeds go to MOSI's educational programs. Tickets may be purchased online, and are $60 for MOSI members in advance, $70 for non-members in advance and $80 if purchased the week of the event. VIP tickets are available for $125, and includes valet and 6 p.m. entrance to the event. 7-10 p.m., 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-987-6000, mosi.org.
Saturday, March 24: St. Petersburg Coliseum
Due to popular demand, Gluten Intolerance Support Group of Largo organized this Gluten Free For Life expo. This is the must-attend event of 2012 for those suffering from Celiac Disease. Over 100 vendors will be present and armed with gluten-free facts and samples. Free; 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg, 727-892-5202, stpete.org/coliseum.
Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25: Renaissance Festival (MOSI)
Ahoy maties! Hit the high seas at this weekend's segment of Renaissance Festival, High Seas Adventure. Walk the plank, swab the deck, and then check out the royal fencing competition. Show off your favorite tat by participating in the tattoo competition. Stomp on some grapes at the grape stomp. Take advantage of the free wine tasting. Participate in the pub crawl. Admission is $18.95, free parking; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 11315 N. 46th St., Tampa, 800-966-8215, bayarearennaissancefest.com.
Sunday, March 25: Buca di Beppo
It doesn't take balls to participate in the Spay-Ghetti and No Balls Dinner and Silent auction. Choose from four types of three-course spaghetti dinners, including "no balls" options for vegetarians. This event will benefit ACT Spay/Neuter Clinic's strides to prevent pet overpopulation. Tickets are $30 on spayghetti.eventbrite.com, or $35 at the door. 5-8 p.m., 1105 Causeway Blvd., Brandon, 813-681-8462, actampa.org.
Sunday, March 25: Nature’s Food Patch
Make like the Energizer Bunny and go to this Energizing Food class. Peggy Kotsopoulos, RHN will explain how foods with certain vitamins and minerals energize your diet. Learn what types of food boost serotonin, and turn that frown upside down. Free; 3 p.m., 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, 727-443-6703, naturesfoodpatch.com.
Monday, March 26: A la Carte Pavilion
Select your favorite chef, and enter him or her in this Top Chef of the Year event, in which Pelagia Trattoria and Child Abuse Council have teamed up. The chefs will participate in a culinary competition, and the winner will receive an official Top Chef of the Year Tampa Bay trophy. Each chef will create a five-course dinner with wine pairings and table settings.6 p.m., 4050 Dana Shores Drive, Tampa, 813-673-4646 x 224, topcheftampabay.org.
Monday, March 26: Rollin’ Oats Market and Café
Join Chef Daivid Morejon, of Latam at the Centro restaurant in Ybor, for this Traditional Spanish Delicacies class. The featured delicacies will be revealed by the chef. This class is free, but seating is limited, so reservations are recommended via phone. 6 p.m., 2842 Martin Luther King St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-821-6825, rollinoats.com.
Tuesday, March 27: Yard of Ale
Help determine the beer that will be in Blue Moon Brewing Company's fall variety packages. Previous voting contests (via Facebook) have narrowed it down to three finalists: Dark Chocolate Bacon Porter, Blackberry Tart Ale and Caramel Apple Spiced Ale. This nationwide contest, giving Blue Moon fans the chance to choose the beer that will be unveiled on August 31, is coming to Yard of Ale, so do not miss out. 7-9 p.m., 406 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-251-4433, yardofalesoho.com.
Tuesday, March 27: Vintage Wine Cellars
Raise your glass and make a toast to a good cause at Leukemia and Lymphomas Society Wine Tasting Fundraiser. Enjoy eight red and white wines, such as Brut Sparkling 2008 and Tempranillo Crianza 2008, courtesy of Vintage Wine Cellars, along with fresh-cut cheese and bread. Hosted by Hannah Gross, who is campaigning for LLS's Man and Woman of the Year contest. Reservations are encouraged, via phone or [email protected]. $25; 7 p.m., 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-879-2931, vintagewinecellars.net.
