🍺 Cigar City Brewing

• 3924 W. Spruce St., Tampa
• This brewery’s got a rep for its hoppy, malty, and fruity brews. Its Jai Alai IPA is a straight-up Sunshine State icon, and you can’t leave without pairing it with their roasted mojo pork Cubano. Pro tip: For an extra $8 and a call ahead, you can get a behind the curtains tour of the beer-making magic.

🍺 Green Bench Brewing Co.

Photo by TBAYtoday

• 1133 Baum Ave. N., St. Petersburg
• This St. Petersburg brewery has a spacious and dog-friendly beer garden, making it the perfect spot to sip on its award-winning beers, like the Sunshine City IPA or Skyway Hazy Double IPA. Pro tip: If you’re feeling peckish, one of our favorite hangouts, Red Mesa Mercado is next door — get the Cali burrito.

🍺 Hidden Springs Ale Works

• 1631 N. Franklin St., Tampa
• This Tampa Heights staple’s IPAs, stouts, and sours all pack a punch. You can’t go wrong with the Riot Juice — made of blackberry, lime, and a hint of vanilla.

• Largest Networking Event in Tampa Bay | Friday, Feb. 17 | 9:15 a.m.-1 p.m. | Armature Works, 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa | $47-$547 | Speak with other local professionals and enjoy a provided lunch.
• ReadOUT: A Festival of LGBTQ+ Literature | Friday, Feb. 17-Sunday, Feb. 19 | Times vary | Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S., Gulfport | Free | This year’s theme is “Literary Queeries.”
• MANIA: The ABBA Tribute | Friday, Feb. 17 | 8 p.m. | Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. S., St. Petersburg | $24-$53 | Enjoy two hours of the legendary band’s hits.

• Tampa Bay Collard Greens Festival | Saturday, Feb. 18 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, 2240 Ninth Ave. S, St. Petersburg | Free | Celebrate collard greens with a cook-off and sit in on agriculture workshops, and nutrition seminars.
• Rides by the River | Saturday, Feb. 18 | 8-11 a.m. | Armature Works, 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa | Free | Get a picture with your dream car, then snag a treat from Craving Donuts.
• Localtopia | Saturday, Feb. 18 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg | Free | Celebrate all things local at over 300 different vendors and booths.
• Awakening Saturday Market & Psychic Fair | Saturday, Feb. 18 | 12-7 p.m. | Sierra Club Office, 1990 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | Free | Meet practitioners and local businesses offering holistic living services and goods.

• The Glass Menagerie | Sunday, Feb. 19-Monday, Feb. 20 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Rd., Tampa | $18-$23 | Relive the memories of an aspiring poet as he works in a shoe warehouse to support his mother and sister.
• St. Petersburg Science Festival | Saturday, Feb. 18 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus, 140 Seventh Ave. S, St. Petersburg | Free | Check out the latest technology, engineering, art, and math-related exhibits and performances.
• Tampa Bay Strikers vs. Columbus Rapids | Sunday, Feb. 19 | 2 p.m. | Yuengling Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa | $15-$50 | Cheer on TBAY’s indoor soccer team as they face off against Ohio.

• The Florida State Fair Senior and Kids Day | Monday, Feb. 20 | 11 a.m.-9 p.m. | Florida State Fair, 4800 US Hwy. 301 N., Tampa | Discounted Rates | Adults 55 and up can get a ticket for $15, and kids under 18 get in for free with a paid adult admission.
• Movie on the Lawn | Monday, Feb. 20 | 7-9 p.m. | Armature Works, 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa | Free | Watch Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes slam dunk in “Space Jam.”

• 79° | Partly cloudy | 20% chance of rain

• Rise: 7:07 a.m.
• Set: 6:23 p.m.

• High: 4:17 p.m.
• Low: 7:09 a.m.

• High: 11:20 a.m. + 8:58 p.m.
• Low: 3:50 a.m. + 2:58 p.m.

• Soon, there’ll be a King State on both sides of the bay. The all-day beans + brews cafe will live inside the COhatch coworking space in the historic Harlan Hotel (15 8th St. N.). The menu will feature a St. Pete-specific house beer. The entire building opens in late spring. ☕️ (St. Pete Rising)

• Tacos + tequila, what more could you need? Prima Cantina, a new St. Pete Beach restaurant, will transport you straight to Baja (no plane ride necessary). The Mexican eatery will open in the old Dockside Bar and Grill at 4945 Gulf Blvd. (I Love the Burg)
• Tommy’s Hideaway Wood Fired Pizza & Pub (3121 Beach Blvd. S.) is officially open in Gulfport at the former Dog Pier Hot Dog Shop. The menu includes a mouth-watering zeppole (fried dough stuffed with Nutella) and a build-your-own pizza option for kids. Plus dogs are welcome. 🍕 (I Love the Burg)

• Forgot your wallet? No worries, you can now tap to pay on buses in Hillsborough and Pinellas with Google Pay, Apple Pay, and the existing Flamingo Fares smartcard app. It’s the first contactless transit pay system in the state, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Local officials hope it speeds up travel and lessens the hassle of commuting. 🚌 (Tampa Bay Times)

• Raymond James Financial made it onto Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Large Employers” at No. 28. Forbes ranked 500 companies based on employee recommendations. Check out the other top employers in the US. (Forbes)

• Tampa leaders just approved a $3 million budget to make parks more accessible for children with disabilities. Seven parks could undergo renovations, including Al Barnes Park, Cuscaden Park, Rey Park, Jackson Heights Park, and Cyrus Greene Park. 🛝 (Fox 13 Tampa Bay)

• $7 million. That’s how much money the owners of Tampa’s Oxford Exchange (420 W. Kennedy Blvd.) just bought the next-door property for. Right now, there are no immediate plans for the property. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

• Let’s play ball. To celebrate their 25th anniversary as a franchise, the Rays are sporting retro Devil Rays uniforms 14 times this season + a patch on their hats and jerseys for all games, according to a release. New commemorative merch will be available for purchase too.
• Super Bowl weekend may be over, but NBA All-Star Weekend kicks off today, Feb. 17. See the lineup of events — like this evening’s All-Star Celebrity Game and Sunday’s 72nd NBA All-Star Game — and get your hands on the limited edition All-Star merch before it sells out. 🏀 *

• It’s nearly Fat Tuesday, folks. In the spirit of Mardi Gras, you can win a $20 gift card if you find a golden baby figurine in your serving of ice cream at any of the Chill Bros ice creameries. All you have to do is snap a picture + tag the shop on IG. P.S.: The babies symbolize good luck. 🍦

• Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*

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