Daily Loaf

Tuesday, July 28: Put A Cork In It
Toasty Tuesday. Relax at this tasting of 10-15 different wines and appetizers while chatting with industry experts and dancing to live music. $15. 7-9 p.m., 28347 Paseo Dr., Tampa (407-654-2188)

Tuesday, July 28: Wings Gone Wild
Specialty Beer Tasting. Sample craft beers from the Cigar City Brewery, Dunedin Brewery and Yuengling. Among the tempting selections are Red Head Red Ale, Mad Piper’s IPA, Maduro, Jai Alai IPA and more. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. 6 p.m., 3114 W. Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa (813-944-9792)

Tuesday, July 28: Datz Deli
Beer Club: Red, White and Brew. Seems like it’s been summer all year long, but we Floridians know that the dog days of summer are right around the corner. Be prepared by finding the perfect temperature-dousing brew at this beer class and tasting. Free. 6 p.m., 2616 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa (813-831-7000)

Wednesday, July 29: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits
Potluck Wednesday. Beat the mid-week dinner blahs by stopping by for gourmet take-away — and enjoy a complimentary mini-wine tasting while you wait. This week’s one-stop wonder is eggplant parmesan, with farm eggplant, rustic tomato sauce and white truffle ricotta cheese. $19.95. 5-8 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-9463)

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Would you hire this man?

“I need a huge favor tonight,” scrolled across my cracked cell phone screen.

It wasn’t unusual for Joran, Creative Loafing Marketing Director, to ask for strange favors. Just last week he asked Emma if she would pose nearly nude at a wine tasting while a body artist painted grapes over her pasties. What worried me was the fact that he didn’t include what the favor was on this exploratory text. Considering that we were hosting Beer Club that night at Skipper’s Smokehouse, I was optimistic that the favor involved beer sampling or helping the Bud Girls get dressed for the event. Such hopes died twelve minutes later when the next text came.

“Can u bring a cake and a speedo to beer club tonight?”

The cake had to be for Joran’s wife, Jennifer, whose birthday it was, but the Speedo? I was lounging in my St. Pete hangout, Kahwa Coffee, at the time and felt the need to confirm with the barista Catherine who was used to dealing with absurd requests from male customers like, “We should get some coffee sometime.” For her the text wasn’t cryptic.

“He wants you to bring his wife a cake while wearing your fancy Speedo and doing your little booty-shaking routine.”

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