Best Bets: Wine events, a Cocoa Village pub crawl, seafood fry on Merritt Island
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Disney Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic returns in November
The interactive food and beverage seminars that were a highlight of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic return for the first time since 2019 for this year’s event, slated for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11 and 12. During the educational seminars, guests can expand their knowledge of wine, beer, spirits, or pasta-making through hands-on learning experiences led by the resort’s award-winning food and beverage team.In the lineup this year are seminars on pasta making, wine blending, Italian wines, champagne, beer and craft cocktails.
The Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic offers guests unlimited tastings at creatively spaced, outdoor stations featuring culinary and beverage selections from the hotel’s award-winning restaurants amidst a festive backdrop of entertainment on the hotel’s scenic causeway. The event runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12. General admission tickets start at $!65. The seminars will take place prior to the outdoor festival. Beverage seminar tickets are $75 per person. Pasta Making tickets are $95 per guest. All seminars require separate tickets and space is limited. Visit foodandwineclassic.com or call 888-828-8850.
Tuscany wine dinner planned for Cafe Margaux
Café Margaux will host a one-night Tuscany wine dinner of Biondi-Santi wines at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20. Wines featured are priced in the three-figure range, definitely not your average wine store specials.
“These wines are extremely limited in production,” said Raffaele Benassi, director of European business development for Aspect Fine Wine.
Founder of Brunello di Montalcino, Biondi-Santi produces extremely limited legacy wines. Its 1983 Vintage Reserva is listed among the 100 Best Wines of the Century by “Decanter” magazine. These are the wines to try before you die.
Paired with the wines is a six-course menu that includes Tandoori lamb and crimson lentil soup, harissa-grilled shrimp, Szechuan peppercorn-seared duck breast, veal shank estouffade, seared duck foie gras and tiramisu with lady fingers soaked in espresso. Cost is $195 per guest. Visit Margaux.com or call 321-639-8343.
Field Manor Oyster and Fish Fry
Field Manor, the historic homestead on Merritt Island, keeps the home's oyster fry tradition alive with an annual oyster and fish fry, which this time happens from 3 to 7 p.m., Oct. 29, at the home, 750 Field Manor Drive, Merritt Island. For the seventh year, Field Manor is carrying on the tradition of an Oyster and Fish Fry to help celebrate community and raise funds for the ongoing preservation and protection of Field Manor.
“The ongoing preservation of Field Manor, our packing house and the homestead are crucial to help preserve iconic pieces of Florida’s early settler history,” said Gwen Denninghoff, event and fundraising coordinator for Field Manor.
“These buildings and grounds are a beautiful way to showcase what life looked like at various times throughout the last 140 years or so. We currently have the only citrus packing house in Brevard that is available for viewing and are in the process of carrying out restorations financed by our fundraisers.”
The event will feature a seafood bar curated by the Bearded Chef with local oysters provided by Treasure Coast Shellfish. An exclusive citrus beer has been brewed for the occasion by Bugnutty Brewing Company and wine will be poured by Cheeky Street Mobile Bar and donated by Victory Casino Cruises.
The day includes tours, silent auction, complimentary 360-degree video strips courtesy of Luxury Smiles 360 and ice cream available for purchase from Nomad’s Rolled Ice Cream. Tickets are $55 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger, and are for sale on Eventbrite.com. More information can be found at fieldmanor.org, as well as on Facebook on the Oyster and Fish Fry event page.
Halloween poetry workshop
Originally slated for Oct. 1, “Seriously Scary Stanzas,” a free interactive poetry workshop, at has been rescheduled for 1 p.m., Oct. 22, at Florida Tech’s Alumni Center, 2600 Country Club Road, Melbourne. Call 321-604-1294
Cocoa Village pub crawl
Madhatter Promotions is reveling in Halloween with an annual Pub Crawl Oct. 22 from 6 to 11 a.m. The crawl starts at the Cocoa Elks Lodge, 315 Florida Ave., Cocoa, and proceeds to Murdock’s George & Dragon, Village Biergarten and Dog Bone. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the event. Tickets allow for one drink at any of the participating bars. Guests are invited to haunt the Village with costumes that could win them top prize during the costume competition.
Rocky Water Brew Fest
The annual beer-tasting event will be along Highland Ave. in the Eau Gallie Arts District on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission includes unlimited tastings from craft breweries all over Florida. No children, strollers or pets will be allowed. Tickets are $40. Visit rockywaterbrewfest.com.
Native American Flutes
The Indian River Flute Circle will perform music with Native American flutes at the Merritt Island Public Library, 1195 N Courtenay Pkwy., on Monday, Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Their music offers a preview of the annual Native Rhythms Festival, November 11 – 13 at Wickham Park. Visit facebook.com/groups/439890856934567 or brevardfl.gov/PublicLibraries/Branches/MerrittIsland.
At the King Center
For tickets to events at the King Center, 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, call 321-242-2219 or visit kingcenter.com.
Billy Joel ‘The Stranger’: Classic Albums Live gives a concert recreating Billy Joel’s ‘The Stranger’ on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $26.75.
Killer Queen: Singer Patrick Myers is a dead ringer for the legendary Freddie Mercury, both visually and vocally, resulting in a live tribute concert experience on Friday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $59.75.
Live 2 Dance fundraiser
The fundraiser to benefit Genesis House, a shelter for women and children, will take place at Freedom Fitness Gym, 1214 Sarno Road, Melbourne, on Friday, Oct. 21 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The $15 registration includes a dance class, refreshments and a raffle. Donations of shampoo, conditioner and new Halloween costumes for kids will earn extra raffle entries. RSVP by emailing live2dancefl@gmail.com.
Still playing
Cultober: ‘The Rocky Horror Show’: This live staging of the musical that inspired the 1975 classic cult film follows Brad and Janet as they seek shelter at a mysterious old castle on a dark and stormy night. The show is playing at Titusville Playhouse, 301 Julia Street, through Oct. 30. Tickets start at $36. Call 321-268-1125 or visit titusvilleplayhouse.com.
'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde': Melbourne Civic Theatre, 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., presents the play through Nov. 13. This play by Jeffrey Hatcher is an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of depravity, lust, love and horror set on the fog-bound streets of Victorian London. Tickets are $30. Call 321-723-6935 or visit mymct.org.
‘Jekyll & Hyde’: The musical is on stage at the Henegar Center, 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne through Oct. 30. The epic struggle between good and evil comes to life in this musical adaptation of the gothic story, as murder and chaos are pitted against love and virtue. Tickets start at $34. Call 321-723-8698 or visit henegarcenter.com.
'Mr. and Mrs. Fitch': Melbourne Civic Theatre’s play reading series will feature “Mr. & Mrs. Fitch” by Douglas Carter Beane on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. The comedy is about gossip columnists Mr. and Mrs. Fitch, who create celebrity out of thin air. It will be read by real-life married couple Terrence and Peg Girard. The theater is at 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne. Tickets are $15. Call 321-723-6935 or visit mymct.org.
'Scared Silly': Surfside Player’s Fearless Improv Brigade is up for another spooky improv comedy show October 22 when audience members will be "scared silly" as they are treated to an evening of Halloween themed improv comedy. The show starts at 8 p.m. at Surfside Playhouse in Cocoa Beach. Tickets are $15, available online at SurfsidePlayhouse.com or at the door. Call 321-258-2185.
Double dose: Downtown Melbourne theaters offer different versions of a gothic classic
On stage in Titusville: CULTober returns to Titusville Playhouse, with a full month of thrills and chills
Get in on the act
Titusville Playhouse, 301 Julia Street, will hold auditions for the winter season productions, “Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville,” “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” and “Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man” on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 24-25 at 6:30 p.m. For details about the specific casting requirements for each show, visit facebook.com/events/1138747913702251 or titusvilleplayhouse.com.
EmployU celebrates 10th anniversary with EGAD party
EmployU is hosting “A Decade of U,” an evening of food, drinks, and fun Oct. 19 at Pineapples in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne.
Funding received from this event will allow employU to expand services by 20% throughout the state of Florida to benefit 4,100 individuals within the next 12 to 18 months. The evening will include light bites, drinks and a raffle for a variety of wonderful prizes.
For more information on how you can support employU, attend this event or learn about services offered by employU visit employu.org/a-decade-of-u.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Wine events, a Cocoa Village pub crawl, seafood fry on Merritt Island
