From beer to beignets

The temperature’s rising, traffic’s thinning, and activities seem sparse. But if you know where to look, there’s always something to do.

SOMETHING BIG’S BREWING IN VENICE

Invoking the words of Hunter S. Thompson — “Good people drink good beer” (he really did say that) — Scott and Corey Harper, owners of Venice’s 3 Bridges Brewing, announced their first annual Venice Brew Fest, to be held in Centennial Park.

After six years as the resident brewery of Off The Wagon Brewery & Kitchen, the Harpers and team opened their flagship South Venice brewpub at 1765 S. Tamiami Trail in September 2023.

Inspired to do and to give back more, the couple are launching the first annual Venice Brew Fest, an event that they intend to make a tradition.

In their announcement, they said, “We founded Venice Brew Fest to spotlight the hidden gems of Gulf Coast craft brewing.

“We’ve observed how larger festivals tend to overlook the smaller, yet incredibly talented brewers who are the backbone of our region’s brewing scene.

“Determined to change the narrative, Venice Brew Fest aims to provide a platform where the artistry, dedication and love imbued in every barrel by our local brewing family can shine brightly for all to appreciate.”

Each invited brewery — including 3 Bridges (of course), Back Porch, Calusa, Corporate Ladder, Darwin, Fat Point (locations now shuttered, but still brewing), Sea Dog, Sun King and more — was chosen, they said, for its commitment to quality and creativity.

This major Venice Island event will have local food truck and eatery tents including BrewBurger’s and British Open Pub, more than 15 featured taps all day, special tastings from nearly 20 select brewers, and three 90-minute blocks of live music.

A portion of all beer tent proceeds will benefit The Twig, a Venice-based nonprofit that empowers and gives hope to local kids in foster care and their foster parents, through sponsoring two upscale boutiques where they may shop free of charge.

A Brew Fest general admission ticket gives you a custom beer glass and four hours of unlimited tasting.

A VIP ticket gets you in at 11 a.m., with access to preferred parking and a VIP tent where you can hang with local brewers.

Any designated driver or participant under 21, there to enjoy only food and music, may enter free of charge. IDs will be checked; beer drinkers wear wristbands.

Venice Brew Fest, 11 a.m. (VIP ticket admission) or noon (general admission tickets) to 4 p.m., May 18, Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Ave., Venice Island. Tickets available online at www.eventbrite.com/e/venice-brew-fest-tickets-839162466527.

OPA, OLYMPIA!

Mark Twain’s quote about his own demise has been greatly exaggerated. (What he really wrote was: “The report of my death was an exaggeration.”)

But a couple things are for sure. Twain is undeniably dead, and our reports of Olympia Restaurant’s demise have been grossly inaccurate.

Port Charlotte’s iconic 45-year-old diner suffered major damage when Hurricane Ian collapsed the rear half of its roof. But owner/manager Pulin (Paul) Patel says that it will reopen in late May/early June.

“All the major repairs are done: new roof, new floors, new coolers,” he said. “The menu will be the same, and most of my employees are ready to come back.”

Olympia Restaurant ($-$$, O), 941-255-3440, 3245 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, will reopen from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily in late May/early June.

PIONEERS PIZZA PRONTO

It’s been a year since word got out that Pioneers Pizza was opening a double-unit outpost farther north on Tamiami Trail.

Not that far north, really. Just close enough to ensure quality consistent with its seven-year-old original parent at 4560 Tamiami Trail.

The new pizzeria has a condensed menu without entrées, subs or wings, but it lacks no apps, Stromboli, salads or pizza.

There are six different fresh-pressed panini, including a Cuban, and hot new breadsticks loaded with pepperoni, jalapeño or bacon plus mozzarella and a marinara side.

Salads, including Pioneers’ famous giant antipasto, are the ones you already love. All the usual pizza suspects are there, too, with slices available.

Though the menu’s designed for express service, the place also has a 40-seat dining room with Pioneers’ signature pop-art murals and 30 more seats on a shaded courtyard.

On Friday, May 31, look for lunchtime pizza tastings from noon to 3 p.m. to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m.

Wine and beer license is still on the way. Meanwhile, they’re totally cool with BYOB.

Pioneers Express ($$, O), 941-979-5971, 2686 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Daily lunch specials until 3 p.m.

MARY MARGARET’S POPUPS

For years Sandy Thomas had lived upstairs from Mary Margaret’s Tea & Biscuit in Arcadia’s big pink Arcade building.

One day, she and Helen Cooke, the proprietor downstairs, got to talking and discovered they were both British.

And just like that, an idea popped up.

For more than two decades, Thomas and partner Gary Waite’s HammerHeads Catering brought fair and festival food to events across the country and on both Florida coasts.

People kept asking them where their restaurant was, until they realized it could be anywhere and they wouldn’t even have to pay rent.

Two years ago, they hosted a series of popup restaurant nights at Mary Margaret’s. They still regularly try out new items and provide specials to supplement the regular tea house menu.

Their menu is usually New Orleans style, heavy on the shrimp, trinity and andouille sausage. For Mary Margaret’s they’ve made shrimp and grits, Scotch egg, fried green tomato BLT, crab Benedict and desserts like sticky toffee pudding.

Check the menu on Facebook @MaryMargaretsTeaAndBiscuit or @HamHeadscc.

Mary Margaret’s Tea & Biscuit ($-$$, 0), 863-494-0615, 10 S. Polk Avenue, Arcadia, is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, to 3 p.m. Tuesday, to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.