Friday (Mar. 9):
Mexican Fish Fry @ St. Cecilia Catholic Church Choose two entrees including jack salmon, shrimp, chili relleno and bean tostado, and pair it with a couple of sides and a drink any Friday during Lent. $10. 4:30 to 8 p.m.
Stout and Oyster Festival @ Schlafly Tap Room Check out Schlafly's biggest food and beer festival of the year as they fly in 30,000 fresh oysters and shuckers from both coasts. Wash it down with your choice of oatmeal, coffee or nitro Irish stout. Free admission. Friday, Mar. 9 from 5 p.m. to midnight and Saturday, Mar. 10 from 11 a.m. to midnight.
Hot Tea: 13th Biennial Teapot Exhibition @ The Craft Alliance Tea enthusiasts need not wander all the way to Wonderland for a crazy tea party this weekend. Head over to the Craft Alliance for the debut of Hot Tea: 13th Biennial Teapot Exhibition, featuring interesting teapots made with clay, metal, glass and fiber by more than 50 artists. Free. 6 to 8 p.m.
Saturday (Mar. 10):
Caffeine Crawl @ Local gourmet coffee, beverage and more stops Visit six locations including Fitz's Bottling works, Kakao Chocolate and Kayak's to get a guided tour of St. Louis' rich beverage history. $10 per person. 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Coffee Brew Methods @ Whole Foods Market-Galleria Join Kaldi's for a brewing methods class to learn about a variety of coffee brewing methods including Chemex, French press and AeroPress. Sample the products from each to evaluate how the processes effect the flavor, body and acidity of each brew. The class costs $10, and reservations can be made via the Whole Foods website. 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Venus Envy @ Mad Art Gallery Venus Envy's main event debuts featuring a spotlight on local chefs Clara Moore of Local Harvest Cafe and Catering, Michelle Blodget of Maude's Market, Sally Sciaroni of Onesto Pizza and Trattoria, Reine Bayoc of Sweet Art and Gina Gerber of Vegadeli. Get a taste of each chef's individual talents and enjoy plenty of art along with live music performances from several female-fronted projects. The suggested donation at the door is $5. 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Maple Syrup Days Excursion @ Lincoln Memorial Gardens The American Association of Railroaders, Inc. presents a trip down to the Maple Grove in Collinsville, IL for a lesson in how to "tap for sap" and create syrup. A surprise stop on the way in Springfield yields a full course noon buffet. $69 for adults and $59 for children 11 and under for fare and food. Call 314-752-3148 for reservations. The train leaves 4666 Lansdowne at 8:30 a.m. and returns to St. Louis at 4:45 p.m.
Sunday (Mar. 11):
Clean Eating Living Well Workshop @ The Maya Cafe This Women's History Month event focuses on changing eating habits by exploring alternative sugars and flours. Free. 1-2 p.m.
Sunday Afternoon Tea @ The Map Room Enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea presented by Queen's Cuisine complete with two pots of freshly brewed loose leaf tea accompanied by dainty finger sandwiches and fresh baked goods. Reservations can be made online at the Queen's Cuisine website. $25 per person. 1 to 3 p.m.
Oysters Five Ways Festival @ Vin De Set Vin De Set partners with Schlafly to prolong the seafood weekend even longer. Enjoy raw oysters, oyster shooters, buttermilk fried oysters, oysters rockefeller and grilled oysters until they run out.
