South Florida Food and Drink Events This Week: SunFest, Cigar City's Brewer, and Poker Night

Around and around we go; today is the start to yet another lovely workweek. Hopefully, you have a bit of a spring in your step from some indulgent weekend activities. If not, don't fret; there are still plenty of events to keep you busy through your working days.

Whether you want to participate in poker night at Swampgrass Willys, hope to meet Cigar City brewer Wayne Wambles, or want  to throw back some SunFest Cruisers at SunFest 2015, there's plenty of food and drink events taking place in Broward and Palm Beach counties this week.

Monday

Poker Night at Swampgrass Willys
Every Monday night Swampgrass Willys in Palm Beach Gardens hosts a free Texas Hold Em' Tournament from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Winners get a their bar tab comped, and a chance to win one of several cash prizes including a $2,000 Bahamas Poker Package Give-Away (once a month) or entry to the $8,000 quarterly main event tournament.

Tuesday 

SunFest Launch Party at Rick & Vic's Lobsta Bar
Celebrate SunFest early on Tuesday, April 28, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Rick & Vic's Lobsta Bar in downtown West Palm Beach. The seafood bar inside Camelot nightclub will be gearing up for the annual music festival with The Ethan Parker Band. If you haven't had a chance to see them live, now is the time — before they leave for their Project Primavera summer tour. Rick & Vic's is located at 114 S Narcissus Ave., West Palm Beach.

May The Force Be With You Art Show at Howley's
This Tuesday, Howley's restaurant in West Palm Beach will be hosting a special Star Wars-themed art exhibit featuring local artists. The restaurant is accepting and showing any Sci-Fi themed art for the show, but if it's Star Wars related, even better. Those still interested in participating should submit art clips to [email protected]. The show will begin at 8 p.m.

Wednesday

Drink SunFest Cruisers at SunFest 2015
This week is all about SunFest, and you know what that means: good music, tons of fair food vendors, and — our personal favorite — plenty of rum-punched drinks like the SunFest Cruiser. You can also find Shake Shack's ShakeBurgers; tropical pineapple chicken and rice served in a pineapple; Auntie Anne's Pretzels; Tropical Oasis Express serving lo mein, veggie wraps, and jerk chicken; an eggplant sandwich from Genoa Italian; a vegetarian-friendly avocado salad from Heydi's Latin Grill; and tacos in a bag or cheese-topped Mexi-fries from Swensonfaz & Co. SunFest 2015 will take place April 29 to May 3 on the waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach. Founded in 1982, it stands as South Florida’s largest waterfront music and art festival, attracting more than 175,000 visitors. Tickets are $40 per day; $60 for a five-day pass; and $80 for all seven days. Youth tickets (ages 6 to 12) cost $12 per day; $20 for a five-day pass; and $30 for all seven days. Tickets are available at SunFest.com and Palm Beach County Publix stores. Gates will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. April 29 through 30, 5 to 11 p.m. May 1, noon to 11 p.m. May 2, and noon to 9 p.m. May 3.

Meet Cigar City Brewer Wayne Wambles at Craft Beer Cartel
If you're a fan of Cigar City Brewing, meet the man behind the beer — brewer Wayne Wambles — during an exclusive meet-and-greet at Fort Lauderdale's Craft Beer Cartel. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 29, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The craft beer bar and brewing supply store will also be sampling Cigar City's Blueberry Muffin and Peach White Oak IPA.

WayneStock 2015 at Sybarite Pig
The Cigar City Brewing fun continues in Palm Beach County at Sybarite Pig in Boca Raton, where Cigar City brewer Wayne Wambles will be stopping from 6 to 9 p.m. to meet with fans further north. To celebrate, the restaurant will be tapping several Cigar City brews, including the White Oak Jai Alai IPA, Big Sound Scotch ale, Florida Man double IPA, The Milkmaid white milk stout, Table Saison Farm House ale, Lemongrass Ginger IPA, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie stout, and a special surprise tapping.

Happy Hour Networking at Mastino Italian Soul Food
On Wednesday, April 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. join Mastino Italian Soul Food in Delray Beach for a special networking meet-and-greet and happy hour event. The Mastino Brand was born out of passion and commitment to the traditions of old-world artisans who handcrafted wood fire pizza , Italian street food, artisanal small-batch beer, and handcrafted cocktails. The restaurant, located in the Pineapple Grove district of downtown Delray Beach inside the Solita space, Mastino Wood Fired Italian Kitchen & Bar features a menu of Italian comfort food. The evening event features a complimentary cocktail or glass of wine and/or beer as well as samplings from a chef's plate featuring Mastino favorites. Tickets are $10 per person, or $15 at the door. To RSVP in advance, visit mastinonetwork.eventbrite.com, or call 561-637-4490.

Thursday

Art After Dark at Norton Museum
Thursday night is a primer for the weekend, and there's no better way to prepare for the end of the workweek than Art After Dark, one of Norton Museum's most popular programs. Where "culture and entertainment meet," Art After Dark is a diverse collection of art, including film, dance, music, DIY projects, wine tastings, lectures, and fine dining. While you're there, check out the rest of the museum's collection of special exhibitions to holidays as well as to historical and cultural landmark dates, including contemporary collections from China, America, and Europe. Art After Dark runs from 5 to 9 p.m. every Thursday. Admission is half-price on Thursdays, normally $12 for adults, $5 for students, and free for members and children under 12 every day. Food and beverages are served from the museum's café, Fratelli Lyon, which offers an à la carte dinner menu from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Norton Museum is located at 1451 S. Olive Ave. in West Palm Beach. Call 561-832-5196, or visit norton.org.

Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.