Wine and waffles in Titusville, barbecue at EFSC in Melbourne and gin at Margaux

Wine & Waffles

Three neighboring downtown Titusville shops are joining forces for “Wine & Waffles” from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 23. Begin with experiencing wildlife art at Downtown Gallery, 335 S. Washington Ave., where you will find special birding exhibits and photography … and wine.

Check out fashion trends — and wine — at Hotpoint Boutique, 326 S. Washington Ave., before strolling to MacSweets Bakery, 330 S. Washington Ave. for a stop at the decadent waffle bar. 

Cost for the Waffle Bar is $7.99 or two guests for $15.

Blues & Brews & Family Fest

Barbecue fans, pencil in Eastern Florida State College Foundation’s Backyard BBQ Cook-Off from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 24, at the school’s Melbourne Campus, 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne.

Backyard barbecue teams will be competing for bragging rights, trophies and cash prizes, including the $1,000 grand prize.

Tickets are $10 for the general public and $7 for college alumni with identification. Children younger than 5 are admitted free. An advance ticket package for a family of four is $30.

Admission includes samplings from all the barbecue teams, music with Penny Creek Band, Kids’ Zone and Red, White & Wheels car show. Food trucks will also be available, as will brews from Intracoastal Brewing Company.

For more information, call 321-433-7055 or visit efscfoundation.org/bbq.

Meg's is 18!

Meg O’Malley’s, 812 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne, celebrates its 18th anniversary Saturday, Feb. 24, and you’re on the guest list.

The party goes on all day, with bagpipers performing from 6 to 9 p.m. Loyalty members can enjoy complimentary Guinness at the tent in the back parking lot from 3 to 6 p.m.

Music by Cahir O’Doherty begins at 7 p.m.

See more at megomalleys.com.

Grin about gin

As part of its “Spirits Series,” Café Margaux will host a gin tasting of drinks and crafted cocktails from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Cocoa Village restaruant’s bar, 220 N. Brevard Ave. Among featured libations are the Left Bank with Beach Plum gin liqueur, the Manhattan Avenue Transfer with American Dry Gin and The Martinez with Old Tom gin. 

Café Margaux’s spirits events offer an opportunity to enjoy unique brands and cocktails. Guests can opt to sample flights or choose specific drinks.

For more information, call 321-639-8343.

From Italy to Indialantic

Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 106 N. Riverside Drive, Indialantic, is brimming with cultural activities.

For example, two classically trained musicians from Trieste in Italy will perform a free concert on piano and recorder at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 22. 

“Music Becomes Elixir,” sponsored by the Space Coast Symphony, features recorder virtuoso Stefano Casaccia. Casaccia will be joined by Italian pianist Roberta Bortolin in a program of works by Offenbach, Bard, Lehar, Rossini, Verdi and more.

"Both Stefano and Roberta have tremendous international performance experience and a vast repertoire," said Symphony conductor and artistic director Aaron Collins in a release.

For more information, call 855-252-7276 or visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org.

Youngblood at heart

Jesse Colin Young, founding member of 1960s folk-rock band The Youngbloods, visits Florida Tech’s Gleason Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 24, for a concert sponsored by WFIT 89.5 FM and Smile Design & Wellness Center.

For five decades, Young has been singing songs about peace, relationships and the environment. His musical style is unique fusion of jazz, blues, folk and rock with an emphasis on his extraordinary voice that makes his signature sound.

Accompanying Young are Virginia Garcia Alves and Sally Stemper on backup vocals, Donnie Hogue on drums, Aleif Hamdan on electric guitar, Jack Sheehan on saxophone, Tristan Young on bass and JennHwan Wong on keyboard/piano.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Visit wfit.org for more details.

Cowboy up!

Harmony Farms’ Buckaroo Ball returns in a new format at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Wadsworth Pavilion of Timbers West in Rockledge. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has stepped in to co-sponsor the party, a good old-fashioned hoedown and barbecue.

The event includes buffet dinner, cash bar, games, dancing, a “Wild West Race” and a meet-and-greet with the sheriff’s Mounted Posse.

Buckaroo Ball benefits Harmony Farms’ equine assisted therapy program for riders with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism and seizure disorders. The nonprofit experienced serious — and expensive — flooding issues for two months after Hurricane Irma.

Tickets to Buckaroo Ball are $35 per guest. Sponsorships, ranging from $100 to $5,000, are also available. Call 321-631-9433 or 321-704-3853. For more information, visit harmonyfarmsinc.com. 

Good gospel sounds

The Jim Brady Trio, interpreters of Southern Gospel music, will perform at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Great Outdoors Community Church, 144 Plantation Drive, Titusville. Brady has enjoyed both Dove and Grammy nominations.

The public is invited to the free concert, as well as to supper at 6 p.m., Reservations are required for support.

Call 321-385-9731 or visit TGOchurch.org for more information. 

Rising Star

Acknowledged as a rising star on the pipe organ, Philadelphia's Monica Czausz will perform on Advent Lutheran Church’s 2,196-pipe organ at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 25.

Considered among the top 20 organists under 30, Czausz has earned first prize at numerous U.S. organ competitions. Her YouTube performance video of J.S. Bach's “Prelude and Fugue in D Major” has garnered more than 63,000 views.

The church is at 7550 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne. 

The young organist will perform numerous classical organ pieces during the 75-minute free Suntree concert.

For more information, call 321-426-9378 or visit AdventBrevard.org.

It’s chili out there

Titusville Sunrise Rotary, members of Rotary International, the SPCA of Brevard and Sculptor Charter School are partnering for Rotary’s 14th annual Chili Cook-Off and Sculptor Charter’s Family FIT Fest and A. Max Brewer Bridge 5K on Feb. 24 at Sand Point Park.

More than 25 local chefs will prepare their favorite chili recipes for the cook-off, hosted by Titusville Sunrise Rotary and the SPCA of Brevard. Tastings begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.  Advance tickets are available at the SPCA of Brevard, River Lanes and from any Titusville Sunrise Rotarian.

Visit spcabrevard.com.
 
The Family FIT Fest begins at 4:30 p.m., followed by the 5K race at 6 p.m. Race entry includes access to the Cook-Off among the goodies. Register at runsignup.com/Race/FL/Titusville/AMaxBrewerBridge5K.
 
See sculptorcharter.org for additional details.

Email toastofthecoastfloridatoday@gmail.com.