I was invited to participate in Florence’s Restaurant Week 2015. Wonderful local food (for free), great people and the chance to spend the weekend in one of my favorite cities, yes please!Florence is near and dear to my heart as it home of my alma mater, UNA. I both studied and taught journalism and photography at the university. I have many wonderful memories of the city, which has great restaurants, fun festivals and supports an impressive music and arts community.This year 14 restaurants are participating the Florence Main Street sponsored charity event. Each restaurant will offer specials for participants. As part of the event, patrons that eat at one of the restaurants will have the opportunity to vote for one of their five favorite charity. At the end of restaurant week the charity that has received the most votes will receive $5000, generously donated from McDaniel Window & Door.On Wednesday I attended the kickoff for restaurant week at Singin’ River Brewery and got to sample food from all of the restaurants. Everything was delicious and it made me super exciting about this weekend. I also got to meet my fellow bloggers: Eve and Roger from Friday Date Night and my blogger BBF Christi Britten Williams (we were photojournalism friends at UNA together) from Dirt Plate. Make sure you check out their posts this week as well.

Here are the participating restaurants at the event. Make sure you check my blog next week lots of photos from the 5 restaurants I’m covering this weekend. I’m seriously regretting making an appointment with a personal trainer on Monday. :(Singin’ River Brewing Company City Hardware and Ricatoni’s Italian Grill Rivertown Coffee Co.