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Hey St. Petersburg, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Railroad tracks become a trail, AI helps reunite lost pets, and paddle with manatees + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around St. Petersburg protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Negotiations slash purchase price: St. Petersburg will turn unused railroad tracks into a walking and biking trail after City Council approval. The route will run from 5th Ave N to 1st Ave S — get all the details.

Tech transforms pet recovery: Pinellas County Animal Services is using Petco Love Lost AI to match lost-and-found photos, already boosting dog reunions and helping officers return pets to families before they reach shelters — learn how the system works.

Programs outpace available space: Gulfport City Council meets today to consider expanding the Gulfport Senior Center, unveiling a preliminary concept amid demand. The city committed to cover half the cost, total price still unknown — see what’s planned here.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Explore murals on a women-only run
• Paddle Coffee Pot Bayou with manatees
• Become a Guardian ad Litem volunteer
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🏆 Gold and silver are heating up

Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold

Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.

While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.

If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.

It’s free and worth reading before the next move.

🫶 We got your back

Twirl-worthy pasta night: When you want a real upgrade from weeknight noodles, IL Ritorno serves modern Italian plates and pastas with creative, dialed-in flavors that feel effortlessly special. Great for a midweek date or for treating yourself because the dishwasher finally ran.

Closet time travel: From sequined jumpsuits to broken-in band tees and boots with stories, ARTpool Gallery fuels St. Pete closets that skew weirder (and way more fun). Expect racks to rummage, records to flip, and the kind of one-off finds your group chat won’t stop asking about.

Recover like a pro: Vitality Wellness Center brings whole-body cryotherapy to St. Pete with a quick, invigorating 2 to 3 minute chill that helps ease soreness and boost energy. It’s a smart add-on after a workout or a long desk day. Step in cold, walk out recharged.

Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn more about my favorite online options here.

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎻 Winter Baroque Concert @ St Thomas Episcopal Church | Wednesday (3/4) at 7:00 PM – Chorus Angelorum and the Iona Consort are filling St. Thomas’ with Winter Baroque fireworks, from Vivaldi and Scarlatti to Bach, Purcell, and Handel. Expect grand drama and church acoustics that make you sit up straighter. It’s free, so bring your good ears, and a friend.

♻ Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event @ St. Petersburg College – Gibbs Campus | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – St. Pete is doing a garage detox at St. Petersburg College, Gibbs Campus, collecting the household hazards you know shouldn’t go in the trash. Bring oil, antifreeze, gas, paint, pool and lawn chemicals, mercury gadgets, signal flares, and those rechargeable batteries from 2009.

🎉 St. Pete Community Festival 2026 @ Azalea Park | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to spend the day at Azalea Park hitting food trucks, browsing local makers, and letting kids chase bubbles, this is it. Free, family and leashed-dog friendly, with Shakedown Street, music, birds of prey, plus a helicopter.

🤝 Embracing Our Differences Grand Opening Celebration @ Poynter Park | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Free and outdoors at Poynter Park, with art you can see without squinting. Expect 50 billboard-sized works with inspiring quotes, music from Shelby Sol, hands-on activities from local orgs, and food trucks Jerk n Tings, My Hungry Vegan, and Boba by the Bay.

🎎 Japanese Cultural Heritage Night @ Roser Park | Saturday (3/7) at 6:30 PM – Roser Park is serving thunderous Taiko from Peaceful Forest, a breezy lawn hang, and an outdoor screening of Spirited Away. It’s free, neighbors, so bring a blanket, snacks, and your camp chair, then tip the karma jar with a donation, or refreshments for the drummers.

🛍 March St. Pete Flea @ Mirror Lake Park | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – Take a lazy lap around Mirror Lake for St. Pete’s spring flea, where good stuff lives. Local makers, vintage finds, mid-century scores, plants, food, and music, all by City Hall and Courthouse. Free, family friendly, bring a tote, and leave malls to tourists.

🌙 8th Annual Iftar Dinner @ The Coliseum | Tuesday (3/10) at 6:00 PM – Break the fast, and a little small-talk barrier, at a free community Iftar at the St. Pete Coliseum, all faiths welcome. TBAMA and the City are serving food, fellowship, and that rare St. Pete magic where strangers become neighbors. Come early, bring curiosity, leave full.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Industry-leading home warranty protection ($150 off right now)
• 62+? See how much tax-free cash your home could unlock → free calculator
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 St. Petersburg report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 83°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 4%

Sunny. High near 83, with temperatures falling to around 79 in the afternoon. East northeast wind around 9 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East northeast wind 7 to 12 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 84°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 25%

A chance of rain showers after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 84. East northeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of rain showers before 7pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 66. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

Within guard-gated Bayway Isles II, this previously celebrity-owned Mediterranean estate crowns one acre, including part of a lake, set above base flood level. Approximately 6,400 square feet showcase 12-foot ceilings, marble floors, a 160-bottle wine room, and a stadium-seat theater. The pool meets a chef-level outdoor kitchen with commercial grill and Komodo Joe, set against sunset water views.

Take a peek inside →