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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Florida Museum of Black History bill advances, Treasury on the Plaza hotel plan, and St. Patrick’s Day parade + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around St. Augustine 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

Cultural institution gains momentum: Senators approved a bill to advance the Florida Museum of Black History in St. Augustine, to create a board to guide construction and operations while a House companion awaits action — see what’s in the bill.

A landmark’s next chapter: Downtown St. Augustine’s tallest building, the Treasury on the Plaza, moved closer to a hotel after first approval. Rezoning needs a second reading. Plans include upgrades and a 155-space garage — get all the project details.

Part of a broader effort: $1.9 million in upgrades are coming to DeLeon Shores Park in Ponte Vedra Beach, including a skate park overhaul, three lighted pickleball courts, and a new walking path — see what’s planned for the park.

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.

Highlights this week:

• Gently detox and restore with Medical Qigong
• Flow through yoga in Lightner’s garden
• Learn butterfly gardening and shop native plants

🫶 We got your back

Sandwich mood booster: Drake’s Deli & Bistro fixes a week in one bite… think Italian Stallion subs, datil cheesesteaks, and fresh-made soups, plus Drake’s Cakes for dessert. Easy dine-in or grab-and-go when you want a no-nonsense lunch that actually hits.

Beach day cheat code: When you need a quick reset, Anastasia State Park offers four miles of sand, breezy dunes, calm paddling on Salt Run, and shady trails when the sun says “nope.” It’s a pack-a-snack, unplug-for-a-bit kind of escape that reminds you why you live here.

Small humans, big fun: When you need a birthday win or a midweek please-stop-spinning distraction, ToyTopia delivers open-ended toys and a truly play-friendly vibe. Their savvy play experts help you find the good stuff, so little whirlwinds turn into happy builders and storytellers.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 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.

🕺 Hustle Dance Lesson Series @ Arnold’s | Tuesday (3/10) at 6:30 PM – Channel your inner disco kid and hit Arnold’s Lounge for a 4-week Hustle series with Janine, all levels welcome, no partner required. Ten bucks gets you the lesson, then the dance party is free, fun, and pleasantly disguised cardio. Your knees will forgive you tomorrow.

🤝 Small Business Owners Meetup @ Our Island Truck | Wednesday (3/11) at 3:00 PM – Nothing beats coffee with people who understand payroll headaches. Join fellow local business owners at Our Island Truck on Anastasia Blvd for a casual morning of caffeine, shop talk, and swapping survival tips. It is free, friendly, and actually useful networking, no name-tag Olympics.

🤝 Dining with Dignity Service Opportunity @ Dining with Dignity | Thursday (3/12) at 5:30 PM – Skip the small talk and help serve dinner at Dining with Dignity. We’re teaming up with Feeding Your Faith to feed our St. Augustine neighbors, meeting at 5:30 and plating up at 6 sharp, so bring your kindness, sensible shoes, and on-time energy.

🎶 Angel Chantel and more @ Prohibition Kitchen | Thursday (3/12) at 6:00 PM – This set from Angel Chantel & Underbrush is your excuse to remember you still own dancing shoes. Live music every night, no cover, and enough vibe to justify a babysitter, a late dinner, and a ride home. If you are curious who is up next, see pkstaug.com/music-calendar.

📚 Silent Book Club Meeting @ Southern Grounds St Augustine | Thursday (3/12) at 7:00 PM – Craving quiet company? Join Silent Book Club at Southern Grounds with Maureen, the neighborhood spot with curated coffee, wine, and bites. Free, BYOBook, one blissful hour of shared silence, then mingle if you want, or slip out without a performance review.

🍀 St. Patrick’s Day Parade @ Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – If your St. Paddy’s plan involves green beer, upgrade it at Francis Field with Irish, Scottish, and Canadian bands playing trad and Celtic rock. Two days of fiddles, pipes, and people-watching, then stroll through Historic Downtown for a proper pint, no novelty hats required.

🎤 Hannah Stokes and more @ Spinster Abbott’s | Saturday (3/14) at 7:00 PM – Whether you still spin Joni on vinyl or just want grown-up grooves, Spinster Abbots hosts Hannah Stokes, Helena Holleran, and local Lauren Woodall. No cover, just sultry vocals, a dreamy seven-piece, and songs that make small talk optional. Leave the chores for Sunday.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 St. Augustine report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 81°F – Low: 64°F – Precip: 8%

Sunny. High near 81, with temperatures falling to around 77 in the afternoon. South wind 2 to 9 mph. Later: Mostly clear. Low around 64, with temperatures rising to around 66 overnight. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 81°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 2%

Mostly sunny. High near 81, with temperatures falling to around 78 in the afternoon. South wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy. Low around 65, with temperatures rising to around 66 overnight. South wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Florida but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

Spanish-inspired concrete block in Pelican Reef, a gated waterfront community on Anastasia Island, this upscale residence includes a buildable lot for about .6 acres of privacy. Nearly 3,400 square feet offers 4 beds, 4 baths, an office, and a 3-car garage. Soaring ceilings lead to a screened pool, summer kitchen, and fire pit, with Amphitheatre and markets across the way.

Take a peek inside →