Good morning, St. Augustine! In today’s edition: Ford’s Garage expansion, Bellatrino Pizzeria opening, Nights of Lights, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

New site size and cost: Ford’s Garage has been approved for a new Beachwalk location, the brand’s second in St. Johns County. The auto-themed restaurant touts vintage vibes alongside casual American fare — get all the details.

Menu preview and opening plans: Dallas-born Bellatrino Pizzeria plans to open its first Florida outpost in downtown St. Augustine at 59 West Ave, targeting a tentative mid-January debut and Neapolitan pies and sandwiches — get opening details and menu.

Local favorite enters new era: St. Augustine’s Blackfly will relocate to 410 Anastasia Blvd, with a target opening in early March 2026. Expect a much larger bar while the coastal, Florida-sourced seafood menu stays familiar — read the full relocation update.

Nights of Lights @ Historic St. Augustine | Sunday (1/11) at 6:00 AM – Nothing beats the nation’s oldest city when it lights up for Nights of Lights, all twinkle, nostalgia, and cobblestones. Pro tip for locals: let the new app wrangle shuttles, parking, bathrooms, and events, then you just wander, sip, and smugly avoid the chaos — see the event listing.

Charcuterie Board Resin Class @ Coconut Barrel | Saturday (1/10) at 11:00 AM – If you’ve been meaning to retire that college-era cutting board, here’s your upgrade. In this hands-on resin class, you’ll learn techniques and finish your own charcuterie board. $65 includes all supplies, and bragging rights. Only six spots, so grab one before your neighbor does — see the event listing.

Spotlighting indie and foreign voices: The 16th annual St. Augustine Film Festival starts today and runs through Jan. 11 with more than 40 films from 25 countries and guests including Morena Baccarin and Ben McKenzie — get all the festival details.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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🚤 Eco Tour Boat Trip @ St. Augustine Municipal Marina | Monday (1/12) at 8:00 AM – Cool mornings and low tide mean front-row seats to winter birds, minus muddy boots. Trade trolley noise for a 12-passenger eco-boat with Captain Zach and photographer Linda Burek, get close without crowding, and snag photo tips. Dress in layers, bring binoculars, time well spent.

🐊 Reptiles of Florida @ St. Johns County Public Library Main Branch | Tuesday (1/13) at 2:00 PM – Take a break from beach traffic and get acquainted with the neighbors that sunbathe in your driveway. SJC Parks and Rec breaks down Florida’s reptiles, from gators to geckos, what they do, and why we actually need them. Kid friendly, grandparent approved.

🎭 Level 1 Improv: Improv Basics for Grown-Ups @ 3rd Space Improv | Tuesday (1/13) at 6:30 PM – Ready to be brave in front of people without a PowerPoint? This six-week Level 1 improv class for grown-ups at Third Space Improv gets you out of your head, builds confidence, and turns strangers into scene partners, with supportive folks, big laughs, and no script.

🎤 Jonatha Brooke @ Café Eleven Restaurant & Catering | Tuesday (1/13) at 8:00 PM – If you like your 90s singer-songwriters who still write better choruses than your group text, Jonatha Brooke at Cafe Eleven brings smart lyrics, killer harmonies, and banter sharp enough to slice key lime pie. Intimate room, great sound, no bad seats.

🎤 Judy Collins @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall | Wednesday (1/14) at 8:00 PM – Judy Collins is gracing Ponte Vedra Concert Hall with that crystalline voice that still hushes a room. Expect timeless hits, rich storytelling, and the rare show where you can sip, sway, and reminisce without earplugs, then brag to your kids about real songwriting.

🌳 Florida Arbor Day Tree Giveaway @ UF IFAS Extension St. Johns County Horticulture | Friday (1/16) at 10:00 AM – Florida Arbor Day means free trees, courtesy of the SJC Master Gardeners at several library branches and the Extension Office. Grab a bareroot red maple, red buckeye, mayhaw, American sweetgum, or smooth sumac, then feel smug while your yard, birds, and grandkids thank you.

🚤 Nights of Lights by Water @ St. Augustine and St. Johns County Visitor Information Center | Friday (1/16) at 5:30 PM – Skip the shoulder-to-shoulder shuffle on St. George and see Nights of Lights from the best seat in town, the water. Cruise past the Bridge of Lions, the bayfront, and the Castillo glow, salty air included, parking chaos not. Bring a cozy layer, and your camera.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 St. Augustine report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 76°F – Low: 59°F – Precip: 0%

Patchy fog before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southwest wind around 7 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 69°F – Low: 48°F – Precip: 29%

A chance of rain showers between 7am and 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Northwest wind 6 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. North wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Most popular house this week

Across from Oglethorpe Battery Park, this 1952 residence with guest house spans 3,724 square feet on .32 acres. Four bedrooms and three and a half baths include a ground-floor primary suite. The white, remodeled kitchen features an oversized gas range and double ovens, and renovated baths, hardwood floors, curved archways, original stained glass, and a fireplace echo Old Florida Spanish style. Multiple seating zones open to patios and greenspace.

A rentable apartment adds flexibility and income potential, with short-term rentals allowed. A detached garage and generous parking cover the extras. Oglethorpe Road offers a clear Bridge of Lions view and direct access to downtown St. Augustine from Anastasia Island.

Take a peek inside →