Hi St. Augustine, hope you’re having a great weekend! In today's in-case-you-missed-it edition: Bridge closure fallout, Marineland’s nonprofit comeback, and Father’s Day sail + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing Most popular stories this weekThe three top stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Downtown businesses feel the strain: With St. Augustine’s King Street Bridge closed since April 13 and not reopening until November, downtown businesses are hurting, and one local cafe is cutting hours to survive -- see how businesses cope.
Conservation future ahead: St. Augustine’s Marineland Dolphin Adventure reopened under local nonprofit ownership after a judge-approved bankruptcy sale, preserving jobs and its research and education mission while planning community events and partnerships -- learn the nonprofit shift.
Honoring a local legacy: St. Augustine began construction on the Robert B. Hayling memorial plaza, adding gathering spaces, walking paths, a dog park, a kayak launch and signage to honor Dr. Robert B. Hayling -- see the plaza plans.
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade*. All the crowd favorites: |
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03 — On our radar
This week's top findsLocal spotlights your fellow readers loved last week.
Sip like a local: Old Coast Ales keeps it St. Augustine with house-brewed standouts like Empirical IPA, BLVD Brown, and Burt's Summer Ale. Up to 12 taps, laid-back patio vibes, foosball and ping pong, and it's in Davis Shores... a clutch stop before or after tacos next door.
Serious slice alert: Whether you want a foldable New York slice or that caramelized edge Blue Steel deep dish, Bronx House Pizza - St. Augustine delivers the goods. A 48 hour cold ferment dough, an exhibition kitchen, and appetizers like garlic knots or whipped ricotta with hot honey make dinner decisions simpler this week.
Retro vibes, real fun: This week, slide into Prohibition Kitchen for craft cocktails, elevated pub grub, and live music on the regular. It’s got that roomy, Prohibition-era charm locals actually enjoy, perfect for a midweek catch-up, impromptu date, or whenever your group text needs a low-stress rally point.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Google your own name and you'll probably find your home address: It's sitting on a people-search site right now, next to your age, your relatives, and your phone number, free for anyone to look up. Incogni gets it taken down. It contacts 420+ data brokers on your behalf, uses privacy laws to legally demand deletion, and keeps resending requests so your information doesn't creep back online. No hours of opt-out forms, it runs quietly in the background. *Remove my data →
Your plastic cutting board sheds 100 to 300 microplastic particles per knife stroke. Half of them wash down the drain, but the other half end up in your food. And if you're thinking about switching to wood to avoid it, that grain soaks up bacteria you can't scrub out. We found a cleaner solution to tackle these two issues. *Check it out →
The card that pays you to pay down debt: Most balance-transfer cards skip the rewards. Most rewards cards skip the long 0% intro APR. This one has both: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, plus 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories like grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations (up to the quarterly max, when you activate) and 1% on everything else. No annual fee, and the cash back you earn is automatically matched at the end of your first year. *Worth a look →
Premiums are up roughly 46% since 2021: Home insurance has outpaced inflation for years, and renewals rarely move in your favor. Rather than take the new number on faith, FinanceBuzz lets you match your home with top-rated insurers and compare quotes side by side — free, in about two minutes. Even if you decide to stay put, you'll know you checked. *See your options → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Sneak peek at next weekPlan ahead for the next seven days. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🌙 Summer Night Market @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre | Tuesday (6/16) at 5:00 PM – Nothing beats a summer night at the Amp, strolling the market while pretending you’re just looking and somehow leaving with candles, hot sauce, and a favorite food truck. Full bars, live tunes from Claire Vandiver and Bad Dog Mama, and it’s free, all ages.
🌪 Hurricane Preparedness @ St. Johns County Public Library | Wednesday (6/17) at 2:00 PM – In St. Johns, we treat the cone of uncertainty like a personality test. St. Johns County Emergency Management is hosting a seminar with practical tips to safeguard your home and family before, during, and after storms, plus smarter prep than panic-bought bread, batteries, and beer.
🎶 Concerts in the Plaza: Big Papa Fish @ Plaza De La Constitution | Thursday (6/18) at 6:00 PM – Thursday nights mean lawn chairs, a picnic, and Big Papa Fish in the Plaza. Settle under the oaks by the old gazebo for breezy grooves, neighborly people-watching, and a nod to Americana, then remember the Plaza keeps it dry, so upgrade the lemonade.
⛵ Father's Day Sail Aboard Schooner Freedom @ St. Augustine Municipal Marina | Friday (6/19) – Father’s Day weekend is cruising in on the Schooner Freedom, serving up St. Augustine’s best views from the water, salt air included. Let Dad call it his ship, you spot the fort, the lighthouse, and maybe a dolphin, and everyone goes home happy.
🎣 Fired Up Kingfish Challenge @ Fishbites Trading Post | Saturday (6/20) at 7:00 AM – This charity beach kingfish throwdown keeps it civilized with flexible hours, and heats up with $25,000 guaranteed for first and top 10 payouts. Free lady and junior divisions, Calcuttas, closest weights, a Friday snapper side game, and a raffle haul to fill a livewell.
🚗 Kathleen's Memorial Car, Bike and Truck Show @ Adamec Harley Davidson | Saturday (6/20) at 12:00 PM – Roll over to Adamec Harley-Davidson in St. Augustine for a memorial show that’s more heart than horsepower, marking five years since Kathleen rode on. Expect cars, shiny bikes, rumbling trucks, food trucks, a DJ, and raffles, all the good stuff. Pre-reg is 15, day-of 20.
🥕 North City Farmers Market Grand Opening @ Schooner's Seafood House | Sunday (6/21) at 9:00 AM – If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to skip downtown’s parking roulette, St. Augustine’s north end scored a farmers market, and it’s having its grand opening. Expect Bee Hill Farms, Sunrise Brew Coffee, local artists, and neighborly chatter that pairs with fresh produce.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — Announcement In case you missed itWe opened The Insiders’ Club last week and hundreds of folks have already joined (seriously… can’t thank you enough!!). For a few bucks a month, The Club gives you every newsletter ad-free on your schedule, plus members-only updates to help you stay connected to your community. The Weekly Events Roundup is my favorite feature. You get one email a week with all the best events and nothing else cluttering it up. Want only that? Skip the daily emails and turn the rest off. Join the club → |
07 — The St. Augustine report Weather forecastToday — High: 92°F — Low: 76°F — Precip: 46%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny. High near 92, with temperatures falling to around 87 in the afternoon. Heat index values as high as 105. Southwest wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 92°F — Low: 76°F — Precip: 75%
Showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny. High near 92, with temperatures falling to around 87 in the afternoon. Heat index values as high as 106. Southwest wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 12 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Most popular house this weekThis 4,865-square-foot Mediterranean estate pairs European flair with modern polish on a one-acre-plus lot in Palencia’s North River section. A circular drive and porte-cochere set the tone, while inside, soaring glass-filled living spaces, a chef’s kitchen, spa-style primary suite, bonus room, balcony, pool, and lake views make every day feel elevated.
Take a peek inside → |
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