|
Subscribe | Get featured
Rise and shine, St. Petersburg!
In today’s planning-your-week edition: Hot Spot Diner opening, Paddy Fest, and a fused glass class + all our favorite events happening over the next seven days.
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
From teen culinary beginnings: Greek restaurateur John Hazakis has opened Hot Spot Diner in St. Petersburg, serving breakfast classics and Greek fare in the former First Watch space for locals craving a morning spot — read the full story.
Keeping pace with kids’ tech: Parent ProTech, a new free resource for Pinellas County parents, launched this week to help protect kids online. It offers guidance on apps and games and is taxpayer funded — get all the details.
Temporary ramp shutdowns this week: Nightly closures resume tonight for the northbound I-275 Exit 39 ramp, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., through March 13 for Westshore Interchange work, with detour via West Kennedy Boulevard — see the schedule and detour.
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:
|
🏆 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
Your low-key exhale: Estate Cigars & Social blends cigars and community in St. Pete, with premium sticks, curated beer and wine, and an easygoing patio that often hosts live music. Expect conversation that lingers longer than the smoke ring, plus laid-back locals and absolutely zero tourist energy.
Stitch your week: Whether you’re refreshing your wardrobe or piecing a quilt, Fabric Smart offers thoughtfully curated dressmaking and quilting textiles, plus welcoming classes and relaxed sit-and-sew sessions. Let this be your gentle push to chip away at that project pile, without frayed nerves or surrendering your trusty seam ripper.
Old-school diner vibes: Since 1976, Skyway Jack’s has fueled St. Pete mornings with all-day breakfast and hearty lunches, plus quirky lawn mascots like Humpty Dumpty and a rooster. When you want comfort and zero pretense, this neighborhood staple hits the spot.
What doctors wish every 65+ adult had at home: Physicians call it “long-lie,” and it’s the real reason falls are so dangerous for older adults. It’s not a broken bone… it’s lying on the floor for hours waiting for someone to notice. We dug into the options that actually solve this problem, and one stood out. See which one →
|
📆 Our favorite events this week
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.
💎 Fused Glass Class @ Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement | Thursday (3/12) at 10:30 AM – Make your own fused glass mosaic, no art degree or steady hands required. You sketch, arrange, and they fire it into a polished piece you’ll actually hang, not stash in the garage. Members $65, non-members $17, and smug satisfaction is included.
☘ Paddy Fest @ Williams Park | Friday (3/13) at 3:00 PM – Three days of Irish revelry take over Williams Park, with live bands, pipers, dancers, Guinness, and whiskey tastings. Bring the kids for mini golf and leprechauns, no green beer required, or your appetite for the shepherd’s pie showdown. Tickets $25, kids 14 and under free.
🚗 Kiwanis Club of Pinellas Park Fundraiser Car Show @ Quaker Steak & Lube (Clearwater) | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Hosted by Racers and Rods, this car show keeps it simple, shiny, and for a cause. Ten bucks gets your ride in, with proceeds helping Kiwanis programs for Pinellas County kids, plus raffles, vendors, custom awards, tunes, and QSL wings. Bring the family, humblebrag later.
⚓ Nautical Flea Market @ Gulfport Municipal Marina | Saturday (3/14) at 7:00 AM – Nothing beats rummaging the docks for seaworthy treasures, and this nautical flea market delivers. Think anchors, dock lines, charts, coolers, vintage portholes, all the salty essentials at Gulfport Marina. Haggle a little, swap a story, leave with fewer dollars, and better gear.
♻ Great American Cleanup 2026 @ Clam Bayou Nature Preserve (Gulfport) | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Swap your morning scroll for a feel-good cleanup at Clam Bayou’s Osgood Point, by Gulfport Marina. They supply pails, pickers, gloves, and sanitizer, you bring sturdy shoes, long sleeves if you’re mangrove-curious, and a kayak if you’ve got one. Do some good, still make brunch.
🏺 Unearthing Weedon: A Guided Archaeology Site Tour @ Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Skip the crowded brunch and dig into Weedon Island with AWIARE archaeologists on a guided walk to an active excavation. Learn about the area’s Indigenous history, hike about two miles on uneven terrain, and reserve ahead, limited spots. $25 collected on-site, sturdy shoes required.
🧘 Self-Care Sunday + Wellness Market @ Plunsana | Sunday (3/15) at 9:00 AM – Self-Care Sunday is taking over your morning with Kundalini yoga, live music, and a wellness market from local folks who actually care. Stretch, sip, and shop, then brave the hot saunas and icy plunges, and have a Sunday plan your body and calendar agree on.
Live music & entertainment:
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.
|
📻 St. Petersburg report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 82°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 4%
Patchy fog between 7am and 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. North wind 2 to 6 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. North northwest wind around 6 mph.
—
Tomorrow – High: 84°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 5%
Patchy fog before 10am. Sunny, with a high near 84. East southeast wind around 6 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. North northeast wind around 6 mph.
Access cash without selling your home 🏠
A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your house.
Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much tax-free cash your home equity’s worth, with no commitment required.
This house is wild
This coastal Santa Barbara style waterfront home sits on a 150-by-150 double lot on protected water with direct access to Tampa Bay. Resort-worthy grounds bring a saltwater pool, spa, an outdoor room with fireplace and grill, mini-golf, and a dock with lift. Inside, hurricane-impact openings frame entertaining spaces, a gourmet kitchen, theatre, and wine room. Minutes to downtown St. Pete.
Take a peek inside →
|
 |
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
|
|
|
|
