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Hello St. Petersburg! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Massive sand sculpture festival returns, flight recorder maker’s new global headquarters, and pirate invasion family day + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

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

Boosting supply without more withdrawals: Tampa Bay Water has begun a $181 million plant expansion, adding up to 12.5 million gallons daily by 2028 to meet demand through 2033 for St. Petersburg and surrounding communities — get all the project details.

Downtown hub signals fresh start: Acron Aviation, maker of flight recorders, has opened a global headquarters in St. Petersburg near Albert Whitted Airport after a crane hit its former office, adding labs for aviation safety — read the full story.

Art meets coastal resilience: Clearwater Beach’s Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival will return March 27 to April 12 with a 24,000-square-foot sand sculpture exhibit, following a county beach nourishment project that rebuilt storm-worn shorelines — learn about timing and impact.

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:

• Feast on potatoes and Irish beers
• Garden Bros Circus dazzles St. Petersburg
• Get messy with splatter painting, fruit smashing
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home

💎 Local business spotlight

Proper pie fix: Southern Bay Bakery keeps Dunedin sweet with handcrafted pies and other fresh bakes. If your dessert radar’s stuck on cookies, consider this a nudge… a pie delivers an easy weeknight treat or a clutch save for that surprise-guest moment you almost forgot.

Fresh blooms, zero fuss: Jennie’s Flowers St. Petersburg turns ordinary Tuesdays into wow moments with artfully arranged stems, from bright tropicals to classic roses. When birthdays sneak up or your living room needs a lift, their designers make sending joy easy, no overthinking required.

Scale away the stress: Vertical Ventures is the clutch midweek reset, with tall routes, thoughtful setting, and a chill crew that remembers your project even when you forget chalk. With a friend or solo, you’ll leave pleasantly pumped and oddly zen.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.

🫶 We got your back

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 →

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 →

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 →

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. Check out my favorite online options →

📆 Fun for the whole fam

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.

🎨 Foam Stamps – Kids Workshop @ Gulfport Arts Center | Wednesday (3/11) at 12:45 PM – If your fridge needs fresh masterpieces, park the kids at a foam stamp workshop where they design their own stamps and print to their heart’s content. No registration required, but smart folks reserve, since space is first-come. Email [email protected].

🎤 Sing Out Tampa Bay @ Mahaffey Theater | Wednesday (3/11) at 7:30 PM – Car karaoke goes legit in Tampa Bay when Michael Francis and The Florida Orchestra host a community sing-along. Belt Broadway, pop, and the classics with choirs and an orchestra behind you, no experience required. Pay what you can, bring your inside voice, then ignore it.

☘ 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.

🏴 Family Day: Pirate Invasion @ Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – If your crew has been pillaging only the pantry, steer them to MAACM for a Pirate Invasion with Capt’n Hawk and the Krewe of the Scarlett Fortuna. Expect stories, music, crafty activities, and swashbuckling displays, all sneakily fueling reading, history, and imagination, included with admission.

🛍 Mezzo Market: March 14 @ Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – Saturday on Baum Ave means one thing, St. Pete’s biggest monthly street market. Browse boutique finds, legit vintage, handmade goods, and too many plants, then refuel with food, cold drinks, and music between Intermezzo and Green Bench. Retail therapy with local flavor, sneakers optional.

🎭 Polkadots: A Cool Kids Musical @ Zubrick Magic Theatre | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – Trade the tablet for a late-morning win at Zubrick Magic Theatre, where Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical turns courage, friendship, and inclusion into foot-tapping fun. It’s sweet without the sugar crash, thoughtful without the lecture, and over early enough for lunch, naps, or both.

🎣 Fort Desoto Community Fishing Meetup @ Fort Desoto Beach | Sunday (3/15) at 6:30 AM – Think your honey holes at Fort De Soto are secret? Join the kayak bunch for a mellow morning of casting, swapping tips, and telling lies about redfish. Launch spot will bend to wind and water temps, because the fish, and our backs, call the shots.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 St. Petersburg report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 84°F – Low: 68°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 3 to 8 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 2 to 7 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 82°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 55%

A slight chance of rain showers between 8am and 2pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South southwest wind 5 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. North northwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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This nearly 5,000-square-foot Mark Maconi waterfront stunner claims the open-water side of Island Estates, showcasing Mandalay Channel and Gulf views. Mediterranean exterior, new tile roof, and Enphase-backed solar add polish and power. Two primary suites flaunt sunrise and sunset balconies. Entertain with a Viking kitchen, elevator, saltwater pool, expansive decks, and a floating dock plus deep-water slip for 70-foot vessels.

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