Greetings from Sunny St. Pete, Florida! The latest edition of the Scoop is here. Grab your cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy. Let’s dive in.

Pinellas County is staring down a roughly $40 million budget gap for 2027, and Weedon Island Preserve and Shell Key are on the chopping block. County Administrator Burton's recent proposal ends county funding for both state-owned preserves on January 1, saving about $474,000.

The wrinkle is that Pinellas doesn't own either place, having leased both from the state since 1995. If the county walks away, the land goes back to Tallahassee, which says it would "seek to identify another entity" to keep running them. That's about as reassuring as it sounds.

In light of many residents’ concerns, Commissioner Chris Scherer proposed a creative workaround. During last week's commission meeting, he suggested redirecting $500,000 from reserves tied to the county's new government campus. This trims the cushion in that budget slightly to use the savings to keep both preserves open for another year while the county negotiates a longer-term arrangement with the state.

This buys more time ahead of Amendment 3 on November’s ballot, which would eliminate property taxes and put all kinds of cuts back on the table. The Board of Commissioners largely agreed with the idea. Commissioner Eggers was on board but wants the state held accountable too. His take: the state owns the land and has been touting its healthy budget, so they should help fund it.

No final vote was taken. Commissioners will keep reworking the budget ahead of the September adoption, and public hearings are coming. If you want to weigh in, find your commissioner and contact them here.

Contributed by Ashley Marbet Nuccio
St. Pete and Tampa Historic & Architectural Real Estate Specialist

It’s hard to imagine a Florida summer without air conditioning or a time before the Sunshine Skyway. Getting friends from Tampa to cross the bridge already requires a bit of persuasion, so imagine when a trip from Bradenton across Tampa Bay meant catching the ferry. Pinellas Point must have felt like the edge of St. Petersburg then, a tropical oasis surrounded by forest, with beautiful estates scattered throughout.

During the 1950s, much like today, St. Petersburg was experiencing a land boom. Sunshine and leisure (shuffleboard!) drew newcomers escaping harsh winters. I was 23 the first time I saw snow, so I can guess, in reverse, how mind-blowing a Florida winter must have seemed.

As summer approached, cool terrazzo floors and a well-ventilated home became essential. Modernist architect Glenn Q. Johnson and designer and developer George L. Ely understood this. Together, they envisioned a Florida home that worked with the heat and humidity rather than against it.

They called them Vision-Aire homes. Their enormous screened terraces blurred the line between indoors and out while giving the homes the appearance of birdcages. Advertisements leaned into the nickname: “Buy a Birdcage!”

The homes were oriented southeast to capture the bay breezes and warmth of the winter sun. The west face had no windows to shield the interior from the afternoon heat, while strategically placed jalousie windows allowed air to flow throughout the house like natural air conditioning. Cedar was used in abundance, from the roof construction to the interior wall paneling, for its natural resistance to insects.

The original Sunshine Skyway opened in 1954, and Pinellas Point quickly developed around the Birdcages. Today, about a dozen remain. Tucked behind lush landscaping, they are so discreet that some people have lived in St. Petersburg for decades without realizing they exist.

I’ve toured several over the years, and each time I stand on one of those screened terraces, with the bay breeze moving through the palms, I’m reminded how wonderful it is to be a Floridian and how thoughtfully designed homes can connect us to the landscape.

For more on historic to modern homes, follow Ashley on Instagram.

Every August, botanical gardens around the world wade into ponds to answer one of the most delightfully absurd questions in science: how much weight can a giant Victoria water lily hold?

Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales is the defending world champion. Last summer, their horticulture manager stood chest-deep in a pond and stacked weights onto a five-foot-wide Victoria cruziana lily pad until it held 183 pounds, edging out gardens in Missouri, New York, and Australia to win Denver Botanic Gardens' annual Waterlily Weigh-Off.

The 2026 competition wraps this week, and Kew Gardens in London has already submitted 225 pounds (should I be embarrassed that a lily pad can out-bench me?). Bok Tower's title defense came in last weekend with hopes of topping the Brits.

See the weigh-in here (after you make your guess). Official results drop Friday, August 28. And if the competition inspires you to make the drive, Lake Wales is about 90 minutes from St. Pete. Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for kids 6-17, and free for kids under 5. Wawa is covering free admission on August 27-28, the last free days of summer.

In case you can’t remember to check Instagram for the daily password to get into 31 South, the 45-seat speakeasy above St. Petersburg Distillery, you can still bring the fine cocktail experience home.

The distillery launched its first ready-to-pour bottled cocktail line, pulled straight from the 31 South menu. Three to start:

Espresso Martini: Banyan Reserve Vodka, house-made spiced simple syrup, and coffee from St. Pete's own Savage Coffee. Bottled at 48 proof.

Old Fashioned: Their copper pot-distilled whiskey, aged on-site in Florida heat, with Tippler's Orange Liqueur made from Florida-grown oranges and house-made spiced bitters.

Maple Old Fashioned: The same Florida-aged whiskey with pure maple syrup and a house six-spice bitters. Toasted oak, caramel, maple.

Each 750mL runs $35 and pours seven to eight cocktails, which is a better hourly rate than most bar tabs. A Lemon Drop Martini, Matcha Martini, and Hibiscus Gimlet are due by the end of the year.

Master Distiller Clara Robbins shared that these cocktails are the result of experimentation and guest feedback on their favorites. The goal is for you to be able to pour a great cocktail at home without any of the fuss.

Sold only at the distillery's Welcome Salon at 800 31st St S. Open Wednesday and Sunday 10:30am–6pm, Thursday through Saturday 10:30am–11pm.

💰 The utility rate increase gets its final vote Thursday, Aug. 27, and Vice Chair Richie Floyd has floated a different way to pay for all this. His idea: shrink the transfer that moves utility revenue into the city's general fund, and make up the gap by not letting the property tax rate drift down as values rise. The pitch is about who pays. Utility bills hit everyone who uses water, renters included. Property taxes hit owners, including investors who don't live here. Developer Mack Feldman says the principle has merit; the complication is that Florida's homestead exemptions and Save Our Homes caps mean two identical houses can owe wildly different taxes.

⛴ PSTA is getting $16.5 million from the Federal Transit Administration to build a brand-new 249-passenger ferry on top of the two used boats it already bought for the Tampa Bay Ferry. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced it during a Monday visit to Port Tampa Bay. Don't hold your breath: PSTA says the design and build will take several years, calling it "an investment in the longevity of the service."

🏖️ The same budget proposal that would defund Weedon Island and Shell Key would also end the lifeguard programs at Fort De Soto and Sand Key Parks. Parks and Conservation Resources director Paul Cozzie floated both as part of closing a $42 million gap for fiscal 2027, which commissioners blame on state-imposed unfunded mandates. Public hearings and the final budget vote land in September.

Want to spread the word about your business, a project you’re working on, an exciting event, or just want to say hi to 12,000+ neighbors? Partner with us.

DINNER CLUB: The next two dinner clubs are open for sign-ups! September 24 will be 20’s & 30’s (more age groups coming soon!) and the classic all-ages on October 8. Sign up here!

SUNNY SAVINGS: Lost & Found - SOS Spritz on Sunday - $9 Spritz!

CATCH OF THE DAY: Adopt Parker the dog (the last of his litter left!) or Elsie the cat. See them here.

SUNNY HOODIE: Bundle up for your trip to Norway! Get yours.

LAST WEEK’S SCRAMBLE: Tortoise

FLIGHT DEAL: TPA → Tromsø, Norway. $781 in December. (40% less than usual) Pack your parka and see the northern lights!

‘BURG ABODES: Old Southeast Retreat $3,900,000 | 5bd 7ba | 4,790 sqft. Historic Tampa Bay charm meets modern coastal luxury in this fully furnished 1915 waterfront estate. The family compound of my dreams!

St. Pete’s sweetest tradition returns to the Morean Arts Center for its 15th milestone year! Watch local amateur and professional bakers go whisk-to-whisk as they compete for the title of St. Pete's best cupcake, evaluated by a panel of local celebrity judges and the public alike.

Attendees can stroll through the galleries, sample an array of creative and delicious flavor combinations, and cast their vote for the coveted People's Choice Award. From traditional recipes to wild culinary creations, it’s a high-energy afternoon built for dessert lovers of all ages.

Tasting passes get you 12 cupcakes to try and historically sell out quickly. Purchase your tasting box here.

Meet the Authors: Traveling St. Pete, A Girls Guide | The Library | Aug 26, 6 PM | Free
Authors share St. Pete girls guide

Relax & Enjoy the Show | Roberts Recreation Center | Aug 27, 5:30 PM | Free
Adult programs showcase performances and pottery

Fiction Book Club! | Book + Bottle | Aug 27, 6 PM | Free
Discuss fiction over wine and friendship

Dungeon Crawler Carl Trivia Night | The Book Lounge | Aug 27, 6 PM | $10 🎟️
Test your Dungeon Crawler Carl knowledge

FIRST 100 FREE - Night at the Museum + Immersive Sunset Market | Imagine Museum | Aug 28, 5-9 PM | Free 🎟️
Comic market fills galleries with fandom

BYOV Night – Bring Your Own Vase Night & Flower Spelling Bee | The Roaming Petal | Aug 28, 6-9 PM | Free 🎟️
Design flowers then compete in spelling

On High Fest | Jannus Live | Aug 28, 5 PM | $73 🎟️
Music festival from Reggae Rise Up team

Barre with Freebird Fitness | St. Pete Pier | Aug 29, 8:30 AM | Free
Outdoor mat barre workout by waterfront

Clear the Shelters 2026 | SPCA Tampa Bay | Aug 29, 9 AM - 5 PM | Free
Fee-waived adoptions & food trucks

Be A Biologist: Butterflies | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Aug 29, 1 PM | $5 🎟️
Learn butterflies through hands-on citizen science

2026 Gecko Ball | Stetson College of Law | Aug 29, 6-10 PM | $42.80 🎟️
Costumes auctions food and Gecko royalty

Trophy Fish x The Imprint Experience Workshop | Trophy Fish | Aug 30, 12-3 PM | $87.61 🎟️
Learn traditional Japanese fish printing techniques

Craft Club Cinema: “50 First Dates” | Green Light Cinema | Aug 30, 2 PM | $15 🎟️
Craft freely during a comfort-film screening

Full list of events this weekend and in the coming months. Plus, local shows and concerts coming up.

Thanks so much for reading! As always, feel free to reply directly to this email to let me know how I did with today’s edition!

Stay Sunny,
Josh