What’s popping, Sunny Squad?

Who’s excited for tonight’s Dinner Club? Can’t wait to see everyone there!

We’ve got a little bit of everything in today’s newsletter: new coffee spots, good news from one of our favorite ice cream spots, a butterfly garden update, positive seagrass reports, and more. Plus, we were on the news!

Last week I gave a shoutout to the family of bluejays that were entertaining me by taking a bird bath outside my office window. Well, word got out, because this week I had nonstop visits from even more bluejays, mockingbirds, two species of woodpeckers, an ibis, a whole flock of starlings, and some truly clueless doves. If you don’t have a bird bath, you’re missing out.

Ok, we’ve got a ton of goodies to cover today, so let’s dive in.

Guest post by Crista @theburgcoffeeguide

Welcome to St. Pete's thriving coffee scene, Say Coffee House!

Say offers a variety of traditional Vietnamese coffees like the Egg Cream (pictured above) and Iced Vietnamese Coffee, as well as more creative twists like the Ube Cream or Coco Chill. There is also a curated Matcha menu and pastries.

This spot has been bustling since they opened their doors at the beginning of this month in St. Pete's Grand Central District. Every detail is intentional here - from the name of the shop, its design and layout, to the menu selection!

This space is a real treat to the St. Pete Community,  adding a unique cultural experience and an extra boost of caffeine!

Say Coffee House
2414 Central Ave, St.Petersburg, FL
Open Daily 8am - 4pm

We made the news, y’all! This past weekend we were interviewed by Fox 13 Tampa Bay about Sunny St. Pete. I just want to say thank you to all of you for reading the newsletter, sharing it with your friends, and coming out to our events. None of this would be possible without you, and I’m so grateful for your support!

We’ve been huge fans of Wildflower Ice Cream since they first opened because “yours truly” has a dairy allergy, but my wife is always in the mood for a “sweet treat.” Wildflower has us both covered, so we’re there quite a bit.

That’s why we were so excited by the announcement that they’re starting to sell their delicious, locally-made ice cream wholesale to restaurants! That’s huge news for a shop that’s just celebrating their first anniversary later this month. You can also now get pints of their regular chocolate and vanilla, plus gallons of their vegan vanilla in the shop!

Congratulations on this big step for one of our favorite family-owned businesses here in St. Pete. Everyone over at Wildflower from the top down has been wonderful, and we can’t wait for everyone to start ordering their ice cream at their favorite restaurants.

Check them out next time you’re in the mood for a sweet treat.

Florida's state butterfly is the Zebra Longwing (those long-winged black-and-yellow flutterers that drift low through shady St. Pete yards). And there's basically one reason you see them: passion vine. The same goes for the bright orange Gulf Fritillary, which is just as common around here. Both species lay their eggs almost exclusively on Passiflora (passion flower), and their caterpillars eat nothing else.

The Florida native to plant is Passiflora incarnata, the purple passion flower. It's a fast climber with three-lobed leaves and one of the weirdest blooms in the state, a lavender starburst ringed by a halo of wavy purple filaments called a corona. It’s my favorite flower, and I’ve always thought it looks like it belongs on an alien planet.

After the flower fades, it drops a green egg-shaped fruit called a Maypop. Maypops are edible but mostly mealy. The grocery-store passion fruit comes from a different species (P. edulis), which also grows happily down here and is what I have in my garden pictured above (because I love edibles).

Plant one against a sunny fence and you'll have eggs on the leaves within weeks. The caterpillars are white polka dot or bright orange with black spines and will strip the plant clean. The vine bounces back fast, and you get butterflies floating through your yard from spring through fall.

Native nurseries around the bay carry it, and I’ve also found Facebook Marketplace to be a great place to get plants from other locals. Ask for Passiflora incarnata, or corkystem (P. suberosa), which are best for butterflies. Opt of P. edulis if you want some tasty fruit. Or why not both?

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has a small team that affectionately calls themselves "the seagrass hunters." Their job is to track, measure, and report on the state of seagrass across Tampa Bay, the underwater meadows that nurseries every snook, tarpon, and redfish you've ever caught.

The big picture is better than it's been in years. Bay-wide, seagrass coverage has finally started bouncing back after a long, ugly slide. But Old Tampa Bay (the section north of the Howard Frankland) is the outlier. It just hit a record low, losing more than 320 acres of seagrass over the last two years.

The bright side to an otherwise not ideal situation is that this year's historic drought is actually helping. Less rain means less runoff, less fertilizer washing off lawns into the bay, and clearer water. Clearer water means sunlight reaches the seagrass beds, which means recovery has a shot. It also makes the kayaking/paddleboarding incredible right now.

It's a strange thing to root for (a drought hurts our rivers and our plants on land), but the seagrass hunters are cautiously optimistic. Their 2026 report drops later this year. It does look like we’ll be getting some rain next week, but until then, every dry weekend buys Old Tampa Bay a little more time to recover.

🐟 Skyway Fishing Pier is officially getting rebuilt. Gov. DeSantis confirmed a month ago that the south pier, battered by Hurricane Milton and shut down by FDOT inspection, will be fully reconstructed, while the north pier (Pinellas side) gets structural reinforcement. No firm timeline yet, but state funding is on the table and reconstruction work could start later this year. The world's longest fishing pier is on its way back.

🏗️ Gas Plant District is on the May Council agenda. The CBAC project committee that will help vet the four shortlisted developers gets selected at this month's City Council Committee of the Whole meeting. Mayor Welch is expected to announce his pick — or picks — from ARK Ellison Horus, The Burg Bid, Foundation Vision Partners, and the Pinellas County Housing Authority in June. The 86-acre Tropicana Field site is finally moving again.

📚 Summer Reading Program kicks off May 30. Free programming for kids, teens, and adults at every St. Pete Library branch runs May 30 through August 1. The kickoff party is at the President Barack Obama Main Library, 2–4pm. Bring a kid or come find a book yourself.

Want to spread the word about your business, a project you’re working on, an exciting event, a hiring opportunity, or just want to say hi to thousands of neighbors?

DINNER CLUB: The May 14th Dinner Club filled up so fast, and tons of people reached out wanting to attend, so I scheduled another one for May 28th. Reserve your seat while you can!

CROSSWALK SUPERSOFT TEE: 50% of proceeds donated to St. Pete Pride! Get yours.

CATCH OF THE DAY: Adopt Parker the dog or Kiki the cat.

FLIGHT DEAL: TPA → Liberia, Costa Rica. $292 round trip in late August (39% cheaper than usual). We just went for our honeymoon last year, so let me know if you want an itinerary.

‘BURG ABODES: Crescent Lake bungalow. $665,000 | 2bd 2ba | 970 sqft. An actual artist's studio out back, big lot, brick streets, and loads charm.

LAST WEEK’S SCRAMBLE: Vintage

Your contributions go directly towards keeping Sunny St. Pete alive and well so we can have more fun and build a stronger community. I appreciate any and all contributions to keep this locally-owned newsletter (and passion project of mine) going strong!

It’s opening weekend! Explore how the "New World" transformed a Surrealist icon in the Museum’s newest special exhibition, Dalí in America. This immersive collection traces Salvador Dalí’s journey from his 1934 arrival in New York to his status as a global celebrity, showcasing how the American landscape, media, and culture reshaped his artistic identity.

Running through October, the exhibit features a curated selection of paintings, drawings, and ephemeral materials from the Museum’s archives. Discover Dalí’s ventures into film, advertising, and design, and see how he engaged with major American movements like Pop Art and Abstract Expressionism.

This exhibition is included in the price of standard Gallery Admission ($29–$32). Local Pinellas and Hillsborough residents can save by purchasing tickets on-site with a valid ID!

Get tickets!

Movies on the Pier: Crazy Rich Asians | St. Pete Pier | May 15, 8:30-10pm | Free
Outdoor cinematic experience on pier

Food Truck Rally at 3 Daughters Brewing | 3 Daughters Brewing | May 15, 6-11pm | Free
Mobile eateries serve diverse dishes

Spitfire Presents: Jury Duty | Spitfire Comedy House | May 15, 7-8:30pm | Prices vary 🎟️
Improvised courtroom comedy audience suggestions

All In On 10 Years — PAW 10th Anniversary | Pinellas Ale Works | May 15–16, | Free
Casino themed brewery anniversary celebration

Preserve the 'Burg Restoration & Design Expo | St. Pete Shuffleboard Club | May 16, 10am-3pm | Free
Resources for historic home renovation

St. Pete Italian Fest | Vinoy Park | May 16, 11am-7pm | Prices vary 🎟️
Authentic Italian food and entertainment

Sharkapalooza | Coachman Park | May 16, 10am-4pm | Free
Ocean-inspired festival celebrating marine conservation.

Wildflower Walk | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | May 16, 1-2:30pm | $5 🎟️
Guided hike identifying blooming flora

Pioneer Nights at Boyd Hill | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | May 16, 6:00 PM | Prices vary 🎟️
Evening history themed nature activities

MAACM Speaker Series: American Stained Glass – The Art of Industry | Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement | May 16, 11:00 AM | Prices vary 🎟️
Speaker discusses stained glass industry

St. PetersBARK No-Kill Shelter Charity Event | St. PetersBARK | May 16, 10am-2pm | Free
Fundraiser supporting local animal shelter

Polaroid Emulsion Lift Workshop with Lance Rothstein | Morean Arts Center | May 16, 1:30-4:30pm | Prices vary 🎟️
Learn artistic image transfer techniques.

Movies in the Park: Night at the Museum | Coquina Key Park | May 16, 7-10pm | Free
Free outdoor cinema and music

Yoga at The Dali | The Dali Museum | May 17, 9:00 AM | Prices vary 🎟️
Scenic yoga in museum garden

New Moon Makers Market | Allendale United Methodist Church | May 17, 3-8pm | Free
Monthly curated queer makers market

Want to see the full list of events this weekend and in the coming months? Plus, local shows and concerts coming up? Peep the guide below.

Looking for details on markets this week?

Know someone who’d love to hear the local scoop? If you refer 10 friends, you’ll get a free t-shirt! Here’s your personalized referral link that you can copy and paste easily to share.

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Thanks so much for reading! As always, you can reply directly to this email with any feedback.

Stay Sunny,
Josh