Howdy, everyone!

Florida spring is fully doing its thing. The water's warm, the jacarandas are putting on their show, it hasn’t rained in ages, and people are enjoying the outdoors before it gets really hot. My garden and I are already dreaming of summer afternoon thunderstorms.

Also, I had a wonderful time meeting the 100+ of you who came to the Dinner Club last week! I got tons of great feedback from everyone, and people seem to be loving it! In fact, next month’s Dinner Club (May 14th) is already nearly sold out (only 17 of 120 seats are left), and I haven’t even announced it yet. So, if you were planning on going, now’s your chance to register.

Okay, let’s dive in.

In honor of Earth Day yesterday, I wanted to write a bit about Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. Whether you’ve never been, it’s been in a while, or you’re a regular, it’s an amazing place to go enjoy nature right in the heart of the city. We went out for a hike a few weeks ago and saw tons of baby gators, eagles, ospreys, gopher tortoises, woodpeckers, and more. I love it there.

The 245-acre preserve on the south shore of Lake Maggiore got a $1 million upgrade last year, including stream and wetland restoration work that improved water quality and opened up new wildlife habitat throughout the park. It shows. The gopher tortoises are back out on the trails, cute little swamp puppies were everywhere, and the birding is as good as it gets in Pinellas County (this is an official stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail).

There’s also Terry Tomalin Campground, St. Pete's first public primitive family campground. Tomalin was the Tampa Bay Times outdoors writer who spent decades pointing people toward places exactly like this. It's a fitting tribute. One day, I’ll convince my wife to go camping with me…maybe.

If you’re a runner (or walker), you can also get admission on the second Saturday of each month for the Trail Fun Run!

Admission is three dollars (or you can get a memberhsip), and the preserve is closed Mondays.

Last Thursday, City Council voted 6-0 to stop requiring new developments along the SunRunner corridor to include parking. The change covers Central Avenue and within a quarter-mile of any SunRunner stop — from 19th Street South near I-275 west to Pasadena Avenue.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because St. Pete quietly ran a version of this in September 2024 along the 22nd Street corridor. This is an expansion of that experiment.

The research behind it is solid. A parking space costs $20,000 to $50,000+ to build, and developers pass that directly to renters. After Minneapolis eliminated its parking minimums, rents fell 4% while national rents climbed 22% over the same stretch. In Buffalo (the first U.S. city to try this, in 2017), developers built 53% less parking in mixed-use projects, and the city saw its first population growth since the 1920s. UCLA economist Donald Shoup helped kick off this movement with his 1997 paper (and later book) The High Cost of Free Parking.

Developers can still build parking — and often will when the market calls for it. When Austin went parking-optional, most builders still included generous parking voluntarily.

That said, there can be trade-offs. Some Kenwood neighbors opposed, saying street parking is already tight. Spillover is real and documented in other cities. Plus, the disability access question (what happens to accessible parking when a building builds zero spaces) is still unresolved.

The SunRunner runs every 15 minutes, which makes this reform more attractive along this corridor. Proponents say that this is a good way to reduce housing costs while encouraging further investments in public transit options.

What do you think?

Four of our Pinellas beaches are finalists for USA Today's Best Beach in Florida Readers' Choice Award, and voting is open right now through May 18.

Our finalists are St. Pete Beach, Clearwater Beach, Treasure Island, and Caladesi Island State Park (basically our whole coastline on the ballot), which is a flex but could also be a vote-splitter.

I’ll be honest, sometime I have mixed feelings about winning these awards. On the one hand, do I really want the beach to be more crowded? On the other hand, I do like the bragging rights…

The reality, though, is that much of our local economy relies on tourism, and these lists get passed around by every tourism board in the state. A win means real visibility and could be a boon to our still-recovering beach communities and the small businesses that I love.

If you want, you can vote once a day until voting closes. Pick your beach, bookmark the link, and vote with your morning coffee. Takes about ten seconds.

Plus, we don’t want to hand it to Miami 🤢. Just kidding. Kinda.

Vote here.

Something's budding on Central Ave, just in time for Mother’s Day.

Gypsea Blooms, a new coastal-inspired floral and gifting boutique, opens in early May at 1622 Central Ave, right next door to the soon-to-come Blue Urban Project Thrift. It's the brainchild of founder Andrea Harper and lead florist Nicole Gebler, who met at a local coffee shop and bonded over art, travel, and community (a classic St. Pete origin story).

The headliner is a build-your-own bouquet bar where you pick your stems and assemble your own arrangement. They'll also have pre-arranged bouquets, single stems, and dried florals at a range of price points.

Not a flower person? Gypsea doubles as a gifting shop — custom baskets built on the spot with imported chocolates, candles, bath products, handmade bags, and jewelry featuring crystals and shells. Much of it was sourced on Harper's travels, so expect pieces you haven't seen around here.

🏠 Gas Plant open house: next Thursday, April 30. The city is hosting a public forum at The Coliseum (535 4th Ave N) — doors at 5 p.m., developer presentations at 6 — where you can meet the four finalists competing to redevelop the 86-acre former Tropicana Field site and give public feedback. Can't make it in person? Join via Zoom or catch the recording at stpete.org/gasplant.

🌊 St. Pete's resilience plan needs your input. The city is accelerating resilience improvement projects — think flooding, sea level, long-term infrastructure — and is asking residents to weigh in before priorities are set. Take the survey by May 1.

🏆 Eight St. Pete institutions just got named 2026 Legacy Business honorees. Red Mesa, Harvey's, Morean Arts Center, DoMA, Bayway Country Store, Indulgence Medical Day Spa, Reed Roofing, and Parc Center for Disabilities. One per district, recognized for being the kind of place that shapes a city by sticking around. Decals and certificates go out during Small Business Week, May 4–8.

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?

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

CATCH OF THE DAY: Adopt Pepa the dog or Pat the hedgehog.

FLIGHT DEAL: First non-stop route from Tampa to the Bahamas in over 20 years. Route starts June 11 with Breeze.

‘BURG ABODES: Tropical mid-century in Central Oak Park. $775,000 | 3bd 3ba | 2,018 sqft.

LAST WEEK’S SCRAMBLE: Champion

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!

Celebrate Arbor Day at one of the largest gardening and environmental events in the region! The Green Thumb Festival returns to Walter Fuller Park for its milestone 40th year, bringing together over 120 plant and garden vendors, educational workshops, and family-friendly activities.

The festival offers everything from native plants and herbs to "Ask an Arborist" sessions and a large-scale flower show by the Garden Club of St. Petersburg. Kids can enjoy nature crafts and tree climbing, while adults can attend workshops on orchid care or sustainable landscaping.

Take advantage of the free plant and pine seedling giveaways! If you’re a St. Pete resident, don’t forget to enter the raffle for a chance to win a free mulch delivery for your home.

Experience the magic of Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical under the stars as American Stage returns to Demens Landing Park. Into the Woods weaves together iconic fairy tales—from Cinderella to Little Red Riding Hood—to explore what happens after "happily ever after" in a production that is as thought-provoking as it is enchanting.

Running Wednesdays through Sundays, this beloved St. Pete tradition features a live orchestra and a world-class cast. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or low-back chairs to enjoy the performance on the park’s sprawling lawn, with special theme nights throughout the run, including Pets in the Park (April 12) and Pride Night (April 19).

For Sunny St. Pete readers, you can get BOGO Free with discount code SCOOP26.

Make a Trashterpiece Workshop | Sans Market | Apr 23, 7:30-8:30pm | $20 🎟️
Turn trash into miniature art

2026 Buccaneers Draft Party | Central Ave, Downtown St. Pete | Apr 23, 7-11:30pm | Free
Downtown NFL Draft street festival

Y2K Pajama Party at FloridaRAMA | FloridaRAMA | Apr 24, 7-10pm | $55 🎟️
Nostalgic evening with live DJ

Parent's Night Out: Earth Day | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Apr 24, 6-10pm | $25 🎟️
Evening nature adventure for children

American Gladiators Watch Party at Ferg's | Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill | Apr 24, 8pm | Free
Local athletes featured in competition

St. Pete Taco & Tequila Bar Crawl | Downtown St. Pete | Apr 25, 2-7pm | Prices vary 🎟️
Seventh annual food drink tour

Mezzo Market | Baum Ave N (between Green Bench & Intermezzo) | Apr 25, 11am–4pm | Free
Vintage art plants and music

Jazz at MAACM: Groove Merchant | Museum of the African American Experience, 355 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | Apr 25, 7:30pm | $30–$35 🎟️
Intimate live music at museum

St. Anthony's Triathalon | Downtown St. Pete | Apr 25-26, hours vary | $180+ 🎟️
Waterfront swim, bike, run race

Adult Night Hike | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Apr 25, 7-8:30pm | $5 🎟️
Guided evening hike for adults

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Sarasota Paradise | Al Lang Stadium | Apr 25, 7:30pm | Prices vary 🎟️
Soccer match held in downtown

Bucs Beach Bash at TradeWinds Resort | TradeWinds Resort | Apr 25, 8-11pm | Free
Beach party during draft weekend

Create Your Own Multiverse | Multiverseland | Apr 25, 7-10pm | Free
Immersive multiverse experience and party

6th Annual St. Pete Earth Day | St. Pete Youth Farm | Apr 25, 9am-1pm | Free
Sustainability, sourdough, and sound baths.

Pete's Bagels Lucky 7 Birthday Market | Pete's Bagels Grand Central, 2361 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg | Apr 26, 9am-2pm | Free
Seventh anniversary celebration and market

BE Beach Day | Treasure Island Beach Drum Circle | Apr 26, 3-8pm | Prices vary 🎟️
Beach social with potluck games

Paint and Sip at Aspirations Winery - Welcome to Paradise | Aspirations Winery | Apr 26, 2-5pm | $44-$49 🎟️
Paint shiplap with wine pairings

21st Annual Sunscreen Film Festival | Sundial AMC 12 Theatres & Greenlight Cinema | Apr 30–May 3, hours vary | Prices vary 🎟️
Showcases diverse independent film screenings.

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