Hey folks!

Happy Shark Week to all who celebrate. I can’t think of any better way to end the month than with sharks galore, although I do think that streaming TV has significantly reduced the impact that shark week (and the Discovery Channel in general) has on my life.

Plenty beyond the dorsal fins to talk about today, so let’s make like those marine biologists and dive in!

Cue the ominous cello. With so much fun shark programming available, it’s the perfect week to ask the question that may presently be on your mind when you’re wading waist-deep off Pass-a-Grille or kayaking the bay: what’s down there with me?

Good news first: you’re sharing the water, but you’re almost certainly fine. Shark bites are super rare around here, and most of the sharks cruising Tampa Bay are far more interested in mullet than in you. I remember bulls hitting hooked tarpon in the same waters where my dad was trying to flip my brothers and me off while tubing, and they never bugged us ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Our waters are home to at least seven species. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of the ones you might cross paths with. The blacktip is the one you’re most likely to see. It’s small, skittish, and the reason for those dramatic drone videos of dark shapes schooling just off the sand. You’ll also find bonnetheads (the polite little cousin of the hammerhead, and one of the only sharks known to eat its veggies; they actually graze on seagrass), bottom-lazing nurse sharks, plus lemon, hammerhead, tiger, and the famously moody bull shark (which has even adapted to fresh water and can be sometimes be found miles up river).

The rules for staying off the menu are boring, but they work: swim near other people, skip dawn and dusk, leave the shiny jewelry at home, and don’t splash around schools of bait fish. Leave the wild stunts to your TV, and realistically you’ve got nothing to worry about.

In partnership with Ashley Marbet Nuccio
St. Petersburg and Tampa Historic & Architectural Real Estate Specialist

These are the shops I return to again and again, whether I'm searching for my own house or staging a home. Here’s a list of shops that make for a good Saturday. 

Before you go, a few notes that have helped me over the years: be patient, the right piece takes time to find. Check back often. These shops get new inventory weekly. Buy what you love, and don't be afraid to mix eras. I've always believed a home should feel collected, not decorated. 

Currently on my list:

Happy hunting! 

For more on historic homes and local finds, download my complete guide to antiquing throughout the Tampa Bay area.

If you've been missing that big-festival-on-the-waterfront feeling since Reggae Rise Up packed Vinoy Park back in the spring, circle August 28. On High Florida lands at the St. Pete Pier that Friday at 4pm. It’s an all-ages, one-day bash thrown by the Reggae Rise Up crew.

The lineup leans reggae and hip-hop, headlined by Pepper and The Movement, with Surfer Girl, Brother Ali, and The Grouch & Eligh. Picture the sun dropping over the water, bass rolling down Spa Beach, and some sweet tunes taking you through golden hour and into the night.

It's a nice bridge between summer and fall, because the next big waterfront festivals (St. Pete Country Fest in November, Reggae Rise Up next March) are a ways off. Tickets are on sale now; grab a spot before the Pier lawn fills up.

GA tickets are $40, and VIP are $90. Snag yours here.

St. Pete keeps stacking up new coffee spots, and this week brought a couple more worth knowing about.

Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters just opened its first brick-and-mortar at 1942 1st Ave S in Grand Central, in the old Adieu Glu space right next door to Pinellas Ale Works. They built a following selling artisan-roasted beans at local markets and running a pop-up inside Sans Market before going permanent. The founders fell for roasting while living in Cambodia, and they treat their beans with sommelier-level seriousness, even planning "coffee cupping" events, basically an espresso flight for the bean-curious. Expect specialty lattes, cold brew, fine teas, and pastries. Serious coffee, laid-back room.

Across town, DRIP just opened at 4901 38th Ave N in Northwest St. Pete. The Tampa-based chain has five regional locations now, and this one covers a lot of ground: full coffee menu, botanical teas including kratom and yerba mate, kava beverages, and CBD/THC options. We live in the neighborhood, so we’ve been watching this one for a while while they painted the mural and waited on permitting (for a while). Open 7 am to 10 pm with regular events on the calendar.

The space that housed Thirsty First for a decade (and Who's On First before that) is getting a new life, reopening as Rewind St. Pete on August 1: a dive bar/nightclub hybrid built entirely around '90s and '00s nostalgia.

The concept goes deeper than a playlist. The team is promising fresh retro colors throughout, a reworked food and drink menu with a decidedly throwback spin, plus regular game nights and '90s trivia. The official pitch: "great food, affordable pricing, and all of your memories from the 90's & 00's."

I don’t know how I feel about the music of my childhood now being retro. It’s both exciting and also making me feel pretty old… but it’s still my wife’s favorite. Mark August 1 on the calendar and follow @rewindstpete on Instagram for updates.

🚌 Getting to TPA is about to get a lot easier. PSTA just unveiled the 727 Express; a new bus route that runs from downtown St. Pete straight to Tampa International Airport. It makes nine stops around downtown, including SunRunner stations, then goes nonstop across the Howard Frankland's new express lanes. Buses run 5am–11pm daily starting in October, with AC, Wi-Fi, and luggage racks on board, and the fare is just $2.25 one-way. Beats airport parking.

🛍️ The Pier Marketplace may finally lose its pop-up-tent look. The city is weighing a plan to replace the temporary vendor tents with more of the permanent kiosks, giving the Pier's little strip of small businesses a sturdier, more year-round feel and a bit more cover when the summer downpour rolls through.

🌊 The Army Corps of Engineers is teaming up with the city to take on the canal-based flooding that plagues Riviera Bay and other low-lying neighborhoods (the kind of backyard-to-street water that has less to do with storm drains and more to do with the canals themselves rising). It's early days, but federal muscle on this problem may help these flood-weary corners of St. Pete.

🗳️ It's official. City Council voted 7-0 to put a $600 million question on your November ballot. If voters approve, a new property tax would fund bonds to fast-track water, stormwater, and sewer upgrades, including the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility, against bigger storms and rising seas. You'll have the final say on Nov. 3.

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 11,000+ neighbors?

DINNER CLUB: Only 10 spots left for August 20! And just announced: September 10. Reserve your seat while you can!

SUNNY SAVINGS: Forbici is now open at the Sundial with a nice happy hour! Every day 3-6 pm get $9 select cocktails, $6-8 select wines, $6-7 beers, and a large selection of discounted bites. Now serving lunch too with daily specials.

CATCH OF THE DAY: Adopt Kendall the dog or Zilla the cat. See them here.

CORDUROY CAP: Show your love for manatees and look cool doing it. Get yours.

LAST WEEK’S SCRAMBLE: Scallop

FLIGHT DEAL: St. Pete → Niagara Falls . $76 round trip in early November (40% less than usual). Visit the 8th wonder of the world, water you waiting for?

‘BURG ABODES: Tropical Mid-Century Modern in the Innovation District. $1,599,000 | 4bd 4ba | 3,184 sqft. Floor to ceiling windows to take in the view, and how cool are those tiled circle windows?

Follow @ashleymarbetnuccio for more historic to modern homes or visit historic-modern.com to set up a showing!

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!

Discover the historical and modern significance of Florida's indigenous flora at Native Plants and Native People, a free educational event hosted at the historic Sacred Lands archaeological site.

The morning begins with a guided tour of Sacred Lands' newly planted Indigenous Peoples' Garden, followed by guest speakers and presentations detailing how archaeologists identify plants used by Florida's First People for food, shelter, and medicine—and how those same species benefit us today.

Admission is completely free and open to the public, but advance online registration is required if you want to participate in the limited supply native plant giveaway!

Get tickets.

Book Bedazzling! | The Book Lounge | Jul 29, 6 PM | $30 🎟️
Sparkly DIY night for book lovers

Living Shoreline Summer Fundraiser | The Study Wine & Bourbon Tasting Lounge St. Pete | Jul 30, 6 PM | $20 🎟️
Shoreline benefit with art and magic

Mini Bookshelf Bar Night! | The Book Lounge | Jul 31, 7 PM | $25 🎟️
Create a tiny bookish bar scene

Crash Out! A Storytelling Comedy Show | Sunshine City Comedy Club | Jul 31, 10:30 PM | $10 🎟️
Comics share wild personal disaster stories

Audubon Bird Walk | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Aug 1, 8 AM | Free
Guided native birdwatching with loaner binoculars

Yoga in the Park | Crescent Lake Park | Aug 1, 8 AM | Free
All-level outdoor yoga beside Crescent Lake

Back to School Floral Book Workshop | The Roaming Petal | Aug 1, 11 AM | $44 🎟️
Make sculptural floral art inside books

Rowdies vs Louisville City FC Halfway to Gaspy Night | Al Lang Stadium | Aug 1, 7:30 PM | $24-62 🎟️
Soccer showdown with festive fireworks celebration

100 People Said Game Night | 3 Daughters Brewing | Aug 2, 5 PM | Free
Survey guessing game with Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox | Tropicana Field | Jul 31-Aug 2, hours vary | Price varies 🎟️
Rays battle White Sox in homestand

Want to see the full list of events this weekend and in the coming months? Plus, local shows and concerts coming up? Peep the new Event Calendar page.

Looking for details on markets this week?

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

Stay Sunny,
Josh