Happy Women’s History Month! We’ve got an absolutely STACKED weekend for events, but before we get into the newsletter, I wanted to take a moment to shout out the two most important women in my life.
My wonderful wife, Rachel, is the artistic visionary behind the newsletter. All logos, fonts, colors, and graphics are her work. My mother, Carey, is my volunteer proof-reader, and she does her best to catch my typos. When we miss one, I just tell her it’s proof that a real human is writing the newsletter 😉.
Thanks to both of them for everything they do to help! Now, let’s dive in!
INAUGURAL MUTT MADNESS TOURNAMENT
In honor of two of my favorite things (March Madness basketball and doggos), I am pleased to introduce the inaugural Sunny St. Pete Mutt Madness Tournament. Now's your chance to see if your pup has what it takes to go all the way. And the best part? All entry fees will be donated to Pet Pal Animal Shelter here in St. Pete!
Huge thank you to our sponsor, Mutts & Martinis, St. Pete’s upscale, dog-friendly sports bar with water & play zones on Central Ave.
Here's how it works:
Sign up and choose your donation amount below ($0-$100).
You'll receive a link to submit your dog's name and picture.
Based on donation amount, dogs will be added to the bracket. Paid entries are guaranteed to be included.
When voting starts, share with everyone you know to give your dog the best chance of advancing!
Voting will take place in single-elimination tournament rounds (1-2 rounds per week), March Madness style.
All of our Final Four dogs will win an annual membership to Mutts & Martinis ($179 value).
Winning dog will receive a additional prizes (bringing the total grand prize to more than a $500 value) including:
Gift basket worth of goodies from St. PetersBARK Natural Pet Market ($300 value)
Treats from Moo's Ba[R]kery ($50 value)
If you’d like to enter your dog into the tournament and support a good cause, you can sign up below:
ARTOFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Love AI or sick of hearing about it? Either way, you’ll want to check out ARTofficial Intelligence: The St. Pete Robot Exchange at FloridaRAMA. Curated by local legends Aurailieus, Jason Bromley, and Zulu Painter, this (mostly) annual showcase features robot-themed masterpieces from over 45 of our city's most creative artists. Swing by to see this completely FREE robot-inspired gallery brought to life through everything from paintings to sculptures, and more.
If you want to check out FloridaRAMA while you’re there, you can also get tickets here.
BEST BEER IN FLORIDA, IN YOUR BACKYARD
Photo credit: Green Bench Brewing
Huge congratulations to Green Bench Brewing and Webb’s City Cellar for winning Best of Show at Best Florida Beer 2026 (this is now back to back years winning the award)! The beer that took home the top prize was Wilbur, a mixed culture dark ale aged in French oak red wine barrels. If all that beer talk mumbo jumbo is confusing for you, let me translate: yum.
In addition, Webb’s City Cellar was the 2nd Runner Up for Small Brewery of the Year!
Green Bench and Webb’s both do an amazing job of not only serving delicious beers, but also putting on all kinds of great events at their awesome indoor/outdoor space in the EDGE District. For non-beer drinkers, they’ve also got wine, mead, cider, seltzers, kombucha, sodas, and more.
Check out the featured events below to attend the Greetings from Florida event at Green Bench this Friday!
CIVIC NEWS
St. Pete Mayoral Race: St. Petersburg City Council member Brandi Gabbard has officially filed to run for Mayor, joining a crowded field challenging incumbent Mayor Ken Welch. Gabbard could appeal to moderate voters and those dissatisfied with Welch’s first term, which has faced challenges including the Rays’ stadium deal and hurricane response. Gabbard is now the 5th person to file to run, including Maria Scruggs, Jim Large, and Paul Congemi. Kevin Batdorf and Former Gov. Charlie Crist are also expected to run. See the crowd.
Water Treatment Facilities Open House: Wastewater might not be everyone’s cup of tea (sorry, gross metaphor), but it is important, especially here in Florida. If you want a behind-the-scenes look, there’ll be open houses on March 28, April 11, and May 2 from 9am to 12pm at different facilities. Waste not, want not.
BAYFRONT BULLETIN
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?
SUNNY CIRCLE TEE: Super soft and flattering on anyone. Get yours.
FLIGHT DEAL: Week trip from TPA to Charleston for only $103 (57% less than usual) at the end of August.
‘BURG ABODES: Mid-Century Modern lakefront residence in Lake Pasadena Estates. $649,000 | 3bd 2.5ba | 2,252 sqft.
LAST WEEK’S SCRAMBLE: Adoption
SUPPORT SUNNY ST. PETE
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!
WHAT’S AFLOAT
FRESH CAUGHT FEATURES
Greetings From Florida: Lager Celebration | Green Bench Brewing | March 13, 5 - 9pm | $75
Dust off your Hawaiian shirts! Green Bench Brewing and BarrieHaus Beer Co. are teaming up for the fourth annual "Greetings From Florida," the ultimate celebration of the crispest lagers from across the country and beyond.
This immersive festival features over 75 lagers on tap from more than 30 world-class breweries—including several making their Florida debut. Your all-inclusive ticket grants you unlimited pours, a commemorative glass mug to take home, and Florida-inspired entertainment to keep the vibes high.
This event typically sells out. Grab your tickets online early to ensure your spot!
Paddy Fest St. Pete 2026 | Williams Park | March 13–15 | Free – $VIP
Tampa Bay’s premier St. Patrick’s celebration returns for a three-day extravaganza headlined by Irish legend Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones. The weekend features world-class Celtic rock from Seven Nations, traditional pipe bands, Irish dancers, and the fan-favorite Shepherd’s Pie Eating Contest.
Kick off the festivities with a Free Friday (21+) preview, followed by a family-friendly weekend featuring a massive Kids Zone, 9-hole mini-golf, and an authentic Irish Market. Enjoy Guinness on tap, whiskey tastings at the VIP Tullamore D.E.W. Experience, and specialty cocktails, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Ocean Aid 360.
Pro Tip: Arrive before noon on Saturday or Sunday for a free Kahwa coffee or a complimentary mimosa (21+) included with admission!
Reggae Rise Up Florida 2026 | Vinoy Park | March 12–15 | $ Varies
St. Pete’s massive four-day celebration returns to Vinoy Park for its most star-studded year yet. This year's lineup features heavyweights like Slightly Stoopid and Cypress Hill on Thursday, Iration and SOJA on Friday, Rebelution on Saturday, and a legendary Sunday finale with Sublime and Steel Pulse.
Beyond the world-class music, the festival brings beach vibes to the city, offering a vibrant mix of large-scale art, local food vendors, and high-energy performances. While some individual days and VIP passes are already sold out, several options remain for those looking to experience the groove.
THURSDAY 12
Chamber & Cheers Presents: A Night at the Movies | St. Petersburg Opera Co | Mar 12, 7-9pm | $50 🎟️
Fundraiser featuring cinematic scores and auction.
Meet a Master Gardener | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Mar 12, 10:30-11:30am | Free
Discuss plant care and gardening.
Natural History Speaker Series: Florida-Friendly Landscaping | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Mar 12, 7-8:30pm | Free
Learn sustainable, low-maintenance landscape design.
Master Gardener Speaker Series: FL Native Plants | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Mar 12, 11:30am-12:30pm | Free
Benefits of gardening native plants
Chad Mize Art Show | Green Bench Brewing | Mar 12, 6-9pm | Free
One-night outdoor art exhibition curated.
FRIDAY 13
MFA After Hours (21+) | Museum of Fine Arts | Mar 13, 7-10pm | $50-$100 🎟️
Baroque art and music evening
Pitch-A-Friend | Ferg's | Mar 13, 7pm | Free - $5 🎟️ optional
Present single friends on Jumbotron
Yacht Rock & Georgia Shrimp Boil | Golden Isles Brewing | Mar 13, 12pm | Free
Annual party with special beers.
SATURDAY 14
Britney Houston - A Drag Brunch Experience | Red Mesa Cantina | Mar 14, hours vary | $75-$85 🎟️
Drag brunch featuring pop tributes.
MAACM Family Days: Pirate Invasion | Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement | Mar 14, 10am-1pm | Free with Admission 🎟️
Pirate stories, music, and activities.
The Official Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl | Park & Rec DTSP | Mar 14, 4pm-12am | $15-$25 🎟️
Downtown crawl with drink specials.
Naturalist Guided Tour | Weedon Island Preserve | Mar 14, 9:30-11am | Free 🎟️
Explore native flora and history.
Shorebirds & Seashells Guided Beach Walk | Weedon Island Preserve | Mar 14, 11:30am | Free 🎟️
Guided tour exploring island wildlife.
Astronomy Night | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Mar 14, 7-9pm | $5
View celestial objects through telescopes.
Meet a Master Gardener | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Mar 14, 10:30-11:30am | Free
Discuss gardening and identify plants.
Pioneer Nights | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Mar 14, 6-10pm | $20 🎟️
Kids enjoy campfire and s'mores
Family Night Hike | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Mar 14, 7-8:30pm | $5 🎟️
Guided evening nature trail exploration.
Rotary Runs the Beach | 1700 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach | Mar 14, 8-11am | $30 🎟️
Annual fundraising beach run walk
Eckerd College's Marine Yard Sale | Eckerd College | Mar 14, 9am-12pm | Free
Annual sale benefiting maritime rescue
Mezzo Market | Intermezzo | Mar 14, 11am-4pm | Free 🎟️
Curated outdoor small business market
SUNDAY 15
Into to Backyard Beekeeping | 5418 19th Ave S | Mar 15, 4pm | Free - $30 🎟️
Learn Central Florida beekeeping basics.
Yoga at the Dalí | The Dalí Museum | Mar 15, 9-10am | $10-$15 🎟️
Monthly vinyasa yoga at museum
Kenwood Sunday Market | St. Pete High School | Mar 15, 10am-2pm | Free 🎟️
Weekly market with local vendors + free yoga!
ON THE HORIZON
Want to see events beyond the weekend? Use the guide below.
MARKETS
Looking for details on markets this week?
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Thanks so much for reading! As always, you can reply directly to this email with any feedback.
Stay Sunny,
Josh
