Hey gang! I’ve got a great newsletter coming your way today, fueled by the (at least) 150 crawfish I took down at the 3 Daughters Fat Tuesday Crawfish Boil. An all-you-can-eat crawfish boil HATES to see me coming.

Don’t forget, we’ve got the Grand Prix coming up next weekend, and it’s not too late to get tickets if you’re interested! You can find links on the “Events This Month & Next” page at the bottom of the newsletter. That said, let’s dive in!

Sorry for the childish, mocking headline, but the Florida State House just voted 112-1 to replace the Northern Mockingbird with the American Flamingo as our official state bird. After studies confirmed that flamingos are indeed native, the bill now moves to the Senate and is expected to take effect July 1, 2026.

Don't worry about the Northern Mockingbird; it’s still the official state bird of Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.

With less hype—but arguably more importance—the bill also names the Florida Scrub-Jay as the state songbird. This is a huge win since they are threatened, beautiful, and found only in Florida.

Want to see flamingos in our own backyard? Head to Sunken Gardens.

Have you seen the downtown block that was painted pink? The buildings, formerly Ventnor Apartments, on 4th St. S & 4th Ave. S were painted bright pink temporarily before they’re demolished in early March for the $200 million Roche Bobois St. Pete Tower (a 29 story, 164 luxury condo unit development).

This weekend, over 20 muralists will be turning the buildings into a temporary mural gallery, with plans to incorporate some of the murals into permanent installations in the future condo tower. Be sure to head over there to see the art before it’s gone!

The new St. Pete Tower will have restaurant and retail space, a heated pool, cabanas, fireside lounge, fitness studio and spa with hot/cold therapy, and more. Units will range from studios to 3 bedrooms, with 12 penthouses. You can see the full renderings and learn more here.

Heads up for the Saturday Morning Market crowd—the market is relocating this weekend (Feb 21) to Tropicana Field parking Lot 1 to make room for the construction of the course for the upcoming Grand Prix next weekend.

Next weekend’s market (Feb 28) will be cancelled due to the Grand Prix activities!

Florida bill HB 1421 (moving through the 2026 session) would force state agencies to lease "suitable" state park land to private cattle ranchers. Right now, our parks use grazing as a rare management tool; this bill makes it a legal mandate.

Proponents of the bill argue that cows are natural mowing, a source of revenue for the state, and help lower wildfire risk by reducing vegetation. However, opponents point to the risk of nitrate pollution in already sensitive springs and rivers (which can contribute to toxic algae blooms), loss of public access (private leases mean fenced off areas restricting hiking and camping), and the vague language (what does suitable mean?).

This bill follows the 2024 "Great Outdoors" backlash, where a plan for park golf courses and hotels was killed by massive public protest. It prompted the unanimously passed 2025 State Park Preservation Act (rare in Florida politics) that later banned resort-style development. Critics view HB 1421 as a new attempt to prioritize private industry over "wild" public land.

This isn't just a rural issue. St. Pete’s own Rep. Lindsay Cross has been one of the few "No" votes, calling out the lack of "guardrails" for our water and hiking trails.

If you’d like to learn more about the bill and ways to make your voice heard, this video from the Florida Springs Council is a great start.

Our first Sunny St. Pete Dinner Club is filling up fast! I can’t wait to bring this community together and meet you all in person. Here are quick answers to your top FAQs:

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?

SPONSORS WANTED: To help support this (one-man) newsletter operation and its mission of providing a FREE resource to bring the community together, we’re looking for sponsors! Partner with us.

SUNNY EMBROIDERED CORD CAP: If you see a bald dude wearing one of these around town, odds are it’s me. I wear mine daily, and customers have worn them all around the country! Check it out.

CATCH OF THE DAY: Meet Waylon the dog, Andy the cat, or Cheech the hamster (Chong is also available).

FLIGHT DEAL: Week trip from TPA to Nuremberg, Germany for $644 (57% cheaper than usual).

‘BURG ABODES: Historic 1934 bungalow in Old Northeast $985,000 | 2bd 1.5ba | 1,829 sqft. Beautifully preserved by its longtime owners with tasteful updates!

LAST WEEK’S SCRAMBLE: Festival

Nerd Nite: Special Edition | Palladium | Feb 24, 6-9pm | $6.91 🎟️

Talk about social studies! Experience the worldwide phenomenon where learning hits different with a drink in hand. Join three "epic" 20-minute talks covering the miraculous sex life of eels, the chemistry of art conservation, and the secrets of "Vulvagenius" pleasure.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but eel reproduction is wild.

Tickets are $6.91 and sold exclusively online. Just give your name at the door—no printing required!

Story Night at the Distillery | St. Petersburg Distillery | Feb 19, 6-8pm | Free-$10 🎟️
Cozy evening of live storytelling.

Mix N Mingle | Grand Central District | Feb 19, 5:30-7:30pm | Free
Social block crawl visiting local businesses

Free Lindy Hops Swing Dance Lessons | Green Bench Brewing | Feb 19, 7-9:30pm | Free
Monthly lessons followed by party.

Movies on the Pier: Soul | St. Pete Pier | Feb 20, 6:30pm | Free - $30
Outdoor film night under stars

St. Petersburg Seafood & Music Festival | Vinoy Park | Feb 20-22, hours vary | $10
Seafood, live music, and crafts.

Indoor Sunset Market: Love in Bloom | Imagine Museum | Feb 20, 5-9pm | Free 🎟️
Indoor market featuring local vendors.

Night at the Museum | Imagine Museum | Feb 20, 5-9pm | Free
Indoor gallery market, free museum admission for first 100.

Funhouse Fridays | St. Pete Calisthenics | Feb 20, 7pm | Free 🎟️
Adult recess and night market

Chili Cook-Off | Outcast Brewing | Feb 21, 2-5pm | Free
Taste chili, drink craft beer.

Art & Seafood on the Waterfront | Safety Harbor Waterfront Park | Feb 21-22, hours vary | Free
Seafood, art, music, and activities.

Cupid's Undie Run | Golden Isles Brewing Co. | Feb 21, 11am-3pm | $45 🎟️
Underwear run for tumor research

Mezzo Market | Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails | Feb 21, 11am-4pm | Free
Curated vintage and handmade market

2026 Art & Seafood on the Waterfront | Safety Harbor Waterfront Park | Feb 21-22, hours vary | Free
Fine art and local seafood.

Morning Meal Prep 101 | Sans Market | Feb 21, 10-11:30am | $35 🎟️
Learn breakfast prep and nutrition.

Birding on the Bay | St. Pete Pier | Feb 21, 5:30-6:45pm | $35 🎟️
Guided boat tour birdwatching sanctuary

AYCE Crawfish Boil | Bayboro Brewing Co | Feb 21, 4pm | $76 🎟️
Unlimited seafood, drinks, and music.

Lunar New Year Carnival | Hard Rock Event Center | Feb 22, 5-10pm | Free
Cultural celebration with music, performances.

Kids Purim Celebration | Maynard A Duryea Bay View Park | Feb 22, 3pm | $10/family 🎟️
Kids craft masks and hamantaschen.

Pura Latina Noche | The Ball Bar + Lounge | Feb 22, 7pm-12am | Free
Latin dance night with DJs.

Wellness Social | Moxy St. Pete | Feb 22, 11am-3pm | Free
High energy fitness and community

Rev Up Pool Party | Hollander Hotel | Feb 22, 1pm | Free
Pool party season opening celebration

Want to see events beyond the weekend? Use 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.

{{rp_refer_url}}

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

Stay Sunny,
Josh