Welcome back! Who’s ready for Thanksgiving already? As always, today’s newsletter is packed, and we’ve got some giveaways and specials deals included!

In this edition:

See the beach come alive at the 2025 Sanding Ovations sand sculpting competition in Treasure Island! Master sculptors transform sand and water into "outSANDing" works of art for this free, world-class exhibition. Enjoy the beach food court, beer garden, arts marketplace, live music, and amazing art!

The event runs Nov. 20-23 and extends through Nov. 29 & 30, but this Saturday, Nov 22 has Kite Flying and Sand Sculpting lessons for kids, voting and awards, and a fireworks display. So, if you can only make one day, that’s your best bang for your buck! See the sculptures.

Get ready to shop local and win prizes this holiday season with Holiday Biz Bingo in the 'Burg! Running from Thanksgiving week through December 31, this citywide challenge encourages everyone to support local businesses, from grabbing gifts and coffee to enjoying local cuisine. Businesses can sign up to participate here!

For the 12th year in a row, the City of St. Petersburg has earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index, plus 5 bonus points! This assessment celebrates the city's ongoing commitment to intentional inclusivity and progress for all LGBTQ+ residents and visitors.

**Reminder, City Hall on Tour is tonight. See the events section below or last week’s newsletter for more details.

The results of last week’s poll are in! The Market roundup took the lead with 47% percent of the votes. Thank you to all who wrote in with other ideas as well! We had suggestions for running groups, live music, and more. I’ll be getting to work on all of these in the coming weeks!

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I wanted to share a unique Florida recipe with a plant you can grow right in your backyard! Going by many names,(Roselle, Jamaican Sorrel, and Florida Cranberry), it’s a type of hibiscus with fairly simple white flowers that thrives here. While much of the plant is edible, the calyx is the most prized part.

In Jamaica, it’s used to make a festive, spiced Christmas drink. My mailman is Jamaican and was sent home with two bag fulls of calyces after chatting with me about making the drink with his family when he was young.

Early Florida settlers cultivated the plant as a cranberry substitute. The calyces have a very similar tang and can be used in your Thanksgiving cranberry sauce recipes! I’ll be up to my ears in extra seeds from this year’s harvest, so if you’re interested in planting some Roselle, reply to the email and I’ll be happy to share some!

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?

Blizzard Bazaar - The chillest winter holiday market featuring 50+ vendors, Florida snow, Santa, gift wrapping, food, drinks, and event exclusives. Dec 19, 5-9pm. We’re giving away 20 free tickets to subscribers at the end of the month! Referring the newsletter (using your unique link here) will earn you extra entries for the random drawing of the winners!

Sunny St. Pete Apparel - Shop the Fall collection of St. Pete inspired apparel! 50% of proceeds on purchases from the Crosswalk Collection are donated to St. Pete Pride.

Red and Green Gala - Get your tickets for St. Pete Pride’s dazzling winter wonderland celebration with music, dancing, and open bar. Dec 4, 6-10pm.

Happy 53rd Anniversary Toby’s! - Our family’s neighborhood pizza joint! See event section below for details on the celebration.

Owners Steve and Sarah moved from the San Francisco Bay Area 3 years ago to be closer to family. Steve, a tech industry veteran, knew he wanted to try a new challenge in brick & mortar, but wasn’t positive which business to open. After the local classic, Dairy Inn, closed down, everything clicked, and Wildflower was on its way.

Unlike traditional soft serve that requires separate machines or lengthy changeover processes to make dairy free ice cream, these machines allow the staff to start with a non-dairy base and achieve the same texture and appearance as a dairy scoop. Whether you end up using their regular vanilla/chocolate base, or the dairy-free, you have complete control to make any flavor combination you can dream up!

I highly recommend you stop by the shop for some great ice cream made by great people. Show this newsletter at the register to get 15% off your order!

Enjoy a peek at interesting, unique, and beautiful homes for sale in St. Petersburg.

Curated by local architect, Rachel Neu of Hisel Flynn Architects, a full service firm specializing in modern, sustainable architecture that respects the surrounding neighborhoods.

⬆ A house with an amazing outdoor living space and pool on a corner lot in Oak Ridge. Plus, adorable pink vintage bathroom tile with a flamingo theme. This is one for living the Florida lifestyle!

3bd • 2ba • 1,916 sq ft. • $650,000 • See more

This week’s adoptable pet is Ophelia, a 2 year rat terrier mix from Pet Pal Animal Shelter. She is very affectionate and (obviously) love belly rubs. Adopt Ophelia.

Events for the Weekend, plus a jam-packed Thursday night!

Mega Night Market | Win! Derby | Nov 21-23, hours vary | Free
Three-day Asian concert and cultural festival featuring live music, food, desserts, drinks, and free admission/parking.

St. Pete Country Fest | Vinoy Park | Nov 21-23, hours vary | $99+ 🎟️
Three-day country music festival at Vinoy Park featuring over 40 artists, vendors, and family activities.

St. Pete Bikefest | OCC Road House & Museum | Nov 20-23, hours vary | Free
Four-day high-octane rally with bikes, national music acts, and celebrity appearances, benefiting charity.

Pinocchio | Opera Central | Nov 22-23, 3pm | $7-$20 🎟️
One-hour opera with English lyrics, featuring music by classical composers, perfect for introducing opera to all ages.

Sanding Ovations | 10400 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, FL | Nov 20-23, 29-30, hours vary | Free
Master sculptors transform sand and water into "outSANDing" works of art on Treasure Island beach.

City Hall on Tour | The Coliseum | Nov 20, 6-7:30pm | Free
Mayor and City Leadership host open house tours to meet with residents and discuss community needs and concerns.

Movies on the Pier: Wicked | St. Pete Pier | Nov 20, 7:30-9pm | Free, $30 VIP
Outdoor movie night under the stars, free admission for all, with VIP upgrades available. Bring chairs and blankets.

Tango Under the Stars – WADA Annual Fundraiser | Warehouse Arts District Association | Nov 20, 6-9pm | $250 🎟️
Fundraiser celebrating Latin culture with tango, live painting, Argentinian BBQ, rhythm, flavor, and creativity.

Wine a Little, Read a Lot Book Fair | Pour & Decor | Nov 20, 6-9pm | Free
Adult-only book fair featuring wine, snacks, shopping, and vendors for nostalgic childhood memories.

Mix n' Mingle | Par Bar | Nov 20, 5:30-7:30pm | Free
A celebratory evening featuring laughter, networking, and honoring Grand Central District businesses.

Lindy Hops | Green Bench Brewing | Nov 20, 7-9:30pm | Free
Free swing dance lesson followed by a dance party under the stars every third Thursday.

Campfires | Parents' Night Our Fall Edition | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Nov 21, 6-10pm | $25 🎟️
Kids enjoy hands-on activities, wild science, nature crafts, night hike, and dinner during parents' night off.

City of South Pasadena Holiday Tree Lighting | Maynard A Duryea Bay View Park | Nov 21, 6:30-8pm | Free
Annual tree lighting ceremony at Bay View Park features music, refreshments, and holiday cheer.

Zane Lamprey Stand Up | Voodoo Brewing Co | Nov 21, 7-10pm | $28 🎟️
Comedian, world traveler, and host of popular shows performs stand-up comedy at the nation's best breweries.

Saturday Morning Market | Al Lang Stadium | Saturdays, 9a-2p | Free   
St. Pete's Saturday mornings are highlighted by local produce, food trucks, and makers.

Mezzo Market | Intermezzo | Nov 22, 11a-4p | Free
Curated outdoor small business market featuring local vendors.

Uplands Habitat Hike | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Nov 22, 1-2:30pm | $5 🎟️Rangers explore Boyd Hill's upland habitats, examining unique characteristics, prescribed burns, plants, and animals.

Kenwood Sunday Market | St. Pete High School | Sundays, 10a-2p | Free    
Weekly market at St. Petersburg High School with local produce, crafts, food, and live music.

Corey Ave Sunday Market | Corey Ave | Sundays, 10a-2p | Free
Weekly market features 100+ vendors, fresh produce, food trucks, and free parking on St. Pete Beach.

Toby's 53rd Anniversary | Toby's Original Little Italy Pizza | Nov 23, 11am-7pm | Free
Slices and sodas cost $.53. Free t-shirts, music, games, prizes, and eating contests will be available.

Mozart & Handel | Mahaffey Theater | Nov 23, 2pm | $30 🎟️
Jeannette Sorrell leads program of 18th-century Baroque and classical-period music delights.

👀 Events to keep an eye on between now and next week + some that you may want to snag tickets for in advance.

Ferg's 33rd Anniversary Party | Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill | Nov 26, 7pm | Free
The event celebrates thirty-three years of operation and encourages attendance on the 26th.

Tree Lighting Ceremony | Green Bench Brewing | Nov 26, 6-8pm | Free
Holiday season kickoff features 20 ft. tree lighting, cider toast, music, caroling, and Small Business Weekend start.

Coffee Pot Turkey Trot 5K | North Shore Elementary School | Nov 27, 7:45am | $45 🎟️
Family-friendly, timed 5K looping around Coffee Pot Bayou on Thanksgiving morning, benefiting North Shore Elementary PTA.

Hannah Berner – None of My Business Tour | Mahaffey Theater | Nov 28, 7-9pm | $56+ 🎟️
Stand-up comedian Hannah Berner, best-selling author and podcast host, brings her relatable humor to the stage.

Holiday Shop & Shuffle | St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club | Nov 28, 7-10pm | Free
Kick off the holiday season with shuffleboard, local gift shopping, and new St. Pete Shuffle merch.

Critical Mass Ride St. Pete | Williams Park | Nov 28, 7pm | Free
Social bicycle ride held monthly to promote fellowship, safety, education, and awareness at a moderate pace.

97th Annual Santa Parade & Tree Lighting | Downtown St. Pete | Nov 29, 6:30pm | Free
St. Pete's annual illuminated Santa Parade and Tree Lighting officially begins the holiday season.

Shopapalooza Festival | Vinoy Park | Nov 29-30, 10am-5pm | Free
A local community festival featuring 350+ local makers, food, and music in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Taps & Teufels | Green Bench Brewing | Nov 29, 6pm | Free
A traditional Austrian-style Krampuslauf procession featuring Krampus, St. Nicholas, music, and a new Vienna Lager.

Ornament Making at the Dalí | The Dalí Museum Community Room | Dec 4, 6-7:30pm | $10-$15 🎟️
Hands-on workshop creating surreal holiday ornaments inspired by the Alberto Giacometti & Salvador Dalí exhibition.

Historic Old Northeast Candlelight Tour | Westminster Palms | Dec 7, 3-8pm | $35 🎟️
Tour features historic homes, including Babe Ruth's former residence, with music, food, and proceeds benefiting charities."

I’ll be working on the Happy Hour guide in the coming weeks, so if you have a favorite happy hour we haven’t covered in our roundup for the past few weeks, reply to this email and let us know. Stay tuned for the guide!

15% off order | Wildflower Ice Cream | Show this newsletter at the register!

$.53 slices and sodas, free t-shirts | Toby's Original Little Italy Pizza | Nov 23, 11am-7pm

Free mat barre class | St. Pete Pier | Nov 29, 8:30-10:00am

Know someone who’d love to hear the local scoop? Refer the St. Pete Scoop to 3 of your friends, and you'll receive a 15% off coupon at Sunny St. Pete apparel. Every month, we'll also pick a winner to receive a free product of their choice! Here’s your personalized referral link that you can copy and paste easily wherever you’d like 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 & the St. Pete Scoop Team