Brrrr! And I thought the last couple weeks were chilly… I had to bust out the ol’ stock pot and make some soup to get me through the week.

Fun fact: Pinellas comes from the Spanish words Punta Pinal (point of pines), an accurate description when the area was discovered by Panfilo de Narvaez in 1528.

We’ve got a lot to cover this week, and this newsletter can only be so long, so let’s get into it!

In this edition:

Grab your shoes or your signs for the St. Pete Run Fest, a three-day event happening Friday-Sunday. Named one of BibRave's top five races of the decade, the festival has a Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Youth Runs, and the VEG PeliPAWS Dog Walk. Runners will enjoy a scenic tour through the heart of downtown St. Pete, along the waterfront, and up the Pier. Spectators are invited to join the fun at the Expo, experience the lively atmosphere, and cheer on participants at one of the designated viewing spots, making it a great community celebration for the whole family.

Big shoutout to my Mom, who’ll be running the 10K—go Mom!

Nov 14-16, Bayshore Drive by the Dali Museum. Lace ‘em up.

The final City Hall on Tour event of 2025 is on Thursday, November 20th, at The Coliseum. Meet Mayor Welch and his leadership team face to face, ask questions, and learn about City programs. Plus, get an update on the Sunrise St. Pete disaster recovery initiative, which is helping residents restore their homes with $160 million in CDBG-DR funds. Meet the mayor.

The St. Petersburg City Council has approved over $19 million for infrastructure and resiliency projects. These updates include improvements to the city's stormwater system and the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility, helping to increase the city's ability to handle future challenges and keep services reliable for all residents. Read more.

Mayor Welch extended the proposal timeline for the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District, home to Tropicana Field (where the Rays are officially scheduled to return for the 2026 season), to January. This decision comes after pushback from members of the City Council and the public, and requests from two development firms for more time to submit proposals.

Meanwhile, some members of the public are criticizing the current process for being unlawful and unwise, claiming it prioritizes developer proposals over a proper redevelopment plan. They advocate for a planning-first approach, involving a Gas Plant Framework Plan that defines the street grid, parks, land uses, and development goals before soliciting developer proposals. Learn more and decide where you land on the issue.

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?

New Pete’s Bagels location - thanks to the community investments raised with their SMBX bond, Pete’s has announced a new location in Tarpon Springs in the historic Dolphin Gift Shop on the sponge docks!

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.

Free food pantry pop-up - A caring neighbor reached out to share that she opened a free food pantry pop-up at 3121 6th Ave N. Hours are 2-4pm and all donations are welcome!

Free groceries for Pinellas residents - The St. Pete Free Clinic has free groceries available for Pinellas County residents. Bring ID and proof or residency with you. You can also donate here.

There was a lot of interest in last week’s story about the mural festival, so I wanted to share additional info for folks who’d like to learn more.

Click the guidebook above to read about this year’s murals, their artists, and locations. Also, check out the Seas the Weekend events section below for links to the Festival Finale event and tours by foot, bike, or trolley (Saturday and Sunday).

Whether you’re actively looking to buy or just like appreciating the living history of St. Pete architecture, enjoy a peek at interesting, unique, and beautiful homes for sale in St. Pete.

Curated by local architect, Rachel Neu of Hisel Flynn Architects, a full service firm specializing in modern, sustainable architecture. Rachel is an expert at contemporary interventions that respect the surrounding neighborhoods.

⬆ Gorgeous mid-century modern details — the right buyer could really transform it with updated finishes! Originally designed in 1961 by Sanford Goldman, a noted Tampa Bay architect and protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, this one is a piece of St. Pete history.

4bd • 3.5ba • 2,924 sq ft. • $1,500,000 • See more

This week’s adoptable pet is Kaya, a 6 month old Plott hound mix from Pet Pal Animal Shelter. She might be giving the camera a side-eye here, but she is an energetic, happy girl who will grow to be a medium-large dog. Good luck ever saying no to those big brown eyes! Adopt Kaya.

Events for the Weekend, plus a some bonus events tonight!

Natural History Speaker Series | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | 7-8pm | Free
Award-winning author Craig Pittman shares true, lively tales about the people and places of Florida.

Art After Dark at the MFA | Museum of Fine Arts | 5-8pm | $15 (Free for members) 🎟️
Discounted admission, tours, lectures, and films.

Makers & Shakers Market | St. Petersburg Distillery | 6-10pm | Free
Local vendors, entertainment, food, cocktails, and evening distillery tours.

Kids Market at Saint Pete Runfest! | Albert Whitted Park | 2-7pm | Free
Young entrepreneurs ages 6–17 sell creative goods at this family-friendly market during St. Pete Run Fest.

SHINE Mural Festival Finale | FloirdaRAMA | 7-10pm | $15 🎟️
Celebrate the mural festival finale with a live DJ, gourmet food, and support for the artists.

Florida CraftArt Mural Tours | Florida CraftArt | 10-11:30am | $25 🎟️
Walking tour highlights over 30 murals in downtown St. Petersburg's Central Arts District.

SHINE Mural Tours by Bike | Florida CraftArt | hours vary | $45 🎟️
Observe SHINE artists creating street murals while biking through downtown St. Petersburg.

St. Pete Run Fest | Near Dali Museum | hours vary | Free to spectate
3-day festival with expo and 5K, 10K, and half marathon.

Historic Roser Park Ghostfest | Roser Park | 4-9pm | Free
Spooky festival features ghost tours, a Halloween market with vendors, tarot readings, and food trucks.

Library Open House | President Barack Obama Main Library | 10am-3pm | Free
Community Open House features free family-friendly activities, entertainment, food, and library tours.

Disco Inferno | Mahaffey Theater | 2pm or 8pm | $20+ 🎟️
A live disco band and Broadway vocalists perform hits by Abba, Bee Gees, and Donna Summer.

Fall Fest In the Garden | Gulf Orchids | 4-8pm | Free
Evening of art and autumn coziness in Gulfport with local artists and fall vibes.

Christmas Recycle Sale | Garden Club of St. Petersburg | 9am-1pm | Free
Holiday sale of gently loved Christmas items, baked goods, jewelry, and plants.

Ag Fest 2025 | Patti Johnson Farm | 10am-3pm | Free
Poultry and rabbit competition, crafts, activities, animal encounters, tours, vendors, and food trucks.

Hello Friend Night Market | England Brothers Park | 2-11p | $9.31
2-day Pinellas Park festival with 75+ food/artisan vendors, live music, and cultural performances.

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

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

St. Pete Run Fest | Near Dali Museum | hours vary | Free to spectate
3-day festival with expo and 5K, 10K, and half marathon.

SHINE Mural Tours by Bike | Florida CraftArt | hours vary | $45 🎟️
Observe SHINE artists creating street murals while biking through downtown St. Petersburg.

SHINE Mural Tour on Star Trolley | Star Trolley | 10am-12pm | $45 🎟️
2.5-hour open-air trolley tour showcases St. Pete's street art and SHINE Mural Festival's impact.

Porch Music Day | Historic Kenwood | 12-5pm | Free
Neighborhood musical showcase featuring twenty-three acts across nine porches.

Hello Friend Night Market | England Brothers Park | 2-11p | $9.31
2-day Pinellas Park festival with 75+ food/artisan vendors, live music, and cultural performances.

👀 Upcoming events you might want to grab tickets for/put on your calendar.

City Hall on Tour | The Coliseum | Nov 20, 6-7:30pm | Free
Mayor and City leadership host open house tours to listen to resident needs and address concerns.

Movies on the Pier: Wicked | St. Pete Pier | Nov 20, 7:30-9pm | Free, $30 VIP
Outdoor movie on the Pier; VIP seating and concessions upgrade available.

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.

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

St. Pete Country Fest | Vinoy Park | Nov 21-23, hours vary | $99+ 🎟️
Three-day country music festival featuring top artists, local vendors, family activities, and new annual tradition.

Campfires: Parent’s Night Out Fall Edition | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Nov 21, 6-10pm | $25 🎟️
Kids explore fire's role, safety tips, enjoy games, crafts, science, dinner, and a night hike.

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

Historic Old Northeast Candlelight Tour of Homes | Westminster Palms | Dec 7, 3-8pm | $35 🎟️
Historic homes tour features Babe Ruth's former residence, live music, and local food vendors.

Continuing with our happy hour highlight tour, here’s 5 more spots for food and drink deals!

BellaBrava | Daily, open-7pm | $6 (6 oz.) or $8 (9 oz.) house wine, $6 sangrias, $3.99 well drinks, $1 off bottled beers.

Mangosteen | Mon-Fri, 3-5pm | BOGO cocktails

Snappers | Mon-Fri ,4-5pm | Early bird special (food discounts!)

Three Birds Tavern | Mon-Thu, 3-6pm | Half off draft beers, house wines, and wells; $2 off other drinks.

Voodoo Brewing | Mon - Fri, 3-6pm | $2 Off draft beers and $6 well drinks

Reply to this email and let us know what your favorite happy hour is!

Or, for a fitness deal:

Barre with Freebird Fitness | St. Pete Pier | Nov 29, 8:30-10:00am | Free
Free mat barre class structured for all fitness levels.

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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