A spectacular St. Pete Saturday

Spend a Saturday in St. Pete

Bring the whole family, the group chat, or a new friend to the Collard Green Festival. | Photos by the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival

Saturday is a huge day for St. Petersburg festivals and its time to game plan.

2023 Publix Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival | Saturday, Feb. 18, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

This massive street party takes over the Historic Deuces Corridor (at 9th Ave. + 22nd St. S.) every year. Stop by to learn about healthy eating, farming, and community resources, try out new food trucks, and to jive and dance to all the tunes.

Plus, tickets to the after party get you a hot Southern-style meal + a seat to listen to a conversation between local community leaders Dr. Ladonna Butler and Dr. Martha Bireda.

Localtopia | Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Localtopia — the festival that celebrates all of the businesses, organizations, and people who make St. Pete special — is celebrating 10 years this weekend. Shop goods from local artisans like the Muddy Walrus Pottery + Craftsman House Gallery, try out a new local food truck, get lost in the plant village, and meet with other Burg-obsessed folks. Check out the map online.

Pro tip: Preserve the Burg’s Downtown St. Pete walking tour on Saturday, Feb. 18 will lead you right to Williams Park for Localtopia. The tour starts at 10 a.m. at the Saturday Morning Market and gives a primer on the history of Downtown businesses + architecture. Register here.

St. Petersburg Science Festival + MarineQuest | Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

While the Friday school day session is full, bring the kiddos by on Saturday for exhibits + activities on engineering, math, and science. The event is held on the USF waterfront at the same time as (and in conjunction with) the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s event.

Pro tip: All of these festivals are free, but we recommend bringing cash for any food or cool finds you come across. Also consider biking or carpooling to these events, as finding street parking will be difficult. This weekend, forecasters predict the weather will be sunny and close to 75, but we always recommend bringing a hat, water, and wearing your trusty sneaks.

Click here to have your event featured.

Today, Feb. 14

Valentine’s Brunch | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | Free | Break out the Etoilé rosé for a special Valentine’s meal.
Wine & Design | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 5:30-8 p.m. | The James Museum, 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | $45-$55 | Craft your own seashell + glass mosaic heart, mermaid, or wave while sipping on wine.
Valentine’s Vows & “Seven Chances” (1925) | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 7 p.m. | Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa | $14.50 | Bring your sweetheart to see this 1925 film + renew your wedding vows en mass with other Tampa Bay couples.

Wednesday, Feb. 15

Florida Conversations | Wednesday, Feb. 15 | 6:30 p.m. | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water St., Tampa | Free | Lisa Armstrong shares some of her findings from her research on Carver City-Lincoln Gardens.

Thursday, Feb. 16

Coffee with Castor | Thursday, Feb. 16 | 9-10 a.m. | Barksdale Community Center, 1801 N. Lincoln Ave., Tampa | Free | Chat with Tampa’s mayor Jane Castor and share a cup of joe.
The Florida State Fair $3 Thursday | Thursday, Feb. 16 | 3-9 p.m. | Florida State Fair, 4800 US Hwy. 301 N., Tampa | $3 | Enjoy rides, games, and a number of food items after 3 p.m.
The Bar Method Class | Thursday, Feb. 16 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Armature Works, 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa | Free | Tone and strengthen your body on the Riverfront Lawn.
Rod Stewart Live in Concert | Thursday, Feb. 16 | 8 p.m. | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tampa | $275-$413 | Catch Sir Roderick David Stewart in concert.

Friday, Feb. 17

Largest Networking Event in Tampa Bay | Friday, Feb. 17 | 9:15 a.m.-1 p.m. | Armature Works, 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa | $47-$547 | Hobnob with other local professionals and enjoy a provided lunch.
Palm Harbor Greek Food Fest | Friday, Feb. 17-Saturday, Feb. 18 | 11 a.m.-11 p.m. | Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church, 1010 Riviere Rd., Palm Harbor | Free | Enjoy Greek cuisine, watch dances, and take in hours of music.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

79º | Sunny | 6% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:08 a.m.
Set: 6:20 p.m.

Tides
Old Tampa Bay

High: 8:17 p.m.
Low: 4:01 a.m.

Clearwater Beach

High: 5:04 p.m.
Low: 12:14 a.m.

Opening

Welcome to Water Street. Wine on Water, an upscale wine and liquor store with more than 500 blends opens Wednesday, Feb. 15. And Small Giant, a cozy neighborhood bar, opens Friday, Feb. 17.

Development

Folks with the locally-owned Eisenhower Property Group just purchased 2,000 acres in Thonotosassa for $35 million. The group plans to turn the property, which surrounds Hillsborough River State park, into a high-end golf and equestrian community. 🐎 (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Calling all prospective snowbirds. A slew of new Edge District long-term stay units will open in May. Formerly known as the Metro, the project (located at 77 11th St. N.) was originally slated to become a high-end hotel. The seven-story building will also have a luxe pool, valet parking, and a gym. (St. Pete Rising)

History

Ybor City’s Perfecto Garcia will live on as apartments. A massive restoration process is underway to transform the historic cigar factory into 36 living units. Read more about the factory and water tower’s history and the site’s restoration. 🏗️ (Tampa Bay Times)

Eat

Get ready to Rumba. The new 4th Street bar and grille recently opened in the old Wing House location (6445 4th St. N.) We’re eager to try Rumba Island Bar and Grill’s Calypso Bay Hogfish and maybe a jalapeño cilantro margarita. Check out the menu. (St. Pete Rising)

Closing

Colossal changes are in store for St. Pete’s Courigan’s Irish Pub. The new owners plan to turn the Al Lang Stadium adjacent drinkery into a luxe sports bar, Localz Sports Bar and Grill. 🍺 (St. Pete Rising)

Community

Heading to the Collard Green festival this weekend? Consider adding on the ribbon cutting for Dueces Park Plaza. St. Pete city leaders are hosting a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 22nd Street + 9th Avenue South.

Show

Tickets to see legendary rockers Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers & Chic, and Bastille go on sale Thursday, Feb. 16. The bands play Amalie Arena Saturday, June 17 at 7 p.m. 🎸 (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Shop

What’s getting us through February: Our humidifiers. We love the Levoit Blue Cool Humidifier for its quiet design, multiple mist levels, and how easy it is to clean. Do your skin (not to mention, your houseplants) a favor and up your home hydration.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Here’s to you 💌

Ways to celebrate yourself in Tampa Bay

Indulge in a nostalgic treat. | Photo by @petes_general

Whatever your plans are for today, we hope you’re celebrating you. Here’s a few more ideas for making the most of the holiday.

Pop into a coffee shop you haven’t tried for a snack, fancy latte, or just a regular hot cup of coffee that you didn’t have to make yourself. We recommend trying a Pete’s General’s conversation heart sugar cookie or a “Kiss from a Rose” latte at Blind Tiger. Or indulge in a little post-workday treat with a Monroe (vodka, peach, strawberry, cream and lemon) at Cru Cellars. Pro tip: pairs well with eavesdropping.
Stop by Tombolo Books for a “blind date with a book” or choose a new read from the arrivals table at your local library branch.
Have you checked out the Florida State Fair yet? Head over to the fairgrounds to try out the Tampa Cuban Funnel Cake, or just to grab a nostalgic treat (we adore fried oreos).
Debut a story you’ve never shared at theStudio@620’s monthly open mic night.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Bailey.

Editor’s pick: I really enjoyed seeing “La Gaceta,” which chronicles 100 years of Tampa’s tri-lingual newspaper, over the weekend at the Tampa Theatre. We’ll let you know when the film is screened again.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We’ve got Valentine’s ideas for those really pushing it.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Brad Haft, Bailey LeFever, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith, Josh Kranzberg | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Kailey Burke | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?