🏴‍☠️🏝️Beaver Supermoon + King Tides

Good Afternoon, St. Augustine!

And Happy Supermoon Friday! The fourth and final supermoon of 2024, November's Full Beaver Moon, graces the sky this Friday, accompanied by the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus. Though the moon’s brightness may obscure these "Seven Sisters," their proximity enhances this celestial spectacle. And as with any supermoon, be mindful of the King Tides expected into the weekend.

I appreciate so many folks taking the time to participate in the poll on Wednesday. In a landslide, the 2x-weekly crowd was heard, so we will officially be moving to two newsletters per week starting next Tuesday.

The rough outline moving forward will be as follows:

• Tuesday: Events for the week ahead

• Friday: Recap of the week’s most important news

Of course, we’ll mix in some other content, but you can expect to see that schedule moving forward. Thanks again for your feedback!

And, since I shorted you a trivia question on Wednesday to make room for the reader input poll, check out today’s St. Augustine trivia question:

May fair winds fill yer sails and treasure find its way to yer hold, matey!

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In today’s edition:

• 🏫 Three new schools planned for SJC

• 🏗️ Commercial development updates

• 🎉 Tons of great local events this weekend

Thanks so much subscribing - tell your friends to hop on board and I will “see” you Tuesday!

-James Foote
Publisher | Old City Lowdown

PS - Please forward this to 2 friends who aren’t subscribed. Organic growth is our main driver!

Fri• 68 🌡️ 61 | ⛅️ | 💧1% | 🍃 N 16mph

Sat • 72 🌡️ 62 | 🌤️ | 💧9% | 🍃 NNE 12mph

Sun • 74 🌡️ 62 | 🌤️ | 💧11% | 🍃 NNE 9mph

🏫 St. Johns County Plans New Schools

St. Johns County plans to build three new schools to address rapid population growth, reduce classroom overcrowding, and maintain educational standards, supporting the community’s expanding student needs as part of a broader strategy to manage ongoing development. (Ariel Schiller, News4Jax.com)

🎭️ Florida Cultural Alliance Needs Your Help

The State of Florida recently released a legislative budget request for the Governor’s 2025-2026 budget, showing no funds allocated for arts and culture grants. The Florida Cultural Alliance urges Floridians to support arts funding by contacting legislators using their customizable letter template. Help advocate for arts in the upcoming 2025-2026 budget—every message counts!

🚌 Free Nights of Lights Shuttles begin next week

The City of St. Augustine is providing free Park & Ride shuttle services for the Nights of Lights season, beginning on Light-Up! Night, November 23, and continuing through select dates into early January. Expanded shuttle routes will cover locations on both the mainland and Anastasia Island. For details, visit the official City of St. Augustine announcement.

👕 Goodwill Breaks Ground on new SR 207 Facility

Goodwill Industries of North Florida has begun construction on a 22,000-square-foot facility in St. Augustine, next to Epic Theatre, featuring a retail store, donation center with drive-through, and a Good Careers Center, expected to open in summer 2025. (Lucia Viti, St. Augustine Record)

🏦 Chase Bank location coming to Elevation Poitne

Chase Bank plans to open a new 3,333-square-foot branch with a drive-thru at Elevation Pointe in St. Augustine, marking its fourth St. Johns County location as part of a North Florida expansion strategy. (J. Brooks Terry, Jacksonville Daily Record)

🏥 New Surgery Center Coming to St. Johns County

North Florida Surgeons plan a 16,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center at Race Track Road, St. Johns County, offering outpatient services. Scheduled for review November 20, the center includes four exam rooms and ample parking. (J. Brooks Terry, Jacksonville Daily Record)

🚘️ New Mercedes-Benz Service Hub Planned

Fields Auto Group is moving forward with a new Mercedes-Benz service center in St. Augustine’s World Commerce Center, securing a foundation permit on November 6, 2024. Located at 405 World Commerce Way, this site may eventually include up to three service centers, including Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, though no dealerships are planned. (J. Brooks Terry, Jacksonville Daily Record)

Have news to report? Email me.

Friday

🎨 Pablo Vindel Exhibition at Crisp-Eller Art Museum | Vindel’s solo exhibition, "en la noche prevalece un corazón lleno," where the artist explores memory and legacy through roses, thorns, and gold motifs | 10AM-4PM, 48 Sevilla St | Runs thru Nov 26

🦪 Shuck for a Truck at Genung’s Fish Camp | Oyster roast to benefit Matanzas Riverkeeper with live music by Michael Chancellor | 6-9PM, 291 Cubbedge Rd | Tickets

👑 Drag Queen-a-Palooza at Third Space Improv | a night of dazzling performances, glamorous costumes, and bold self-expression to Third Space Improv | 8-10PM, 200 Malaga St, #7 | Tickets

Saturday

🚗 16th Annual A1A Super Scenic Garage Sale | 150 miles of deals along Florida’s coastal communities from Fernandina Beach to Ponce Inlet, with numerous stops featuring bargains at community sites, homes, and local businesses | 8AM-2PM, Multiple Locations | Info

🧘 Yoga in the Garden with Serenity Yoga | Donation-based sessions in the Radzinski Family Garden at the Lightner Museum, welcoming all levels—just bring your mat and water | 8:30-9:30AM, 75 King St

🧑‍🌾 Amphitheatre Farmers Market at The Amp | Fresh food, artisan goods, flowers, local art, and live entertainment every Saturday morning, with free admission and parking | 8:30AM-12:30PM, 1340C A1A South

🏍️ Unity Pink Motorcycle Ride 2024 | A scenic 70-mile ride from Adamec Harley-Davidson in St. Augustine, featuring goody bags for early registrants, live music, raffles, and a silent auction—all to support breast cancer patients and their families | 8:30AM-2PM, 380 Outlet Mall Blvd | Info

👟 Family Color Run 5K at St. Johns County Fairgrounds | A fun, colorful event for all ages, complete with an official t-shirt, medal, timed run, and color stations along the route | 9AM, 5840 SR 207 | Register

🏖️ Beach Exploration at GTM Research Reserve | A family-friendly beach exploration walk on the 3rd Saturday of each month, where you'll learn about beach wildlife, collect seashells, and enjoy a “Beaches 101” experience | 9-11AM, 505 Guana River Rd | Info

🚘️ Ancient City Auto Club Car Show 2024 at FSDB | 0th Annual Ancient City Auto Club Car Show invites all vehicle enthusiasts to enjoy classic cars, music, food trucks, prizes, and free admission | 11AM-3PM, 207 N San Marco | Info

🛍️ Vilano Beach Artisan Market at Vilano Main Street | Every third Saturday, local artisans offer unique crafts, handmade goods, and treats along Vilano Road, complete with a cash beer and wine bar for a relaxed shopping experience | 4-8PM, Vilano Beach Town Center

⛵️ Sail Into the Season Holiday Kick-off Party Benefitting the Youth Sailing Center Construction Fund | Enjoy a festive evening touring a historic estate with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and live music, supporting the construction of a community youth sailing center | 5-8PM, 51 Water St | Tickets

🌕️ Moonlight Market at Jenna Alexander Studio/Sunday Gathering Table | Nearly 30 local vendors, live music from DJ Zach Engh, fresh burgers by Sunday, and the release of Jenna Alexander’s annual St. Augustine holiday illustration | 5-9PM, 73 San Marco Ave

🍜 Empty Bowls Event at 904 Art House | Unites ceramics, food, and music to support local food banks, where guests enjoy a handcrafted bowl, a meal by local chefs, and a drink—all to combat food insecurity in the community | 6:30PM, 3920 A1A South Unit 8 | Tickets

🎸 Gamble Rogers Concert Series: Live From The Waterworks feat. Christina Vane | Honoring the iconic folk artist with monthly shows featuring national and local musicians, supporting the annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival | Doors at 6:30PM, Show at 7PM | Tickets

😆 Holiday Hootenanny at Third Space Improv | Festive fun with an improv show packed with holiday-themed games, spontaneous scenes, and plenty of laughs - runs Saturdays thru Dec 28 | 7:30-9:30PM, 200 Malaga St | Tickets

🎤 Next Stop Comedy Show at Ancient City Brewing | Top stand-up comedians coming to ACB, featuring fresh line-ups with acts from TV and popular podcasts | 8-9:30PM, 73420 Agricultural Center Dr., Ste. 8 | Tickets

Sunday

🐊 The Florida Man Games™ Tryouts at Hatchet Pro Wrestling | Tryouts for the 2025 games with WWE star Sam Shaw at Hatchet Pro Wrestling, seeking Florida residents ready for unique challenges like Florida Sumo, Gator Throw, and Weaponized Pool Noodles | 10:30AM, 50 Ellis St, #203

🎭️ Whose Ancient City is it Anyway? at Third Space Improv | all-ages improv comedy show where locals and visitors can enjoy a unique, unscripted performance inspired by audience suggestions—fun for everyone, from kids to grandparents | 5-6:30PM, 200 Malaga St #7 | Tickets

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Want us to share your event in the Old City Lowdown?

First, you need to check out this awesome show on Monday night.

William Tyler with Kevin PM
6:00M at Bar Citra | $20 at the Door
2676 N Ponce de Leon Blvd

Head out to Bar Citra on Monday, November 18 for an intimate Listening Room show with acclaimed Nashville guitarist, William Tyler, known for his mesmerizing instrumentals and rich storytelling through sound. Opening the night is Kevin PM, bringing his introspective songwriting to set the stage. Don’t miss this perfect pairing of sonic artistry!

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Things look different here, huh? That’s because I wanted to test something out - a dynamic web page with the local live music calendar. Click below to see this weekend’s live music schedule.

The idea here is that you can bookmark this page and have a live look at the upcoming music calendar. This may morph into a “prettier” version, but I wanted to give it a try.

Let me know if I should keep this around, or if you prefer the schedule in the newsletter!

👋 Thanks for reading! If you found it useful, consider sharing with someone who already has their Christmas tree up.

📱 Keep up with the Lowdown on Instagram. Send comments & suggestions to [email protected].

🖼️ Get your business in the Old City Lowdown. Let’s talk about how we can put your business in front of thousands of St. Johns County locals.

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