Happy Thursday, St. Augustine!

Hope it's been a great week and you're all geared up for the stellar weekend ahead.

There's tons of live music in town, with two huge acts hitting The Amp and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, plus Record Store Day and a boatload of great local shows to choose from. Get out there and enjoy it!

If you're feeling generous, forward this email to a friend or two today, and don't be shy about following us on Instagram while you're at it.

— JF

P.S. - If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our new website featuring our growing Events page!

The Porpoise Point beach access ramp project has been completed, nearly a month ahead of schedule. As an FYI, you won’t be able to get to Porpoise Point from the Vilano Road access due to soft sand!

BlackFly has opened in its new location at 410 Anastasia Blvd., the former home of Mellow Mushroom.

The monthly Vilano Artisan Market is suspended for the foreseeable future due to the absurd traffic congestion on the weekends in and around Vilano Main Street. We’ll keep you posted on updates, but it’s going to be a long summer for everyone on the island to the north.

Philosophie Salon has moved from their location on Old Moultrie to 25 Palmer Street in the West King District. I’m due for a cut and can’t wait to check out the new digs. Congrats to the team at Philosophie!

EggBred is set to open at 56 St. George St., the former home of Boat Drinks. According to their website, EggBred is a fast-casual breakfast and brunch joint with 17 locations nationally.

Treasury Hotel Gets Final Approval
The City Commission voted unanimously Monday to greenlight the conversion of the Treasury on the Plaza into a five-star hotel, putting the 1927 landmark on track to become downtown St. Augustine's most luxurious lodging option. The 120-room property from hotelier Kanti Patel will also include a parking garage, event space, and 30,000 square feet of commercial space, though construction isn't expected to begin until 2029. The developer is eyeing top-tier brands like a St. Regis, Conrad, or Waldorf Astoria. (Jacksonville Today) [$]

UF Opens $41M Marine Research Center in Marineland
The University of Florida has opened a new 38,000-square-foot marine research facility at Whitney Laboratory in Marineland, bringing expanded tank space, an upgraded sea turtle hospital, and more room for hands-on scientific work. The $41 million project, funded through a mix of state money and donor contributions, adds significant capacity to one of the First Coast's most important marine science institutions, which has called Marineland home since 1974. (First Coast News)

County Buys 33 Acres Near Fairgrounds for Future Park
St. Johns County has purchased nearly 33 acres off Moccasin Creek Lane near SR 207 in Elkton, adjacent to the county fairgrounds, for a future regional park serving the southern part of the county. The $835,000 purchase is part of the county's broader push to get ahead of recreational demand as the population continues to grow, with design and construction timelines still to be determined. (St. Johns County)

Spanish Sailor Arrives in St. Augustine, Breaks Record
Juan Merediz sailed into St. Augustine on Tuesday after retracing Columbus' transatlantic route from Spain in record time, just under 19 days. The Asturian navigator chose St. Augustine as his final stop to honor Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the city's founder, who was born in our sister city of Avilés, Spain. (City of St. Augustine)

Two Historic Inns Find New Owners
A pair of bed-and-breakfasts in St. Augustine's historic district have traded hands, with the Penny Farthing Inn and 44 Spanish Street Inn fetching a combined $3.76 million. Both properties landed with seasoned innkeepers who plan to keep the doors open, adding to a growing list of signals that downtown St. Augustine remains a solid bet for boutique hospitality investors. (Jacksonville Business Journal) [$]

• Gasoline prices expected to rise across Florida (Jacksonville Today)

• White Castle plans St. Augustine location, first in Northeast Florida (Jax Daily Record)

📍 City Marina & St. Augustine Yacht Club

Race Week wraps Saturday, but there's still plenty of sailing (and celebrating) left to squeeze in. The Offshore Racing Series takes over the water today through Saturday, and the Old City keeps the party going after hours with live sets from Paper City Hustlers, Chillula, and Heather Craig. Catch the full lineup and timeline of events right here.

📍 Ponte Vedra Concert Hall - 1050 A1A North

Four kids killing the bluegrass game, straight out of Birmingham, AL. Mountain Grass Unit is shaking things up in the best way, and this is another “can’t miss” show at The Hall.

Don’t forget to hit up the Pre-Party starting at 6pm and enjoy $5 beers & dogs before the fellas take the stage. Get your tickets while they last!

📍 Tonevendor - 81d King Street

Record Store Day is a high holiday for vinyl aficionados, and the spring ‘26 RSD is sure to be a doozie at our local music mecca, Tonevendor. If you’re new to the vinyl game, returning to the vinyl game, or have never experienced a Record Store Day, be sure to check out Tonevendor’s “best practices” for this year’s festivities.

This isn’t like Black Friday… you need to have a game plan! Support local music, support local music shops, and go have yourself a time at Tonevendor!

Goose is at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre for two nights this weekend, and that means town will be buzzing. The biggest Goose fan I know just so happens to own a local bar — so before you head to The Amp on Sunday, you won't want to miss Spinster Abbott's Flamingo Flodown pre-party, with live music and a mini-market going from 12–4pm. And after each show, Sarbez! has the after-party game locked down with live music both nights. Here's the rundown:

📍 Dog Rose Brewing Co. - 77 Bridge Street

Pints for Parkinson's is back on April 23rd, and it's one of our favorite nights of the year. Dog Rose Brewing is raising funds for the ReBloom Center, a local nonprofit that helps hundreds of folks live well with Parkinson's through exercise, voice training, education, and social support. Free entry, free food, live music, an outside bar, and a live raffle packed with goods from local businesses you won't want to miss.

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