Pasadena church lands on the endangered list as City Hall sounds the storm alarm
City Hall says prepare now and a storm-damaged sanctuary shows why — plus Pride Month picks, a free Pier workout, and a national retailer headed to town.
Pasadena church lands on the endangered list as City Hall sounds the storm alarm
The city issued its prepare-now call on June 1 — the same week Pasadena Community Church landed on the state endangered places list over its hurricane-damaged sanctuary.
The setup: The City of St. Petersburg opened June with a formal call urging residents to prepare for hurricane season, one of three notices City Hall posted on June 1 alongside the new edition of St. Pete Extra.
Zoom in: Across town, the bill from past storms is still coming due. Pasadena Community Church has been added to the state list of endangered places, according to the St. Pete Catalyst, with preservation advocates sounding the alarm as the congregation moves ahead with plans to replace its hurricane-damaged sanctuary.
The stake: The fight over the sanctuary is what storm damage looks like after the news trucks leave. A building can survive a season and still be lost in the years that follow, one decision at a time — and the congregation now has preservationists and its own rebuilding plans pulling in different directions.
The read: Treat the city's June 1 notice as more than a press release. Preparation is the cheapest line item of the season, and Pasadena Community Church is the local example of what the expensive version costs — in money, in history, and in places a city cannot easily replace.
Sting's November show is moving from Tampa to Orlando
A cross-bay concert night just turned into an I-4 road trip for local fans.
Zoom in: Sting's November concert has been moved from Tampa to Orlando, reported by the St. Pete Catalyst. For Tampa Bay ticket holders, the change swaps a quick trip across the bridge for a much longer haul up I-4 on a weeknight-or-weekend calculus that just got harder. Anyone holding tickets should confirm the new venue, the date, and their ticket status before locking in fall plans.
Pride Month is in full swing across the Burg
St. Pete's June calendar is stacked with Pride events, and Gulfport is celebrating too.
The setup: Pride Month is underway across St. Pete, and the full slate of celebrations is mapped in a complete guide from I Love the Burg. Gulfport Pride is on the June calendar as well, flagged by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater among the month's celebrations in the area's LGBTQ-friendly small towns. If the weekend plan is still open, this is the deepest bench of options in town — and the events run well beyond a single weekend.
Art OUT returns for year nine at two venues
The annual exhibition is back at the James Museum and the Gulfport Public Library.
Backstory: Art OUT is back for its ninth year, with work on view at the James Museum and the Gulfport Public Library, covered June 1 by I Love the Burg. The two-venue run makes it an easy add to a downtown museum stop or a Gulfport afternoon, and nine years in, the show has earned a regular spot on the June arts calendar. It also pairs naturally with the rest of the month's Pride programming.
A free First Friday workout at the Pier
The free monthly bootcamp returns to Family Park on June 5.
On Friday: F45 Training runs its free outdoor bootcamp at the Pier's Family Park at 4:30 pm, the free First Fridays session. The hour-long session is billed as a high-energy workout — no cost, no gear required beyond a willingness to sweat before the weekend starts.
Warby Parker is headed to St. Pete
The eyewear brand is bringing its first store to the city.
Worth watching: Warby Parker is preparing to open its first St. Pete store, reported by the St. Pete Catalyst. A first local address from the national eyewear retailer adds one more name to the city's shopping map — the location and opening timing are the details to watch.
Tampa Bay Restaurant Month lands on the dining calendar
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater is spotlighting a lineup that runs from Greek tavernas to Michelin-recognized omakase.
Tampa Bay Restaurant Month highlights the area's range — traditional Greek tavernas, beachside seafood shacks, and Michelin-recognized omakase. Check participating restaurants and dates before booking a table.
Black Music Month gets a Bourbon Street kickoff at the Enoch Davis Center
The city center marks the month with a BBQ and jazz celebration.
The Enoch Davis Center is hosting Bourbon Street BBQ and Jazz in celebration of Black Music Month, announced in a June 1 media release from the City of St. Petersburg. Event specifics are on the city's release page.