Happy Thursday, sunshine neighbors! ☀️
May is knocking, St. Pete and this weekend is not messing around.
Derby hats, an indie film festival taking over downtown, the Rays back home at the Dome and more happening around the city.
Now, in today’s edition:
🌿 Padel courts are officially open
🎙️ Live comedy show with a (secret) location
🛍️ Last Indie Flea Spring Market for the season
🥯 Cold Tub Coffee Club for fitness lovers
Get comfortable, grab a drink and let’s get into this week in St. Pete.
— Matthew & Ashley 🦩
⛴️ St. Pete-Tampa Ferry Service Plans: 2 Boats, $10 Fares, Open Daily
Big local transportation news! Plans for the St. Pete - Tampa ferry service plans are getting closer to becoming a reality.
The PSTA board will vote soon and if approved, St. Pete gets a permanent ferry fleet for the first time in its history — and the bay finally starts working as the connector it was always meant to be.
The Tampa-St. Pete connector will feature two ships, year-round daily service, and fares starting at $10 per person — cheaper than the old Cross-Bay Ferry.
Photo via PSTA
The dock on the Tampa side will be at the Tampa Convention Center. The St. Pete side is still being finalized, but the proposed dock is by the Pier & Vinoy.
The announcement came from a group including PSTA, the City of Tampa, and representatives from both city councils. Hubbard's Marina will operate the service.
🌊 Here’s the deets:
🗓️ When: Target launch is 2nd half of 2026
💸 Cost: Fares from $10 one way; with discounts
Find out more about the Tampa Bay Ferry here.
📣 What’s Brewing This Weekend
1
Don’t Tell Comedy Live Show
Surprise comedians. Top secret location (revealed the day of the show). Don’t Tell Comedy is a pop-up show concept that’s taking the city by storm. No drink minimums, casual fun with a curated line-up of comedians.
📆 Fri, May 1; 7pm at Secret Location — 🎟️ from $27
2
Bench Read Book Bash
Love Emily Henry books? You’ll love this! Check out the book mobile, crafts and talk all things Beach Read, People We Meet on Vacation and more!
📆 Thurs, April 30; 6:30-8pm at Green Bench Brewing — Free
3
Indie Flea Spring Market (Final one)
Indie Flea takes over the Mirror Lake waterfront outside City Hall with 160+ makers, vintage hunters, food trucks, and a DJ working through the afternoon. This is the last Indie Flea Market this season. Make sure to stop by!
📆 Sun, May 3; 12pm-4pm at Mirror Lake — Free
❓ Weekly Poll Time
What's your favorite way to spend time on the water in St. Pete?
Results are published in next week’s newsletter — make sure to come back to see who wins! Now cast your vote…
Results from last week’s poll:
Q: Which Tampa Bay Team Do You Support Most?
A: 🏈 Buccaneers won with 40%
🍽️ On The Table
☕️
SOFT OPENING: Say Coffee House
St. Pete's first Vietnamese coffee shop will have their soft opening on April 30-May 1; 8am-4pm at 2414 Central Ave. Serving phin-dripped Vietnamese coffee topped with colorful cold foams, think egg coffee, ube coffee, sea salt coffee.
🦪
COMING SOON: Cheeky’s Seafood & Raw Bar
A New England oyster bar meets Southern fish shack — that's the vibe at Cheeky's, landing at 2823 Central Ave next Wednesday. Fresh oysters, frozen cocktails, and the kind of casual seafood spot Central Ave has been missing.
🥯
GRAND OPENING: Pete’s Bagels Tarpon Springs
Get bagels at the Tarpon Springs sponge docks and celebrate their grand opening — May 2; 7:30am-2pm. Two floors of outdoor seating, sponge docks and Look Alive Coffee. Worth making a morning of it!
🎾 Padel Has Officially Landed In St. Pete
St. Pete Athletic (680 28th Street South, Warehouse Arts District) just unveiled a nearly 20,000-square-foot expansion — and the headline addition is padel.
If you haven't heard of it yet, padel blends tennis and squash on an enclosed court where the walls are part of the game. It's the fastest-growing sport in the world, massive across Europe and Latin America, and now officially in St. Pete.
Photo via St. Pete Athletic
The facility now totals 50,000 square feet with 14 pickleball courts, six table tennis tables, the new padel courts, and Rose's Dining & Drinks on-site for members and non-members.
Whether you're a pickleball regular looking for your next obsession or just curious — now's a great time to check it out.
Check out St. Pete Athletic Padel here.
🏠 Real Estate
This Northeast Park home makes you feel like staying home is a plan. It has the classic updated-home stuff — renovated kitchen, newer finishes, open living space.
You get a heated saltwater pool and spa, screened lanai, pet-friendly turf, and even a putting green. You can tidy up your short game before driving just a few minutes for a round at Mangrove Bay Golf Course.
🐊 Sawgrass Lake Park
We love quick walks along the boardwalks and amongst the maple swamps at Sawgrass Lake Park. The nature and the wildlife are just the cherry on top.
The park is home to one of the largest maple swamps on Florida's Gulf Coast — and a mile of elevated boardwalk winds straight through it to a two-story observation tower.
From up there: alligators, turtles, moorhens, wading birds, and on a good day, a short-tailed hawk circling above the canopy.
Spring is peak migration season, which means the birding right now is excellent.
It's completely free, open every day, and the kind of place you go for a quick walk or stay for an hour or two. Make sure to check out Sawgrass Lake Park!
🏠 Upcoming Events Each Day
THURS, APR 30
Apr 30, 6:30–8pm | Green Bench Brewing, 1133 Baum Ave N | Free
Book mobile, drinks and yapping over Emily Henry’s books.
Apr 30, 7-8:30pm | Ruya, 2200 2st Ave S | $58
Build a succulent arrangement, sip sangria.
FRI, APR 24
May 1, 8pm | Pinellas Ale Works Brewery | 🎟 from $12 early bird / $25 door
Top-rated local comedy club.
May 1, 6-10pm | Central Ave (between 2nd & 3rd St) | Free
St. Pete’s monthly block party.
May 1, 4:30-5:30pm | Family Park, St. Pete Pier | Free
HIIT outdoor fitness workout.
May 1-3; Hours vary | Tropicana Field | 🎟 ticketed
First of a three-game home series against San Francisco.
May 1; 6:30pm | Secret location | 🎟 $27
Lots of laughs at a secret location.
SAT, MAY 2
May 2; 11am-2pm | President Barack Obama Library | Free
Celebration of books, comics, graphic novels & more.
May 2 | Grand Central District, Central Ave | Free
Street festival celebrating Cinco de Mayo a little early.
May 2; 5–7pm | Intermezzo | 🎟 ticketed
Watch the big race with limited edition specials e.g. mint julep.
May 2, 3pm | Spa Beach, St. Pete Pier | 🎟 from $39
Second-to-last Mezzo market for the season this weekend!
May 2, 7:30pm | Al Lang Stadium | 🎟 prices vary
USL home match on the downtown waterfront.
Saturday Morning Market
Apr 25, 9am-2pm | Al Lang Stadium, Downtown St. Pete | Free
An outdoor market with crafts, art, food & drinks: a weekly staple.
SUN, MAY 3
May 3; 12–4pm | Mirror Lake | Free
Final one of the season, 160+ makers, vintage and live music.
May 3; 10am | The Farm St. Pete | Free
Walk, sip & connect with fellow dog lovers.
May 3; 10am-12pm | Caddy’s Treasure Island | Free
Cold plunge, workouts & meet cool people on the beach.
👀 A Look Ahead
May 8-10 | Coachman Park, Clearwater | 🎟 from $150+
Kane Brown, Zach Top, Gavin Adcock and more take the stage.
Know someone who just moved to St. Pete, or someone who keeps saying they want to explore more? Forward this newsletter — {{ rp_refer_url }}
Thanks for reading St. Pete Uncovered!
Let’s chat again next Thursday.
