Beach Drive: The Weekender August 23 – 26


This late-summer, pre-Labor Day weekend will be #lit. “Lit and you can’t even put it out,” in the words of the sage, modern-day poet, Drake. The usual staples of St. Pete culture are all happening this weekend, with the Rays finishing off a series against the Royals on Thursday before a formidable foe, the Boston Red Sox, come to town to challenge our boys all weekend long. Friday features the St. Pete Indie Market at Station House, a monthly night market with more than 50 vendors including artists, vintage collectors and jewelers. Saturday is packed with events like Saturday Morning Market, the St. Pete Walking Mural Tour from 1o to 11:30 am, the annual Great St. Pete Cupcake Contest at the Morean Arts Center from noon to 3, a Rowdies game at 7:30, and a fascinating exhibit called This Is Not a Selfie opening at the MFA. On Sunday, museums including the Dali, the James Museum and the Florida Holocaust Museum (which has the Bill Graham exhibit) await your visit. Enjoy!

THURSDAY AUGUST 23

Fine Art after 5pm: reduced admission to The Dali Museum, MFA & Imagine Museum

Fine art can be pricey. Thursdays after 5pm, visit the Dali for just $10, the Imagine Museum for $5, and the MFA for $5. Have a glass of wine and stroll the museums for the perfect Happy Hour.

More Dali Museum information can be found here.

Museum of Fine Arts information can be found here.

Imagine Museum information can be found here.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Royals 7:10pm

With a solid mix of newly acquired talent and seasoned players on the roster for 2018, the Tampa Bay Rays are set to be one of the strongest teams in this season’s American League East, which many believe is the most challenging division of baseball.

FRIDAY AUGUST 24

Yoga for Lunch at Station House

This class is INSIDE in the Do Things room on the second floor of Station House for the Summer months.  Unwind and renew with a mid-day Yoga break! A soulful exploration of the body and mind will leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready to embrace the rest of your day, and the weekend ahead.  In the heart of downtown St. Pete, join us for a 45 minutes flow that will get your blood pumping, body moving and soul squealing for joy! Starts at 12pm.

Happy 4 Hours

For a full four hours (3-7 pm) at The Oyster Bar, enjoy drink specials such as $5 Smirnoff martinis and $5 draft beers.

HYbar Happy Hour

Hit the bar at St. Pete’s newest hotel – The Hyatt Place St. Pete. Celebrate your long week with a cold craft cocktail or local craft brew while listening to local live music! This high brow happy hour happens every Friday night, with beautiful views and great deals.  Happy Hour runs from 4:30pm-7:30pm.

Storytellers Exhibition at the Chihuly Collection

This narrative driven glass exhibition is on display at the Chihuly Collection from June 8 – Oct 31. Tickets are included with general admission and can be purchased online or in person.

St. Pete Indie Market – Nights Exchange

Shop this monthly night market featuring 50+ vendors by artists, indie designers, vintage collectors, jewelers and more local makers. Plus enjoy good music and craft cocktails by Ichicoro Ane. This monthly makers faire showcases the best of all things indie on the multiple levels of trendy event space that Station House St. Pete has to offer. Come out from 6 – 10 p.m. for an evening supporting St. Pete’s local arts & culture.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Red Sox 7:10pm

With a solid mix of newly acquired talent and seasoned players on the roster for 2018, the Tampa Bay Rays are set to be one of the strongest teams in this season’s American League East, which many believe is the most challenging division of baseball.

SATURDAY AUGUST 25

Poolside Yoga and Brunch

If there weren’t enough yoga options for you already, here’s another: poolside yoga at the Hollander Hotel at 8:30 followed by brunch. Salute the sun with Allison Moonbeam Archer then cool off in the Hollander Hotel Downtown St Petersburg’s beautiful pool. All levels are welcome for this slow flow class and mats will be provided as needed. $5 Body Electric monthly and annual members; $10 pre-registered; $15 at the door.

Saturday Morning Market at Al Lang Stadium

St. Pete’s favorite way to say good morning is on Beach Drive. It’s full of all of the goods – and eats – to make your Saturday morning sweet. Stop by  from 9am to 1pm. For more information, visit their website: http://saturdaymorningmarket.com/

St. Pete Walking Mural Tour

Hear the inside stories of the making of more than 30 murals found in the Central Arts District in downtown St. Petersburg. The four-block tour begins at Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave., each Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and concludes at 11:30 a.m. Call 727-821-7391 or email gallery@FloridaCraftsmen.net to book a tour, which costs $19 for adults and $11 for children. A portion of the proceeds from the tours will be used to fund future murals.

Annual Great St. Pete Cupcake Contest

Whether you’re here to eat or compete, you don’t want to miss the sweetest event of the year! Each year, the Morean Arts Center hosts the Great St. Pete Cupcake Contest as a city-wide search for St. Pete’s BEST cupcake! The contest will be held at the Morean Center for Clay located in the Warehouse Arts District at 420 22nd Street South – Saturday, Aug 25 from 12 – 3 p.m. Register to compete or just show up to sample some of the best cupcakes in St. Pete. 

Thirsty Pelican Brew Tour

Experience the Gulp Coast in style with the Thirsty Pelican Brew Tours! Get picked up straight from your hotel or from one of the other select pickup locations in Downtown St. Pete. The tour gives you an inside look at select breweries while sampling the best craft beer the Gulp Coast has to offer (all without having to worry about driving). Book your tour on their website or by calling (727) 418-7625.

This Is Not a Selfie Exhibition at MFA St. Pete

In the current “Age of the Selfie,” this exhibition offers a compelling look at the primacy and variety of expressions within self-portraiture through the eyes of an artist. This exhibition features artists who expand the domains of self-portraiture by blurring the distinction between reality and fantasy, artifice and authenticity, and public and private imagery. This Is Not a Selfie provides an opportunity to view the remarkably innovative and diverse methods photographers use, offering new meanings into our own understanding of the self.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Red Sox 6:10pm

With a solid mix of newly acquired talent and seasoned players on the roster for 2018, the Tampa Bay Rays are set to be one of the strongest teams in this season’s American League East, which many believe is the most challenging division of baseball.

Rowdies vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.

Get ‘Rowdie’ at Al Lang Stadium and cheer on the Tampa Bay Rowdies as they take on Cincinnati.  Kickoff is at 7:30 pm and tickets start at $25.

SUNDAY AUGUST 26

Yoga at The Dali

Bring along your yoga mat and come ready to be inspired! Join Lucky Cat Yoga at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday at The Dali Museum for yoga. Classes are held in the Raymond James Community Room or outside in the Avant-garden, both with incredible views of the waterfront. The cost to participate is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at the Member’s desk.

Masterpieces & Mimosas at the Dali Museum

Let’s get (Sur)real. What could be better than a Spanish brunch, complete with mimosas AND the wild works of Salvador Dali? No comparison. Grab a companion for your journey into weird and wonderful from 11 to 4pm in the museum’s Gala Cafe.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Red Sox 1:10pm

With a solid mix of newly acquired talent and seasoned players on the roster for 2018, the Tampa Bay Rays are set to be one of the strongest teams in this season’s American League East, which many believe is the most challenging division of baseball.

Rock & Roll Exhibition at The Florida Holocaust Museum

Explore the extraordinary life of renowned music promoter Bill Graham (1931 – 1991) who helped launch and promote the careers of countless rock & roll artists. This exhibition also traces the indomitable spirit of a man who was brought to the United States as an eleven-year-old Jewish refugee fleeing the Nazis, fueling lifelong passion and advocacy for social justice.

Clyde Butcher: Visions of Dali’s Spain

To create this special exhibition, The Dali invited Clyde Butcher, the renowned nature photographer often called “Florida’s Ansel Adams,” to explore and visually document Salvador Dali’s homeland. Clyde Butcher: Vision’s of Dali’s Spain provides a technically brilliant, epically scaled view of Dali’s beloved environs,  to creates a euphoric experience of immersion.

James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art Presents “Art and the Animal”

A special exhibition featuring premier wildlife art from artists around the world! Organized in collaboration with The Society of Animal Artists, “Art and the Animal” will feature over 100 paintings and sculptures, with select art available for purchase. This exhibition is on display at the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in downtown St. Pete from July 28 – October 23, 2018.

(Off Beach): Morean Center for Clay Annual Member Show

The Morean Center for Clay is hosting their fourth annual studio members show. Each year studio members are encouraged to participate in the show and exhibit 1-2 pieces of their work. While all artists participating use the same material, their mixture of skill sets, levels and techniques help to create an extremely diverse display. This year’s show features 40 studio artists working with both sculptural and functional pieces.

About the author

Graham Colton

Graham doesn't like talking about himself...he'd rather write. He is a master's student in journalism at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. He's also a freelance writer and social media manager, who is pleased to be with Beach Drive and the St. Pete Catalyst this summer. In his free time, he enjoys reading and playing sports.


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