Beach Drive: The Weekender October 18-21


It’s the weekend again! As usual, St. Pete’s downtown has no shortage of things to do. Thursday kicks off with a city-wide scavenger hunt, giving you the perfect excuse to spend hours wandering around town exploring with friends. Then, enjoy an evening in the park under the stars and watch Hidden Figures! Friday continues the festivities with a back-to-the-80s party (including full-on costumes, of course) as well as events like a zombie-themed food and beer crawl. Saturday is packed full, with a Kiwanis Club Shuffleboard Showdown and the annual St. Pete Science Festival. Sunday brings the fun to a close with events such as a vintage bash at the Hollander Hotel, including a vintage swimsuit contest and car show, as well as morning yoga in support of those who suffer at the hands of domestic violence. With so many events, there’s definitely something for everyone — whether you’re looking for a charity event, food and drinks, or a night of music and fun. Enjoy!

THURSDAY OCTOBER 18

Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure — St. Petersburg

What better way is there to explore St. Pete than a city-wide scavenger hunt? Turn your smart phone into a game device and make your way through a three-hour city tour. Start at 335 2nd Ave. NE (when you’re ready), and play at your own pace! The event runs from 9AM-8PM. Tickets are purchased per team and are $44. Find them here.

HYbar Trivia Thursdays

If you enjoy trivia, check out the HYbar for Trivia Thursdays! Playing is free and the top 3 teams win prizes. The event includes happy hour pricing from 5PM to 7PM, meaning $4 local draft beers and Canvas wines!

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.

Magic of Oaxaca Gourmet Dinner and Wine Pairing

Chef Chris Fernandez brings the dishes and flavors of his hometown of Oaxaca, Mexico, to St. Pete this Thursday! This town is known internationally for its flavor in the culinary community, and Chef Chris has prepared a seven-course menu of some of its specialties. The order and selection is based on ancient customs, celebrating life and earthly offerings. Along with the meal comes an international selection of wines, prepared by Chef Chris and Andy Jay, Red Mesa Cantina’s Beverage Director. The event will take place at Red Mesa Events, 128 3rd Street South from 7PM-9PM. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased here.

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.

Movies in the Park: Hidden Figures

Enjoy a free movie underneath the stars every Thursday in October in North Straub Park in downtown St. Pete, this week’s screening being Hidden Figures! Grab a blanket, low lying chair and a picnic to enjoy music beginning at 6 p.m. by Sunset Bridge Band and tonight’s feature, ‘Hidden Figures’ starting at dark. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 19

The Music of Queen Presented by The Florida Orchestra

Get ready for the upcoming film release of Bohemian Rhapsody with a night of Queen’s greatest hits, performed by The Florida Orchestra! Brent Havens conducts the orchestra at the Mahaffey Theater at 8PM this Friday. Tickets can be purchased here, at 727-892-3337 or 1-800-662-7286, or can be purchased at the Florida Orchestra Ticket Center

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.

Art Fridays at the Vinoy

Visit the Vinoy Renaissance this Friday night from 5:30PM-7:30PM for a free art show! Meet the artist and view their works while supporting the local art community.

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 Zombie/Street Food & Craft Beer Crawl

This family (and pet)-friendly crawl goes beyond the traditional booze — check out a variety of food trucks from around Tampa Bay and enjoy local craft beers. Come dressed in your best costumes for the costume contest (with prizes!) and bring picnic blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the festivities, including a zombie flash mob! Admission is free and the event takes place at Albert Whitted Park (480 Bayshore Dr SE) from 6PM-10PM.

Back to the 80s Party

Love the 80s? Now is your chance to party! DJs Matt The Bratt and Speedy Jr will be playing 80s and 90s favorites at the Iberian Rooster’s Subcentral. Come dressed to impress in your favorite throwback outfits and have a great time! The event starts at 9PM and cover is $10. For information and reservations, call 813-508-3544.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 20

Saturday Morning Market — Gluten Free/Vegan

Check out this week’s rendition of St. Pete’s favorite way to say good morning. It’s full of all of the goods – and eats – to make your Saturday morning sweet. This week’s market is dedicated to gluten free and vegan eats! Stop by at 101 1st Street SE between 9am and 1pm.

Pops in the Park

Grab your family, friends, or a date and head over to Vinoy Park this Saturday for a free concert. The Florida Orchestra will perform everything from Broadway scores to symphonies. The pre-concert performances will begin at 4PM with the orchestra beginning at 7PM. Close the night with a fireworks finale overlooking the bay!

St. Pete Science Festival

The 8th annual Science Festival will be taking place this weekend! Visit the University of South Florida’s waterfront St. Pete campus for a day of science-filled fun! The event will run from 10AM to 4PM and includes a variety of science-themed activities. For more information or to support this event, visit https://www.stpetescifest.org/.

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.

Salsa in The Burg

Join DJs Mike Sensation and Elias Mambo as they spin vinyl (yes, real vinyl!) for a night of dancing at the Iberian Rooster’s Subcentral. The night includes $7 margaritas and $3 Coronas all night! Come early to enjoy dinner at the Iberian Rooster before the event gets into swing. The event runs from 9PM to 3AM and tickets are $10. Purchase them here!

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.

Kiwanis Shuffleboard Showdown

Support St. Petersburg’s Kiwanis Club chapter with their 3rd annual Shuffleboard Showdown! Join them at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club for a night of fun, from 5:30PM-10PM. Tickets include shuffleboard play, hors d’oeuvres, soft drinks, and bottled water. Green Bench Brewing will also provide wine and beer for purchase. The night also includes a silent auction, raffles, and an art show! All proceeds go to the Kiwanis College Scholarship fund, the St. Pete Free Clinic, and the Salvation Army Sallie House. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here.

Suenos de Dali: “Dali in NYC”

Join the Dali Museum for a surreal soiree! Enjoy a night of a New York-themed museum, including themed bars and drinks as well as dancing. Tickets include valet parking and access to the museum’s galleries. Costumes are encouraged, so don’t be afraid to go all-out and have fun at this museum fundraiser! The event begins at 8PM. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased here.

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.

7th Annual Pub Crawl-O-Ween

Get spooky this Saturday with Club Sport’s Halloween-themed pub crawl! Put on your best costume and head to five different downtown bars — tickets include a free drink at each! There will also be a costume contest, including prizes and giveaways! Tickets can be purchased here for $25 or $30 at the door (if available).

Glowball 2018

Visit Enigma St. Pete in support of the Team Red Ribbon Cyclists’s SMART Ride 15! 100% of the funds raised by this SMART Ride go to charitable organizations in Central and Southern Florida, where the funds support HIV/AIDS testing and services, including the St. Petersburg community. Starting at 8PM, dance the night away with DJ Craig Durty. Come wearing Glow Gear and Sugar Skull makeup to join in the festivities! Cover is free, but donations can be made here.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 21

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.

Rooftop Yoga for Domestic Violence Awareness

This month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so support the Purple Dot Yoga Project this Sunday at 9AM with a morning of rooftop yoga! Instructors Kate Berlin and Liz Arch will take participants through a series of routines on the roof of Station House St. Pete. Complimentary kombucha will also be provided by Mother Kombucha. Admission is donation-based, with a suggested donation of $15. Register and donate here.

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.

St. Pete Sunday Market

LocalShops1 will be hosting a Sunday Market at Caddy’s on Central! This runs weekly from 12PM to 4PM each Sunday through April. Sip mimosas, enter raffles, and enjoy live music as you shop a variety of local vendors!

Six Dollar Sundays at the St. Petersburg Museum of History

Visit the St. Petersburg Museum of History for just $6! This deal has returned and continues through the end of the year. Be sure to take advantage of this and learn about the history of our beautiful city.

St. Pete Vintage Bash

The Hollander Hotel will be hosting a vintage-style bash from 1PM to 6PM. The event is free and includes a helmet art show, vintage motorcycle contest, swing dance contest, vintage swimwear contest, and a vintage car show! Music includes DJ Sugar Bear and The Hot Rod Hornets. Email juliana.hollanderhotel@gmail.com to register for a contest!

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.

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.

Trivia Night at the Hollander Hotel

Join the Hollander Hotel in the Tap Room every Sunday through December 23rd for trivia night! The top three winning teams earn $50, $35, and $15 in Tap House Bucks.

The event takes place from 6PM to 10PM.

François K Rooftop Party

New York performer François K will be making his Tampa Bay debut at the Station House this Sunday night! The event runs from 5PM to 11PM and includes a variety of other artists, including Austin van der Bleek, Brad Ashwell, and Boomerang. Tickets are $25 first release and $30 second release and can be purchased here.

About the author

Gina Marks

Gina is a graduate of the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, with a love of all things writing and St. Pete-themed. Originally from Grand Rapids, MI, she moved with her family to Florida in 2009 and has been in love ever since. When she's not studying or working, she spends her time reading, writing, and working on her fashion blog, ellisfashionco.com.


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