FitLot is a free, one-hour circuit training class coached by a fitness instructor. Courtesy of Healthy St. Pete.

New year’s resolutions are all about self-improvement – and many of us promise ourselves we’ll focus on our health come January 1. If this sounds like you, then read on: We’ve rounded up some ways for you to get moving a little or a lot, and all of these suggestions are low-cost or free!

Fit St. Pete

Healthy St. Pete operates Fit St. Pete as part of the City of St. Petersburg’s Parks and Recreation Department, with local fitness pros instructing free workouts in parks throughout the city.… Read More

At the Good Folk Fest, from left: Member Artist JJ Hitch (NASCAR wrap design), CEO Kim Dohrman, Board Member Hal Freedman (co-sponsor of the NASCAR show truck), NASCAR’s first self-identified autistic driver Armani Williams, Willi Rudowsky (co-sponsor of the NASCAR show truck), and Development Coordinator Shane Hoffman.

In 1998, I applied for a job as a studio assistant/teacher at a new arts organization called Creative Clay. I met two women, the founders of the organization, named Grace-Anne Alfiero and Danielle Sangita, who described a bit about working with special needs adults. Though I had an idea of what this meant, it was a revolutionary experience when I first met the group of clients that I would be working with. … Read More

City Councilmember Corey Givens, Local Mural artist Laura Spencer, and PTB Executive Director Manny Leto in the new PTB space.

When Preserve the ‘Burg cut the ribbon on its new headquarters on November 8 in the Warehouse Arts District, the moment marked far more than an office upgrade. For the nearly 50-year-old organization, founded in 1977, and long operating without a walk-in space for the public, the opening represents a new era of presence, accessibility, and community engagement in St. Petersburg. 

“We’ve never had a public-facing office, a place where people could come and interact with us,” says Executive Director Manny Leto.… Read More

Jeff Schorr, who is moving on after 23 years running the Craftsman House, says the property made an impression on him from the first minute he saw it.

On December 10, 2025, the Craftsman House hosted a joint holiday and farewell party, marking the end of an era. For 23 years, this historic property in Grand Central District has been owned and tended by Jeff Schorr as a gallery, café, pottery studio, music venue, and community space. Now, as Schorr embarks on his next chapter, so will the house.  

As Craftsman House transitions into its next iteration, we’re taking a look back at 2955 Central Avenue’s storied century.… Read More

Want a New Year’s resolution that doesn’t require a diet? Perhaps consider getting to know and appreciate some of our city’s historic buildings a little better. Only one percent of the city’s buildings is designated a local historic landmark, however many residents and visitors know little about them. Let us take you on a virtual tour of a few.

Detroit Hotel (215 Central Avenue) 

It is said that the history of a city may be read on its buildings. That is certainly the case with the Detroit Hotel, the first building constructed in the city.… Read More

Larry Weiner would not describe himself as a poet. But as the current chair of the Executive Committee of Tampa Bay Watch, he felt compelled to pen verse that addressed climate change and inspired others to fight for the environment.

Weiner grew up in Miami and, after getting a bachelor’s in zoology from USF, he went to George Washington University for a master’s in environmental science with a marine biology focus. 

“I was fortunate to work on a university research project that paid me to go diving in [Tampa Bay] every month to collect sediment samples,” he said. “I fell in love with the bay.… Read More

Featured image: Giant, public menorah lighting ceremonies have become newer tradition for celebrating Hanukkah.

Hanukkah, which will take place December 14 to 22 this year, is the eight-day Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt. It is celebrated as a Festival of Lights by lighting a menorah, with a new candle for each of the eight nights to remember the miracle of a small amount of oil that lasted for the entire period. The holiday also involves traditions like playing the dreidel game, and eating foods like latkes and sufganiyot (donuts) – preferably on my patio where my menorah is lit and chocolate gelt (coins) are shared.… Read More

Featured image: Prescribed burning has myriad benefits for the landscape and ecology, but also helps to mitigate larger, unplanned fires.

Smokey Bear famously taught us that we can prevent forest fires. But what if your forest needs fire to survive? 

Many of Florida’s natural communities, including scrub and pine flatwoods, are fire-dependent, meaning they rely on periodic fires to stay healthy. Our state’s long, wet summers produce heavy vegetation growth – ample fire fuel – and our spectacular thunderstorms supply the igniting spark. The result, for much of Florida’s post-Pleistocene history, has been regular, low-intensity fires across much of the region.… Read More

The motto of The Salvation Army is “Doing the Most Good,” which is ever-apparent during the holiday season – perhaps the iconic organization’s busiest time. 

The Salvation Army of Greater St. Petersburg (SAGSP) has an on-site food pantry stocked through donations and community partnerships that operate throughout the year. In the fall, a major food drive helps secure more donations for the winter holidays in addition to its usual stock of non-perishables, plus fresh, seasonal produce and vegetables.

“Our holiday season kicks off with the Holiday Food Drive, which helps families throughout Southern Pinellas County,” says Kim Duncan, development coordinator for The Salvation Army’s Florida Division, St.… Read More

It’s Saturday night. Dozens of things are vying for your attention, your leisure time, and your money. But you want to cut through the noise – get beyond the influencers and the biggest advertising budgets – to find the most up-to-date offerings that align with you: your vibes, your companions, and your budget. Where can you access all this for an arts and culture scene as dense as St. Pete’s?

The Warehouse Arts District Association (WADA), led by Executive Director Markus Gottschlich, is launching a vanguard technological solution: an interactive map and unified events calendar. This free-to-use, community-oriented guide is accessible and always live – aimed to help residents and visitors alike explore places they may not know about.     … Read More