Happy Thursday, St. Augustine!
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In this week’s Old City Lowdown:
• King Street bridge closing for 7-months
• 1700 acres donated for conservation
• Another Dutch Bros?
Plus a whole lot more from around the Old City. Have a great Thursday, friends!
P.S. - We’d be grateful if you shared this newsletter with one St. Augustine local today and urged them to subscribe. Appreciate your continued support!
James Foote
Publisher | Old City Lowdown
NOTICES
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FIELD REPORT
CONDITIONS: |
|---|
Air Temp: Hi 72 | Lo 63 |
Humidity: 75% Precip: 0% |
Winds: ENE 4-10mph / 14mph |
UV Index: 7 |
Sun: 7:22am↑, 7:40pm↓ |
Moon: 3:12am↓, 1:23pm↑ |
Moonphase: First Quarter |
Tides: 2:47am↑, 9:24am↓, 3:26pm↑, 9:29pm↓ |
Water Temp: 65-67 |
Water: The Atlantic near St. Augustine gets a brief break Thursday, with NWS forecasting north winds 10–15 knots and seas 2–4 feet nearshore, with the Intracoastal settling to a light chop by evening.
Land: Late March marks a busy stretch for spring bird migration in Florida, with millions of birds moving through the state between now and mid-May. Sea turtle nesting season is also getting underway on Florida's Atlantic beaches, running through October, so keep beach lighting minimal after dark.
Sky: Thursday evening, the waxing gibbous moon sits just to the left of Jupiter, with the twin stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, visible nearby in clear skies. The best time to catch the pairing from Florida is around 8 p.m., when Jupiter is at its highest point in the sky.
BULLETIN
Deal: Have a deal or special you’d like here? Email me.
Pets: Philip’s a good boy.
Property: Historic gem on St. Andrews.
THE LOWDOWN
King Street Bridge Closing April 13 for Seven Months
The King Street Bridge over the San Sebastian River closes April 13 for a $13.4 million rehabilitation that includes upgraded lighting, new railings, and shared-use lane markings. The closure lasts roughly seven months, with drivers detoured via US 1 and Malaga Street where a temporary signal has already been installed to help manage traffic. Read More | Project Details
Affordable Housing Complex Breaking Ground off SR 16
A new apartment community is taking shape near the Florida Highway Patrol substation on SR 16, with Madison Capital Group putting shovels in the ground this week on a 232-unit project that sets aside nearly half its units for income-qualifying renters under Florida's Live Local Act. The development at Kenton Mountain Road is part of the company's broader push into high-growth Florida markets. Read More.
Nights of Lights Gets New Permanent Schedule
The City Commission voted Monday to lock in a new annual schedule for Nights of Lights, running from the Saturday before Thanksgiving through MLK Day in January. For the 2026-2027 season, that means Light-Up! Night kicks off November 21, with the display wrapping up January 18, 2027. Read More.
St. Johns County Pushes Back on State Development Bill
St. Johns County commissioners are asking Gov. DeSantis to veto a state bill that would limit their ability to reject development proposals based on neighborhood compatibility. Under the legislation, vague standards like "community character" would no longer be valid grounds for denial without specific, quantifiable justifications, a change county leaders say would erode local control over growth decisions. The bill passed both chambers and now awaits the governor's signature. Read More.
St. Johns County Launches Agriculture Advisory Committee
St. Johns County has appointed seven farmers and agricultural operators to its first-ever Agriculture Advisory Committee, giving the farming community a formal seat at the table with county leadership. The group will weigh in on issues ranging from land use and water resources to crop production and rural policy, helping shape decisions that affect the county's agricultural future. Read More.
1,700 Acres Donated for Conservation in St. Johns County
Ring Power has donated more than 1,700 acres near the Shands Bridge in western St. Johns County to the North Florida Land Trust, permanently protecting the DeerCreek Plantation area from development. The tract more than triples the size of the adjacent Jack Wright Island Conservation Area and sits within a priority zone for springs protection and water quality along the St. Johns River. Read More.
FOOTNOTES
• Florida dissolves Environmental Regulation Commission
• New fire station and sheriff's complex breaks ground
• Hastings High School to become FCTC campus
• Dutch Bros eyes 312 & US-1 intersection ($)
• Black history museum is still a long ways off
• Worst Florida drought in two decades
• Pacetti Bay Park gets the green light
• Tour de Farm Returns April 12
($) denotes a story behind a paywall
SOCIAL
Featured Event
St. Augustine Indie Night at Cafe Eleven
Mar 29 | Doors: 6pm | Show: 7pm | Happy Hour: 3-7pm
Check out the extremely talented local indie acts, Pocket Knife Dance Party, Rohna, and feel trip
Multi-Day Events
30th Annual Flower & Garden Expo | Mar 28-29 | Info
2026 Old Town Art Show | Mar 28-29 | Info
🎵 Parker McCollum | Mar 27-28 | Tickets
Thursday 26th
St. Augustine Film Society: Harold and Maude | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship | 6pm | Info
Royal Transfer of Office | Cathedral Basilica | 6pm | Info
🎵 Cortnie Frazier | Prohibition Kitchen | 6pm
🎵 Lanco | Colonial Oak | 6pm | Tickets
🎵 Moe. | Ponte Vedra Concert Hall | 6:30pm | Tickets
Friday 27th
River Reflection | Alpine Groves Park | 6-7:30pm | Info
🎵 The Collective | Prohibition Kitchen | 6pm
🎵 Airtight | Spinster Abbott’s | 7pm
🎵 Dionysus | Colonial Oak | 7pm
Godspell Opening Night | Limelight Theatre | 7:30pm | Tickets
The Comic Couch | Third Space Improv | 8pm | Info
🎵 Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out | Ponte Vedra Concert Hall | 8pm | Tickets
🎵 Emo Night Brooklyn | Cafe Eleven | 8:30pm | Tickets
🎵 KEBA | Prohibition Kitchen | 10pm
Saturday 28th
Vilano Bridge 5k/10k | Vilano Beach | 8am | Info
The Amp Farmers Market | St. Augustine Amphitheatre | 8:30am-12:30pm
Cars & Coffee | Classic Car Museum | 8-10am | Info
GTM Monthly Beach Cleanup | GTM Reserve | 9-11am | Info
Founders Day Celebration & Muster | Fort Mose | Info
GTM Family Hike & Scavenger Hunt | GTM Reserve | 10-11:30am | Info
West Augustine Market | St. Augustine Handi-House | 11am-4pm
🎵 Toots Lorraine | Prohibition Kitchen | 6pm
🎵 Ajeva | Colonial Oak | 7pm
GTM Moonlight Hike | GTM Reserve | 8-10pm | Info
The Dish Rack Comedy Show | Third Space Improv | 8pm | Info
🎵 TreeHouse! | Cafe Eleven | 8pm | Tickets
🎵 Watchhouse | Ponte Vedra Concert Hall | 8pm | Tickets
🎵 Paper City Hustlers | Prohibition Kitchen | 10pm
Sunday 29th
Farmers Market at the Classic Car Museum | St. Augustine Shores | 10am-2pm
🎵 Soulo Lyon | Prohibition Kitchen | 2pm
🎵 Dewey Via Band | Dog Rose Brewing | 3:30-6:30pm
🎵 418 Band | Prohibition Kitchen | 6pm
Kaleidoscope at Limelight | Limelight Theatre | 7-9pm | Info
🎵 St. Augustine Indie Night | Cafe Eleven | 7pm | Tickets
Upcoming
The Amp Spring Night Market | Mar 31 | Info
Billy Strings at The Amp | Apr 2-4
Mini Vintage Flea | Apr 2 | Muggsy’s
The 31st Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival | Apr 10-12 | Tickets
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