Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series bringing 88-foot dives to the St. Pete Pier this June

/
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series bringing 88-foot dives to the St. Pete Pier this June

Red Bull’s Cliff Diving World Series is coming to Florida for the first time ever, and St. Petersburg will be its debut host. 

The global high diving series will take place June 4th through June 6th at the St. Pete Pier, where professional divers from around the world will compete for prize money and the coveted King Kahekili trophy.

Competition unfolds over three days, beginning with practice dives and preliminary rounds on Thursday, June 4th and Friday, June 5th. Those sessions will not be open to the public.

The main event, featuring additional practice dives, semifinals, and finals, will take place on Saturday, June 6th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is expected to draw roughly 20,000 spectators throughout the day.

The custom dive tower will be installed in the parking lot of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, rising 21 meters (68.8 feet) for female competitors and 27 meters (88.5 feet) for male divers.

Read More

$250 million St. Pete Pier expansion revealed with underwater manatee viewing pods, amphitheater

/
$250 million St. Pete Pier expansion revealed with underwater manatee viewing pods, amphitheater

A new unsolicited proposal is making waves in downtown St. Petersburg—literally.

According to documents recently submitted to the city and obtained by St. Pete Rising, California-based Blue Current Development Group, is pitching a “Phase 2” expansion of the St. Pete Pier, building on the waterfront destination that opened in 2020.

The concept is positioned as a complementary addition rather than a replacement, extending beyond the existing pier while preserving its current layout.

The focus, according to the proposal, is on immersive experiences that bring visitors closer to Tampa Bay—most notably, underwater manatee viewing pods.

The centerpiece of the plan features a series of submerged, glass-enclosed observation rooms anchored below the water’s surface.

Accessible via a gently sloping walkway and elevator, the pods would allow visitors to sit several feet beneath the bay and observe marine life in real time.

Renderings show circular rooms with panoramic glass walls and low lighting designed to avoid disturbing wildlife.

Read More

The Blue Urban Project to open purpose-driven thrift shop on Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete

/
The Blue Urban Project to open purpose-driven thrift shop on Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete

A new thrift shop is set to open, offering vintage clothes, local art, and a chance to support a good cause.

The Blue Urban Project, a St. Pete-based, veteran-founded nonprofit, is preparing to open a thrift store at 1620 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

The Blue Urban Project Thrift expands the organization’s mission to support marine environmental conservation and uplift military veterans, while creating a steady funding source and a stronger presence in the local community.

Since its founding in 2022, the nonprofit has focused on hands-on work like underwater cleanups, sustainability initiatives, and coastal resilience efforts to improve local waterways, while also providing job opportunities and community programs for veterans.

The roughly 900-square-foot space is located next to Zaytoon Grill and was previously occupied by Bohemian Reves, a local skin care and beauty shop that closed in 2024.

The second-hand store is expected to open in early May and will provide affordable clothing (sorted by color), furniture, kitchenware, oddities, and books.

Read More

One of St. Pete’s oldest restaurants Harvey’s 4th Street Grill celebrates 42 years this week

/
One of St. Pete’s oldest restaurants Harvey’s 4th Street Grill celebrates 42 years this week

Few bars and restaurants in St. Pete have a legacy quite like Harvey’s 4th Street Grill. The neighborhood gem has operated at 3121 4th Street North since 1984 and has remained under the same family ownership since day one.

Harvey’s will celebrate its 42nd anniversary this Wednesday, April 1st with a full moon party featuring live music from local musicians Lee Farber, Bernie Williams, Sarasota Slim, and Amy Lynn Dixon.

Shortly after opening in April 1984, owner Dan Harvey Jr. hosted the first full moon party, a monthly event with live music and fresh Maine lobsters.

The gatherings quickly became a tradition and remain a defining part of the restaurant’s history. This week’s celebration will echo the hundreds of full moon parties held over the years.

“Nothing has changed here in the past 40 years…St. Pete was dying for a place like this when we opened,” Harvey Jr. said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “When we talk about places like The Vinoy, The Don CeSar, and Sunset Country Club, I think we’re one little part of that historic fabric of St. Pete.”

Read More

33-story 3rd & 3rd apartment tower tops out in downtown St. Pete

/
33-story 3rd & 3rd apartment tower tops out in downtown St. Pete

A new residential tower in downtown St. Petersburg has reached a major milestone.

KAST Construction has topped out 3rd & 3rd, a 33-story, 262-unit luxury apartment tower rising at 235 3rd Street South.

The project, located on the northwest corner of 3rd Avenue South and 3rd Street South, sits directly across from the Publix-anchored University Village shopping center.

Developed by St. Pete-based Echelon in partnership with Third Lake Capital, the tower was first announced by St. Pete Rising in 2022.

The project received City Council approval later that year, with construction beginning in early 2024.

Read More

Inside the city’s early review of eight proposals for the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Pete

/
Inside the city’s early review of eight proposals for the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Pete

The City of St. Pete has begun reviewing proposals submitted to redevelop the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District, a process that will determine the future of one of downtown’s most significant redevelopment sites.

The city received nine proposals in February from development teams seeking to transform the site, which is currently home to Tropicana Field and a swath of surface parking lots.

The land was historically home to the Gas Plant neighborhood before its displacement in the 1980s and is now being reconsidered for a large-scale mixed-use district that could include housing, jobs, cultural spaces, and public amenities.

After an unsolicited proposal to redevelop the property was submitted by Ark Ellison Horus, other groups were invited to submit alternative proposals through a competitive process aimed at identifying a team capable of delivering a project aligned with the city’s goals.

In addition to physical development, proposals were expected to address community benefits, economic opportunity, and long-term public value.

Read More

Bob’s Side Piece now open in former Dead Bob’s space in west St. Pete

/
Bob’s Side Piece now open in former Dead Bob’s space in west St. Pete

A new restaurant from the owner of Dead Bob’s and DeLosa’s Pizza has quietly debuted in west St. Pete, offering Italian sandwiches, pizza, and more.

Bob’s Side Piece is now open at 6716 Central Avenue, taking over the former home of Dead Bob’s, which recently relocated down the road to 6475 Central Avenue.

The concept is a collaboration between Dead Bob’s owner Ben Scherlis and Jim Breazeale, whose family has operated DeLosa’s Pizza in John’s Pass Village for more than four decades.

The idea for Bob’s Side Piece comes out of a longtime friendship between the two restaurateurs and a desire to keep the original Dead Bob’s space active.

As Scherlis previously put it, the concept came together organically, combining Breazeale’s New York-style pizza roots with the kind of comfort food that made Dead Bob’s a neighborhood staple.

Read More

Proposed 21-story luxury apartment tower in downtown St. Pete advances after City Council denies appeal

/
Proposed 21-story luxury apartment tower in downtown St. Pete advances after City Council denies appeal

A controversial 21-story apartment tower planned for downtown St. Pete will move forward after the City Council voted Thursday to deny an appeal challenging its approval.

The $134 million project, known as The Pelican, has been proposed by St. Pete-based Stadler Development and would replace seven existing apartment buildings on a 1.3-acre site near the Hollander Hotel and Trinity Lutheran Church along 5th Avenue North between 4th and 5th Streets.

Plans call for a 370-unit residential tower with 3,819 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and a 485-space parking garage.

The appeal was filed by local historic preservation advocacy group Preserve the ‘Burg following a January approval by the city’s Development Review Commission.

Under city procedures, the burden was on the group to demonstrate that the project failed to comply with the city’s Land Development Regulations.

During Thursday’s hearing, Preserve the ‘Burg argued that the project’s height of 212 feet, scale, and overall intensity are incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood.

Read More

Parc Center for Disabilities unveils new 14,000-square-foot children’s center in west St. Pete

/
Parc Center for Disabilities unveils new 14,000-square-foot children’s center in west St. Pete

One of the area’s only organizations serving individuals with disabilities and their families has opened a larger home in St. Petersburg.

On Wednesday, Parc Center for Disabilities celebrated the completion and dedication of the Tom and Mary James Children's Services Center at 3151 73rd Street North, just off Tyrone Boulevard.

For over 70 years, the non-profit has helped children and adults with developmental disabilities through education, employment, housing, and life skills programs. Each year, the organization serves over 800 individuals in need.

The new 14,000-square-foot facility, which officially opens in mid-April, will house the Discovery Learning Center preschool, Family Focus Early Intervention Services, and Caregiver Relief Services.

Upon entry, visitors are greeted by a large lobby, in addition to classrooms and offices with large doorways and state-of-the-art security.

Read More

Chef from Michelin-starred Tampa restaurant to open Mei in downtown St. Pete

/
Chef from Michelin-starred Tampa restaurant to open Mei in downtown St. Pete

A new restaurant opening in downtown St. Pete in May could be a serious contender for the city’s first Michelin star.

Blending French technique, Nordic influence, and Japanese ingredients, Mei will take over the 2,700-square-foot space at 320 3rd Street South, formerly home to Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi, which closed earlier this year.

Bento was founded by brothers Jimmy and Johnny Tung, who are also backing Mei.

Executive Chef Alex Chamberlain will lead the kitchen, transitioning from his role as Chef de Cuisine at MICHELIN-starred Kōsen in Tampa.

The restaurant is a deeply personal project for Chamberlain, named after his sister.

Read More