First Coast Connect: The price ain’t right

The once sleepy, quaint and borderline podunk vibe of 1980s and ‘90s St. Augustine is now ancient history in the Ancient City. In its place: a buzzy tourist favorite that ranks high on influencer feeds and glossy magazines’ Top 10 lists. T-shirt and seashell shops have given way to upscale Airbnbs, sleek coffee vendors and, now, four Michelin recognized restaurants. Some who’ve watched the change worry the small town is now giving Hilton Head vibes and pricing out locals. We discuss the promise and perils of progress in America’s Oldest City and how the affordability crisis is playing out on the streets of St. Augustine. Guest: St. Augustine City Commissioner Jim Springfield  Foundational art Interpreting the Declaration of Independence through an artistic lens. A new exhibit at the St. Augustine Art Association asks artists to share their perspective on the historic document and how its principles have evolved or influenced the American experience over time. The exhibit, When in the Course of Human Events, is part of America's 250th celebration. Participating artists employ a range of materials to explore the exhibit’s theme, and curators hope the works spark thoughtful conversation about the country’s past, present and future. We sit down with two featured artists, including the artist awarded Best in Show, to hear what inspired the winning piece, I Am. The exhibit is free and open to the public through Aug. 2. Guests: Jennifer Flynt, executive director, St. Augustine Art Association Richlin Burnett-Ryan, portrait artist, painter, curator Weldon Ryan, multimedia artist, former NYPD police sketch artist Stellar strongman A constellation named after a demigod with superhuman strength. We dig into the science behind the “celestial snow globe” known as the Hercules cluster with resident spaceman Eddie Whisler. The grouping of stars officially known as M13 orbits the Milky Way. It’s an estimated 145,000 light-years wide, 25,000 light-years from Earth and contains more than 100,000 stars. Discovered in 1714 by Edmond Halley (of comet fame), it was initially thought to contain zero stars; famed French astronomer Charles Messier officially cataloged it on his list of "non-comets" because his telescope wasn’t strong enough to detect individual stars. We talk about the stunning globular cluster and why peak viewing season is about to begin. Guest: Eddie Whisler, director of planetarium and outreach, Museum of Science & HistorySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.