🪕The Singing Priests

Happy Fri-yah! Celebrating the last weekend of July with our weather stuck on repeat — humid and partly cloudy 🌤 with the possibility of scattered rain showers. 🌦

As we conclude a week of fun-in-the-sun things to do, let's discuss our storms. Why? Because I love them. I really do. Call me bias, but America's oldest city showcases the prettiest storms I've ever witnessed. The lightning's artistic, the thunder's romantic and the rain's downright fun. Outdoor shower anyone? When safe, I enjoy mother nature's wrath as I would a Butter Chardonnay. Stay safe and enjoy.

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The singing Friars 🪕

The Hillbilly Thomists , a band of Dominican friars from the Order of Preachers, celebrate the release of their fourth studio album, "Marigold," as they visit St. Augustine.

If you've never heard of the Hillbilly Thomists, fret not, as even they would consider themselves up and coming. These musical Thomists – followers of St. Thomas Aquinas – believe that God’s invisible grace can be seen in visible things. Inspired by vivid cultural and spiritual landscapes, their bluegrass, folk and Americana music is rooted in the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains, the Mississippi River and the delta of New Orleans.

Topping Billboard’s bluegrass chart since their debut album, "The Hillbilly Thomists,” the eight musicians will perform at St. Augustine’s National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche on Wednesday, July 31.

Click here to read the story.

What else you should know today: 🔊

🥇Meet the athletes: The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics begins today and the games continue through Aug. 12. Click here to learn more.

🚩Free sandbags: In light of hurricane season, the county's giving away 12,000 pre-made sandbags on Wednesday, July 31, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to St. Augustine residents at Vilano Beaches' North Beach Park , the Solomon Calhoun Community Center, and Windswept Acres Park . Proof of residency is required.

📣Help is needed: St. Augustine's Fort Mose Historic State Park needs volunteers for historic re-enactment, park and environmental tasks, fundraising, membership, marketing, IT support and administrative duties. Click here to complete an application.

💗🤍💙Come early : Residents of St. Johns County can vote early for the Aug. 20 primary election Aug. 10-17 (includes two Saturdays and one Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Augustine's Supervisor of Elections Office , St. Augustine Beach City Hall , Silverleaf Amenity Center and the Southeast Branch Library . Click here for more information.

Great news to end your week... Generation Homes Honored🏡

The Northeast Florida Builders Association Parade of Homes Generation Homes was awarded Best Secondary Space, for the E Komo Mai in St. Augustine Beach.

The three-story, 3,379 square foot, five-bedroom, six-and-half bath vacation retreat boasts a floor plan that includes a third-floor gathering space, a living room, kitchen, two dining areas and two porches – one facing north and the other facing south. Master suites, bathrooms and another gathering room sit next to the pool on the first floor. Smart TVs and smart speakers are set for entertainment.

Cora Johnston, president of Generation Homes described the company’s sentiment as one of pride.

“E Komo Mai exemplifies our unwavering commitment to meet the expectations of homeowners today, tomorrow and for generations to come,” she said in a in release.

E Komo Mai comes from the Hawaiian language meaning welcome, belonging, coming together and a sense of community. Information on Generation Homes can be found here .

Have a fantabulous weekend! May we remind you as we do every day to share your favorite St. Augustine moments with us via pictures and stories of family celebrations, friends and solo days brimming with funny, historical or simply pleasant moments as well as the "Hey, I have an idea; and did you know; and why is this happening in St. Augustine?" and of course, Tuesday's, "I've got a question" notes to Lviti@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: 🪕The Singing Priests