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Hi Melbourne, hope you’re having a great weekend!

In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: Barnes & Noble grand opening, Boots, Brews, Bourbon & BBQ Music Fest, and Space Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.

From today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz: Many Florida drivers end up paying higher auto insurance premiums because they don’t shop around enough. The same driver with the same car can get wildly different quotes from different insurers, so it truly pays to compare. Their free tool makes it easy.*

📰 Most-clicked stories this week

Page-turners and more await: Barnes & Noble opened March 11 at 9 a.m. in West Melbourne, bringing a bookstore and community space to 1557 W. New Haven Avenue with thousands of titles and future events — read the full story.

Popular Space Coast festival returns: Boots, Brews, Bourbon & BBQ Music Fest is set for March 28 at Merritt Island Veterans Amphitheater, with live bands, complimentary beer and bourbon tastings, barbecue, vendors, games, and contests — get all the details.

Partnership brings roadway upgrades: Palm Bay and Brevard County are set to reconstruct and resurface Babcock Street overnight, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., improving safety and extending pavement life for drivers — get all the project details.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*

Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.*

All the crowd favorites:

• Enjoy live music and free treats
• Dress up for Melbourne’s Adult Prom
• Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Skip

💎 This week’s top finds

Neighborhood book fix: Moonstruck Market blends new and used books with locally made art and gifts, plus easygoing community events for meeting fellow book people. When your night needs a reset, wander the shelves, breathe a little, and let one, maybe three, titles find you.

Serious sandwich upgrade: At Cerrato’s Italian Market and Deli, hefty Italian cold-cut stacks land on fresh-baked bread with imported meats and cheeses. Grab a cannoli for dessert to go, then savor a lunch that’s big on joy and bigger on flavor from this quietly reliable old-school deli.

Plan a theater night: Henegar Performing Arts Center serves up big-hearted, community-built musicals and plays that turn “we should do something” into “why didn’t we do this sooner?” Gathered friends, glowing marquees, and a brain reset await… because sometimes the easiest yes is a night under the stage lights.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements — they’re the local spots your fellow readers clicked on most this week.

🫶 We got your back

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Paying full price is officially optional: Blu Dot just marked down dozens of their best sofas, beds, dining tables, outdoor pieces, and lighting by as much as 60%. Not because something’s wrong with them, but because every great design eventually has to make room for the next one. The deals change daily, so it’s always a new adventure. *See what’s on sale today →

Most people have no idea what’s happening inside their body: Not because the data doesn’t exist, but because no one’s collecting it. Routine annual checkups miss things like body composition, biological age, and the biomarkers that can help predict long-term patterns. The good news? HumeHealth offers tools to help you track all of that at home for less than the cost of a specialist visit. *Use code NEW20 to save 20% →

Something in your house is about to break: It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’ll be staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast. An AHS home warranty covers these types of surprises + *select plans are $150 off right now →

📆 Sneak peek at next week

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎈 Space Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival @ Space Coast Daily Park | Friday (3/20) at 5:00 PM – Swap rocket launches for rainbow balloons at Space Coast Daily Park, with $35 tethered rides, live DJs, and food trucks that lift spirits. The nightly glow and laser show is a stunner, so bring a chair, a blanket, and your favorite co-pilot. Tickets vanish.

🏃 Downtown Melbourne 5K Run/Walk @ Front Street Park | Saturday (3/21) at 7:30 AM – Grab your sneakers and head to Downtown Melbourne for a 5K that actually does some good. This long-running local tradition supports The Haven for Children, helping foster kids in Brevard. Run fast for prizes, or stroll, chat, and earn your brunch with zero guilt.

🐶 GRRMF Golden Gathering @ Wickham Park | Saturday (3/21) at 10:00 AM – Grab a lawn chair and your leashed sidekick for Poocharella, where vendors, activities, food trucks, beer, and live music meet a sea of gold. It’s Epcot for dogs, fewer lines. GRRMF hosts a tailgate, plus meet the teams, caricatures, paw prints, and lure-course bragging rights.

🍻 Bonsai & Cheers @ Intracoastal Brewing Company | Saturday (3/21) at 11:30 AM – Trade yard work for beachside tiny-tree therapy at Intracoastal. Shape a Bahama Berry bonsai with step-by-step help, enjoy two drinks, and head home with the tree, shears, a pot, and a smug sense of horticulture, all for $75.

🌱 Make Fused Glass Plant Stakes @ Wickham Park Senior Center Inc. | Saturday (3/21) at 12:00 PM – Give your philodendron a little class with a fused glass workshop where you make six plant stakes, no Picasso required. Lauren handles the kiln magic, materials, and gentle coaching, you handle the fun, the colors, and the bragging when your garden suddenly looks curated.

🚢 40th Anniversary Celebration & Fundraiser: Cruising for Conservation @ American Muscle Car Museum | Saturday (3/21) at 6:00 PM – Skip the same old fundraiser circuit and hit American Muscle Car Museum for 40 years of sea turtle wins, plus chrome therapy. Tickets get you museum access, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a beer, wine, and champagne bar, with VIPs scoring early entry and a tour.

🥟 Dim Sum Too @ Florida Academy of Baking (Satellite Beach) | Sunday (3/22) at 10:00 AM – This hands-on dim sum class with Lisa He has you pleating dumplings, rolling buns, and steaming like you read the recipe. Grab your copilot, it’s priced per station and perfect for dynamic duos. Skip the mystery cart, make brag-worthy bites, and call it quality time.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Melbourne report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 82°F – Low: 68°F – Precip: 57%

A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8am and 4pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 4pm and 5pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 8pm and 5am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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Tomorrow – High: 85°F – Low: 51°F – Precip: 81%

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8am and 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 2pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Most popular house this week

This 3-bed, 2.5-bath single-story in Sierra Cove at Addison Village blends comfort and convenience. Built in 2019, it offers an open layout, an island kitchen with gas range, and a primary suite with walk-in closet. A patio and nearby community pool, plus storm shutters and a 2-car garage, add assurance in Viera West near I-95, schools, shopping, and dining.

Take a peek inside →