Happy weekend, Charlotte County! In today’s happening-today edition: Local artists, a waterfront marina plan, and and a pet expo + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.
The 15-minute retirement plan: A comfortable retirement requires a plan that accounts for all your cash flow needs, as well as inflation's quiet erosion of your savings. Our guide offers insights to help you prepare. If you have $1 million or more, get your guide to help build a portfolio that lasts.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Local artists get a showcase: Applications are open for Sarasota Orchestra’s Harmony Gallery, inviting Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte County artists to submit two-dimensional works in any medium. Juried selections will be announced August 15, 2026 -- learn how to apply.
New plans for site: After hotel demolition, Amer Asmar revealed plans for a marina and smaller hotel at 300 W. Retta Esplanade as attorney admitted violations and agreed to pay $4,550 in fines -- see the waterfront plans.
Airline network expansion grows: Allegiant announced eight new Florida routes for October and November 2026 from Fort Lauderdale and other cities after Spirit’s May exit, and plans to expand operations from Punta Gorda -- see the new route map.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill:If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest -- this one's 50% off right now.*
The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.* Highlights this week: |
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Brows behaving badly? If your brows are misbehaving and lashes need love, K.M. Brows & Lashes is a Port Charlotte go-to that shapes, lifts, and polishes with a clean, cozy touch, so you can roll out the door basically ready for the day without fighting your mirror.
Solve something fun: Shake up the week with The Escape Ventures Port Charlotte, where immersive, story-first rooms turn you and your crew into the heroes of the plot. Tackle Nightfall, click through retro chaos in Click ‘N Glitch, or chase ghostly clues in Phantom Files, then argue bragging rights all the way home.
Big stage, bigger bites: The Twisted Fork mixes from-scratch Southern plates with cold beer and frequent live music, connected to Bert's Back Porch for that big covered concert vibe. Grab a friend, claim a patio spot, and let the bikes rumble while you debate an encore round of something crispy.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
A doctor’s been fixing snoring for 30 years: No clunky mouthpiece or loud machines, just two quick throat sprays before bed every night. It might sound too simple, but more than 3 million people use it, and a double-blind study shows 79% of patients reported positive results. *See how it works →
Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works. *Grab your copy here →
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with *this pet insurance plan →
Unknown-number calls aren't random: Scammers don't just pick numbers out of a hat. They pay data brokers a few bucks and get everything they need to harass you, trick you, rob you, or steal your identity outright. Incogni removes all of your personal info from these data broker sites and keeps an eye out to make sure it stays gone for good. *Get protected →
Memorial Day weekend: 35% off Canna River's pain gummies: Each one packs 50mg of CBD and 50mg of CBG — the cannabinoid pair Canna River builds for everyday aches — in flavors like strawberry mango and fuji apple, with a THC-free option if you'd rather skip it. They're vegan, made from USA-grown hemp, and third-party lab tested. Code MEMORIAL35 takes 35% off through Tuesday, May 27. *Shop the sale before it ends → |
05 — The event calendar Around town today & tomorrowOur favorite events going on the rest of this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🚗 Quarterly Car Show and Benefit @ Port Charlotte Eagles Club | Saturday (5/23) at 10:00 AM – Whether your pride and joy is shiny or more character, roll into the Eagles quarterly car show and fuel the Eagles. Ten bucks gets you in, trophies, including Best of Show, a 50/50, door prizes, food, and Tom’s Traveling Tunes. Proceeds boost Eagles Building Fund.
🧵 SWFL Largest Indoor Craft Show @ Charlotte Harbor (Punta Gorda) | Saturday (5/23) at 10:00 AM – Saturday at the biggest indoor craft show in Southwest Florida means one thing, glorious A/C and handmade everything. Come wander the aisles, sip a coffee, side-eye the snowbirds, and stock up on gifts. We’re there Saturday only, so swing by, say hi, and shop local.
🎨 Indoor Arts & Crafts Show @ Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center (Punta Gorda) | Saturday (5/23) at 10:00 AM – Rain or shine, the A/C at Charlotte Harbor Event Center is hosting an indoor arts and crafts show, which is basically retail therapy with manners. Stroll Punta Gorda makers’ booths, find gifts you’ll pretend are for others, and call it supporting local.
🌺 Plumeria Prowess @ Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens (Punta Gorda) | Saturday (5/23) at 10:00 AM – Your plumeria giving you more attitude than blooms? Fort Lauderdale’s Brian Dawes, the straight-talking pro behind The Potted Plumeria Nursery, demystifies dormancy, soil, watering, fertilizing, and rust, plus easy propagation, so South Florida plants actually flower. Practical, local fixes, even Martha noticed.
🌱 Kid Friendly Garden Fun @ Painting with a Twist (Port Charlotte) | Saturday (5/23) at 1:00 PM – Got small humans with big energy? This kid friendly garden day lets them dig, plant a few seeds, and learn why bees matter, while you breathe fresh air and smugly call it science class. Dirt under fingernails, memories made, meltdown risk reduced.
🐾 2026 Pet Expo @ Rêverie Enterprises (Punta Gorda) | Sunday (5/24) at 11:00 AM – The Rêverie Pet Expo is taking over the Loveland Blvd parking lot with local vendors, homemade treats, dog activities, and fundraisers for local animal causes. Think farmers market energy, with more wagging. Bring the family, the leash, and if you’ve got a business, a booth.
🎨 Kava & Paint @ Downtown Kava (Punta Gorda) | Sunday (5/24) at 1:00 PM – Sip kava and paint with Ranger Rob at Downtown Kava, a mellow detour from the usual wine-and-wince routine. It is $10, the theme is a mystery, and seats are capped at 25, so reserve now before the craft-store crowd raids the glitter. Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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06 — The Charlotte County report Weather forecastToday — High: 91°F — Low: 76°F — Precip: 23%
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 98. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. East northeast wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tomorrow — High: 91°F — Low: 76°F — Precip: 71%
Showers and thunderstorms likely after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. This house is wildThis 4-bed, 2.5-bath waterfront stunner in gated Harbor West sits on an oversized canal lot with direct Gulf access. Built in 2020, it pairs soaring coffered ceilings, impact windows, and an open split plan with a chef’s kitchen, custom cabinetry, and wine refrigeration. Large sliders open to the lanai, plus an oversized 3-car garage and quick runs to Charlotte Harbor.
Take a peek inside → |
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