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Happy weekend, Daytona Beach! In today’s edition: Jimmy Eat World’s Arby’s pop-up, a loose cow on the highway, 10 cheap beach towns, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Coastal living on a budget: A recent roundup names 10 Florida beach towns where $1,800 a month covers rent, groceries, and utilities, and Daytona Beach makes the cut alongside spots like Pensacola and Fort Pierce — see the full list.

More to savor soon: One Daytona favorite Tiano’s Cucina Italiana is expanding into the next door space with a new deli, wine bar, and market, growing its footprint and options for Daytona Beach diners — get all the details.

Rock in an unlikely venue: On Feb. 16, Jimmy Eat World surprised Daytona Beach fans with a pop-up set inside an Arby’s, drawing a packed crowd. Video captures the disbelief and singalongs from a fast-food stage — read the full story.

Traffic takes a wild turn: Drivers in Port Orange had an unusual commute when a loose cow ran with traffic on Thursday, Feb. 12. The cow was rescued, and officials are looking for its owner — read the full story.

County authority on water questioned: Volusia County Council voted 3-4 against two proposals to ban drinking recycled water. The measures would have applied only to the county utility area serving about 7 percent of users — learn why the proposals failed.

Fresh data reshapes growth map: A February 19 report named Central Florida as home to America’s fastest-growing boomtown, with Lakeland topping the list and nearby Deltona also ranking among Florida hotspots for new movers — see which cities lead.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why precious metals are back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

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.

What do people see when they search your name? Search results can surface past mistakes or outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. BetterReputation helps remove and clean up unwanted content so your online presence matches your real life today. Not worried about yourself? Doesn’t hurt to mention it to family or friends who might be.

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Got debt? See if you qualify to pay up to 45% less
• This is the best home warranty (and it’s $150 off right now)
• This free tool makes it easy to find a financial advisor
• Over 62? Learn how to turn home equity into tax-free cash
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• Open a GoldCo account & get up to 10% in free gold/silver

📆 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.

🍀 Irish Patty Hat Paint Party @ Malibu Beach Grill | Tuesday (3/3) at 6:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to trade doomscrolling for something festive, join Wendi Jean at Malibu Beach Grill for a St. Patrick’s hat paint night. Pre-traced canvases, all supplies, discounted drinks and apps, door prizes, trivia. Zero talent required, bragging rights included.

🎶 Daytona State College Choir: Connecting Through Song @ News-Journal Center at Daytona State College | Wednesday (3/4) at 7:00 PM – Daytona State’s choir serves up an uplifting choral set that celebrates transformation, unity, and hope at the News-Journal Center. A rare chance to sit down, exhale, and let people hit the high notes. $10 adults, $5 kids and Volusia/Flagler students, free with DSC ID: https://njc.ludus.com/200504200

🩺 The Wellness Way Approach to Inflammation @ The Wellness Way | Thursday (3/5) at 5:00 PM – Skip Dr. Google and catch a free, no-fluff talk at The Wellness Way Ormond Beach with Dr. Chelsea Watkins on how inflammation might be stirring up your aches, energy, and mood. Expect straight talk, a Q&A with real doctors, and limited seats.

🔥 Elemental Night: Beach Sound Bath and Fire Flow @ Andy Romano Beachfront Park | Thursday (3/5) at 8:00 PM – Thursday nights at Andy Romano are for exhaling properly, with Gabi’s sound bath, Dane’s fire flow, and the Atlantic doing percussion. Bring a blanket, swing by Driink for BOGO to-go, then wander back for an 11:11 Bula, community, and donation-based good karma.

🐾 Pet Evolution Grand Opening Weekend @ Pet Evolution | Friday (3/6) at 10:00 AM – Port Orange gets a pet HQ this weekend, and yes, your dog called to RSVP. Swing by Pet Evolution’s grand opening to sniff out deals, meet the groomers, and stock up on premium chow, treats, and toys, while your cat pretends it’s all beneath them.

♀ International Women’s Day Celebration Luncheon @ Daytona Toyota | Friday (3/6) at 11:30 AM – Consider this your International Women’s Day midday upgrade. Over lunch, four heavy hitters from Wholesale Lighting, Daytona State, Volusia Recovery Alliance, and All Aboard Storage share real-world wisdom, encouragement, and insight you actually use, not just nod through. Bring questions, business cards, and an appetite.

🏍 38 Special @ Saints and Sinners Pub | Friday (3/6) at 12:00 PM – Think Bike Week is just revving and bar-hopping? Saints & Sinners runs music all day with Barfly, Burnside, and Brother Bob, then the Pavilion caps it with a free 38 Special show and a Daytona bike giveaway. Big sound, big crowd, zero cover.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Daytona Beach report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 69°F – Low: 57°F – Precip: 54%

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. North wind 0 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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Tomorrow – High: 69°F – Low: 58°F – Precip: 11%

Sunny, with a high near 69. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Most popular house this week

Built in 2024 on the Daytona Beach Peninsula, this 4-bed, 3.5-bath contemporary shines with a heated saltwater pool and lanai. The lower level doubles as an in-law suite. Upstairs, a KitchenAid kitchen flows to a balcony while the primary has a terrace over the pool. The roof is engineered for a rooftop deck, plus app-controlled pool and spa.

Take a peek inside →