Good morning, Gainesville! In today’s edition: Restaurant closures hit chain favorites, ‘Six Triple Eight’ kickoff for America’s 250th, the Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour, 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.

A tough year for dining: Gainesville said goodbye to several eateries in 2025, including Applebee’s, T.G.I. Friday’s, and a Subway on SW 13th Street, as national pressures and local challenges forced closures — see what led to closures.

History takes center stage: Gainesville is kicking off America’s 250th with a theatrical presentation of “Six Triple Eight” at the historic Gainesville Old Post Office, followed by a performance by the Star Center Theatre — read the full story.

Local draws win high marks: A recent WorldAtlas report named Daytona Beach and Palm Coast among Florida’s best places to retire, citing motorsports, beaches, and outdoor fun. Cities on the list include Tampa and Gainesville — see the cities on the list.

Where Gainesville dinks: Tucked among trees, The 300 Club keeps play laid-back with multiple courts, open play for all levels, and easy Playtomic reservations. Swap doomscrolling for dinking; friendly vibes and on-site coaching make it stick for newcomers and regulars alike.

Fresh bites and brews: Ocala-based Amrit Palace, a three-decade staple, is coming to Gainesville, planning to open in the former Hooters near Carrabba’s and Another Broken Egg Cafe. 7 Brew Coffee is now open at 1527 SW 13th St, expanding the drive-thru chain’s Florida footprint. See what’s opening and where.

Beginners Mosaic Workshop @ Curia On The Drag | Sunday (1/11) at 11:00 AM – Time to upgrade the coffee table, not your tools: a beginner mosaic workshop at The Auk Market with Satchel’s artist-in-residence, Leah Piekarski. Tile a 6-inch tray, learn the basics, sip from the on-site coffee shop, and victory-lap at Curia or Dad’s — see the event listing.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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🏀 The Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour @ Stephen C. O’Connell Center | Monday (1/12) at 7:00 PM – Remember begging your folks to see the Globetrotters? Their 100 Year Tour is back with gravity-defying dunks, slick tricks, and plenty of fan fun, plus that shiny Golden Basketball by Spalding. Bring the kids, or your inner kid, and maybe sunglasses.

📝 Yes, You! An Entertaining Memoir in Three Easy Steps @ Matheson History Museum | Tuesday (1/13) at 10:00 AM – You’ve been threatening to write that memoir for years, so let Liz Coursen at the Matheson make good on it with an 8-session, four-month workshop. Small group, built-in accountability, and a hefty workbook mean you leave with a first draft. Only 20 spots.

🏺 Pottery Wheel Class @ Corks & Colors Studio | Wednesday (1/14) at 5:30 PM – Wednesday at the wheel means clay under your nails, a buddy by your side, and zero experience required. Make two pieces each, come back next week to paint, grab a beer, wine, or soda, and call it therapy you can display. Limited spots, pre-register online.

🌊 Coastal Systems — Broward County @ Online event | Thursday (1/15) at 5:30 PM – Grab your water shoes, and sign up for a hybrid Coastal Systems course with Kristen Hoss and Dr. John Pipoly III. Zoom when you must, then roam Broward’s beaches, dunes, estuaries, and mangroves to name that seaweed, explore parks and nature centers, and maybe snorkel.

🕯 Candlelight: Tribute to ABBA @ Hippodrome Theatre | Friday (1/16) at 6:30 PM – Take a break from the usual bar chatter and sink into a candlelit tribute to ABBA. A string quartet spins Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, and more in a glowing Gainesville spot, all polish, nostalgia, and the kind of date night that earns you points.

🌊 Ocean Voyage @ First Presbyterian Church | Friday (1/16) at 7:00 PM – Skip the beach and dive into an immersive undersea concert with Dance Alive National Ballet, Gainesville Youth Chorus, a festival choir, and live instrumentalists. Expect Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, Wellerman, and film favorites from Jaws, Pirates, and The Little Mermaid, no sunscreen required.

🎭 The Drowning Girls @ Acrosstown Repertory Theatre | Friday (1/16) at 8:00 PM – Nothing beats a good ghost story told from the bathtub. The Drowning Girls at Acrosstown pulls three brides from the deep to build their case against a charming killer, with dark humor, lyrical bite, and visuals that stick. Come for justice, stay for the shivers.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 Gainesville report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 82°F – Low: 59°F – Precip: 0%

Areas of fog before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 3 to 9 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southwest wind 2 to 6 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 68°F – Low: 40°F – Precip: 19%

Patchy fog before 7am, then a slight chance of rain showers between 7am and 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Northwest wind 3 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Most popular house this week

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