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It’s Friday, Gainesville! In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Asian food festival, a Havana Nights benefit, and depot park’s ten-year celebration + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.
Today’s sponsor, Goldco, is helping folks around Gainesville protect their savings after a remarkable few years for gold and silver. Their free guide explains what's behind the run… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Family fun and local support: Celebrate the Child will return Tuesday, July 21, at the MLK Jr. Multi-Purpose Center in East Gainesville, with circus performers, carnival games, free food, and resources from over 40 organizations -- get the full event details.
Hands-on growth opportunities: Project YouthBuild began accepting applications on July 15 for its 2026–27 AmeriCorps cohort, offering Gainesville young adults construction training, healthcare pathways, and opportunities to build affordable homes and leadership skills -- see how to apply.
Utility control dispute continues: Earlier this week, a state appeals court asked Gainesville and the GRU Authority to clarify a new law while weighing who controls GRU, with no timeline and decision possible anytime -- see the court's next move.
Watch your credit card balance drop. Here's a rare one: this card lets you skip interest charges until nearly 2028, and you won't pay a cent in annual fees to do it. On top of that, every purchase earns at least 1.5% cash back, with some categories as high as 5%. Spend a little early on and there's up to a $200 bonus waiting too -- take a look.*
Big markdowns on makeup made for women over 40: Laura Geller formulates for mature skin specifically. There's even a collection called The Over 40 Edit. The brand is offering new email subscribers up to 65% off, with an extra 22% off layered on top. Your email is all it takes to unlock it — worth a look.*
The bill all retirees 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: |
02 — From our sponsor Gold just posted one of its strongest runs in decades...Silver has been right there with it, and after a few remarkable years both metals have become some of the most talked-about assets for investors looking to stay ahead of market volatility. While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning. If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, Goldco has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now. It’s free and worth reading before the next move.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Bounce out the blahs: Flip Factory Zone is the local antidote to cabin fever, with trampolines, a ropes course, laser tag, bumper cars, and even a Sky Coaster calling your name. Gather your crew, drop the phones for a minute, then battle back for arcade bragging rights on the way out.
Gainesville time travel, sorta: Skip another aimless scroll and wander into Matheson History Museum to soak up Gainesville’s past through smart, interpretive exhibits, then pop over to the 1867 Matheson House for a guided peek into everyday life back then. It’s low-key inspiring, and weirdly motivating to love your city more.
Head spa heaven: Skip the “I live in Gainesville, I’m fine” stress and book Nirvana Day Spa, a family-owned spot with Gainesville’s first Japanese head spa plus legit massages, facials, and Reiki. It’s the kind of deep exhale you remember all week, and your scalp will forgive everything.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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 fitness trend that doesn't require leaving your living room: Chair yoga is having a moment, and for good reason. It's low-impact, easy on the knees and back, and you do the whole thing seated. No floor, no equipment, no studio. A quick quiz turns it into a personalized plan built around your body and goals, then adjusts as you build the habit. *See your plan →
Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
Plastic and wood are no good: Every time you use a plastic cutting board, microplastics end up in your food. You can’t see it, but it's happening and it’s gross. Wood isn't any better since it absorbs bacteria so deep into the grain you can’t get it out. More than 50,000 people have already ditched both for something better. *See what they're using instead →
Could you cover a $7,000 car repair tomorrow? For most people the honest answer is no, and that's the problem, because the big repairs don't wait for the right time. An extended warranty is what stands between you and that bill: the engine, transmission, and electrical failures that come out of nowhere. You bring it to any certified mechanic, pay a deductible, and the rest is handled. A free year of Elite Benefits and a 30-day money-back guarantee are included. *See what's covered → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Around town this weekendOur favorite events this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🎒 Back to School Bash @ KidsStreet Urgent Care | Friday (7/17) at 4:00 PM – Remember when back-to-school meant pencils and mild dread? Now the urgent care is throwing a free bash with 300 backpacks, a DJ and foam party, bounce house, face painting, and games, plus raffles for an Apple Watch, tablets, gift cards, and a Nintendo Switch Lite.
🌙 Never Alone Foundation's Havana Nights @ 1908 Grand | Friday (7/17) at 5:30 PM – Skip the usual and slip into a Havana Nights benefit for the Never Alone Foundation, supporting widows here at home. Tropical vibes, good company, and a fully funded event mean your dollars, and your time, go straight where they matter.
🍜 Asian Food Festival @ Depot Park | Friday (7/17) – Ready to trade tailgates for tamarind? Downtown is hosting a three-day Asian food and culture takeover, with bao, bulgogi, and beats. Expect long lines, happy bellies, and a reminder that stretchy waistbands, and patience, are life’s finest accessories.
🌿 Veterans’ & GG Garden Day 18th July @ VFW Post 2811 | Saturday (7/18) at 8:00 AM – Rolling up sleeves at the Veterans and Grow Gainesville Victory Garden, with hands-on propagation, useful weed ID, and neighborly know-how. Swap extras, take home plants and seeds, and earn hours toward help at your place, because those weeds are finally pulling their weight.
🥕 Haile Farmers Market @ Plantation Hall in the Haile Village Center | Saturday (7/18) at 8:30 AM – Think your yard counts as locally grown? Haile Farmers Market says nice try. This Saturday morning staple in Haile Village Center brings real-deal produce, crusty bread, and small-town chatter, plus enough flowers to make your porch look like you finally finished that Pinterest board.
🎶 53rd Annual Concert - Barbergators and Friends @ First United Methodist Church | Saturday (7/18) at 6:00 PM – Gainesville’s Barbergators are hitting their 53rd annual sweet spot, filling First United Methodist Church downtown with harmonies that make even the pews sit up straighter. Featuring Resonance and the Barbergators’ own Time of Our Lives, it’s Gainesville tradition, tight chords, and zero pretense.
🍵 High Tea @ Sweetwater Branch Inn | Sunday (7/19) at 2:00 PM – Trade errands for Earl Grey at Sweetwater Branch Inn’s garden high tea, all charming china, savory bites, and decadent sweets. It’s Gainesville doing Downton, minus the drama, plus Spanish moss. Pinkies are optional, good company is not. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsNothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill. *Custom policies available online → |
07 — Gainesville report Weather forecastToday — High: 93°F — Low: 74°F — Precip: 37%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny. High near 93, with temperatures falling to around 89 in the afternoon. Heat index values as high as 106. Northwest wind 1 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 74, with temperatures rising to around 75 overnight. Southwest wind 1 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tomorrow — High: 92°F — Low: 73°F — Precip: 78%
A chance of rain showers before 11am, then showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny. High near 92, with temperatures falling to around 87 in the afternoon. South wind 2 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 80%. This house is wildClassic mid-century style meets serious modern upgrades in this fully renovated Fl Park gem, less than 2 miles from UF. A 12-foot tongue-and-groove living room ceiling, exposed beams, hardwood floors, stone fireplace, solar power, and Tesla Powerwall bring the wow factor. Bonus rooms, a workshop, fenced yard, and creek views round it out.
Take a peek inside → |
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