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Hi Melbourne, hope you’re having a great weekend! In today's in-case-you-missed-it edition: Brightline station plans, a rocket factory expansion, and Santa in the summer BBQ comp + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.
Some family trips fade. This one didn't. Twenty years later, I still remember standing under that giant tipping water bucket, waiting to get soaked. That was Great Wolf Lodge, and my family spent the whole weekend like that, drenched and laughing, climbing back up for one more slide. The water park is entirely indoors, kept at 84 degrees year-round, and included with every stay, so the forecast doesn't matter. You can book a discounted family getaway right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing Most popular stories this weekThe three top stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
A major transit boost: Cocoa moved forward with a Brightline station after securing $2 million in state funding, despite Fitch downgrading the rail company to CC. Officials say the site could open by 2030 -- read the full story.
Budget pressures spark debate: Backed by a DeSantis appointee, Brevard commissioners voted 4-1 to set a higher property-tax rate beyond the charter cap, pending TRIM notices in August and hearings Sept. 8 and 22 -- see what's planned next.
Space Coast growth ahead: Relativity Space announced Tuesday a Space Coast expansion adding a rocket factory and launch infrastructure, creating thousands of high-paying jobs by 2034 as Terran R aims to launch by year-end -- see the factory plans.
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.*
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 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.* All the crowd favorites: |
02 — From our sponsor Some family trips fade. This one never did.Twenty years later, I can still put myself in that water park: standing under the giant tipping bucket with a crowd of other kids, waiting to get soaked, then climbing the stairs with my family for one more run down the slide. We spent the entire weekend like that, drenched and happy. Most childhood vacations blur together. That one stuck. What I understand now, as the adult who'd be planning it, is why it worked so well. Great Wolf Lodge is an indoor water park resort, kept at 84 degrees every day of the year, and the water park comes with every overnight stay. No separate tickets, no watching the forecast all week, no rained-out weekend. The big slides keep the older kids busy, the shallow splash areas keep the little ones happy, and nobody has to sit out. Everything else is under the same roof too: an arcade, interactive adventures, daily kid programming, and places to eat. You park the car on Friday and don't think about it again until Sunday. The suites are built for families, with themed rooms and enough space that everyone actually sleeps. Clean, safe, and simple, which on a trip with kids counts for as much as the slides. Your kids will remember the bucket. You'll remember how easy it was. *Plan a getaway they'll never forget → |
03 — On our radar
This week's top findsLocal spotlights your fellow readers loved last week.
Space Coast sanity saver: Brevard Zoo is your go-to for some local nature therapy on the Space Coast. Stroll past charismatic residents, let the kids get their wiggles out, and rediscover why this place is the answer when you need plans that make everyone weirdly agreeable.
Press start, locals: Arcade Monsters Melbourne packs over 13,000 square feet of retro-to-new games, pinball, and rhythm cabs alongside a scratch kitchen, craft drinks, beer, wine, and all-natural slushies, all wrapped in neon-and-anime vibes. Consider it your weeknight reset button, where hanging out with friends also counts as “training.”
Local comfort, Irish style: When the week calls for cozy, Meg O’Malley's Restaurant & Irish Pub has the fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and pint-friendly vibe to reset your brain. Rally a couple neighbors, claim a snug, and catch up over something comforting and properly poured this week.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade →
Shop for new floors without ever needing to leave the house: No showroom, no second-guessing. All from the comfort of your own home. Empire Today® has flooring experts that will bring you samples and provide you with a free in-home estimate. Trusted and backed by over 3 million satisfied customers and over 65 years of quality service. *Check out their current offers today →
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 →
A blown engine can cost more than your car is worth: And it almost never warns you. One day it runs fine, the next you're staring at a $7,000 repair on a car you still rely on every morning. That's the kind of bill an extended warranty exists to absorb, the engine, transmission, and electrical failures that wreck a budget overnight. You bring it to any certified mechanic, pay a deductible, and the rest is handled. Enjoy a free year of Elite Benefits and a 30-day money-back guarantee on top. *See everything it covers →
A window quote that takes an hour and costs you nothing: No showroom, no sales runaround, no obligation to buy anything. A design consultant comes to you, measures your windows, walks you through the options, and leaves you with an exact price and timeline, that's the whole visit. Keep the quote as long as you like and decide whenever you're ready, or don't. Booking takes about a minute. *Book your free visit → |
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 Sneak peek at next weekPlan ahead for the next seven days. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🐉 Kids Camp! Dragon or Unicorn! One-Day Registration @ Painting with a Twist | Monday (7/27) at 10:00 AM – Sign the kids up for a one-day dragon-or-unicorn painting camp, then hand them to local artists for step-by-step fun while you enjoy a coffee, or supervise creatively. They leave with a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, you keep your walls, and they will want to come back.
🕹 Ladies Arcade Night @ Arcade Monsters | Tuesday (7/28) at 6:30 PM – Grab your favorite sneakers and meet me at Arcade Monsters for a ladies-only nostalgia trip. Think Ms. Pac-Man, pinball, and modern button-mashers, plus laughing, friendly smack talk, and real conversation. Grown-up fun without the awkward icebreakers, just tokens, camaraderie, and a few victorious whoops.
🎅 Santa in the Summer BBQ Comp & Fundraiser @ Harbor City Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM | Tuesday (7/28) at 6:30 PM – Swap sweaters for napkins at Santa in the Summer, a BBQ competition and donation fundraiser where Santa trades his sleigh for a smoker. Expect brag-worthy brisket, neighborly rib rivalry, and the kind of giving that pairs nicely with coleslaw, laughter, and a full plate.
🌸 Summer Flower Hour Appreciation Event @ Alliance Title Insurance | Wednesday (7/29) at 11:00 AM – Whether you can recite parcel numbers in your sleep or just love a good charcuterie spread, Alliance Title is hosting Flower Hour. Build your own bouquet, sip cocktails or mocktails, and load up on farmers market treats, no slide decks, no sales pitches, summer vibes.
🌾 Brevard County Farmers Market @ Wickham Park | Thursday (7/30) at 3:00 PM – This food-first farmers market pops up under Wickham Park’s pavilion every Thursday, barring holidays and hurricanes, all about produce, eggs, bread, and pasture-raised goodness, not scented candles. Free admission and parking, and SNAP gets a no-cap dollar match, so your greens go further, literally.
🤝 Brevard County's 18th Annual Hispanic Business Expo, Job & Health Fair @ AZAN Shriners Center | Saturday (8/1) at 9:00 AM – Here’s a grown-up field trip that actually pays off: the 18th annual Hispanic Business Expo, Job & Health Fair at AZAN Shriners in Melbourne. Free to enter, real hiring tables, free health checks, local vendors, and yes, bring the résumé you swear you updated.
🧘 Namaste For One More @ Intracoastal Brewing Company | Sunday (8/2) at 10:45 AM – Nothing beats earning your beer with a good stretch. Yogi Perogi’s chill Sunday flow at Intracoastal Brewing has been a local staple since 2014, and yes, there’s a pint after. Bring a mat, a sense of humor, and that well-deserved thirst.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing 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 with *Lemonade. |
07 — Melbourne report Weather forecastToday — High: 93°F — Low: 77°F — Precip: 58%
Showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Mostly sunny. High near 93, with temperatures falling to around 88 in the afternoon. Heat index values as high as 106. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. 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 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 93°F — Low: 77°F — Precip: 71%
A slight chance of rain showers between 8am and 11am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 106. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Most popular house this weekThis 5-bed, 4-bath lakefront stunner in Casa Bella offers over 4,100 square feet of elegant living in a gated Suntre community. Travertine accents, soaring ceilings, Santos mahogany stairs, and custom closet systems bring polished character inside. Outside, a sparkling pool and travertine deck overlook the water, with a 2.5-car garage adding practical luxury.
Take a peek inside → |
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