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Hey New Smyrna, hope your week’s off to a good start! In case you missed yesterday’s email, BaseLocal Business went live last week… and it’s going way better than I ever could have imagined!
If you run a local business and haven’t signed up, you can join here for free.
The more businesses we have on the platform, the more events, announcements, news, cool spots to check out, and deals we’ll have to share with you all every week. So if you know of a local business that belongs in the newsletter, forward this email to them or send ‘em here so they sign up too! The more the merrier 🙂
That’s all for today – let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Criminal penalties get tougher: With Dexter’s Law now in effect, Florida’s new database tracks people convicted of animal cruelty. Local animal welfare groups can use it to screen adopters and better protect pets — learn how the law works.
Global hip-hop festival update: Rolling Loud is moving its flagship US festival from Miami to Orlando, with the next edition scheduled May 8-10 at Camping World Stadium, an easy drive for New Smyrna fans — get all the details.
Property premiums trending down: New Smyrna homeowners could get a break as Florida insurers have filed 83 rate decrease requests and 100 for no increase. Florida Peninsula seeks an 8.4 percent cut, pending approval — read the full story.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per 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.
Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had its 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.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
A fresh chapter begins: The Bandbox will return on Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach in spring 2026 with an expanded 3,000-square-foot cafe and taproom. Expect coffee, beer, wine, draft cocktails, nonalcoholic options, kombucha, nitro cold brew, and CBD and THC seltzers, plus a coastal midcentury vibe, live music, a game room, and entertainment. Get all the details.
Sip here this week: Set in a restored 1913 home, Crimson House pours thoughtfully chosen wines, with relaxed tastings and live music that turn midweek into a hang with friends. An easy new glass-and-chat spot, if that’s what you’ve been after.
Find your next pair: Whether your sandals are on their last leg or you want something fun for dinner on Canal, Mavé Boutique stocks trend-forward, comfy shoes, plus accessories to finish the look. Easy browsing turns into a confident strut, thanks to a sharp edit that keeps style high and stress low.
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).
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.
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📆 Around town this 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.
This week
🌴 Living Beaches Education Program @ Esther Street Park | Tuesday (1/20) at 9:00 AM – Trade your solo shell hunt for a free, guided beach stroll with Marine Discovery Center’s Chad Truxall, part of NSB’s Get to Know Your Island. Think beachcombing, marine debris sleuthing, sand explorations, and seine netting. Just show up at 551 Esther Street, open to all.
🏛 History Walking Tour: The Turnbull Settlement and Old Fort Park Mystery @ New Smyrna Museum of History | Tuesday (1/20) at 10:30 AM – Stretch your legs and your local lore on a walking tour of Turnbull’s Smyrnea and the long-debated Old Fort Park ruins. Hear gritty stories of the ill-fated settlers, ponder competing construction theories, and settle nothing. $15 with museum entry, $10 tour only, $5 members.
🧜 Mixed Media Mermaid Class @ Victoria Meeting Center | Wednesday (1/21) at 10:30 AM – Channel your inner sea siren without tracking sand into the house at a mixed-media mermaid art class, no experience required. The mermaid is pre-drawn, you add paint, glitter, shells, starfish, and beads, and all supplies are included. Seats are limited, grab one here: https://square.link/u/Duys0sHF
This weekend
🥒 Pickle and Jam-Boree Fest @ Port Orange City Center | Saturday (1/24) at 10:00 AM – If your pantry needs less beige and more brine, hit the pickle-and-jam jamboree at Port Orange City Center. Sample local pickles and jams, browse artisans, enjoy live music, and cheer a pickle-eating contest. Free entry, GRRMF dog ambassadors to pet, and vote for your favorites.
🌶 Chili Cook-Off @ Fletcher’s Irish Pub | Saturday (1/24) at 12:00 PM – Take a break from your usual sandwich and let the Rotary Club turn up the heat with a Chili Cook-Off at Fletcher’s Irish Pub. Sample pots, cast your vote, and test your pride, palate, and antacid supply, all with that friendly Ormond Beach banter.
🐦 Birds and Brew Hike @ Lyonia Environmental Center | Sunday (1/25) at 10:00 AM – Birds and Brew Hike is serving up crisp air, hot coffee from the Friends of Lyonia Environmental Center, and a refresher on bird ID before a relaxed wander. Meet in the pavilion, sip, spot, and remember why warblers beat errands, neighbors’ leaf blowers, and inboxes.
🍲 Chowder Challenge @ Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL, United States, Florida 32169 | Sunday (1/25) at 1:00 PM – Take a break from the grill and grab a spoon for a Flagler Avenue chowder crawl. For $20, snag a tasting passport, sample New England, Manhattan, and specialty bowls, then vote for Best at the Beach. Day-of passports are cash only, and they go fast.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 New Smyrna report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 61°F – Low: 51°F – Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 61. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 71°F – Low: 59°F – Precip: 2%
Partly sunny, with a high near 71. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Cloudy, with a low around 59. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
This house is wild
A rare New Smyrna Beach triplex with six figure revenue and a tropical backyard anchored by a sparkling private pool. The main residence is a high performing vacation rental built around the pool experience. A studio suite delivers steady long term income. The one bedroom apartment is freshly updated with new paint and carpet.
The property is zoned for a fourth unit, and the 900 square foot garage suits a workshop, storage, or future conversion. Canal Street shops, galleries, eateries, and the Saturday Farmers Market are a short stroll. The river and iconic Atlantic surf are minutes away.
Take a peek inside →
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Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
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