Rise and shine, Panama City! In today’s planning-your-week edition: Dolly Parton entertainment complex, dino scavenger hunt, and bougie bag bingo + all our favorite events happening over the next seven days.
Today's sponsor, Babbel, has folks around Panama City ordering in Italian and haggling in Spanish before their summer flights even take off. Ten minutes a day gets you conversation-ready in three weeks, with lessons built by 200+ language experts, not an algorithm -- get Babbel for 55% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Entertainment complex approved: World Choice Investments, Dolly Parton-affiliated, got Planning Board approval for a complex with arcade, mini golf, and go-karts in Panama City Beach, and will go before the city council -- see the entertainment plans.
Music scene gets a boost: Panama City locals Andrew Goddard and Deedra Dekemper launched Locals Live last week, an app mapping bands and letting fans add shows to boost Panama City’s live music scene -- learn more about the app.
Harbor access improvements: Bay County commissioners approved renovating Southport’s McKenzie Boat Ramp, promising faster bay access after Hurricane Michael damage, with construction on a 180-day timeline and expanded capacity for multiple boats -- check the boat ramp plans.
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.*
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*.
The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan -- see how it works.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf 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.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Quiet bayfront reset: Asbell Park is your low-key brown-bag upgrade, with benches and picnic tables beside Lake Caroline and a front-row view of St. Andrews Bay. Slip over for a breather, watch the water do its thing, then head back feeling like you closed five open browser tabs in your brain.
Spice up dinner plans: Craving real-deal NOLA flavors without leaving the beach, Big Easy Restaurant & Bar turns out scratch-made gumbo, jambalaya, and beignets, plus Hurricanes and Sazeracs that actually taste like New Orleans. Cozy enough for weeknights, lively enough when you want a little lagniappe with your meal.
Cozy home refresh: Florida Linen is the spot locals hit when their linens are more “Beach 2009” than Emerald Coast chic, with aisles of bed, bath, kitchen and dining finds plus in-house embroidery if you’re feeling fancy. Pop in this week to level up the guest room before company descends.
|
04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
A practice that strengthens how you move and how you think: Tai Chi walking works on two fronts at once. The slow, coordinated steps build lower-body strength and balance, while syncing your breath and movement quiets a busy mind and sharpens your focus. Create a personalized plan that adjusts as you settle into rhythm. *See your starting point →
Google your own name and you'll probably find your home address: It's sitting on a people-search site right now, next to your age, your relatives, and your phone number, free for anyone to look up. Incogni gets it taken down. It contacts 420+ data brokers on your behalf, uses privacy laws to legally demand deletion, and keeps resending requests so your information doesn't creep back online. No hours of opt-out forms, it runs quietly in the background. *Remove my data →
How much bacteria and microplastics come from your cutting board? More than you'd ever want to know. A single cut on a plastic board can shed up to 300 microplastic particles straight into your food, and a wood board absorbs raw meat juice so deep into the grain that scrubbing never gets it out. Thankfully, there's a cleaner solution entering more and more kitchens. *Check it out →
Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →
The card that pays you to pay down debt: Most balance-transfer cards skip the rewards. Most rewards cards skip the long 0% intro APR. This one has both: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, plus 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories like grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations (up to the quarterly max, when you activate) and 1% on everything else. No annual fee, and the cash back you earn is automatically matched at the end of your first year. *Worth a look → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
|
05 — The event calendar Our favorite events this weekAll the best things to do this week. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🦖 Unearth a Story: The Beach BUMS Ukulele Concert & Dino Scavenger Hunt @ Panama City Beach Public Library | Wednesday (6/17) at 10:00 AM – Start with breezy island tunes from The Beach BUMS Ukulele Group, then hunt dinosaurs in the library stacks, because why not. It is wholesome chaos, equal parts toe-tapping and clue-tracking, perfect for locals who like their culture with a wink, and comfortable shoes.
🎨 Artist Tree Pop Up @ Sweet Mags Children’s Boutique | Thursday (6/18) at 4:00 PM – Artist Tree is popping up with handcrafted door hangers for summer and the Fourth of July, so your porch can finally stop wearing last year's wreath. Charming, locally made, and refreshingly not mass produced, the kind of decor that says you care without yelling.
🏖 Pineapple Willy’s Summer Beach Cleanup @ Pineapple Willy's | Saturday (6/20) at 8:30 AM – Nothing beats a Saturday morning beach walk with purpose, especially when Pineapple Willy’s puts $10 per person toward a different local nonprofit each week, this week Bay Education Foundation. Supplies provided, raffle prizes included. Consider it cardio with a conscience.
🎉 250th Liberty Bash @ Millville Waterfront Park | Saturday (6/20) at 2:00 PM – America’s turning 250, and she still parties for free. A community concert with local bands anchors the bash while kids wear themselves out in bounce houses, you plot friendly revenge at the dunking booth, and everyone grazes food trucks and vendors.
🧘 Summer Solstice Flow, Sound Bath & Fire Circle @ Collective Soul | Saturday (6/20) at 6:00 PM – Longest day of the year, perfect excuse to swap errands for intention. Stretch through a soulful yoga flow, sink into a restorative sound bath, then gather at the fire to let go of extra baggage, community included, and walk out lighter, grounded, and breathing.
🎨 Paint & Sip by the Jetties @ St. Andrews State Park | Saturday (6/20) at 6:30 PM – Think your stick figures deserve a sunset upgrade? At the St. Andrews jetties, enjoy a laid-back paint and sip with Sierra Sons guiding, supplies handled, a complimentary drink, wine samples, and Gulf views, plus a coastal theme each month to keep your masterpiece rotation respectable.
💼 Bougie Bag Bingo @ Charter Senior Living | Saturday (6/20) at 7:00 PM – Swap your grocery-store tote for something fancier at Bougie Bag Bingo, where designer purses meet small-town bragging rights. Expect food, drinks, and competitive dabbers, with all proceeds benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association. It’s indulgence with a conscience, and zero judgment. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — Announcement In case you missed itWe opened The Insiders’ Club last week and hundreds of folks have already joined (seriously… can’t thank you enough!!). For a few bucks a month, The Club gives you every newsletter ad-free on your schedule, plus members-only updates to help you stay connected to your community. The Weekly Events Roundup is my favorite feature. You get one email a week with all the best events and nothing else cluttering it up. Want only that? Skip the daily emails and turn the rest off. Join the club → |
07 — The Panama City report Weather forecastToday — High: 83°F — Low: 77°F — Precip: 20%
A slight chance of rain showers after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 81°F — Low: 79°F — Precip: 73%
A slight chance of rain showers before 7am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. West southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 79. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. This house is wildThis Mediterranean-inspired bayfront estate blends graceful arches, warm finishes, and a courtyard entry with serious coastal flair. Inside, a fireplace-lined living room, custom plaster dining room, and chef’s kitchen with brick accents and a butcher block island set the tone. A rare 1940 greenhouse, koi pond, outdoor fireplace, zip line, and playhouse add unforgettable character.
Take a peek inside → |
| |
