|
Hey Panama City, hope your week’s off to a good start! In today’s edition: Let’s talk about bears, a grand opening celebration, the great tree giveaway, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
|
📰 In the news
Local hub sparks curiosity: January is Try a New Hobby month, and Arena Comics & Gaming in Panama City invites locals to explore tabletop games, comics, and collectibles at the shop opened in 2008 — get all the details.
Post-hurricane plans take shape: Girls Inc. of Bay County, serving up to 175 girls, is seeking a Panama City location before its 2026 lease ends, eyeing Oakland Terrace space. Decision expected within a month — get all the details.
Spotlight on public safety leadership: Lynn Haven commissioners voted unanimously to hire Lewis Blanchard as the city’s new police chief. Curious who he is and what he aims to bring to the department? — watch the video here.
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 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:
|
🫶 We got your back
Neighborhood safety and connections: Panama City is getting a new multi-use trail in Kings Point at Pretty Bayou. The $900,000 project includes a concrete path with crossings and will be open to the public. BCL will lead the work, with groundbreaking expected in 60 to 90 days and about 180 days to finish. Get all the details.
A gentler glow-up: When your skin wants less harsh, more thoughtful, Little Indigo Spa blends apothecary and spa, with small-batch masks, clean skincare, and aromatherapy, guided by herb-savvy pros, so you can ditch the mystery serum and show up dewy.
Glow‑in‑the‑dark putts: When the forecast goes sideways or you just want AC and rainforest vibes, Rainforest Black Light Golf & Arcade serves 18 holes of indoor black-light mini golf plus an arcade, easy, goofy-good competition for family nights, date nights, or that “we need something different” group chat.
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).
|
📆 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
🐻 Let’s Talk About Bears! @ Parker Public Library | Tuesday (1/13) at 11:00 AM – Think you know your backyard visitors? Cheryl Spencer from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation is breaking down what our bears are up to, and how not to become the star of their snack run. Bring curiosity, your questions, and your sanity-saving trash can tips.
🕵 Tuesdays at 2: David Goodwin & the Sandy Creek Murders @ Bay County Public Library | Tuesday (1/13) at 2:00 PM – Trade your Tuesday errands for Bay County true crime at Tuesdays @ 2, as the Historical Society’s Kenny Redd revisits the 1977 Sandy Creek Murders. It’s free, it’s local, and limited to 100 seats, so channel your inner detective, arrive early, and claim a spot.
🎉 Grand Opening Celebration @ MLK Jr. Recreation Center | Friday (1/16) at 4:00 PM – Nothing beats a ribbon-cutting when the building actually deserves it. The new MLK Jr. Recreation Center is opening with special guest speakers, live music, and food, plus tours so you can admire that new gym smell, the upgraded spaces, and the community vibes.
This weekend
🌳 Great Tree Giveaway @ Panama City Farmers Market | Saturday (1/17) at 8:00 AM – If your yard’s been begging for shade and a break from the Gulf glare, the city’s kicking off the first of six tree giveaways this year. Swing by, snag up to two per household, then gloat to neighbors about curb appeal, birds, and lemonade.
🏃 New Year 5K & 10K @ Callaway Recreational Complex | Saturday (1/17) at 8:00 AM – Kick off the year at Callaway Rec with a low-key 5K or 10K, good company, and enough fresh air to justify that post-race biscuit. Register online ahead, no on-site heroics, then snag your bib early and catch up with the usual suspects.
🎤 Panama City Comedy @ Mosey’s Downtown | Saturday (1/17) at 8:00 PM – At Mosey’s Downtown, Panama City Comedy brings in Ian Aber and a crew of touring comics for laughs that are decidedly Rated R. Grab a booth, order something stronger than sweet tea, and let the full bar, the menu, and the punchlines do the rest.
📚 Ritzy & Rey @ Bookish Boutique | Sunday (1/18) at 11:00 AM – Ritzy & Rey are popping into Bookish with family-run 3D-printed magic for the fandom-inclined. Expect dragon shelf accents, full-scale helmets, and exclusive pieces inspired by Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, Star Wars, Marvel, and DC. Shop local, feed your inner nerd, call it self-care.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
📣 Own or manage a local business?
Meet BaseLocal Business — a free and easy way to get your business happenings in front of our readers.
How it works:
- Sign up (it takes less than 5 minutes)
- We’ll manually verify your business is legit
- Once verified, you’ll be able to share events, news, and special deals with us any time
Everything you share is reviewed, and approved submissions are automatically considered for future newsletters. AKA… your business has a much higher chance of being featured in front of thousands of Panama City locals who live, shop, eat, and share good things with their friends.
We also regularly spotlight verified businesses just because we think they’re great.
Click here to get started (it’s free) →
|
📻 Panama City report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 60°F – Low: 45°F – Precip: 0%
Patchy frost before 8am. Sunny. High near 60, with temperatures falling to around 55 in the afternoon. North wind around 5 mph. Later: A chance of rain showers after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
—
Tomorrow – High: 60°F – Low: 43°F – Precip: 22%
A slight chance of rain showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 60. West northwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
This house is wild
This 5-bed, 3-bath home sits in the heart of St. Andrews, one of Panama City’s most desirable and walkable neighborhoods. A generous floor plan brings multiple living spaces and well-sized bedrooms, designed for flexibility across everyday life, hosting, or future reconfiguration. Flexible zones suit larger households, guests, or creative uses. Local shops, restaurants, the marina, and waterfront parks are all close by.
Short-term rentals are allowed, giving investors and multi-use owners real options in a high-demand area. Downtown Panama City is minutes away, and the beaches are an easy drive, so the location balances city convenience with coastal fun.
Take a peek inside →
|
 |
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
|
|
|
|
