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Good morning, Pensacola! In today’s edition: Top U.S. beaches ranking, an MLK Day parade led by Lumon May, the Mardi Gras Coachella Ball, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Top shores revealed: Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards named Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach the top U.S. beaches, with votes from hundreds of thousands of readers and five Hawaii beaches also recognized — read the full ranking.
Lumon May to lead: Pensacola’s MLK Day Parade will take place January 19 with hopes for better weather after past extremes. The event’s 2026 theme is “With Unity, We Won’t Turn Back” — get all the parade details.
Transforming young readers’ futures: YMCA Reads! helps struggling Escambia County students build skills and confidence. The program serves over 500 kids at seven elementary schools, backed by Children’s Trust grants and reported behavior gains — get all the program details.
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.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*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
Community rallies around merchants: Pensacola Mardi Gras will feature weekly Second Line Tuesdays to help downtown businesses during the New Palafox construction. The events are meant to draw people to the area and highlight local shops and restaurants. City leaders say the developer can keep the project moving alongside celebrations. Read the full story.
Time to zhuzh things: If your living room feels meh, duh for garden & home is a locally loved trove of furniture, gifts, home accents, and one-of-a-kind finds with a natural, polished vibe. Interior design available if you’d rather point and sip coffee.
Crisp, local sips: Sip on-site house ciders at Gary’s Brewery & Biergarten, poured alongside rotating guest taps. The sprawling 2.5-acre biergarten, with cornhole and giant Jenga, makes it dangerously easy to linger with friends and pups from sunny afternoons to easygoing evenings.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
🏊 TriChix Multisport Meet and Greet @ Running Wild | Tuesday (1/6) at 5:00 PM – If you’ve been side-eyeing triathlon life, come meet the TriChix at Running Wild for a free meet and greet, new season kickoff, and a look at 2026 kits. Expect strong women, real encouragement, refreshments, and swag if you RSVP. Bring questions, not excuses.
🐶 Mutts Gone Nuts @ Saenger Theatre | Tuesday (1/6) at 7:30 PM – Take a break from the usual and catch a comedy show where the pros sit, stay, and steal the spotlight. World-class stunt dogs serve acrobatics, tricks, and tail-wagging chaos, all house-trained for humans. Bring the kids, or just your inner one.
🗣 Gallery Talks: La traviata @ Pensacola Museum of Art | Thursday (1/8) at 6:30 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to brush up on your Verdi, this is it. Pensacola Opera and the Museum of Art connect La traviata to the gallery walls, then Jan Miller Studio Artists sing selections. Free, 75 minutes.
This weekend
🍕 Annual Pepperoni Roll Bake Off @ Bubba’s 33 | Saturday (1/10) at 11:00 AM – Whether you’re a purist who insists on dough and pepperoni only, or a cheese-sneaker, bring your scratch-made rolls, your appetite. RSVP to compete, judge, or graze after judging. Prizes await, the Karin Rule keeps displays tidy, and 2026 Shrimp Boil thanks the winner.
🥞 Hogs & Hotcakes! @ Pensacola Harley-Davidson | Saturday (1/10) at 12:00 PM – Hogs & Hotcakes is flipping free pancakes with Harley’s Angels on spatula duty, plus syrup, whipped cream, fruit, chocolate, and questionable restraint. Bring those dusty Harley Bucks, spend them before 1/31/26, and start 2026 right with new gear, a full belly, and smug satisfaction.
🍄 Fairy Portal Mushroom Mirror Craft Class @ The Celtic Cauldron | Sunday (1/11) at 12:00 PM – Give your bathroom mirror a portal to somewhere calmer with a fairy mirror craft class that is whimsical, relaxing, and impossible to mess up. Build pathways and pools with moss, mushrooms, dried florals, and broken glass. Gloves included, only 20 spots, $50 per person.
🐾 Paint for Paws @ Maker’s Loft | Sunday (1/11) at 2:00 PM – Nothing says art class like painting door hangers while you sip, snack, and support the pups. Maker’s Loft hosts a low-pressure craft hang benefiting Green Acres Rescue, with drinks and no glitter explosions. Spots are limited, claim yours.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Pensacola report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 72°F – Low: 61°F – Precip: 6%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 72°F – Low: 61°F – Precip: 6%
Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph.
This house is wild
Built in 2021, this 4-bed, 3-bath home layers high-end upgrades over a modern build. Luxury vinyl plank floors run through sunlit living spaces. A chef-forward kitchen brings a natural gas range, granite counters throughout, and deep cabinetry. The split plan puts the primary suite on one side, three bedrooms and two full baths on the other. Bedrooms add plush carpet for comfort.
Out back, a screened tropical playground steals the show. A custom gunite heated pool and spa run on natural gas, with a dedicated grill hookup and palms for the island vibe. Solar panels trim the bills, basically a private resort with brains.
Take a peek inside →
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