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Good morning, Space Coast! In today’s edition: Night laps at school tracks, School Mascot Olympics secrets, a 1922 cement bungalow record sale, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Stadium strides bring neighbors together: Brevard Public Schools is opening Viera and Satellite High tracks for night laps from 6 to 8 pm this January to encourage fitness and family time, supported by Health First — get the times and locations.
Spirit takes center stage: The School Mascot Olympics will bring high-energy fun to Viera High School on Jan. 10, promoting healthy lifestyles while keeping the competition lineup secret until afterward — get all the details.
Details behind a standout sale: Historic Cocoa Village’s 1922 Cement Bungalow was sold for a record price, closing in cash after restoration. The two-bedroom concrete gem marks another local win for Atlantic Group — get all the sale 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
Sixth location expands presence: Dave’s Hot Chicken is now open at Lakeside at The Crossings in Viera, serving Nashville-style tenders and sliders with seven heat levels from no-spice to reaper. The spot runs 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and offers fries, mac and cheese, and kale slaw. Get all the details.
Space history, close to home: Skip the marathon museum day and slip into the consoles, astronaut mementos, and hands-on STEM corners at American Space Museum & Walk of Fame. Small, friendly, surprisingly immersive…a smart pre- or post-launch stop.
Weeknight burrito fix: When the craving hits, El Leoncito serves cozy, locals-first comfort with hearty Mexican meets Cuban plates and a burrito lineup that covers it all, from carne asada to all-meat and chile relleno. Easy spot to bring friends, share salsa, and leave happily overstuffed.
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 weekend
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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🌳 First Friday @ Wickham Park Regional Pavilion | Friday (1/9) at 5:00 PM – Take a breather and roll into Wickham Park’s First Friday, rain or shine, with live tunes from Corey Kipps and a convoy of food trucks. Think easy vibes, neighborly chatter, and zero kitchen duty. Bring a lawn chair, your appetite, and your Florida-weather optimism.
🍷 Ladies Wine & Charcuterie Social @ Boardroom Cocoa Beach | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – Think you can still tell a bold cab from a beach cabana? Cocoa Beach’s Brevard Women Social Club is hosting a laid-back wine and charcuterie social, with real conversation, new connections, and that salty breeze that makes traffic on A1A feel almost worth it.
🏃 10th Annual Fight Child Hunger 5K @ Viera High School | Saturday (1/10) at 8:00 AM – Grab your sneakers and head to Viera High for the 10th annual 5K backing The Children’s Hunger Project and The Sharing Center of Central Brevard. Walk, jog, or artfully shuffle, then claim a T-shirt, pancakes, music, awards, vendor goodies, and that satisfying carbs-and-conscience glow.
🏰 The Space Coast Renaissance Fair @ Space Coast Daily Park | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Take a break from the grind and time-travel to Viera’s Space Coast Renaissance Fair at Space Coast Daily Park. Live music, good eats, and a lineup diverse enough to please your inner bard, your kids, and your skeptical neighbor. Eat, wander, chat, repeat.
🎂 Buttercream Cake Decorating Class @ Florida Academy of Baking | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – If your buttercream skills top out at smearing with a butter knife, Florida Academy of Baking will fix that. Spend a hands-on class learning crumb coats, piping, and smooth finishes, then leave with a gorgeous cake, new tricks, and bragging rights at every birthday.
🐾 Spoil Your Pets in the Park Market & More @ Downtown Melbourne Farmer’s Market | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Nothing beats spoiling the dog while you grab lunch, a cookie, and pretend this counts as exercise. This park market is packed with ag-certified local pet treats, toys, and outfits, plus artisans, crafters, and food trucks. Pro tip, message the page, not the comment trolls.
🌶 BCPFF 10th Annual Chili Cookoff @ Cocoa Village Amphitheater | Sunday (1/11) at 1:00 PM – An afternoon at the Cocoa Amphitheater means one thing, firefighters turning up heat you actually want. This is the 10th annual chili showdown, with live tunes, bragging rights, and some Tums. Twenty bucks buys a chili bracelet, another twenty covers beer, proceeds support local charities.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📣 Own or manage a local business?
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How it works:
- Sign up (it takes less than 5 minutes)
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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 Space Coast locals who live, shop, eat, and share good things with their friends.
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Click here to get started (it’s free) →
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📻 Space Coast report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 80°F – Low: 61°F – Precip: 1%
Areas of fog before 10am. Mostly sunny. High near 80, with temperatures falling to around 76 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. East southeast wind 0 to 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 82°F – Low: 63°F – Precip: 5%
Patchy fog before 8am. Sunny, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 0 to 5 mph.
This house is wild
This furnished barndominium sits on over an acre in the Port St John/Cocoa area, on a private gated road with a circle drive. Steel construction, soaring ceilings, and an open plan set the tone. A loft overlooks the living area, and concrete floors and countertops meet custom wood and metal details for a bold industrial vibe.
Tranquil wooded surroundings pair with fast Space Coast access, roughly 20 minutes to beaches and major roads. I-95, SR 520, and SR 528 are close. Ample parking and utility space suit a boat, RV, and ATVs, delivering freedom, style, and function in one distinctive setting.
Take a peek inside →
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