winners & losers
winners losers
INTERNATIONAL PAPER
The Pensacola mill has awarded $65,000 in International Paper Foundation grants to nine local organizations, reinforcing the company's commitment to education, health and wellness, disaster and hunger relief and environmental initiatives. The largest grant of $15,000 was awarded to Sacred Heart Foundation to create a multi-sensory room at the Studer Family Children's Hospital. This space will provide therapeutic support for children with sensory processing challenges, neurological conditions and anxiety, helping families across Northwest Florida. Another major grant supports Jim Allen Elementary School's Stoked about Science and Social Studies project, equipping classrooms with resources that strengthen STEM education for local students. Grants were awarded after a thorough review by local team members and the International Paper Foundation's grants committee, with final approval by the foundation's board of trustees.
MOLLY MCGUIRE MARTIN
Members of the Martin family, McGuire Management Group, the Irish Politicians Club and Pensacola State College (PSC) leadership celebrated Molly McGuire Martin's legacy through the Molly McGuire School of Culinary Arts Endowed Scholarship—which received a $100,000 donation, bringing its balance to $803,250. Since 2014, the scholarship has provided over $87,600 in support of PSC culinary students. Molly McGuire Martin was the longtime co-owner and matriarch of McGuire's Irish Pub and related restaurants in the Pensacola area, remembered locally as a welcoming hostess, singer and community figure.
GULF COAST KID'S HOUSE Its Ninth Annual
Brunch & Bubbles event raised nearly $366,000 for childhood abuse survivors. Gulf Coast Kid's House recognized David and Susan Peaden as Honorary Chairs. David, External Affairs Manager with Florida Power & Light and two-time Board Chair (2006–2008, 2020–2022), and Susan, Assistant Comptroller at Pensacola State College, have been dedicated advocates for children and steadfast supporters of GCKH since its inception. This year's Brunch & Bubbles also featured a lineup of culinary partners and celebrated chefs. Portofino Island Resort earned the title of 2025 People's Choice Best Chef.
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
A recent Auditor General review of Florida Empowerment Scholarships, also known as school vouchers, confirmed what we reported last month. Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas has an accounting nightmare. Making matters worse, Kamoutsas doesn't have the necessary skills to fix the structural problems. We need less anti-woke rhetoric and more good stewardship from the commissioner and his staff. This is a problem with Gov. Ron DeSantis appointing a political flunky rather than an educator to head education. Fortunately, state lawmakers led by Sen. Don Gaetz and Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka are stepping up to hash out solutions.
UWF PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
The hand-picked committee took two months to review 84 applicants for the University of West Florida's seventh president. They were under the direction of a consulting firm favored by Gov. Ron DeSantis, and with Heritage Foundation senior fellow Zack Smith as chair. The Black community had no seat at the table, nor did the UWF Foundation executive board. Sadly, no one was shocked when the committee announced only one person qualified to be a finalist for UWF president—the man who's already been doing the job, Interim President Manny Diaz Jr. The over/under line for Diaz's compensation package is $1 million, which will be negotiated by Board of Trustees Chair Rebecca Matthews, who picked the presidential search committee.
PUPPY MILLS Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for state lawmakers to address pet-breeding facilities, derided as "puppy mills," during the 2026 legislative session. "Now, many breeders take care of their animals and treat them with dignity and respect," DeSantis said during an appearance at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee. "No doubt, there are some bad actors who keep these animals in inhumane conditions, and we want to put an end to that type of practice in the state of Florida." DeSantis said the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will work with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to license and regulate breeders.
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
A YEAR OF DISRUPTION
What a difference a year makes. Entering 2025, we hoped and even expected that local revitalization efforts would progress apace. Instead, we faced political upheaval unlike anything seen in decades. In this month's columns, I will recap some of the most significant events that have impacted our community.
None of us anticipated the seismic shifts Gov. Ron DeSantis had planned for the University of West Florida. We were complacent, thinking that merit mattered. The university had excelled in the state's performance metrics and was highly ranked on several prestigious lists.
We have taken pride in our university, and for good reason. Besides providing a fine education, UWF contributes approximately $703 million to the region's gross domestic product and supports 11,592 jobs directly or indirectly connected to the institution. The university generates nearly $1.2 billion annually in local income.
Several positions on the UWF Board of Trustees were open, but we expected local leaders and alumni to fill them, as they have in the past. Nope. Instead, DeSantis appointed a Boise State professor (with openly misogynistic views), a West Virginia charter school advocate and a Tampa podcaster, along with others linked to lobbyists and his administration.
Now, President Martha Saunders has resigned, and Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. is the sole finalist to be UWF's next president.
Another surprise was seeing Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves confront the reality that community buy-in matters more than grant money.
In November 2024, Reeves laid out his thirdyear vision: implementation. "We have generational projects from American Magic to Hollice T. Williams Park to the Fricker Center," he said. "We've got a hundred million dollars in grant funds, and it's time to get going."
Work on American Magic's headquarters, the airport expansion and the Hollice T. Williams Park progressed smoothly. But three projects hit community resistance.
The city has a $5.5 million grant for the Fricker Center to make stormwater improvements, enhance building visibility and renovate bathrooms, hallways and classrooms—plus $4 million designated for multi-purpose programs.
A July 23 public input meeting on the project erupted when more than 100 Black commu-
nity members voiced years of frustration with the mayor's administration. Several expressed concern that the improvements were intended for those moving into the neighborhood, not the Black families that have lived there for decades.
"Gentrification has taken over this city, and people are being pushed out," said resident Gerald Graham.
Similar concerns have popped up as the city begins demolition of the old Baptist Hospital. Residents want to give input about what happens on the site.
Mayor Reeves plans to hire a redevelopment expert to guide the community input process, similar to the approach used for the Hollice T. Williams project, which involved over 30 community meetings. He has already begun meeting with stakeholders, including the Black Ministers Association and military community representatives, to understand housing needs and community priorities.
"We want to make sure that we get as much information out there as possible and as much advice as possible," the mayor said.
Reeve's "New Palafox" project met significant resistance from downtown businesses. The $10.7 million project addresses stormwater problems and improves ADA compliance and overall walkability on South Palafox, from Garden to Main Street.
Business owners are worried they may not survive the five-month closure of South Palafox. Recognizing construction impacts, the city has committed unprecedented business support: up to $768,000 in potential rent relief, $100,000 in marketing support, waived outdoor seating fees and 414 free parking spaces on surrounding streets. Blue Wahoos co-owner Quint Studer has pledged no-interest loans to businesses with cash flow concerns.
The mayor is committed to maintaining business vibrancy during construction. "We are absolutely giving our 110% best effort to help businesses down there, to help our residents and our visitors know that we're open for business."
What lessons did we learn? For UWF: our community is not immune from the political agendas of politicians outside our region.
For the City of Pensacola: having money and good intentions isn't enough. Communication is more than social media posts. Real progress requires listening, especially to those who have been overlooked. {in} rick@inweekly.net
MEET ALEX The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) has taken another step towards real-world robotics applications with Alex, a newly developed humanoid robot designed for extreme environments. The multiyear, multimillion-dollar project, funded through the Office of Naval Research, represents the latest evolution in IHMC's robotics program.
"The idea is to really start pushing the robot to go outside of the lab and develop it into a system that we can take places and test what we've developed," said Dr. Robert Griffin, senior research scientist leading the Alex team.
Office of Naval Research funding supports several research goals: next-generation controllers for outdoor urban operations; enhanced behaviors for building exploration; integration of behavior cloning technology; and improved simulation environments.
Alex uses custom, high-powered actuators that reduce weight while maintaining performance. Griffin said the team believes they can make future versions even lighter, enabling higher speeds and better performance.
IHMC envisions Alex and its successors operating in scenarios where human presence is dangerous—from military operations to disaster response. The robot's maneuverability, durability, autonomy and search capabilities could allow it to serve as a human avatar in emergency situations, keeping first responders at a safer distance.
"We think Alex will help advance the abilities of humanoids and their speed of operation to achieve human-level speeds, so that robots can keep up with the tempo of real-world operations," Griffin said.
To learn more about IHMC, visit ihmc.us.
on social media, how we are intertwining the city's efforts on project management updates with DIB, and working with those businesses."
He added, "We're getting very, very deep and intentional about how we can best communicate on this project, the schedule of this project and how that can work with all of the other assets of marketing, PR and advertising that are out there."
VOUCHER GUT PUNCH
Last month, Florida's Auditor General delivered a devastating assessment of the state's Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, and State Senator Don Gaetz isn't sugarcoating the findings.
"The first words out of the Auditor General's mouth when he met with several of us before the public meeting was, 'Everything that could go wrong with this program has gone wrong,'" Gaetz shared in a recent podcast interview. "Those were his initial words, and that was a gut punch."
Gaetz, a longtime school choice supporter and former Okaloosa County School Superintendent, hoped simple fixes would suffice. But the Auditor General's months-long review revealed deeper systemic problems.
fight in the Senate for people who think that we shouldn't pass any bill that helps safeguard school choice, that we [should] let it blow up instead of safeguarding it. And there will be people who disagree with certain parts of the bill because they think that maybe somebody's rice bowl has been chipped, and somebody's no longer going to get the same amount of money in fees that they got in the past."
But for Gaetz, doing nothing isn't an option. "I didn't ask to go back to the Florida Senate to write Mother's Day resolutions. We cannot sit idly by. It's $4 billion-plus of taxpayer money."
MOORE STUNS COUNCIL
Councilman Jared Moore announced the Pensacola City Council's special meeting on Nov. 25 that he would not seek re-election next year. Moore was first elected in November 2018, garnering 63% of the vote. He won re-election in 2022 without opposition.
"I've one year left in the term, and I have made a decision that I will not seek reelection at the end of that term," Moore said. "My wife has been a fantastic support in choosing to pursue this office. My children have been incredibly supportive."
FREE PARKING On the "(We Don't) Color on the Dog" podcast, Mayor D.C. Reeves announced that the city's downtown parking will be free during the construction of the "New Palafox" project, which is expected to run from Jan. 5 to May 24, 2026. The decision comes after the city surveyed South Palafox business owners last month on whether they wanted any limits on charging for parking.
"We're leaning towards … doing all free. Twenty-four hours free is certainly what the business owners want," said Mayor Reeves.
The mayor believes the parking change will test his theory that charging for parking helps make more spaces available during busy times. He said, "We've just got this data [saying] that when we made the changes to parking, even going from 50 cents to a dollar, what we said was we would increase churn, and we did."
Mayor Reeves continued: "We saw that parking transaction times are down about 35% over even when it was 50 cents an hour. And that's a good thing for downtown businesses, to say, 'Hey, instead of sitting there for a really long time, you might be there a little shorter. So now that parking space becomes available.'"
However, the mayor said he would honor the business owners' survey. "I pledged to the businesses that I would do what they preferred, and I still will stick to that. So as of now, that looks like it's going to be 414 free spaces. And you know what? There's a good part of that. Visitors and residents know they can come down, and there's that amount of free spaces, and that encourages them to come down."
This month, the city's primary focus on South Palafox is developing its communication plan. Mayor Reeves said the discussions include "how we're going to communicate the project
"We had hoped that we could rearrange the furniture, do some implementation changes and fix it. But the fact is that the Auditor General has pointed out that there are structural problems with the program," Gaetz said. "There needs to be some structural change as well as changes to the way that the program has been implemented and managed by the department and by the fiscal agents."
In October, Inweekly reported that on any given day, the Florida Department of Education cannot locate 23,000 students (Inweekly, "Florida's $4.3 Billion Nightmare," 10/16/25). The Auditor General reported the number of missing students has grown to 30,000.
"And one of the reasons is, we don't have a numbering system," said Gaetz. "We don't give students student ID numbers when they're in a voucher program."
The lack of basic student tracking has created a financial nightmare. The state senator said, "Dollars went into the family to cover homeschooling costs, but then the child showed up at the public school. So the public school had to undertake the costs of education."
Gaetz has introduced bipartisan legislation to address these structural problems and ensure that the program is operated in a good stewardship fashion, with support from Senate President Ben Albritton. The bill would separate voucher funding from public school financing, establish student ID numbers and reduce administrative fees.
"We have to pay the scholarship program separately. We have to pay school districts what they're supposed to get when they're supposed to get it," Gaetz said. "And then we have to account for the money."
He acknowledges the political reality that the bill is a "heavy lift." The state senator explained, "I suspect that we will have a tough
"I've one year left in the term, and I have made a decision that I will not seek reelection at the end of that term." Jared Moore
He teared up while discussing the impact holding office has had on his family. "They go through some difficult things—man, how'd this get emotional? … They get to go through some unique things standing in the Publix grocery line or sitting having breakfast, and all of a sudden they're having conversations they didn't want to have. But I'm incredibly grateful to them for the way they've been so supportive of me in this role."
Moore added, "But I did want to make that an announcement so that District Four has time to step up and find somebody with competence and character to make sure this city continues on the great trajectory that it's on. And I wanted to thank all of you for the chance to serve with all of you. Thank you."
His fellow council members were visibly shocked. Several expressed their appreciation for his leadership.
Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier said, "I just wanted to say that this year would've been incredibly tough for anyone being council president and you did serve it with grace, and I think it honored all of us."
Mayor D.C. Reeves commented on Moore's announcement later. "Councilman Moore's set a standard in this city … I feel [that he] votes with his convictions and does what's best for the community and does it in a diplomatic way and in a collaborative way."
During the special meeting, the council elected Allison Patton as president and Brahier as vice president.
Photo Courtesy of IHMC
"I also look forward to this term, really just continuing the work that we have been doing," Patton said after she took the gavel. "I know we all have our different views, and we don't always agree, but I will say that I really feel like we are a collaborative body that is actually working as well as we can for the best interest of our city and our citizens. And I want to just commit that I will continue to lead in that same manner going forward."
OPERATION NOTTINGHAM
On Nov. 19, the Pensacola News Journal and several social media accounts reported an armored vehicle and law enforcement in SWAT attire at The Home Depot on Mobile Highway. Some suspected it was another ICE raid. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) issued a statement that it was conducting multiple operations but gave no further details.
On Nov. 24, FDLE held a press conference stating that the "multiple operations" were the culmination of an eight-month investigation into a major drug trafficking organization operating across Northwest Florida, which led to 15 arrests and the seizure of nearly 15 pounds of fentanyl, 58 pounds of methamphetamine and 30 firearms.
Operation Nottingham involved FDLE agents and analysts from Pensacola, Tallahassee and Jacksonville regions, along with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Escambia County Sheriff's Office, Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Pensacola Police Department and Gulf Breeze Police Department.
FDLE Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams said, "In total, this operation, we identified more than 20 co-conspirators involved in distributing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs throughout the greater Pensacola area. Many of these individuals are convicted felons and repeat offenders with significant criminal histories. I'm immensely proud of the work by our agents and our analysts dismantling this organized drug trafficking network, and I'm grateful to stand here today to announce the results of the operation."
In an interview with Inweekly, Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons confirmed the armored vehicle reported at The Home Depot was connected to Operation Nottingham.
"We used our SWAT team for a couple of search warrants. The Pensacola Police Department used their SWAT team," Simmons said. "And our SWAT team comes with a big truck. Pensacola police is a big truck. It'd be crazy for us not to use what's available to us if there's a chance that something may go wrong."
The sheriff pointed out the risks involved in serving the warrant. "These are dangerous individuals. They're not only dangerous … with the drugs that they're putting into our community, but also obviously with 30 guns that were
seized over the course of 22 search warrants, it's a pretty big deal."
Operation Nottingham was funded by the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E.) grant program, created by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023.
"Florida has drawn a hard, unmistakable line against fentanyl in our neighborhoods," said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass in a written statement. "If you bring deadly drugs into Florida, you will be found, you will be arrested and you will go to prison. The S.A.F.E. program … has delivered exactly what was promised: more resources for law enforcement, more takedowns of traffickers and record seizures of fentanyl, as seen today."
Sheriff Simmons confirmed the program's impact locally. "I do have to mention this S.A.F.E. grant, millions of dollars that Gov. DeSantis has decided that he would make available through the FDLE available to local agencies. And I can tell you we're making use of that … The results speak for themselves."
While acknowledging the significance of Operation Nottingham, Sheriff Simmons maintained realistic expectations about the ongoing battle against drug trafficking.
"We're not naive. We understand drugs are coming in from a number of different places, but you know what? Every little bit helps," he said. "Every bad guy that goes to prison may dissuade two or three people from doing it themselves. And I think all that is very important for us. I think that it's very important for our community."
The multi-agency approach will continue. "You cannot do things like this on your own," Simmons said. "I am very proud. I mentioned last week that I'm proud of the work that we're doing. I'm proud of the partnerships."
The sheriff added, "Our entire region is safer today than it was a week ago."
NEW FISHING BRIDGE
Escambia County's Construction Management Division is preparing to begin construction on the Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge, which sustained damage during Hurricane Sally in September 2020.
The Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge was struck by construction barges associated with the new Pensacola Bay Bridge project. The damage to spans and pilings was significant enough to deem the pier unsafe and led to its immediate closing.
Construction is scheduled to begin this month and includes demolishing the existing bridge to replace it with a new structure mirroring its original design. Necessary improvements will be made to the bridge to ensure it meets all FEMA guidelines and Escambia County codes and standards. The bridge will remain closed during the construction period. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2027, weather permitting.
The Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge Project is funded by FEMA, with construction costs totaling $22,873,000. Russell Marine is the primary contractor. For more information, visit myescambia.com/projects. {in}
'Tis the Season for Giving Back
By Jennifer Leigh
The holiday season usually revolves around big dinners, colorful lights and presents. But it's also a time for charity. If you can spare a few dollars or hours, this is the year to give.
Feeding Neighbors in Need
Food pantries saw an increase in demand over the last few months as SNAP benefits were put on hold during the government shutdown. Manna Food Bank Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker said the organization is "distributing more food than ever," according to local news reports. In November, Feeding the Gulf Coast held its largest ever food distribution event, giving away meals to 2,000 families in Mobile.
ly become a popular social media topic. Users share their experience selecting items off wish lists for children in their community, which has sparked many others to do the same.
Whether or not you go viral, Angel Trees can be a fun way to give back, said Stacy Kostevicki, executive director of Gulf Coast Kid's House (GCKH) which serves child victims of abuse.
"It is fun for families and couples to 'adopt' kiddos and purchase items off their wish list; it almost gives them a path into a personal family tradition. I think the adults love it so much because they remember what it was like to be a child and maybe not get what they had asked for."
The gift cards can be used to shop for wish list items, or given to teens so they can purchase what they like.
"All year round, we accept new and gently used clothing items—another great way to teach kids about giving back," added Kostevicki.
Giving Time
For the senior citizen community, it's not so much about having the latest and greatest thing under the tree. Simply being remembered is what counts during the holidays.
the sign-up list for serving Christmas Day meals is now open, though there is room for volunteers year-round.
During this time of year, it's important to reach out and be a friendly face for those in need.
Mark Isbell, executive director of public relations and development at Waterfront Rescue Mission, said the nonprofit has seen "a significant uptick" in all of their services, including regular meals.
"In fact, right now as an organization, we are serving about 525 meals a day," he said noting that includes meals in Mobile and Pensacola. "We are projected to serve to over 200,000 meals in 2025, which is about a 30,000 increase over 2024."
In the past 18 months, Isbell said the rescue's largest demographic served are those who have jobs, but are still struggling.
"It's individuals who have a job, they are just underemployed or they're in the process of saving money to try and get permanent housing of their own," he said.
You can donate a meal, money or your time to these organizations to keep shelves stocked and bellies full. Pantries like Manna will also take donations of pantry staples (please, no expired food).
Whenever someone steps up, it's a "huge blessing," said Isbell.
Angel Trees
If you've spent any amount of time on TikTok this holiday season (of course you have) then you likely saw Angel Trees trending. While Angel Trees have been around for years, it's recent-
At GCKH families who have been served by the nonprofit fill out the Angel Tree request form. The child's age and gender are listed along with what they're hoping for this holiday season. Wish lists are then given to donors, who often go above and beyond the requested items, said Kostevicki. Items are returned to GCKH unwrapped so that the family can give the gifts during their own celebrations.
It's an altruistic experience, since donors are not usually acknowledged. It also provides a sense of hope for a child and their family who have experienced trauma.
"It is nice to do something like the Angel Tree, which feels light and ethereal compared to the services we usually provide for families," said Kostevicki. "We know what has happened to these families and how their lives have shifted since the abuse incident, so it's really nice to picture a happy child opening their gifts."
The wish lists can give insight into the child's personality—and what may be going on at home.
"Sometimes the basic items on these wish lists will break your heart," said Kostevicki. "It's a good reminder that some families have a hard time filling the most basic of needs. Angel Trees combine doing good with feeling good in a way that enriches the season for the giver as much as the recipient."
If you can't fulfill a wish list, you can still donate new toys or $25 big box store gift cards.
"For the elderly who perhaps have no family left in their lives, not receiving even something small can be a painful reminder of their own isolation," said Josh Newby, President/CEO of the Council on Aging of West Florida. "Giving even something like toilet paper or cleaning supplies can remind these senior citizens that we do care, that they do still matter and that we are grateful for their lives."
Cleaning supplies and hygiene products are the most requested, said Newby.
"Giving cleaning supplies, which you or I might find insulting, is a way for the senior to save money while being giving something useful, perhaps at a higher price-point than they would purchase for themselves," he explained.
Newby adds that you can make the gift a little more personal—and more fun to give—by including something small or homemade.
"Could be an ornament, a towel, a bowl, just something that symbolizes a human on the other end of it," he said.
But even better than cleaning supplies or even monetary donations, is the gift of time.
"The region can, of course, support seniors by donating to eldercare agencies or giving directly to their friends or neighbors," said Newby. "But really, the thing these nonprofits can't do is just give some time to listen to them, to be there for them."
Time is a precious commodity. At GCKH volunteer opportunities include making crafts, food preparation, watching the reception desk and more. At the Waterfront Rescue Mission,
"So much mental and emotional anguish that we see, particularly during the holidays, is pretty easily alleviated by just having someone to talk to," said Newby. "We often want to do the big, expensive, lavish thing, but oftentimes just as effective is lending someone a listening ear for 30 minutes. Check in on your neighbor or your friend's parents or your fellow church-goer. Even just a few minutes of social connection can go a surprisingly long way."
Acute need seems to be everywhere right now, but thankfully, there is support, said Isbell. The hope is that it continues beyond the holidays.
"I think it really comes down to this time of the season when we reflect on how much each of us individually has, and we also reflect on those that don't. We live in a town that is so willing to give and to support not just Waterfront, but all the other great organizations that we have," said Isbell. "We're just so grateful for those blessings." {in}
To learn more about these nonprofits and their volunteer opportunities, visit:
MANNA FOOD BANK mannahelps.org
FEEDING THE GULF COAST feedingthegulfcoast.org
GULF COAST KID'S HOUSE gulfcoastkidshouse.org
COUNCIL ON AGING OF WEST FLORIDA coawfla.org
WATERFRONT RESCUE MISSION waterfrontmission.org
You can also find more ways to help by visiting United Way of West Florida at uwwf.org
Arts & Entertainment
Outside the Box with Other
The band Other doesn't mind being a little mystifying at first.
Their initial gig was the 2024 Night Moves pre-show, opening for beloved folk punk/midwest emo groups AJJ and Michael Cera Palin. Other vocalist Cori Johnston remembers the headliners' initial confusion. "We pulled up to the venue and they were like, 'You're
By Elizabeth Royappa
Other? We thought it was an unnamed secret set or something.'"
It's been just over one year since that first show, and Johnston feels like the band's name—in part a reference to selecting "other" on a form— continues to fit better and better.
"We have songs that are like, punk, hardcore, almost emo, indie. And the people who come to our shows … there is no box," she said. "It's genre-fluid."
In addition to vocals, Johnston's proficient on drums, bass, guitar and banjo. She and her bandmate Cody Olsen are both members of two different local bands (Tirra Lirra and The Taints, respectively).
Olsen joined Other on drums in September 2024. The two were working together in Cafe Single Fin's coffee bar and kitchen when Johnston decided to turn her solo songwriting work into a joint project. This decision came about a year after Johnston completed a 309 Punk Project Artist Residency.
"I hollered at Cody because I'd seen him play drums before," she said. "He beats the crap out of his drum set and he matches the energy of the band. It's been a cool process … seeing him learn a style of music he's never played before."
When asked how his drumming has changed since joining Other, Olsen said he feels like he can "actually play kinda good now."
"Whenever I play, I do it out of fear and love," he added.
Like their sound, Other's lyrics aren't con -
strained to one genre. Some songs have been "breakup-fueled, like all good emo music," said Johnston.
Some lean thematically political. "We're not in the same rat race as the people who are building the course for us," she said, explaining the idea behind Other's upcoming single "Foul Play."
"It's not like, 'We're just angry at the system and we're fucked,' she clarified. "Once you acknowledge that you can't win, you start playing a different game. It can either be hopeless or like, really freeing, because when nothing matters, you just do whatever the fuck you want. And for me, that's music."
Another upcoming track explores personal growth in the wake of major health challenges. Not long before forming Other, Johnston received a cancer diagnosis and underwent six months of chemotherapy. Earlier this year, she reevaluated her relationship with alcohol and quit drinking.
"[The song explores] this idea that like, I'm still so bad at being a human being, but I'm not actively in a decline anymore, you know? … I'm sitting, getting sun on my porch, because I don't deserve a break, but I needed a break. Because I'm not good at this yet."
Other plans to release their first studio album in early 2026, with production help from Tirra Lirra members. "There will be lead guitar parts and different bass riffs and stuff on the album that we can't do live because we're just two people," Johnston said.
And in late March/early April, Other plans to tour with Illinois-based band Clementine.
"The first time we played with [Clementine], they just played an awesome show. They
stayed at my place for two days; it was a big emo sleepover," Johnston recalled.
The next time Clementine played Pensacola, the original venue had to cancel last minute. Johnston and Olsen called up friends from the Undergrowth Artist Collective and turned it into an impromptu packed-out house show.
Afterwards, planning a Clementine-Other tour felt natural. The stops will include New Orleans, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa, and Hattiesburg and Jackson, Mississippi.
Recently, Other has had fun watching community start to form around their music. Olsen said he loved hearing friend and UWF instructor Grover Ballard report that several students wore Other shirts on the first day of class.
In November, the band played Tallahassee for the first time and felt that sense of community expand beyond Pensacola.
"Seeing a room full of strangers get it the same way [our hometown crowd] does—that is super, super affirming. There is something to the energy and ethos of the band that clearly resonates with people."
Before playing a set, Johnston said she "[tells] people to get as close as they possibly can, and that we're doing it together."
"It's a collective experience, creating the energy of a live show. I try off the bat to give people energy to work with, and when they immediately respond, it becomes this relationship between us and we're feeding off each other."
"Oftentimes it's rowdy," she added. "But it's all done together and it's respectful and super fun. Nobody's getting hurt at our shows, but like, somebody might jump on top of you." {in}
Photo by Andrew Velasco (@andrevvve)
Pensacola, FL
HOLIDAY EVENTS
WREATHS OF JOY AUCTION Bid on expertly-decorated holiday wreaths and support Arc Gateway. The auction ends Dec. 5. Bid online at wreathsofjoy.org.
ALL I WANT HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY The "All I Want" Holiday Giveaway runs through Dec. 17, presented by the Downtown Improvement Board and local merchants. Shoppers can earn entries for every $10 spent at participating downtown businesses, with daily prizes, weekly $100 gift cards and a $1,000 grand prize in downtown gift cards. Spend local and you could win anything from dinners and spa treatments to original art, clothing and more. On Shop Small Saturday (Nov. 29), shoppers will earn double entries for every $10 spent. For complete rules and details, visit downtownpensacola.com/alliwant.
OPERATION WARM WAGS CHRISTMAS
DRIVE WolfGang Pensacola is raising awareness and donations for the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare. The organization is collecting donations for 300 shelter animals—including new fleece blankets, toys and treats—through Dec. 20. On Sunday, Dec. 21, volunteers will visit the shelter to hand-deliver the gifts, spending time with each dog and cat.
Donations are being accepted now through Dec. 20 at the following drop-off locations: Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St.; Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave.; Pensacola Bay Brewery, 225 Zaragoza St.; De Novo Salon, 3435 N. 12th Ave.; So Bo Boutique, 512 N. Ninth Ave.; Titanium Wireless, 1101 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Ste. 140; Beulah Family Dentistry, 8716 Beulah Road; and Animal Hospital of Pensacola, 5001 N. 12th Ave. You can also send donations directly to the Escambia County Animal Shelter at 200 W. Fairfield Drive, noting the contribution is for the Christmas Drive, or contact WolfGang Pensacola to coordinate donation pick-ups or group collections at wolfgangparkandbrews.com.
PENSACOLA WINTERFEST Downtown
Pensacola is transformed into a winter wonderland with holiday tours throughout the season. Choose from the Grinch's Merry Match, Peanuts or Polar Express tours. And don't forget pictures with Santa. Details and tickets at pensacolawinterfest.org.
PALAFOX MARKET HOLIDAY EDITION
Palafox Market Holiday Edition is 4-8 p.m. every Wednesday through Dec. 17 in MLK Jr. Plaza, under thousands of twinkling lights.
LIGHT WIRE THEATRE PRESENTS: A VERY ELECTRIC CHRISTMAS Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at pensacolasaenger.com.
HOLIDAY ART MARKET & POTTERY
SALE Part of First City Art Center's Hot Glass Cold Brew: Holiday Pajama Party, located at 1060 N. Guillemard St. Market is 5-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5.
CHRISTMAS CARAVAN ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW Event is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 at
St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 3200 N. 12th Ave.
GERMAN WINTER MARKET Shop local vendors 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Details at facebook.com/garysbrew.
NINTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY HAUL ON PALAFOX Street-wide holiday open house returns Dec. 5 with the Ninth Annual Holiday Haul on Palafox. Visitors are encouraged to explore downtown's boutiques and shops and enjoy live music, pop-ups, giveaways and holiday treats. Visit downtownpensacola.com/ alliwant for more.
BLOW YOUR OWN ORNAMENT WITH MUFFINJAW DESIGNS Muffinjaw Designs will be back at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. for an ornament making class 2-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6. Food trucks and live music will also be at Gary's. Details at facebook.com/garysbrew.
WAHOOS WINTER NIGHTS Visit Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St., this holiday season for a walk-through holiday light display open 6-9 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning on Dec. 5, and every day from Friday, Dec. 19 through Tuesday, Dec. 23. On Sundays at 6:30 p.m., the tickets include a movie screening. On Dec. 7, "Elf;" Dec. 14, "Home Alone;" and Dec. 21, "The Grinch." Tickets will be available for $12 from the Blue Wahoos Stadium box office and bluewahoos.com.
LIGHTED BOAT PARADE The 2025 Lighted Boat Parade will set sail from Sabine Marina in Little Sabine Bay at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. Before the boats light up the bay, families are invited to a Kids' Pre-Parade Party at Shaggy's Harbor Bar & Grill from 4 to 6 p.m. Enjoy cookie and ornament decorating and photos with Santa. After the parade, Santa will arrive at the Quietwater Shell and take photos aboard his sleigh from 7:30-8:30 p.m., joined this year by Mrs. "Mermaid" Claus. Don't miss the fireworks show over the Santa Rosa Sound at 7:30 p.m.
MESSIAH SING! The Choral Society of Pensacola performs Handel's classic 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 and noon Saturday, Dec. 6 at Cathedral of Sacred Heart, 1212 E. Moreno St. Get tickets at choralsocietyofpensacola.org.
HOLLY JOLLY MALL WALK 5K Fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 inside Cordova Mall, 5100 N. Ninth Ave. Registration is $10 for kids ages 4-12 and $20 for adults. Sign up at runsignup.com.
FLORA-BAMA ANNUAL SANTA DROP
Watch Santa sky dive onto the beach outside Flora Bama. He's expected to drop in by 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. There will be holiday tunes, face painting, sweet treats and more for free. Located at 17401 Perdido Key Drive. Details at florabama.com/santa-drop.
PANCAKES WITH SANTA & HOLIDAY
MARKET Event benefits Gulf Coast Kid's House 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at 3401 N. 12th Ave.
Tickets are $10 per person. Free to kids 3 and under. No ticket required to shop the holiday market.
DECK THE HULLS WITH SANTA Visit MarineMax Pensacola, 1901 Cypress St., to enjoy Christmas treats and fill the boat with toy donations to Toys for Tots 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.
15TH ANNUAL GINGERBREAD DECORATING AND BAKING CLASS Cooking class is 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave., Ste. C. Details and tickets available at pensacolacooks.com.
SANTA PAWS & PINTS AND HOLIDAY
WREATH MAKING Get your Santa pics and enjoy the holiday market 12-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. A ticketed wreath making event will take place at 2 p.m. Details at facebook.com/garysbrew.
LIGHTED VOLKSWAGEN CHRISTMAS
PARADE Visit the Coastal County Brewing Co. Beer Garden at 3041 E. Olive Road from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 to see decked out Volkswagens, part of the Pensacola VW Happenings Club.
ADVENTURES WITH SANTA Visit Laguna's, 460 Pensacola Beach Blvd., 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 for an afternoon of holiday activities and to meet Santa.
2ND ANNUAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS FEST
Listen to live music from Arielle Nichole, Cameron Theodos and Coastline Kidz while sipping hot cocoa 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at Museum Plaza, 300 S. Tarragona.
CHRISTMAS ZOOBILEE Gulf Breeze Zoo hosts its Seventh Annual Christmas ZOObilee on Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14 during zoo hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Guests of all ages are invited to celebrate the season with festive activities, live entertainment and holiday-themed fun throughout the park. Admission to the Zoo during Christmas ZOObilee is $10 for members and $21.95-$28.95 for regular admission. Safari Express Train rides included.
A CHOCOLATE COVERED CHRISTMAS
CAROL Holiday music concert is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at pensacolasaenger.com.
SANTA PUB CRAWL O'Riley's Irish Pub will host its 13th Annual Santa Pub Crawl Saturday, Dec. 6. The nonprofit organizations are Toys For Tots and St Jude Children's Research Hospital. General admission is a minimum donation of $10 and an unwrapped toy. The VIP tier is a minimum donation of $35 and an unwrapped toy. Details and tickets at orileyspub.com.
DECK THE HALLS A holiday brunch event with caroling from Pensacola Opera. Seatings are 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 6, 13 and 20 at Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. Reservations can be made by calling (850) 469-9898 or visiting jacksonsrestaurant.com.
WINTER WAX RECORD FAIR Do some holiday shopping at the Winter Wax Record Fair 12-4
a&e happenings
p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Details at facebook.com/oddcolony.
SURFIN' SANTA BEACH PARADE The annual Surfin' Santa Beach Parade is 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. Located at Avenida 10, the parade will travel down Via De Luna Drive toward Casino Beach, ending at the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk.
HOLIDAY WINE SOCIAL DRIFT will host a holiday wine social 4-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8 located at 41 Fort Pickens Road, Floor 2. Details at driftpcola.com.
HOLIDAY WREATH WORKSHOP Floral design class at Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 located at 400 Bayfront Parkway. Details and tickets at stayoysterbay.com/events.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT BINGO: CHRISTMAS
EDITION Enjoy a festive round of Bingo 5-5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St. Cost is $18 per person. Details at coastalcatpcola.com.
PSC VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT HOLIDAY ART MARKET The market will be 12-6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10 and Thursday, Dec. 11; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 at 1000 College Blvd.
HARVEST ARTS CHRISTMAS CONCERT:
BEHOLD YOUR KING Trintas Christian School will present a free Christmas concert 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 located at 3301 E. Johnson Ave.
CHRISTMAS ON THE COAST The Pensacola Children's Chorus annual Christmas concert is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $15-$65. Livestream tickets are $25. Tickets and details are available at pensacolaSings.org/performances.
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO
PLAY Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Dec. 12 and 19; Saturdays, Dec. 13 and 20; Thursday, Dec. 18; and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 14 and 21. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Located at 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets and info at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
PENSACOLA CHRISTMAS PARADE The annual Pensacola Christmas Parade is 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 in Downtown Pensacola running through South Palafox Street. Pre-ceding the parade is the 1.2 mile Christmas Parade Dash, sponsored by the Pensacola Runners Association. Details at coxpensacolachristmasparade.org.
WOLFGANG'S SANTA PAWS & WINTER WONDERLAND MARKET The market is 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Visit wolfgangparkandbrews.com for details.
BREAKFAST ON THE BEACH WITH SANTA AND HIS HELPERS Casino Beach Bar & Grille transforms into a seaside winter wonderland as Santa and his helpers make a special stop on Pensacola Beach 8-11 a.m. Sunday, Dec.
14 located at 41 Fort Pickens Road. Enjoy a cookie decorating station and full brunch and regular menu. Get a complimentary photo with Santa when you bring a brand-new unwrapped toy for Gulf Coast Kid's House.
HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OF MUSIC Pensacola
Early Music Consort performance 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 located at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4600 N. Ninth Ave.
CRAFT & VINTAGE HOLIDAY MARKET AT
ODD COLONY BREWING CO. Shop at Odd Colony, located at 260 N. Palafox St. 12-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
SAVE OUR SHELTERS SILENT AUCTION The
Save our Shelters silent auction of mini themed trees and gift baskets will be available now through Dec. 13 from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Happy Dog Resort, 1401 W. Cervantes St. All proceeds help provide low-cost spay and neuter services for dogs in our community. Come shop, bid and make a difference in our community. Also, ask about the Double Dog Dare and take the item home same day.
ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal
Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Beef 'O' Brady's, 1 New Market St., Cantonment (on Nine Mile Road near Pine Forest Road). The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash
prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.
ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD DRIVE
The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.
ARTS & CULTURE
NIGHT MARKET AT THE BURROW Shop at The Burrow, 1010 N. 12th Ave. 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4. Details at facebook.com/theburrowbyoc.
HOT GLASS COLD BREW
The next Hot Glass Cold Brew is 5-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 at First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. Tickets and information at eventbrite.com.
a&e happenings
NURSE BLACK: BLUE DID YOU DIE?
COMEDY TOUR Show is 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at pensacolasaenger.com.
RALLY GULF COAST'S HOLIDAY SHOPPING
SOIRÉE Shop 10 a.m-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5; various times and locations Saturday, Dec. 6. Details at rallyfoundation.org/holiday-shopping-soiree.
RUSTED RELIC REVIVAL CAR SHOW HOSTED BY THE RUSTY KNUCKLE
TORQUE CLUB Starts at 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.
CONSERVATION ON CANVAS An evening of art, wine and wild Florida 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8 at Garden & Grain, 50 E. Garden St. Tickets include two drink tickets, charcuterie, painting supplies. Guided by Pensacola native Douglas Holsworth. Tickets and details at eventbrite.com.
PENSACOLA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY: THE RISE AND FALL OF OLD ST. ANDREWS AND THE BIRTH OF PANAMA CITY Dr. Jason Wenzel will present an overview of archaeological research in Bay County from 2015-2025 for the PAS December lecture 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. The free lecture will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3400 Bayou Blvd. Doors will be unlocked from 6:30-7:30 only. Details at pasfl.org.
HOUSE OF ANDROGYNY: HOHOHOLIDAY SPECIAL FEATURING ANDY RODGINOUS, JAYJAY DUVAY, WYNTIER KANDIEY, H8MALE, READ HOTT KANDIEY AND MORE Show starts at 9 p.m. Dec. 13 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. 18+. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.
PENSACOLA CAMELLIA CLUB FLOWER SHOW AND PLANT SALE Exhibitors start time is 7-10 a.m. Plant sale is 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway. For more details, visit pensacolacamelliaclub.com.
STAND UP SCIENCE WITH SHANE MAUSS
COMEDY SHOW Starts at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.
DUALITIES: NATIONAL SCULPTURE
EXHIBITION This national exhibition will feature works from various artists at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. The exhibition is on view through Jan. 11. Details are at pensacolamuseum.org.
THRIFT STYLE New exhibit at Pensacola Museum of History explores the reuse of feed sacks to make clothing and other household objects. View the exhibit and explore the museum, located at 330 S. Jefferson St. Details at historicpensacola.org.
FIRST FRIDAY AT BLUE MORNING
GALLERY Visit Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox St., 5:30 p.m. every first Friday of the month for a reception with wine, live music
and occasional artist demonstrations. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.
PENSACOLA HERITAGE FOUNDATION
LECTURES Learn Pensacola/Northwest Florida history through interesting, informal lectures every other Tuesday at The Wright Place, 80 E. Wright St. Doors open at 11 a.m. and lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. The lecture starts at noon and lasts one hour. Lecture cost is $5 for non-members and is free to members. Lunches are $12. For reservations, call (850) 380-7759.
PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.
BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.
SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.
PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox streets at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.
CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.
SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.
AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with real ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.
FOOD + DRINKS
ARTISAN RAVIOLI PASTA CLASS Class is 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 at Bodacious, 407D S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at bodaciousshops.com.
a&e happenings
ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS: BULLEIT BOURBON FAMILY ABC class is 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. Cost is $30 and includes tastings and raffle prizes. Reservations required. Make yours by calling (850)287-0200 or email taylor@goodgrits.com.
VINO MAGNIFICO The next Vino Magnifico is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 at V. Paul's, 29 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $20 per person and can be reserved at vpauls.com.
DOWNTOWN HAPPY HOUR AT SEVILLE QUARTER Drink specials and laid-back vibes are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. every weekday throughout the entire Seville Quarter complex with $2 off all liquor drinks and $1 off all beer and wine. Must be 21 or older. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.
MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft beers to choose from at Wisteria, 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
BAR BINGO AT SEVILLE QUARTER Bar Bingo is 8 p.m. Mondays at Apple Annie's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Drink specials include $2.50 Miller Lite bottles and $3.50 Bomb shots. Bingo is free to play with prizes, giveaways and bar tabs up for grabs for winners. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.
FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's
Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
MONDAY NIGHT SPAGHETTI SESSIONS
Visit V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox St. every Monday from 5–9 p.m. for live music and spaghetti and meatballs from the Monday night menu.
DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT Enjoy Double Mondays 8 p.m.-midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
MARTINI NIGHT AT THE KENNEDY Every Tuesday, The Kennedy, 1 S. Palafox St., hosts Martini Night, featuring all martinis from the menu for $10 from open to close (4-11 p.m.).
75-CENT OYSTERS AT ATLAS Enjoy 75cent oysters 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.
MUSIC BINGO Test your music knowledge 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Wisteria, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Take part in half-price bottles of wine and $5 canned cocktails. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
POKER NIGHT AND BINGO AT O'RILEY'S
Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for poker at 6:30 p.m. and bar bingo 8-10 p.m. Tacos are on special Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
LUNCH AT THE DISTRICT The District Steakhouse, 130 E. Government St., is open for special lunch seatings the third Friday of the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.
DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.midnight Tuesdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
TUESDAY TRIVIA AT PERFECT PLAIN Visit
Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for trivia nights 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at 50 E. Garden St. Visit perfectplain.com/upcoming-events for details.
LATIN NIGHT AT SEVILLE QUARTER
Get on your feet with a social Latin dance—no partner required—and Latin music 7-9 p.m. every Wednesday at Phineas Phogg's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Drink specials and music from DJ DavidC continue after the dancing. Details are at sevillequarter.com.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Food trucks are on site. Details are at orileystavern.com.
TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS
Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
COLLEGE NIGHT AT SEVILLE QUARTER College night is 8 p.m. Thursdays at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Ages 18 and older are welcome. Free beer pong tournament begins at 10 p.m. Drink specials include $2 bar drinks, $3.50 Fireball shots for ages 21 and older. Cover is $5 for ages 21 and older and $10 for ages 18-20. Details are at sevillequarter.com.
SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music are 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.
PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m.-midnight at O'Riley's Tavern. Trivia is 8 p.m.; SIN Night starts 1 a.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.
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free will astrology
By Rob Brezsny
WEEK OF DECEMBER 4
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Here are two of your birthrights as an Aries: to be the spark that ignites the fire and the trailblazer who doesn't wait for permission. I invite you to embody both of those roles to the max in the coming weeks. But keep these caveats in mind: your flame should provide light and warmth but not rouse scorching agitation. Your intention should be to lead the way, not stir up drama or demand attention. Be bold and innovative, my dear, but always with rigorous integrity. Be sensitive and receptive as you unleash your gorgeous courage. In my vision of your future, you're the wise guide who inspires and includes, who innovates and reflects. You fight for interdependence, not dominance.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Here's a key theme: microdoses of courage. You don't need to summon splashy acts of epic heroism. Subtle rebellions against numbness and ignorance may be all that's required. Your understated superpowers will be tactful surges of honesty and gentle interventions in challenging transitions. So be brave in ways that feel manageable, Taurus. Don't push yourself to be a fearless warrior. The trembling truth-teller is your best role model. As an experiment to get started, say yes to two things that make you nervous but don't terrify you.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Your inner ear contains three canals filled with fluid. They act like gyroscopes, telling you which way is up, how fast you're moving, and when to stop. Your ability to maintain your balance depends on their loyal service. Without them, you couldn't orient yourself in space. Moral of the story: you stabilize yourself through constant adjustment. Let's make this a metaphor for your current assignment. Your ability to remain poised, centered and grounded will require ongoing adaptations. It won't work to remain still and fixed. You will have to keep calibrating and adapting.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Let's extol the value of productive confusion: the disorienting state when your old maps no longer match the territory. Your beloved certainties shudder and dissipate, and you don't know what you don't know. This isn't a failure of
understanding, but the ripe precondition for a breakthrough. The caterpillar doesn't smoothly or instantly transition into a butterfly. First it dissolves into chaotic goo and simmers there for a while. Conclusion: stay in the not-knowing a little longer.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Coffee from Java, orchids from Iceland, and grapes from Vesuvius, Italy: what do these bounties have in common? They flourish in the extra fertile soil created by volcanic eruptions. The molten lava that initially leveled everything in its path later cooled and became a repository of rich nutrients. I expect a milder version of this theme for you, Leo. Events and energies that at first cause disruption will eventually become vitalizing and even healing. Challenges will lead to nourishment.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Gardeners in Japan spend years training bonsai trees to grow into elegant shapes. The process requires extraordinary patience, close listening, and an intimate relationship with an ever-changing life form. I invite you to approach your current projects with this mindset. You may feel tempted to expedite the growth that's unfolding. You might feel pressure to "complete" or "optimize." But the flourishing of your work depends on subtle attunement, not brute progress. Pay tender attention to what wants to emerge slowly. Tend to it with care. Time is your collaborator, not your enemy. You're weaving lasting beauty.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): In Bangkok markets, elderly women sell caged birds. Why? For the specific purpose of releasing them. Those who buy a captive sparrow or dove immediately open the cage door and let the creature fly away in a symbolic gesture of compassion and spiritual aspiration. It's a Buddhist act believed to bring good karma to the person who sets the bird free. I invite you to imagine yourself performing this sacrament, Scorpio, or perhaps conducting an actual ritual with the equivalent purpose. Now is a fun and fertile time to liberate an outdated belief, a conversation you keep replaying, or a version of yourself that's no longer relevant. Take your cue from the signs that appear in the Bangkok market: letting go is a form of prayer.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): The world's oldest known musical composition is the Hurrian Hymn No. 6. It was discovered etched on clay tablets in Syria, dating back to 1400 BCE. When finally decoded and performed, it revealed harmonies that still resonate with modern listeners. Your projects in the coming months could share this timeless quality, Sagittarius. You will have an enhanced power to bridge your past and your future. A possibility you've been nurturing for months or even years may finally ripen into beautiful completion. Watch for opportunities to synergize tradition with innovative novelty or deep-rooted marvels with sweet, breezy forms of expression.
aligned with one's ayllu is to live in reciprocity, in the ongoing exchange of care and meaning among the entire web of life. "We belong to what we love," the Quecha elders say. Aquarius, I believe you're being asked to focus on your ayllu. Who or what comprises your circle of belonging? Which beings, places, and unseen presences help weave the pattern of your treasured destiny? Whom do you create for—not as audience, but as kin who receive and answer your song? As you nourish your connections in the coming weeks, pay special attention to those who respect your idiosyncrasies. It's not your birthright to simply fit in. Your utter uniqueness is one of your greatest gifts, and it's your sacred duty to give it.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): The Swedish concept of lagom means "not too much, not too little, but just right." It suggests that the best option may be in the middle rather than in the extremes. Yes, sometimes that means an uneasy compromise. But more often, it's how the power and virtue come fully alive and thrive. Many people don't like this fact of life. They are fixated on the delusion that more is always better. In the coming weeks, Libra, I invite you to be a connoisseur of lagom. To do it right, you may have to strenuously resist peer pressure and groupthink.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): I'm taking a risk here by urging you cautious Capricorns to at least flirt with the Finnish tradition of drinking alcohol at home alone in your underwear with no intention of going out. I'm certainly not encouraging you to get so hammered that you can't safely wander outdoors. My point is to give yourself permission to celebrate your amazing, mysterious, beautiful life with a bout of utterly uninhibited relaxation and totally indulgent contentment. I authorize you to be loose and free and even slightly irresponsible. Let your private pleasures reign supreme.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): In the Quechua language, the word ayllu refers to a kinship system not just of people, but of animals, ancestors, dreams and nature. To be
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): In Yoruba cosmology, the divine spirit Oshun presides over rivers, love, beauty and sweet water. But her sweetness isn't a weakness. It's a sublime power, as evidenced by how her waters once restored life to the barren earth when every other force had failed. You Pisceans are now channeling extra strong currents of Oshun energy. Your tenderness is magnetic. Your imaginative flourishes are as valuable as gold. And your love, when rooted in your sovereign self-respect, is healing. But don't let your nurturing be exploited. Choose wisely where you share your bounty. The right people will honor your flow, not judge it or try to change it. Your duty is to be uninhibitedly yourself and let your lyrical truths ripple freely.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Could you heal someone else by teaching what healed you? {in}
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news of the weird
AWESOME! Pope Francis' popemobile has been repurposed as a mobile health clinic for children in war-torn Gaza, NBC News reported on Nov. 25. Francis used the vehicle during a visit to Bethlehem in 2014 and blessed the project before his death in April. The open platform where he stood has been enclosed and converted to a treatment area. Caritas, the Catholic organization tasked with the conversion, said the vehicle will be able to treat about 200 children per day.
BUT THE TURKEY IS DOING FINE Two men resorted to gunplay on Nov. 13 at a Food Lion in High Point, North Carolina, WBTV reported, with one suffering a gunshot wound to the arm. It all started when one of the men argued with an employee over a turkey; the second man allegedly stepped in, and both of them left the store to get their guns. The two men shot at each other outside the store. Police said one man was interviewed by detectives, but it was unclear whether either had been charged.
PRECOCIOUS On Nov. 14, a mom popped into W.A. Wright Elementary School in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, to deliver some paperwork, leaving her 10-year-old son in the car outside. She returned to the parking lot to find the car gone, WSMV-TV reported, and assumed it had been stolen with her son inside. A witness said they'd seen the car driving recklessly out of the parking lot. But when police checked the family home about a mile away, they found the car in the garage and the child in the house with his dad. He explained that he'd had an argument with his mom and decided to drive himself home. Officers declined to charge the boy because he's too young to be held criminally responsible.
THE PASSING PARADE Kohl Bertels, 33, had an unusual explanation for breaking into a Circle K store on Nov. 23, eating a bag of beef jerky and drinking a sweet tea, The Smoking Gun reported: "I know you're going to think I'm crazy," he said, "but there is an AI intelligence speaker in my neck." Bertels kicked through the glass door of the store in St. Charles, Missouri, around 2:15 a.m. He explained that the voices in his head told him to break the door, since it was locked. He faces charges of burglary and property damage, but it's not his first rodeo: His rap sheet is full of felony burglary convictions.
RECURRING THEME A Buddhist temple near Bangkok, Thailand, was the site of an unsettling situation on Nov. 23 after a woman was brought in for cremation, the Associated Press reported. The "deceased" was in a white coffin that her brother delivered to the temple, but as workers went to unload the cargo from the bed of a pickup truck, her brother heard a faint knocking. "I asked them to open the coffin, and everyone was startled," said the 65-year-old brother. "I saw her opening her eyes slightly and knocking on the side of the coffin. She must have been knocking for quite some time." The woman's
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
brother said she stopped breathing two days before; after her startling recovery, she was sent to a local hospital.
BRIGHT IDEA CNN reported on Nov. 25 that an unnamed 57-year-old man in Borgo Virgilio, Italy, dressed up as his mother, Graziella Dall'Oglio, and tried to renew her government ID card so that he could continue to collect her pension. He wore a wig, makeup and her clothing, but authorities were tipped off by the hair on his neck and chin. Inconveniently, the signora passed away in 2022 at age 82. Her son, an unemployed nurse, did not report her death to authorities. When they visited his home, they found his mother's mummified body in the laundry room closet, wrapped in sleeping bags. An autopsy was ordered, and the son was held in a local jail.
SCROOGE LIVES On Nov. 22 (which, arguably, is a tad early for Christmas carolers), Paul Brian Susie, 58, was taken into custody in Annapolis, Maryland, after he allegedly pointed a firearm at three 12-year-old girls who arrived at his house to sing Christmas carols. WMAR2-TV reported that the incident happened around 8:30 p.m.; police recovered a loaded .40-caliber Glock handgun from Susie's home. Exhibiting "loud and belligerent" behavior as he was questioned, Susie admitted to pointing the gun at the girls. He was charged with first- and second-degree assault.
REDNECK CHRONICLES Around 1 a.m. on Nov. 19, Hancock County (West Virginia) Sheriff's officers responded to a call about a man suffering a gunshot wound while a rifle was being cleaned. WKRC-TV reported that when officers arrived, two men at the home revealed the real story: They had been shooting out the second-story window of the home at rats, they said, and the gun went off when one man tried to take it from the other. The victim was transported to the hospital; homeowner Mark Fuller was charged with wanton endangerment involving a firearm and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling.
QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT Fifteen-yearolds aren't known for their excellent judgment, but this kid's antics were on another level. On Nov. 24 in Jerusalem, firefighters were called to a 36-story skyscraper with a crane on top— and a 15-year-old atop the crane. The teenager was trapped on a small platform above the building. The kid told rescue teams he had scaled the crane around midnight to "see the view," the Associated Press reported. Fire official Eyal Cohen said they've responded to a number of cases of young people scaling large buildings. "This is a serious incident that ended in a miracle," Cohen said.
