CELEBRATING CULTURE AND COMMUNITY at the Watson Family Foundation's Annual Juneteenth Festival
A Star is Rising
Celebrating Keyla Richardson
From the first note to the national stage, your talent, passion, and grace have inspired a community and captivated a nation.
You’ve made us proud. Your voice, your story, and your determination remind us all what’s possible when dreams meet hard work.
We are cheering you on—today and for everything that comes next.
About Keyla Richardson
Keyla Richardson is a proud Pensacola native and a standout talent on this season of American Idol. Born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, she discovered her love for singing at a young age in the local church where her father serves as pastor. Her powerful voice and heartfelt performances have long been a beloved part of Pensacola’s gospel and worship music scene.
A dedicated music educator, Keyla teaches at Life Shifting Learning Academy in Pensacola — the school founded by her mother, Katja Richardson — and has inspired countless young students in the community while raising her young son, Drew. Deeply rooted in faith and hometown pride, she has performed throughout the Pensacola area for nearly her entire life.
She represented her beloved city on the national stage of American Idol, Keyla continues to shine with grace, talent, and determination. Pensacola is proud to cheer her on as she continues her remarkable journey.
Proudly celebrating hometown talent.
5Eleven • Blue Wahoos • Bodacious Shops • Bodacious Bookstore Bodacious Brew Thru • Bubba’s Sweet Spot • Oyster Bay • Studer Properties
Submit your shout out:
winners & losers winners losers
BRANDY MCGRAW GE Vernova Onshore
Wind's Pensacola Plant Senior Director is a finalist for the American Clean Power Association's EmpowHER Leadership Award. The award recognizes a leader who is actively expanding access to networks, opportunities and resources for others and helping shape the future of the clean energy sector. GE Vernova's Pensacola site is North America's largest wind turbine manufacturing facility with over 450 employees. The EmpowHER Leadership Award will be revealed on Aug. 6 at the EmpowHER Leadership Forum in Charlotte, N.C.
A MANO PANINO The East Hill sandwich shop operated by husband-and-wife team Alex and Ashley Lamonte has earned a Bib Gourmand distinction in the 2026 Michelin Guide, a first for Pensacola. The recognition comes as Michelin expanded its coverage to the entire state of Florida this year, opening the door for Panhandle restaurants to compete on a global culinary stage. The fast-casual spot, housed in the converted historic Sacred Heart Hospital building, serves handcrafted sandwiches on signature schiacciata bread. Michelin highlighted their Cadenza and Cantabile sandwiches as standout offerings.
SUZANNE WILKS Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida has named Suzanne Wilks its 2026 Beyond School Walls Big of the Year, recognizing her sustained mentorship of Pensacola High School student Carolyn through the organization's partnership with the University of West Florida. Wilks, a UWF employee, joined the workplace-based program in October 2024. Over eight months, she guided Carolyn through resume writing, interview preparation, scholarship applications and post-secondary research before the pair transitioned into community-based mentoring. The investment paid off. Carolyn earned the Florida Prepaid College Foundation Path to Prosperity Scholarship and gained acceptance to the University of North Florida, where she plans to study psychology and civil engineering. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida has been the area's leader in one-to-one youth service for 36 years.
MELANIE LUNA Commissioner Ashley Hofberger's former aide has had a rough two weeks. On May 29, the commissioner informed Luna that she would no longer need her services. Apparently, Hofberger's handlers told the commissioner that Luna and the controversy surrounding the hiring of Christal Bell-Rivera had become too much of a distraction. Then Inweekly reported that her nonprofit, Life's a Dance Pensacola's Benefit Dance Showcase, has had trouble booking a date for its 2026 event at the Pensacola Bay Center. The newspaper then discovered that the IRS had temporarily revoked Life's a Dance's 501(c)(3) charity status after it failed to file tax returns for three consecutive years. The nonprofit also didn't write a check to the Escambia County Public School lunch program, the beneficiary of the 2025 fundraiser.
WES MORENO The Escambia County Administrator has let the county's two seats on the West Florida Public Library Board of Governance remain vacant for over two months, hampering the board's ability to oversee the operations of the library system. Moreno told the Pensacola News Journal that he plans to screen the applicants, maybe even interview them. His narrative feeds the conspiracy that the library board had gone rogue in not supporting his choice for library director, but our concern is that Moreno wants to limit the board's independence.
FLORIDA POWER
& LIGHT
Last month, State Sen. Don Gaetz formally requested that the state immediately investigate spraying operations, flight logs and chemical types in order to determine if Florida Power & Light (FPL) or its vendor violated environmental and aviation laws. This followed reports from East Milton residents and Chunn Farms about dozens of dead chickens and failing beehives that resulted from suspected chemical drift during herbicide applications near FPL power lines. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is investigating the matter. In an interview conducted by "Florida's Voice," the commissioner said that he expected his agency to find "real answers as to what happened in a few weeks." Any illegal actions would be punished.
Brandy McGraw / Courtesy Photo Melanie Luna / Photo Courtesy of Facebook
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
THEY HID THE FACTS
A qualified candidate was passed over, then smeared. That should trouble every person who ever applies for a job in Escambia County government.
The West Florida Public Library (WFPL) Board of Governance recommended Bradley Vinson for library services director, and County Administrator Wes Moreno chose someone else. However, Vinson wasn't edged out in a close call. She was deliberately maligned by county officials who spread false information about her performance, qualifications and character. The levers of government we trust to operate fairly were used to diminish Vinson and ensure she would never be taken seriously.
Vinson brought more than two decades of actual library experience to her interview. She oversaw school libraries across more than 50 schools. When she worked in the WFPL system, Vinson managed cataloguers, supervised children's staff and coordinated programs across branches. She handled $11.2 million in textbook procurement. She sat on the WFPL Board of Governance for four years.
FACTS DIDN'T MATTER
None of that was acknowledged by the officials who decided she wasn't fit for the job. Instead, Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger texted a Pensacola city councilmember to say Vinson had done "terrible" in the interview and that she took off her shoes. Deputy County Administrator Debbie Bowers wrote Commissioner Steve Stroberger that Vinson had "never managed anything except an elementary school library."
Those claims were false.
Vinson did not take off her shoes. She did not bomb the interview. She was not an elementary school librarian with no other management experience. Her job application documented her supervisory and leadership accomplishments. Bowers attended the Feb. 20 interview where Vinson described overseeing librarians across 50-plus schools. HR Director Nikki Powell—who told Commissioner Hofberger's aide that Vinson had "ZERO managerial experience"—had access to Vinson's application.
They knew the facts and hid them from the commissioners and the public.
In a radio interview, Commissioner Hofberger painted Vinson as troublemaker responsible for the school board's legal battles concerning book bans. The commissioner said, "There's ongoing litigation there … her definition of what's acceptable in our school system raises a lot of red flags. And as someone who is responsible for county dollars, I don't want to hire someone else's problems."
That statement came after the commission vote when the job had already been given to Hofberger's preferred candidate. It wasn't a reason for the decision. It was a justification constructed after the fact, designed to make Vinson look like a liability.
The Library Board of Governance recommended Vinson. The board conducted longform interviews with all four finalists. Their preference was overruled by Moreno, whose hiring decision was then ratified by a commission majority that had been primed with false information about Vinson.
IMPLICIT PROMISE
Hiring processes carry an implicit promise: candidates will be evaluated on their qualifications, the people making decisions will deal honestly with the record and officials who participate in the process won't use their positions to destroy the reputations of good-faith applicants.
Escambia County broke that promise with Bradley Vinson.
She submitted her application. She sat for the interview. She answered 14 questions honestly and in detail. She described her management philosophy, budget experience and vision for the library system. The Library Board heard her and chose her.
What she got in return was a coordinated campaign of falsehoods—passed through text messages and emails and spoken aloud in the halls of county government—aimed at making sure she would never be seen as the qualified professional she is.
Escambia County residents should be angry, not only on Vinson's behalf, but on their own. If this is how county officials treat a candidate they simply don't want, what does that mean for the integrity of every decision they make? {in} rick@inweekly.net
$712,500
Tastefully
$715,000
Top-floor, end-unit, two-story condo 2 bedroom, 3 bath, close to pool
EIGHT DECADES OF BUILDING NORTHWEST FLORIDA
A car ride with Bill Greenhut is never just a car ride. The 76-year-old businessman has a talent for turning commutes into history lessons.
Passengers learn about Northwest Florida from landmarks that Greenhut Construction Company proudly built. For the Greenhuts, each building tells a story. Together, those stories span 80 years of family history and community growth.
Founded in 1946 by Bill's father, Dudley Greenhut, the Pensacola-based company has grown from a small operation handling modest government projects into one of the region's most respected construction firms, with a portfolio that includes landmarks in commercial development, education, healthcare, hospitality, military and government facilities and houses of worship.
Today, the company remains family-owned and operated, with third-generation Ryan Greenhut, 46, serving as president. He succeeded his father, Bill, who retired three years ago.
The 80th anniversary celebrates the longevity of a company rooted in relationships, integrity and community service.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Greenhut Construction's story begins shortly after World War II.
Dudley had little formal education. His father died when he was just 13 years old; Dudley dropped out of school after the 10th grade and began working to support his family.
After gaining experience with road con -
out on his own.
"He started in 1946 with nothing," Bill said. "He was trying to support his mother and help put his younger brother [Jack] through law school."
The young contractor began taking on projects valued between $25,000 and $50,000, primarily for schools and military installations. Over time, the company built a reputation for quality work throughout the region.
Dudley was a workaholic who was onsite every day and expected the same from his employees.
"He worked seven days a week, one of those guys that you had to work half a day Saturday for … which made it hard to hire family people," Bill said. "And it was a 'voluntary mandatory' show-up on Sunday," Bill said.
For decades, military construction was the firm's specialty. Greenhut projects appeared at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, as well as military installations throughout the Southeast.
Dudley's approach reflected a different era of business. His contracts were often little more than a single page.
"His word was his bond," Bill said. "He believed a handshake was a deal."
That reputation became one of the company's greatest assets.
A CHANGING INDUSTRY
Bill joined the company in 1971 after earning a degree in economics from Washington and Lee
That philosophy continues to guide the company.
"We live firmly by the idea that you're only as good as your word," said Kelvin Enfinger, Greenhut vice president and partner. "Pensacola is a small community and you have to live by that word … When you look at the amount of work we do locally, it's a strong testament to our reputation and our reputation is built on integrity. Eighty percent of our work comes from repeat clients in the community."
BUILDING A COMMUNITY
Few companies have left a physical imprint on a region the way Greenhut Construction has. The firm's work is found across virtually every sector of community life.
Their commercial constructions include Pensacola International Airport, ST Engineering's facility, a portion of the Navy Federal Credit Union campus, the downtown YMCA, Maritime Place and the American Magic Pensacola port headquarters.
Entrepreneurs Quint and Rishy Studer asked potential construction companies to make a covenant for the community for Maritime Park, requiring 30% of their workforce be minorities.
His original ambitions pointed toward Wall Street, but his dying mother's final wish was for him to give the family business a try.
"I absolutely hated the first six or seven years," Bill said. "My dad was hard to satisfy. He expected you to figure things out on your own."
Then came a defining moment. In 1978, Dudley suffered a heart attack while Greenhut Construction was building Florida's legislative facilities in Tallahassee, including the Senate chamber, House chamber and parking garages.
At just 27 years old, Bill suddenly found himself responsible for the company's largest project to date.
"I was meeting with the governor and legislative leaders every two weeks," he said. "We had a deadline because the Legislature was going into session. It was sink or swim."
Bill swam. Greenhut Construction completed the massive project on time, and the experience proved foundational to his leadership.
Under his guidance, Greenhut Construction evolved from a traditional general contractor into a construction management firm. Rather than self-performing large portions of construction work, the company focused on assembling qualified subcontractors and managing projects through collaboration and transparency.
The shift helped distinguish Greenhut from competitors focused primarily on low-bid contracts.
"We decided there was a better way," Bill said. "We wanted to focus on quality, relationships and honesty rather than simply being the lowest number."
"We talked to a number of general contractors, and most of them told us they couldn't do it," Quint Studer said. "Not that you don't want to do it, but we just can't find that many qualified people. [The Greenhuts] are the ones who said, 'We will take this on.' They could have had an out. If they couldn't find somebody, they could document how hard they tried. They never asked for an out during the entire project. They identified and found people who continue to work with them today."
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves described the American Magic project as extremely complex in terms of funding streams, procurements, separate designers and construction.
"To have the steady hand of a very accomplished company—but one that's local that has a vested interest in local success—was enormously important," Reeves said. "Greenhut was the glue that really kept everything together and moving forward on that American Magic project."
Educational facilities built by the Greenhuts include Ernest Ward Middle School, Myrtle Grove Elementary, Booker T. Washington High School, multiple facilities on the University of West Florida campus and the Pensacola State College South Santa Rosa campus.
Ernest Ward, in particular, holds special significance to the Greenhut family. Dudley worked on Ernest Ward in the 1940s and took a spare 600-square-foot building from the school, hauled it to A Street and set up shop. The facility has been expanded many times, but is still home to Greenhut Construction. Walk through the entrance, and tools from the 1940s hang in a glass case.
Healthcare facilities represent another major chapter of the company's history. Greenhut Construction has completed significant projects at Sacred Heart Hospital, the National Intrepid
Photo Courtesy of Greenhut Construction Company
Center of Excellence on Eglin Air Force Base, the Allie Yniestra Community Clinic and Wesley Haven Villas Assisted Living Facility.
Drive on Pensacola Beach and Greenhut hospitality projects line the sands, including the Hilton and Fairfield Inn & Suites. Innisfree Hotels founder Julian MacQueen hired Bill Greenhut for phase one of the Hilton.
"Bill and I made a deal that was only a few pages of plans, and he bid off that, and we got through that and it was exactly what I had hoped for," MacQueen said.
MacQueen then called on Ryan for the Fairfield Inn, a project twice the size of the Hilton.
"They did a terrific job. I would recommend them to anyone," MacQueen said. "One of the biggest factors is the level of trust and integrity they bring to the table. That level of integrity and trust has flowed through the Greenhut family."
Strikingly beautiful religious facilities by Greenhut Construction include Temple Beth El, Hillcrest Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Pensacola. Bill said Dudley was most proud of their work on First Baptist.
RYAN'S TURN
Ryan joined the company in 2002 after graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in small business management.
Like his father before him, Ryan wasn't certain construction would become his career.
"I didn't really know what I wanted to do," he said. "It seemed like a great opportunity to come home, work with good people and see if I liked it."
He spent his first decade working in the field, learning directly from experienced superintendents and construction professionals. That hands-on experience shaped his understanding of the industry.
"You walk onto a construction site every day and encounter something you've never seen before," Ryan said. "Every building is unique. Every project has its own challenges."
Over time, he moved into project management, operations and business development before eventually succeeding his father as company president.
While Bill is admittedly aggressive and impatient, he describes Ryan's leadership as thoughtful. Ryan takes challenges in stride and credits employees for preserving a culture established by his grandfather. The company employs about 45 people and works with dozens of subcontractors throughout the region.
"The people who are drawn to Greenhut are drawn to the idea of doing good work and having integrity," Ryan said. "That creates a great team."
Studer said Bill and Ryan's leadership styles contrast, but they have the same values.
"It's all about integrity," Studer said.
A LEGACY BEYOND CONSTRUCTION
The Greenhut family's roots in Pensacola extend far beyond construction.
Family members have served as mayors, a judge, educators and civic leaders.
Bill said his grandfather, Adolph Greenhut, brought the family to Pensacola in 1880 and partnered with the Lewis Bear Company. Adolph served as Pensacola's mayor from 1913-15 and recruited the Daughters of Charity to establish Sacred Heart Hospital.
Another Greenhut, Irvin, served as Pensacola mayor from 1965-67.
Bill's uncle, Jack Greenhut, became a long -
time county attorney and later a circuit judge known throughout the region. One of his claims to fame is that he presided over serial killer Ted Bundy's arraignment in Pensacola.
Jack loved the law almost as much as he loved to hunt, fish and tell stories.
"You'd go in his chambers for a hearing at the courthouse up there, and you were lucky if you had a hearing, because all he wanted to talk about was fish stories and how to boil crabs and all that kind of stuff," Bill said. "All the lawyers in town would tell you all about that, that you would wait six months on the ruling."
For his part, Bill became deeply involved in civic leadership, serving as chairman of the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce and the University of West Florida Foundation.
"He's really been in many ways a mentor for me to fashion a life of service and integrity," said MacQueen, an extremely active philanthropist.
Among Bill's proudest accomplishments was helping lead a renovation of the historic Saenger Theater.
"We raised nearly $15 million," he said. "Of all the community things I've done, that's probably what I'm most proud of."
Bill and his wife, Connie, have been married for 50 years. They have two sons, Ryan and Brad. Bill refers to Brad as the brains of the family. He earned a master's degree in microbiology and spent five years in the pharmaceutical industry before returning home to be with his then-ailing father. Brad now works for OpenText Cybersecurity, formerly AppRiver.
LOOKING AHEAD
As Greenhut Construction enters its ninth decade, the company continues to grow while remaining grounded in the values established by Dudley.
Ryan acknowledges the responsibility that comes with leading a company whose name has become synonymous with construction across Northwest Florida.
"It's a big responsibility," he said. "But it's also a tremendous opportunity. We have a great foundation, great people and a reputation built over generations."
For Bill, the company's continued success is proof that integrity remains a competitive advantage.
Construction firms have come and gone through recessions, hurricanes, economic downturns and changing markets. Greenhut Construction has endured.
"Not many construction companies make it 80 years," Bill said. "A lot of businesses disappear when leadership changes or the market changes."
Bill doubts any of his grandchildren will succeed Ryan and become the fourth generation to lead the company. But Dudley doubted Bill would follow in his footsteps and Bill doubted Ryan would follow in his.
Ryan has two teenagers and anytime the family is in the car together, he finds himself emulating his father, pointing to buildings and telling stories about how Greenhut Construction has shaped Northwest Florida over the past 80 years.
"It must be neat to drive by and say, 'Wow, people are spiritually celebrating because I built that. Wow, kids are getting educated because I built that. Wow, people are getting healed because I was involved in that,'" Studer said. "They create community assets." {in}
NEW AIRPORT MURAL American Magic unveiled a new mural on June 2 in the baggage claim area of Pensacola International Airport, marking a deepening partnership between the high-performance sailing and composite manufacturing team and the city it has called home since 2022.
Mayor D.C. Reeves joined American Magic COO Tyson Lamond and Airport Executive Director Matt Coughlin for the announcement. The mural, created at American Magic's expense in collaboration with local design firm Aluma Designs, hangs across from an existing Blue Angels display. Lamond noted the pairing reflects the city's unique identity.
"When I look across and see the Blue Angels on the other side of the baggage claim, I think that's an amazing opportunity for both of us," Lamond said. "Truly, when we're out on the water and they're flying, it feels like a really special location."
Reeves framed the installation as part of a broader effort to cement Pensacola's profile as a premier national sailing destination. He also highlighted workforce development progress tied to the partnership, citing recent hires drawn from training pipelines at the University of West Florida, Pensacola State College and Children's Home Society.
Lamond said the organization has outpaced its own business projections. American Magic is currently fulfilling composite manufacturing contracts in the aerospace and defense sectors while simultaneously reactivating its America's Cup sailing program. The team also announced last month in New York City a new partnership with SailGP's Rockwool Racing. Lamond described the move as a signal of long-term commitment to the league and to Pensacola ahead of an October SailGP event on the bay.
"If you had asked us 14 months ago, would we have all these amazing projects in the building at the same time, there's no way I would have thought we would have landed everything," Lamond said. "But it's a good problem to have."
Reeves also used the press conference to announce significant air service growth at the Pensacola International Airport (PNS). Breeze Airways, which entered the Pensacola market in mid-2024 with two weekly flights to Tampa, will launch daily nonstop service to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale on July 1. The carrier is also doubling
its frequencies to Memphis and Bentonville, Ark., from twice weekly to four times weekly.
Coughlin said Breeze has also become a signatory airline at PNS, a longer-term lease arrangement that signals sustained market commitment. The carrier has added 6,600 seats to the Pensacola market compared to the same month last year. Breeze now operates 31 weekly departures across seven markets from PNS.
On the gap left by Spirit Airlines' exit, Coughlin acknowledged passenger volume is running roughly 10% below the same period last year but said Breeze's expansion is expected to close that gap.
"I expect that to pick way back up come July," Coughlin said. He added that he is still working on a direct flight from Pensacola to Las Vegas.
APOLOGY ACCEPTED
Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno said Orange Beach City Administrator Ford Hanley apologized and committed to ending the practice of transporting homeless individuals across the state line into Pensacola, following a face-to-face meeting Monday at Orange Beach City Hall.
The meeting came after Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons publicly called out the Orange Beach Police Department last week for what he described as "homeless dumping." Simmons posted on Facebook that an Orange Beach officer in a marked police cruiser had dropped a homeless man at the Waterfront Mission in Pensacola. "There comes a time when you say, 'enough is enough,'" Simmons wrote. "You cannot just abuse our tax dollars. We're trying to help our own out, and surely someone in Alabama can fund their own programs."
Moreno said the roughly hour-long session was cordial but direct. Hanley acknowledged the incident was unacceptable and pledged to prevent it from recurring. "He said, 'I agree that's unacceptable. It's not what should be happening. I'm going to work to make sure it doesn't happen in the future,'" Moreno recounted on June 2.
Moreno told Hanley that while Escambia County has a reputation for generosity, its resources for homeless services are already stretched. He said the county does not transport homeless individuals to Orange Beach and expects the same in return.
"We don't have an overabundance of resourc-
es," Moreno said. "We struggle to serve the homeless and provide services as it is. We certainly don't need anybody to bring anybody else over."
Hanley acknowledged the arrangement was mutual, comparing the situation to how Orange Beach would react if Escambia County transported individuals there. Both administrators agreed to the reciprocal commitment.
Escambia County operates the Reconnect program, which helps homeless individuals return to communities where they have family or existing support systems. Moreno said the program has successfully placed approximately 600 people and remains active and funded.
The Waterfront Mission, located in downtown Pensacola, is one of the region's primary providers of emergency shelter, meals and social services for people experiencing homelessness. It has previously raised concerns about increased demand on its resources from individuals transported from outside the county.
Moreno said he considered the matter resolved following Monday's discussion.
BOARD
VACANCIES
The West Florida Public Library Board of Governance is operating at minimum capacity, and its chair wants answers from Escambia County administration.
Dr. K. Blaine Wall, who chairs the board and holds a Pensacola City Council appointment, sent a formal letter May 21 to County Administrator Wes Moreno and Library Services Director Christal Bell-Rivera, requesting that two vacant county seats be placed on a commission agenda. As of publication, Wall has received no reply.
The board currently has just three members—Wall, Joyce Hopkins (Escambia County Commission appointee) and Rachel Hendrix (Mayor D.C. Reeves's recent appointee). The two unfilled seats have been empty since March 1. Qualified applicants submitted materials by the county's January deadline, but none have been presented to the commissioners.
Under the interlocal agreement between Escambia County and the City of Pensacola that governs the library system, the county is obligated to appoint three members to the board. Wall's letter argues the prolonged vacancies aren't just an administrative inconvenience; they impair the board's ability to function and undermine the transparency that the interlocal framework was designed to ensure.
"Withholding appointments from Commission consideration effectively prevents the Commission from exercising its appointment authority in a timely and transparent manner," Wall wrote.
His letter pointedly referenced recent public controversy over administrative involvement in library governance and the director selection process—a nod to the ongoing questions surrounding county administration's role in the hiring of BellRivera over another finalist earlier this year.
Wall stopped short of alleging bad faith, but a months-long silence on routine appointments, following a contentious director hire, raises legitimate questions about whether administrative delay is being used to control governance outcomes.
The West Florida Public Library system serves
hundreds of thousands of Escambia County and City of Pensacola residents. Its governing board provides oversight of that public investment.
BLACK PEARL
STRATEGIES
Rick Wilson and Ryan Wiggins last week announced Black Pearl Strategies, a national political consulting and media firm headquartered in Tallahassee. Their founding team also includes Ben Howe and Joseph Wartnerchaney.
Wilson, Howe and Wartnerchaney created The Lincoln Project's most-watched ads, work that helped defeat Donald Trump in 2020. Wilson co-founded The Lincoln Project (TLP) and continues there as a board member and creative director. Pensacola native Ryan Wiggins led TLP's team as chief of staff for five years.
"We reinvented political advertising in 2020 and have led the fight against Trump and Trumpism ever since," said Wilson. "Black Pearl Strategies takes that same creative fire and puts it to work for clients and causes across the country. The work of TLP continues, but pro-democracy campaigns need the tools and creative punch our team uniquely provides."
On the "We Don't Color on the Dog" podcast, Wiggins said, "I'm really, really excited about this because of our team. Ben Howe is an acclaimed author and an incredible, incredible talent. His editorial skills are out of this world. And Joey Wartnerchaney is absolutely the person who put the look on the Lincoln Project ads there. He's an award-winning director."
She said that many locals might not know Rick Wilson. "But Rick is a longtime, big national, former Republican political consultant and ad maker. Rick is known for his quick-fire sound bites and just being really, really good at sticking it to the other side. I mean, Rick spends time in the brains of our opposition, which is a terrifying place to be, but he's very, very good at it."
Wiggins sees the new firm as an opportunity to bring their skillset for narrative setting and electioneering to the private sector. Black Pearl Strategies will provide advertising, creative production, digital strategy, media buying, narrative strategy and strategic communications to campaigns, advocacy organizations, corporations and independent expenditure committees nationwide.
Among its first engagements, Black Pearl Strategies will participate in the Florida gubernatorial race, making independent expenditure efforts to boost David Jolly's campaign for governor. The firm will mount an aggressive television, digital and grassroots effort behind Jolly's candidacy.
"David Jolly is the real deal. A serious, proven leader who puts Florida families ahead of political games," said Wiggins. "By November, every voter in this state is going to know his story, and his opponents are going to answer for their records. Every. Single. Day."
Wiggins, who worked as an intern for Inweekly in its early days, brings more than two decades of experience in Florida government, communications and crisis management. At The Lincoln Project, she helped steer one of the highest-profile independent expenditure operations in modern political history. {in}
Photo Courtesy of City of Pensacola
Busch Light Fishing Rodeo Back on Pensacola Beach
The Busch Light Fishing Rodeo returns June 19–22, bringing one of the Gulf Coast’s most anticipated fishing events back to Pensacola Beach. Hosted by Pensacola Sports, the annual rodeo welcomes anglers of all skill levels for a weekend of competition, camaraderie and family fun. Participants can fish from a boat, dock or shoreline while competing for cash prizes and awards across 21 species categories.
challenging tests of skill
Beyond the General Rodeo, anglers can test their skills in the King Mackerel Challenge and In-Shore Challenge, while young fishermen and women have opportunities to compete in the Outcast Tackle & Marine Youth Rodeo and Academy Sports Junior Rodeo.
better community through sports
The weekend begins with a Captain’s Meeting at Flounder’s on Pensacola Beach, followed by two days of fishing and public weigh-ins that offer plenty of excitement for spectators. Families, friends and fishing enthusiasts are invited to watch anglers bring their catches to the scales and cheer on competitors throughout the weekend.
Whether you’re chasing a tournament-winning catch or simply enjoying time on the water, the Busch Light Fishing Rodeo delivers a true Gulf Coast tradition while helping Pensacola Sports continue its mission of building a better community through sports.
Learn more about upcoming events and how to get involved at PensacolaSports.org REEL FUN WITH
Brought to you by Pensacola Sports
CELEBRATING CULTURE AND COMMUNITY at the Watson Family Foundation's Annual Juneteenth Festival
By Dakota Parks
Every Juneteenth has its own soundtrack, but there are always common threads: music spilling through public parks, families sharing stories over plates piled high with food, the slap of dominoes against card tables and laughter from children racing through the crowd.
Rooted in the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned they were free two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Juneteenth is celebration of Black freedom and culture that officially became a federal holiday in 2021.
Beneath the holiday designation is a chance to reflect on the work still left to do while honoring the generations who first fought for Black freedom. It's a day of remembrance, centered around both gathering together and looking back.
That spirit is at the center of the Watson Family Foundation's annual Juneteenth Festival, returning to downtown Pensacola on Saturday, June 13.
Now in its fifth year, the free event is packed with live entertainment, cultural performances, family activities and community traditions. The festival's family reunion theme invites residents of all backgrounds to celebrate Black history while strengthening the bonds that connect Pensacola's diverse community.
"The theme reflects exactly what we want this event to feel like," said Kimberly Watson, president of the Watson Family Foundation. "In many ways, Juneteenth is about reconnecting with history, culture and each other."
For Watson, the family reunion theme highlights how Black communities have historically preserved culture, shared stories and supported one another across generations.
"Family reunions have always been a cornerstone of the Black community," Watson said. "We wanted to create that same welcoming atmosphere where everyone, regardless of race, background or age, feels like they belong."
The Watson Family Foundation has spent years building programs around that philosophy.
Founded in 2018, the organization provides school supplies, laptops, lodging assistance and hardship relief for families in need. Education and community support remain central to its mission, and Watson sees the annual Juneteenth festival as a natural extension of that work.
"Everything we do as a foundation centers around strengthening families and creating op -
portunities," she said. "This festival is a free event because we believe every family should have access to positive, enriching experiences regardless of income."
Young attendees can spend the day in a dedicated kid's zone featuring face painting, obstacle courses and interactive activities. Families can enjoy live entertainment together, browse local vendors and participate in community traditions ranging from a sweet potato pie contest to a "Family Feud" style game, plus spades and dominoes tournaments.
The foundation will also award a $1,000 scholarship to a Pensacola State College student, continuing its investment in education.
"Education changes lives," Watson said. "It creates opportunities, opens doors and helps break barriers. We believe investing in students is one of the most impactful ways to invest in the future of our community. Scholarships not only provide financial support but also send a message to students that their hard work matters and that their community believes in their potential."
This year's festival also features an expanded entertainment lineup that includes drumming and dance by the Polimbatree African Drummers, gospel and opera performances, spoken word artists and a hip-hop street dance crew.
"Watching children dance, grandparents teach dominoes and neighbors connect across generations is always my favorite part of the day," Watson said. "Juneteenth is a reminder of how far we've come and how much can be accomplished when communities come together. Beyond the history, it's about celebrating the strength and beauty of our culture, and the contributions Black Americans have made to our nation."
"Celebrating publicly allows people to see the richness, diversity and contributions of Black culture in a positive and uplifting way. Joy itself is powerful," she added. "While history includes hardship and struggle, it also includes triumph, innovation, creativity and excellence. Public celebrations help educate, inspire and unite people while ensuring these stories continue to be shared for generations to come."
TELLING STORIES
One of the people helping tell those stories at the Watson event is spoken word poet Kelli Pogue, better known as Abena Whasayo Isake.
For Isake, Juneteenth has always felt personal—and not just because her birthday is on Juneteenth. The themes that define the holiday are the same themes that have shaped much of her work.
A poet since age 12, Isake first turned to writing after attending the funeral of a teenager from her community who had been killed by gun violence. What she saw stayed with her.
"A lot of the times, you don't see when we gather as a community when it's something to celebrate, but when something tragic happens, we're here ready to come together as a community to talk about what happened," she recalled.
The experience became the subject of her first poem. More importantly, it introduced her to the power of storytelling as a way to process grief, ask difficult questions and connect personal experiences to larger themes of ancestry, identity, freedom and the African diaspora.
"If it's something affecting me personally, it's usually affecting the collective community too," Isake said. "I don't know how to separate the two completely, the personal and the political."
In one of her best-known pieces, "Heavy is the Crown," she challenges audiences to think beyond simplified narratives of Black history.
"We weren't just slaves or kidnapped Africans," she said. "I want the younger generations to know we come from royalty and history-rich civilizations. When you really think about what a king and a queen is, and the perspective of who you are and where you come from, that crown is heavy."
Another poem, "This Mourning," explores the grief and longing that can accompany tracing ancestry through generations disrupted by slavery.
"It is grief for me," Isake said. "I would love to stand at my grandmother's feet and have her tell me about the generations before her. Where did I come from? What did they look like?"
Instead, she pieces together family history through fragments, memories and stories passed down over time. Yet the poem ultimately lands somewhere hopeful.
"If I don't have anything else," she said, "I know I come from God, and that's enough."
This year, festival attendees will hear a brandnew piece written specifically for the Juneteenth celebration. The new piece will be accompanied
by her nephew, who will weave "Lift Every Voice and Sing" throughout the performance.
The collaboration feels especially fitting to Isake.
Although she describes herself as a homebody and devoted mother to four, her poetry has found a wider audience through collaborations with musician Lepoleon Williams and the cultural arts collective Polimbatree, whose performances incorporate traditional African instruments alongside spoken word.
That collaborative partnership helped bring her work out of private notebooks and into public spaces.
"My thing is the word," she said. "I share my gift, then I go sit back down. You have to listen to the words. Every word is there for a reason."
Drawing inspiration from Black female writers like Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Octavia Butler, Isake's words often challenge audiences to sit with uncomfortable truths.
"While we celebrate freedom on Juneteenth, it's important to draw attention to the issues still happening today that are trying to counter the freedoms our ancestors struggled and fought for," Isake said.
Yet she remains grounded in the same sense of community that inspired her first poem decades ago.
"Even in the midst of the struggle, we still have each other. That's why amongst the celebration, it's important that we respect and remember," Isake said. "Pouring libations and remembering our ancestors is just as important as lighting a firecracker." {in}
THE WATSON FAMILY FOUNDATION PRESENTS: JUNETEENTH FAMILY REUNION FOR THE CULTURE FESTIVAL 2026
WHAT: A Juneteenth celebration with food trucks, family games, local vendors, live entertainment and more
WHEN: 12-6 p.m. Saturday, June 13
WHERE: Museum Plaza, 300 S. Tarragona St.
COST: Free to attend
DETAILS: watsonfamilyfoundation.com, @watsonfamilyfoundation
Photo by Luckey Shot Photography
Arts & Entertainment
Switching it Up with Tirra Lirra
Killing time with Pensacola post-pop band Tirra Lirra could mean just about anything.
Bellamy Bozeman remembers their eclectic hangout before a performance in New Orleans. Lena Holtzen (vocals/guitar) was playing chess with another band, Cori Bush (guitar) was yoyoing barefoot on the bar floor, Yaseen Moftaqir (alto saxophone) was in a corner reading a book and Bozeman (bass) was playing the "SpongeBob SquarePants" theme song on the flute she typically carries in her pack.
"Just looking around at what everybody chose to do when we got to the venue for our chill time was hilarious to me—we'll show up and be like, 'Oh, this is cool,' and just bust out a bunch of weird things," she said.
"This was [Bozeman's] first-ever show with us, and I was like, 'Yeah, this is probably gonna work," Holtzen added.
The band now includes Nel Gatlin (drums). They're the only member not in Pensacola, but living in Robertsdale, Ala.
Holtzen said that the band's origin story is simple: she wrote many songs over the past few years and slowly assembled the group with
people she'd met through the Pensacola music scene. Their sound is rooted in Holtzen's sweet spot for 1980s U.K. pop.
"I really like the indie wave of '80s music from Scotland; it is my happy place," Holtzen said. "If you listen to that kind of stuff, you'll definitely hear it in 'Character Study'—bands like Orange Juice and Prefab Sprout, Aztec Camera and XTC is huge. You'll see elements of jangle pop, rock and roll … all over the place, really."
"Character Study" is their latest album, and Moftaqir thinks the title couldn't be more fitting.
"We were thinking about the songs and what they all had in common, the driving force behind all of them," Moftaqir said. "And so much of [Holtzen's] songwriting is driven by these intensely focused character studies that really hone in on [the] minutia of characters, psychology and their relationships, and out of nowhere it was always kind of waiting on us."
Some of the characters described in the lyrics are fictional, and some are real, Holtzen said.
"The first song on the album, 'Cowboys and Championship Rings,' is a loose story about Alex Chilton and a lover he might have had, so I'm able
to fictionalize a real historical figure," Holtzen said. "'Miss Anastasia' is a telling of the assassination of the Romanovs. These real narratives that exist in history that I'm exploring in a more intimate way with the music."
"I do think I pull a lot from the characters to help describe myself or create meaning in my own life," Holtzen said.
Gatlin remembers joining the band and learning "Cowboys and Championship Rings," after being told of the band's varied musical influences.
"All of us band members—especially in this current and hopefully final forever lineup—we all have different influences. Like, [Bozeman] is a metalhead, and I grew up being a metalhead, and [Bush] brings a younger emo guitar player to everything with the way that she plays her licks, and of course [Holtzen] has an experimental songwriting style," Gatlin said. "It allows me, as the drummer, to just get crazy with anything I want to. It's an opportunity to let loose with a bunch of different influences."
"It all comes together with this really fun rural character study of us, and also the material," Gatlin said.
Bozeman likes how Holtzen writes songs "so melodically," allowing every instrument to shine. As the self-proclaimed "most edgy metalhead" in the band, her favorite song on the album to play is "Snake Charmer."
"'Snake Charmer' has just so much energy to it, it's so live, and that's kind of my background, so that's what gets me punk," Bozeman said. "I get so excited, I do the little dance when I see on the setlist that it's coming up next."
While all the members enjoy different music and pastimes, one thread that seemingly runs through the band is its literary element. Even the name Tirra Lirra originates in the 19thcentury poetry Holtzen studied as a college English major.
"It comes from 'The Lady of Shalott' by Alfred Tennyson, and that's where I first encountered the phrase 'tirra lirra,'" Holtzen said. "It was originally coined by Shakespeare, creator of so many words and phrases, but it literally means the sound of a lark or a robin, so it's an onomatopoeia."
Their literary roots don't end there. Moftaqir is an "attempting" novelist in literary fiction, as well as a master's student in creative writing at University of West Florida. And before their performance as a band at PensaPride, Moftaqir will share a reading just after Holtzen reads some of her newly written poetry.
"We'll be all sandwiched together as a package: music and reading," Moftaqir said.
This will mark their second year in a row performing at PensaPride, and they are excited to switch it up for the show on the Acoustic and Poetry Stage, Holtzen said.
"It's a chance to really do an acoustic set and strip it down a little bit, so it'll be fully acoustic minus maybe the bass," Holtzen said. "[Gatlin] is gonna switch from drum to the piano for it, so it'll be a little bit more harmonic. I'm really excited for that. It's definitely a little jazzier. I think we'll be able to let the saxophone breathe a lot more, so it's definitely a little treat for the people who know us as a rock band. We get to show our chops a little bit." {in}
TIRRA LIRRA AT PENSAPRIDE
WHAT: Tirra Lirra will perform on the 309 Acoustic and Poetry Stage at PensaPride 2026
WHEN: PensaPride is 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 13; Tirra Lirra show is 12:40 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Fairgrounds Expo Hall, 6655 Mobile Highway
COST: $8
DETAILS: @tirralirraband, @pensapride
Tirra Lirra / Photo by Andrew Velasco (@andrevvve)
a&e happenings
PENSAPRIDE: SUMMERWEEN Enjoy live performances, food trucks and local vendors at this inclusive all-day event 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 13 at Pensacola Interstate Fair, 6655 Mobile Highway. Details available at pensapride.org.
TAME COFFEE AND PERFECT DAY BOOKS
Visit The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Saturdays, June 20 and 27 to shop Perfect Day Books and grab a drink from TAME Coffee. For more information, visit instagram.com/tame.espresso and instagram.com/perfectdaybookstore.
PRIDE NEVER PREJUDICE PARTY Annual Pride event at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, June 20. Details at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.
WOLFGANG PUPS FOR PRIDE Event is 6-8 p.m. Saturday, June 20 at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Tickets and information at wolfgangparkandbrews.com.
DRAG BRUNCH AT THE WELL Enjoy a drag show with brunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, June 21 at The Well, 42 E. Garden St. Tickets available at ticketsilver.com/perfectplain. For ages 21 and up.
CALL ME DADDY DRAG KING OPEN
STAGE Enjoy drag performances 9 p.m. Sunday, June 21 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit instagram.com/theth0tfactory.
CHILD You can book a free gender-affirming haircut with Salon San Carlos now through June 27 with donations benefiting Sunday's Child. The salon is located at 528 W. Garden St., No. 1-3. Visit salonsancarlos.com for details.
ARTS & CULTURE
OPERA AFTER DARK: COMMUNITY
CABARET A performance of showtunes, jazz standards and more favorites 7 p.m. Thursday, June 11 at Pensacola Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. Tickets are $25 and available at pensacolaopera.com.
POETRY READING WITH AIR QUINCY 'Q' HALL Help Quincy celebrate his birthday with poetry 7-9 p.m. Friday, June 12 at 309 N. Sixth Ave. Learn more about the 309 Artist in Residence at facebook.com/309punkproject.
THE COTTAGE Pensacola Little Theatre production is 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 12, Saturday, June 13, Thursday, June 18, Friday, June 19, Saturday, June 20 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 14 21 at 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets and details available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
BLACK BEAUTY EXPO A day for women to discover new products, network and more. The event is hosted by Real Women Radio and will be at the 850 Event Center, 2148 Delano St. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 13. Admission is free.
WATSON FAMILY FOUNDATION JUNETEENTH COMMUNITY CELEBRATION The Juneteenth Festival will be 12-6 p.m. Saturday, June 13 at Museum Plaza, 300 S. Tarragona St. Enjoy live performances, food trucks, kids activities, art and more.
SAVE OUR SHELTERS SIP AND SAMPLE FUNDRAISER Visit Chrisoula's Cheesecake Shoppe at 236 W. Garden St. from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, June 13 for a sip, sample and shop event with 100% of proceeds going toward spay/neuter surgeries for dogs.
HONOR H.E.R. FOUNDATIONS 'WE SEE YOU' PHOTO EXHIBIT The Honor H.E.R. Foundation will unveil a deeply moving expansion of its signature "We See You" photo exhibit 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 13 at the Pensacola VET Center, 4918 Mobile Highway. This year's reveal introduces 16 new portraits. For more information, visit honorher.org.
CLOTHING SWAP AT ODD COLONY New season, new wardrobe with a Golden Hour pop-up event 4-7 p.m. Sunday, June 14 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Details at facebook.com/oddcolony.
BEETLEJUICE THE MUSICAL Broadway in Pensacola series presents "Beetlejuice: The Musical," 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16 and Wednesday, June 17 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
TABLE TALKS WITH THE TRUST The last monthly lunch and learn is 12-1 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 at Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St. This month, historian Monica Tapper will discuss Florida suffragettes and golden cake. Cost is free.
FREE ADMISSION DAY TO PMA Enjoy free admission to Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St., on Thursday, June 18. For details, visit pensacolamuseum.org.
JUNETEENTH CLOSING EVENT WITH Q
309 Punk House Artist in Residence Quincy "Q" Hull closes his residency 8-10 p.m. Friday, June 19 at the punk house, 309 N. Sixth Ave. Details at facebook.com/309punkproject.
PENSACOLA HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY Join the monthly luncheon 11 a.m. Saturday, June 20, at Golden Corral Meeting Room, 2260 Langley Ave. Dean DeBolt will present on the topic "Fighting the Civil War with Envelopes." Lunch buffet is $15 at the door. No reservations needed; all are welcome.
ROAD TO REVOLUTION EXHIBIT AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF HISTORY
"Road to Revolution: Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the American War for Independence" highlights how Pensacola helped shape the outcome of the American Revolution. Developed in partnership with America250, the exhibit explores how a Gulf Coast port played a pivotal role in a global conflict. The exhibit is on display through May 2027. The museum is located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information about the UWF Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.
THE POETICS OF PAINTING: A CELEBRATION OF THE LINEAGE AND LEGACY OF JOHN MARKOWITZ Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit features more than 50 works of art created by Markowitz's mentors and students on view through Aug. 4. The Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.
THE ART OF ANIMATION Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit featuring illustrations from the Gerald and Vicki Adcox collection. On view through September 6. Visit the museum at 407 S. Jefferson St. Find more details and museum hours at pensacolamuseum.org.
LIVE MUSIC
BANDS ON THE BEACH The weekly concert series takes place 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday through Oct. 27 at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. Free to attend. Upcoming dates: Goldmine on June 16 and Disco Kiss on June 23. For more information, call the SRIA at (850) 932-2257 or go to visitpensacolabeach.com for the latest updates.
LIVE MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ
Enjoy live music Thursdays through Sundays at Five Sisters, 421 W. Belmont St. Upcoming dates: The Glenn Parker Band 6-10 p.m. Saturdays; Curt Bol Quintet 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays; and John Wheeler 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays.
PensaPride / Photo by Brighter Days Photography (@brighterdays.photography)
a&e happenings
THE BUNNY THE BEAR, LIVING DEAD GIRL, HOPOUT, SCREAM OUT LOUD, GLSNR, PURPLE ZOMBIE Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, June 11 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets and information available at thehandlebar850.com.
NGHTMRE Show is 7 p.m. Friday, June 12 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.
BALMORA, CONTENTION, HOLDER, AZSHARA, STATEMENT OF PRIDE, SERRATED Show is 6 p.m. Friday, June 12 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets and information available at thehandlebar850.com.
THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN Show is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 13 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
DAN SPENCER Show is 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 16 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets and information available at thehandlebar850.com.
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME Show is
6 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.
TURNOVER Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, June 20 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.
VOTERS DRIVE ACOUSTIC SHOW WITH THE UNDERGROWTH Chill acoustic show
5-9 p.m. Friday, June 26, doubling as a voter registration drive. Anyone who can prove that they're eligible to vote in Escambia county, or anyone who registers onsite to vote, will gain free entry. Entry cost otherwise is $10. DM @the. undergrowth for location or keep an eye out for the official flyer.
OPEN MIC AT ALGA BEER CO. Country Club is hosted by Brett Patterson of Snake and the Rabbit every Monday night. Sign-ups start at 6 p.m. and music starts at 6:30 p.m. All ages welcome. Visit facebook.com/algabeerco for more details.
MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE
QUARTER The Blues Society of Northwest Florida brings blues to Florida 7 p.m. Mondays at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Food and drink specials start at 8 p.m. Details are at sevillequarter.com.
PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY
Music pickers of all levels are invited to play 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.
LIVE MUSIC NIGHTLY AT THE DISTRICT
Enjoy music and fine dining at The District: Seville Steak & Seafood, 123 E. Government St., every Tuesday through Thursday starting at 6 p.m. Their regular weekly schedule is Tuesday Night Jazz with Love Brynnevere, Wednesdays with Platinum Bones and Thursdays Dan Lovelock on the piano.
They also have live music on Fridays and Saturdays during happy hour starting at 4 p.m. Visit facebook.com/districtsteaks for details and updates.
MUSIC RX: JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED Jazz Pensacola and Escambia County Medical Society present free concerts on the first Wednesday of the month in the cafeteria of Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, 5151 N. Ninth Ave. from 1:30-3:30 p.m. For more information, visit jazzpensacola.com.
ROSIE O'GRADY'S DUELING PIANO
SHOW Watch the famous dueling piano show 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at Rosie O' Grady's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Doors open at 7 p.m.
NOCHE TROPICAL: LATIN NIGHT AT SEVILLE QUARTER Presented by Latin Flavor Entertainment every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Phineas Phogg's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.
OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY
Open mic night is hosted by Renee Amelia 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.
VIBE IRIE REGGAE: LIVE IN THE COURTYARD Enjoy Vibe Irie Reggae band 4-10 p.m. Sundays at the End O' the Alley Courtyard at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St.
LIVE MUSIC AT CALVERT'S Listen to live music 5-8 p.m. Sundays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. Visit facebook.com/calvertsintheheights for details.
FOOD + DRINKS
LUNCH AND LEARN: COMPOUND BUTTER CLASS Cooking class is 12-1 p.m. Thursday, June 11 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. Tickets are $47.86 and available on eventbrite.com.
NATIONAL PROSECCO WEEK AT AN -
GELENA'S Angelena's will offer a special Prosecco tasting flight June 12-21. The flight features six unique Prosecco selections with sharable Italian bites. Cost is $25. Angelena's is located at 101 E. Intendencia St. Visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com for details.
PUPS AND PINOT: FATHER'S DAY EDITION Wolfgang Pensacola will host this Father's Day event 6-8 p.m. June 13 at Bodacious 407-D S. Palafox St. Details available at wolfgangparkandbrews.com.
SIR RICHARD'S PUBLIC HOUSE TO HOST BIRTHDAY OYSTER BASH Customers can purchase oysters for market price for Sir Richard's 60th Birthday Bash 1 p.m. Saturday, June 13 at 2719 E. Cervantes St. More information is available at sirrichardslounge.com.
PEACH FESTIVAL AT GARY'S BREWERY
Enjoy food trucks, craft beer, petting zoo and lots of peach-themed treats 12-7 p.m. Saturday, June 13 and 12-6 p.m. Sunday, June 14 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Details at facebook.com/garysbrew.
a&e happenings
JUNE SUPPER CLUB AT THE WELL Enjoy a five-course meal from Head Chef Rusty 5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 14 at The Well, 42 E. Garden St. Tickets available at ticketsilver.com/perfectplain.
JUNETEENTH AT FIVE SISTERS Five Sisters' Blues Café, 421 S. Belmont St., will celebrate Juneteenth with a special menu of cultural dishes Friday, June 19-Saturday, June 20. Visit fivesistersbluescafe.com for details.
THE FISH HOUSE CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
Festival with more than 50 beers along with liquor and seltzers 3-6 p.m. Saturday, June 20 at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. Tickets are $30-$40 with a portion of proceeds benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. More information is available at fishhousepensacola.com.
FATHER'S DAY AT GREAT SOUTHERN
RESTAURANTS Take dad out for a meal at one of the Great Southern Restaurants with specials available alongside standard menus on Sunday, June 21. Visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.
FITNESS + RECREATION
OCEAN HOUR CLEANUPS Ocean Hour cleanups are 8:45 a.m. Saturdays. For more information and meet-up locations, visit oceanhourfl.com.
BLUE WAHOOS HOME GAMES Watch home games at the Blue Wahoos stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. Tickets and details at bluewahoos.com. Upcoming games are 6:05 p.m. Tuesday, June 16,
Wednesday, June 17, Thursday, June 18, Friday, June 19, Saturday, June 20 and 4:05 p.m. Sunday, June 21.
REVOLUTION TALENT COMPETITION
Dance competition is 8 a.m. Saturday, June 20 through Thursday, June 25bat Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets and information available at pensacolabaycenter.com.
SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS RUN CLUB
The Seville Quarter Milers Club meets 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays in front of Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Enjoy free post-run pasta and happy hour drink specials. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.
ADULT ROLLER HOCKEY GAMES: PEN -
SACOLA BEACH HOCKEY LEAGUE The third season of the adult roller hockey league kicks off in September with games every Sunday through December at Cowley Park, 916 Via de Luna Drive. More information is at app.teamlinkt.com/register/find/pbhl.
YOGA AT GARDEN & GRAIN Join Disko Lemonade Yoga Studio for an all-levels vinyasa flow 10 a.m. Sundays through Dec. 21. Cost is $23 and includes a beverage (non-alcoholic options available) at Garden & Grain, 50 E. Garden St. Bring your own mats and water bottle. Details are at facebook.com/gardengrain.
HOT SPOTS FISHING SEMINARS A monthly free fishing seminar is held at Flounders Chow-
der House, 800 Quietwater Beach Road. Dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. Seminar begins at 7 p.m. and typically lasts an hour. Visit facebook.com/ hotspotsfishing for details.
SPOT, PLOT AND FIRE Walk with a guide on a 45-minute tour of Battery Pensacola and discover how a young nation defended itself in a changing world. Meet inside historic Fort Pickens 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
COASTAL CURIOSITIES Join a guide during this hands-on activity to see, touch and learn how plants, animals and humans have continuously changed and adapted to the coastal environment. Meet at the Langdon Beach Pavilion 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
GUARDIAN ON THE GULF Join a guide for a 30-minute talk to learn about this famed brickand-mortar fortification and the people who lived and served within its walls. Meet at Fort Pickens 2 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays.
SECRETS OF THE SEASHORE Join a guide for a 30-minute talk to discover the incredible natural world along the Gulf Coast. Meet at the Langdon Beach Pavilion 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
CIVIL WAR TRUNK Learn about the people who lived and served at Fort Pickens during the Civil War during this two-hour drop-in activity 10 a.m. Wednesdays-Fridays. Spend time
with a guide to see, touch and learn about the uniforms and equipment used by soldiers and to hear about the hardships, sacrifices and challenges of soldiers and civilians alike. Meet at Fort Pickens.
FREEDOM'S FORTRESS Explore stories of the Underground Railroad at Fort Pickens and reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who upheld the promise of freedom in the U.S. Meet inside historic Fort Pickens 11-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays-Fridays. Note: talks are accessible to people with special needs.
YOGA UNCORKED AT 5ELEVEN Yoga classes are 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays at 5eleven, 511 S. Palafox St., with Disko Lemonade running the class. Register at diskolemonade.com.
YOGA WITH MARNI AT HA-YA Visit Ha-Ya Wellness for integrative yoga with Marni 10 a.m. the first and third Saturday of the month at 4301 Spanish Trail Road. Visit facebook.com/asherandbeeapothecary for more information.
SIP AND STRETCH YOGA Yoga class for all levels is Sundays at Gary's Brewery and Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. Class starts at 11:45 a.m. Cost is $18 for a one-hour class followed with a complimentary beverage. Visit facebook.com/ garysbrew for details.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
free will astrology
WEEK OF JUNE 11
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Many of you have a fraught relationship with discipline. You recognize you need it if you want a life rich with epic adventures. Yet you sometimes resist planning ahead or organizing your resources, fearing it might dampen your immediate pleasures. The problem is that when you skip the planning and organizing, the short-term fun you default to may turn out to be unsatisfying. That's the challenging news. The encouraging news is that you're now in a cycle when you can transform how you relate to discipline. I bet you can render some of those old patterns obsolete.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Gemologists evaluate opals less for flawless uniformity than for their mesmerizing play-of-color. They study how light interacts with a stone's microscopic internal structure to produce vivid, shifting hues. The most prized opals aren't necessarily the most perfect in shape, but the ones whose internal pattern and rainbow-like displays are most vibrant, varied and alive. This is a marvelous metaphor for you in the coming weeks. I hope you don't obsess on consistency or smooth away your complications. Let the world see your play-of-color.
By Rob Brezsny
plants can lie dormant in the soil for years, waiting for the right conditions to germinate. If they remove invasive species and restore the land's natural cycle of controlled fire, wildflowers long absent from the landscape spring back to life. With this metaphor in mind, Cancerian, consider what dormant possibilities may lie buried in your own psyche. What seeds did you plant long ago and then forget? What dreams or talents are waiting for you to clear away the choking overgrowth and create space for them to emerge? Old potentials may be patient, not dead.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Better than any other sign, you understand that ego and generosity can be collaborators rather than enemies. Your charismatic radiance is often a public service. When you express your interesting beauty, you give others permission to tap into their own luminosity. The world always craves your unique flavor of audacious joy, and especially now. The rest of us need your intense insistence that flair and flamboyance are forms of resistance against the forces that would diminish life's splendor.
cerned about aren't meant to reach completion. You shouldn't worry about trying to finish what's meant to be an ongoing practice. Just keep starting the cycle again.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): "Dear Oracle: Why do we always have to start at the beginning? I'd much prefer just jumping into the middle of things. Right now, I would love to bypass all the tedious baby steps I'm being forced to take as I try to get some momentum going. Please slip me a few clues about how to fast-forward directly to the fun stuff. —Bored with the Groundwork." Dear Bored: Your timing is perfect. The planetary omens say you are now authorized to vault over the preludes and prologues and dive right into the heart of the action.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Restoration ecologists work to revive damaged prairies. They've discovered that seeds of many native
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Many people struggle with what could be called "imagined ugliness," a condition clinicians refer to as body dysmorphic disorder. It usually involves fixating on a supposed physical defect, or even on a flaw that exists only in one's mind. I suspect that almost everyone carries a trace of this tendency, including you and me. The good news, though, is that the current astrological climate is ideal for you to at least partially shatter its spell. You are poised to transform your self-image so vigorously that you begin to regard yourself as a flawless exemplar of quirky, one-of-akind beauty.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): The Golden Gate Bridge, which is a few miles from my home, is painted continuously. Painters start at one end, work their way across, and by the time they reach the other side, it's time to start over. The job is never finished; maintenance is the permanent condition. Some people find this depressing, but I find it oddly liberating. It means the bridge doesn't have to achieve some final, perfect state. It just has to be tended. Similarly, you don't have to fix everything once and for all, Libra. The relationships, projects and internal states you're con-
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Innovative theater director Viola Spolin was a Scorpio. She taught that the best scenes emerge when the actors avoid trying to control outcomes. Instead, they fully commit to the reality they're creating together. Spontaneous responses are their gold standard. Let's make this a keynote for you in the coming weeks. Your assignment is to give yourself heartily to improvisation. The most interesting magic will happen as you relax into the collaborative process, trusting it to guide you toward beauty and meanings none of you could have scripted alone.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Musicologists distinguish between "perfect pitch" and "relative pitch." A person with perfect pitch can sing or identify a specific note without hearing any other music beforehand. Relative pitch is the ability to recognize musical notes in relation to other notes. In the coming weeks, Sagittarius, relative pitch will be a more useful metaphor for you than perfect pitch. Don't insist on perfect clarity about what's right and wrong, beautiful and ugly, worthy and unworthy. Instead of obsessing on fixed standards, practice relational discernment. How does this choice feel compared to that one? How does a person behave in this context versus another? For you right now, truth lives in the intervals and connections.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): The best way to eliminate a bad habit is to replace it with a good one. Now is an excellent time to acquire more expertise in this art. Start by choosing a specific habit that drains your energy, time, or self-respect. Then identify what that habit is secretly trying to give you, like comfort, distraction, or a sense of control. Your mission is
to find a healthier behavior that offers a similar payoff without the damage. For example, maybe you go online and binge-scroll through bad news because you imagine it soothes your anxiety. Instead of that, read an uplifting book or listen to serene music for a while. Be concrete: when the itchy habit hits, what exactly will you do as an alternative?
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): In 1905, 26-year-old Albert Einstein worked full-time as a clerk in a Swiss patent office. During his off-hours, he wrote four audacious papers that fundamentally changed how physics understood space, time, light and matter. He accomplished his revolution without the sponsorship of a renowned university or laboratory. His example suggests that we can perhaps re-imagine and recreate the world even if we're not supported by glamorous circumstances. I suspect this principle applies to you these days. Breakthrough insights and earth-shaking realizations may arrive while you're doing ordinary tasks. Be alert for the flashes that arise in seemingly routine and modest situations.
PISCES
(FEB. 19-MARCH 20): For linguists, "untranslatable" words are concepts that exist in one language but have no equivalent in others. One example is mono no aware, which in Japanese refers to the tender poignance and appreciation you feel in the presence of fleeting beauty, like cherry blossoms falling. I bring this to your attention, Pisces, because I suspect that you, too, are untranslatable right now. My advice is to forget about trying to get others to grasp what's going on with you. Here's a suggestion that might help: find soulful artists and emotionally intelligent creatives who speak the language of your mystery.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What gifts do you have that you have never yet given with fullness? tinyurl.com/33ss33ss {in}
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news of the weird
RENAISSANCE MAN Sterling Nasa, a student of politics and international studies at the University of Sydney, found himself in an unusual spot recently: behind an electric keyboard during a live concert of the "La La Land" movie score. The 21-year-old was in the audience for the May 30 concert at the Darling Harbour theater in Sydney when composer and conductor Justin Hurwitz made an unusual request from the stage during intermission: Did anyone in the audience know how to sight-read? The orchestra's keyboardist had fallen ill, and local reinforcements were too far away to make it to the theater in time. "I figured nobody's as close as they say they are," Hurwitz said, "so I just thought, well, we have 2,500 people in here [in the audience]." Despite Nasa's background in music—he plays piano, organ and bagpipes— he was initially hesitant to volunteer his services. But with encouragement from his friend, he headed down to the pit. If being thrust into the spotlight weren't enough, Nasa also had to play a tricky piece—John Legend's "Start a Fire," which has a complex solo that synchronizes with the character Sebastian's (Ryan Gosling) frenetic piano playing on screen. With no time to prepare, Nasa improvised the piece, earning him a rousing ovation. "To be able to play a really cool solo in the right key, in the right scale, on the fly with no rehearsal—it was remarkable," Hurwitz said. [The Guardian, 6/1/26]
GOAL! Brenden Aaronson, 25, a forward for the U.S. Men's National Team in the FIFA World Cup, missed practice on May 29 for a very important reason: his wedding. He and his high school sweetheart, Milana D'Ambra, booked their wedding date over two years ago. Aaronson realized the scheduling conflict in March, but a conversation with head coach Mauricio Pochettino put his fears at ease—he could take a day to attend his wedding without losing his status on the team. The couple married in New Jersey, not far from where they met. Aaronson had to leave shortly after the wedding to get back to the team. "It's not easy to be leaving on a wedding night, but she's been with me since the beginning," Aaronson said of his wife. "She knows how many days we've been through doing all the football stuff. For her to be as cool as she is is amazing." [Yahoo! Sports, 6/2/26]
BORN THIS WAY Shelbee Dugger-Kemp of Texas has a birth story for the ages: She delivered her premature twins in the passenger seat of a moving car. According to People, Dugger-Kemp was at a campsite at the TexasOklahoma border with her family over Memorial Day weekend when she experienced stomach pain that she initially attributed to a bad batch of nachos. At 31 weeks pregnant, she decided it wouldn't hurt to pop over to the hospital to make sure everything was OK. Her husband's grandmother, Mimi, drove her, and on the way, Dugger-Kemp quickly realized that her pain was actually contractions. "She said, 'Oh no, Shelbee,' and I said, 'Oh yes, Mimi, it's about to happen.'" With the ambulance 20 minutes
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
away, the seasoned mom of four—now six—delivered two boys. Kane came first, at 4 pounds, 4 ounces, followed about five minutes later by Kallan, who weighed 3 pounds, 15 ounces, and emerged still in his amniotic sac, known as an en caul birth. The baby boys were born about eight weeks ahead of their due dates but are doing well in the neonatal intensive care unit. [People, 6/1/26]
OH, RATS One Australian designer is taking ratty clothing to a new level. Rat Oddity Gizzard, known for using taxidermied rats to make unusual creations, recently released a line of clothing they're calling LingeRAT (pronounced like "lingerie"), Oddity Central reported on May 29. Unfortunately, it's exactly what it sounds like—taxidermied rats sewn onto underwear. While the garments aren't meant to be worn, Rat Oddity Gizzard's Instagram audience begs to differ, with followers claiming to want to surprise their partners. The lingerie sells for $137 apiece, and yes, they do offer international shipping. [Oddity Central, 5/29/26]
CRIME REPORT On May 31, a French museum reported a theft—not of precious jewels or a priceless painting, but of fruit. A banana, to be precise. The banana had been taped to the wall as an artistic piece called "Comedian," by Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan. A security guard noticed the banana missing from the Pompidou-Metz museum, and the museum has "lodged a criminal complaint for theft against persons unknown," Gulf News reported. The banana is typically replaced every three days, and the museum says this is not the first time the fruit has been stolen: A hungry visitor helped themselves to it last July. "Comedian" is valued at $120,000. [Gulf News, 5/31/26]
WELL, THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY Eric Pierwsza, 48, of Butler County, Pennsylvania, is facing charges of causing a catastrophe, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct after using an excavator to tear down his family's house after his wife told him she wanted a divorce. On May 28, CBS News reported that Pierwsza had been out drinking, and when he arrived home, he and his wife argued, and she told him she wanted a divorce. According to the police report, Pierwsza told her, "If it's over, I'll tear the house down." And he did—with his wife and two children still inside. Sounds of destruction could be heard on the 911 call. Pierwsza then entered the home to grab a gym bag and fled the scene. He was apprehended in a nearby township. Luckily, no one in the home was injured, and his wife is seeking a protectionfrom-abuse order. The house suffered irreparable structural damage and likely will need to be demolished. [CBS News, 5/28/26] {in}
