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EXPLORE
DR. EMAN EL-SHEIKH El-Sheikh has been nominated for the 2026 Cybersecurity Woman of the World Edition Award. She is the associate vice president for the UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI, where she has led more than $26 million in competitive grants to build programs like CyberSkills2Work and Cybersecurity for All that create career pathways from the Gulf Coast to the national security workforce. El -Sheikh serves as the U.S. Global Ambassador and Chief Strategic Alliance Officer for the Global Council for Responsible AI and has been honored as the 2024 GISEC Global Educator of the Year. The Cybersecurity Woman of the World Edition 2026 is the most prestigious award for women in cybersecurity, with nominees spanning 160 different women in cyber associations across the globe.
UWF LEWIS BEAR JR. COLLEGE OF BUSI -
NESS
The college honored four faculty and staff members with Bear Impact Awards during its spring celebration. The award honors individuals whose contributions have significantly enhanced the Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business mission, environment or community. The recipients of the Bear Impact Awards include Associate Dean Maggie Davis, Dr. Stephen LeMay, Business Manager Mary Holladay and Associate Dean and Graduate Programs Director Melissa Brode. Dr. Davis guided the college through a successful AACSB Continuous Improvement Review. Dr. LeMay reviews approximately 50 journal submissions each year. Ms. Holladay ensures day-to-day operations run smoothly. Ms. Brode directs the graduate programs, which continue to increase in enrollment.
READYKIDS!
The ReadingPals' program at Brentwood Elementary School helped 20 of 29 participating Pre-K students reach or exceed the state benchmark for kindergarten readiness. Every child who completed both assessments improved their scores: 24 students gained at least 30 points, and 10 improved by more than 100 points. An Escambia Children's Trust C.A.R.E. (Community, Access, Resilience and Empowerment) grant supported the program. To volunteer, visit readykidsfl.org.
VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK RESTROOMS Mayor D.C. Reeves and the Veterans Memorial Park appeared to be in agreement to finally build permanent restrooms at the park. Veterans and supporters have been frustrated by the lack of urgency about the problem, despite years of discussion with the city. Temporary restroom trailers approved by the City Council in 2021 were later removed after neighborhood complaints, leaving the park again without facilities. Disputes have centered on design, costs and whether to use a contractor who offered donated labor and materials versus a city-funded project. Budget constraints cited in 2025 further stalled construction. The plan is now to build a prefabricated four-stall permanent restroom facility.
CITY OF ORANGE BEACH
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons ignited an inter-state dispute last week, accusing the Orange Beach Police Department of transporting a homeless man 30 miles across state lines to Pensacola's Waterfront Mission. Simmons labeled the act "homeless dumping" on Facebook, arguing Florida taxpayers shouldn't fund Alabama's social services. Orange Beach officials responded that the man requested the ride and was treated compassionately, with the officer contributing money from the Police Benevolent Fund. Simmons then released video he says contradicts Orange Beach's account. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office added that the Orange Beach mayor's "snarky comment" about Simmons was "cute."
LINE-ITEM VETO Gov.
Ron DeSantis openly acknowledged using his line-item veto as a political tool, telling a Federalist Society gathering in New York last month that he weighs legislators' support for his agenda before approving their budget projects. "Where were you on our tort reform? Where were you on school choice?" DeSantis said, describing how he reviews member projects. "You just do it, right?" The budget approved on May 29 contains nearly 2,000 member projects, many benefiting local youth groups, seniors, museums and schools. Democrats called his approach retribution. House Democratic Policy Chairwoman Rep. Kelly Skidmore of Boca Raton said, "It doesn't matter if it's the best idea ever. It just matters if he likes you or he doesn't like you."
Dr. Eman El-Sheikh / Photo Courtesy of uwf.edu
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
SAME OLD STUNT
Gov. Ron DeSantis wants lawmakers to approve $5.5 million in public funds to "inform" Floridians about his property tax amendment. He pulled a similar stunt in 2024, spending $36 million of our tax dollars to defeat Amendment 3 (recreational marijuana) and Amendment 4 (reproductive rights).
This time, he wants to fight for the passage of his proposed constitutional amendment to raise the homestead exemption and put the Legislature on a path toward the full elimination of property taxes. When Florida voters see this proposal on the November ballot, they'll also have received state-funded mailers pointing them to a DeSantis-commissioned website that calculates how much they personally stand to save if they vote yes.
DeSantis says the mailers won't advocate for the amendment's passage, but we heard a similar argument two years ago.
THE 2024 PRECEDENT In 2024, his administration diverted at least $36.2 million in taxpayer funds across multiple state agencies to defeat Amendments 3 and 4. State lawmakers and the media uncovered multiple transactions—$10 million from a Medicaid settlement funneled through the Hope Florida Foundation, $4 million from opioid settlement funds, $4.4 million from a Department of Transportation engineering contract, $3.2 million from the Department of Education, $2 million from Department of Health grants and more than $1 million from federal child protection grants intended for foster care services and family counseling.
Both amendments fell short of the 60% threshold required to pass. DeSantis declared victory. The Legislature never conducted a full accounting of how the money was spent. State agencies failed to record nearly half of the spending in the state's public contracting database. The administration provided invoices for only onethird of the agencies involved.
Pensacola's Rep. Alex Andrade uncovered the Hope Florida Foundation scandal. He worries the governor won't hesitate to dip into tax dollars to pass his new amendment.
"The dynamic that I'm really curious about is just how aggressively DeSantis is going to use tax-
payer resources to campaign," Andrade told Inweekly. "His use of taxpayer resources to fight Amendment 3 and 4 two years ago could look like a drop in the bucket by comparison."
Andrade added, "Will he have agencies campaigning about it? I'm confident that he will."
NEW LAW In response to the 2024 campaign, lawmakers passed a law banning the use of public funds for political advertising or any communication sent to voters about a proposed amendment.
However, the law left a carve-out: governments may post factual information on websites. DeSantis' proposal exploits the loophole by claiming that his savings-calculator website "constitutes posting factual information." The mailers, which would accompany annual tax notices from county property appraisers, direct homeowners to that site.
DeSantis' office has drafted the ballot summary that would appear in those mailers. It states that the amendment "benefits Florida taxpayers." That's not neutral language. That's campaign copy. A genuinely neutral description would explain what the amendment does; it wouldn't characterize the outcome as a benefit. The framing primes a "yes" vote before a voter even reads the amendment itself.
It's doubtful the governor's website will show the impact on local law enforcement, fire protection, public education and other government services if property taxes are cut. According to the Florida Association of Counties, Escambia County would lose $44.8 million in revenue next year and $72.9 million in two years.
If the Legislature approves the $5.5 million to market the amendment, it will confirm what the 2024 episode already suggested: the ban on using public money to influence ballot outcomes applies to everyone except the governor.
The test of a principle is whether it holds when it's inconvenient. Florida lawmakers passed a law to prevent taxpayer money from being used to tilt ballot outcomes. The governor now wants to tilt a ballot outcome again using taxpayer money. The Legislature can either enforce the principle or confirm that it really was just political puffery all along. {in} rick@inweekly.net
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DATA CENTER ATTRACTS OPPOSITION
Sprawling warehouse-type buildings packed with servers, networking hardware and cooling systems have become the backbone of technology. Every online bank transaction, streaming movie, cloud-stored document and AI query touches a data center somewhere.
But as the AI boom drives demand for computing power, communities across the country are increasingly wrestling with a difficult question: are the economic benefits worth the environmental and infrastructure costs? That debate has now arrived in Escambia County.
As WEAR first reported, five companies have contacted the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance about the possibility of building a data center in the county. FloridaWest CEO Chris Platé said the organization signed a nondisclosure agreement with a defense AI company interested in a "smaller" facility in the northern portion of the county, away from dense residential development.
Platé said the company has sent representatives to the county on multiple occasions but has not visited in the past month, and there are no active negotiations between the two sides.
"Right now, we anticipate based on feedback that we've gotten on some of the electric load, it's not going to be enough to handle future expansions," Platé said. "So they would probably be able to come in for phase one, but phase two would probably not work, and so I would assume at some point this will self-eliminate."
Still, the mere possibility of a data center coming to the county has ignited a public backlash.
"They're painting them all with the same brush," Platé said. "So they look at what Meta is doing in Louisiana, what's going on in Utah and what's going on somewhere else with these massive centers. They're just saying, 'Oh, it's the same thing.' No, I mean, there are data centers in prob-
gallons of reclaimed water capacity. ECUA board member Vicki Campbell said the board is in the fact-gathering stage, and it would be premature
"As a member of the utility board, my top priority is safeguarding our community's water quality while exploring smart infrastructure opportunities, like the potential of reclaimed water,"
Salzman said her constituents' opinions will determine whether she supports building a data center in the county. "For nearly six years in office, I have remained committed to representing the voices of my constituents above all else. If the people I serve do not support a project or policy,
Century Town Administrator Dave Murzin attempted to tamp down speculation surrounding his community becoming a possible site. He said, "There are a lot more rumors than there are facts about all of this stuff. It's much ado about nothing
Murzin added, "I think Century would be open to conversations if something like that happens, but FloridaWest is the point of contact."
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BLUFFS
FPL PREPARED FOR DATA CENTERS
FPL Spokesperson Andrew Sutton said the Florida population has grown for years, and the utility company has kept up by enhancing its infrastructure. FPL has established consumer protections to ensure hyper-scale data centers pay 100% of the new power generation needed for their project.
"When you have a large customer connect to the system, and they've already paid their way onto it, they've essentially brought their own generation," Sutton said. "And they're using power steadily, so they're now adding significant revenue, and that revenue can help cover the fixed system costs—the cost to maintain the grid—which we all pay for."
He continued, "So, now we're spreading costs over a wider base, and over the long term, that can create downward pressure on FPL customer rates, while maintaining reliability and resiliency. So in reality, data centers can reduce costs over time that residential customers would otherwise have to pay."
servers that operate around the clock. Cooling systems designed to keep those servers from overheating require enormous quantities of water. Noise complaints have also become common in communities located near large data centers, where cooling systems and backup generators can produce a constant low-frequency hum.
"The biggest issue, No. 1, is the water, not only the consumption but what it will send back to the aquifers," Johnson said. "There's not enough known about what happens to neighbors of data centers. People in Georgia have brown water coming out of their pipes."
POTENTIAL LANDING SPOT: CENTURY
Industry analysts project data centers could account for a double-digit percentage of total U.S. electricity consumption by 2030 as artificial intelligence applications continue to expand. Supporters argue the project will generate significant tax revenue, infrastructure investment and technical jobs.
State Rep. Michelle Salzman identified Century as a potential location for a data center.
"Century has several unique advantages that make it worth considering for future development opportunities like a modular or edge data center," she said. "The community has access to multiple utility sources for both water and power, available open land for responsible growth and a strategic location within Northwest Florida."
Salzman said if developed responsibly, a modular or edge data center could create construction and long-term technical jobs, with the potential to increase the tax base to support infrastructure, public safety and community service.
The state lawmaker added that unused Emerald Coast Utilities Authority reclaimed water would be better used for cooling rather than routed to treat effluent for reuse systems. ECUA's Central Water Reclamation facility has millions of
The Bluffs in Cantonment is another possible landing spot for a data center. The corridor includes rail access, nearby Interstate 10 connections, industrial waterways, high-pressure natural gas pipelines, existing power infrastructure and those millions of gallons of reclaimed water capacity from ECUA's Central Water Reclamation facility.
In 2015, FloridaWest leaders unveiled plans for The Bluffs—a massive 6,300-acre industrial campus stretching north of Nine Mile Road between the University of West Florida and Beck Lake Road near the ECUA facility. Then-FloridaWest CEO Scott Luth publicly promoted that the site could create as many as 15,000 direct and indirect jobs over 25 years.
More than a decade later, not a single shovel has broken ground at The Bluffs. Perhaps a data center could finally provide the long-awaited anchor project that economic development officials have sought for years.
The Bluffs and Century both reside in District 5, where Steven Barry is the county commissioner.
"Nobody's approaching me about doing one in Escambia County or District 5, specifically, but even in the greater county; Platé hasn't said anything to me," Barry said. "[County Administrator] Wes [Moreno] has said, Platé told him. He just kind of mentioned that he had had a discussion with somebody, but there was not a prospective project or anything."
Barry said the commissioners support economic development that creates long-term jobs. Data center critics argue that the long-term employment numbers often fail to justify the scale of the projects.
"A lot of companies can come in to create more jobs than a data center," Johnson said. "[Data centers] create construction jobs, and then that's it. There are very few who are employed by a data center."
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 484 into law. The bill prohibits public utilities from passing data center electricity costs onto small businesses and residential customers. The bill further establishes a dedicated permitting process that can require data centers to use reclaimed water and authorizes water management districts to reject permits if water usage threatens local resources.
NOT INSIDE CITY LIMITS
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said data centers are not in his economic development plans for the city. "[Neither] the City nor myself have been involved in any conversation around a potential data center, but I can tell you I will not be a proponent of data centers inside the city limits anytime soon."
The mayor said any potential data center outside the city would receive close scrutiny. "If something goes on in the county or anywhere in the neighboring area that could have a potential environmental impact on the city of Pensacola, we are going to be hyper-aware of any progress on that, and our full expectation is that we would be looped in at that appropriate time."
He added, "If the conversation continues to solidify around a data center anywhere in the surrounding areas of the city, my first primary concern is going to be, how will that affect this city from infrastructure and how will that affect the city from our environment?"
No company has publicly identified itself. No formal site application has been submitted. Yet the fierce early reaction demonstrates how quickly data centers have become the country's most polarizing economic development proposal. Johnson and her supporters plan to voice their opposition at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on June 17.
"The county commissioners need to see people's faces and put the story with the face," Johnson said. "I'm hoping more people show up for that meeting than there is seating in that room. There needs to be an overflow." {in}
The way to find meaning in our lives is by helping others find meaning in their lives. That’s the approach I’ve taken all this time.
— Dr. Bob Kimball
Dr. Bob Kimball
For 39 years, Dr. Kimball shaped thousands of minds, published five books, and lived his philosophy— that helping others find meaning is the highest calling of a life well spent.
As a scholar, Dr. Kimball advanced the discipline through five published books, 15 refereed journal articles, and innovative instructional media.
As a teacher, he educated and mentored countless students who now lead with confidence and integrity in their fields.
As a leader, he gave his time and expertise to the university and the regional community.
Thank you, Dr. Kimball, for your years of service, wisdom, and lasting contributions to our community.
Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business • University of West Florida
Colton Rollin and Emma Grayce Fuqua were chosen from 62 completed applications. Four students received awards of up to $10,000 each; one received an award of up to $5,000. Selection criteria included academic accomplishment, community involvement, personal essays, letters of recommendation and financial need.
"At Gulf Winds, we believe that education has the power to transform lives, families and communities," said Daniel Souers, president and CEO. "We are proud to recognize these outstanding students who have demonstrated that they dream big and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in their communities and beyond."
Alverson, a Flomaton High School graduate inspired by her sister's experience with a congenital disease, will study nursing at the University of Alabama with hopes of becoming a neonatal nurse. She was active in the Leo Club and the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce Youth Ambassador program and earned two All-American Cheerleader recognitions.
Nissim will pursue international studies at Florida State University. Her interest in crosscultural diplomacy was sparked by the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics and her involvement with the Gulf Coast Youth Diplomats. She served as a class senator and volunteered with Camp Dream Street, supporting children with cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
Schultz, from Brewton, Ala., will study vocal performance at Samford University. She plans to return home after graduation to provide arts mentorship to local youth, a gap she identified grow-
brother into the electrical trades. He was named an Academic All Star all four years at Flomaton High School and was active in multiple sports and his church youth group.
Fuqua received the Micah Williams Memorial Scholarship and is studying nursing at the University of South Alabama, where she is a member of the Blue Key Honor Society and Alpha Omicron Pi. She volunteers at Wilmer Hall, a Mobile residential facility supporting children and young adults in need. She aspires to serve on hospital boards as a community advocate.
The awards bring Gulf Winds' total scholarship giving to $342,500 for 80 students since the program launched in 2007. Gulf Winds Credit Union operates 12 branches across North Florida, Southern Alabama and Southern Georgia and holds more than $1.3 billion in assets.
FREE DOWNTOWN PARKING
South Palafox Street reopened to vehicular traffic on June 1, and as an additional bonus, the administration expanded the opening for cars to include Government, West Romana and West Intendencia streets as well.
Construction on the remaining side streets will follow a set sequence: East Zaragoza Street and Fred Levin Way will be completed first, followed by East Romana and East Intendencia. Road crews will then shift to West Romana and West Intendencia before finishing with Government Street. Traffic patterns will adjust as each segment is completed.
The formal dedication ceremony for the rebuilt Palafox Street corridor is scheduled for Sat-
rent free parking policy will of the new city fiscal year.town parking structure will get cycle. Free parking on
lots continues unchanged city time to analyze more
ing data before implementing revisions. He is developing the new framework with Council President Allison Patton and Deputy Admin-
Changes under discussion include expanding the senior parking permit program to all seniors, not just city residents. The cost will be $10 per month and linked to license plates to eliminate the need zones or hours are anticipated.
Roughly 80% of paid parking revenue comes from non-residents, and the city intends to protect that revenue stream while reducing friction for local drivers.
FIBER SUBCONTRACTOR
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves also announced at his press conference that Lumos, the subcontractor installing T-Mobile's fiber-optic network across the city, has agreed to a series of operational changes following months of resident complaints about damage left behind in neighborhood rights-of-way.
Reeves said a meeting with Lumos leadership produced concrete commitments from the company, which acknowledged the problems were legitimate. Complaints from residents included broken irrigation lines, torn sod, open excavation holes left unattended for days and disturbed sewer infrastructure in front yards across Pensacola neighborhoods.
"This was not a he-said, she-said, or we have it wrong, or our citizens have it wrong," Reeves said at his May 27 press conference. "They analyzed this and agree that this is not up to par."
The mayor had previously sent formal letters to T-Mobile and AT&T, whose subcontractors have also generated similar right-of-way complaints, demanding an end to the recurring damage.
Under the agreement, Lumos pledged to cut fiber installation production within city limits by 50% and will not exceed that threshold going forward. The company also committed to restoring any disturbed right-of-way within 48 hours of beginning work, with same-day restoration in most
cases. Open holes and exposed materials left sitting for multiple days will no longer be acceptable, Reeves said.
Lumos additionally committed to providing residents with door hangers and onsite notifications before crews begin work in a given area, a practice that had not previously been in place. Complaints will be handled by local Lumos personnel with the ability to provide face-to-face support. Crews will be required to leave property in equal or better condition, including proper grading, sod replacement and complete debris removal.
Reeves also highlighted a pledge to eliminate the stop-and-start work patterns that had compounded resident frustrations. Under previous practice, crews would begin work on a street, stop and return weeks later, sometimes while simultaneously working separate stretches of the same road. Lumos committed that once work begins in a neighborhood, it will be completed before crews move on.
The fiber build-out is a privately funded project spanning roughly 1.4 million feet of infrastructure across the county, with service expected to reach approximately 125,000 families. Initial construction is scheduled for completion in early 2028. Residents with construction concerns can contact Lumos at 1-800-905-9017 or by email at constructionsupport@lumos.net.
STRUGGLING FAMILIES Eight in 10 Floridians say the cost of food is rising faster than their income, and nearly half say they have gone deeper into debt over the past year just to keep food on the table, according to a new statewide poll released by No Kid Hungry Florida.
The survey, conducted April 14-22 by Aspect Strategic, sampled 1,021 Florida adults and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. It found 82% of respondents say food costs are outpacing their earnings.
Seventy percent of respondents said their financial situation has worsened over the past 12 months due to food costs, and 49% said their debt has increased specifically because of the cost of groceries. More than a quarter of all Floridians (27%) have used "buy now, pay later" services to cover food purchases.
Families with children are bearing the heaviest burden. Half of parents with a child 18 or younger in the household reported skipping meals or eating less, and 39% said they have turned to buynow, pay-later financing to afford food, including half of all families of color surveyed. More than two-thirds of families said they have been forced to choose between buying nutritious food and paying for other essentials, including gas, rent, utilities or medical care.
The poll found broad public support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, with 75% of respondents saying it helps parents afford enough food for their families and 70% saying it helps families access healthy, fresh food. A majority (57%) said they oppose SNAP funding cuts enacted as part of the 2025 federal budget law, with 47% saying they strongly oppose those reductions.
Emma Grayce Fuqa / Photo Courtesy of Gulf Winds Foundation
Opposition to child hunger crossed partisan lines. Ninety-six percent of respondents—including 95% of Republicans, 96% of Independents and 97% of Democrats—agreed that child hunger should not exist in Florida. Eighty-seven percent said they want state elected officials to do more to address childhood hunger, and 92% said ending it should be a shared, bipartisan goal.
No Kid Hungry Florida is a campaign of Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit focused on ending child hunger. To learn more, visit state. nokidhungry.org/florida.
BRINGING
HOME THE BACON State Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Crestview) announced last week that 21 projects he sponsored are included in Florida's proposed $114.5 billion state budget, directing approximately $30 million to Northwest Florida communities if the spending plan clears final legislative votes and survives the governor's review.
The full Senate and House are expected to vote on the budget later this week. It then goes to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who holds line-item veto authority over any provision or project.
The University of West Florida is the largest single beneficiary, with $9.25 million spread across three allocations: $8 million for campus building infrastructure, $1 million for cybersecurity upgrades and $250,000 to develop a digital credential program. Pensacola State College received two approvals totaling $5.5 million—$5 million for the South Santa Rosa Health Science and Nursing Center and $500,000 to expand military and veterans' educational services.
Major healthcare projects include $3 million for medical research at the Andrews Institute, $2 million for storm hardening at Baptist Gulf Breeze Hospital and $900,000 for a maternal and perinatal center at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital. The Institute for Human & Machine Cognition received $1 million.
Infrastructure funding includes $1.5 million for the City of Milton's wastewater treatment plant, $1 million for ECUA's West Ensley septic-to-sewer conversion project, $1.5 million to continue the State Road 85 bypass expansion in Crestview and $850,000 for a runway expansion at Whiting Field, a facility Gaetz described as critical to economic development in north Santa Rosa County.
Community and social service allocations include $750,000 for Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola, a recidivism-reduction program; $750,000 for Pensacola Veterans and Families Mental Health; $650,000 for the National Flight Academy; $646,000 for Pensacola Little Theatre; $250,000 for Crestview Robotics; and $250,000 for Historic Pensacola.
"At a time when state spending is reduced for the second year in a row, I am very thankful that Senate and House negotiators saw the value in our proposals to benefit Northwest Florida," Gaetz said.
Gaetz credited Sen. Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City) and House sponsors Reps. Alex Andrade, Nathan Boyles, Patt Maney and Michelle Saltzman for their roles in securing the appropriations.
DIB SUCCESS The Downtown Improvement Board's "All I Want: Construction Edition" campaign generated more than $101,800 in tracked customer spending across 87 downtown businesses during the 11-week New Palafox streetscape project, according to a final report released by the organization.
The campaign, designed to sustain foot traffic and consumer spending while Palafox Street construction disrupted normal business conditions, drew hundreds of receipt submissions from shoppers who continued patronizing downtown establishments throughout the project.
Monkee's led all participating businesses with $25,000 in submitted receipts and 72 entries—the highest totals in both categories. Schmidt's Music followed with $18,000 in tracked spending, and Pensacola Hair Shop ranked third with $6,800. Other top performers by dollar volume included Rusted Arrow ($5,000), Jewelers Trade Shop ($3,800), Wine Bar ($2,690), Badlands ($2,600), Indigeaux ($2,400), IRON ($2,055) and Blue Morning Gallery ($2,045).
Campaign data showed that 82.65% of all entries came from Escambia County residents, with the most active participation from ZIP codes 32502, 32503, 32507, 32526 and 32504. The remaining 17.35% of participants came from outside the county, including visitors from Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Pace, Milton and Alabama.
A grand prize drawing awarded winner Claire a $1,000 Downtown Yiftee Gift Card and a private Pedal Trolley experience for 14 guests through Pensacola Pedal Trolley. Week 11 winner Angela received a $150 Downtown Gift Card.
The Downtown Improvement Board announced it has transitioned exclusively to the Downtown Gift Card program through Yiftee, which can only be redeemed at businesses that have activated the platform through their pointof-sale system. Businesses interested in participating are encouraged to contact the DIB for an activation link.
JUNIOR LIFEGUARDS
The Pensacola Beach
Junior Lifeguard Program is accepting applicants ages 13 to 15 for its 2026 summer sessions, with tryouts scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, at Quietwater Beach.
Tryouts consist of an approximately 400-yard open water swim followed by a one-mile sand run. Limited spots are available, and attendance at tryouts is required for consideration. In the event of inclement weather, tryouts will be moved to Sunday, June 7, at the same time.
The $200 program fee, payable by check or money order only, is due the day of tryouts. A parent must be present. Applicants with the fastest tryout times receive first choice of session.
The two-week program runs 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with Session 1 June 15-26 and Session 2 July 21-Aug. 1. Participants train in water rescues, medical care and rescue drills alongside active Pensacola Beach Lifeguards. Register at myescambia.com or email adjohnson@myescambia.com. {in}
PRIDE MONTH TO-DOS
Happy Pride Month to all who celebrate. We made this issue just for you.
If your group chat has officially run out of ideas for how to make this month special, we've got you covered. Between drag events, dance parties, outdoor meetups, and, of course, PensaPride, June in Pensacola will be busy and queer as always. Whether you're looking to find community or just figure out what's worth leaving the air conditioning for, we rounded up our favorite ways to help you make the most of Pride Month this year locally.
Book a free gender-affirming haircut with donations benefiting Sunday's Child at Salon San Carlos Now-June 27
@salonsancarlos
See Atlanta's Raquel Rea Heart at Cabaret June 5-7
@raquelreaheart, @thecabaretpensacola
Get caffeinated and add to your TBR with TAME Coffee and Perfect Day Books at The Handlebar Saturday, June 6, 20 and 27 @tame.espresso, @perfectdaybookstore
Tap into collective care and organizing at Dorothy's Community Resource Fair Saturday, June 6 @dorothyspensacola
Follow and support Just Opposed Zine an independent student magazine fighting against censorship @justopposedzine
Hit the water for kayaking and paddleboarding with PFLAG Pensacola Sunday, June 7 @pflagpensacola
Decorate a canvas at Coastal County Brewing Company's Painting with Pride event Sunday, June 7 @coastalcountybrewing
Dust off your dancing shoes for the Silver Pride Tea Dance* hosted by Sunday's Child and Stamped Film Festival Sunday, June 7 @_sundayschild, @stampedfilmfestival
Come for drag bingo and stay for the Frisky Friday shows Fridays at The Roundup @therounduppensacola
Watch "Call Me by Your Name" on the big screen June 12-18
amctheatres.com/events/pride-month
Spend the day at PensaPride Saturday, June 13 @pensapride
Just make sure you check out their new bag policy before you go and buy your ticket in advance too (it gets you into the event quicker)
And don't miss the performance stages or the expanded food court section while you're there
Make sure you save a little energy for the after-party, too
hosted by Just Dance at Betty's on Belmont Saturday, June 13 @just.dance.850, @bettys_on_belmont
Experience gender-affirming hair care or pay it forward for someone else through The Altar's mutual aid program HeadClub @thealtaratsacred
Show up ready to shop at Perfect Plain Brewing Co.'s Perfect Pride Market Saturday, June 20 @perfectplain
And stay for WolfGang's Pups for Pride event featuring dog-friendly drag bingo Saturday, June 20 @wolfgangpensacola
Celebrate the daddies at The Thot Factory's Call Me Daddy drag king open stage event Sunday, June 21 @theth0tfactory, @hehandlebar850
Brunch with a purpose at Dorothy's Beats + Bubbles event on National HIV Testing Day Saturday, June 27 @dorothyspensacola
Find support and solidarity at a meeting with Strive every Wednesday or Panhandle Trans Coalition bi-monthly @strivepensacola, @panhandletransco
Don't miss Prismatic presented by House of Androgyny Saturday, June 27 @hehandlebar850
Get ready to have a very "Heartstopper" summer when the last book drops Tuesday, July 7 and "Heartstopper Forever" hits Netflix Friday, July 17 @heartstopper, @aliceoseman
Save the date for Stamped Film Festival 2026 Nov. 12-15 @stampedfilmfestival
And RuPaul's Drag Race Werq the WorldNews Tour 2027 Sunday, Feb. 21 pensacolasaenger.com, vossevents.com {in}
*For more on the Silver Pride Tea Dance, turn to page 13.
Arts & Entertainment
Pride at Any Age
By Dakota Parks
Pride month is often defined by crowded bars, late nights and dance parties that cater to younger crowds. But this month, one local event is shifting focus to the generation that helped pave the way, offering LGBTQ+ adults 50 and older a Pride celebration of their own.
The inaugural Silver Pride Tea Dance is hosted by Sunday's Child and Stamped Film Festival. Organizers hope to create a space where
LGBTQ+ elders feel celebrated and connected.
"At last year's Stamped Film Festival, we hosted an intergenerational roundtable event where LGBTQ+ individuals from ages 18-70+ engaged in a moderated discussion about their lives and experiences," said Laynie Gibson, president of Stamped Film Festival. "We got overwhelmingly positive feedback about the segment, and one participant, Storne Shively, remarked about how amazing it was to feel connected to the community and that she had been struggling with isolation."
That conversation lingered long after the festival ended. Gibson said planning for an elder-centered Pride event began almost immediately afterward.
"Storne unfortunately passed away earlier this year," Gibson said. "Which for me highlights even further the importance of this event. This is for all of us, and it is for her."
For many LGBTQ+ elders, loneliness is compounded by circumstances unique to the community. Some grew up during decades when being openly queer could cost someone their housing, career or family relationships. Others lost entire friend groups during the
AIDS crisis. Many are less likely to have children or traditional support systems as they age.
Addie Quina, supervisor of the Bayview Senior Center, said those realities continue to affect older LGBTQ+ adults today.
"LGBTQ+ older adults are more likely to live alone, less likely to have children and often face higher rates of social isolation," Quina said. "Research shows that LGBTQ+ older adults who remain connected to their community experience better mental health and fewer instances of depression or suicidal behavior."
Quina said Pride celebrations in Pensacola have historically centered younger crowds, leaving many older adults without spaces intentionally created for them.
"Cities throughout the country have seen a rise in Pride events for our 'silver' generations over the past several years," Quina said. "Local community members who work closely with the older adult population have seen a huge lack in programming and outreach for LGBTQ+ adults. The Silver Pride Tea Dance was created to mend that gap."
While the event centers LGBTQ+ adults 50 and older, younger guests, dates and plus-ones are welcome, with organizers hoping the afternoon fosters intergenerational connection rather than separation.
"Celebrating LGBTQ+ joy across generations means preserving our culture and history, allowing us to honor those that came before us while also charting a path forward," Gibson said. "Their stories paint a direct picture of the work that paved the way for us to have the rights we do today. Together we are stronger and more resilient, we are less isolated and we can protect one another."
Rather than hosting the event in a nightclub or bar, organizers chose the Bayview Senior Center, embracing the tradition of the tea
dance, a daytime social gathering with deep roots in queer history.
Long before Pride festivals filled city streets, underground tea dances created space for LGBTQ+ people to find community, connection and joy in a world that often denied them all three.
"A tea dance is a celebratory, daytime party to connect," Gibson explained. "This party will feature live music from Lex and the Luthors, the incredible emcee stylings of Chesley from Polkadot Entertainment, an open bar from the folks at Dorothy's, heavy hors d'oeuvres and resources from Stamped Film Festival, Sunday's Child, Oasis and other folks in the community who want to connect."
Additional participating organizations will include Pensacola Free Mom Hugs, Emerald Coast Equality, Pensacola PFLAG and Emerald Waves Squares. Because the event received funding support through the Red Ribbon Charitable Foundation, HIV education and prevention resources will also be available in a stigmafree, approachable environment.
"I hope people walk in this room and feel pure unadulterated joy," Gibson said. {in}
SILVER PRIDE TEA DANCE
WHAT: A celebration for LGBTQ+ adults ages 50 and up
WHEN: 3-6 p.m. Sunday, June 7
WHERE: Bayview Senior Center, 2001 E. Lloyd St.
COST: Free; $10 suggested donation benefiting Stamped Film Festival and Sunday's Child
DETAILS: @_sundayschild, @stampedfilmfestival
a&e happenings
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
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. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.
ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOP -
TION 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
LA BELLE PERFORMING ARTS: IT ALL STARTED WITH A WISH Performances are 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, June 6 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
IMPROVABLE CAUSE The next show is 10:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
LA BELLE PERFORMING ARTS: CARVED BY DREAMS Performance is 3 p.m. Sunday, June 7 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
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. Tar-
ragona St. Tickets are $25 and available at pensacolaopera.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.
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.
WEST GARDEN DISTRICT ARTISAN
MARKET Shop local vendors and artisans 1-6 p.m. Fridays starting May 1 at Del Mar Plaza, 1617 W. Garden St. For more information, contact info@ub-pensacola.com.
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.
MOVIE NIGHTS AT MUGS & JUGS Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, hosts monthly movie nights. Watch their website for dates and movie announcements at mugsjugsbar.com. All movies are screened 9 p.m. on select Saturdays.
CLUB 27 COMEDY SHOW Visit Lili Marlene's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. on the first and third Sundays of the month for a night of comedy. Doors open at 6 p.m. show starts at 7 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.
PENSACOLA HERITAGE FOUNDATION
LECTURES Learn Pensacola and 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 CINEMA ART FILM SCREEN-
INGS Pensacola Cinema Art will screen films select weekends during the summer season at 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $10, and payment is cash only. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for their complete schedule.
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 stand-up 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 is 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.
SUNDAY MARKET ON PALAFOX Rain-orshine market is Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Located in downtown Pensacola, between Chase and Gregory Streets in the MLK Plaza. Market features handmade crafts, art, baked goods, international cuisine and fresh produce. Visit smopalafox.com for details.
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. Govern -
ment St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.
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: 12Eleven on June 9 and Goldmine on June 16. 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.
WUWF'S RADIOLIVE June artists are Adam and Shannon Wright, Sauce Boss and Leah Lawson. Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. Tickets are $10 and available at radiolive.org.
UPON A BURNING BODY, TRAITORS, CARCOSA, SWOLLEN TEETH Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at The Handlebar, 319 S. Tarragona St. Tickets are $15-$20. Details are available at thehandlebar850.com.
MUSHROOM CLOUD Show is 8 p.m. Friday, June 5 at The Handlebar, 319 S. Tarragona St. Tickets are $15-$20. Details are available at thehandlebar850.com.
BODYSNATCHER Show is 6 p.m. Friday, June 5 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at vinylmusichall.com.
BUCKETHEAD Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, June 6 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at vinylmusichall.com.
HAUNT, SHOW N TELL, COCKFIGHT, WYNTER Show is 6 p.m. Monday, June 8 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets and information available at thehandlebar850.com.
KBONG & JOHNNY COSMIC Show is 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 10 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at vinylmusichall.com.
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.
Improvable Cause / Photo by Geoff Peck (@tinyobservations)
a&e happenings
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.
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 COLO -
NY 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
ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS: ROLLINS DISTILLERY Two classes are 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. Cost is $30 per person. Limited seating. Make your reservation by calling (850) 287-0200 or email taylor@goodgrits.com.
COASTAL COUNTY BREWING SUMMER
CIDER FEST Event is June 5-7 with exclusive cider flavors, limited can releases and drafts. CCB is located at 3041 E. Olive Road. Details are available at coastalcountybrewing.com/events.
PALAFOX CLUB CARD PROMOTION
Customers have until 10 p.m. Saturday, June 6 to turn in their promotion card after they visit O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. and three other Palafox businesses. The card is available at O'Riley's, Intermission, Fast Eddie's at Seville Quarter, and 200 South Tap House. Details are available at orileyspub.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 13. Visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.
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.
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.
MARTINI MONDAYS AT DOROTHY'S
Martini menu with specialty prices at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. Visit dorothyspensacola.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. 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.-2 a.m. Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
a&e happenings
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., 5–9 p.m. Mondays for live music and spaghetti and meatballs from the Monday night menu.
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.).
TRIVIA AT DOROTHY'S Play trivia 8 p.m. Tuesdays at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. It's free to play, and prizes are up for grabs. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.
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.
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.
SERVICE INDUSTRY NIGHT AT DORO -
THY'S Reverse happy hour from 9 p.m.midnight with other specials Wednesdays at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. Visit dorothyspensacola.com 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. Wednesdays 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.
TRIVIA WITH JAY 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.
COLLEGE NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Specials with your college ID and music from live DJs. 8 p.m.midnight. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
KARAOKE THURSDAY AT SIR RICHARD'S
Karaoke is 9 p.m. Thursdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details. at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.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.
KARAOKE AT DOROTHY'S Karaoke begins 8 p.m. Thursdays at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.
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.
TAVERN TRIVIA Trivia is 9 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.
WEEKLY SINGO AT PERFECT PLAIN BREWING CO. Music Bingo Thursdays is 7-9 p.m. at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Details are at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.
TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT
Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at 208 Newman Ave. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.
THEMED DANCE PARTIES Visit Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. Fridays for themed dance parties with DJ Brody P 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.
FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR AT SEVILLE QUARTER Visit Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St., on Fridays for cold drinks, hot food and great vibes in the End O' the Alley Courtyard at Seville Quarter. Happy hour begins 11 a.m. Fridays with drink and food specials.
SEVILLE QUARTER'S FLIP MY QUARTER
Seville Quarter is flipping the script—and a few quarters—with its brand-new happy hour promotion, Flip My Quarter, 6-8 p.m. Fridays throughout the Seville Quarter entertainment complex. When you order a domestic draft beer, well liquor cocktail or house wine, tell the bartender to "flip my quarter." When they flip it, call it in the air. If you call it right, your drink is free.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
free will astrology
WEEK OF JUNE 4
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): You are often the best possible remedy for stale, unoriginal thinking that's festering in your vicinity. And you are especially so these days. Others might have the gall to disrupt the deadening status quo, but you have the charm to do it without scorching every bridge and laying waste to the land. So I invite you to step into the role of cheerful troublemaker. Unleash your iconoclastic sparks with the intention of making life friskier and more imaginative, not more tangled and irritating.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): In many farming cultures, including parts of India, growers speak or sing to their crops as they walk through the fields. It's a gesture of personal care that mirrors growing scientific interest in how plants respond to sound and vibration. Some studies suggest that plants exposed to sustained speech and song may grow more vigorously. Your assignment in the coming weeks, Taurus, is to speak to the growing things in your life with similar devotion. Talk to your projects. Sing to your relationships. Tell jokes to your dreams. The universe is extra responsive to your sweet voice.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Neurologist Oliver Sacks said, "I am haunted by the density of experience." He meant that every moment contains far more richness than we can fully register or remember. This observation will be especially relevant for you in the coming weeks. Your mind (and heart!) will be flooded with an abundance of stimuli, ideas, feelings and impressions. It might initially feel overwhelming, but will ultimately be a boon—especially if you prepare yourself for the intensity and abundance. Imagine yourself standing next to a fountain and feeling cheerful about getting soaked.
Your growing edge is to know what to preserve and what to release.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): You have superpowers that hardened hearts and tough guys can't fathom. Receptivity is a key part of your genius, for example. Emotional fluency is at the root of your intelligence. Your ability to feel so much and so deeply makes you dangerous to status quos managed by people who overthink everything. Wait! There's more. You can nurture without smothering and protect without imprisoning. You wield the powers of memory without being enslaved by nostalgia. You make home a verb, not a noun, as you build shelter for yourself and your tribe. I hope you will express these gorgeous talents to the max in the coming weeks and months.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): An astrologer rooted in older traditions might claim that now is an ideal time to promote your personal agenda
By Rob Brezsny
through sly, gossipy maneuvering. But since I am devoted to building a new culture grounded in compassionate values that nourish the soul, my message is different. I'm pleased to tell you that the coming weeks will be a potent phase to engage in elevating gossip that serves the greater good, to celebrate unsung heroes and to call attention to everything that is thriving. For practical dreamers like you and me, carelessly speaking ill of others undermines our own aspirations. One of the most effective ways to expand our own possibilities is to use the power of language to boost other people's chances for joy and success.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): The ancient Library of Alexandria contained over half a million scrolls. If you devoted eight hours a day to reading, you could finish about 5,000 books over the course of your life. The librarians back then knew they would never read all the texts they managed and protected. Their job wasn't to consume all knowledge but to be stewards of abundance. They're good role models for you, Virgo. The wonderful fact is that you don't have to master every single thing that attracts your attention. Your far more relaxing task is to curate with care and wisdom. Your growing edge is to know what to preserve and what to release. One of your noblest projects is to commune pleasurably with the intriguing mysteries that life brings you, not obsess on them.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Libra psychologist Carol Dweck distinguishes between fixed mindsets ("I'm not smart enough") and growth mindsets ("I can become smarter"). When you have a fixed mindset, obstacles weigh you down. With a growth mindset, they motivate you to develop. What determines your trajectory isn't your current skill level but how you relate to your edge. With this in mind, Libra, I invite you to monitor your self-talk as you encounter challenges. Are you prone to thinking that limitations are permanent, or do you see them as temporary states you can use as opportunities? You now have a good chance to instill the latter as a root habit.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): What's something you wish you could change about yourself? Is it a trait, pattern, fear, or story about your body? And what exactly tells you that this can never change? Is it loyalty to old expectations or a rotting prophecy someone laid on you? Consider the possibility that maybe the "can't" is really a "won't," or a "don't know how yet," or "I'm afraid of who I'd be without this." Then imagine that you don't have to transform this thing instantly, but, for starters, need only shift it by 10 percent in the direction of mercy and freedom. What small, specific action would generate that 10 percent?
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): What's your most vital relationship? I dare you to surprise each other in the coming weeks. Refresh your bond with playful experimentation. Here are adventures you two could explore: 1. Take a walk together with no destination in mind, letting curiosity guide you. Talk about the paths you have not yet taken in life but might
like to. 2. Describe the most beautiful future you can imagine for each other. Share practical steps you could take to make these scenarios happen. 3. Choose a food treat you both love, speak a blessing over it, then eat it slowly together as you name what you are most grateful for in your connection.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Chess masters and accomplished musicians practice differently from amateurs. They focus most intensely on their weak points, less so on rehearsing what they already do well. It's uncomfortable to confront inadequacy, but they're better for it. In my astrological opinion, Capricorn, you should specialize in a similar courage during the coming weeks. I invite you to direct your generous attention toward your shakiest skills and most uncertain territories. Glorious growth will happen at the edge of your competence.
Can you more swiftly shake off the sting of minor troubles?
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Be more like a lightning storm over a green meadow and less like a porch light attracting moths. Be more like a spiritual riddle in an ecstatic poem and less like a slogan printed on a T- shirt. Be more like a Miles Davis improvisation and less like a tune played note -for- note from the sheet music for a formulaic pop song. Can you stretch yourself into more fertile wildness, Aquarius? Will you expand your future with adventures that thrill your imagination? I believe you can and should. For bonus magic, be more like a dream of wandering in a rowdy paradise and less like the old version of yourself. Trust the frontier signals that make your pulse quicken, and speak less about the obvious truths that make everyone nod in agreement.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Are you ready to assess the state of your emotional pain? Every few years, I invite you to take stock. I ask you to reflect on how well you've been cultivating meaningful stress while avoiding useless pain and misery. So, how's your progress since our last check-in? Have you improved at sidestepping dull torments you've relived a thousand times? Are you less vulnerable to being wounded by ignorant or thoughtless people? Can you more swiftly shake off the sting of minor troubles? Most importantly, are you increasingly magnetized to the intriguing dilemmas that challenge you to grow wiser and more resourceful?
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Identify 10 of your best blessings. tinyurl.com/77ww77 {in}
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news of the weird
GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING IN YOUR EYE
Doctors at the Kursk Regional Hospital in Russia recently treated a 50-year-old man with an unusual MRI result: a nearly 5-inch-long piece of wood extending from the man's eye socket to his skull, Oddity News reported on May 26. Back in 2024, the patient, Yuri, was doing yard work. He wasn't wearing protective eye gear, so when he felt a sharp pain in his left eye, he assumed a small piece of wood had struck him while he was chopping maple branches. When the pain went away shortly after, he forgot about it, dealing with only the occasional flashes of pain in the years following. When he did seek medical help, ophthalmologists couldn't figure out what was wrong, and their treatments were ineffective. Earlier this spring, his pain increased and his vision was starting to fade, so he headed for the hospital. "A CT scan performed at the regional hospital showed that the foreign body was a branch that penetrated the eye socket, destroying the sinuses and damaging the base of the skull in dangerous proximity to vital brain structures," doctors said. Miraculously, doctors were able to remove the wood through the nasal passages—no brain surgery needed. Yuri's vision came back, and he is expected to make a full recovery. [Oddity Central, 5/26/26]
AWESOME! When Noreen Van Holstein and Lalita van Lamsweerde launched the WasteBar food truck in 2022 in The Netherlands, they weren't sure how their idea for people to collect cigarette butts in exchange for Dutch pancakes would go over. "I wasn't sure whether people would be apprehensive of picking up things from the ground," Van Holstein said. "But immediately from the start, it was just positivity." According to The Guardian, the food truck "sells" poffertjes, or small Dutch pancakes, for 20 cigarettes. Patrons can also purchase other items, such as drinks, fruits and candies for varying amounts of butts and plastic. The WasteBar appears at various events throughout the year, including children's events, festivals and business gatherings. Given the abundance of butts as litter and the difficulty of cleaning them up, the entrepreneurs are under no delusions that their food truck alone will solve the litter problem. Rather, they see the exchange of litter for food as a way to raise awareness. "We want to get people in action mode, and [hope] that by picking up litter, they would not litter any more, because we believe that once seen, it cannot be unseen," Van Holstein said. [The Guardian, 5/26/26]
STUCK IN THE MUD A Wisconsin driver found out the hard way that "road closed" signs are there for a reason. According to UPI—and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's May 22 social media post—a Milwaukee County driver not only encountered a "road closed" sign, but got out of their pickup truck, removed the sign and drove straight into freshly poured concrete. WDOT shared a photo of the truck's submerged tires and noted that the driver "cemented their inability to adhere to signs." Police and road crews had to employ heavy machinery to haul the truck out. [UPI, 5/27/26]
CRACKING UNDER THE PRESSURE Benjamin Fragale, 23, of Palm Harbor, Florida was arrested
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
for felony criminal mischief on May 24, after vandalizing a local marquee sign known for its puns, The Smoking Gun reported. According to the police report, Fragale used bricks and branches to "smash the sign, damaging the letters, message board and interior lights." The sign belongs to a local chiropractic office and memorable phrases include: "We never crack under pressure," "It's easier to throw out your back than your mother in law," "We won't stop until everyone is cracked up," and "Our Easter adjustments are eggsellent." The message that made Fragale crack? "Licensed Crack Dealer." The arrest report indicates that Fragale thought the statement was illegal, but court records do not corroborate the claim. Fragale remains detained while he awaits a court hearing. [The Smoking Gun, 5/26/26]
CRIME REPORT On May 15, Daniel Christian Pettit, 49, of Minnesota, was charged with second-degree assault and intentional discharge of a firearm after shooting at a firefighting airplane, Fox 9 reported. The pilot reported hearing popping sounds as it went on its final run to bring water from a lake to battle a nearby wildfire. The plane landed safely with no pilot injuries, and investigators determined that the damage in the rudder was caused by a bullet. After pinpointing the location where the shots were fired, law enforcement suspected Pettit, who had made complaints in 2024 about aircraft near his home. Pettit claims he was crow hunting, not aiming for the plane. "If I accidentally hit him crow hunting, too bad," he said. "[The pilot] endangered my life. I decided to go outside and crow hunt. Did I aim and try and shoot the plane? Nope, no, I didn't." The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources instituted a no-fly zone over Pettit's property. The restriction applies only to aircraft battling fires. [Fox 9, 5/23/26]
YOU PUT THAT WHERE? A Grand Traverse, Michigan, woman was found to have an entire bottle of wine in her person while being booked into the county jail. Monique Megchiani, 48, of Michigan, was arrested for trespassing at a pharmacy in Grand Traverse, The Smoking Gun reported on May 22. After checking her for weapons, officers attempted to load her into the squad car. According to the police report, "During this time, Megchiani advised that she was not able to get into the vehicle. After some convincing, Megchiani was able to slowly maneuver herself into the backseat." As she was being booked into the county jail, a female corrections deputy completed one more physical check of Megchiani, when, according to the report, "it was learned that Megchiani had concealed a bottle of Cupcake Vineyards Pinot Grigio inside her person." In addition to her trespassing charges, she was charged with attempting to smuggle contraband into a penal institution. A former counselor at a substance abuse treatment center, Megchiani faces prior convictions for robbery and credit card theft. [The Smoking Gun, 5/22/26] {in}
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