READY, SET, SUMMER
winners & losers losers
RELAX IN STYLE AND COMFORT
Escambia County has named Terrance Davis, Environmental Code Enforcement Division Manager in the Natural Resources Management Department, its May 2026 Employee of the Month. Commissioners recognized Davis with a proclamation during their May 7 meeting. Davis has served the county since 2007, overseeing daily operations, investigating complaints and coordinating programs to remove blight and prevent health hazards. He supervises Environmental Code Enforcement Officers and holds certifications from the Florida Association of Code Enforcement. Beyond his county duties, Davis facilitates Intimate Partner Violence and Anger Management programs at Hope Counseling Services and serves on the Escambia County Task Force and Mental Health Initiative. Natural Resources Management Director Chips Kirschenfeld called Davis "a consummate professional" who benefits both the department and county residents.
REGHAN IRVIN The Santa Rosa Education Foundation named Gulf Breeze Elementary firstgrade teacher Reghan Irvin as the 2026 Santa Rosa Rookie of the Year. Irvin was selected from 32 educators with three or fewer years of teaching experience. The Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation presented Irvin with a $1,000 award. Principal Nadia Colin credited Irvin's exceptional classroom management and said, "She builds strong, meaningful relationships with both her students and their families, fostering a true sense of community within her classroom."
MARK POWELL Naval Education and Training Command named Navy Diver 1st Class Mark Powell its Sailor of the Year for fiscal year 2025 during a ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum. Powell, assigned to Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, was selected from 4,585 first class petty officers across NETC's learning centers and education sites worldwide. Powell distinguished himself by leading 10 instructors through more than 2,000 hours of high-risk training, producing 158 qualified officer and enlisted divers for the fleet and achieving 100% Diving Warfare Specialist qualifications across his team. NETC accounts for nearly 87% of total naval training across 264 subordinate activities and 251 training sites worldwide.
LIBRARY-GATE
The hiring of the library services director should have been a simple, nonpolitical process. Escambia County posts the job opening nationwide. The HR department determines which applicants meet the qualifications, and the Board of Governors conducts interviews and recommends the top candidate. That's how it was done in 2015, but not now. Public records reveal qualifications being changed to fit a particular applicant and the county administrator lobbying the mayor to remove the appointee who challenged the process. And then we have a commissioner's aide giving the mayor's office instructions on how to remove the "troublesome" board member so that her friend can take the position. Stay tuned, because more revelations are coming.
GAS TAXES
Florida Democrats are renewing calls for Gov. Ron DeSantis to suspend the state's 22-cent motor fuel tax as gas prices climb in the wake of the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. The average gallon in Florida hit $4.39 last week, up $1.49 since hostilities began Feb. 28. House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell cited the threat to Florida's tourism-dependent economy, saying leaders must make it "easier for the dollar to circulate." DeSantis rejected a similar push in March, arguing federal action was the appropriate remedy. President Trump recently called a federal gas tax pause "a great idea." The federal levy stands at 18.4 cents per gallon; Congress would need to act to suspend it. We could see the price at the pump drop 40 cents.
ANGIE NIXON
The Florida House Rules and Ethics Committee formally reprimanded Jacksonville Democrat Angie Nixon for disrupting a House floor vote last month using a pink megaphone to protest new congressional district maps. The committee approved the reprimand on a voice vote without allowing Nixon to speak. The reprimand cited her use of a prop, which is prohibited on the House floor, and violations of decorum rules. Nixon defended her actions, telling reporters she would do it again "with a bigger pink megaphone." The discipline stops short of a full censure by the entire House.
Terrance Davis / Photo Courtesy of myescambia.com
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
DON'T DISMANTLE WFPL
The West Florida Public Library Board of Governance exists because city-county warfare over library funding nearly gutted the system in 2012. Now, with the board down to one county appointee and its May meeting canceled, we should ask whether the compromise that saved the library system is quietly being dismantled.
The city opened its first public library in Old Christ Church in 1938, with Lucia Tryon as head librarian. In 1964, the city council voted to extend library service to the rest of the county through an interlocal agreement, and the county funded the expansion.
A budget dispute escalated into open warfare between the county and the city in October 2012, with commissioners threatening to dissolve the interlocal agreement.
The conflict began when the county cut its library contribution by roughly $165,000 in the fiscal year 2013 budget. City Administrator Bill Reynolds responded by cutting operational hours by one-third, reducing part-time staff by 30%, slashing book purchases by 85% and cutting subscriptions by 15%.
County Administrator Randy Oliver proposed withholding a portion of the county's $3.15 million appropriation to directly hire city library employees and ensure rural branches matched the operating hours of the highestperforming city branch. Reynolds fired back, calling the move "extortion" and claiming the county had failed to pay $1,229,663 in library obligations since 2008.
At a Committee of the Whole meeting, Commissioner Kevin White dismissed the city's position. "I call horse crap on that," White said. "They are the extortionists." He also called the city "dysfunctional" and said a joint meeting would be a "waste of time."
Commissioner Wilson Robertson broadened the dispute to mass transit, noting that the city had stopped contributing to ECAT— leaving the county to absorb roughly $6.5 million in city-route costs. He suggested the county either bill the city for the difference or curtail bus service within city limits. He said, "If we are going to be accused of extortion, let's get this right."
Commissioner Gene Valentino floated the idea of the county seizing control of the library system outright, arguing that because the commission represents all county residents, including those in Pensacola, the county had standing to take over administration.
Public pressure forced the city and county to negotiate. A county-wide Municipal Service Taxing Unit would be implemented to fund the library system. The WFPL operations would be moved under the county, but a joint board would oversee the policies, budget and library services director.
In November 2012, the commissioners unanimously voted to direct county staff to negotiate and draft an interlocal agreement establishing a governing board and a scope of operations of WFPL. The city and county would split the makeup of the board between the two entities. The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) would appoint three members, and the Pensacola City Council and Mayor each would have an appointee.
A WFPL Board of Governance was soon formed to establish library policies, advise the WFPL management and submit an annual budget to the BCC. The Board would also adopt a position description for a library director and conduct the director's annual evaluation. Should the director position become open, the board would recommend an individual for the position to the county administrator.
While WFPL operations would fall under the county's administration, the City of Pensacola would maintain some oversight. I don't think it was ever the intent of the BCC or the Pensacola City Council for the county administrator to make unilateral decisions, such as hiring the library director, over the Board of Governance's objection.
The BCC is down to only one board member, Joyce Hopson. The city has two members, Blaine Wall and Rachel Hendrix. For the past two years, the WFPL Board has met monthly—until now. Library Director Christal Bell-Rivera canceled the May board meeting.
The BCC needs to fill its positions immediately and reaffirm its commitment to the WFPL Board of Governance. {in} rick@inweekly.net
By Rick Outzen
THE MONARCHS AND QUINT STUDER
son and an owner and what he can do in Kansas City to really turn it up a notch there."
THE BLUE WAHOOS MODEL
Monarchs President and General Manager Jay Hinrichs spent 18 years with the Kansas City Royals. He walked downtown Pensacola with Studer for 90 minutes roughly 60 days before the deal closed.
"I learned about community. I learned about people. I learned about partnerships," Hinrichs told Monday's crowd. "It was probably the most wonderful 90 minutes of my professional career."
He walked away impressed with the Blue Wahoos model: deep community investment, heavy game-day staffing, diverse programming and a stadium that functions as a community hub. He said the Monarchs haven't yet invested in human capital at that level, but they will change.
On the morning of May 11, Quint Studer stood at a podium inside Legends Field in Kansas City, Kan., and got emotional. local officials, season ticket holders and reporters, he talked about his great-grandfather, a bricklayer who grew up on Wards 13 and 15 of Kansas City. crowd. "Bricklayers. Trying to build something sturdy that comes together and exists."
That unexpected moment captured something essential about why Studer—the Pensacola entrepreneur who co-founded the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, transformed downtown Pensacola and helped build Studer Family Children's Hospital—chose to add the Kansas City Monarchs to his portfolio. This was never purely a business transaction.
The Monarchs' lineage traces directly to the legendary Negro League franchise that played from 1920 to 1965, a dynasty that produced Hall of Famers and sent players such as Jackie Robinson and Ernie Banks to the integrated major leagues. The modern franchise adopted the Monarchs name in 2020, retiring the former T-Bones identity and formalizing a partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Studer called that history "incredibly meaningful" and a driving force behind his ownership group, KC Roots, acquiring the team.
A DEAL THAT FOUND HIM
Studer said the acquisition came together in a way that defied his usual approach. After deciding to expand his baseball portfolio beyond the Blue Wahoos and the Single-A Beloit Sky Carp in Wisconsin, his team reached out to roughly 120 organizations to gauge interest in a sale. The Kansas City Monarchs were not among them.
It was American Association of Professional Baseball Commissioner Josh Schaub who pointed Studer toward Kansas City. Once Studer began
spent time, and just be there. Our LLC is called KC Roots. That's not an accident."
He acknowledged that sentiment alone doesn't justify a business commitment of this scale. But when he evaluated the acquisition, three factors drove the final decision: personal connection, population and the stadium.
"You can lose a lot of money going with your heart," Studer said in a separate interview after the press conference. "The thing that also caught me is you have an unbelievably great population and a stadium beyond belief. Heart, population, stadium."
His first walk through Legends Field came the day before the formal introduction. What he found surprised him: a covered concourse that wraps the entire facility, private air-conditioned club spaces and a children's playground area he described as distinctly different from typical ballpark fare.
"They built brain development into it," Studer said. "It isn't the normal typical playground. It's built for people with special needs, and I think that's pretty exciting."
THE LEAGUE HE'S JOINING
The deal places Studer inside the American Association of Professional Baseball—a league that is more complicated to categorize than most sports coverage suggests.
Commissioner Schaub is particular about the terminology. The league dropped "independent" from its name in 2021 after MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred approached Schaub in early 2020
relationship with Major League Baseball. The best rules. We do our own thing. We have not lost the DNA of what it was to be independent."
Schaub also rejects the "minor league" label. "Minor league baseball is minor to major leagues," he said. "We are an autonomous professional baseball league. We just refer to ourselves as professional baseball."
The talent level backs that claim. In a 2024 roster snapshot, 68% of American Association players had played at Double-A or above, and 30 players had Major League Baseball experience—a number Schaub expects to be higher when 2026 rosters are finalized. The league competes internationally in a way no affiliated minor league organization has attempted, and its champion has defeated the Mexican League champion two out of the last three years in the Baseball Champions League.
On the business side, the trajectory is equally strong. Broadcast viewership has grown from 90,000 viewers to 10 million last year, with Schaub projecting 18 million in 2026. Revenue is up 35% since the pandemic.
It was this operator—Studer—whom Schaub had been watching for years. When Schaub became commissioner in 2019, one of his first calls was to Marv Goldklang, then-owner of the St. Paul Saints, asking who the best operators in affiliated minor league baseball were. Studer's name kept surfacing.
"Quint stays near the top of that list, if not at the top of that list," Schaub said. "That speaks to how much respect he has in the industry—not only from Marv, but from all kinds of other owners and even MLB executives—about Quint as a per-
KC Roots is putting $1 million into stadium improvements in year one, has already doubled game-day staff salaries since taking over and has secured a new food and beverage partnership with RS3—Nolan Ryan's three sons—bringing executive chefs and a restaurant-quality program to Legends Field. The ownership group plans more than 200 non-baseball events annually at the stadium and will offer an internal ticket resale platform so season ticket holders can recoup value on unused inventory.
On the community side, Studer announced fundraising support toward a new Negro Baseball Museum, expanded youth programming tied to the stadium's existing playground and a partnership with the Casey Diamonds women's professional softball organization.
Studer also brought copies of his book, "Building a Vibrant Community," to distribute free at Monday's event. He cited Gallup research framing the characteristics of great communities: keeping young people, supporting local businesses in building skills and nurturing entrepreneurs. That framework produced the Studer Community Institute in Pensacola. He said he intends to build something parallel in Kansas City.
Wyandotte County Administrator David Johnston, whose unified government owns Legends Field, welcomed Studer. He also credited outgoing owner Mark Brandmeyer with finding "the right person who has the same commitment to bring good baseball to our community and keep it thriving."
Studer made a personal pledge to the community. "I don't want to let you down, but I certainly also don't want to let my roots down. So we're here, we got money, we got capital, we got energy; and yes, being good on the field is nice, but our focus is off the field. Our focus is in the community because that's really where we win and lose every day."
He continued, "I tell the staff all the time: even when we lose a game, we won today because our mission statement is to create great, memorable experiences. That's what we're all about, and you created a memorable experience for me today. Thank you very much for allowing me to be part of your community." {in}
ETHICS IN BUSINESS
The University of West Florida Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business and the Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola recognized two local business leaders with the 2026 Ethics in Business Award at the Pensacola Yacht Club on May 8.
Sam Young, president and CEO of Pensacola Habitat, received the large business sector award, presented to organizations with 50 or more employees. Tom Vaughn, president and co-founder of Vaughn Brinkley Wealth Strategies Group of Northwestern Mutual, earned the small business division honor.
The Ethics in Business Award recognizes individuals who exemplify "service above self" and uphold high standards of honesty, integrity and consistency in dealings with employees, contractors and customers, while enhancing the economic well-being of their firm's stakeholders and contributing to the broader community.
Under Young's leadership, Pensacola Habitat has risen to eighth among 1,000 affiliates nationwide. Young drove that growth by doubling home production, shortening construction timelines and reducing per-home costs to lower barriers to homeownership. He also established the Northwest Florida Community Land Trust and a rental housing program designed to sustain affordable housing options for decades.
"At Pensacola Habitat, ethics is not a separate part of the work; it is central to how we serve families, steward community resources and build trust with our partners," Young said. "This award reflects the commitment of our entire team, board, volunteers and supporters who believe that expanding access to affordable homeownership is one of the most meaningful ways we can strengthen this community."
Vaughn has served clients and employees for 45 years. His firm was again named by Forbes as the Best in State Wealth Management firm for 2026. Beyond his business leadership,
County Attorney Alison Perdue, Charlie Peppler and Ron O. Sorrels were copied on the email.
The disclosure comes after the Escambia County Commission took up controversy surrounding the recent library services director hire at its meeting last Thursday. Commissioners questioned Moreno about the involvement of aide Melanie Luna in the selection process and pressed him on the status of the 2011 blackout policy.
Deputy County Attorney Kristin Hual told the board the 2011 board action was never converted into a formal policy amendment and was never incorporated into county policy manuals.
"There was a board action, a directive, but it was never implemented. It was never incorporated into any of the policy manuals," Hual said.
power to revoke or rescind their own appointment at any time" and that no County Commission or City Council approval would be required.
Retherford followed Luna's instructions. NeSmith was notified by email eight days later. Luna was copied on the removal notice.
In March 2026, Reeves appointed Rachel Hendrix (Lockwood), executive director of UWF's Office of International Affairs, to fill the vacancy. In doing a background check, we found a 2024 article by Luna for Local Pulse where she refers to Hendrix (Lockwood) as one of her "Barbies."
Vaughn serves as a Paul Harris Fellow sponsor, a long-term member of Gulf Breeze Rotary and a member of both the Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business Advisory Council and the UWF Executive Mentor program.
"As a Certified Financial Planner, I'm held to a fiduciary standard, but to me, that's never been a burden—it's simply the right way to do business," Vaughn said. "Rotary's 'Four-Way Test' aligns perfectly with that belief, and it's a standard I believe every business should strive to uphold."
For more information about the UWF Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business, visit uwf.edu/lbjcob.
ANTI-TAMPERING IMPLEMENTED An email obtained by Inweekly directly contradicts statements made by Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno and his legal team that a 2011 board directive barring commissioner interference in county hiring was never implemented.
The email, dated Oct. 24, 2011, was sent by then-County Administrator Randy Oliver to all four sitting commissioners—Gene Valentino, Grover Robinson, Kevin White and Wilson Robertson—confirming that Human Resources had enacted two new policies effective immediately following a board action on Oct. 21, 2011.
The first policy prohibited candidates from listing a sitting Escambia County commissioner as a job reference. The county's online application was updated to include language informing applicants that any application listing a commissioner as a reference would be automatically rejected.
The second policy established a recruitment blackout period, prohibiting sitting commissioners and their aides from contacting Human Resources or any selection committee about recruitment, the hiring process or salary once a position had been advertised—until an offer had been formally accepted.
The Oliver email appears to directly contradict that account, indicating the policies were not only passed but put into immediate operation by the Human Resources department and have been in effect for nearly 15 years.
Randy Oliver, who served as county administrator during the period in question, passed away in 2022. It does not appear that Moreno's office conducted a thorough review of existing documentation before advising the board on the policy's history.
PAPER TRAIL Emails obtained by Inweekly reveal that Melanie Luna, aide to County Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger, quietly directed city staff how to remove a library board member during the search for a new library director—then helped install a personal friend as the replacement.
Mayor D.C. Reeves removed Lori NeSmith from the West Florida Public Library Board of Governance on Nov. 13, 2025.
But public records obtained by Inweekly show the removal was not driven by the mayor or his staff. On Oct. 31, 2025, County Administrator Wes Moreno called Reeves and asked him to remove NeSmith. Moreno had clashed with the board at its Oct. 27 meeting over the hiring process and job qualifications, later telling county commissioners his team had been treated "very rudely, very hatefully."
The removal came in the middle of the WFPL board's search for a new library services director. NeSmith, vice president and CFO of Oren's International, had been reappointed to the board by Reeves on Dec. 8, 2023, with her term set to run through Feb. 28, 2026. She would have interviewed finalists and cast a vote on the board's recommendation for the position.
After Moreno's call, City Policy and Legislative Affairs Officer Dustin Retherford contacted Melanie Luna, aide to Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger, on Nov. 4 about how to proceed. Luna replied the next day with a three-step removal roadmap, telling Retherford the mayor "implicitly retains the
The Board of County Commissioners voted in October 2011 to prohibit lobbying and interference in board appointments during selection processes. Luna, a county employee working for a commissioner, directed city staff to remove a sitting board member mid-search and helped place a personal acquaintance in the vacancy. Will county officials ignore this obvious tampering in the hiring of the library services director?
The episode also raises a fundamental question of accountability: whose appointment was it? Reeves said publicly the decision was "his alone." The records show someone else wrote the playbook.
CHILDERS ON WARPATH
Escambia County Clerk of Court Pam Childers has escalated her dispute with First Tee Gulf Coast, issuing a sweeping public records demand targeting the youth golf nonprofit's finances, internal communications, donor lists and even billing records from the law firm suing her on First Tee's behalf.
The May 8 letter, signed by Clerk's attorney Bob Murphy and addressed to First Tee's attorney Alex Andrade of Moore, Hill & Westmoreland, P.A., seeks 11 categories of records spanning January 1, 2024, through May 8, 2026. Andrade was simultaneously instructed to forward the request to his client for action. Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers was copied on the letter.
Among the records sought: all communications between First Tee officers, board members and county commissioners or staff; internal First Tee communications about county funding requests; attendee, sponsor and donor lists for the 2025 and 2026 Golf Ball Galas; two years of approved budgets, profit and loss statements and income statements; all contracts with Escambia County; and billing records and cancelled checks between First Tee and Andrade's firm.
The request invokes Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes and First Tee's own Governmental Agency Funding Request Applications filed Sept. 29, 2025.
Andrade rejected the demand outright. In a response to the Clerk, he wrote: "My clients aren't agencies subject to the Public Records Act. You can either wait for our Rule 1.280 initial disclosures, serve actual discovery or confirm that you are reconsidering issuing the payments to my clients if they produce their current year budgets and additional financial records."
Photo Courtesy of uwf.edu
First Tee Executive Director Marty Stanovich said the organization has no concerns about its financial transparency. "Literally, we have nothing to hide. Nothing," Stanovich said. "Before we filed our lawsuit, I put it out to my executive board. The vote was 5-0 to proceed, and the full board had zero questions when we presented to them. It's very cut and dry as far as we're concerned."
"It's very cut and dry as far as we're concerned." Marty Stanovich
First Tee Gulf Coast and the Warrington Emergency Aid Center filed suit against Childers earlier this year after she refused to release county commission-approved funding to both nonprofits, contending the organizations failed to meet her office's documentation requirements.
FIRED UP The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has sent a second letter to Pensacola State College demanding the school restore printing funds for Just Opposed, a student-produced arts and culture magazine that administrators blocked after discovering it contained coverage of LGBTQ+ issues.
The May 12 letter, addressed to Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Brenda Kelly, sets a deadline of close of business May 18 for PSC to confirm it will fund the publication and respect its press rights. FIRE warned that continued inaction could expose the college and individual administrators to legal liability.
The dispute began after students in Dr. Marisa Mills's classes created Just Opposed as a collaborative class project. According to FIRE, PSC had planned to print the magazine until administrators reviewed its content. English and Communications Department Head Mike Will wrote in a May 1 email that "due to Florida legislation and the proposed content, PSC is prohibited from funding the printing of the magazine." Students were also reportedly told they could edit or cut stories making "mention of LGBTQ" to make the publication eligible for printing.
PSC later offered a different explanation— that the number of publications already on campus was the reason for the denial. However, FIRE dismissed that as a post-hoc justification contradicted by the contemporaneous email record.
In her May 4 response to FIRE's first letter, Kelly said no administrator intervened in the students' coursework, that all graded assignments were submitted before she met with Dr. Mills on April 29 and that printing the magazine was optional rather than required. FIRE accepted that the college did not violate Dr. Mills's academic freedom but maintained the students' First Amendment rights were separately violated.
FIRE's legal argument centers on a well-established constitutional principle: while a public institution is not required to subsidize student publications, it cannot selectively withhold that
funding based on the viewpoints those publications express. The organization cited federal case law holding that administrators who violate clearly established law on viewpoint discrimination cannot claim qualified immunity and may be held personally responsible for monetary damages.
This is a developing story that you can follow on ricksblog.biz.
BREAKTHROUGH A University of West Florida psychology professor has received federal patent approval for an electroencephalographic platform capable of detecting Alzheimer's-related cognitive impairment years before symptoms appear, bringing a non-invasive, lower-cost diagnostic tool closer to clinical use.
Dr. James Arruda received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for his Flash Visual Evoked Potential-P2, or FVEPP2, platform, which measures the speed at which the brain responds to brief flashes of light. Research has shown that response is selectively delayed in patients with mild cognitive impairment linked to Alzheimer's dementia—a neurophysiological marker that may allow clinicians to identify at-risk patients long before cognitive decline becomes apparent.
The technology offers a significant departure from current diagnostic standards. PET imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis—the existing gold-standard tools for early Alzheim er's detection—are expensive, invasive and inaccessible to many patients. The FVEP-P2 platform relies on standard EEG equipment al ready present in primary care offices, memory clinics and neurology practices, positioning it as a scalable alternative.
The patent milestone arrives at a critical moment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently approved the first diseasemodifying therapies for early Alzheimer's disease, therapies that are most effective when administered before significant cognitive damage occurs. Earlier, more accessible detection could expand the pool of patients who benefit from those treatments.
In 2022, UWF entered a licensing agreement with BIOPAC Systems Inc., a California-based biomedical research company, to advance the platform toward commercialization. Initial clinical trials conducted at Brown University produced results supporting continued development. With the patent now allowed, Arruda and BIOPAC are preparing for pre-submission with the FDA on the regulatory pathway toward clinical deployment—a process that may be accelerated because the underlying EEG hardware is already an FDA-cleared medical device.
Arruda, who has studied the targeted brain response for 29 years, called the patent allowance both a professional milestone and a step toward practical benefit for patients and caregivers.
UWF's licensing agreement with BIOPAC marked the university's third such deal and reflects the institution's broader push to translate faculty research into real-world clinical and commercial applications. {in}
DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA
READY, SET, SUMMER
According to our trusty Farmer's Almanac, summer doesn't technically start until June 21. But around here we all know that's way too late.
That's why the team at Inweekly decided to push things up and let summer 2026 officially commence now so that it can include Memorial Day weekend's annual LGBTQ+ beachside celebration.
And because nothing says "new season" like a packed calendar, here's a roundup of this summer's best local happenings, plus some of our favorite ways to play tourist for a day without leaving town.
Festivals & Annual Events
M emorial Day Weekend/ Pensacola Beach Pride Weekend
May 21-24 @memorialweekendpensacola, @thecabaretpensacola
Grand Fiesta Parade
May 29 fiestapensacola.org
Gulf Coast Culture Fest
May 30 gulfcoastculturefest.com
The Watson Family Foundation Juneteenth: A Family Reunion for the Culture Festival
June 13 watsonfamilyfoundation.com
PensaPride
June 13 pensapride.org
July 15-18
visitpensacolabeach.com/whats-happeningblue-angels
Pensacola Seafood Festival
Sept. 25-27 fiestapensacola.org/seafood-festival
Arts, Culture & Live Music
E nchanted Drawings: The Magic of Animation at Pensacola Museum of Art
Opening Reception May 22 pensacolamuseum.org
Neon Heatwave Pride
Block Party at Dorothy's* May 24 dorothyspensacola.com
The New Cahoots Six Year Anniversary Show
May 30 thehandlebar850.com
Improvable Cause at Pensacola Little Theatre
June 6 improvablecause.com
Opera After Dark: Community Cabaret June 11 pensacolaopera.com
Pensacola Opera Summer Library Concert June 27 pensacolaopera.com
Pensacola Little Theatre presents The Cottage June 12-21 pensacolalittletheatre.com
Turnover June 20 vinylmusichall.com
Underoath July 14 vinylmusichall.com
Destin Conrad July 23 thehandlebar850.com
Juvenile & The 400 Degreez Band July 24 vinylmusichall.com
Keyla Richardson & Friends July 25 pensacolasaenger.com
Saenger Summer Movie Series July 26, Aug. 1, Aug. 9, Aug. 16 and Aug. 23 pensacolasaenger.com
Aug. 25 thehandlebar850.com
Staycation Favorites
H istoric Pensacola historicpensacola.org
Pensacola Museum of Art pensacolamuseum.org
Pensacola MESS Hall pensacolamesshall.org
Pensacola Lighthouse & Museum pensacolalighthouse.org
National Naval Aviation Museum navalaviationmuseum.org
Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier fishpensacolabeachpier.com
Emerald Coast Tours emeraldcoasttours.net
Premier Dolphin Cruise pensacoladolphincruise.com
Pensacola Bay City Ferry pensacolabaycityferry.com {in}
*For more on Neon Heatwave, turn to page 13.
Photo by Bill Chizek / iStock
Photo Courtesy of The Watson Family Foundation
Arts & Entertainment
art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...
There's No Place Like Dorothy's
By Dakota Parks
"Are you a friend of Dorothy? "
Long before Pensacola's Memorial Day weekend Pride celebration became one of the largest LGBTQ+ gatherings in the South, queer communities relied on coded language and underground networks to connect safely.
In the 1960s, the fictional Emma Jones Society helped quietly organize the first LGBTQ+ gatherings on Pensacola Beach, while "friend of Dorothy" operated as a discreet signal phrase used by queer people across the country.
Now the phrase has found new life locally at Dorothy's, the Wizard of Oz-themed cocktail bar and restaurant where Pride celebrations and HIV advocacy intersect.
Less than a year after opening its doors downtown, Dorothy's is entering its first Memorial Day weekend with four days of themed parties, drag performances and evening events—all culminating at Neon Heatwave, a massive block party on Sunday, May 24. Steel Pony Diner, now housed within Dorothy's, will bring its signature Southern staples with a Portuguese twist.
Beneath the disco balls and technicolor glow sits a mission with real urgency: at Dorothy's, your dollars directly help fund HIV prevention, testing, outreach and care.
"The best idea we came up with was to open a bar and restaurant that we could take
the profits from and turn over to OASIS to support HIV services," said OASIS Florida Executive Director Kurt Goodman.
Opened last fall, Dorothy's was created as a for-profit subsidiary of OASIS Florida, the nonprofit organization providing HIV/AIDS prevention services, free testing, education and case management across Northwest Florida. The concept emerged as OASIS braced for potentially devastating funding losses of $1.6 million tied to shifting political priorities at the state and federal level.
"Under the Trump administration and the DeSantis administration, we are facing the potential of very significant budget cuts to HIV services, particularly here in Florida," Goodman said. "We understood that we needed to think outside the box as far as a funding source."
Unlike some HIV organizations with inhouse clinics that can generate additional revenue through federal healthcare programs, OASIS relies heavily on government contracts and grants. Goodman said the organization once feared losing its role overseeing the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program for Northwest Florida—a federally funded program providing medications, housing assistance, dental care, mental health services, food bank access and case management for people living with HIV.
"We were told that our role as lead agency for the Ryan White program was going to go away, and then that never materialized," Goodman said. "We kind of went through a sense of panic about that. Remarkably, as it stands today, all of our funding is still in place."
Goodman recently signed a fouryear renewal contract for the Ryan White program. But the preceding uncertainty sparked the creation of Dorothy's, a business designed to help sustain services no matter what happens politically.
"Today our funding is secure, but tomorrow it could be a different story," Goodman said. "You just never know with this administration. You're always kind of looking for surprises."
The organization's services are extensive. OASIS averages roughly 18,000 units of service each year and directly manages care for around 800 people through the Ryan White case management program.
"If that funding goes away, people will not have access to life-saving medications," Goodman said. "They will not have access to life-saving medical care. Without this program, people will suffer and could potentially die."
The profit generated through Dorothy's will continue to fund prevention outreach, HIV testing, educational programming and OASIS's humanitarian fund, which assists clients with emergency needs that traditional funding cannot cover.
"If we have a client whose home burns down, we can buy them new furniture, clothes and whatever they need that we couldn't do through the Ryan White program," Goodman said.
For Goodman, part of OASIS's work also in volves challenging outdated assumptions about who HIV impacts in 2026.
"Our main goal at OASIS is to prevent the spread of HIV and to care for those living with HIV and AIDS, and the face of HIV is so different now," he explained. "People still think HIV and AIDS primarily impact gay men, but the gay community really has HIV under control. They understand how to use PrEP and DoxyPEP and how to prevent HIV. We actually serve less members of the LGBTQ+ community than we do heterosexual people. So, the face of HIV is really in the heterosexual community right now, and they're unprepared. We are here to help."
said. "We really wanted Dorothy's to be a place where anyone can walk through the door and feel welcome and embraced."
Beginning Thursday, May 21, Dorothy's will host themed events leading into the main Memorial Day Weekend block party on Sunday. Festivities include "Puppy Play Day" and karaoke night, a "Gay Icons & Anthems" dance party and "Night of 1,000 Dorothys" (encouraging guests to dress as any famous Dorothy, from Dorothy Gale to Dorothy Zbornak).
On Sunday, the surrounding streets will close for Neon Heatwave, a sprawling outdoor block party featuring DJs, fire performers, aerial acts, vendors, drag performances and appearances by RuPaul's Drag Race stars The Vixen and Vita VonTesse Starr. The event will include multiple bars, VIP lounges, meet-and-greets and performances stretching from afternoon into the early morning hours.
"We want it to be fun and beachy. Think Miami, think Ibiza, neon party vibes," Haupt said. "It's going to be huge, the biggest party we've had at Dorothy's yet."
Goodman sees the event as something hopeful, a chance to gather, celebrate and support one another all at once.
"I think our diversity is our strength," Goodman said. "Pride has deep roots in HIV advocacy and activism, but HIV and AIDS affect more than just the LGBTQ+ community. We wanted Dorothy's to be a truly inclusive space that reminds us that we have more in common with our neighbors than we think—no matter what outside me -
NEON HEATWAVE
WHAT: A block party celebrating Pride featuring drag shows, live music and vendors
WHEN: 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday, May 24
That reality set the tone for Dorothy's interior.
"One of the things that was really important to me about Dorothy's is that it wasn't just identified as a queer space or a gay bar," Goodman
WHERE: Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St.
COST: $28 general admission; $135 VIP DETAILS: dorothyspensacola.com
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.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
ESCAMBIA RETIRED EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION Cookies and Conversation will be Thursday, May 21 at the EEA Building, 6551 N. Palafox St. Refreshments at 9:30, meeting at 10 a.m. There will be an installation of officers. All retired education personnel and friends of education are welcome.
AMERICA'S TALL SHIP, U.S. COAST
GUARD BARQUE EAGLE Public tours of The Eagle will be Saturday, May 23 through Monday, May 25 in Pensacola. Times and availability is available at news.uscg.mil.
ANNUAL FAMILY BEACH FEST Live performances and more 3-7 p.m. Saturday, May 23 at Gulf Side Pavilion. Details at facebook.com/ familybeachfest.
MEMORIAL DAY AT VETERANS PARK
Memorial Day ceremony honoring military 1-2 p.m. Sunday, May 24 at Veterans Memorial Park, 200 S. 10th Ave. Details at veteransmemorialparkpensacola.org.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS Ceremonies take place at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. On Tuesday, May 26 the schedule is: Pensacola High School at 9 a.m., Northview High School at 12:15 p.m., West Florida High School at 2:30 p.m. and Escambia High School at 5:30 p.m. On Wednesday, May 27 the schedule is Tate High School at 9 a.m., Escambia County Virtual at 12:15 p.m., Pine Forest High School at 2:30 p.m. and Washington High School at 5:30 p.m.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY PUBLIC HIGH
SCHOOL GRADUATIONS Ceremonies are Friday, May 29 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Greg-
ory St. Pace High School is at 11 a.m., Navarre High School at 2:30 p.m. and Gulf Breeze High School at 6 p.m.
ARTS & CULTURE
MEMORIAL WEEKEND PENSACOLA Pensacola Pride Weekend celebrates the LGBTQ+ community Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24. Events and details available at johnnychisholm.com.
ENCHANTED DRAWINGS: THE MAGIC OF ANIMATION In this Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit, explore original illustrations, including hand drawings and hand-painted cells from the Gerald and Vicki Adcox collection. An opening reception is 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 22 with live caricature portraits and light refreshments. The event is free and open to the public. Details at pensacolamuseum.org.
TEDXPENSACOLA: HIDDEN IN PLAIN
SIGHT Hear from local speakers on a wide variety of ideas and honest conversations Saturday, May 23 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Details available at tedxpensacola.org.
OASIS PRESENTS: NEON HEATWAVE PRIDE BLOCK PARTY AT DOROTHY'S
Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend at Dorothy's with a block party 5 p.m. Sunday, May 24 featuring performances from RuPaul's Drag Race alumni The Vixen, Vita VonTesse Starr, DJ sets, vendor market and more. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
SWEET TEA MURDERS LIVE Storytelling event shares stories of Pensacola's criminal past with former Homicide Detective Michael Ear Simmons. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28 and event begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30$35. Purchase yours at michaelearlsimmons.com.
MAYOKI BALL 2026 Surf-themed evening for ages 21 and up Saturday, May 30 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets start at $81 and are available at pensacolabaycenter.com.
SHOW & TELL WITH XAVIER FINE ART
Live art storytelling, poetry and live vocal performances 6 p.m. Saturday, May 30 at Pensacola Saenger, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and details at pensacolasaenger.com.
MARGIE SHORTT DANCERS: EPIC UNI-
VERSE Performance is 7:01 p.m. Saturday, May 30 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at pensacolasaenger.com.
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 Street. 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 SCREENINGS 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. Pla -
a&e happenings
za and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/downtownpensacola.
SUNDAY MARKET ON PALAFOX Rainor-shine 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. Government 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: Modern Eldorados May 26 and Cadillac Willy on June 2. 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: D. Scott Riggs 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 21, 6-10 p.m. Charlie & The Hammerheads Friday, May 22, 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.
CONCERTS AT ST. CHRISTOPHER'S Weekly concert series is 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 3200 N. 12th Ave. Upcoming dates: NOBIUS on May 21 and the last concert is Not Quite Fab on May 28. Details at scpen.org/christophers-concerts.
CONFESSIONS OF A TRAITOR, FIGHT FROM WITHIN, EXITWOUNDS, AFTERDUSK, MORRAGORA Show is 6 p.m. Thursday,
May 21 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details at thehandlebar850.com.
ARANKI, BUFFALO FARM, SERENA'S FIRE Show is 6 p.m. Friday, May 22 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details at thehandlebar850.com.
BANDS ON THE BAYOU: ABOUT TO SWEAT Show is 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, May 22 at Bayview Park, 2001 E. Lloyd St. Food trucks will be open starting at 4:30 p.m. Details available at bandsonthebayou.com.
THE TOASTERS, PIÑATA PROTEST, COLOR
THE VOID AND BRICKBATS Show is 6 p.m. Sunday, May 24 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details at thehandlebar850.com.
38 SPECIAL Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, May 28 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at pensacolasaenger.com.
THE NEW CAHOOTS 6 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW Show is 6 p.m. Saturday, May 30 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details at thehandlebar850.com.
PENSACOLA BAY CONCERT BAND:
FOURTH MUSICIAN'S CHOICE Performances is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30 in the Jean and Paul Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. Admission is free, but donations to Manna Food Pantries will be accepted.
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 4 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 6 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
WINE TASTING WITH FUMANA INTERNATIONAL Wine tasting at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 21. Tickets are $42 and available on Eventbrite.
BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL AT GARY'S BREW-
ERY Celebrate all things blueberry with local vendors, petting zoo, treats and more 4-9 p.m. Friday, May 22, 3-9 p.m. Saturday, May 23 and 1-8 p.m. Sunday, May 24 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Details at facebook.com/garysbrew.
O'RILEY'S MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
CRAWFISH BOIL Purchase a plate of crawfish to stay or to go 1 p.m. until it sells out Saturday, May 23. Located at O'Riley's Uptown Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. For more information, visit orileystavern.com.
PRE-MEMORIAL DAY BACKYARD BONAN-
ZA Live music, specialty brews, bounce houses and more 1-5 p.m. Saturday, May 23 at Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Road. Details at coastalcountybrewing.com.
MUGS AND JUGS 18TH BIRTHDAY MOVIE
NIGHT Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, will host a movie night and cupcakes at the bar to celebrate its 18th birthday 9 p.m. Saturday, May 23. For more information, visit mugsjugsbar.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.
a&e happenings
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.
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 DOROTHY'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.
a&e happenings
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 QUAR-
TER 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.
FISH FRY FRIDAYS Fish and chips featured
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.
JAMESON SPECIAL Enjoy $5 Jameson Irish Whiskey all night Saturdays at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St.
MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION NIGHT AT SEVILLE QUARTER From 8 p.m.-midnight Saturdays, members enjoy $3.50 Crown & Drown cocktails at Phineas Phogg's inside Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Details are at sevillequarter.com.
WEEKLY SATURDAY BRUNCH Brunch is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Enjoy a $10 bottle of champagne with food purchase. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
LIVE DJ AT O'RILEY'S Dance to live DJ 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
B.A.R.E. NIGHT (BAR AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEE NIGHT) Sunday nights at Seville Quarter belong to hospitality industry. Head to End O' the Alley at Seville Quarter 7 p.m. Sundays for B.A.R.E. Night. Not a member yet? Stop by and sign up for your B.A.R.E. Card, and start enjoying the benefits immediately.
FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool all day and play bar bingo 8 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN
Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m. Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin.com for details.
SEVILLE SUNDAY BRUNCH Sunday brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Palace Café and Courtyard inside Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St., with soup and a salad bar, a build-your-own Bloody
Mary bar, mimosas and champagne specials. Details are at sevillequarter.com.
SUNDAY BILLIARDS Rack 'em up in Fast Eddie's Billiards Room at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St., with drink specials and a laidback, air-conditioned atmosphere.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AND KARAOKE O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., hosts brunch 10 a.m.2 p.m. Sundays. Karaoke begins at 9 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
LADIES NIGHT KARAOKE AT SIR RICHARD'S Ladies Night is 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Mondays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.
FREE POOL Free pool all day Mondays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
ON AIR LIVE BAND KARAOKE Live out your rockstar dreams 8 p.m. Tuesdays at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St., hosted by Craig Stahl. Details are at sevillequarter.com.
KARAOKE AT O'RILEY'S UPTOWN Karaoke is 9 p.m. Tuesdays at O'Riley's Uptown, 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.
COLLEGE NIGHT AT MUGS & JUGS Food trucks, specials with college ID 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
KING AND QUEENS TUESDAY KARAOKE
Karaoke is 9 p.m. with drink specials. Tuesdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.
KARAOKE AT SEVILLE QUARTER Karaoke is nightly Wednesday-Sunday at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Enjoy drink specials and a no-judgement zone, where everyone is welcome to the mic. Details are at sevillequarter.com.
KARAOKE AT THE HANDLEBAR Karaoke starts 9 p.m. Wednesdays at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Visit thehandlebar850.com for details.
KARAOKE AT WISTERIA Karaoke starts 7 p.m. Wednesdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Details are at wisteriatavern.com.
COLLEGE NIGHT Drink specials with college ID, food truck and live DJ 8 p.m.-midnights on Wednesdays at O'Riley's Uptown Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details at orileystavern.com.
WHISKEY WEDNESDAY KARAOKE Karaoke starts 8 p.m.-midnight. Wednesdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
SUNDAY KARAOKE WITH KJ NICK Sunday
Funday karaoke is 8 p.m. Sundays at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
free will astrology
WEEK OF MAY 21
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): If you're a professional photographer, now is an ideal moment to invest in the higher-end lens you know would expand your best work. If you're a committed chef, it's a perfect time to spring for a precision knife set that elevates your craft. If you're a devoted yoga or meditation teacher preparing a new series, you might decide to purchase an upgraded sound system to share your vocal offerings more crisply. And if you are none of the above, consider this your sign to obtain a key instrument or tool that will help you move to the next level of professionalism in the work you're called to do.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): When we hear people described as having fertile imaginations, we may assume they are artists, writers, or musicians. But the truth is that many creative visualizers are engineers, city planners, inventors and the like: those who design and build functional wonders. Of this group, you Tauruses make up a disproportionately high percentage. Your tribe is often most imaginative when vitalizing concrete details and transforming practical matters. In the coming weeks, this will be a vibrant X-factor in your relationship with the world.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): When many people reflect on their early years, they focus on the alienation and wounds they endured. Few recall, in vivid detail, the moments of joy, triumph and breakthrough. It's a symptom, I suppose, of our era's compulsive cynicism, and not necessarily an accurate account of the past. So many good things happened, too! This isn't to dismiss the real pain that shaped us in our tender years. Still, I want you to know that you are in a season when it's essential to recognize and celebrate the blessings of your beginnings—the fun, guidance and grace that helped you flourish. Update your gratitude!
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Of all the zodiac signs, you have the most potential to cultivate robust emotional intelligence that's helpful in practical situations. More than everyone else, your feelings are less likely to render you vulnerable and fragile and more likely to make you a powerhouse. The coming weeks will be prime
By Rob Brezsny
time to deploy these talents to the max. I encourage you to summon gleeful exuberance as you provide your sensitive, heartful nurturing. Practice the ingenious art of keeping the world emotionally literate and spiritually alert.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): I am pleased to predict that you will be less egotistical and narcissistic in the coming weeks than you have ever been in your life. In saying that, I don't mean to imply that you're any more egotistical and narcissistic than the rest of us. I'm simply saying you can get a liberating reprieve from the excessive pride and selfishness that regularly debilitates us all. Congratulations, Leo! This grace period should enable you to deepen your attunement with your soul's blueprint, the design of destiny you chose before birth. I bet you will enjoy a period of vibrant, exciting tranquility.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Consider this a friendly heads-up to your inner critic, your gloomy side and any voice in your head that expects too little from life. Upcoming astrological omens are influencing me to predict a stream of auspicious omens and fortunate events. So if you'd rather cling to tired stories about not being good enough or strong enough, you might want to skip my forecasts for a while. But if you're ready to vivify your faith in your power to eagerly create what you desire, stay tuned. Karmic blessings are coming.
Make sure the story you're telling about yourself is the right one.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): To be blunt, dear Libra, I think you need soul medicine that's most available in frontiers, borderlands and thresholds. Some of these might be bright, shiny places and others may be akin to mazes and tunnels. Please keep in mind that your main motivation, as you seek adventures in the outskirts, should be the quest to have fun as you blow your own mind. For the sake of your lust for life and joie de vivre, you really must explore power spots untouched by trivia and pettiness:
sanctuaries where vastness, freedom and raw vitality can wash away at least some of your fixations and habits.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Giant Pacific octopus dens are identifiable by the "gardens" of debris outside. They include shells and bones, arranged like ornamentation around the entrance. Are the creatures trying to decorate? Scientists don't know. But it's clear they are leaving evidence of their appetites. The result is distinctive, artistic and revealing. With this scenario as your metaphorical meditation, Scorpio, I invite you to look at what you have been pursuing and consuming in recent months. Contemplate the stuff piling up in your sphere. What do your finished experiences reveal about your quest for meaning? Does this pattern reflect your deepest intentions? Is this who you want to be? Make sure the story you're telling about yourself is the right one.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Advising a Sagittarius to be patient is like asking a bonfire to burn slowly and politely. Still, I will give it a try. Because I love you, I will dare to be frank. So here goes: If you want to align yourself with astrological currents, practice being reverently at ease with life's madness as you watch and wait. See if you can take genuine pleasure in resting within a field of calm trust. Imagine, with fearless delight, the rewards that will find you as you nurture a steady, unhurried confidence in your intuition, which will ultimately tell you exactly what you need to do.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): In 1994, immunologist Polly Matzinger revolutionized her field with a radical theory. She discovered that our immune systems don't focus on distinguishing "self" from "non-self," but rather responding to threats. The body puts less emphasis on asking "is this me?" and more on "is this harmful?" Her breakthrough transformed our understanding of immunity, autoimmune disease and transplant rejection. According to my analysis of the astrological riddles, you Capricorns could benefit from a similar adjustment. Don't worry about whether any particular influence harmonizes with your identity or aligns with your history. Instead, ask, "Is it nourishing or harmful? Supportive or useless?" As you refresh your approach to
guarding and protecting your precious self, new options will become visible.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): According to my interpretation of the astrological signals, you have run into an obstacle to your creative flow, or may soon do so. Though this could feel discouraging at first, I think it's a promising sign. It indicates that a hidden bug is surfacing. An inner saboteur is no longer operating in the shadows. You're being given the opportunity to repair an unseen energy leak that has been sapping your vitality. To illuminate this process, consider the wisdom of author Joyce Carol Oates. She says that writer's block arises when a writer subconsciously believes that what they're trying to create is false, misguided, or harmful to themselves, which results in a temporary creative paralysis. Be brave and relentless in hunting down the glitch in your self-love, Aquarius.
An inner saboteur is no longer operating in the shadows.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Maybe you've been having thoughts like this: "I'm too scrambled to do what's necessary to get unscrambled." Here's another snag that may be tangling your mind: "I'm too mixed up to know what questions to ask to sort out my confusion." If this is true, Pisces, I'm here to offer advice. Imagine calling a timeout on the whole noisy world and slipping free of the habitual trance. Consider retreating to a sanctuary where time doesn't oppress you and complications subside. Let your mind be empty, give your ambitions a rest and immerse your tender attention in the deepest part of yourself you can find.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: The most beautiful thing you've done? The most beautiful thing you'll do? tinyurl.com/333x999 {in}
freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com BrezsnyAstrology@gmail.com © 2026 Rob Brezsny
WAIT, WHAT? How does a car from a 1980s action-adventure TV series end up with a speeding ticket in Chicago in 2026? That's what officials at the Volo Museum—home to a replica of KITT, the car from "Knight Rider," starring David Hasselhoff—would like to know. On May 13, the Associated Press reported that the museum recently received a $50 speeding ticket for a car matching KITT's description going 36 mph in a 25 mph zone in Brooklyn on April 22. The black Trans Am even had the California license plate KNIGHT, the same as KITT on the show, and the museum's replica, which is unregistered. "The fact that we're legally tied to a movie prop is interesting," said Jim Wojdyla, the museum's marketing director. "We're known for having our Hollywood cars from TV and movies, but I have no idea how we got registered from a ticket in New York to the plates in California to the Volo Museum in Illinois. We're still trying to figure it out." Amateur replicas of KITT are not uncommon—a Facebook group for people who own one has about 19,000 members—and five original KITTs remain, out of the 20 built for the show. Volo Museum officials are challenging the ticket but haven't lost their sense of humor over the situation. "Does anyone have Hasselhoff's number?" they posted on social media. "He owes us $50!!!!" [AP, 5/13/26]
THE BEAR(S) Over the last year, 13 people have been killed by bears in Japan, with an additional 50,000 sightings recorded. The bears roamed near schools and broke into homes, supermarkets and resorts. Now, Japanese company Ohta Seiki has come up with a unique solution to the country's bear problem: robot wolves. Yahoo! News reported on May 13 that orders for the animatronic "Monster Wolf" are up by so much that the waiting list is a few months long. "We make them by hand," company president Yuji Ohta said. "We cannot make them fast enough now. We are asking our customers to wait two to three months." The "wolves" are made of pipe frames attached to speakers and covered with artificial fur. They can make up to 50 different sounds, including recorded human voices and electronic noises, and their eyes and tails flash with red and blue LEDs. Orders have come mainly from people who work in rural areas, such as farmers, construction workers and golf course operators. The wolf apparatus starts at $4,000. [Yahoo! News, 5/13/26]
•Meanwhile, in Tennessee, Gatlinburg police were called upon to free a black bear that had locked itself in a bathroom at a downtown Quality Inn and Suites, Fox News reported on May 11. In the wee hours of the morning on Friday, May 8, a hotel employee called for help because they "observed a bear enter an exterior bathroom and lock itself inside," according to the police report. When police arrived on the scene, one officer carefully opened the bathroom door while the other beat sticks together to draw the bear out. In the end, the bear am -
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
bled out, seemingly unbothered, leaving behind only minor property damage to the tune of $50.
[Fox News, 5/11/26]
SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE Kacy Claassen, 28, was arrested in New York for endangering the welfare of a child, trespassing and criminal impersonation, Oddity Central reported on May 8. Her crime? Impersonating a 16-year-old and enrolling in Westchester Square Academy in the Bronx. Claassen, who went by the name Shamara Rashad and attended classes for two weeks before she was caught, recently moved to New York from Ohio. Acting on a friend's suggestion, Claassen donned a teenage persona in hopes of qualifying for more social assistance. Her disguise was uncovered when school officials found her social media profiles, which showed her holding a baby that she referred to as her daughter, and listed Claassen's birth year as 1997. Claassen was arrested and released and is pleading not guilty to all charges. She is expected back in court on June 15.
[Oddity Central, 5/8/26]
AMERICANS ABROAD Two grown women are facing federal charges after getting into a slap fight while on a Carnival Cruise in March, Fox 10 reported on May 13. During their return voyage from the Bahamas, Tonya Nelson, 58, and Lisa Horace, 51, were in line to settle their cruise accounts. Nelson told investigators that she was trying to be helpful when she suggested to Horace and Horace's husband that they were in the wrong line. According to Horace's statement, she ignored Nelson, but took action after Nelson kept touching Horace's husband's shoulder. Horace said that Nelson threatened to slap her, so she slapped Nelson back. The fight escalated from there, with crew members stepping in to separate the two. The women, who did not know each other before the encounter, were issued federal citations for simple assault. The women report that they have both been banned from Carnival cruises and have lost their Diamond member status. "Things happen sometimes on a crowded ship," Buzz Jordan, Nelson's attorney, said. [Fox 10, 5/13/26]
I'M LOVIN' IT Minor League baseball team the Charlotte Knights had an unusual celebrity lend their pipes for the national anthem at a recent game, Fox News reported on May 8. A May 1 Instagram post from the team shared a clip of fast-food chain mascot Ronald McDonald singing "The Star-Spangled Banner." The beloved clown also threw the ceremonial first pitch before a Philadelphia Phillies home game against the Texas Rangers on March 28. [Fox News, 5/8/26] {in}
