Halloween Mulled Cider Recipe

Happy Halloween and Merry Samhain! Today is a wonderful day for kids looking to enjoy free candy but what about those adults a little too old to get away with knocking on neighbor’s doors? Consider trying the delicious mulled cider recipe below.

  • In a large pot on the stove, add ingredients and bring to simmer: 1 quart of your favorite burgundy, port wine, or red wine. For non-alcoholic cider, use 1 quart of apple cider, cranberry, or other fruit juice. Allspice, clove, orange peel, cinnamon sticks, and anise stars to the desired flavor. 1/8 cup of sugar/brown sugar OR to taste.
  • Simmer for 30mins or longer – the longer it sits, the richer the taste!
  • Take the pot off the heat and add 1 ounce (or more to taste) of vodka, rum, or brandy.

     

    Halloween 2021: Fast Facts

    Tomorrow is Halloween! To celebrate, keep reading to learn some fun facts about the history and current celebration of the holiday:

    • Halloween did not reach mainstream consciousness in the U.S.A until the 1800s when the mass immigration of Scottish and Irish people allowed their traditions to flourish here – traditions that helped form the modern celebration of Halloween as we know it. 
    • The largest Halloween Parade in the world is held by New York’s Greenwich Village; over 50,000 participants in costume make up the parade while millions of spectators visit Manhattan to observe the fun. 
    • Trick-or-treating is a product of the medieval practice of mumming. Mumming refers to the practice of costumed actors parading streets and performing at homes for feast days such as Hallows Eve, Christmas, Shrove Tuesday, and Twelfth Night. 
    • Trunk-or-treating was created as a safer, easier alternative to trick-or-treating for rural communities who live farther apart. 

    The Great Pupkin Match!

    The Animal Service Center of Tallahassee is having its first event in almost two years this Saturday! With over 90 adoptable dogs, Tallahassee Animal Services is hosting an outdoor adoption matchmaking event. The Great Pupkin Match will have meet and greet tents, music, food trucks, giveaways, and a cute festive photo station! Come out and find the love of your life from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday. If you would like to save time, you can fill out an application to pre-approved HERE

     

    Black Cats

    Today is National Black Cat Day! In order to fight the misleading reputation in the United States that black cats are bad luck, this annual celebration was created to spread awareness and appreciation. The idea that a black cat crossing your path is a sign of bad luck comes from old European superstitions, some linking black cats to witches. This superstition was only furthered by the presence of famous black cats such as Salem from the show Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Binx from Hocus Pocus.

    However, many other cultures and countries consider black cats to be signs of good fortune. For instance, sailors used to keep black cats on board for good luck while 19th-century fishermen’s wives’ kept black cats at home to bring back their husbands safely. In Japan, they are believed to improve your love life and are often gifted to newlywed couples. In France, it was thought that if you released a black cat at a crossroad with five routes it would lead you to treasure.

    Did you know there are 22 feline breeds that can feature black coats? That’s 22 amazing breeds to love! 

    National Pumpkin Day

    Today is National Pumpkin Day, an annual event of unknown origins that celebrates the versatile and much-loved winter squash. Did you know Floridians prefer pumpkin pancakes to other pumpkin-themed treats such as lattes, cookies, bread, and pie(1)? Pumpkins are botanically classified as fruits, and there are over 30 varieties to enjoy. There are great nutritional benefits to eating pumpkins(2): being 94% water, they offer a high vitamin and mineral content with low calories. They also have a high antioxidant content which can help the human body fight chronic diseases. So consider visiting a pumpkin patch near you to get some delicious pumpkins to enjoy this fall season! 

    Terrific Towering Tree

    The Florida Panhandle is home to one of the state’s tallest trees. In Torreya State Park in Liberty County, there stands a gorgeous Southern magnolia. The Magnolia grandiflora is the third tallest tree in Florida, standing at a magnificent 29 meters or approximately 95 feet. That’s only 5 meters shorter than the tallest tree in the state – a Loblolly pine in Suwanee County. Interested in learning more about the spectacular trees Florida is home to? Visit the Monumental Trees website for more information on the tallest, thickest, and oldest Florida trees!

    Medical Marijuana in Pensacola

    Dr. Michelle Beasley

    Dr. Michelle Beasley is a Board Certified Physician serving Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola. She has been serving the area for over 15 years and holds both a Bachelor of Science and Doctorate in Medicine from The University of West Florida. She is currently accepting new patients for compassionate care; if you are looking to start treatment with medical marijuana, consider Dr. Beasley. If you are looking to switch providers, she offers a discounted initial assessment price of $49! To get in contact with Dr. Beasley, click here to visit her online portal – you will be able to make an appointment online or call her office.

    Pumpkins in Marianna

    Come down to Madison Street Park this Saturday, October 23rd, to enjoy the farmer’s market and a pumpkin patch. Marianna Farmer’s Market, open most Saturdays, is partnering with Main Street Marianna to bring “Pumpkins in the Park.” Children get a free pumpkin, and there will be a decoration station for those interested. Additionally, there will be food trucks, a pumpkin carving contest, door prizes, face painting, and more! There is no entry fee, and the event will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hope to see you there for some family-friendly fall fun! 

    Live Comedy Show

    Coming live to 926 Bar & Grill on October 22nd, Tallahassee native comedian Tekk Johnson!

    Tekk Johnson

    Hosted by Heather Goode, this spectacular comedy line-up will also feature Cait Delucchi, Ol Head Johnson, Nicole Ortiz, Jamar Gay, Abelardo Riojas, Sleepy P. Floyd, and John Strickland.

    The show is limited capacity, so be sure to get there before doors open at 6:30 p.m.! The show will begin promptly at 7 p.m. and end by 9 p.m. Tickets are $8 for those over 21 and $10 for those under 21.

    LGBTQ+ Center Awareness

    Today is National LGBTQ+ Center Awareness Day. For more detailed information on this national event, visit the LGBT Center Awareness Day website.

    Since this annual event is designed to help advocate for the work of LGBT community centers everywhere, today’s blog is dedicated to highlighting the local LGBTQ+ Center of Bay County. According to their website, the Bay Center “is currently the only safe space with dedicated programming for LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-18 in the entire Panhandle of Florida, from Mobile, Alabama to Jacksonville, Florida.”

    They offer support groups, a safe space, scholarships, community outreach programs, and more! The Center advocates for community engagement, offers volunteer opprotunities, holds events, and works hard to improve the wellness of the LGBTQ+ community while leading the charge for positive change in the area. 

    Visit the Center’s official website to learn more.