on 
This evening is the Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick-Off, and tomorrow is the Krewe of Priscus Inaugural Mardi Gras Ball. While the Kick-off is free, the ball is $65 per person. The ball promises to be a night of glitz and glam with food, an open bar, and music provided by the local bad Horseshoe Kitty. There will also be a cash shot bar for charity. The ball will be held at the Court of Deluna Event Space in Pensacola from 7:30 PM – 11:30 PM.
on 
The 11th annual Pensacola Mardi Gras starts tomorrow! There will be a special Mardi Gras Kick-Off Event held tomorrow, January 7th, in Seville Quarter at 5 PM. The floats will be parked on Jefferson St. south of Romana St. all the way down to Zarragossa, and Government Street between Palafox and Tarragona Streets. The event will feature the unveiling of the float themes and a blessing ceremony for each float. Learn more about the kick-off on the PMG website, and stay tuned for more posts on this year’s Pensacola Mardi Gras.
on Food is an important part of New Year’s traditions. Listed below are some lucky dishes traditionally eaten around the New Year to bring good fortune in the year to come.
Hoppin’ John: a Southern menu staple originating from the enslaved Africans in the South Carolina Low Country. It is a mix of black-eyed peas, rice, and pork. The black-eyed peas shape to coins, the greens signify money, and the cornbread stands for gold.
King Cake: traditionally eaten on January 6th (i.e. Twelfth Night, Epiphany), the King Cake is a Louisianane favorite. It is a sweet ringed king cake topped with colorful icing and sprinkles; it is baked with a trinket hidden inside. The lucky person who finds the trinket is named “king” or “queen” for the day.
Tamales: bundles of masa stuffed with meat, wrapped in corn husks and steamed. They arrived in Los Angeles and San Antonio in the 1870s. They were sold by steet vendors from Mexico, and have since come to symbolize family as generations historically gather in the kitchen to make the labor-intensive food.
Toshikoshi Soba: a soup with buckwheat “year-crossing” noodles. Soba is a New Year’s Eve tradition in Japan and is now practiced in the U.S. The long, thin noodles symbolize a long, healthy life, and date back to the 13th or 14th century, “when either a temple or a wealthy lord decided to treat the hungry populace to soba noodles on the last day of the year.”1
Grapes: las doce uvas de la suerta is a Spanish tradition also known as the 12 lucky grapes. The tradition holds that eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight—one for each chime of the clock—will bring good luck in the coming year. According to the superstition, failing to finish all 12 in time will mean misfortune in the year to come.
Lentils: an Italian New Year’s Eve feast favorite. Round and shaped like a coin, they’re a symbol of prosperity. Lentils are often served with pork sausage.
Pork and Sauerkraut: a savorful, slow-cooked favorite for those in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The dish is said to bring good luck and progress; pigs are known to root forward and sauerkraut is made with cabbage, which symbolizes riches, prosperity, and a long life. It is a Germanic tradition that was brought to the U.S. by the Pennsylvania Dutch.
on The 16th Annual Reagan Jam Session is scheduled for today from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The event is free and will be held at Madison Street Park. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from Penello’s Italian Food Truck.
The event will feature:
Old Country Band
2nd Time Around
Across the Street Band
Under the Influence
Traveling Angels Gospel
Bama Jam
Dry Creek Bluegrass Band
Jeff Peacock and friends
With Soloists:
Emma Reagan
Cierra Culbreth
Eric Aselon
Dickey Merritt
Beth Kidd
Janet Moneyham
Wells Draughn
Sonny Thompson
Wendell White
For more information call Royce Reagan at 850-526-6609.
on Jacksonville’s Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is hosting Dazzling Nights until January 9th! Dazzling Nights is a special holiday lights event worth the travel time. It features almost a mile of Christmas-themed lighting through the beautiful botanical gardens. Some of the highlights include a 30ft Christmas tree, interactive ground lights, a winding path through a forest of multi-colored lights, snow, and a 65ft lighted tunnel. Additionally, there will be holiday music, food, and beverages.
Please note that tickets MUST be purchased online; they are available for specific times and dates, and are not available at the door. Tickets are $22/person on weekdays and $25/person on weekends. Luckily, children 2 and under are free.
Visit the Dazzling Nights website for more information and to purchase tickets.
on 
Tomorrow, December 18th, Christmas at Mayhaw will take place at Clay Mary Park in Blountstown. Starting at 1 PM, the event will feature fun family activities such as pictures with Santa, face painting, ornament decorating, and a viewing of The Polar Bear Express. There will also be baked goods, candy bags, chili and hot dogs, popcorn, and hot chocolate. For more information, call (912) 409-6306.
on Fun Thanksgiving facts to share at the table today:
on Florida is home to the last great roadhouse – the Flora-Bama Lounge! The Flora-Bama was constructed in 1964, two years after Alabama State Route 182 was completed. Route 182 connected Orange Beach, AL to Perdido Key, FL; the Lounge sits at the state line right on the beach. It is the quintessential dive bar where known celebrity millionaires and bikers hang out side by side. Despite having to complete repairs after a few hurricanes almost destroyed the bar, it has remained a renowned location.
The Bama even has its own special drink: the “Bushwacker“. The drink is a frozen concoction that has a coffee-esque taste. Flora-Bama is so renowned that it has been mentioned by many musicians, some of which are listed below:
on When was the last time you cleaned out your fridge? Today is National Clean Out Your Fridge Day; it was created to remind everyone of the importance of keeping your refrigerator clean and tidy. Here are 1 reason to tackle the fridge today:
on 
Today is the last day to score one-of-a-kind holiday gifts at the annual Great Gulfcoast Art Festival. Over 200 artisans will be displaying their creations: pottery, jewelry design, painting, woodworking, glass, sculptures, and more will be available. Other festival highlights include live music, food, performances by local dancers and folk groups, craft demos of traditional trade skills like blacksmithing and spinning in the Heritage Arts Area, and the Student Art Show. Visit Seville Square Park in Pensacola today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to enjoy the last day of this amazing Art Festival.