Blueberry Popovers & Panhandle Pride

Today is National Blueberry Popover Day! Popovers are airy rolls that puff up when baked, popping over the edge of the tin. They are light and crispy on the outside while the insides are warm and hollow, perfect for filling with your choice of custards, creams, and fruits – especially blueberries! Blueberries are the perfect filling for popovers here in the Florida Panhandle. Not only do they decrease your cholesterol level and lower the chances of heart diseases, diabetes, and obesity but there are plentiful places to get blueberries fresh: Jackson Farms, Harmony Vineyard, Blue Sky Berry Farm, Blueberry Springs, and more.

Check out this website for a full listing of Florida Panhandle U-Pick Farms. 

Valentine’s Day

Today is Valentine’s Day! It is also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine. The Feast of Saint Valentine was established in 496 AD by Pope Gelasius I. It was an annual event celebrated on February 14th in honor of Saint Valentine of Rome, who died on the 14th in 269 AD. Saint Valentine’s Day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries with the rise of courtly love. In 18th-century England, it grew into an occasion in which couples expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, confectionery, and sending greeting cards.

In fact, greeting cards (now referred to as valentines) were created in 1797!  A British publisher issued The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, which contained suggested sentimental verses for young lovers who were unable to compose their own sweet words. Printers had begun producing a limited number of cards with verses and sketches based on The Young Man’s Valentine Writer sometimes called “mechanical valentines.” These mechanical valentines have grown into the valentine industry (worth over $19 billion as of 2018) that is known today.

Victorian England-era Valentine Card

Rosemary Beach: Farmers Market

Tomorrow is the weekly 30A Farmers Market in the beautiful and quaint coastal community of Rosemary Beach! From 9 a.m. EST to 1 p.m. EST,  this family-friendly event will be occurring during the predicted sunny day. Featuring: locally-grown, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, beef, chicken, local seafood, freshly baked artisan bread, homemade pasta, sauces, meatballs, BBQ sauce, local honey, homemade Greek pastries and Greek food, delicious baked cakes, pies, tarts, cupcakes, gelato, grits, herbs, olive oil, vinegars, fresh-cut flowers, wonderful jams, preserves, salsas, and chow-chows. Visit the market at 28 N. Barrett Square, and enjoy a cool morning supporting local growers, artisans, and more!

Coffee in the Garden

Looking for something to do tomorrow morning that will keep you safely 6ft away from others AND in the delightful presence of nature? Consider visiting Tallahassee Nurseries from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for a free Coffee in the Garden event. RedEye Coffee, TeBella tea, Tasty Pastry, and Three Sons Bakery will be available for purchase! Buy some refreshing coffee, calming tea, or a savory treat to enjoy while you stroll through the gardens. Tomorrow’s event is predicted to have a cool morning with a high of 66°F while the sun shines through mild clouds.

 

Grand Opening of The Busy Bee

Tomorrow is the grand opening of the new Busy Bee in Pensacola! It is a free event being held from 12 p.m. EST on January 29th to 6 p.m. EST on January 30th. The Busy Bee is hosting this Black Friday Weekend with Bantucola, and Chris Hendricks. There will be an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with Council Woman Tenaide Broughton of D5 as well as fresh-prepped produce and food-to-go! 

Register via Eventbrite for the Grand Opening Celebration! Eventbrite HERE!

All You Can Eat Crabs

Have a hankering for crab? Head to Crystal River Seafood in Tallahassee tomorrow for their All-You-Can-Eat-Crab-Legs-Monday! From 4 p.m. CST to 9 p.m. CST, you can enjoy bottomless crab legs served with fried shrimp and two side dishes.

Visit their Facebook page HERE to RSVP for a specific event, find their address, and more!

Feeding the Gulf Coast

West Bay Advent Christian Church of Panama City Beach is hosting a free Feeding the Gulf Coast event tomorrow, January 20th! Tomorrow is forecasted to be mostly sunny with a high of 70, so dress for a cool day. West Bay Advent Christian Church is partnering with the agency Feeding the Gulf Coast to help those in need. Starting at 11 a.m. (CST), they will be handing out boxes of food to those in need. The program volunteers will load your vehicle, so please stay in your car and stay safe! The event will continue while supplies last. 

Farm Share’s Story and Their Upcoming Free Food Distribution

Founded in 1991 with the goal of eliminating food waste, Farm Share has grown to accommodate community hunger. Did you know that most large groups collecting food donations from the public charge a per-pound “shared maintenance fee?” This means local churches, soup kitchens, and more must pay up to hundreds of thousands of dollars per year! Farm Share gives food to their recipient agencies without fees of any kind which helps agencies that cannot afford the maintenance fees as well as small, grass-root organizations.

This Saturday, January 16th from 7 a.m. CST to 10 a.m. CST, Farm Share is having a Free Food Distribution event at Rise Institute in Tallahassee. This is a FREE event that will be held at 1200 W Tharpe St, Tallahassee, FL 32303-4608, United States. 

Visit the official Farm Share website HERE for more other food distribution events, how to volunteer, how to support, and to donate!

College Football Championship

Today is the college football championship game between Alabama and Ohio State! The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. EST. Looking for somewhere to watch the game? If you’re close to Pensacola, visit the Coastal County Brewing Company to enjoy interesting beers, home-style comfort food, and a giant big-screen TV! If you wear your team’s gear, you will be rewarded for your team spirit with special pint discounts. Please note that doors open at 4 p.m. and there is a maximum occupancy in effect due to COVID. If you live closer to Tallahassee, consider visiting The Brass Tap in Midtown to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. There will be endless food and drink options but please note that the Tap will continue to follow social distancing guidelines. 

Jackson County Extra Food Day

Attention Jackson County residents! Innovative Charities of Northwest Florida is having a mobile food distribution event today from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The event is FREE to Jackson County residents, and will not count against the normal monthly food allotment. The event will be drive-thru only to encourage safety, and there is a limit of one box/bag per household. Please be aware there will be someone directing you to where you should park. After parking, please open your trunk and DO NOT get out of your car; volunteers will be by to take care of you.

Check out Innovative Charities Facebook page to view their address, RSVP for the event, and more! Click here