Category: Pop Culture

Galentine’s Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is Galentine’s Day, a day for women to celebrate women! February is the month of love and the 13th is designated to celebrating the important female friendships and relationships in our lives. It’s a relatively recent phenomenon; it was created by Amy Poehler’s Parks and Recreation character Leslie Knope. It was debuted in 2010 during the holiday special. It is a day to celebrate your female friends, a day to recognize the importance of friendship in order to strengthen and cherish them.

Black History Month

Debbie Roney Smith on

February is Black History Month! An annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history, the event is the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson. Since 1976, February has been acknowledged as Black History Month in the U.S.A. Other countries around the world such as Canada and the United Kingdom also devote a month to celebrating Black history.

Historically, Black History Month grew from Carter G. Woodson and prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland’s Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). ASNLH was an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent. It grew into a month dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating the incredible effort put into the creation of the U.S.A. as we know it by African American and Black communities. 

Groundhog Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is the day Punxsutawney Phil will deliver a prediction for a longer winter or an early spring! Groundhog Day is a very popular North American tradition observed primarily in the United States and Canada. Historically, it is a holdover of an old Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that says a groundhog emerging from its burrow on February 2nd sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks; but if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early.

While the in-person event has been canceled for safety, there will be an official livestream broadcast of the event offered by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. There will be a video preshow beginning at 6:30 a.m. on February 2nd with fun facts and history. The live show, beginning at 7:15 a.m., will include Phil’s emergence and an official translation of his prediction. Visit the official website HERE to stream now!

National Florida Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is National Florida Day, an annual event held on January 25th that recognizes Florida as the 27th state to join the United States of America. Some quick history facts on the founding of the state:

  • Florida is home to the oldest established city in the country; St. Augustine is over 400yrs old and still maintains a large portion of its original colonial architecture and streets. 
  • After the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1763, control of the territory now known as Florida was returned to Spain.
  • Present-day Florida borders came through 1) the Louisianna Purchase of 1803 and 2) an 1812 transaction that merged West Florida with the Mississippi Territory in order to stop a local uprising. 

College Football Championship

Debbie Roney Smith on

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. 

Happy New Year

Debbie Roney Smith on

Happy New Year to you and yours! The celebration of a new year is a wonderful time to reflect on the past and plan for the future. It is the perfect opportunity to encourage a fresh start for yourself in whatever way you need or want; you can start trying to eat healthier, spend more time with family and friends, schedule more volunteer activities, and more! The new year is a chance to reinvigorate yourself, your enthusiasm, and your goals for the future. Wishing you all the best in this new year, 2021!!!

Open Mic Night

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today from 6 PM to 8 PM, Pensacola Poetry is hosting their last Open Mic Night of the year. Advertised as “Part group therapy. Part open mic,” Pensacola Poetry is the area’s longest-running poetry open-mic night. There is no censorship and no rules other than to poem responsibly. All genders, races, ethnicities, religions, et cetera are respected and welcome. Additionally, musicians, singers, and other artists are welcome! Come out and enjoy this wonderful community of poetry at the local Constant Coffee & Tea in East Pensacola Heights.

Visit their Facebook event page for more info and future events!

Merry Christmas!

Debbie Roney Smith on

Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate, and an equally joyous day to those who don’t! Do you know how fast Santa Claus would need to travel to drop presents off for every child in the world? Well…

…according to Arnold Pompos of Purdue University, Santa would have to travel a total of 160,000,000km(farther than the Earth to the Sun!) to visit the approximately 200 million children in the world. Father Christmas would need to travel at a speed of 4,705,882km/h. While this is far slower than the speed of light, it would still be more than fast enough to vaporize Kris Kringle via air resistance. Luckily, St. Nick has a magical sleigh and a team of highly-skilled reindeer to help him out! 

Theater Performance: Annie Kids

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Florida Chautauqua, Inc. is putting on their last performance of Annie Kids today at 2 p.m. The show is performed by their fantastic Emerald Coast Theatre Company education program students. The non-profit is charging only $10 per ticket to see this amazing, classic hard-knock-life story.

Tickets are available at the box office the day of OR online at Florida Chautauqua Site. 

Emerald Coast CruiZine

Debbie Roney Smith on

Tomorrow is the first day of an exciting 4-day event held at Aaron Bessant Park in Panama City Beach – the Emerald Coast CruiZine event!

An automotive event centered around seeing – and showing off – hot rods, CruiZine is positioned on 17 acres of Aaron Bessant Park’s luscious green grass. There will be clean air-conditioned restrooms, a center stage with live music, a craft area, and Pier Park’s extensive shops (over 100!) to keep everyone occupied and happy. Additionally, the event has enacted safety measures given COVID-19; everyone on site is required to wear a mask (including patrons!), hand sanitizing stations are being set up throughout the venue, and more. So go check-out the classic cars under the Florida sun this Wednesday to Saturday. 

For more details on schedule, safety precautions, and more, visit the CruiZine website HERE!