Inweekly Aug. 22 2024 Issue

winners & losers

pharmacists in Florida, less than 10% achieve the status of licensed consultant pharmacist.

D.C. REEVES Pensacola's mayor has been named chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Standing Committee on Jobs, Education and Workforce. When the assignment was announced, Mayor Reeves said, "I appreciate the trust our president, Mayor Andrew Ginther of Columbus, Ohio, and leadership have placed in me to help create our great country. I'm excited to be on the forefront of conversations in jobs and education that affect our nation, and this ensures our home, Pensacola, has a voice."

FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ National Trust for Historic Preservation has awarded a 2024 Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant of $50,000 to the only Pensacola restaurant on the Mississippi Blues Trail. Five Sisters is one of 50 small restaurants nationwide and the only restaurant in Florida to receive a grant. The Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program helps restaurants address critical needs amid ongoing economic challenges. The program demonstrates that preservation can invigorate local economies while serving the communities they anchor.

PERDIDO KEY LIFEGUARDS

With students returning to the classroom, the Pensacola Beach lifeguards have concluded their coverage along Perdido Key Public Access No. 2. The lifeguards provided services along the public portions of Perdido Key from May 23-Aug. 11, recording 6,942 preventative actions, two minor water rescues, four major medical calls and 13 minor medical calls. The Pensacola Beach lifeguards will continue to provide services at Johnson Beach on the weekends until Labor Day.

SALTMARSH, CLEAVELAND & GUND

Accounting Today named the Pensacola-based accounting firm to its 2024 Best Firms to Work For list, and INSIDE Public Accounting named it

day's annual recognition surveys employees from programs and benefits. This survey highlights firms that excel and provide exceptional workplaces for their employees. INSIDE Public Accounting's list evaluates metrics from 500 accounting firms, rang-

UNIVERSITY OF WEST

FLORIDA The Florida Defense Support Task Force awarded the University of West Florida (UWF) $320,210 to develop a pilot program that helps students prepare security clearance applications and understand the process of applying for a security clearance. The program will also facilitate internships with Florida-based defense companies that require security clearances. The proposal by the UWF Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering was among four funded projects. It will help 50 UWF students prepare for security clearance, achieve CompTIA Security+ certification and be ready for an internship and job placement in Florida.

STUFF THE BUS This year's Stuff the Bus event collected school supplies outside local Walmarts, raising nearly $77,000 in funds and supplies to help students in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties receive the tools they need for the upcoming school year. Stuff the Bus had 424 volunteers, who donated 990 hours for a total dollar impact of $31,241. The event raised nearly $32,000, and school supplies were valued at over $45,000. Parents who need supplies for their students should reach out to their child's school in either county for more information on the distribution of supplies. The process may vary based on the district and school.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY AREA TRANSIT

(ECAT) The Federal Transit Administration recently awarded a $21 million grant for an electric bus, charging station and workforce training project focused on boosting transportation reliability and improving air quality for residents throughout Escambia County. The grant will bring nine 35foot electric buses and four electric cutaways to ECAT to replace existing diesel-fueled 2006 and 2007-model buses. Through the grant, ECAT employees will also receive workforce training to accurately and efficiently operate, charge and repair electric buses. The new buses are expected to join ECAT's fleet by 2026. {in}

Darrell Miller, Sr. / Photo Courtesy of Community Health Northwest Florida

— Daniel Souers President/CEO of Gulf Winds Credit Union

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

BEST OF THE COAST: THE EARLY DAYS

We published the first Best of the Coast in August 2000 and saw it grow steadily. The 2004 edition came out just a week before Hurricane Ivan hit Pensacola. At that time, we had only about 100 categories and no Weddings or Health & Wellness sections. We were proud to have received over 2,000 votes and sold a few extra ads to help cover costs.

In those early issues, our staff wrote blurbs for the winners, many of which got us in trouble. Thank goodness our editor Joani Delezen came in later and switched the profiles to surveys completed by the advertisers, which has resulted in fewer bricks being thrown through my office window.

LAND FOR SALE

$2,800,000 • 7.8 acres

New wetland survey April 2023! 3283 Gulf Breeze Pkwy by Publix at Tiger Point and Tiger Point Park Drive. Access from Hwy 98 and Tiger

thy, you're not in Kansas anymore. Locals know that Emerald City is the only place to totally unleash and get your freak on."

The 2004 Best Bartender was Jimmy Flynn at The Elbow Room. Jimmy was an institution on Pensacola's west side until he passed in 2016.

"Order your poison of choice, and unlike most joints, he promptly pours most of it into a nicely chilled glass," we wrote. "Don't ever worry about pouring because Jimmy already noticed you're near the bottom of the mug and refilling it. Bar none, Jimmy is the best."

In those early issues, our staff wrote blurbs for the winners, many of which got us in trouble.

I pulled out the 2004 issue to see how much we've changed over the past two decades.

The torch has definitely passed to a new generation. In 2004, Quint Studer was the runaway choice for Best Boss, followed by Escambia Supervisor of Elections Bonnie Jones and Sacred Heart Hospital CEO Patrick Madden. This year, readers gave the title to Stacey Kostevicki of Gulf Coast Kid's House, and runners-up are LifeView Group's Allison Hill, Pensacola Opera's Chandra McKern and Caleb Pierce of Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar.

Twenty years ago, the Best Politician was Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser Greg Brown, followed by State Rep. Holly Benson and Santa Rosa County Commissioner Gordon Goodin. Escambia County and the City of Pensacola had no one on the list. The Escambia County Commission had been decimated after four commissioners were indicted and removed from office. The Pensacola City Council had been hurt politically when a controversial waterfront development referendum failed.

Today, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves is the Best Politician and is joined by Councilwoman Teniadé Broughton, Commissioner Lumon May and State Rep. Michelle Salzman.

In the Bars, Drinks & Nightlife section, we have lost several 2004 winners. The Best Place to Dance was Emerald City, which has been shuttered for eight years. We wrote, "No Doro -

Fortunately, The Elbow Room, the 2004 Best Neighborhood Bar, is still with us thanks to co-owners Lesa Touchette and Jonathan Owens. Beers are still poured into cold glasses, and the speakeasy atmosphere remains. We wrote, "If you're ever just looking for a quiet place to hang out, there are few better places to chill than The Elbow Room. Entering the softly lit room seemingly takes you to a different time."

If you lived in Pensacola during the 1990s and 2000s, you might remember Hunan Chinese Restaurant on Scenic Highway. Our readers loved the buffet but also named Hunan the Best Place for Karaoke in 2004. The restaurant hosted karaoke with DJ Chris Cook on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and was known for its positive, appreciative audiences.

The 2004 Best House Specialty Drink was the Long Island Iced Tea poured at the nowdefunct Copeland's Famous New Orleans Restaurant & Bar. Copeland's offered five versions of the potent tea.

"Abraham Lincoln once said, 'First, I'm going to tear Stephen Douglas a new one. Then, I'm getting crunk on Long Island Ice Teas,'" we wrote, probably during happy hour at Copeland's. "One can only imagine what would happen if Lincoln, a famous teetotaler, were to drink six of Copeland's finest. His Emancipation Proclamation may have included honeybees, dairy cows and overworked reporters."

I never said we were intelligent writers in 2004. {in} rick@inweekly.net

5,700 SF / $25 PSF (Annual) Downtown Pensacola Waterfront on Palafox with Parking! 2 story building available. Deck on Palafox Marina (dock not included). Excellent condition. Ready for occupancy.

A STAR IS BORN Pensacola musician, songwriter and vocalist Tris Weeks will debut her first EP with a release party and performance with her band, Goldmine, 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St.

Weeks recently graduated with degrees in vocal performance and arts administration from the University of West Florida. She spent her summer applying to master's degree programs and performing in Ireland and Colorado. Inweekly caught up with her between a gig on 30A, a photo shoot for the EP cover and a trip to Nashville to record four new songs for a later release.

Her voice performance education focused on opera. "I think it's been kind of cool to make some of that with my contemporary voice, and then the arts administration and the marketing (her minor) have allowed me to market and manage the band in a way that's hopefully a little bit smarter than I would've done otherwise," Weeks said.

Weeks first garnered national attention in her teens when she raised money for the Tyler Robinson Foundation, a charity founded by Imagine Dragons to help families fight the unseen financial cost of pediatric cancer. The band recognized her efforts as Ambassador of the Year in 2018.

"Getting that invite from Imagine Dragons to come out and be honored in Las Vegas was so cool, but I think it's even cooler to be able to use what you love—music, in my case—to help make a tangible change in the world," Weeks shared. "That's something that's definitely kept me going throughout the years."

She is excited about the EP Release Party. "We recorded these songs in Nashville a little bit ago and have been gearing up, doing all the promo materials and getting it ready for release. We're just going to have a big celebration concert, play the whole album and some of our favorite covers may be thrown in there, too. It's going to be a great show."

Visit trismusic.com to follow her career and find her upcoming performances.

THANK YOU, FRED The News Service of Florida recently provided the list of future payments from Big Tobacco to the state of Florida

under a 1997 legal settlement. According to the Florida Legislature's Office of Economic & Demographic Research, tobacco companies are required to make annual payments to Florida to help cover smoking-related healthcare costs, which will total more than $3.82 billion in the next decade.

The late Fred Levin helped draft Florida's Medicaid Third-Party Liability Recovery Act, which permitted the state to sue the tobacco industry for Medicaid costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses. He won the support of Sen. W.D. Childers, who got it passed during the last minutes of the session.

NEW PALAFOX Last week, Mayor D.C. Reeves unveiled the conceptual designs for the New Palafox project, which he called "the largest investment in our iconic downtown street in the history of the city."

The mayor stood before Jerry Pate Design's renderings that showed the early concepts, but he added, "I do want to point out very specifically conceptual design means conceptual, which means there's 0% design at this point."

The mayor said, "We just met with our downtown business owners and got some feedback. Certainly, we will take feedback on the city's website devoted to the project, thenewpalafox.com. There's a submission form on there for anybody in the public with any thoughts. They can look at some of the ideas block by block."

Mayor Reeves explained the project came about when Florida Power & Light (FPL) began to finish its work on the power grid in downtown Pensacola. "It kind of sparked a conversation about whether we should just put it back the way it was or maybe try to think bigger and imagine something better for our city. Fortunately, FPL has been on board the entire time as we've had the ebbs and flows of when the project would start."

The estimated cost of the New Palafox is $5 million, with $3 million coming for FPL. The mayor said, "The funding of this project will be put together through a great community partnership with FPL and with your parking revenue.

J.T. Young, the vice president and general manager of the FPL Northwest Region, pointed

out the FPL infrastructure work began in 2018. "It was about a 70-year-old infrastructure that needed upgrading. And so we began that project back then, which was pretty significant. And if some of you remember, we did a lot of that work at night, trying to avoid the busiest times. Nonetheless, we did spend a good bit of time upgrading that to improve our network's reliability and resilience downtown."

The FPL budgeted $86 million for the infrastructure upgrades, and the $3 million allocated to the New Palafox partnership is part of that budget and would have been incurred to restore the city streets to their original state.

"It just made sense to think about how we could partner with the city in getting this restoration and even make improvements from a paving perspective so that when we got this situation back to where it would be better than it was before," Young said. "We are committed to making sure that the final product is what it should be."

FPL will allocate the funds to the city, which will be the project manager. Young said, "We're blessed with great vibrancy downtown, and we want to make sure that we do all we can to continue to enhance that. So again, we're just pleased to be able to work with the city on this project, and I want to thank the mayor and the team from the city for working with us on this project. We're grateful to be able to be a part of it."

The New Palafox project focuses on the street from south of Garden Street to north of Main Street. Brad Alexander of Jerry Pate Design walked through the renderings. He highlighted several concepts, including reducing pedestrian exposure by relining and shortening crosswalks, widening and raising crosswalks to calm traffic, reducing Palafox from 14 feet to 11 feet, and widening the sidewalks.

"The whole overriding concept is to prioritize pedestrians and pedestrian safety to reduce that conflict between pedestrian and downtown," Alexander said.

Mayor Reeves said, "The net loss of parking is three spaces throughout the project. So there's some decrease in parking in some blocks, and there's some increase in parking in others."

He said the project will have 12,000 more square feet of pervious surface and 51 more trees. The drawings will be available on thenewpalafox.com.

INSIDE PARKLAND SHOOTING Valentine's Day 2018 started on a positive note for Max Schachter. He said goodbye to his kids as they headed off to their Parkland schools, and he and his wife enjoyed a romantic lunch. Later that afternoon, though, his world crumbled apart.

First, notifications on his Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School band app began pouring in about a shooting at the school. Two of his sons, senior Ryan and freshman Alex, attended the school, and Schachter drove to the campus only to be stopped by gridlocked traffic, which he described as a "chaotic" scene. He parked in a roundabout and began walking to the school. When law enforcement blocked his entrance, Schachter started to return to his car until his wife called, screaming and crying. A classmate of Alex's called and told her he had been shot. Schachter raced back to the school, but a deputy stopped him from entering again. Though Schachter explained the situation, the deputy told him not to worry and that all the injured people had been taken to the hospital.

At the hospital, a nurse calmed him and said she would find his son. Thirty minutes passed before the nurse returned, saying she found Alex in the emergency room. However, the bed was empty because the hospital had confused his son for another Alex, who was also shot. Schachter then headed to the Marriott, where hysterical, sobbing families of missing children gathered in the conference room.

At 2 a.m., nearly 12 hours after the shooting and seven hours after Schachter arrived at the Marriott, he finally learned Alex was one of 17 people killed in the deadliest mass shooting at a high school in U.S. history.

"It was so excruciatingly painful," said Schachter who founded Safe Schools for Alex, a nonprofit that provides school safety best practices and resources to students, parents, school districts and law enforcement. "I just wanted to know if I was going to see my little boy again. Don't make people wait seven hours."

Schachter shared the tragic story with Escambia County Public Schools administrators and campus security officers during a riveting two-hour presentation at the J.E. Hall Center on Aug. 9. He described in detail the countless mistakes made by school administrators and law enforcement that permitted Nikolas Cruz to walk into the school with an AR-15 rifle, open fire and walk out unnoticed after killing 17 and injuring another 17 people.

All the signs were there that Cruz, known as "crazy boy," was dangerous. He had over 55 disciplinary incidents at school, and law enforcement had visited his house over 40 times. Cruz posted on social media his intentions to kill people. The Broward County Sheriff's Office and FBI received multiple tips for two years that Cruz planned to kill people, but the agencies ignored the warnings.

Ineptitude by law enforcement continued the day of the mass shooting. Broward County school resource officer Scot Peterson refused to enter the building. Three Broward County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene but did not enter the building either. Schachter played a clip during his presentation that showed a deputy telling another to wait for him while he put on his gear.

"Our past is both a history lesson and a fortune teller," Schachter said. "Understand failures in Parkland so this never happens again."

Schachter commended Florida lawmakers.

Nine bills addressing school safety have passed since the shooting, including a new law that requires entry points and classroom doors in public schools to be locked unless a staff member is guarding them.

Florida now leads the nation in school specialists. State funds are granted to participating sheriff's offices to cover the screening and training costs for each school district or charter school guardian. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office has trained about 40 campus security officers for the upcoming school year. Nearly all showed up for Friday's presentation wearing black vests with the word "Guardian" etched in yellow letters.

Kyle Kinser, the school district's director of protection services, underscored the importance of campus security officers when he said, "Administrators documented almost 400 cases of threat management last year from January to May, and 20 of those were high-level cases that if we didn't do something, something would have happened."

Guardians receive the same training as the sheriff's deputies in responding to active assailants. They are usually retired law enforcement and military that the school district primarily stations at elementary schools.

After listening to the presentation, West Florida High School Principal Esi Shannon felt

reassured about the threat response training and the mental health counselors stationed in the high schools. She said another takeaway was emphasizing to students, faculty and staff the importance of reporting any suspicious activity and to take all reports seriously.

"There were so many signs," Shannon said. "And if someone had taken the time to report it, and not just to report it, but follow through, it could have made all the difference."

SUPPORT FOR THE BLUE ANGELS U.S.

Senator Rick Scott dismisses any suggestion to disband the Blue Angels, the Navy's flight demonstration squadron.

"I tell you what, they probably need to expand," said Sen. Scott when he visited with military veterans in Pensacola last week. "The Navy's hurting on recruitment; we've got to excite young men and women. What the Blue Angels do is they excite young people to join the service and to be pilots."

He continued, "I know a young lady who is just starting her fourth year at Annapolis, and she did her first solo this summer. She wants to be a Navy pilot. So no, no, it'd be the opposite. We've got to recruit more people. The Navy's not hitting their numbers right now."

THANK YOU, OPEN BOOKS The website Explore ranked Pensacola as the No. 4 U.S. destination for book lovers, thanks to the Books by the Bay Festival and Open Books. The independent bookstore was cited as "a volunteerrun shop supporting prison literacy programs statewide, further enriching the city's unique book culture."

Given Escambia County's infamous reputation for removing books from schools, Open Books co-founder Scott Satterwhite admitted the high ranking surprised him.

"I've always felt with our area that we're often gauged by our politicians who don't necessarily represent the people's wills as a whole," he said. "I mean, book banning, book restricting and, however they want to phrase it, has historically been very unpopular, but often we just get represented by a handful of folks who don't necessarily represent the desires of the people."

Meanwhile, Open Books has flourished. "When I see tons of people that come into Open Books all the time, I'm constantly flabbergasted by that. We've been doing pretty well as a bookstore in the past five years, and that runs against the narrative that independent bookstores are falling apart."

To learn more, visit openbookspcola.org. {in}

6205 N 9th Ave, Pensacola

GeorgeBistroAndBar.com

@GeorgeBistroBar

WINNER

Best Restaurant Overall

Best Restaurant: Cordova Area

Best Brunch • Best Mimosas

Best Wait Staff

Best Chef: George Lazi

RUNNER UP

Best Bar: Cordova Area

Best Restaurant for a Date

Best Non-Alcoholic Drink Options

Best Bloody Mary

Best Grits • Best French Fries

WINNER

Best New Restaurant

Best Seafood • Best Oysters

Best Signature Drink: Mari-Gold Rush

Best Server: Ryan Seeley

RUNNER UP

Best Restaurant Overall

Best Original Menu • Best Gluten Free Options

Best Uniquely Pensacola Dish: Fried Red Snapper Collar

Best New Bar • Best Drink Menu • Best Martini

Best Non-Alcoholic Drink Options

Best Restaurant for a Date

Best Waitress: Crystal Stewart 1504 W Intendencia Street, Pensacola PearlAndHorn.com @PearlAndHorn

Every summer you vote and we count. And in some really close cases we recount, just to make sure we get it right. Then before you know it, it's August and we finally get to reveal the results of our often imitated, but never duplicated, Best of the Coast poll.

Because of you—our loyal readers and supporters—Best of the Coast keeps growing every year, and we couldn't be more proud of what it's become. This time around, over

18,000 votes were cast, resulting in this jam-packed 84 page issue. Of course, Best of the Coast wouldn't be possible without ad dollars, so to each and every business that said yes to supporting us, thank you.

And even 84 pages aren't enough, so make sure you tune in next week for Rest of the Best, where we celebrate the runners-up. {in}

BEST NONPROFIT

Winner: Gulf Winds Cares Foundation

Gulf Coast Kid's House

Pensacola Children's Chorus

Pensacola Little Theatre

BEST CHARITY EVENT

Winner: Brunch & Bubbles (Gulf Coast Kid's House)

Cabaret (Pensacola Little Theatre)

Heroes Among Us (Marine Corps League)

Wonder Ride (onbikes Pensacola)

BEST PLACE TO WORK

Winner: Navy Federal Credit Union

Gulf Coast Kid's House

Gulf Winds Credit Union

University of West Florida

BEST BOSS

Winner: Stacey Kostevicki (Gulf Coast Kid's House)

Allison Hill (LifeView Group)

Chandra McKern (Pensacola Opera)

Caleb Pierce (Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar)

BEST COMMUNITY LEADER

Winner: Haley "Hale" Morrissette (Dream Defenders)

Devin Cole (Strive)

Alex Gartner (Pensacola Children's Chorus)

Debi Janea (Ballet Pensacola)

BEST RISING LEADER

Winner: Cody Martin (Pensacola Opera)

Jarah Jacquay (Bluffline)

Alex Smith (City of Pensacola)

Sara Williamson (Ballet Pensacola)

BEST POLITICIAN

Winner: D.C. Reeves

Teniadé Broughton

Lumon May

Michelle Salzman

BEST ADVOCACY/ACTIVIST GROUP

Winner: Strive

Food Not Bombs Pensacola

Party for Socialism & Liberation–Central

Gulf Coast

Sunday's Child

BEST PLACE TO TAKE

OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS

Winner: Pensacola Beach

Downtown

National Naval Aviation Museum

Palafox Market

BEST DAY TRIP

Winner: Fairhope

30A/Seaside

Blackwater River State Park

Fort Pickens

BEST ANNUAL EVENT

Winner: The Nutcracker (Ballet Pensacola)

Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show

Christmas on the Coast (Pensacola Children's Chorus)

Foo Foo Fest

BEST FOOD EVENT

Winner: Pensacola Seafood Festival

Great Southern Restaurants' Restaurant Week

Pensacola Crawfish Festival

Pensacola VegFest

BEST PARADE

Winner: Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade

Grand Fiesta Parade

Pensacola Christmas Parade

Pensacola Pawdi Gras

BEST REGULAR/REOCCURRING EVENT

Winner: Gallery Night

Bands on the Beach

Improvable Cause

Palafox Market

BEST FREE THING TO DO

Winner: National Naval Aviation Museum

Bands on the Beach

Gallery Night

Palafox Market

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD

Winner: East Hill

Cordova Park

North Hill

Scenic Heights

BEST PUBLIC PARK

Winner: Bayview Park

Blake Doyle Skatepark

Bruce Beach

Veterans Memorial Park

BEST PET-FRIENDLY PARK

Winner: Bayview Park

Pensacola Beach Dog Park

River Road Park

Roger Scott Dog Park

BEST PLAYGROUND

Winner: Bruce Beach

Hitzman-Optimist Park

Perdido Kids Park

Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community

Maritime Park

BEST PALAFOX MARKET VENDOR

Winner: The Crafted Makerie

Annie's Naked Cookies

Jade Tree Succulents

Whim Cotton Candy

BEST MAKERS/CRAFT MARKET

Winner: Palafox Market

East Hill Makers Market

Odd Colony Brewing Company

Pensacola Arts Market

BEST REASON TO ATTEND A BLUE WAHOOS GAME

Winner: Fireworks

Food

Roach Run View

BEST REASON TO ATTEND AN ICE FLYERS GAME

Winner: Wiener Dog Race Night

Chuck-A-Puck

Fights

Maverick

BEST YOUTH SPORTS/REC PROGRAM

Winner: Greater Pensacola

Figure Skating Club

Gulf Breeze Sports Association

Pensacola Youth Soccer

Southern Youth Sports Association

BEST DANCE STUDIO

Winner: Ballet Pensacola

First Dance Ballroom Studio

LaBelle Performing Arts

Mixon Magic Performing Arts

BEST AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITY

Winner: Pensacola Children's Chorus Ballet Pensacola

Neighborhood Children's Theatre Pensacola Little Theatre

BEST SUMMER CAMP

Winner: UWF's Explore Summer Camps Ballet Pensacola

Neighborhood Children's Theatre Pensacola Children's Chorus

BEST PLACE FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY

Winner: Pensacola MESS Hall

Fast Eddies Fun Center

Pensacola Children's Museum

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

BEST LOCAL CELEBRITY

Winner: Sue Straughn

Derrick Brooks

Hannah Holtsclaw

Bubba Watson

BEST TV STATION

Winner: WEAR

Blab TV

WKRG WSRE

BEST RADIO STATION

Winner: Cat Country 98.7

The Beat 107.3

NewsRadio 92.3/1620 WUWF 88.1

BEST RADIO PERSONALITY

Winner: Brent Lane (Cat Country 98.7)

Melissa "Mel" McCrae (Cat Country 98.7) Andrew McKay (NewsRadio 92.3/1620) T.S. Strickland (WUWF 88.1)

BEST MORNING RADIO SHOW

Winner: The Cat Pack Morning Show (Cat Country 98.7)

NPR Morning Edition (WUWF 88.1)

Pensacola Morning News with Andrew McKay (NewsRadio 92.3/1620)

Real News with Rick Outzen (WCOA 1370)

BEST PODCAST

Winner: HatchMark Studio's Practical Rebels

Heretics' Social Club

Pensacola Mom Collective's Raising Pensacola

Some People Suck

BEST WEBSITE/BLOG

Winner: Visit Pensacola (visitpensacola.com)

Cat Country 98.7 (catcountry987.com)

Local Pulse (localpulse.com)

Pensacola Mom Collective (pensacola.momcollective.com)

BEST BUSINESS OR PERSON TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Winner: All Things Emerald Coast

The 850 Foodie

Pensacola Mom Collective

Pensacola Vibes

BEST WAY TO GET CULTURED

Winner: Pensacola Opera

Ballet Pensacola

Pensacola Little Theatre

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra

BEST ART GALLERY/MUSEUM

Winner: Pensacola Museum of Art

309 Punk Project

Artel Gallery

Quayside Art Gallery

BEST ARTIST

Winner: Eniko Ujj

Poppy Garcia

Dylan Nadsady

Nate Schweigert

BEST AUTHOR/WRITER

Winner: Maghen Gardner

Ann Brooks

Emily Ley

Nic Schuck

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER

Winner: Blake Jones

Sarah Coleman

Lindsey Friar

Sean Mullins

BEST MUSIC VENUE

Winner: The Handlebar

The Bugghouse

Saenger Theatre

Vinyl Music Hall

BEST BAND

Winner: ego death

[glsnr]

Ben Loftin & The Family

John Hart & The Prince Brothers

BEST CONCERT/CONCERT SERIES

Winner: Bands on the Beach

Bands on the Bayou Blues on the Bay

Christmas on the Coast (Pensacola Children's Chorus)

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION

Winner: 13 (Pensacola Little Theatre)

Die Fledermaus (Pensacola Opera)

Improbable Cause Mystery Theatre  The Sleeping Beauty (Ballet Pensacola)

BEST COMEDIAN

Winner: Tony Burkett

Delisia Nicholas

Ryan Pfeiffer

Olivia Searcy

ALL THINGS EMERALD COAST

allthingsemeraldcoast.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Your daily dose of the Emerald Coast. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? I'm passionate about showcasing the Emerald Coast's breathtaking beauty on social media. My followers, locals and visitors alike, enjoy travel tips, stunning photography, captivating videos, local events and more. Sharing this incredible coastline and connecting with others who appreciate its charm brings me immense joy. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? I value the genuine connection I have with all of you. Your humor brightens my day, and your support fuels my passion. Managing my social media gives me purpose, and I'm grateful for each of you. I love reading your comments and engaging with fellow fans of the Emerald Coast. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Looking ahead, I plan to focus more on travel-related content and work on my photography to possibly sell. I aim to launch a merch line that captures the spirit of the Emerald Coast and collaborate with local businesses to strengthen our community through advertising.

Answers by: Sarah Emily, Founder

BALLET PENSACOLA

400 S. Jefferson St., balletpensacola.org

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Ballet Pensacola is guided by the mission to enhance the cultural life of the Pensacola community through excellent dance training and quality dance performances.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Ballet Pensacola educates over 275 students in the Pensacola area and surrounding counties. These students are the future of the arts and our staff aims to be the best educators of the fine arts. We strive to train young dancers and artists and grow each individual into talented and committed young adults.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Ballet Pensacola has passionate support from families and patrons. From our youngest students to our eldest patrons, we are surrounded by a dedicated community of art devotees as we enter our 46th season. Without this deeply rooted foundation, Ballet Pensacola

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Ballet Pensacola feels it is important for the Pensacola community to come together to share the art of dance, theatre, music, movement, history and all other art forms. In a flourishing arts town, we seek to be a foundation of collaboration and bring people together in new and innovative ways.

Answers by: The Ballet Pensacola Staff

BLAKE JONES

2370 N. Palafox St., Building 3, blakejonesphoto.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Creating the best imagery I can while helping your vision come to life.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Just always trying to create the best work I can and work with good people. That's what means most.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their willingness to want to work with me firstly and also seeing my vision through to create something beautiful together. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Hopefully a major brand campaign.

Answers by: Blake Jones, Photographer, Owner and Operator

CAT COUNTRY 98.7 AND NEWS RADIO 92.3/AM 1620

7251 Plantation Road, catcountry987.com, newsradio923.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Our mission is to provide compelling, entertaining, accurate, reliable and informative programming that supports our communities.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We take pride in community-building any way we can. We live, work, play and worship right here and are inspired to be the best business neighbors for our listeners and clients.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We love working with customers/clients that are dedicated to helping and growing our wonderful area. Our clients are our business and neighbor partners; we both succeed when we work together.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Like all

daily goal is to adapt, invent and implement business habits that will help us continue to live our mission of community-building.

Answers by: Kevin King, Operations Manager

EAST HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

myeasthill.org

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Our mission is to nurture connections for a fun and vibrant East Hill where everyone belongs. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The love and enthusiasm of our community (both East Hill residents and our local business partners) inspires us to keep our mission at the forefront of all that we do.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We love how our community shows up to support each other and unite our neighborhood, whether it's at a monthly park clean-up or a Bands on the Bayou concert. Thank you to our incredible members who serve on committees, sponsor events and/or volunteer their time to better our neighborhood. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? East Hill Insiders Club and East Hill Neighborhood Guide, Third Edition. Check out our new website to learn more about both.

Answers by: Donna Dickey, President

FIESTA PENSACOLA

125 S. Alcaniz St., fiestapensacola.org

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Fiesta celebrates our heritage, promotes tourism and builds pride in Pensacola through festive activities which enhance the quality of life in our community.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The Pensacola community and everything it has to offer is consistently inspiring us at Fiesta to do our best. We aspire to provide events and outlets for our community to come together, celebrate our amazing city and give back to the community through various volunteer opportunities.

cess of each of our events and aspire to continue to work with Pensacola for years to come. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our next event is the Pensacola Seafood Festival, held Friday, September 27 through Sunday, September 29. Savor delicious seafood and enjoy live music all weekend. This festival is one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Northwest Florida with more than 150 arts and craft vendors.

Answers by: Madeleine Leidner, PR and Marketing Coordinator

GALLERY NIGHT  gallerynightpensacola.org

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Bringing art to the streets: a family-friendly celebration of creativity and community. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Fostering a vibrant, inclusive community where art and culture thrive. We're driven by the joy our events bring to families, art lovers and visitors, and the chance to showcase local talent, continually innovating to enhance the Gallery Night experience.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our customers' enthusiasm, support and participation. Their love for art and community drives us to create unforgettable experiences. Their feedback and engagement help us grow and improve, making each Gallery Night a true reflection of Pensacola's vibrant culture and creativity.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To enhance Gallery Night with larger acts and art installations, such as light projections and performance pieces, and to establish a dedicated kids' area in partnership with a local organization, ensuring a family-focused and enriching experience for all attendees.

Answers by: Whitney MacLeod, Executive Director

GREATER PENSACOLA FIGURE SKATING CLUB pensacolafigureskating.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Growing ice sports opportunities and ensuring access for everyone in our community regardless of age, ability or financial status.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Fiesta Pensacola loves working with every one of our volunteers and treasures the time we spend bringing our community together through various events. We appreciate everyone's individuality that contributes to the suc-

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The smiles on the skaters' faces.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their gratitude to have nontraditional sports opportunities for all ages and abilities in Pensacola. We are lucky to have such a great group of skaters and parents. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? As the only region of Florida without year-round ice access, we want to see it available here for our skaters, community, tourists/visitors, military families and local businesses.

Answers by: Sharon Gaubert, Skate Parent and Board Member

GULF COAST KID'S HOUSE

3401 N. 12th Ave., gulfcoastkidshouse.org

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Our mission is to end child abuse and heal families through collaborative intervention, family support and prevention education. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We do the best we can so that children in our community can experience a childhood free from abuse and so that children who have been impacted by abuse can recover and live healthy and productive lives.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We are so grateful for a community that supports us—it enables us to help families heal from the trauma of abuse. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Gulf Coast Kid's House will continue to expand men-

tal health services for victims of child abuse and their non-offending caregivers.

Answers by: Stacey Kostevicki,

Executive Director

HATCHMARK STUDIO

1201 Barrancas Ave., hatchmarkstudio.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We are a full-service branding, marketing and social media agency supporting startups to global organizations. We love sharing knowledge, which is where the podcast began. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our clients and community in Pensacola and beyond. We hear entrepreneur stories and are alongside them every day through the ups and downs, and we want to take what we have collectively learned to help others. The podcast is a great platform for that.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our relationships with our clients are like none other. When you're alongside a group to grow their company and share what they do with the world, you become an extension of their team. Those one-on-one relationships are what drive us. We're lucky to have hundreds of coworkers to grow alongside. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We're continuing to share our learnings and experiences through our blog, podcast and social channels. We want to continue to develop local talent, specifically in ways that can help attract young talent and keep our recent grads here. Know a great guest for the pod? Let us know.

Answers by: Veronique Zayas, Founder

PALAFOX MARKET

palafoxmarket.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? The one-of-a-kind, the delicious and the offbeat are found at Palafox Market on Saturdays from nine to two in historic downtown Pensacola. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Since 2007 we've grown from a handful of vendors to over 200. Some of our vendors started as Palafox Market shoppers. We've watched market kids grow up, seen vendors start their business and then pass it off to their children and celebrated when vendors expanded into brick and mortar stores.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? For 17 years, Pensacola has chosen to shop at Palafox Market and support our local growers and makers. Their loyalty and support are what continue to make us successful. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Bringing more diverse local farmers and vendors to the market. We are planning even more special events such as the Holiday Market, Easter Market, Wild About Wildlife and other events that bring new experiences for our shoppers.

Answers by: Cailin

Feagles,

Director of Operations and Events

PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS

46 E. Chase St., pensacolasings.org

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? The Pensacola Children's Chorus strives to

foster the personal and social growth of its singers and engage the community through inspirational musical experiences.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Witnessing the growth of our singers. Each of our singers is empowered to realize their potential as musicians, performers and leaders within the community. We love seeing their passion to enact positive change in themselves and with others.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We are so grateful to be among a community that understands the importance of the arts, especially for young people. As opportunities for arts-related funding become increasingly limited, we are ever-grateful to our patrons, sponsors and donors who keep us going. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? As we embark on our 35th anniversary season, we are eager to see more and more singers join our ranks. With opportunities for tuition assistance, free membership through the Escambia Children's Trust and choirs throughout the region, there are so many opportunities to get involved.

Answers by: Garrett Hallbauer, Marketing and Communications Manager

PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE

400 S. Jefferson St., pensacolalittletheatre.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? PLT—the community's theatre.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The best part of community theatre is

community. The volunteer artists, from the actors to the stage managers and costumers create something meaningful simply to improve the quality of life for our community. They inspire us all every day to hone in on the "why" of what we do: community.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our patrons show up and show out. They believe in us and the stories that we tell, because they understand every story deserves to be told. Someone in the audience can quickly become someone behind the scenes, and I appreciate the symbiotic sense of community we've built together throughout The Center.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? PLT is always stirring up drama—and we're elevating your artistic experience as we create Pensacola's premier rooftop performance venue. The sweeping views of Pensacola Bay and downtown are going to forever change the footprint the arts and culture leave in our area at The Top of The Center.

Answers by: Sid Williams-Heath, CEO

PENSACOLA MESS HALL

418 E. Wright St., pensacolamesshall.org

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Hands-on science discovery for the whole family. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our whole team is passionate about inspiring people to explore science phenomena with a playful curiosity. When the visitors get excited about their discoveries, we know we are making an impact.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our visitors' curiosity seems non-ending. They push us to try new things and discover new things ourselves.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We want to reach more people in our community, including adults. We are beginning to hold adults-only events where adults have the freedom to explore and be curious, learning new things in the meantime. Answers by: Megan Pratt, Executive Director

PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART

407 S. Jefferson St., pensacolamuseum.org

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Facilitating the preservation, understanding and engagement of visual culture for our visitors and members through our permanent collection, dynamic exhibits, interpretive programs, academic research and education.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The vibrant energy of our community fuels our passion to offer exceptional art experiences for our visitors and members. Our commitment to local and regional artists inspires us to produce the highest quality exhibits, engaging programming and education classes to foster more creative minds.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? From young to old, locals to tourists, we love to see the diversity of our visitors at the museum. It is wonderful to see the ways that art touches different individuals and to witness the transcendent power that different mediums of art have on all visitors.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? 2024 marks the 70th

anniversary of the Pensacola Museum of Art becoming an art center in Pensacola. We plan to celebrate this milestone with the community through special events at Foo Foo Fest and with a permanent collection exhibit called Celebrate 70 which is on view now.

Answers by: Claire Stewart, Director of Marketing

PENSACOLA OPERA

75 S. Tarragona St., pensacolaopera.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Enriching the culture of Northwest Florida through professional opera performances, educational programs and other opera-related community events for people of all ages, interests and backgrounds.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The very nature of opera is to bring the best of multiple art forms together into one beautiful work. We uphold high artistic standards in order to present programming that is worthy of our patrons' time, money and emotions. Also—we just love opera and the people who create it. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? As a nonprofit, we couldn't survive without the support of our community. Whether that's purchasing a season subscription, attending a concert, raising a paddle or being a volunteer—it takes so many people to make art happen. We're fortunate to have such a supportive patron base and community here in Pensacola. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Season 42 is right around the corner. We'll be presenting two classic operas in our mainstage season, while producing and premiering two new works this season; one will be presented in schools and libraries this fall, and the other will be a part of this year's Foo Foo Festival. Stay tuned.

Answers by: Alex Hilkey, Director of Marketing and Communications

VISIT PENSACOLA

1401 E. Gregory St., visitpensacola.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Visit Pensacola is the way to beach. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key and surrounding Escambia County communities. The team at Visit Pensacola is the storytellers, the memory-makers and the voices for all tourism-related questions. But our residents, local businesses and the success of this community are what keep us going.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our goal at Visit Pensacola is to support the community's vision of building tourism as an economic engine through leadership, connection, collaboration and communication. We appreciate that our partners and the Pensacola community work hand in hand as brand ambassadors to help us achieve these goals. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We will continue encouraging our residents, local businesses, and visitors to share why Pensacola is "The Way to Beach." We know that tourism works for Pensacola, and with our marketing efforts, our plan is to continue growing our destination and inviting guests from around the world to visit.

Answers by: Nicole Stacey, VP, Destination Development

Walks + Runs Vacation Care

Thank you Pensacola for your support!

Wedding Chaperone Services

Photo by Zac Green We provide care for your pup in the comfort of your home!

BEST GYM

Winner: Coastal Fitness Training

Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA

Burn Boot Camp

Regymen Fitness

BEST PERSONAL TRAINER

Winner: Jake Schwartz (Burn Boot Camp)

Brandee Brinker (Coastal Fitness Training)

Shaun Gettis (Get Fit Fitness)

Sydney Romanelli (Burn Boot Camp)

BEST BOUTIQUE FITNESS STUDIO

Winner: Wild Lemon

Disko Lemonade

Pure Pilates

Ride Society

BEST YOGA

Winner: Disko Lemonade

Regymen Fitness

URU Yoga & Beyond

Yoga Abode

BEST YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Winner: Angie Chapa (Disko Lemonade)

Donna Dickey (Yoga Abode)

Jessica Marickovich (Regymen Fitness)

Justin Nutt (Empathic Practice, URU Yoga & Beyond and Community Health Northwest Florida)

BEST PILATES

Winner: Wild Lemon

Disko Lemonade

Pilates Core Training Pure Pilates

BEST FITNESS CLASSES

Winner: Regymen Fitness

Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA

Disko Lemonade Wild Lemon

BEST FITNESS INSTRUCTOR

Winner: Amelia Murphy (Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA)

Jenn Jordan (Regymen Fitness)

Kiley Bolster Manning (Wild Lemon)

Rachel Smith (Community YMCA at Gulf Breeze)

BEST BOOTCAMP

Winner: Coastal Fitness Training

Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA

Burn Boot Camp Get Fit Fitness

BEST WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM

Winner: As You Are Health Services

Evolve Medical

Mind Body & Soul Medical

Woodlands Medical Specialists

BEST RUNNING CLUB

Winner: Running Wild

200 South Tap House

Fleet Feet

Seville Quarter

BEST 5K

Winner: McGuire's St. Patrick's Day Prediction 5K

AWKO Justice Jog

Double Bridge Run

Navy Federal 5K

BEST PLACE TO WALK/RUN

Winner: Bayview Park

Downtown

Navy Point Park

Pensacola Bay Bridge

BEST PLACE TO RIDE A BIKE

Winner: Ride Society East Hill

Pensacola Bay Bridge

University of West Florida Campus Trails

BEST HOSPITAL

Winner: Ascension Sacred Heart

Baptist Hospital

Gulf Breeze Hospital

HCA Florida West Hospital

BEST GENERAL CARE PHYSICIAN

Winner: Dr. George Smith (Community Health Northwest Florida)

Dr. Buffi Bailey (B Virtual Health & Wellness)

Dr. Kacey Gibson (Emerald Coast Medical Group)

Dr. Jennifer Miley (Woodlands Medical Specialists)

BEST CHIROPRACTOR

Winner: Dr. Craig Henry (Henry Chiropractic)

Dr. David Edge (Edge Family Chiropractic)

Dr. Lindsey Jeudevine (Olde Seville Chiropractic)

Dr. Jason Stern (Stern Chiropractic Clinic)

BEST DENTIST

Winner: Dr. Naomi Norton (Summit Dental)

Dr. Philip Gibson

(Gibson & Heath Family Dentistry)

Dr. Neil and Allie Simmons (Pensacola Kids Dentistry)

Dr. Ben White (White Smiles General Dentistry)

BEST ENDODONTIST

Winner: Dr. Josh Todd (Elite Endodontics)

Dr. Jared Beam (Elite Endodontics)

Dr. Phillip Bell (Pensacola Center for Endodontics)

Dr. Thomas Lyons (Pensacola Endodontics)

BEST ORTHODONTICS

Winner: Fishbein Orthodontics

Shehee & Callahan Family Orthodontics

Sims Orthodontics

Woodfin Cabassa Orthodontics

BEST PEDIATRICIAN

Winner: Dr. Randall Reese (Pensacola Pediatrics)

Dr. Brandy J. Boutin (Ascension Medical Group)

Dr. Amy Foland (Pensacola Pediatrics)

Dr. Jennifer Thompson (Ascension Medical Group)

BEST MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

Winner: Scott Durrance, APRN (Apex Psychiatric Services)

Tamara Driskell, LMHC (Arya Therapy Services)

Kam Kingsland, APRN (Apex Psychiatric Services)

T. Katie Perry, APRN (The Anchor Clinic)

BEST OB/GYN

Winner: Dr. Jairan L. Duke-Elmore (Ascension Medical Group)

Dr. Ana M. Antonetti (The Women's Group)

Dr. Erika Schneider (Baptist Medical Group)

Dr. Brian Sontag (Ascension Medical Group)

BEST OPTOMETRIST

Winner: Dr. Lindsay Durtschi (Midtown Vision)

Dr. Jennifer Murray (Eye Institute at Medical Center Clinic)

Dr. Michael Richardson, Jr. (Center for Sight)

Dr. Gene Terrezza (Terrezza Optical)

BEST DERMATOLOGIST

Winner: Dr. Sean Branch (Proper Dermatology)

Dr. Jenna Beasley (Vital Dermatology)

Dr. Andrea Taylor (Taylor Dermatology)

Dr. Amy Pote Watson (Pensacola Dermatology)

BEST PLASTIC SURGERY

Winner: Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery

Derek Jones Facial Plastic Surgery

Ortega Plastic Surgery

Shaddix Plastic Surgery

BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY

Winner: Stark Performance

Physical Therapy

Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Stern Chiropractic Clinic

SWELL Physical Therapy & Performance

BEST PHARMACY

Winner: First City Drugs

Community Health Northwest Florida East Hill Pharmacy

Jackson Pace Pharmacy

BEST WALK-IN CLINIC

Winner: Baptist Urgent Care

Ascension Sacred Heart Urgent Care

Community Health Northwest Florida

ProHealth Medical Care

BEST CANNABIS DISPENSARY

Winner: Sunburn Cannabis FLUENT

MÜV

Trulieve

APEX PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES

308 S. Jefferson St., apexpsychiatricservices.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Thrive. Don't just survive.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our clients' success stories keep us going. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their courage in overcoming life's challenges.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We look forward to growing each year and reaching more people in need.

Answers by:

Abby Durrance, Practice Manager and Owner

AS YOU ARE HEALTH SERVICES

4400 Bayou Blvd., Ste. 52A, asyouarehealthservices.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Devoted healthcare clinic providing individualized, well-rounded care, addressing the root cause of health and weight loss issues, helping patients achieve lifelong wellness.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Helping others inspires me to strive for excellence. Being a positive example to those under my care is my motivation to continually improve and deliver the best.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? I deeply appreciate the sincerity and kindness of all my patients. Each one is on a unique journey toward health, and I value the rapport that develops as we work together. Their eagerness to learn and commitment to their wellbeing inspires me every day.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? My next goal is to enhance our current care by expanding our services and offerings to further support our patients. We have recently expanded our team to include a mental health counselor and dietician. I aim to foster long-term health ensuring each patient receives the time and attention they deserve.

Women supporting women in fitness, nutrition and healthy lifestyle changes through relationships, community and support. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our clients (or sisters, as we say) are our biggest inspirations. We see them working hard, giving it their all in the gym. Then we are blessed to see their results. This provides us with the motivation to make our program the best every day. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Everything about our clients, but the one we appreciate the most is how our clients are a sisterhood who are devoted to supporting and loving one another in fitness and community. They are the best.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We believe in our methods but are also dedicated to embracing the opportunities, techniques and technologies that continue to emerge. We are committed to the evolution of our brand and the ongoing enhancement of our services to better serve our clients.

Answers

by:

Brandee Brinker, Owner

COMMUNITY HEALTH NORTHWEST FLORIDA

2315 W. Jackson St., healthcarewithinreach.org If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Community. It's just what we do. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? What we love about our patients is they are our community. Anyone can take advantage of our services, whether they have insurance or not. We have great pediatric services, dental, behavioral health, Dr. Smith's Center for Senior Wellness and four full-service pharmacies. And when you fill a prescription at our pharmacy, it helps support community programs.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Because we are from the neighborhoods we serve, our patients are like family. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? CHNWF just announced the establishment of its philanthropic entity, the Community Health Northwest Florida Foundation. The Foundation will operate as a charitable organization, incorporated separately from Community Health Northwest Florida, focused on supporting patients, diagnostic testing

DISKO LEMONADE

120 S. Jefferson St., diskolemonade.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

A vibrant and diverse yoga community in downtown Pensacola where teachers and students come together to sweat, learn, get inspired and embrace personal growth.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Stories from our students. No matter how hard any given week is, when a student tells me or one of Disko's teachers how they were impacted in class, how their lives have changed for the better—it is motivating and it becomes more than a business. It's purpose.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? How welcoming and accepting they are of each other. Our community is a compassionate and loving one and I hear so often how welcomed new people feel when they come to Disko.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We will be in Italy this November for our first retreat. We are also very excited to begin offering our 300-hour yoga teacher training program as well as our yoga teacher mentorship program. A big thank-you to our manager Laura and a big congrats to our teacher Angie.

Answers by: Briana Knight, Owner

ELITE ENDODONTICS

5016 Grande Drive, Unit 101, endodontistpensacola.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Changing the perception about root canals. Our focus is on patient experience and removing the stigma associated with standard root canal therapy.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? I know nearly every person who comes to see us is apprehensive, so we strive to create the most welcoming and calming atmosphere possible to set them at ease. We want our patients to leave saying, "Wow, that was easy."

opened our business four years ago, and during that time we've made a lot of changes including building a new office and adding two additional doctors. So I would say the next goal or project would be continuing to offer the same excellent customer service and outstanding patient care. Answers by: Dr. Josh Todd, Owner

FIRST CITY DRUGS

6005 College Parkway, firstcitydrugs.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Locally owned pharmacy here to care for your entire family's prescription, vaccination, compounded medication and pet med needs, along with supplements and gifts.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We're incredibly blessed and thankful that so many patients have put their trust in us over the last three years. We built this pharmacy to be different and to truly care; getting to help our patients and neighbors is the driving force behind everything we do.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? From patients that knew us in previous pharmacies, to those that just found us, we appreciate knowing our patients and that they know us in return. This isn't a place where you're a number and we never take that relationship for granted.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Having been named Inweekly's Best Pharmacy for all three years that we've been open has been a blessing. We're excited to continue to expand our offerings and be able to pivot to our customers' needs as a locally owned small business.

Answers by: Derek Stephens, Pharm.D. and Natalie Malone Pharm.D., Owners

GULF COAST PLASTIC SURGERY

543 Fontaine St., gulfcoastplasticsurgery.com

Sena Maddison, Director of Communications

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We love our patients even though we only get to spend one to two appointments with them. Whenever someone puts their trust in us to take care of their dental health—that is a responsibility we don't take for granted. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We only

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery enhances the lives of our patients through exceptional surgical care, advanced medical expertise and a commitment to safety and compassion.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? At Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery, our patients are the heart of our practice. Their journeys inspire us each day. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their transformations and are committed to being the best for them every step of the way.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Witnessing our patients' joy and renewed confidence after their procedures is incredibly rewarding. These positive outcomes reaffirm our purpose and drive us to continuously strive for excellence. They remind us of the importance and impact of our work.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery's state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center is scheduled to open in September. This fully accredited facility will allow patients to have surgery in a relaxing and private environment. Also coming online is GCPS Wellness, offering physician-supervised weight management solutions.

Answers by: Cathy Butler, Practice Administrator

MIDTOWN VISION

402 W. Cervantes St., midtowndv.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it Midtown Dental and Vision is a multi-disciplinary practice with the goal of providing the Pensacola community with a more personalized healthcare experience.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? I strive to create an environment where everyone is welcomed. From my staff to my youngest patient, I want people to look forward to coming to Midtown—to feel comfortable and well taken care of. With healthcare becoming more corporatized, I recognize the need for a more individualized experience.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? I realize my patients have many eyecare options and I am honored they choose me, year after year. I'm incredibly lucky to have clients that care about investing in local businesses and building a stronger Pensacola community.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We will soon be in our forever home at 402 W. Cervantes. This project has been four years in the making. Our new, larger location will allow us to treat more patients annually while maintaining the one-on-one care we are known for.

Answers by: Dr. Lindsay Durtschi, Optometrist

REGYMEN FITNESS

5007 N. Davis Highway, Ste. 14, regymenfitness.com/pensacola

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Disrupting your routine in Pensacola. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"?  One word: people. Our community is unmatched. It's our pleasure to be their biggest cheerleaders on their fitness journey. We have folks of all fitness levels, and we work tirelessly to meet each one right where they are. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients?  Our customers are the heartbeat of our business. Their camaraderie amongst each other shines through. Together, they slay intense workouts and celebrate their wins.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Always to provide the best service possible. It's imperative to us to maintain a place of inspiration, motivation

and community. We have some fabulous additions coming to our studio soon.

Answers by: Leah Seacrest, Owner

STARK PERFORMANCE PHYSICAL THERAPY

375 N. Ninth Ave., Ste. B, starkperformancept.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We help our clients recover quickly, teach them how to stay healthy and support their active, fit lifestyles for as long as they desire. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our inspiration to be the best in Pensacola comes from being disheartened by our profession. Physical therapists are overworked, underappreciated and misunderstood. We were also frustrated with those who prioritized profit over genuinely caring for people in pain and want to help everyone we see be their very best. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our clients' hard work and dedication to improving their health and fitness, enhancing their lives and enabling them to enjoy the activities they love without pain.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To hire the best physical therapists in the country and expand our clinics in the Panhandle, making our community the healthiest and fittest in Florida.

Answers by: Hunter Stark, PT, DPT, CSCS, Owner

WILD LEMON PILATES

904 E. Scott St. and 3000 N. 12th Ave., wildlemonstudios.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Movement is medicine, and Pilates is for every body.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? This incredible community of movers who show up, bring friends, take risks and trust us with their bodies. We are forever humbled and inspired by our students.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Wild Lemon students are kind, smart, strong, motivated and fearless. We appreciate their commitment to their growth, their practice and their pride in being a part of this community. Also their patience with us for our ever-evolving spaces and policies. There's nothing like a Wild Lemon.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? I'm always looking at properties with my favorite real estate agent, Bill Manning from Kuhn Realty, so we can build the Wild Lemon community and serve more students.

Answers by: Kiley Bolster Manning, Owner and Movement Coach

PENSACOLA!

WINNER Best Bookstore

WINNER Best Cooking Classes

RUNNER UP Best Latte

RUNNER UP Best Coffee Shop

RUNNER UP Best Gourmet/Specialty Food Shop

RUNNER UP Best Gift Shop

RUNNER UP Best Place to Buy Greeting Cards/Stationery

5eleven Palafox

WINNER Best Special Event Space

RUNNER Up Best Reception Venue

Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel

RUNNER UP Best Boutique Hotel/Inn

RUNNER UP Best Place for Out-of-Town Guests to Stay

Best Reason to Attend a Blue Wahoos Game

WINNER Fireworks

RUNNERS UP Food, Roach Run, View

BEST HAIR SALON–PENSACOLA

Winner: Loxx by Natalie & Co.

Hair + Co

The Powder Room

Salon San Carlos

BEST HAIR SALON–GULF BREEZE/PENSACOLA BEACH

Winner: The Blue Magnolia Salon

All Things Nikki

Olli+Izzie Style House

Painted Bohemian

BEST HAIR SALON–MILTON/PACE

Winner: The Hair Loft

Fringe Salon & Skincare Studio

Penton House Salon & Day Spa

Unbridled, A Hair Salon

BEST HAIR STYLIST

Winner: Gabrielle Montoya-Frias (Loxx by Natalie & Co.)

Linda Bryant (Loxbylinda)

Alex Horne Garcia (Hairy Alex Horne)

Nikki Rice (All Things Nikki)

BEST HAIR COLORIST

Winner: Vanessa Myers (Vanessa Myers Hair)

Nina Bonita (Hair + Co)

Brittany Hightower (Olli+Izzie Style House)

Courtney Northington (Peach Fuzz)

BEST BARBER SHOP

Winner: Wilfrids Barber and Fine Goods

East Hill Barbershop

The Green Room

Pensacola House of Barbers

BEST MEN'S HAIR STYLIST

Winner: Ka Noel Delarosa (Loxx by Natalie & Co.)

Scott Bissonnette (The Green Room)

Tyler Infinger (Wilfrids Barber and Fine Goods)

Luna Zepp (Wilfrids Barber and Fine Goods)

BEST DAY SPA

Winner: Escape Wellness Spa

Bodyworks of Perdido Key

Stay The Spa

Still Waters Day & Medical Spa

BEST MASSAGE

Winner: Escape Wellness Spa

Bodyworks of Perdido Key

Coastal Vibes Massage Therapy

House of Triad

BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST

Winner: Jen Bryars (Escape Wellness Spa)

Twanda Bell (Cordova Skin & Body)

Zach Binkley (House of Triad)

Chris Kuhn (Coastal Vibes Massage Therapy)

BEST PEDICURE

Winner: Élan The Beauty Bar

East Hill Nail Spa

Medina Belleza

Vibar Nails

BEST MANICURE

Winner: Élan The Beauty Bar

Gilded Pensacola

Haus of FIDI Salon & Spa

Vibar Nails

BEST HAIR REMOVAL

Winner: Dela Beauty Bar

Beauty and the Beam Laser and Electrolysis

Cordova Skin & Body

Tiffany Rae Esthetics

BEST FACIAL

Winner: Tiffany Rae Esthetics

Haus of FIDI Salon & Spa

Mind Body & Soul Medical

Still Waters Day & Medical Spa

BEST ESTHETICIAN

Winner: Lauren Massey Bell (Escape Wellness Spa)

Miranda Andrews (Haus of FIDI Salon & Spa)

Molly Flynn (Skin by Flynn)

Tiffany Miller (Tiffany Rae Esthetics)

BEST SKIN CARE OVERALL

Winner: Still Waters Day & Medical Spa

Escape Wellness Spa

Haus of FIDI Salon & Spa

Tiffany Rae Esthetics

BEST BANK

Winner: Regions Bank

Hancock Whitney Bank

Aiken Picture Frames South Inc.

PNC Bank

Synovus Bank

BEST CREDIT UNION

Winner: Navy Federal Credit Union

Gulf Winds Credit Union

Members First Credit Union of Florida

Pen Air Federal Credit Union

BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Winner: Andrew Martin

(Atlas Financial Strategies)

Jacey Cosentino (Edward Jones)

Alex Coyne (Northwestern Mutual)

Jarrod Dawson (Nautilus Private

Wealth of Raymond James)

BEST ACCOUNTING FIRM

Winner: Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund

Brown Thornton Pacenta & Company, P.A.

Warren Averett

Wilson Business Group

BEST RESIDENTIAL REAL

ESTATE AGENCY

Winner: Levin Rinke Realty

Conna O'Donovan Real Estate

Kuhn Realty

Pointe South Rentals & Real Estate

BEST COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENCY

Winner: NAI Pensacola

Bellcore Commercial

Gunther Properties

The Zimmern Team

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT

Winner: Simone Sands (Engel & Völkers Pensacola)

Amber Jernigan (eXp Realty)

Kira Santos (Levin Rinke Realty)

Minh Quoc Tran (CENTURY 21 AmeriSouth Realty)

BEST BOUTIQUE HOTEL/INN

Winner: Solé Inn and Suites

Celestine Bed and Breakfast

Lily Hall

Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel

BEST HOTEL–PENSACOLA BEACH

Winner: Hilton Pensacola Beach

Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach

Paradise Inn

The Pensacola Beach Resort

BEST APARTMENT COMPLEX

Winner: Avalon Apartments

The Crossings at Milestone

Palmilla

Rhelm

BEST ARCHITECTURE FIRM

Winner: Dalrymple | Sallis Architecture

Brett Duch Architect

Caldwell Architects

DAG Architects

BEST LAW FIRM

Winner: Taylor, Warren, Weidner, Hancock & Barnes

Clark Partington

Levin Papantonio

Michles & Booth, P.A.

BEST ATTORNEY

Winner: Scott C. Barnes (Taylor, Warren, Weidner, Hancock & Barnes)

Hunter J. Hendrix

(Autumn Beck Blackledge, PLLC)

Aaron Watson (The Watson Firm, PLLC)

Joe Zarzaur (Zarzaur Law P.A.)

BEST INSURANCE AGENT

Winner: Tyler Kercher (State Farm)

Ryan Jacobs (Florida Insurance Agency)

Joe Pace, Jr. (Pace and Sons Insurance)

Valerie Virgilio (Westmark & Associates Allstate Agency)

BEST VET

Winner: Spanish Trail Veterinary Hospital

Davis Animal Hospital

East Hill Animal Hospital

Pine Meadow Veterinary Clinic

BEST DOG GROOMER

Winner: Vanity Fur

Blue Angel Pet Salon

The Groomery

ShamPoochies

BEST DOG TRAINING

Winner: Off Leash K9 Training

Emerald Coast

Concerned Canines

East Bay Dog Spot

East Hill Dog Walking Company

BEST PET BOARDING

Winner: Fetch Fido

Miss Pearl's Bed & Biscuit

Navy Boulevard Animal Hospital

Spanish Trail Veterinary Hospital

BEST CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Winner: Hanto + Clarke

Bear General Contractors

ParsCo Construction

Sunchase Construction

BEST AC COMPANY

Winner: All Seasons Service Network

Boutwell's Air Masters

Commander Air Inc.

Economy Appliance, Heat & Air Inc.

BEST LANDSCAPING

Winner: Frederickson Lawn Management

Blue Sky Landscaping

Eye Candy Lawns

KMK Lawn Care Services

BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER

Winner: Blu Salmon

Dee McDavid Interiors

Lacy Phillips Designs

Nest Interiors Inc.

BEST CUSTOM PICTURE FRAMING

Winner: Aiken Picture Frames South

Framing by Design

Just Plain Putter

Marty Campbell Gallery & Frame Shop

BEST TATTOO & PIERCING STUDIO

Winner: The Western Rose

Dragoncat Tattoo

Love Child Tattoo

Portside Tattoo

BEST TATTOO ARTIST

Winner: Samanah Guyah (Fortune Tattoo)

Alex Curran (Love Child Tattoo)

Dave Ham (The Western Rose)

Robert Smith (Portside Tattoo)

BEST SPECIAL EVENT SPACE

Winner: 5eleven Palafox

Court of De Luna Event Space

Culinary Productions, Inc.

The Sanctuary

BEST PARTY DECOR

Winner: Blushing Balloons

Alpha-Lit

Bashes & Bubbly

Light Bright Events

BEST MOBILE EVENT SERVICE/EXPERIENCE

Winner: Whim Cotton Candy

Ash + Air Mobile Cigar Lounge

Tap the Coast

Top It Off, The Cupcake Bar

BEST CATERER

Winner: Classic City Catering

Culinary Productions, Inc.

Four Seasons Catering and Eatery

Greek's Catering and Events

BEST FLORIST

Winner: Fiore of Pensacola

Celebrations The Florist

Just Judy's Flowers, Local Art & Gifts

Sunshine Designs Florist

BEST PORTRAIT/FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

Winner: Geoff Peck

Caitlin Elizabeth Photography

Christy Kerr Photography

Kelsei Frazier Photography

BEST TAILOR/ALTERATIONS

Winner: Ruthy's Creations and Alterations

3 Muses Costumes & Alterations

Bosa's Tailor Shop

The Sewing Box

BEST CAR WASH/DETAILER

Winner: Perdido Auto Spa

Eco Car Wash

New Era Detail & Wash

Ronny's Car Wash

BEST AUTO SERVICE SHOP

Winner: Pensacola A/C & Auto Service Center

Cannon Automotive

East Hill Automotive Center

Evans Automotive Service Center

BEST GREEN BUSINESS

Winner: Salon San Carlos

The Daily Squeeze

Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe

SunFarm Energy

BEST NEW BUSINESS

Winner: Coastal Cat Cafe

Fine Line Ink Pensacola

Haus of FIDI Salon & Spa

Sharp and the Swann

‘15 Runner Up Best Cajun Cuisine

‘16 WINNER BEST RESTAURANTNORTH PENSACOLA/NINE MILE

‘20 WINNER BEST TAKE OUT/TO GO

Runner Up Best BBQ, Best Wings & Best Restaurant–North Pensacola/Nine Mile

Runner Up Best Cajun Cuisine, Best Po-Boy & Best BBQ

‘17 WINNER BEST RESTAURANTNORTH PENSACOLA/NINE MILE

Runner Up Best Cajun Cuisine, Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant, Best Take Out/To Go, Best Fast Bite, Best French Fries & Best BBQ

‘18 WINNER BEST CAJUN CUISINE

Runner Up Best Restaurant–North Pensacola/Nine Mile, Best BBQ, Best Take Out/To Go & Best BBQ Dish—Carnival Platter

‘19 WINNER BEST TAKE OUT/TO GO

Runner Up Best BBQ, Best Wings & Best Restaurant–North Pensacola/Nine Mile

‘21 WINNER BEST CAJUN CUISINE

Runner Up Best BBQ, Best Lunch Specials, Best Caterer, Best Restaurant–North Pensacola/Nine Mile & Best Wings

‘22 WINNER BEST TAKE OUT/TO GO

Runner Up Best BBQ, Best Lunch, Best Cajun Cuisine & Best Restaurant–North Pensacola/Nine Mile

‘23 WINNER BEST RESTAURANT–NORTH PENSACOLA/NINE MILE ROAD & BEST CAJUN CUISINE

RUNNER UP BEST BBQ & BEST TAKE OUT/TO GO

AIKEN PICTURE FRAMES SOUTH

15 E. Brent Lane, Ste. 6, aikenpictureframes.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Guaranteed quality with fast and friendly service. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our community is a variety of people and we need to work together to find our own happy place. We want our customers to leave with a product they are happy with and can enjoy for years to come.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our customers are so unique. Each one is an artist and we get to share in their creations.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? The next generation has stepped up to take over the operations. We pray that they will be as blessed as we have been with wonderful customers who have become friends. We (Mom and Dad) will continue to observe and advise until we cannot. Thank you to all our customers.

Answers by: Arlene Aiken, CEO

ATLAS FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

125 W. Romana St., Ste. 720, atlasfinancialstrategies.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?  We are a fee-based financial planning firm committed to the client's best interest. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Clients place an enormous amount of

trust in us. I believe that the only way to treat our clients the way that they deserve is to do everything that we can to be the best at what we do.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our clients trust us to be their guide, their coach, their teacher and their trusted advisor. One of the things I love most is that many of our clients become great friends, almost like family.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our next big goal is to hire more advisors who want to be trusted advisors, not salespeople, and who also want to be the best at what they do.

Answers by: Andrew Martin, Founder and President

AVALON APARTMENTS

8800 Pine Forest Road, avalonliving.net

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Come live with us and experience the difference.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? My team wants the community to thrive just as much as I do. They deliver the best service while assisting our residents and guests, motivating me daily to be a better manager and leader.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? I love to see my residents helping each other, like walking the dog while their neighbor is away or offering to wait at the bus stop with the neighborhood children. Many

residents have lived here for over five years and help us foster a great community. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our next goal is to be ranked in the Elite 1% of apartment communities by J. Turner Research.

Answers by: Dylan Spivey-Harris, Community Manager

BLU SALMON

33 W. Garden St., Ste. 10, blusalmon.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We think outside the box. Our tagline is "design differently."

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our clients are our inspiration; they challenge and motivate us to collaborate on the execution of their dreams.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? That our clients trust us to deliver their visions.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our focus is on sharing the design journey with our clients, creating the vision and helping to transform their spaces. We have several exciting challenges on the board this coming year.

Answers by: Lori Storey, VP

THE BLUE MAGNOLIA SALON

2878 Gulf Breeze Parkway, bluemagnoliasalon.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

An award-winning salon and beauty bar offering a

wide range of services such as hair, lashes, brows, waxing, facials and boutique. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our clients. They know when coming to our salon they will receive great service, and we love to exceed that expectation. Also for me personally, our stylists and estheticians inspire me to keep growing and providing a space to level up on ourselves together as a team.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We have such deep appreciation for our clients; they fuel our livelihood and for that we are forever grateful. The relationships we build over time are real connections that feel like family—none of this would be possible without them. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? With our recent expansion in 2023, we continuously strive to perfect our skillset on all new services and are looking forward to bringing in even more services for both hair and esthetics in the upcoming year. We can't wait to announce those additions in the coming months.

Answers by: Alison Sardina, Owner

BLUSHING BALLOONS blusheventsco.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Luxury balloon decor.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? My clients and sweet new babies. Their little faces keep me going daily even through burnout.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their loyalty and the creative freedom they give me. I've had some clients going on four-plus years now. So appreciative that they trust me enough to help them with some of their most special events in life. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business?  I would love to create more large-scale installs. It is a much higher price tag, but I'm willing to offer a discount to showcase what can be done with balloons.

Answers by: Chelsi Canan, Owner

COASTAL CAT CAFE

1508 W. Garden St., coastalcatpcola.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? "Purrfectly" Pensacola.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We have to be the best we can be because we are responsible for so many kitties that deserve the best of the best. The kitties really are what makes us the best so we strive to be the best for them.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We have a very loyal community. Our customers are like family; they support us and our kitties. We would not be where we are without our loyal customers.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our main goal is to adopt 100 cats within our first year. As I am writing this, we are already at 59 adoptions in just shy of seven months, so we should hopefully pass our goal.

Answers by: Adrienne Brynteson, Owner

DALRYMPLE | SALLIS ARCHITECTURE

503 E. Government St., dalsal.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We're a team creating impactful design that builds the quality of our community.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We're fortunate to be able to physically see and experience our efforts to improve our community. There is great purpose in our work when we can walk with our kids downtown and share that our team has helped make Pensacola better, one business, one building, one street at a time.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their trust in us. It is common for someone to need a set of drawings for a permit. Our clients more so seek design first and the permit is subsequent. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? It looks like we're getting close to bringing some more vibrant new retailers downtown on Palafox. We're looking forward to sharing specifics soon.

Answers by:

J. Scott Sallis, AIA, Principal Architect

ÉLAN THE BEAUTY BAR

960 E. Nine Mile Road, Ste. 1, @elanthebeautybar

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Élan The Beauty Bar: where beauty meets bliss. A place to elevate your glow, inside and out.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Over the years, Élan has been providing quality service to the Pensacola area. We've built a loyal client base and have formed meaningful relationships. Upholding our high standard and strengthening our commitment to our clients keeps us going.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients?  We are grateful for our clients' continuing loyalty and repeat business, as well as their referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations that helped our business grow. We appreciate the trust and confidence they place in us and value their honest feedback that helps us improve our services.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business?  Expanding Élan is always a possibility when the time is right. But I've learned that a quality team is what makes a successful business. And at the moment, we want to focus on continuing to provide the best service to our loyal clients and future clients.

Answers by: Vy Nguyen, Owner

ESCAPE WELLNESS SPA

4400 Bayou Blvd., Ste. 24, escapeandfeelbetter.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? If you feel right, you will shine bright. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We sincerely believe that if each client feels truly cared for, they leave transformed. Because of this, they treat everyone they encounter with more care and kindness. These actions snowball, and we believe we can change our whole community through being and doing our best each day.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our clients' trust in us. We have clients who have been coming to Escape since the day we opened 17 years ago, and those clients have sent their friends and families. Many of our clients book a year in advance. This trust and loyalty is what we are most grateful for.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We hope to bring in new techniques and technologies in both skin care and massage therapy, while maintaining the empathetic, healing touch that clients have come to expect from Escape. We also want to continue our involvement in giving back and supporting our phenomenal Pensacola community.

Answers by: Stephanie Knight, Owner

FETCH FIDO fetchfido.net

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Premium dog care with a professionally family-oriented experience. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? In short, my dog inspires me to provide the best care possible for all dogs in our care. I created this business to help the dog parent who wants the very best care for their fur baby. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our customers are amazing. They love their dogs and appreciate all the little

things we do to make them feel at ease leaving them and how much we pour into loving and caring for their dogs.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our current goal is to refine and perfect the care we give our Fetch Fido family. A long-term dream is to create a home-like boarding location, which would supplement in-home care as needed.

Answers by: Chris Holzworth, CEO

FIORE OF PENSACOLA

405 S. K St., fioreofpensacola.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We celebrate flowers every day for every occasion.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We are so passionate about what we do. We are truly inspired by every flower, wedding and event that we have had the privilege to work on; it never gets old.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We're so fortunate to be part of your life for every memorable occasion. From birthdays, engagements, weddings, babies, pets and even your hardest days, we're thankful you trust Fiore every step of the way.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Fiore is entering its 20th year. We have so many exciting things in store to celebrate this milestone birthday and can't wait to share it with you.

Answers by: Shannon Pallin, Owner

FORTUNE TATTOO

415 N. Tarragona St., Unit B, @fortunetattoopensacola

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

A woman-owned tattoo shop with artists specializing in an array of tattoo styles. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We strive to provide our clients with a safe and comfortable environment where everyone feels welcome.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our clients' trust to make their tattoos exactly how they envisioned them. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We plan on having more events and flash days in the future and be more connected with the community.

Answers by: Samanah Guyah, Tattoo Artist

GABRIELLE MONTOYA-FRIAS

1308 W. Nine Mile Road., Ste. 4, hairextensionsbygabby.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Master hair stylist specializing in blondes and extensions.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Making others happy has always been something that motivates me. I see the joy my services bring to my clients and it makes me want to push myself even further. Even though I've done this well in my career, there's always room for more growth.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? I have the best clients in the world. I appreciate the fact that every one of them has stuck by me no matter how many twists and turns we've had along the way. They are always there to promote and support me and my business.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? The next goal for my business is to become an educator and eventually open my own salon.

Answers by:  Gabrielle Montoya-Frias, Master Hair Stylist

GULF WINDS CREDIT UNION

220 E. Nine Mile Road, gogulfwinds.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Helping our members and communities succeed financially.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The knowledge that we make a direct impact on our members' financial well-being. Gulf Winds was founded on a commitment to creating meaningful community impact, and we continue that legacy through meeting members where they are in their financial journeys. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We love that our members forge strong connections with us and allow our team to provide meaningful, personalized service. Our member-owners are engaged, speak their minds and help us to improve. This feedback cycle allows us to create solutions, then use those solutions to support and serve our communities.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business?  Our future is full of innovation and growth, serving our members and community. We are focused on enhancing loan and deposit products, enriching digital banking and introducing commercial lending. We are also poised to deepen our community outreach through increased philanthropy, volunteerism and the implementation of new financial education tools.

Answers by: Pola Young, VP of Marketing

HANTO + CLARKE

3601 N. Palafox St., hantoclarke.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Building peace of mind.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Watching a project evolve from a simple vision in our customer's mind, to a building that positively impacts the lives of the customers they serve. Whether it be a church, school, restaurant, office, car dealership or any other facility, we are positively impacting our community. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Every client we work for shares the same commitment to serving their clients with distinction. Our customers recognize that the experience we provide is what sets us apart, and there is significant value in that. It's not just about delivering an outstanding building—it's about how you get them there. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Besides winning Best Contractor for the fourth year in

a row, we want to continue to give back to our employees and give back to our community through greater involvement in the charities we serve and contribute to.

Answers by:

Mike Clarke, Owner and Director of Business Development

LEVIN RINKE REALTY

220 W. Garden St., Ste. 125, levinrinkerealty.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Pensacola's leading real estate company, guiding buyers and sellers for over 30 years. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The satisfaction of helping clients find their dream homes drives us to excel. Our passionate team of realtors works tirelessly to provide exceptional service to home buyers and sellers. Utilizing state-of-the-art tools, we guide clients to the perfect property that fits their needs.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients?  We deeply appreciate our clients' trust and loyalty. Their feedback and support inspires us to continually improve. Building lasting relationships and seeing their joy when they find the perfect home is the greatest reward, making our work fulfilling and meaningful.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We're thrilled to announce our expansion into Navarre with a new office. This growth allows us to serve more clients and extend our exceptional real es-

tate services to new communities, helping more people find their dream homes.

Answers by: Gordon Miles, President

LOXX BY NATALIE & CO.

1308 W. Nine Mile Road, Ste. 4, @loxxbynatalieandco

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? A full-service salon and studios. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? I think I speak for our salon as a whole when I say I am inspired to perform at my best because I love what I do. The staff at Loxx is like one big family and you feel that when you walk in. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients?  Our clients go out of their way to sit in our chairs. They could go anywhere, but they choose Loxx. I see it as a privilege to have the opportunity to exceed their expectations.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We recently finished a large project this spring; we added the Studios at Loxx. I think right now it's to be content in where we're at and what we've accomplished.

Answers by: Natalie Parsons, Owner and Stylist

NAI PENSACOLA

24 W. Chase St., naipensacola.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? NAI Pensacola is a full-service commer-

cial real estate company specializing in leasing, sales and property management. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? All of our agents offer concierge service to our clients, guiding them through the challenging and often difficult process of buying, selling or managing a commercial property. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our clients provide us the opportunity to have different experiences every day. No two deals are alike and every transaction is an educational opportunity. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our building was recently hit by lightning and burned badly. Our big project, while caring for our clients, is to navigate the world of insurance while trying to bring our building back to life.

Answers by: DeeDee Davis, Owner and Broker

PENSACOLA A/C & AUTO SERVICE CENTER

72 E. Nine Mile Road, pensacolaautosc.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We are the fastest shop in town, offering the best auto repair. No waiting days or weeks. We care about your car and your time.

What inspires you to be, do and make your

of mouth. This commitment is reflected not in rhetoric but in our daily actions. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? The relationships formed. We have cultivated some of the best customer relationships who are now friends. Understanding that the bedrock of business success lies in quality relationships is key. Our commitment to fostering positive relationships extends to everyone we encounter, creating lasting friendships and customer loyalty that spans a lifetime. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Growing is always a goal, whether expanding our current location or adding a second one. Our current focus is on giving back to the community that has helped us get here, investing in our team and providing additional customer services. We have quite a few new things to come.

Answers by: Tonya McCabe, Owner

SALON SAN CARLOS

528 W. Garden St., salonsancarlos.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? A welcoming environment for our clients and team to feel seen, heard and empowered, and to collaborate and create lasting memories. What inspires you to be, do and make your

clients and our community. Our clients are the best ever.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We are always creating new ideas for our team and community. Keep us on your radar; 2024 still has some excitement coming.

Answers by: Pam and Carlos Garcia, Owners

SALTMARSH, CLEAVELAND & GUND

900 N. 12th Ave., saltmarshcpa.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Achieving success by contributing to the success of others.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We believe the way to achieve success is by contributing to the success of others, which is why we thrive in genuine relationships. Our passion for people and excellence is more than a shared value; it's the foundation of our work. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients?  While it is true many Saltmarsh clients have spent their entire economic lives with our firm, many more have recognized their potential for growth and look to us for unparalleled expertise and service. Our clients recognize Saltmarsh as a catalyst for growth and trust us to challenge them to do better. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Saltmarsh has a few exciting projects and events coming up that we're excited to share with the community, including our 19th annual community banking event, BankTalk.

Answers by: Nancy Patton, Marketing Coordinator

SIMONE SANDS, ENGEL AND VÖLKERS PENSACOLA

411 W. Gregory St., simonesells.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? You bring your dreams—I'll bring my expertise. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"?  I'm passionate about homeownership. It's very rewarding to provide an experience of detailed service to buyers and sellers while guiding them through the process of their purchase or sale.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients?  The smile on their faces when they get their keys, or the check with their proceeds.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Engel and Völkers is currently building out a new shop downtown, and I am so excited to be back downtown for my workdays.

Answers by: Simone Sands, Real Estate Advisor

TAYLOR, WARREN, WEIDNER, HANCOCK & BARNES

1700 W. Main St., Ste. 100, twwlawfirm.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We fight to make it right when an insurance company or anyone else takes advantage of policyholders or injured victims.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our clients inspire us because we never forget that they have trusted us to help them with what is typically a life-altering wrong.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? The way they never cease to persevere through difficult times, the trust they place in our firm to help them through their difficult times and how often they recommend us to someone else in need.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our next goal is to help people understand the right questions to ask before hiring a lawyer. Basing the decision on splashy billboards or catchy slogans rather than experience, qualifications or how your case will be handled, and by whom, can make an already financially devastating situation worse.

Answers by: J. Phillip Warren, Partner

TIFFANY RAE ESTHETICS

1308 W. Nine Mile Road, Ste. 3 , tiffanyresthetics.glossgenius.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? I enjoy pairing my medical background with my artistic eye to provide clients with a holistic and comprehensive treatment experience. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The idea of helping and supporting my clients. I strive to provide the best possible esthetic services within my scope of practice and to make a positive impact on those I interact with. It's important to me to continuously improve and learn.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? They value self-care and prioritize their skin health. I also appreciate clients who are open to trying new treatments and products recommended to them. I love building a trusting and open relationship with my clients to provide the best care and achieve the desired results.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Lots more growth to come. Stay tuned.

Answers by: Tiffany Miller, Licensed Esthetician

VANESSA MYERS HAIR

stylesbyness.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Expertly crafting unique, beautiful hair styles/hair color that elevate your confidence and showcase your personality.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The creativity of hair artistry, the trust clients place in me and the joy of seeing their confidence soar.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their trust in my skills, their openness to creativity and the rewarding relationships we build over time.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Continuing to educate and to eventually expand in the near future.

Answers by: Vanessa Myers, Master Colorist

BEST PLACE TO PROPOSE

Winner: Pensacola Picnic Co.

Jackson's Steakhouse

Palafox Pier Yacht Harbor Marina

Pensacola Beach

BEST PLACE TO BUY AN ENGAGEMENT RING

Winner: Jewelers Trade Shop

Beré Jewelers

Elebash's Jewelers

Susan Campbell Jewelry

BEST CEREMONY VENUE

Winner: Live Oak Pensacola

Beaches & Bouquets

Sowell Farms

Supposey Warehouse & Gardens

BEST RECEPTION VENUE

Winner: Supposey Warehouse & Gardens

5eleven Palafox

Live Oak Pensacola

The Orchards of Molino

BEST OFFICIANT

Winner: Bryan Adams

Lenaha Day

Jim Locke

Kevin S. Tillman

BEST BRIDAL STORE

Winner: The Bridal Loft

The Bridal Suite

Nixon's

Simply Elegant Couture Bridal

BEST PLACE TO RENT A TUX

Winner: Gent's Formal Wear

Don Alans

Nixon's

Randall's Formal Wear

BEST BRIDAL MAKEUP ARTIST

Winner: Kendall Frazee (Skin by Kendall Lyn)

Hayley Gurney (Gulf Coast Glam House)

Kendra Korn (Kendra K Beauty)

Karla Yepez (Karlatina B+F)

BEST WEDDING HAIR SALON

Winner: The Powder Room

Hair + Co

Sharp and the Swann

Volume ONE

BEST WEDDING HAIR STYLIST

Winner: Chelsey Swann (Sharp and the Swann)

Kendra Korn (Kendra K Beauty)

Amanda Mendoza (Hair + Co)

Tonya Penrose (The Powder Room)

BEST WEDDING PLANNER/COORDINATOR

Winner: Fete + Flora Events

Lauren Rawls (at Hilton Pensacola Beach)

Southern Frills Weddings & Events

Supposey

BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Winner: Aislinn Kate Weddings

Phocus & Company

PV Cobia Photography

Rae West Photography

BEST PHOTOBOOTH

Winner: Phocus & Company

The Posey Bus

Southern Frills Weddings & Events

Tude Photobooth Co.

BEST WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHY

Winner: StoryLive Productions

Crash Media Productions

Higgins Photo and Film

Phocus & Company

BEST WEDDING BAND

Winner: Nobius

Ben Loftin & The Family

Marvelous Strings

The Six Piece Suits

BEST WEDDING DJ

Winner: DJ TreVy

AnyDayDJ

DJ Phatchi & Co.

Southbay Event Group

BEST WEDDING CATERER

Winner: Culinary Productions, Inc.

Classic City Catering

Conchitas Catering

Nancy's Catering & Events

BEST WEDDING CAKE

Winner: Betty Weber Cakes

Craft Bakery

Kate's Cakes

Sami Kaye's Cakery

BEST WEDDING FLORIST

Winner: Chrissy Floral Design

Fete + Flora Events

Fiore of Pensacola

Florals by Mallori

BEST WEDDING RENTALS

Winner: Sexton's Event Company

Events Styled by LUXE

Hemstitch Rentals

WeddingWalls

BEST WEDDING PARTY TRANSPORTATION

Winner: Supposey

Beach Bum Trolley

Five Flags Trolley Co.

Pensacola Party Bus

BEST PLACE TO BUY A WEDDING GIFT

Winner: Artesana duh for garden and home

Pensacola Hardware

Rusted Arrow Mercantile

BEST PLACE FOR A REHEARSAL DINNER

Winner: The Grand Marlin

Angelena's Ristorante Italiano

Brother Fox

Jackson's Steakhouse

BEST PLACE FOR OUT-OF-TOWN

GUESTS TO STAY

Winner: Lily Hall

Celestine Bed and Breakfast

Hilton Pensacola Beach

Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel

205 Cevallos St., aislinnkatephotography.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Classic, creative and authentic wedding photo, video and planning—by a team that is creative, professional and friendly.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The people around me—my team, my family and my amazing clients. Their accomplishments and talents motivate me to do better every day.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their trust in me. Our clients put so much time, money and emotional energy into planning every detail of their day. I am so grateful that I am trusted with responsibility to capture and document all of those decisions and moments.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We're excited to move back downtown. Look for us in the historic district, where we have an amazing garden on site that's perfect for photos. We also have an amazing fluffy cat for you to pet.

Answers by:

Aislinn Kate Rehwinkel, Owner and Lead Photographer

BRYAN ADAMS

beachpreacher.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Pensacola Beach/Pensacola wedding officiant serving couples of all beliefs and backgrounds. Beach ceremonies or other venues are all welcomed.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We all love the feelings the wedding day creates. But the most gratifying statement comes from the couples who give me a big hug and say, "We couldn't have done this without you—you made it so wonderful." That makes all the difference and requires our best each time. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? They trust me to play an important role in their day and be a focal point of the wedding ceremony. That level of trust and knowing they chose us to deliver in one of the most important events of their life is always an honor. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Always finding new places and venues for future weddings. Reaffirming the relationships that make our businesses thrive. Embracing technology and new trends in the industry. Those are weekly goals.

Answers by: Reverend Bryan Adams, BeachPreacher

CHRISSY FLORAL DESIGN

1300 W. Garden St., chrissyflorals.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Your inclusive local wedding floral studio. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Pensacola's wedding industry is so unique in the best way possible. Everyone is so supportive of one another and it makes you want to bring your best to every event. We are constantly collaborating with others in the industry to make our events truly memorable.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? I don't know how, but we re -

ally get the best clients. I appreciate them trusting us with their vision for one of the biggest days of their lives and knowing we will go above and beyond for them. I'm also just so incredibly appreciative to be living out my dream.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Let's make Pensacola the destination wedding location.

Answers by: Chrissy Darling, Owner

CULINARY PRODUCTIONS, INC.

201 E. Wright St., culinaryproductions.net

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Great food. Great service.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? I think what mainly inspires me is just always wanting to be better and do better than yesterday. I come to work every day with the thought of, "What can I do better or different to improve our services?"

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Catering weddings puts us right in the middle of one of the happiest days of our clients' lives and I have such an appreciation of the trust they put in us. Not only to cater their event but to make sure their guests also have a memorable experience.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? In addition to our catering service, we have recently opened our event space located downtown. As we continue to cater events all over, we now offer a venue that accommodates over 200 guests with plenty of parking and the perfect location.

Answers by: Mike DeSorbo, Owner

FETE + FLORA EVENTS

fetefloraevents.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Fete + Flora focuses on timeless aesthetics and romantic designs. We are an all-in-one floral design and planning firm that creates an elevated wedding experience.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We find inspiration in bringing beautiful events to life and seeing our clients' faces as we make their wedding day unforgettable.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We love the relationships we build with our clients. Collaborating with brides for several months and getting to make their dreams a reality creates a connection that lasts well beyond their wedding day.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We look forward to an exciting fall wedding season as we continue to serve our current and new clients with innovative ideas moving forward.

Answers by: Rebekah Frenkel, Lead Planner and Jennifer Counselman, Lead Floral Designer

LIVE OAK PENSACOLA

7874 Beulah Road, liveoakplantation.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? At Live Oak, no detail is too small. Our wedding production team consisting of seven professionals ensures that all weddings are exactly as ordered and seamlessly flawless.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Challenges inspire me to set and achieve

high goals, to keep moving forward and not let obstacles stop me. I believe in leading by example to inspire others, and it is working. My team works very hard to achieve our common goal of making every event perfect, stress-free and beautiful. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Of course, I appreciate our clients' business, but more importantly, I value their trust and the genuine friendships I've gained working over the years. I am forever grateful for the loyalty and kind words of scores of former clients who have significantly and positively impacted the success of Live Oak. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? The shade from multiple centuries of legacy live oaks creates a unique challenge to keep the sprawling lawn luscious and green. Every season, a huge undertaking is to remove and re-sod the entire grounds between back-to-back events to ensure it is always thick, green and beautiful. That project's up next. Answers by:

Donna Meeks, Owner

PENSACOLA PICNIC CO.

pensacolapicnicco.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We are a boutique picnic service offering one-ofa kind picnics, luxury cabana rentals, social soirée al fresco dining experiences and intimate events. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? My children inspire me to be my best not only in business but in life. They've been helping me since day one and have seen me build this to what it is now. When they hear how much someone loves their event they get so proud and that drives me. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? I love when my customers tell me I've exceeded their expectations. Sometimes people don't know what to expect when booking a picnic on the beach, and then they see it and it's beyond what they've imagined, and I love that. I love that they're just as excited about it. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We've already grown from just picnics to offering cabanas and full-size dining tables for larger dinner parties. I have so many ideas and plans for Pensacola Picnic Co. and it's just the start for us. We plan on having our own event space one day.

Answers by: Mariann Greene, Owner

SEXTON'S EVENT COMPANY

sextonseventcompany.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?  Elevated event rentals for Pensacola and the surrounding areas.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We are set in an industry of creators that are the best and are inspired to keep up with our peers. Our clients deserve the best work we are able to give and we strive to always provide this. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? The business, referrals and praise for a job well done.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We are looking to continue to expand our rental offerings to provide more unique rental experiences.

Answers by: Madison and Taylor Sexton, Owners

SHARP AND THE SWANN

801 N. Ninth Ave., Ste. A, sharpandtheswann.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

A hair salon rooted in sustainability, inclusiveness and a passion for hair styling. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The collective drive and passion that fuels us to be our best is the excitement that we share with our clients when they see their final looks. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our clients are our biggest supporters, and we're so thankful for the trust they have in us. We have become a part of their lives as much as they're a part of ours. We would not be typing these words if it weren't for them. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? As we continue to grow within our salon and our individual careers as stylists, we strive to find the most sustainable approaches in our salon and also plan to stay current with continuing education throughout the year.

Answers by: Chelsey Swann and Whitney Sharp, Co-Owners

STORYLIVE PRODUCTIONS storyliveproductions.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

StoryLive Productions is a wedding photography and videography company.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The love stories and vibrant culture of the Gulf Coast and Pensacola. I strive to excel as a wedding videographer and photographer. Capturing unforgettable moments and creating cherished memories motivates me to continually hone my craft and deliver exceptional, heartfelt work for every couple I serve.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their trust and enthusiasm. Their unique love stories inspire creativity and dedication, allowing me to capture intimate, joyful moments. Their satisfaction and happiness with my work drive my passion, making each wedding a rewarding and memorable experience. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To become the premier photo and video wedding service in Pensacola, capturing memorable moments with creativity and precision. We strive to enhance our techniques, expand our client base and deliver exceptional quality, making each wedding an unforgettable experience.

Answers by: Demetrious Zaferis, Owner and Founder

SUPPOSEY

101 S. F St., supposey.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Supposey is an event atmosphere atelier. All-inclusive luxury concierge offerings include wedding planning and an idyllic venue.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our clients and their unique personalities inspire elements that we incorporate into their event. The best kind of event is one that truly reflects the host's style.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their love story. We enjoy hearing about how our couples met and often form longtime friendships as we get to know them throughout planning.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Something big is coming—as always, we're excited to grow.

Answers by: Chloe Sexton, Founder and Wedding Planner

BEST CAR DEALERSHIP

Winner: Sandy Sansing

Frontier Motors

Kia Autosport of Pensacola

Pete Moore Automotive Team

BEST BICYCLE SHOP

Winner: Ride MORE Bicycles

Bikes Plus

CycleSports Bicycles

Trek Bicycle Store Pensacola

BEST BOUTIQUE

Winner: SoBo Boutique

Bluetique

Gray Boutique

Rusted Arrow Mercantile

BEST MEN'S APPAREL

Winner: Garden Street Vintage Coastal Kicks

Don Alans

Waterboyz

BEST WOMEN'S APPAREL

Winner: SoBo Boutique

Aleuma

Bluetique

Rocket To Saturn Vintage

BEST CHILDREN'S APPAREL & GIFTS

Winner: Artesana Baby & Child

Once Upon A Child Pensacola

Rusted Arrow Mercantile

Sparkle

BEST ACCESSORIES

Winner: Glassy Day Studio

The Crafted Makerie

SoBo Boutique

The Stellar Maker

BEST THRIFT STORE

Winner: Waterfront Thrift Store

Back To The Rack Thrift Store

Marcus Pointe Thrift Store

Teen Challenge Super Thrift

BEST ATHLETIC/OUTDOOR STORE

Winner: Running Wild

Pure Pilates

Waterboyz

Weatherford's

BEST FURNITURE/HOME DECOR STORE

Winner: All About Antiques

duh for garden and home

Haus of Hue

Rusted Arrow Mercantile

BEST ANTIQUES

Winner: Blue Moon Antique Mall

All About Antiques

Oooodles Antiques

Rosie's Antique Emporium

BEST VINTAGE SHOP/SELLER

Winner: Rocket To Saturn Vintage

Garden Street Vintage

The Hippie's Greenhouse

Sporadic Vintage

BEST MAKER/ARTISAN

Winner: The Stellar Maker

Blue House Curio

Pensacola Candle Co.

Thorn + Thistle Co.

BEST GIFT SHOP

Winner: Rusted Arrow Mercantile

Artesana

Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe

Celebrations The Florist

BEST PLACE TO BUY GREETING

CARDS/STATIONERY

Winner: Charlotte Mason

Printing Company

Artesana

Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe

Rusted Arrow Mercantile

BEST BOOKSTORE

Winner: Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe

Black Bookstore & Cafe

The Idle Reader

Open Books

BEST COMIC BOOK STORE

Winner: TBS Comics

Area 51

Necroptik: Comics & Collectibles

Pensacola Pop Comics

BEST TOY/COLLECTABLE STORE

Winner: Hyperspace Toys

Ben's Card World

Level Up Gaming

Video Game Trading Post

BEST NEW STORE

Winner: Mrs. Jones Cold Brew and The Idle Reader

The Curb.

Easy Going Records + Hifi

First City Bee Company

BEST JEWELER

Winner: Jewelers Trade Shop

Beré Jewelers

Elebash's Jewelers

Susan Campbell Jewelry

BEST SURF/SKATE SHOP

Winner: Waterboyz

Bear Walker Skateshop

Innerlight Surf Shop

Maverick Board Riding Company

BEST NURSERY/PLANTS

Winner: Bailey's Produce & Nursery

B&C Nursery

Jade Tree Succulents

Pensacola Seed & Garden

BEST HARDWARE STORE

Winner: Pensacola Hardware

ACE Hardware of Gulf Breeze

Hall's Hardware & Lumber

Pensacola Habitat for Humanity ReStore

BEST COMPUTER/TECH STORE

Winner: Palafox Computers

Tech Advanced Computers

The Tech Handyman

Technologies For Tomorrow, Inc.

BEST MUSIC GEAR/INSTRUMENTS

Winner: Blues Angel Music

A Joyful Noise Music Store

Leitz Music

Schmidt's Music

BEST RECORD STORE

Winner: Revolver Records

Easy Going Records + Hifi

Loe-Fi Records

Music Box Pensacola

BEST LIQUOR STORE

Winner: Richey's East

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits

Fusion Fine Wine & Spirits

Paradise Liquors

BEST WINE SHOP

Winner: Aragon Wine Market + Wine Bar

The Bottle Shop

A Curious Wine Shop

Green Thumb Wines

BEST WINE TASTINGS

Winner: Aragon Wine Market + Wine Bar

The Bottle Shop

A Curious Wine Shop

The East Hill Bottle Shop

BEST GROCERY STORE

Winner: Ever'man Cooperative

Grocery & Cafe

Apple Market

Bailey's Produce & Nursery

Shoreline Foods International Market & Deli

BEST PLACE TO BUY PRODUCE

Winner: Bailey's Produce & Nursery

Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe

The Farm

Palafox Market

BEST INTERNATIONAL FOOD MARKET

Winner: Saigon Oriental Market and Deli

Four Winds International Food Market

Merefa Eastern Europe Grocery Store

Tony's Asian Market

BEST GOURMET/SPECIALTY FOOD SHOP

Winner: Costello's Butcher Shop

Bodacious Olive

Four Winds International Food Market

Joe Patti's Seafood

ALL ABOUT ANTIQUES

3940 W. Navy Blvd., facebook.com/allaboutantiquespensacola

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?  Ten thousand square feet of beautiful and unique.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our customers. It is so fulfilling to see them find something that is so special to their heart. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their loyalty. With so many choices out there in the world, their loyalty to always look and check with us first for things they need means a lot.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To grow and to continue to give back to our community.

Answers by: Paula, Owner

ARAGON WINE

MARKET + WINE BAR

27 S. Ninth Ave., aragonwinemarket.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Unique and affordable since 2008. Come check out our new wine bar concept, perfect for tastings and small private events.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Watching first-time customers with little wine knowledge become loyal regulars with great knowledge. The joy those same customers share, becoming comfortable enough to talk about wines they love and asking questions without fear of judgment. Also, how we learn with them, and how this wine journey brings us together.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Loyalty. We are so lucky and appreciative that we have so many neighbors, friends and regulars that have supported us over the years, coming to the Thursday tastings and frequenting the store often—regardless of how much they spend. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Oh, we can't let the wine out of the bag yet. Stay tuned. We're going to remain your local wine concierge and boutique retailer of fine wines, but also so much more as "AWM+."

Answers by: Pepper Dowdy, Team Leader and Le Guru du Vin

THE CRAFTED MAKERIE thecraftedmakerie.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Quality, handmade jewelry and accessories. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? My commitment to providing the best customer service experience. I want to make sure that I deliver quality products for each and every customer to enjoy for years to come. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their genuine encouragement and support. It is so humbling to have a community of jewelry-loving customers who are truly excited for me when The Crafted Makerie grows and who have faithfully cheered me on these past four and a half years. I could not do this without them. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? I am excited to continue growing my Build Your Own Earring

Bar and expanding my line of handmade jewelry and accessories.

Answers by: Kelsey Wiseman, Owner and Artist

GLASSY DAY STUDIO glassydaystudio.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?  Glassy Day Studio jewelry is shaped from recycled surfboard resin. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"?  It's so much more than jewelry. Ten percent of every sale supports our local foster community. "Even the winds and the waves obey him!" Matthew 8:27. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Glassy gals are as unique as the pieces they wear. Each one invests in this business for a different reason, but they all wear their jewels proudly. Seeing this jewelry on such a diverse group of gals is awesome. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? I've been experimenting with new shapes and rethinking shapes used in some of the core Glassy Day designs. Designing new pieces and keeping things fresh is so fun. Also, process improvement is always on the horizon.

Answers by: Erica Karr, Owner

THE IDLE READER

1449 W. Nine Mile Road, @theidlereader_bookstore

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

The Idle Reader is an independent bookstore that curates collections for the curious.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? A better world begins with bettered people, and people are bettered when they read. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? I love that our readers are, by nature, creatives.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To support local authors through events, to expand our "evergreen collection" (books you can always find at TIR) and to explore merch.

Answers by: Precious Murphy, Owner

PALAFOX COMPUTERS

111 N. Palafox St., palafoxcomputers.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We keep you up and running. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We try to stay ahead of our competition and provide the best customer experience we can. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? The loyalty of our customers is unmatched. We have customers that have been with us since 2012.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We want to grow into the management area. We can provide remote service for virus protection and troubleshooting without having to bring your computer to us.

Answers by: Kyle Crawford, President

REVOLVER RECORDS

2050 N. 12th Ave., @revolver_records

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Pensacola's nicest record store.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our customers. After 37 years, it's the only thing we know.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? The fact they are loyal and local, just like us.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Continued, nonstop expansion.

Answers by: Eric, Owner

RIDE MORE BICYCLES

59 E. Gregory St., ridemorebicycles.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Our goal is to help people "ride MORE bicycles" for fun, for sport or for transportation. Come on—let's play bikes!

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our clients often approach us with questions, issues or challenges that prevent them from finding the simple joys of a bike ride. We consider ourselves gifted for having the opportunity to share our experience and passion. It is deeply gratifying to see riders of all ages and backgrounds love bicycles. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? The trust and confidence our clients place in us to aid them in finding the bicycle, repair part or service required to help them best. The loyalty, appreciation and respect they return has been foundational to many valued friendships formed over the years.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We hope to continually inspire the riders and community leaders of the greater Pensacola area to be vocal in advocating for a more rideable and walkable community where resources for activity, leisure and connectivity are properly planned for—not an afterthought.

Answers by: Travis Coleman, Owner

RUNNING WILD

3012 E. Cervantes St., werunwild.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We're the premier and only local running shop in Pensacola.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Since we started in August 2000 we strive to give back. We connect, equip, inspire and encourage our customers and community to be their best.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? The commitment to healthy living, goal-setting and achieving amazing results. We love to hear stories from our guests about their achievements, large and small.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We are continuously growing and adapting to meet the needs of our guests and community. We add events and product lines regularly and will continue to do so in the future.

Answers by: Paul Epstein, Owner

RUSTED ARROW MERCANTILE

130 S. Palafox St., rustedarrowmercantile.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Home decor, gift and lifestyle boutique creating beauty and spreading kindness since 2017. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our customers and community inspire us with their passion for gifting, gathering and finding joy in life's moments. Their reactions to our ever-

changing displays and inventory drive us to grow and innovate, ensuring we continue to create inspiring experiences for them.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? As a family-owned and operated business, our customers have become an extension of our family. They share their life stories with us and their feedback and support fuel our creativity. We deeply appreciate their enthusiasm, loyalty and trust in us. Whether local or visiting, our doors are always open.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Opening The Loft at the Mercantile, a boutique event space and overnight venue above Rusted Arrow. We're thrilled to extend your experience to this vibrant space in downtown Pensacola. Now accepting bookings, it's perfect for gathering, celebrating and making memories.

Answers by: Samantha Breedlove, Owner

THE STELLAR MAKER thestellarmaker.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Bold and joyful wearable art to tickle your heart. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our strong maker community, the support of many beloved shoppers who became good friends and the firm belief that the right pair of earrings can make you feel invincible. I'm grateful to my mom and other strong women in my life. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Art is such a personal expression. I'm putting part of me into the world, saying, "Hey, you like?" I make a lot of niche or funky things that I love, and I'm constantly surprised at how well the weirdest ones are received. My people are kindred spirits in that way. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? My family and I are moving to Arizona. So I suppose we'll have to see what new challenges and inspiration that brings. We'd love for you to follow along on socials @thestellarmaker because we absolutely want to keep in touch.

Answers by: Annette Remitera, Grateful Maker

WATERBOYZ

380 N. Ninth Ave., waterboyz.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Loyalty. Rhythm. Soul.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The constant growth we see in the surf and skate community is what keeps us on our toes and moving with our best foot forward. We are blessed to be a part of this community after over three decades.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We have the best customers around. Nothing makes us happier than seeing the Waterboyz brand represented across the country, from surfers and skaters to musicians and artists. The endless support we've had throughout the years is more than we could ever hope for. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our TC Skate Jam is officially on the books for August 31 at the Blake Doyle Skatepark in downtown Pensacola. This is the 15 year anniversary of celebrating the life of TC McCoy, and we are looking forward to an amazing event honoring him and his family.

Answers by: Waverly Norris, Marketing Manager

BEST BAR OVERALL

Winner: Sister Hen

Alga Beer Co.

Intermission

Old Hickory Whiskey Bar

BEST NIGHT CLUB

Winner: Seville Quarter

Blend Lounge

The Cabaret

The Handlebar

BEST BAR–DOWNTOWN

Winner: Odd Colony Brewing Company

Intermission

The Kennedy Play

BEST BAR–CORDOVA AREA

Winner: Alga Beer Co.

George Bistro + Bar

O'Riley's Uptown Tavern

Wisteria Tavern

BEST BAR–NORTH

PENSACOLA/NINE MILE ROAD

Winner: Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse

Coastal County Brewing

Sammy Barker's

The Ticket Sports Bar 2

BEST BAR–WEST

PENSACOLA/PERDIDO KEY

Winner: The Grid Arcade

The Elbow Room

Gary's Brewery & Biergarten

Hub Stacey's at The Point

BEST BAR–PENSACOLA BEACH

Winner: Sneaky Tiki Bar

Casino Beach Bar & Grille

Paradise Bar & Grill

Sandshaker

BEST BAR–MILTON/PACE

Winner: Beardless Brewhaus

The Country Gym

Gulf Coast Garage Patio Bar

The Prost Office Brewery

BEST NEW BAR

Winner: The Burrow

B Side

Pearl & Horn

Señor Frog's Pensacola Beach

BEST DRINK SPECIALS

Winner: Play

Intermission

The Kennedy

The Wine Bar on Palafox

BEST DAY DRINKING

Winner: Alga Beer Co.

The Burrow

Garden & Grain

Sneaky Tiki Bar

BEST DRINK MENU

Winner: Sister Hen

The Kennedy

Pearl & Horn

Union Public House

BEST DAIQUIRIS/FROZEN DRINKS

Winner: Bamboo Willie's Beachside Bar

Perennial Patio Bar

Sandshaker

The Wine Bar on Palafox

BEST BUSHWACKER

Winner: Sandshaker

Bamboo Willie's Beachside Bar

The Dock

Paradise Bar & Grill

BEST BLOODY MARY

Winner: Ruby Slipper Cafe

Aunt Katie's

Five Sisters Blues Café

George Bistro + Bar

BEST MIMOSA

Winner: George Bistro + Bar

Brother Fox

McGuire's Irish Pub

Ruby Slipper Cafe

BEST MARTINI

Winner: The Kennedy

Pearl & Horn

Sister Hen

Restaurant IRON

BEST SELECTION OF WINE

Winner: The Wine Bar on Palafox

Agapi Bistro + Garden

Angelena's Ristorante Italiano

Restaurant IRON

BEST MARGARITA

Winner: Garden & Grain

Juan's Flying Burrito

Mama's Tacos

Taco Agave

BEST SIGNATURE DRINK

Winner: Mari-Gold Rush (Pearl & Horn)

Gingerfication (Sister Hen)

Huckleberry Lemonade (200 South Tap House)

King Koopa (Play)

BEST NA DRINK OPTIONS

Winner: Union Public House

George Bistro + Bar

The Kennedy

Pearl & Horn

BEST BREWERY

Winner: Odd Colony Brewing Company

Alga Beer Co.

Emerald Republic Brewing Co.

Perfect Plain Brewing Co.

BEST SELECTION OF BEER ON TAP

Winner: Odd Colony Brewing Company

200 South Tap House

Alga Beer Co.

Perfect Plain Brewing Co.

BEST BAR STAFF

Winner: Play

Alga Beer Co.

Odd Colony Brewing Company

Sister Hen

BEST BARTENDER

Winner: Daisy Davis (Harry Roy)

Troy Mathis (Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse)

Toni Pierce (Intermission)

Chloe Stibolt (Sister Hen)

BEST DJ

Winner: dr0ne

Albert Lao

Alejandro SinFin Perez

DJ Tiger

BEST DRAG PERFORMER

Winner: Terrah Card

Monica Heart

Kendyll Michaels

Lauren Mitchell

BEST SPORTS BAR

Winner: Badlands Roadside Bar

200 South Tap House

Sidelines Sports Bar and Restaurant

The Ticket Sports Bar 2

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

Winner: Alga Beer Co.

The Burrow

Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse

Wisteria Tavern

BEST PET-FRIENDLY BAR

Winner: Alga Beer Co.

Beardless Brewhaus

Coastal County Brewing

Perfect Plain Brewing Co.

BEST HOTEL BAR

Winner: Sister Hen (at Lily Hall)

Paradise Bar & Grill (at Paradise Inn)

Riptides Grill & Tiki Bar

(at Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach)

Sal de Mar (at Hilton Pensacola Beach)

BEST BAR WITH A VIEW

Winner: Casino Beach Bar & Grille

Calvert's in the Heights

Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille

Sneaky Tiki Bar

BEST BAR AMBIANCE

Winner: Sister Hen

The Burrow

The Elbow Room

The Well

BEST BAR FOR GAMES

Winner: Play

Alga Beer Co.

The Elbow Room

Intermission

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT

Winner: Alga Beer Co.

Beardless Brewhaus

Perfect Plain Brewing Co.

Wisteria Tavern

BEST KARAOKE NIGHT

Winner: The Handlebar

Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse

Play

Seville Quarter

BEST BAR FOR LIVE MUSIC

Winner: The Handlebar

Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse

Paradise Bar & Grill

Seville Quarter

BEST BAR FOOD

Winner: The Kennedy

Brown Bagger (at Alga Beer Co. and

Gulf Coast Garage Patio Bar)

The Burrow

The Elbow Room

ALGA BEER CO.

2435 N. 12th Ave., algabeerco.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We make beer for us and share the rest with the homies.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We set a high standard and constantly chase our own personal definition of perfection. We don't often meet it, but it's something to work towards every day.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We get a wide array of customers. Some keep us honest, some make us want to work harder and some of them make us want to have more fun. We appreciate the diversity we experience and get the opportunity to serve.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Beer in Epcot would be cool, but let's be honest—brewing the best beer we can is always the next project. Answers by: Brett Reid, Co-Owner and Creative Director

BADLANDS ROADSIDE BAR

23 S. Palafox St., nynbadlands.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? The rock 'n sports bar on Palafox. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Consistency on the wide variety of sports shown.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? The loyalty. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Continue serving the public, and try to win the lottery.

Answers by: Nick Zangari, Owner

THE GRID ARCADE

2414 N. Pace Blvd., thegridarcadepensacola.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Keeping the '80s and '90s of our childhoods alive, one game at a time.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"?  All the new customers that come up and thank me for building this interactive museum of their childhood—it always keeps me going, hearing that.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? All the support we have had. Word-of-mouth advertising has been our

strongest support system for progressing the business further.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Keep growing and finding more rare games to bring in and keep the place fresh.

Answers by: Daniel Demeter, Owner and Operator

THE HANDLEBAR

319 N. Tarragona St., thehandlebar850.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

The Handlebar is a neighborhood bar and music venue that specializes in local, up-and-coming and alternative talent.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The music scene is very important to our community so we feel a responsibility to make sure that people feel safe and part of something special. We strive to be our best so that we can still be around for generations to come. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our customers are able to come to our business and be themselves without feeling like they have to fit into societal norms. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We are leaning into doing more outdoor concerts for larger audiences at Maritime Park.

Answers by: Robert Goodspeed, Manager

ODD COLONY BREWING COMPANY AND THE BURROW

260 N. Palafox St. and 1010 N. 12th Ave., oddcolony.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Scavenge. Ferment. Transcend. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The overwhelming majority of our core team and inspiring staff are perfectionists to some degree and so the challenge to create immersive and incredibly intentional experiences is cumbersome, albeit rewarding. We're kind of eternally chasing that idea.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? The unwavering curiosity and support as we've tread new ground time and time again and evolved over the years. We've established a certain level of trust and with that comes the willingness to follow as we explore new trails in fermentation, food, space and culture, and that's pretty neat to us.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? After opening The Burrow, we're now hypervigilant in bringing a food concept to our downtown taproom and beyond stoked to unveil that very soon. We're also elated to have the demand and be spreading out our distribution wings to some very exciting markets like New York and the Carolinas.

Answers by: Brett Schweigert, Co-Founder and Head Brewer

PERFECT PLAIN BREWING CO., GARDEN & GRAIN, THE WELL AND PERENNIAL PATIO BAR

50 E. Garden St., perfectplain.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

One percent better every day.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our relentless pursuit of excellence drives us to push boundaries, embrace current trends and deliver top-notch cocktails and brews to all of our guests.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our customers are simply the best. We appreciate the loyalty of our regulars and strive to make every visit the most enjoyable. Our customers are what drive us to be better every day.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? There is a ton of excitement on the horizon. We are most excited to roll out our new bottled cocktail program soon, where we will offer our most popular cocktails to take home. We are also expanding for the football season and will be adding more TVs and deals for our guests.

Answers by: Jensen Meharg, General Manager

PLAY

16 S. Palafox St., Ste. 200, iplaypensacola.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

A dive bar doing dive bar things. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Inspirational posters hanging in random dental offices.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? They still come downtown in spite of the city's insane, greedy parking increases, rising ticket escalation and stealing back any idea of a customer-friendly downtown.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We recently launched Pensacola's only private karaoke room inside of Play. Visit electricserenade.com for more information.

Answers by: Justice League

SISTER HEN

415 N. Alcaniz St., brotherfoxsisterhen.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Quaint, candlelit and moody, Sister Hen serves inventive cocktails with exceptional hospitality. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? So much of the craft bartending industry has lost its way when it comes to legitimate hospitality. It's gotten lost in technique and novelty. Every guest should feel celebrated, every time, and that's what keeps us inspired.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We are small, only seating 20 guests at a time, and our guests will wait sometimes up to an hour just to come hang out with us. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Coffee, espresso, etc. Most of our bartenders were baristas in the past and duty calls. I'm sure our hours will be extending soon.

Answers by: AJ Galecki, Bar Manager

SNEAKY TIKI BAR

17 Via De Luna Drive, islandculturetikibar.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Like a good treasure hunt, Sneaky Tiki is a hidden gem. Find us and you may not want to leave. The journey is worth it.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We love sharing our bar with the world and creating smiles and fun memories to last till your next visit. #LoveTiki.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Guest loyalty is amazing. Seeing guests become friends and friends become like family is really special. Year after year we get to be a part of an extended family at our favorite little Tiki place.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Oh boy—Palm Pizza Gulf Breeze, a neighborhood gathering and pizza spot opening next year (fingers crossed). And yes, we'll have a Tiki Pizza Pie.

Answers by: Jennifer Jackson, Sneaky Tiki Queen

Restaurants

BEST RESTAURANT OVERALL

Winner: George Bistro + Bar

The Burrow

Pearl & Horn

Restaurant IRON

BEST RESTAURANT–DOWNTOWN

Winner: Restaurant IRON

Angelena's Ristorante Italiano

Carmen's Lunch Bar

Union Public House

BEST RESTAURANT–CORDOVA AREA

Winner: George Bistro + Bar

O'Brien's Bistro

Sake Cafe

The Tuscan Oven Pizzeria

BEST RESTAURANT–EAST HILL

Winner: The Burrow

Bonelli's

Cactus Flower Cafe

East Hill Pizza

BEST RESTAURANT–NORTH PENSACOLA/NINE MILE ROAD

Winner: VooDoo BBQ & Grill

Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse Lost Pizza Co.

Sammy Barker's

BEST RESTAURANT–WEST PENSACOLA/PERDIDO KEY

Winner: Tacos El Fluffy

Fisherman's Corner

The Jellyfish

Taste of Jerusalem & More

BEST RESTAURANT–EAST PENSACOLA HEIGHTS

Winner: Agapi Bistro + Garden

Aunt Katie's

Calvert's in the Heights

New Yorker Deli & Pizzeria

BEST RESTAURANT–GULF BREEZE

Winner: The Pointe

Lao Ocean

Taco Rock

Taste of Thai

BEST RESTAURANT–PENSACOLA BEACH

Winner: The Grand Marlin

Flounder's Chowder House

Native Cafe

Peg Leg Pete's

BEST RESTAURANT–MILTON/PACE

Winner: Blackwater Bistro

850 Barbecue

Brown Bagger (at Gulf Coast Garage Patio Bar)

The Fishing Hole

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

Winner: Pearl & Horn

A Mano Panino

The Burrow

P'cola Bistro

BEST BAKERY

Winner: Craft Bakery

J's Bakery and Cafe

The Makery

Milton Quality Bakery

BEST BREAKFAST

Winner: Aunt Katie's

Coffee Cup Restaurant

Native Cafe

P'cola Bistro

BEST BRUNCH

Winner: George Bistro + Bar

Brother Fox

Ruby Slipper Cafe

Union Public House

BEST LUNCH

Winner: Carmen's Lunch Bar

The Fish House

Hub Stacey's

Nomadic Eats

BEST FOOD TRUCK

Winner: MI SU Street Food

Brown Bagger

Nomadic Eats

O.G. Lola's

BEST GREEK CUISINE

Winner: Greek's Catering and Events

Founaris Bros. Greek Restaurant

Hip Pocket Deli

Zaytouna Greek and Lebanese

BEST MEXICAN CUISINE

Winner: Cactus Flower Cafe

Taco Rock

Tacos El Fluffy

Taqueria El Asador

BEST ITALIAN CUISINE

Winner: Angelena's Ristorante Italiano

Bonelli's

Petrella's Italian Cafe

The Tuscan Oven Pizzeria

BEST CAJUN CUISINE

Winner: VooDoo BBQ & Grill

Cafe Nola

Cub's Crawfish

Restaurant NOLA

BEST CHINESE CUISINE

Winner: Xian Noodle Place

Chen's Kitchen

House of Chong

New Hong Kong House

BEST JAPANESE CUISINE

Winner: Sake Cafe

Ichiban

Kalbi Ichiban

Tokyo Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar

BEST THAI CUISINE

Winner: SaBai on Jefferson

Siam Thai

Taste of Thai

Thai Curry House

BEST INDIAN CUISINE

Winner: Taste of India

Dinner India

Indian Grill

Sree's Kitchen

BEST VIETNAMESE CUISINE

Winner: Saigon Oriental Market and Deli

Basil & Sprout

Pho Golden Palace

Tu-Do

BEST VEGETARIAN/VEGAN CUISINE

Winner: End of the Line Cafe

Carmen's Lunch Bar

O.G. Lola's

SaBai on Jefferson

BEST SUSHI

Winner: Sake Cafe

Dharma Blue

Ichiban

Khon's on Palafox

BEST GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS

Winner: Carmen's Lunch Bar

Jitterbug Beverage Co.

Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar

Pearl & Horn

BEST SEAFOOD

Winner: Pearl & Horn

The Fish House

The Grand Marlin

Peg Leg Pete's

BEST STEAKHOUSE

Winner: Jackson's Steakhouse

BarSteak

The District: Seville Steak & Seafood

McGuire's Irish Pub

BEST BBQ

Winner: Hot Spot Barbecue

850 Barbecue

Brothers BBQ

VooDoo BBQ & Grill

BEST SOUL FOOD

Winner: Five Sisters Blues Café

The Dwarf (Legendary "Chicken Stand")

Family Ty's Good Eats

Hattie Marie's Cafe

BEST WINE MENU

Winner: The Wine Bar on Palafox

Angelena's Ristorante Italiano

Carmen's Lunch Bar

Restaurant IRON

BEST ORIGINAL MENU

Winner: Restaurant IRON

The Burrow

Pearl & Horn

Union Public House

BEST CHEF

Winner: George Lazi (George Bistro + Bar)

Darian Hernandez (Brother Fox)

Alex McPhail (Restaurant IRON)

Amy Potmesil (The Burrow)

BEST UP-AND-COMING CHEF

Winner: Mary Dee Moralita (O.G. Lola's)

Elijah Cook (Sauce Boss Burger Co.)

Eric Michael (Steel Pony Diner)

Cooper Moore (The Burrow)

BEST WAIT STAFF

Winner: George Bistro + Bar

The Burrow

Jackson's Steakhouse

Restaurant IRON

BEST WAITER

Winner: Ryan Seeley

(Pearl & Horn and The Grand Marlin)

Ares Ensell (Restaurant IRON)

Max Gerke (Angelena's Ristorante Italiano)

Alex Whisenhunt (Brother Fox)

BEST WAITRESS

Winner: Maddie Myers (SaBai on Jefferson)

Cori Perez Holden (Carmen's Lunch Bar)

Danielle Pfeiffer (Restaurant IRON)

Crystal Stewart (Pearl & Horn)

BEST COFFEE SHOP

Winner: Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar

Bodacious Brew

Jitterbug Beverage Co.

Mrs. Jones Cold Brew

BEST BARISTA

Winner: Kaleb Libby

(Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar)

Heather Bowman

(Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar)

Angela Rasmussen

(Formerly at Pacific Kava Bar)

Seb Wynn (Jitterbug Beverage Co.)

BEST OUTDOOR DINING

Winner: The Fish House

The Burrow

Calvert's in the Heights

Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille

BEST PET-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

Winner: Coastal County Brewing

Hub Stacey's

Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille

Lucy's in the Square

BEST TAKEOUT/TO GO

Winner: East Hill Pizza

SaBai on Jefferson

Sauce Boss Burger Co.

VooDoo BBQ & Grill

BEST RESTAURANT FOR A DATE

Winner: Restaurant IRON

George Bistro + Bar

Pearl & Horn

Union Public House

BEST RESTAURANT FOR A BIRTHDAY DINNER

Winner: Union Public House

Global Grill

McGuire's Irish Pub

Restaurant IRON

BEST RESTAURANT FOR SPORTS FANS

Winner: Sammy Barker's

200 South Tap House

The Pointe

Sidelines Sports Bar and Restaurant

BEST LATE NIGHT EATS

Winner: The Elbow Room

Graffiti Pizza

McGuire's Irish Pub

Sauce Boss Burger Co.

BEST RESTAURANT TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS

Winner: McGuire's Irish Pub

The Fish House

The Grand Marlin

Peg Leg Pete's

BEST GONE-BUT-NOTFORGOTTEN RESTAURANT

Winner: Kingfisher

chizuko

The Magnolia

Nom Sushi Izakaya

Food

BEST UNIQUELY PENSACOLA DISH

Winner: Grits à Ya Ya

(The Fish House)

Fried Red Snapper Collar

(Pearl & Horn)

MI SU Melt (MI SU Street Food)

Spanish Crab Melt (Carmen's Lunch Bar)

BEST CUP OF COFFEE

Winner: Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar

Fosko Coffee Barre

Jitterbug Beverage Co.

The Rex Cafe

BEST COLD BREW

Winner: Mrs. Jones Cold Brew

Alla Prima Coffee Roaster

Bear Fruit Bowls & Coffee

Jitterbug Beverage Co.

BEST LATTE

Winner: Jitterbug Beverage Co.

Bodacious Brew

Craft Bakery

Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar

BEST ICED TEA

Winner: Sweet Jackson Tea

Carmen's Lunch Bar

Craft Bakery

Nomadic Eats

BEST JUICES/SMOOTHIES

Winner: The Daily Squeeze

Cafe Single Fin

Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe

Sean's Smoothie Shack

BEST PIZZA

Winner: Sky's Pizza Pie

East Hill Pizza

Flour-ish Food Truck

Graffiti Pizza

BEST STEAK

Winner: Jackson's Steakhouse

The District: Seville Steak & Seafood

McGuire's Irish Pub

Restaurant IRON

BEST BURRITO

Winner: Juan's Flying Burrito

Cactus Flower Cafe

Taco Rock

Tacos El Fluffy

BEST TACO

Winner: Taqueria El Asador

Mama's Tacos

Tacos El Fluffy

Tacos Mexicanos

BEST SOUP

Winner: Carmen's Lunch Bar

Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe

McGuire's Irish Pub

New Yorker Deli & Pizzeria

BEST DELI

Winner: New Yorker Deli & Pizzeria

Costello's Butcher Shop

Deli Dudes

Four Winds International Food Market

BEST BREAD

Winner: Craft Bakery

Casita Bread

Local Thyme Bakery

Kneady's Bakery

BEST SANDWICH

Winner: L'Obbligato (A Mano Panino)

Hot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwich (The Burrow)

The LaRua (Hub Stacey's)

Spanish Crab Melt (Carmen's Lunch Bar)

BEST CHICKEN SALAD

Winner: Carmen's Lunch Bar

Craft Bakery

Jo's As Always

New Yorker Deli & Pizzeria

BEST BURGER

Winner: MI SU Street Food

Brown Bagger

Proper Burger

Sauce Boss Burger Co.

BEST HOT DOG

Winner: The Dog House

The Elbow Room

Sammy Barker's

The Wacked Out Weiner

BEST APPETIZERS

Winner: Union Public House

Atlas Oyster House

The Burrow

Global Grill

BEST PASTRIES

Winner: Craft Bakery

Casita Bread

Local Thyme Bakery

Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar

BEST BREAKFAST DISH/MENU ITEM

Winner: The Gulf Coast Seafood Omelet (Native Cafe)

Eggs Cochon (Ruby Slipper Cafe)

Khachapuri (Craft Bakery)

Monica's Morning Burritos (Aunt Katie's)

BEST GRITS

Winner: The Fish House

Aunt Katie's

Coffee Cup Restaurant

George Bistro + Bar

BEST DONUTS

Winner: Parlor Doughnuts

Más Que Dulces

Maynard's Donut Co.

Milton Quality Bakery

BEST FRENCH FRIES

Winner: Sauce Boss Burger Co.

George Bistro + Bar

Greek's Catering and Events

MI SU Street Food

BEST FRIED CHICKEN

Winner: MI SU Street Food

The Dwarf (Legendary "Chicken Stand")

Five Sisters Blues Café

What the Cluck Chicken Truck

BEST WINGS

Winner: What the Cluck Chicken Truck

Hub Stacey's

Sidelines Sports Bar and Restaurant

VooDoo BBQ & Grill

BEST OYSTERS

Winner: Pearl & Horn

Atlas Oyster House

The Grand Marlin

Peg Leg Pete's

BEST SALADS

Winner: Carmen's Lunch Bar

The Daily Squeeze

End of the Line Cafe

Union Public House

BEST VEGETARIAN/VEGAN DISH

Winner: Chef Salad

(End of the Line Cafe)

Chef's Curry (SaBai on Jefferson)

Moroccan Vegetable Curry

(Carmen's Lunch Bar)

O.G. Pancit (O.G. Lola's)

BEST DESSERTS

Winner: Chrisoula's Cheesecake Shoppe

End of the Line Cafe

Flour-ish Food Truck

Union Public House

BEST ICE CREAM/FROZEN

YOGURT/GELATO

Winner: Lamonte Gelato

Craft Bakery

Fannie Lou's Ice Cream

Wild Honey Frozen Yogurt

BEST CAKES/CUPCAKES

Winner: Craft Bakery

Kate's Cakes

Más Que Dulces

Moonbeam Bakery

BEST COOKIES

Winner: Annie's Naked Cookies

Craft Bakery

Itsa Cookie

Pretty Baked (at Cafe Single Fin)

BEST LUNCH SPECIALS

Winner: Nomadic Eats

Carmen's Lunch Bar

East Hill Pizza

SaBai on Jefferson

BEST WEEKLY SPECIAL

Winner: Green Bucket Sundays (The Farm)

Biscuit Saturdays (Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar)

Hot Shrimp Fridays (Nomadic Eats)

Wing Wednesdays

(What the Cluck Chicken Truck)

BEST COOKING CLASSES

Winner: Bodacious Shops

Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe

Jackson's Steakhouse

Pensacola Cooks Commissary and Classroom

BEST FOOD MANUFACTURER

Winner: The Hummus Lady

The Black Garlic Market

The Sealey Sauce Company

Whim Cotton Candy

BEST BEVERAGE MANUFACTURER

Winner: Big Jerk Soda Co.

DrinkPensacola

Mrs. Jones Cold Brew

Sweet Jackson Tea

BEST MOBILE BEVERAGE SERVICE

Winner: The Thirsty Ranch

The Coffee Cabin Co.

LaTeeLa

Tap the Coast

Go

East Hill

AUNT KATIE'S

3005 E. Cervantes St., auntkatiesbreakfastnlunch.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Welcome to breakfast. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our family, friends, team and guests. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our customers genuinely care about our team and the restaurant. We appreciate their honest feedback and take every word they say to heart. We are so grateful and work hard to earn their continued support. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our next goal is the same as our last goal. To continue coming up with new, fun, delicious dishes and continue to provide exceptional customer service.

Answers by: Aunt Katie and Mr. Aunt Katie, Owners

BIG JERK SODA CO.

bigjerksoda.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

We are a family-owned and operated craft soda company manufacturing and self-distributing small-batch, all-natural soft drinks right here in Pensacola since 2018.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We are driven by a desire to create better beverages than what we see on the shelves of most stores. We always want to be using the best ingredients to make fun products that aren't loaded with chemicals and junk.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We love that our customers keep coming back for more. It doesn't matter how many flavors we have—we can always count on our customers to push us to be fresh and creative. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? This year we started Milkweed Spirits, Pensacola's first distilled spirits plant since Prohibition, with the intention of fulfilling our dream of creating Big Jerk Black Label ready-to-drink cocktails. Keep a lookout for them in the coming year. Answers by: Ryan and Jenn Eaton, Owners

CARMEN'S LUNCH BAR

407 S. Palafox St., Unit B, facebook.com/carmenslunchbar

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Where good friends meet great food.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"?  The people are definitely what keep me going and keep me inspired. I am fortunate to work with an incredibly hardworking and passionate crew. We all love creating a memorable experience for our guests. Seeing their smiles, hearing their laughter and clearing their empty plates is our daily inspiration.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients?  Our regular customers are like family. Many come in several times a week, every week. They share with us; we share with them. We laugh quite often and they express their appreciation for our dedicated staff. We also love meeting new guests and introducing them to our cuisine.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business?  Carmen's is celebrating our 12-year anniversary. For me, the future is about longevity and continuing to thrive as a locally/woman-owned staple in downtown Pensacola. As our city grows, we want to continue to be the hot spot that brings locals and tourists alike for delicious lunches and good times.

Answers by: MariCarmen Josephs, Owner and Chef

CHRISOULA'S CHEESECAKE SHOPPE

236 W. Garden St., Ste. 2A, chrisoulascheesecakeshoppe.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Our award-winning cheesecakes are handmade from scratch with the freshest and finest ingredients.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? I was born and raised in Pensacola. I grew up in our Greek family restaurants, Angus Steak Ranch and Boy on a Dolphin. I always enjoyed making desserts growing up. My favorite was always cheesecake. Come to find out, cheesecake was invented in Samos, Greece, where my father is from.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We are blessed to have a great following over the years, 17 years serving Pensacola. We strive to make everyone happy with our services and promise to bake the freshest and finest cheesecakes.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business?  I would like to keep it small. It is very important to me to serve fresh homestyle cheesecakes with

great care and love. Quality over quantity adds a personal touch.

Answers by: Chrisoula Hulion, Baker and Owner

CRAFT BAKERY

5555 N. Davis Highway, craftgourmetbakery.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? A European-inspired bake shop driven by our commitment to share our passion and love of our craft.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The desire to be the best we can be for our team who makes it possible to continue to provide Pensacola with products that reflect our hard work and vision. We also remain inspired constantly by the local collaborative scene we are so fortunate to be a part of. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We love that so many customers have made Craft a part of their everyday routine. It really solidifies that even though we have so far to go, we have reached our dream of bringing joy through our craft to Pensacola. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business?  Soon to be revealed.

Answers by: Jordan and Anna Hewes, Owners

THE DAILY SQUEEZE

901 N. 12th Ave., thedailysqueezepcola.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We are a locally owned and operated juice bar. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"?  I became a mom in 2023 so I would have to say that my daughter is definitely inspiring me to always be my best self, but my family, friends and the team at The Daily Squeeze is a huge part of that too.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients?  We have such an amazing and loyal customer base. They come in to get their favorites and also get just as excited as we do for our seasonal juices. I'm so grateful to them for supporting us year after year. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We made some major changes to our business model about a year ago and they were met with both kindness and disrespect. We are continuing to focus on providing a quality product, on treating our customers with care and on respecting and supporting our staff as best as we can.

Answers by: Danielle Mullet, Owner

EAST HILL PIZZA

2030 N. 12th Ave., easthillpizza.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? East Hill Pizza: where quality meets homemade ingredients, community care, awesome service and unique pizzas. Proudly a small, locally, family, veteran-owned business.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? As a mother of three, my children inspire me to be my best in all endeavors. Their happiness and future motivate me to excel personally and professionally, ensuring my efforts positively impact their lives and our community.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? I deeply appreciate the generosity and support our customers and clients show towards our community. Their commitment to giving back not only strengthens our bond with East Hill and Pensacola but also fosters a spirit of compassion and unity that makes our work fulfilling and impactful.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our next goal is to expand our reach and enhance our services, all while maintaining a strong focus on giving back to the community. We aim to continue creating exceptional pizzas that our customers love, while also increasing our positive impact through ongoing community support initiatives. Answers by: Darlyne Zoltak, Owner

END OF THE LINE CAFE

610 E. Wright St., eotlcafe.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Creative vegan cuisine.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? So inspired by talks with guests surprised that house-made vegan cuisine isn't limited to salads to be healthy, and deep fried to taste good. Everything inspires me to do my best. I hope to grow and learn and get better in life every day, with my kid by my side.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? It's well known that we have the sweetest guests. I'm so very grateful for our guests allowing us to grow organically over the years and the patience through its many transitions. The support and love received is unbelievable. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? There's so much more in the works right now. Cocktails, new menu items, more new events. Answers by: Jen Knight, Owner

THE FARM

6404 Mobile Highway, facebook.com/florabamafarmsofpensacola

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Belleview's original curbside market, bringing you the freshest produce and more since the mid-80s. Service with a smile from our "Farmily" to yours. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Being a part of Pensacola's produce market community is a big deal and a challenge in itself. The Farm is home to such a great number of farmers, local businesses, chefs, bakers and alchemists; keeping up with their creations and enthusiasm is my inspiration.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their support and smiles. Really, we are blessed with such a huge following of some of the most amazing people.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business?  You already know—more community-driven agricultural projects. Our collabs with the Mougheys, Manna Food Pantries and the American Heart Association has been so rewarding for us and our farmers.

Answers by: Sandy

Veilleux, Owner

GEORGE BISTRO + BAR

6205 N. Ninth Ave., georgebistroandbar.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We are driven by our passion to create exceptional, seasonal, ingredient-driven food and beverages with an unforgettable experience where each guest feels like family.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? My team inspires me daily to be a better leader and coach. We have a common goal to consistently provide the best food and service we possibly can, and we accomplish this by focusing on the details day in and day out.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our guests choose us, and we hope that we always deliver on or exceed their expectations. They bring a lot of energy, and we love seeing them enjoying themselves, whether it's in the bistro or on social media.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Right now we're working on our fall menu revamp with exciting new dishes, desserts and cocktails, then we'll be preparing for an amazing holiday season.

Answers by: Carolyn Ore, Chef de Cuisine

GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS

The Fish House, Atlas Oyster House, Jackson's Steakhouse, Five Sisters Blues Café and Angelena's Ristorante Italiano greatsouthernrestaurants.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Great food, great service, great times—it's the Great Southern way. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our community and our customers inspire us each and every day to be the best. We are proud to call Pensacola home and to serve our guests, offering the best we have. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Loyalty. Our customers have supported us through so many incredible events:

oil spill, hurricanes, Covid—we wouldn't be here if it were not for their enduring support and loyalty. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We were thrilled to get Atlas Oyster House back open for business this year; it has truly been amazing for the outpouring of support for this local favorite. We have an awesome project underway this year for Five Sisters. Stay tuned for the big announcement. Answers by: Maria V. Goldberg, Director of Marketing, Public Relations and Events

GREEK'S CATERING AND EVENTS

3960 Spanish Trail, 5367 Woodbine Road and 2547 Gulf Breeze Parkway, greekscatering.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Making memories and creating connections through food.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? As a locally owned small business, we realize what a gift it is to be living out our dreams in our very own hometown. Giving our customers and community an outstanding experience is our ultimate goal to show our appreciation for their support.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients?  We never take for granted our customers' choice to spend their money with our business. The ultimate compliment is when we see customers visit one of our locations with loved ones or friends they recommended us to.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We are continually looking at growth opportunities and ways to bring

a new experience to our customers. Stay tuned for updates on our socials.

Answers by: Stelios and Cristin Peterson, Owners HOT SPOT BARBECUE

901 E. La Rua St. and 2541 Gulf Breeze Parkway, hotspotbarbecue.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? The hot spot for authentic Southern barbecue and hospitality.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? When God created the world, it was perfect. We strive to honor him with our best efforts daily. Thank you.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Just being able to share a moment with each other in our busy life. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We are putting the finishing touches on a new entrance and take-out area at our restaurant. We also have a trailer at the Truxtop Food Court in Gulf Breeze. Next we would like to establish a food truck location north of I-10.

Answers by: James Hlubek, General Manager

THE HUMMUS

LADY

thehummuslady.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? This hummus could change your life. It's that good.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? I am at my best when I feel valued and connected with my peers and customers. I love

being a part of Pensacola's small business community. There is genuine love and support among us as we navigate through highs and lows. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? My customers go out of their way to support local businesses. They are community-minded and recognize how special it is to eat fresh, unique food that is handcrafted within a few miles of home.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? My focus in the next year is to expand my distribution beyond Pensacola. Alabama could use a healthy dose of garbanzo gold.

Answers by: Kelly Joy, Chief Chickpea Officer

JITTERBUG BEVERAGE CO.

2050 N. 12th Ave., drinkjitterbug.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Coffee shop and gluten free snackery welcoming folks from all walks of life.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? At our core we are a safe space. Safe for folks with food sensitivities, the LGBTQ+ community, fellow neurodivergents and creatives; this diverse community of customers, other small business owners and our wonderful staff is what inspires us to push the boundaries of what our space and menu can offer.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? The level of excitement and delight people are willing to wear on their sleeve when they visit our shop always makes our day. We're grateful for some of the most friendly and fun patrons in town. Our customers have made our shop the third space that it is.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Expect more curated events in the evenings and an expanded baked good selection.

Answers by: Ariel Booth and Barrett Colhoun, Co-Founders

LAMONTE GELATO AND A MANO PANINO

1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 128 and 133, lamontegelato.com, amanopanino.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Authentic Italian gelato and Tuscan-style panini, made fresh daily.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? We have seen the impact great food has on a community and it drives us to create an excellent and memorable experience.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We love that the East Hill community rallies around small, local businesses and we love being a part of it. We go the extra mile creating artisan products so that our community can enjoy fresh, handcrafted treats that cultivate memories.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We have ideas of an Italian dinner concept in the same area; stay tuned.

Answers by: Ashley and Alex Lamonte, Owners and Operators

MAKER'S CAFE & ESPRESSO BAR

422 S. Palafox St., makerscafe.us

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

We strive to be a communal hub serving craft coffee and small eats made from scratch.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"?  Our family is one of our biggest inspirations. The shop is an extension of our home and we take pride in creating a welcoming environment while serving thoughtfully sourced ingredients.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients?  The friendships we've made. Celebrating milestones alongside our customers is something we don't take for granted. We truly enjoy getting to know everyone who walks through our doors.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We're always thinking of ways to expand and meet needs in our city.

Answers by: Caleb and Haley Pierce, Owners

MRS.

JONES COLD BREW

1449 W. Nine Mile Road, mrsjonescoldbrew.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Easy coffee for busy people.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Coffee should be as easy as it is delicious. I created my coffee elixir concentrate to simplify the daily coffee ritual. We seek to elevate cold brew coffee and equip customers to be their own barista at home or enjoy the coffee bar experience. Life's just better with cold brew. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients?  Our fan-friends are the best. They have followed us from one place to another, from Palafox Market to our new location and everywhere in between. Their loyalty keeps us going.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We are enjoying our new brick and mortar location in a new community on Nine Mile Road, and we are excited every time a new customer walks in the door. We are launching new products and rolling out new special events every month.

Answers by: Mrs. Stephanie Jones, Caffeine Queen

NATIVE CAFE

45A Via De Luna Drive, thenativecafe.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Come visit our award-winning full-service restaurant on Pensacola Beach, featuring breakfast and lunch plates with local flavors from the Gulf Coast.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"?  Native Cafe seeks to provide the utmost care to our local community, people (both guests and staff) and culture of the Pensacola area by featuring delicious food, local art and partnerships with local vendors and community agencies—all to highlight the special native community where we live.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We love the energy our guests bring to Native. Whether they are locals enjoying a day at the beach or tourists who've chosen to make our little slice of paradise their vacation spot of choice, when guests arrive, they're happy and relaxed and ready to beach. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business?  Native Cafe successfully expanded and remodeled our flagship store this past year. We've added more local partnerships to the mix and launched a full alcohol beverage menu. Our goal right now is to fully and successfully settle into our new normal

*Best

* Best Waitress: Cori Perez Holden

* Best Vegetarian/Vegan Dish:

Vegetable Curry

*Best Uniquely Pensacola Dish & Best Sandwich: Spanish Crab Melt

operations well so guests and staff have amazing experiences.

Answers by:

Ashlee Mosley Brown, Owner

NEW YORKER DELI & PIZZERIA

3001 E. Cervantes St., newyorkerdeliandpizzeria.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Always fresh and delicious. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our love of food and community inspires us to continue striving to be the best. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We have so many regulars and travelers who visit us daily or every year on their annual trips. We have had the pleasure of watching children grow into adults. We are truly grateful to have such a consistent and loyal following. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To continue to grow and strive for excellence in everything we do.

Answers by:

Renee and Wayne Nix, Owners

O.G. LOLA'S

2110 W. Yonge St., o-g-lolas.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Pensacola's only plant-based food truck offering vibrant, nostalgic Filipino cuisine and more. Made from scratch with lots of love plus local and organic ingredients. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? I feel infinitely blessed to have the opportunity to help heal our communities and the planet from the inside-out, from the root, with

plant-based lifestyle knowledge. There's a deep connection between everything that we consume, especially when it comes to the food that we eat on a daily basis. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Plant-based food is still on the rise in the South so I appreciate our customers' willingness to be adventurous and open to trying our dishes. They're always satisfied knowing that vegan doesn't have to mean sacrificing the flavors and soul of the recipes that bring them joy and comfort.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Writing a cookbook has always been a dream of mine. I'm currently making more time to write and hope to launch by 2025. I would also love to be more active in the community—to share how to live more sustainably, how to grow your own food with our youth. Answers by: Mary Dee, Chef

PEARL & HORN

1504 W. Intendencia St., pearlandhorn.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? An elegant dining experience with a multicultural land and sea menu that focuses on fresh ingredients. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? For me personally, I am driven by perfectionism, trying to reach the best in everything I set out to do. I try to set my standards high so that I can set a quality example for my team so that they can achieve their own growth and success. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We have such amazing,

loyal customers, and we greatly appreciate their feedback. They are honest and straightforward and we listen and adjust based on the feedback they give us. Plus, it's great to see guests enjoying themselves, whether it's a midweek dinner or a special occasion.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? At Pearl & Horn, our current goal is to continue to build a solid foundation of cuisine and hospitality. Our next goal will be to expand our service times and create exciting new offerings.

Answers by: Chef George Lazi, Executive Chef and Owner

THE POINTE

1255 Country Club Road, thepointegb.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Eat. Drink. Play. We offer several atmospheres and vibes here at The Pointe— sports bar, cozy dining room and event venue.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our local community. Our local customers who have supported us through growth and progress are the reason we continue to do what we do. Being the place to host their memories is an honor.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our customers' continued support has been the driving force pushing The Pointe forward. Seeing our regular customers choosing to spend their time with us is something that we appreciate every day. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To be -

come the restaurant and dining destination that Gulf Breeze deserves.

Answers by: Stephanie Sharpton, Owner

RESTAURANT IRON

22 N. Palafox St., restaurantiron.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

A refined Southern kitchen where the entire staff is constantly striving to exceed expectations of a casual dining experience.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? The feeling when a first-time guest discovers a newfound sense of enjoyment from our dining experience.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Their enthusiasm. Guests are always willing to offer the kindest of sentiments after they have experienced our refined Southern cuisine.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We would like to offer multi-course meals and elevated experiences for diners to enjoy excellent cuisine worthy of a special journey.

Answers by: Danielle Blanchard, Content Creator

SAUCE BOSS BURGER CO.

315 N. Tarragona St., saucebossburger.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

I would say our message has always been to put the passion that we feel into the hands of others. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Cooking has always been a passion of mine and the incredible community we have got-

ten to make ourselves a part of is really the most rewarding part of this industry. Pensacola has one of the most vibrant and interesting culinary scenes I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? The service industry is all about the guests—what we can do for them, how we can better cater to them and what new experiences we can usher them into. We wouldn't have anything without our incredible audience that cheers us on and chows down. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We actually have two projects in development that I am very excited about. Sauce Boss is leaning into North Pensacola with a new location featuring chicken wings, fried pickles and a few new smash burgers. Deli Dudes is expanding into an awesome new brick and mortar space in Bellview. Answers by: Eli Cook, Chef and Owner

SKY'S PIZZA PIE

5559 N. Davis Highway, skyspizzapie.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Authentic New York-style pizzeria. Largest pizza in Pensacola. We serve pizza by the slice, calzones, strombolis and wings. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? My daughter Skylah. She's at an age now where she appreciates the business and sees the growth that's she's been a part of since she was born. Also, my staff. We make pizza every day and love doing it. We are complimented on how most of the staff are loyal to Sky's.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Sky's has the best customers. We're past knowing their names; they are our friends. We see so many of them daily for lunch, dinner or taking food to work. It comes naturally to develop relationships with our customers. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Sky's has been trying to open in Pace for over a year now. The time is finally here, right off Woodbine Road in August 2024. The location is smaller so we will make changes to accommodate.

Answers by: Sarah Noble, Owner

THE THIRSTY RANCH

thethirstyranch.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Creating custom and unique beverage experiences served with our Southern hospitality. What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"?  I truly love what I do. The event business calls for creativity and service to others. I believe anything worth doing is worth doing right. Helping our clients create unique experiences is what I love.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? Our clients' trust in us that we will deliver their vision with not only greatlooking beverages but great-tasting also. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Growth. Growing the Thirsty Crew to better support clients in other areas.

Answers by: Melissa Weber, Owner and CEO

UNION PUBLIC HOUSE

36 E. Garden St., unionpensacola.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? A crafty Southern pub where the community comes together.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"?  Our team at UPH loves what they do and is always looking to push the envelope of deliciousness.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? The look of enjoyment on their faces when they take a sip of a new cocktail or bite of a new dish. Also, the satisfaction of our staff when they see their creations making people smile.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We will be reopening our old location as a "high-end dive bar." Awesome snacks, sandwiches and sweets with craft cocktails. Look for Baby's Beefs Lounge and Meat in late August.

Answers by: Blake Rushing, Chef and Owner

VOODOO BBQ & GRILL

1741 E. Nine Mile Road, Unit 9, voodoobbq.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? VooDoo BBQ has been serving up the sound, the soul and the taste of New Orleans BBQ since 2014.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Being locally owned and operated, we want to bring great food and experiences to our guests in a family-friendly environment.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients? We love our loyal customers and the recognition they have given us over the past 10 years. We appreciate the trust they put in us when they choose VooDoo BBQ to cater their holiday meals and life's memorable events. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We are currently strategizing over what the next decade looks like in terms of menu, locations and success.

Answers by: Rick and Sylvana West, Owners

WHIM COTTON CANDY

whimcottoncandy.com

If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? A creative spin on a classic treat—inspired by the white sugary sands and cotton candy skies along the Emerald Coast.

What inspires you to be, do and make your "best"? Our inspiration comes from seeing everyone enjoying our full experience, from choosing a unique flavor to deciding which fun topping to add. Seeing smiles on faces and memories being made is what drives us to be better than we were yesterday.

What do you appreciate most about your customers/clients?  In such an ever-changing and unpredictable world, the fact that our amazing clients and customers take time out of their day to support our cute little business and come see us no matter where we are means the world to us.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We are looking forward to adding more experiences to our repertoire. Keep an eye on our socials for some big things coming soon.

Answers by: Michaela Rodriguez, Owner

a&e happenings

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

PUPS OF PENSACOLA CALENDAR

CONTEST

WolfGang Pensacola, LLC, in partnership with Hoff House Pet Photography, returns with the 2025 Pups of Pensacola Calendar Contest. Proceeds, after costs and fees, from the photo contest and calendar sales will assist with continuing their efforts to provide resources for area animals in need. Submit your favorite photo of your pets and ask your family and friends to vote for them (and you can vote for your cutie, too). Each entry is a $15 fee, and each vote is $1 with proceeds, after costs and fees, going to the fourth annual Pawdi-gras benefactor, the Escambia County Department of Animals Welfare. Details are available at gogophotocontest.com/wolfgangpensacola.

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal

Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 to play. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN

ADOPTION 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

PENSACOLA OPERA CHORUS

AUDITIONS Audition for the 42nd season opera chorus is 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 at the Opera Center, 75 Tarragona St. Register through the link at facebook.com/pensacolaopera.

LIBERATION PRESENTS: DEEP SPACE

DIVAS Enjoy music from DJ Brody and drag shows with a galactic theme. Audience is welcomed to dress according to theme. Event is 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Find Liberation Pensacola on Facebook for details.

CHILDREN'S BOOK FAIR AT OPEN BOOKS Open Books and the N.B. Cook Elementary PTA will team up for a Children's Book Fair 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 at 1040 N. Guillemard St. Shop hundreds of books for all ages, including toddler and young adult, for only $1 each. Details are at facebook.com/ openbooksbookstore.

SHREK THE MUSICAL Part of the Broadway in Pensacola series, "Shrek: The Musical" will have two performances 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4 and Thursday, Sept. 5 at Pensacola Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at pensacolasaenger.com.

BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.

COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE

BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.

PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.

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 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.

ARTS & CULTURE

INCORRUPTIBLE Watch this Studio 400 Production at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23 and Saturday, Aug. 24, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25. A Thursday performance is 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22. Tickets are $20-$30 at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

BIG CLOWN PARTY Enjoy a film screening of the documentary about the Mississippi punk band, Clown Party. Screening is 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at 309 Punk House, 309 N. Sixth Ave. Details are at facebook.com/309punkproject.

BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE FANTASY BOOK

CLUB The next Fantasy Book Club meeting is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Bodacious Bookstore, 110 E. Intendencia St. The group will discuss "Guards! Guards!" by Terry Pratchett. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.

TRASH FREE WATERS SHORT FILM Watch the premiere of Trash Free Waters short film, a live poem reading from Nate Schweigert, and trash trivia 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox.

THE ART GALLERY AT UWF PRESENTS TAG ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2024 'TESTBED'  "TESTBED" 2024 Faculty Artist in Residence and Exhibition features UWF Department of Art and Design faculty members Marzia Ransom, Jason Pinckard and John Dougherty. Artwork will be displayed at TAG, in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus. An opening reception is 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22 in TAG. Following the open studio hours and reception, visitors can view completed works during the exhibition dates Aug. 22- Sept. 26. A closing reception is 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 in TAG. TAG is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and observes all UWF closures and holidays. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit uwf.edu/tag.

CELEBRATING 70: A HISTORY OF COLLECTING A new Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit runs through Sept. 29 featuring highlights of PMA's permanent collection at 407 S. Jefferson St. Details are available at pensacolamuseum.org.

KINGS AND QUEENS OPEN MIC COMEDY

Try your hand at stand-up comedy or watch others perform 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Tuesdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 Cervantes St. Details are at sirrichardslounge.com.

SILENT BOOK CLUB AT BODACIOUS

Sundays are for quietly reading at Bodacious Bookstore & Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. Join the Silent Book Club 10-11 a.m. Sundays. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.

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.

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 actual 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.

BODY, MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN Local vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners, speakers and more come together 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the first Saturday of the month at Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. This is a free indoor and outdoor event with door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. For a vendor table, call (850) 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.

FOOD + DRINKS

MINDFUL EATING: BREAKFAST

ESSENTIALS Cooking class is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Ste. C. Tickets are available through the link at facebook.com/pensacolacooks.

a&e happenings

PENSACOLA HERITAGE WINE DINNER

Dinner with Chef Edward Lordman is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Cost is $90. Reserve your spot through the link a facebook.com/bodaciousshops.

FAMILY CLASS: CHARCUTERIE LUNCH

BOX Build a charcuterie lunch at this class 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Ste. C. Tickets are available through the link at facebook.com/pensacolacooks.

CORN DOGS AND CORN LOGS Choose from three corn lagers paired with corn dogs at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Event is noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25. Details are at facebook. com/oddcolony.

O'RILEY'S IRISH PUB BARTENDER

CHAMPIONSHIP Twelve bartenders will compete making unique cocktails at this championship 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25 at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. A portion of proceeds raised will benefit the Gulf Coast Sexual Assault Program. Tickets are $26 and include samples of cocktails. Tickets can be purchased at orileyspub.com.

SUMMER SUPPER SERIES WITH CHEF MATTHEW OF THE FARM Event is 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Cost is $90. Details are available at facebook. com/bodaciousshops.

LUNCH AND LEARN: CHARCUTERIE CUPS

Class is 11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug.30 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Cost is $30. Details and tickets are at facebook.com/bodaciousshops.

GREEN THUMB WINE TASTINGS Join Green Thumb Wines for a wine tasting 6-8 p.m. every first Friday of the month at 9 E. Gregory St. Cost is $15, which can be applied to a bottle purchase of your choice. For more information and tickets, visit greenthumbwines.com/collections/events.

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. Wisteria is located at 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SIN NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S SIN Night is 11 p.m. to close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

TRIVIA NIGHT AND SIN Trivia is 9-10:30 p.m. Mondays, and SIN is 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar. 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.

DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT Enjoy Double Mondays 8 p.m. to midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

75 CENT OYSTERS AT ATLAS Enjoy 75-cent oysters 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

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. 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 on 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.

DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays, at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

SECOND TUESDAY THEMED TRIVIA Visit

Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for themed trivia nights 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.

DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m. to midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

TRIVIA 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.

SIN NIGHT AND KARAOKE Karaoke is 9 p.m.1 a.m. and SIN specials are 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar. 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.

SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.

PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m. to midnight at O'Riley's Tavern. Trivia is 9 -11 p.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night with a DJ starts 8 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

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.

TRIVIA AT SIR RICHARD'S Flex your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

POKER NIGHT AT SIR RICHARDS'S Poker Night is 6 p.m. Saturdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

WEEKLY SATURDAY BRUNCH Brunch is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SHAMROCK SATURDAY Shamrock Saturday is 9 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool all day and play bar bingo 9-11 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.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AND KARAOKE O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., hosts Sunday brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Karaoke begins at 8 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT ATLAS OYSTER HOUSE Sunday Brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. View menus at atlasoysterhouse.com.

LIVE MUSIC

BANDS ON THE BEACH Weekly concert series is 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. Aug. 27 is Cristi Dee's Bad Juju and Sept. 3 is Shenanigans. For details, visit visitpensacolabeach.com/whats-happeningbands-on-beach.

CLUB 90S PRESENTS: PINK PONY CLUB CHAPPELL ROAN NIGHT Event is 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets are at vinylmusichall.com.

CHICK PLEASE WITH TORI LUCIA AND THE NITTY GRITTIES, TIRRA LIRRA, AND RILEY RAINE Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are a sliding scale. Details are at thehandlebar850.com.

FLOW TRIBE, NERVOUS PULP Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $15-$20 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

more listings visit inweekly.net

free will astrology

WEEK OF AUGUST 22

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Some centenarians testify they've lived more than a century because they smoked many cigarettes, drank a lot of booze and ate a steady diet of junk food. Should the rest of us adapt their habits? Of course not. The likelihood of remaining healthy while following such an unsound regimen is infinitesimal. Just because a few lucky people miraculously thrived like that is not a sound argument for imitating them. I bring this to your attention, Aries, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to upgrade your commitment to healthy habits. If you've been waiting for the right time to love your body better, this is it.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Taurus stage magician Doug Henning had lavish ambitions. They served him well as he became a star performer in theater and on TV. "If I produce a 450-pound Bengal tiger, it's going to create a lot more wonder than if I produce a rabbit," he said. That's the spirit I invite you to embrace in the coming weeks, Taurus. The cosmos authorize you to expand your understanding of what you can accomplish—and then accomplish it. Dream bigger dreams than you've previously dared.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): The color of planet Earth is predominantly blue with green, brown and white mixed in. And for people all over the world, blue is more often their favorite color than any other. Why? In part because blue typically evokes peace, tranquility, security and stability. It's often used in therapeutic environments, because it makes us feel more at ease about expressing our feelings. I bring these thoughts to your attention, Gemini, because you are entering a blue phase of your cycle. It will be a favorable time to harvest the benefits of relaxing and slowing down. You are more likely to feel at home with yourself and accept yourself just as you are.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Harvard Business School professor Gerald Zaltman, born under the sign of Cancer, says 95% of our buying choices originate in our subconscious minds. Behavioral psychologist Susan Weinschenk believes 90% of all our decision-making is unconscious. But I propose in the coming weeks, you increase the amount of conscious awareness you

By Rob Brezsny

bring to sorting out your options. Cosmic energies will conspire in your favor if you do. You will receive unexpected boosts and generate creative enhancements if you resolve to rouse more lucid analysis and careful thoughtfulness.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): A wealthy hedge fund manager named Raj Rajaratnam paid Leo singer Kenny Rogers $4 million to perform at his epic birthday party. But the night turned nightmarish for Rogers when Rajaratnam insisted he sing his hit song "The Gambler" over and over again. Finally, after 12 repetitions, Rogers refused to do more. I wonder if you, too, might soon have to deal with a situation that's too much of a good thing. My advice: Make sure all agreements between you and others are clear and firm. Get a guarantee you will receive exactly what you want, and don't do more than you have promised.

identify the experiences, influences, events and people about which you have absolutely zero interest. Once you do that, I predict you will have a rush of clear revelations about the most interesting experiences, influences, events and people you want in your future.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu made an observation that could serve as your watchword in the coming months. "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage," he wrote. In my astrological opinion, Scorpio, you are now primed to embody and express these states with unique intensity. If you embrace the inspiring challenge of loving deeply and being loved deeply, you will reach new heights of strength and courage.

your sign?" Did anyone in ancient Rome ever say that? Probably not, as it's a modern idiom. However, astrology was popular in that society and era. According to scholar Rhianna Padman in her essay "Astrology in Ancient Rome," Romans "believed that the specific positions of celestial bodies at the moment of a person's birth could greatly impact their life and character." Back then, Thrasyllus of Mendes was a prominent astrologer who became a key advisor to Emperor Tiberius. Anyway, Aquarius, I bring "Quo signo nata es?" to your attention so as to inspire the following assignment: Update all your old favorite things. Put new spins on symbols and ideas that have served you for a long time. Take the best parts of your traditions and transplant them into the future.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Now and then, zoologists decide their classifications of species need to be revised and refined. For example, three subspecies of soft-furred, teardrop-shaped hedgehogs in Southeast Asia were recently elevated to distinct species of their own. They are no longer considered to be subspecies of Hylomys suillus, but are now named H. dorsalis, H. maxi, and H. peguensis. I bring this to your attention, Virgo, because I suspect you, too, are ready for an upgrade to a new category all your own. It's time for you to claim greater sovereignty. You will be wise to define how distinctive and unique you are, to distinguish yourself from influences that are superficially like you.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): When megafamous artist Pablo Picasso was asked how he felt about NASA landing people on the moon in 1969, he said, "It means nothing to me. I have no opinion about it, and I don't care." I invite you to use his statement as one of your power mottoes in the coming weeks. Now is an excellent time to

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Many musical instruments must be constantly adjusted to ensure they stay in tune. This usually means the note A above middle C vibrates at 440 cycles per second—with all other notes tuned in relation to it. Having sung in bands for years, I have seen how guitarists, bass players, violinists and even drummers have to continually attend to their tuning during performances. Imagine the diligent finesse it takes to keep an entire orchestra of many instruments in tune with each other. I suspect one of your jobs in the coming weeks, Sagittarius, will have similarities to this kind of management and coordination.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Dancing is always good for you, but it will be extra healthy and energizing in the next four weeks. I hope you will be inspired to dance as often as possible, even if you just do it alone in your kitchen or bedroom while listening to music that moves you. Do you need rational explanations for why this is a good idea? OK, here are the hard facts: Dancing reduces stress, raises serotonin levels, enhances well-being and is excellent physical exercise. Here's another motivational reason: Dancing literally makes you smarter. Scientific research clearly says so (tinyurl.com/smartdancing). Furthermore, in the near future, you will be in a playful, sexy and exuberant phase of your astrological cycle.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): "Quo signo nata es?" is the Latin expression for "What's

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to declare amnesty about all matters affecting your close alliances. Dissolve grudges, please. Tussle less, play more. Relax your demands and expectations—and nicely ask your companions to relax their demands and expectations. If possible, forgive others and yourself for everything; failing that, forgive as much of everything as feels right. You might even convene a ritual in which you and your intimate collaborators chant the following affirmation: "We are gleefully free to reimagine and reinvent the ways we fit together!"

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What ideas are you allergic to? What feelings make you sick? Can you immunize yourself against them? {in}

freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com © 2024 Rob Brezsny

news of the weird

THE TECH REVOLUTION Randol White lives adjacent to a parking lot full of driverless Waymo cars in San Francisco, KGO-TV reported on Aug. 13. And he's a big fan of the autonomous vehicles. But over the last few weeks, White has been assaulted by the sounds of car horns. "I was like, where is that coming from? And I looked down, and I was like, I think it's coming from the Waymo cars," he said. Sure enough, the "smart" cars have become confused and all started honking at each other, both during the day and at night. "I could not be more cranky today," said neighbor Russell Pofsky. "It affects the way you feel." Waymo said it has identified the glitch and is working on a fix.

YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP Richard E. Brown of Kershaw County, South Carolina, filed a lawsuit on Aug. 1 against Buc-ee's, the convenience store chain, WBTW-TV reported. Brown was walking on a sidewalk at a store in Florence County, South Carolina, in 2022 when he tripped over a rope that was holding down the large inflatable beaver mascot, which caused him several injuries, including to his right shoulder. The lawsuit claims that Buc-ee's was "aware of the dangerous condition of the rope that was holding the inflatable beaver in place." Brown is suing for negligence and seeking unspecified financial damages. Buc-ee's has not responded.

IT'S A DIRTY JOB In Pittsburgh on Aug. 12, the Allegheny River was the site of a massive dredging and cleanup conducted by Three Rivers Waterkeeper, an environmental group. TribLIVE reported that in just four hours, the operation pulled about 50,000 pounds of vehicle parts from the river, along with an intact Volkswagen Beetle, bicycles, skateboards and a mattress. "If you were to dive down there right now, you'd see a solid tangle of vehicles," said Capt. Evan Clark. Many of the cars were thought to be from a long-closed downtown parking lot. "To see this cleanup work, it shows that people care about the rivers, and they're getting better," Clark said.

UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Even after Cody Mortensen, 28, of Lucerne Valley, California, was told that he would "probably die," he insisted on biking across Regent's Slide, a massive landslide near Big Sur. The Mercury News reported that on Aug. 9, Mortensen talked with a construction worker who said the road was not passable, but the biker "said he was going to try anyways." Sure enough, Mortensen fell more than 100 feet toward the ocean, abandoned his bicycle and climbed down toward the beach, where he was rescued by Bettencourt and Big Sur Fire. He had hit his head and seemed confused, witnesses said, and his arm was cut. Mortensen faces charges of wanton disregard to obey a person directing traffic and failing to obey traffic signs.

NOPE Thrill-seekers will want to put Berlin, Germany, on their list of spots to visit, Yahoo! News reported on Aug. 10. Atop a 40-story

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

hotel near the former East Berlin's famous TV tower is the highest swing in Europe, which allows riders to soar out over the city about 400 feet below. "It feels a bit like flying," said Victoria Voigt, 34. Riders pay about $22 for five minutes on the swing, which opened in June and has thrilled more than 100 riders per day. Pascal Vent, 36, tried the swing for his birthday: "I came here to feel a bit younger."

RECENT ALARMING HEADLINE Residents of Feather Falls, California, are barking mad over an incident that took place on Aug. 8, KCRA-TV reported. The Butte County Sheriff's Office said Davina Corbin, 56, was found dead on the Black Hawk Trail after apparently being mauled by a pack of dogs. Max Hecker, who lives in the area, said the dogs are Great Danes that are known to terrorize people. "They'd be out here in the road, and you would have to wade through 'em," Hecker said. He said he and other neighbors had repeatedly contacted Butte County Animal Control, to no avail. "They didn't do anything about any of this," he said. "That lady should have never died." Officials rounded up the dogs, and a search warrant was issued at a property across from where Corbin was found.

CLOTHING OPTIONAL Harley Walters of San Antonio, Texas, was working at home on Aug. 13 when he looked out a window and saw a naked man walking down the sidewalk with his dog by his side. KENS5-TV reported that Walters worried the man was suffering some kind of physical or mental health issue; a group of neighbors decided to confront the man. "The other gentleman that stopped him on the street ... said, 'Hey, are you aware that you don't have pants on?'" Walters said. "He said, 'Yeah,' like it was no big deal." Police who responded to the scene said the man was high on mushrooms; officers gave him a courtesy ride home and did not charge him.

OOPS Auckland City Mission in New Zealand is trying to recover more than its reputation after the charity accidentally distributed fake candy that was actually chunks of methamphetamine, The New York Times reported on Aug. 14. The candies looked like individually wrapped pineapple sweets and had been donated by a member of the public, said Helen Robinson, the group's chief executive. Each block of meth weighed about 3 grams, packing up to 300 doses of the drug—enough to potentially be lethal. Three people were treated after tasting the candy, but it was so unpleasant they didn't eat the whole thing. Auckland police were hoping to recover all the candy and were looking into the origins of the donation. {in}

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