DISCOVER 🐾 P’COLA

Pensacola’s #1 Newsletter

If you're itching for some adventure, we're here to help you stumble upon the finest local festivities, those tucked-away treasures, and every bit of excitement stirring in our community. It’s the perfect way to truly get to know the heart of our home, Pensacola.

QUICK. FREE. INFORMATIVE. 

Morning P’Cola!

Grab your coffee and settle in—it’s a beautiful mid-May morning in the 850. Whether you’re feeling the Gulf breeze or just the hum of the AC, there’s a lot moving in our corner of the Panhandle this week.

Costco is approaching construction milestones; we’re inching closer to those bulk-buy day dreams as we near opening day. The local food scene is heating up with Raising Cane’s and Waldo’s Chicken & Beer prepping to serve the Davis Highway and Cordova corridors soon. Plus, if you’ve walked Garden Street lately, you’ve likely smelled the anticipation for Insomnia Cookies—perfect for a late-night sweet tooth.

On a heavier note, our local shelters and rescues—including Escambia County Animal Welfare and Furry Friends of the Panhandle—are currently facing an "overflow" crisis. How can you help? Read on for a few good ideas to help our precious P’COLA pets.

It’s a busy stretch with the return of home baseball, the peak of festival season, and a heavy dose of live music.

See ya out there.

COMMUNITY & COUNTY NEWS

NEW STORES Opening in May - SHOUT OUT!!

• The Loft on Pensacola Beach: The beach just got a little bit dreamier! A new waterfront event space officially opened on May 5th. It’s set to be the new 'it' spot for celebrations, adding a lovely layer of sophistication to our shoreline. Just another reason to love livin' on the Gulf!

• Sugar Daddy Donuts (Pensacola Beach): If you’ve got a sweet tooth, head to the beach! Sugar Daddy Donuts just opened up —a total 'Food Crush' favorite. It’s the perfect for grabbing a treat to tuck into your cooler before you go sink your toes in the sand!

• The Lark Aesthetics & IV Boutique: This new beauty and wellness standard opened its doors in late April/early May. Whether you need a bit of a refresh or some serious pampering, they’re ready to treat you like royalty.

• Insomnia Cookies: They hit the ground running in late April, serving up everything from classic snicker doodles to decadent ice cream sandwiches. The best part? They stay open well past midnight.

  COSTCO OPENING IN JUNE!!!!

  The Nine Mile Road Costco: It’s official—the wait is almost over! Costco confirmed an opening for June 2026. The massive store at Nine Mile and Chemstrand Road is currently hiring while putting on the finishing touches.

MARCH FORECAST  

The weather ahead is looking like a dream; warm days and just enough of a breeze. You’ll see plenty of Florida blue sky days, though a few clouds will drift in during the afternoons to give you a little break from the heat.

Highs will climb from 79°F on Friday to a balmy 84°F by the middle of next week. Overnight temps will stay mild, with lows ranging from 66°F to 77°F—perfect for late-nights on the porch.

And as always, the UV index will be Very High (reaching up to 9) most days. Don’t forget your hat and sunscreen if you’re spending the day on the water.

SPONSORED BY OUR FOREVER FRIENDS - ADOPT A PET

WE NEED YOUR HELP - PLEASE!

Escambia County is facing a larger than normal "abandonment crisis" this spring. Local rescuers report a heartbreaking surge in stray animals found in vacant homes, parks, and even garbage cans.

The Escambia County Animal Shelter is consistently operating at or near its capacity of 300 animals. Fueled by the typical "kitten season" influx and an increase in owners surrendering pets due to economic pressures, the situation has become dire. Local organizations are "drowning in puppies".

If you have some extra room on your porch (or in your heart), here is how you can help our local paws:

1. Foster if You Can: You can literally save a life by freeing up a kennel at the shelter.

2. Donate to the Pet Pantry: A bag of kibble goes a long way toward keeping a dog out of the shelter system.

3. Call Escambia County Animal Control at 850-595-0097 and volunteer.

THIS WEEK in P’COLA

Fri, May 15 

Gallery Night: Festa Italiana | Palafox St.

Everything's Fine | Saenger Theatre | Comedy/Show Rosie O'Grady's Dueling Pianos | Seville Quarter | Live Music

Sat, May 16 

Petpalooza 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM at the Fairfield Drive center 

Palafox Market | MLK Jr. Plaza (9 AM–2 PM) Pickles & Wings Family Festival | Seville Square

Festival Bands at Bartram Park | Bartram Park (All Day) Live Music Night on the Tracks | 309 N 6th Avenue Waves 2 Wine 5K | Gulf Breeze / Pensacola Beach

Rec Plex North parkrun 5K | UW-Pensacola (8:00 AM) Pickleball Social @ The Public Courts | Various Locations (8:00 AM – Noon)

Sun, May 17 

Blue Angels "Beach Buzz" | Return to NAS Pensacola (Afternoon) Club 27 Comedy | Seville Quarter | Comedy 7:00pm

Mon, May 18th

Monday Night Jazz / Seville Quarter (Lili Marlene’s) 7:30 PM. ALABAMA SEAFOOD COOK OFF / Orange Beach / 6pm

Tue, May 19 

Parks & Recreation Board Meeting | City Hall (10:00 AM) Blue Wahoos vs. Columbus | Blue Wahoos Stadium (6:05 PM) Bands on the Beach: Vibe Irie | Gulfside Pavilion (7:00 PM)

Wed, May 20 

Blue Wahoos vs. Columbus | Blue Wahoos Stadium |

Thu, May 21 

Blue Wahoos vs. Columbus (Habitat Night) | Blue Wahoos Stadium St. Christopher’s Concert: NOBIUS (Funk/Soul) | 3200 N 12th Ave (6:00 PM) D. Scott Riggs Live | Five Sisters' Blues Cafe (6:00 PM)

CIVIL, PARK & BUSINESS NEWS

CITY EVENTS - CALENDAR 

Escambia County "Petpalooza" / Saturday, May 16. Following the recent hoarding rescue of 32 dogs and the ongoing shelter overflow, Escambia County Animal Welfare is hosting Petpalooza from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Fairfield Drive center. Adoption fees are currently waived for all dogs and cats over one year old (though a $15 licensing fee applies to residents). The shelter is at a critical capacity point; this is the primary push to clear kennels before the summer heat.

Myrtle Grove Neighborhood Cleanup / Wednesday, May 20. If you live in the Southwest Myrtle Grove area (District 2), Wednesday is your day to purge. The county is providing free disposal for furniture, appliances, and household waste. Check the county website for the specific street boundaries to see if your curb is on the list.

Library Closure Notice / Monday, May 18. Take note if you're a remote worker or a student: All West Florida Public Library locations will be closed on Monday for staff training. All scheduled programs for that day are canceled

PENSACOLA REAL ESTATE

Making waves across the Sunshine State

The "Million-Dollar Garage" Trend 

Luxury developers in South FL report a bizarre shift in buyers priorities. It used to be the infinity pool or the chef's kitchen, but in 2026, the "Garage-First" movement has taken over. New condo projects are now being designed with car elevators and climate-controlled, gallery-style garages inside the actual units — essentially treating a Porsche like a piece of living room art.

The Florida State Bird: The "Construction Crane" 

In Tampa, the real estate market is being propped up by the simultaneous construction of two massive sports stadiums (the Rays and USF Football). Instead of prices dropping (due to FL’s rising insurance costs), neighborhoods within a 3-mile radius of these sites are seeing speculative "micro-booms" .

The $225 Million Record Breaker 

Just as analysts were predicting a "sharp correction" for 2026, a property in Port Royal (Naples) sold for a staggering $225 million. This isn't just a record for Naples; it smashed the record for the most expensive residential sale in the entire history of FLORIDA! And, if you think $225 million is high, a nearby peninsula in Port Royal, known as Gordon Pointe, was re-listed for $271 million in March 2026. It currently holds the title for the most expensive active listing in the United States.

The "Buyer Strike" in Cape Coral 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Cape Coral stretch of the Gulf Coast is seeing a "surprising" inventory surge—up over 70% in some areas compared to last year.

Local P’ColA Real Estate

While we aren't seeing $200M compounds yet, Pensacola is mimicking that "Inventory Surge" trend. With homes now sitting for an average of 69 days, local buyers have more leverage than they’ve had in nearly five years. The time is officially here. Would you like to tour a home?

Call / Text / Email Anytime!

Haiden Shemer / Lokation Real Estate / 850.533.2914

MAY’S EVENTS

• May 15: Venture Out Nature Festival — 9:00 AM (Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores)

• May 16: Slammedenuff Car Show — 1:00 PM (Pensacola Interstate Fairground

• May 18: 11th Annual Alabama Seafood Cook-Off — 5:00 PM (The Wharf, Orange Beach)

• May 19: Blue Angels Practice Flight — 10:30 AM (NAS Pensacola/National Naval Aviation Museum)

• May 20: Blue Angels Practice Flight — 10:30 AM (NAS Pensacola/National Naval Aviation Museum

• May 22: Memorial Day Weekend Celebration at OWA — 12:00 PM (Downtown OWA, Foley)

• May 22: Micro Wrestling Federation Performance — 8:00 PM (Vinyl Music Hall, Pensacola)

• May 23: LuLuPalooza Music Festival — 11:00 AM (LuLu’s, Gulf Shores)

• May 23: The Graffiti Bridge 5k / RunPensacola.com

• May 26: Blue Angels Practice Flight — 10:30 AM (NAS Pensacola/National Naval Aviation Museum)

• May 27: Blue Angels Practice Flight — 10:30 AM (NAS Pensacola/National Naval Aviation Museum)

Mercy, what a lineup! We’re gonna be busier than a crab at a seafood boil!

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

MAY 2026

• May 15 – Hot In Herre: 2000's Dance Party – Vinyl Music Hall – 9:30 PM

• May 16 – Gasolina Reggaeton Party – Vinyl Music Hall – 9:00 PM

• May 17 – Broadway Lights: Adventures In Neverland – Saenger Theatre – 2:00 PM

• May 19 – Vibe Irie (Bands on the Beach) – Gulfside Pavilion – 7:00 PM

• May 19 – Iration – Vinyl Music Hall – 7:00 PM

• May 26 – Modern Eldorados (Bands on the Beach) – Gulfside Pavilion – 7:00 PM

• May 28 –38 Special: 50 Year Legacy Tour – Saenger Theatre – 7:00 PM

• THE HANDLEBAR

• BAMBOO WILLIES

• LAGUNA’S

• VINYL MUSIC HALL

• SEVILLE QUARTER

• PENSACOLA OPERA

• THE SALTY ROSE

SPORTS

PENSACOLA- Calendar

GENERAL EVENTS

• May 15 – Road To The Snowflake #2 (Late Model Racing) – Five Flags Speedway – 8:00 PM

• May 16 – Slammedenuff Car Show – Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds – 1:00 PM

• May 29 – Kid’s Bike Races + Racing – Five Flags Speedway – 7:00 PM

• May 30 – Pensacola FC vs. Valdosta FC (Women's Soccer) – Ashton Brosnaham Stadium – 4:00 PM

RUNNING & TRAIL EVENTS (RUN)

• MONDAYS MONDAY DOG RUN

• THURSDAYS FLEET FEET

• EVENTS: 

  • May 16 – Waves 2 Wine 5K – Gulf Breeze to Pensacola Beach – 7:30 AM

  • May 16 – Rec Plex North parkrun 5K – UWF Rec Plex North – 7:30 AM

  • May 23 – Graffiti Bridge 5K – 17th Avenue (Graffiti Bridge) – 7:30 AM

  • May 23 – Rec Plex North parkrun 5K – UWF Rec Plex North – 7:30 AM

  • May 30 – Rec Plex North parkrun 5K – UWF Rec Plex North – 7:30 AM

MORE SPORTS/ MORE EVENTS including… Equestrian, Pickleball, Paddle board, Hiking, Surfing, Kyacking, Soccer

• May 16 – Pensacola Red, White & Blue Hunter Jumper Show – Escambia County Equestrian Center – 8:00 AM

• May 16 – ECT Summer Slam Pickleball: Men's Doubles/Women's Singles – Niceville (Oakmont Dr) – 8:00 AM

• May 17 – Pensacola Red, White & Blue Hunter Jumper Show – Escambia County Equestrian Center – 8:00 AM

• May 17 – ECT Summer Slam Pickleball: Mixed Doubles – Niceville (Oakmont Dr) – 8:00 AM

• May 22 – "Under the Lights" Schooling Show & Clinic – Escambia County Equestrian Center – 5:00 PM

• May 23 – "Under the Lights" Schooling Show & Clinic – Escambia County Equestrian Center – 8:00 AM 

• Hiking the Loop UWF Main Campus 20+ miles of trails for all skill levels (Nature Trail & West Campus). Best accessed from the Pate Street Trailhead (11969 Pate St.). It’s free to park there, and you can pick up the trail right from the lot.

• If you're lookin' for a casual game of soccer or pickleball, the Vickrey Resource Center and Bayview Park usually have folks out playin' pickup games most weekday evenings when the weather is this nice.

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