Do Book Clubs Still Exist?

The Opening Line

Good morning, Pensacola. I hope your Christmas decorations are put away, you are staying warm on these cold nights, and that you find something interesting from this week’s newsletter. It means a lot that you open and read our weekly email. Thank you.

In today’s line:

The Digest - Do book clubs still exist?
Car Talk with David and Drew - How to win when buying a car (Part 2)
What’s Happening Around Town - Plan Propagation and Celebrations
Live Music

— The Bay Line Crew

The Digest

The weather has stayed cold and I have been working on a few books (I have four in progress right now). This got me thinking about local book clubs and what options there may be to get you reading and connecting with locals to discuss it. Here’s a run down of what we found.

Paper Cuts Book Club - February 1st - They meet every 6 weeks and discuss a fiction novel that they decided on together at the previous book club. I see for this month they are reading The Princess Bride before the next meeting at Coastal Country Brewing.

Santa Rosa County Public Library - Past Tense Book Club — Family History & Research Center in Milton . Historical fiction book club at the Family History & Research Center. Third Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. Coffee Talk — Gulf Breeze Library Book Club - Non-fiction book club at Gulf Breeze Library (1060 Shoreline Dr., Gulf Breeze). Second Thursday every other month at noon. Page Turners — Gulf Breeze Library Book Club Fiction book club at Gulf Breeze Library. Second Thursday every other month at noon (starting February). Fiction lovers discuss a new title each session; open to 18+ participants.As The Page Turns — Jay Library Book Club
Adult book club at the Jay Library. Fourth Tuesday each month at 4 p.m. Members choose a genre and book to discuss; new readers always welcome. The Inklings Book Club — Milton Library (Teens) Youth book club. Second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. 6th–10th grade read either a novel or graphic novel version of the monthly pick and discuss. Registration is required. Novel Ideas Book Club — Milton Library
Adult book club. Second Monday of each month at 10 a.m. Monthly book discussion with refreshments from the friends group.

Coastal Cat Cafe Book Club - January 29 - This one is interesting. They are reading The Handmaid’s Tale this month then meet in the cat lounge to discuss our upcoming book pick. For $20, enjoy an hour of thoughtful conversation, relaxed vibes, and plenty of purrs from their 20+ adoptable kitties.

West Florida Public Libraries - Several local libraries host monthly book clubs for a variety of interests, all meeting at regular times. The Pensacola Library Popular Literary Book Club (Pensacola) meets the third Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. for adults 18+, while the Pensacola Library Graphic Novel Book Club (Pensacola) meets the third Saturday at 2:00 p.m. for ages 15+ and focuses on graphic novels. The Molino Library Book Club (Molino) meets the third Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with a rotating monthly title, and the Tryon Library Literary Book Club (Pensacola) gathers the third Friday at 10:30 a.m. for adult readers. Rounding things out, the Brownsville Library Cookbook Club (Pensacola) meets the third Tuesday at 2:30 p.m., offering a social, food-focused gathering centered on sharing recipes, cooking tips, and kitchen ideas.

East Hill Book Club - Meet on the third Tuesday of the month (just met on Tuesday the 20th). You can check out their Facebook page for next months details.

Friends of Pace Area Library - February 10th - They meet in the Pace Library meeting room and will discuss the Fantasy book "The House in Cerulean Sea" by TJ Klune.

Barnes and Noble - Has several book clubs. Romantasy book club (January 29th), Storytime, this one is for kids and appears to be Saturdays at 2pm (January 31st and February 7th), Fantasy Book Club (February 12th), and a Mystery/Thriller Book Club (February 12th). Check out their website to see the specific times and the books they are currently reading.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They’re just the things you need to know. I’ll always let you know when something’s sponsored.

Around Town

Snow Day Release and Pensacola Vibes Signing - January 21 - On the one year anniversary of the major snow storm, Odd Colony Brewing Co. is releasing a SNOW DAY IPA (limited can release) and will have Sean Mullins of Pensacola Vibes selling + signing his Pensacola Snowstorm Coffee Table Book.

Plant Propagation Workshop - January 21 - Bailey’s Produce and Nursery - Learn how to make more plants from the ones you already love. They’ll cover simple propagation methods, including cuttings and divisions, plus the tools and tips that help new plants take root.

Grown up Book Fair - Odd Colony Brewing Co. - January 24, 25 -Re-live those childhood days of the glorious Book Fair, Sift through stacks of books, support local bookstores & authors, indulge on nostalgic food & treats, and 90's Yearbook Photo Booth.

Bayview Community Center - January 27 - Outdoor Pursuits Open House from 2-6pm. Learn about Outdoor Pursuits Adventure Programs, Affordable Rentals, Facility Tours, and more. Staff will be on-site to assist families with a new registration software, CivicRec. Kayak paddle, kayak capsize recovery, fishing reel tear-down, and archery demonstrations.

Kaboom Sports and Social Club have start dates happening soon - KICKBALL @ Lions Park - January 22 & February 4, CORNHOLE @ Wild Greg's Saloon - January 27, 4's VOLLEYBALL @ Coastal County Brewing - January 29 & February 25, 4's VOLLEYBALL @ Oar House - February 5 & February 9.

Cooking Classes - Pensacola Cooks Commissary and Classroom have two classes in January with Everything Pie Crusts on the 18th and Families Cook: Pizza Making on the 25th. Last week we talked about ways to get active, maybe that’s why I am hungry.

Ice Flyers - Home Games Continue - The Ice Flyers are back at the Bay Center January 30, and 31 with additional games. Local hockey is loud, fast, and surprisingly fun even if you’re not a big sports person.

Saenger Theatre - January 23 and 25 - Verdi's La Traviata - It’s an Opera, there will be singing, love, death. All the classics. If you like the Opera than you will like this. January 27 - Dinosaurs World Live - Interactive family show. Great for the dinosaur loving kids.

Upcoming Events

Mardi Gras Parades - February 13 - Krewe of Lafitte Parade. February 14 - Grand Mardi Gras Parade. Due to the Palafox construction the parade route has been adjusted.

Kids & Kritters Parade – Jan 24 (Pensacola Beach)
The family-friendly parade featuring pets and community groups returns later this month and usually draws a big turnout on the beach.

Milton Mardi Gras Parade – Jan 31
Santa Rosa County’s Mardi Gras season ramps up with the Milton parade and after-party. A good option if you want a parade experience without downtown congestion.

Pensacon- Feb 20-22 - Pensacola Bay Center and additional venues - Pensacon is the Gulf Coast’s premier pop culture convention celebrating the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, horror, comic books, cosplay, animation, video games, books and much, much more. The three-day event draws tens of thousands to downtown Pensacola and takes place across multiple venues

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They’re just the things you need to know. I’ll always let you know when something’s sponsored.

Car Talk

With David and Drew from East Bay Automotive

This week is Part 2 of How to Win When Buying a Car. David and Drew continue discussing helpful considerations when looking for that new - or new to you - vehicle.

“When buying a new car, timing still matters — but the market looks very different than it did before COVID. Traditionally, the best time to buy new was toward the end of the year when dealers had leftover “holdover” models as the next year’s vehicles arrived. That can still be true in some cases, but today there are far fewer rebates than there used to be. Many modern rebates simply offset inflation, and the reality is you can still lose $8,000–$10,000 the moment you drive a brand-new car off the lot.

For most buyers, we still strongly recommend purchasing a lightly used, well-chosen pre-owned vehicle. During the COVID years, buying new briefly made sense because used prices were inflated beyond reason — but that window has closed. Today, if you buy a lightly used vehicle from a reputable facility that isn’t taking advantage of you, you’ll almost always come out ahead compared to buying new.

Research is where people win or lose. Start by researching makes and models that fit the type of vehicle you want, not just what looks good on the lot. Google is a powerful tool when used correctly. Search things like “best years for…” or “which model years have the fewest issues.” Even better, talk with a trusted mechanic and ask what problems they regularly see. For example, we frequently see failures with certain 2.0 and 2.4 GDI engines in Kia and Hyundai vehicles — often not a matter of if, but when. If warranty coverage is part of your decision, make sure you understand the timeline and whether that warranty transfers to a new owner.

Avoid impulse buying. Take your time and focus on buying the right vehicle, not just the one that’s available today. Learn the maintenance history of the specific vehicle you’re considering and understand the reputation of that make and model overall. Compare prices across multiple sources — dealers, private listings, and online marketplaces — to see what similar vehicles are actually selling for. Knowing the average market price helps protect you from overpaying and minimizes potential loss when negotiating with a dealer.

Buying smart takes patience, research, and perspective — but those steps can save you thousands.”

If you have any questions, or need advice, give David or Drew a call at (850)-665-4302. They would be happy to see you or your vehicle. Visit - East Bay Automotive (Google Maps) or their website East Bay Automotive Website.