Here’s a roundup of our top stories from the past week.
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Pensacola area bar named one of best in U.S. Everything to know before you go
Flora-Bama, the iconic Perdido Key honky-tonk where legendary musicians and beach bums alike party in harmony on the Florida-Alabama state line, made national news this week as one of the 27 bars included on the 2024 USA TODAY Bars of the Year list. The list was created by USA TODAY Network food writers across the country and includes everything from humble dives to high-end cocktail bars.
Keep reading: Pensacola area bar named one of best in U.S. Everything to know before you go
Pensacola area bars: 6 of the most unique, from a secret tiki bar to a ’70s inspired arcade
USA TODAY released its first-ever 2024 USA TODAY Bars of the Year list on Monday, tracking down some of the best beach bars, dives and swanky cocktail lounges across the country. Perdido Key’s famous Flora-Bama scored a spot on the list. But if you’ve lived in Pensacola long enough, you know there are plenty more weird and wonderful bars to explore.
From a retro arcade bar to a secret tiki bar on the sand, we’ve compiled six of the most memorable bars in the Pensacola area to add to your local bucket list. Cheers!
Keep reading: Pensacola area bars: 6 of the most unique, from a secret tiki bar to a 70s inspired arcade
Everything you need to know about parking in downtown Pensacola in 2024
Pensacola has made several changes to parking rules over the last few years, and the most recent was imposing paid parking on Palafox Street.
As of Aug. 1, free parking after 7 p.m. is a thing of the past just like paying with a coin-fed parking meter.
Here’s what you need to know if you plan to park in downtown Pensacola in 2024.
Keep reading: Everything you need to know about parking in downtown Pensacola in 2024
Eglin Air Force colonel fired days before handing off command duties
An Air Force colonel was fired from his post at Eglin Air Force Base just days before he was scheduled to depart via a July 18 change-of-command ceremony, Air Force officials confirmed.
Col. Jeremiah Hammill was relieved of his duties as commander of the 96th Test Wing Civil Engineer Group on July 15 due to a “[loss of] confidence in [his] ability to lead,” an Air Force Materiel Command spokesperson told Military Times in an email.
Hammill’s actions, which service officials did not detail, “raised concerns about good order and discipline within [the unit],” the spokesperson said. “At this time, we are not going to comment further on the circumstances leading to this decision.”
Keep reading: Eglin Air Force colonel fired days before handing off command duties
The ashes of University Mall are rekindling as the area resurges in its third act
University Town Plaza − or University Mall as it is often remembered − used to be the prominent shopping and social hub for area residents. Built in 1974 on North Davis Highway, it boasted three retail anchors, an inside movie theater and an architectural charm found often in U.S. malls built during the mid-20th century.
Its charm, alongside its functionality, left a memorable mark in the minds of some longtime residents who remember University Mall during its most popular era.
It reigned supreme for about two decades before a number of issues − some literally − hit the area and Cordova Mall’s development made it a more appealing option for shoppers, eventually relegating University Mall to the open-air strip mall that it is today.
Keep reading: The ashes of University Mall are rekindling as the area resurges in its third act
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola top stories: Pensacola Bar named one of the best in U.S.
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