Happy Friday the 13th!

Thanks for letting me drop into your inbox on this spooky morning!

We are 10 days out from our community bingo night and I’ve got about 20 prizes lined up. It’s going to be a fun night and tickets are starting to go fast. If you haven’t gotten them yet, you can get them here!

One of my goals this year is to put on more community events and I think this is going to be a good start!

Let’s get to it!

The Annual Mardi Gras Parade is set kick off in Downtown Huntsville this Saturday at 2:30 PM.

The parade will start at Meridian Street and Cleveland Avenue, then head south on Meridian. If you’re coming with beads in hand, the designated “Throw Zone” is along Holmes Avenue, Washington Street, and Eustis Avenue.

If you’ve got some extra time on your hands, the Huntsville Drumline will kick things off downtown at 1, with the parade set to wrap up around 4 PM.

If you’re planning to be downtown, multiple streets will be closed starting at 2 PM. If you need help visualizing, here’s a parade map.

Dream of waking up to lake views and ending your evenings with unforgettable sunsets? Duckett Pointe is one of Lake Guntersville’s most impressive luxury communities, designed for elevated, low-maintenance living.

This gated neighborhood blends natural beauty with resort-style amenities, including a clubhouse with a restaurant and bar, pool, private dock with boat concierge, fitness center, and five-acres of green space. Homes feature customizable floor plans with an available elevator option, giving you the flexibility to build a space that fits your lifestyle.

The best way to experience it is in person. Schedule a private tour to walk the property, meet the builder, explore available homesites, and learn more about the designs and amenities waiting for you.

Curious to learn more? Click below to download the brochure or schedule a private tour!

P.S. Want to feature your business in our next ad slot? We are now booking for Q2. Fill out this form for more info!

Alabama’s first IKEA is getting one step closer to opening, as the iconic yellow sign was hung outside the store earlier this week.

The 46,000 square-foot building is located in the University Place Shopping Center next to GigaParts and is expected to open in early 2026.

While the store is smaller than some traditional IKEA stores, it’ll still have over 5,000 items on display, an “As-Is Department”, an online pickup location, and a bistro with Swedish snacks!

Federal leaders have secured $14.2 million to support UAH’s Exploration Plaza, a major campus expansion designed to boost research, innovation, and student opportunity.

The multi-phase project will span roughly 58 acres, creating a mixed-use innovation district with new research space, student amenities, and stronger industry partnerships. University officials say the funding will accelerate workforce development and deepen ties to Huntsville’s tech and defense sectors.

Leaders expect the project to generate economic activity, expand job opportunities, and further position UAH as a key driver of innovation across North Alabama.

After the passing of legendary blues musician Microwave Dave, fans across North Alabama have created a petition to rename “Mars Music Hall” to the “Microwave Dave Music Hall.”

At the time of writing, the petition has 668 signatures. The organizer says renaming the music hall will, “establish a legacy in the music scene of Huntsville in Dave’s honor for generations to come.”

If you’d like to sign the petition, you can find it here.

Our Big Spring Park puzzles have been flying off the shelves (AKA my garage) and I’ve only got about 40 of them left before they’re gone.

If you haven’t grabbed one yet, you may want to get one before they’re gone. If you enjoy puzzles, I promise you’ll love it!

So many of you have already sent me messages telling me how much you’ve enjoyed them and it makes me smile every time!

A big shoutout to all the Premium Explorers that help make this newsletter possible! If you’d like to support us, click here to join!

Thank you to our friends at the Huntsville Music Office for sponsoring this section! The Huntsville Music Office exists to support the growing live music scene in Huntsville. See more upcoming live music with their free music calendar!

Want to see more upcoming events or add an event to the calendar? Click here.

Thanks for making it to the end! Don’t forget to get your tickets for bingo night!

Have a great weekend!