Politics
Here’s Brunch, a pop-up, weekend email about the 2026 Legislative Session — 2.8.26
Good Sunday morning, and welcome back to “Brunch,” a pop-up newsletter about the 2026 Legislative Session and more.
This is a super-sized, Super Bowl-themed edition of “Brunch.” The Super Bowl means a lot more to me than the game or the commercials.
Some of the best memories of my childhood were watching the game with my Dad. He was a chef, so the spread he’d prepare was a cornucopia of the most delicious high-end snacks you can imagine.
He’d even let my brother and me stay home from school the next day because he thought it was ridiculous that we were expected to wake up early after staying up to watch the Big Game.
Michelle, a massive football fan herself, has continued my Dad’s traditions by hosting a world-class party each Super Bowl, featuring food from the two teams’ respective cities (last year it was Philly cheesesteaks and Kansas City ribs).
I’m not yet sure about this year’s menu, but I know there are some oyster shooters from Pike Place Market ready to be devoured.
We had a party on Friday night to celebrate the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics. We just enjoy throwing parties and watching sports, I guess. Next year will really be interesting because the NFL is playing the Super Bowl on Valentine’s Day, on the Sunday before President’s Day.
Two quick overnight updates from the Olympics. Lindsey Vonn, racing on a badly injured left knee, crashed early in the Olympic downhill on Sunday and was taken off the course by a helicopter after the 41-year-old American received medical attention on the snow for long, anguished minutes. Meanwhile, Breezy Johnson, Vonn’s teammate, became only the second American woman to win the Olympic downhill after Vonn did it 16 years ago. The 30-year-old Johnson held off Emma Aicher of Germany and Italy’s Sofia Goggia on a bittersweet day for the team.
Please check out this week’s choices for Winner and Loser of the Week in Florida politics.
Happy birthday to U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, Michelle McGovern, Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Comcast, and Rachel Witbracht, Director of Government Relations at the University of West Florida.
Now, please enjoy Brunch. Oh, wait, I forgot to give you my prediction about tonight’s game. I really, really like the Seahawks to win and win by a lot. So, if you can find a book that lets you bet alt lines, I’d go as high as Seattle -9.5. That said, I like the Patriots to score more than 2.5 points in the first quarter. I think New England Coach Mike Vrabel has a trick or two up his sleeve to get on the board early.
We asked; you answered. This week, Florida Politics put out a call to those in The Process (both electeds and those behind the scenes) for their Super Bowl LX predictions. The response — many serious, others more tongue-in-cheek — was overwhelming!
— The key takeaway: This will be a close match, and the winner is still anyone’s guess.
“Patriots by 3! (Maybe wishful thinking)” — Attorney General James Uthmeier
“New England 28 Seahawks 24. Is this America 250 or not?” — Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson
“Patriots 31-21” — Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia
“I’m going with Seattle. They are favored by a few points and strong on both offense and defense.” — Sen. Jim Boyd
“I asked my ten-year-old son who is the Bucs biggest fan. He said we are now rooting for the Seahawks since the Patriots have won so many.” — Sen. Danny Burgess
“I’m not rooting for either team, but I think the Seahawks will win and cover the spread.” — Sen. Nick DiCeglie
“Seahawks 20-17” — Sen. Joe Gruters
“I don’t have a favorite this year. But if I were betting, I would probably pick the Seahawks by seven.” — Sen. Ed Hooper
“I think I’m going to go with the Seahawks — I’m going to root for the underdog.” — Sen. Shev Jones
“Forget the weather forecast, it’s raining Seahawks confetti in my prediction!” — Sen. Barbara Sharief
“Seahawks. 27-17.” — House Speaker Daniel Perez
“Seahawks win 21-10.” — Rep. Daryl Campbell
“Seahawks, baby. I love that they have a female owner and blue and green are my colors — so all of the non-football reasons.” — Rep. Lindsay Cross
“I just hope both teams have fun.” — Rep. Dan Daley
“Seahawks over Patriots and Bad Bunny over Kid Rock. ” — House Minority Leader Rep. Fentrice Driskell
“Seattle Seahawks 34 – 24” — Rep. Gallop Franklin
“Bad Bunny is going to be amazing!!” — Rep. Ashley Gantt
“Bad Bunny is gonna knock it out of the park and have everyone on their feet dancing!” — Rep. Rita Harris
“I’m originally from Boston so – Patriots by 4! Go Pats!” — Rep. Christine Hunschofsky
“Seattle 27 – 13 because Seattle is really America’s team in this matchup” — Rep. Angie Nixon
“Patriots win 27 to 20.” / “Not a fan of either team. Buccaneers for life.” — Rep. Michael Owen
“My first NFL game was at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro, long before Kraft and Brady. That day with my Dad hooked me, and I became a lifelong Patriots fan even when we stunk. The Pats are back and will win 30-27 on a last-minute touchdown, Maye to Diggs, and win their seventh Super Bowl.” — Rep. Toby Overdorf
“I don’t watch football, so I’m rooting for Bad Bunny.” — Rep. Michelle Rayner
“Seahawks by 6” — Rep. Mitch Rosenwald
“I am rooting for the Bucs to be back in it next year. Other than that, I just enjoy watching the whole spectacle, especially the commercials.” — Harry Cohen, Hillsborough County Commissioner
“I’m rooting for Bad Bunny!” — Brandi Gabbard, St. Petersburg City Commission
“Pulling for the Seahawks because I hate the Patriots.” — Ken Hagen, Hillsborough County Commissioner
“I am cheering for the Patriots. Drake Maye is a great young quarterback, and it would be awesome to see an underdog win the Super Bowl.” — Chris Latvala, Pinellas County Commission
“I am rooting for the Seahawks. They are overdue. I also love rooting for underdogs.” — Kathleen Peters, Pinellas County Commission
“Seahawks in a low-scoring affair. Take the under.” — James Blair
“The Seahawks. They have the cutest football outfits.” — Katie Blaxberg, Pinellas School Board
No dog in the fight, and usually in that case, I go with whoever’s got the most former Penn State players on the roster. In this game, each have one, so that doesn’t work. So, I will go with Seattle just because. — Bob Buckhorn, former (and future?) Tampa Mayor
“Denver completes its greatest comeback of the season – two weeks after seemingly losing to New England, they figure out a way to re-kick that last field goal to win over New England and then defeat Seattle 31-30 with yet another last-second 68-yard field goal.” — Jonathan Chapman, Florida Association of Community Health Centers
“The Undersheriff is originally from Boston, the new coach turned a losing team around in his first season, and I love an underdog. I’m supporting the Patriots!” — Chad Chronister, Hillsborough County Sheriff
“Patriots by 10.” — Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power
“In both politics and football, I’m already looking ahead to the hard work needed to win this fall. I’m always loyal to my Fins and know I’ll watch them in a Super Bowl someday. I’m very excited for Bad Bunny’s halftime show, though.” — Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried
“Seahawks 24 Pats 13 … McConaughey/Uber Eats commercial earns rave reviews” — Javi Correoso
“Kid Rock halftime show outperforms the Bunny Rabbit by a wide margin” — Brad Drake
“I’ll be cheering for Bad Bunny!” — Gina Driscoll, St. Petersburg City Council
“National Anthem – 1:59.5 (one minute, 59.5 seconds)” — Chris Dudley, The Southern Group
“Seahawks win – 24-20 … Kenneth Walker III scores the first TD … Orange Gatorade on winning coach” — Chris Dudley, The Southern Group
“Winner: Patriots Score: 24-20 Prediction: Drake Maye gets MVP!” — Sadie Haire, Becker’s Government Relations Consultant
“Seahawks 30 Patriots 20” — Chris Hansen, Ballard Partners
“Seattle defense dominates; Kenneth Walker’s 2 TDS (maybe 3) take care of business in a 28-3 thrashing of the Patriots. I said what I said, 28-3.” — David Johnson
“Seahawks, due to their top-ranked defense, and Sam Darnold should be up to the task. Over the last four years, from January 2022 to January 2026, Sam Darnold has the best winning percentage of any quarterback in the NFL with a minimum of 30 games played.” — Jeff Johnston, Johnston & Stewart government relations
“Seahawks lose again on a goal-line interception” — Martin Page, MDW
“Patriots QB Drake Maye sacked at least five times” — Ron Sachs, Sachs Media
“31–7 Seahawks with JSN scoring one or more TDs and green Gatorade” — Jake Stofan Action News Jax
“Patriots 49-20” — Nick Wilson, Kato Law
— We will know the answer soon; kickoff is at 6:30 p.m.
Thanks to everyone for participating and … enjoy the game.
— Trump pregame preview —
President Donald Trump sat for a high-profile interview with NBC News’ Tom Llamas tied into NBC’s Super Bowl LX pregame coverage — even as he won’t make the trip to Santa Clara for kickoff itself.
— What we’ve heard: Early snippets show Trump talking about the controversial shootings of two U.S. citizens by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis, saying he’s “not happy” with the incidents. “And you know who feels worse about it than anybody? The people of ICE,” Trump added.
— Election deflection: Trump also continued his election denialism and responded to questions about his suggestion to “nationalize” elections. And asked whether he would accept the results of the 2026 election, which are expected to be favorable for Democrats, Trump gave his patented dodge of an answer, saying he “will if the elections are honest.”
— When it airs: While some portions of the nearly one-hour interview have already been released, a fuller version is set to air during the Super Bowl Sunday pregame show on NBC, giving it a spotlight in the hours building up to kickoff.
— MAHA Mike —
You may not be able to beat Mike Tyson (sorry, Will Smith). But you can eat like the man who formerly dominated the heavyweight division, inspiring a classic video game in his youth and now in his golden years, in conjunction with Health and Human Services, inspiring healthy habits.
— Kitchen confessional: In a black and white spot with moody, ambient music behind him, Tyson talks about how food killed his sister and put him in bad shape as well. At his “fat and nasty” peak, he was 375 pounds, eating a quart of ice cream every hour in a spiral of “self-hate.”
— Don’t trust the process: The champ chomps an apple and says something must be done about processed food in this country, clearly drawing a link between bad food and bad thoughts.
— Health hero: Tyson and President Trump have been linking up on issues beyond whole foods. For example, the pugilist went a full 15 rounds in the fight to move medical pot closer to Schedule III.
— Blue zone —
Is the Super Bowl for liberals only? That’s one conclusion that could be drawn from a poll of 823 registered Florida voters conducted by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) and Sport Impact Jax (SIJ).
— Party split: Whereas 75% of Democrats will watch the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos face off, only 65% of Republicans and 63% of unaligned voters plan to watch the game.
— Pollster unsurprised: “This year’s Super Bowl features two teams from blue cities in blue states, takes place in a blue city in a blue state, and features two openly anti-Trump musical acts (Bad Bunny and Green Day). Many aspects of American culture have become politically-coded, and this year the Super Bowl appears to be coded blue,” commented incoming faculty director of UNF’s PORL, Dr. Sean Freeder.
— Conservative channel changer: When Bad Bunny performs, those Republicans watching are more likely than not to turn away… perhaps to check out the musical stylings of Kid Rock during the Turning Point USA alternative halftime show. Only 40% of the GOP faithful say they won’t turn the channel, with 57% tuning out. Conversely, 89% of Democrats will watch the Super Bowl halftime show. 77% of NPA voters will also keep their attention on the screen.
— Inclusive kickoff —
Super Bowl LX is shaping up as a high-visibility moment for LGBTQ inclusion, with performers, ads and league-backed events putting representation front and center during the NFL’s biggest week.
— On the stage: Bad Bunny, a longtime LGBTQ ally, will headline the halftime show. Brandi Carlile, who is openly queer, is set to sing “America the Beautiful.” And Green Day — led by bisexual frontman Billie Joe Armstrong — will perform in the pregame lineup.
— Beyond the game: GLAAD and the NFL will host the fifth annual A Night of Pride during Super Bowl week, spotlighting LGBTQ artists and reinforcing the league’s message that football is for everyone.
— Ad game strong: Super Bowl spots will again feature LGBTQ talent, including Andy Cohen, Bowen Yang and Lady Gaga, as brands chase a community with an estimated $1.4 trillion in U.S. buying power.
Taken together, the league, its advertisers and its performers are leaning into inclusion as both a cultural signal and a business play. Maybe “woke” isn’t dead after all.
— Place your bets —
Will a U.S. Congressman be at your Super Bowl party? We surveyed Florida’s congressional delegation on what they expect from the game. Like on so many topics, there was plenty of disagreement.
— U.S. Sen. Rick Scott’s office: “Sen. Scott is all in for the Patriots!”
— U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean: “The over under is 4, whether or not I will gain that many pounds watching the game. Patriots win by 8 points.”
— U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ office: “With the Buccaneers and Steelers out, the Congressman will be watching for a great game and memorable commercials as he celebrates his birthday. He knows the new Trump Accounts will be spotlighted in a Super Bowl ad and sees it as a perfect opportunity to drive awareness of the benefits families can use for their children. Having said that, he thinks the Seahawks will win.”
— U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack’s office: “She predicts the Patriots!”
— U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor: “For the Super Bowl, I predict that Americans will enjoy time with family and friends, that Bad Bunny will bring down the house, and that guacamole will rule the day. Feels like a Seahawks victory to me.”
— U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart’s office: “We probably have more New England fans in our district, so we’ll go with that.”
— U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos: “Patriots upset Seahawks!”
— U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis’ office: “Congressman Patronis predicts that the Patriots will win the Super Bowl.”
— U.S. Rep. Darren Soto: “Seahawks win in a narrow victory propelled by their more prolific offense.”
— U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz: “My Super Bowl prediction: Bad Bunny by 100M+ viewers over Kid Rock. And as a Dolphins fan, I can’t root for more Lombardi Trophies for the Patriots. On the field, I think the Seahawks win, but Broward-raised Pats kicker Andres Borregales will keep it close with some big field goals late.”
— Florida’s David Duke? —
In what is the most racially coded GOP Gubernatorial Primary in many years, groyper poster boy James Fishback continues to make news for being willing to say racist things about front-runner Byron Donalds. He recently brought his mix of “America First” bromides and white grievance theater to Tara Palmeri’s podcast. Here are some ‘highlights’:
— Donalds diss: Fishback has plenty to say about Donalds, calling him a “DEI Hire” and a “token” who wouldn’t be in Congress if he weren’t Black. Never mind that, unlike Fishback, who has never even been elected to a Soil and Water Board, the Naples Congressman served in the Florida House before winning a heavily contested Primary in 2022, then being re-elected as he helmed the President’s minority outreach nationally in 2024.
— White suffering: Fishback claims that white men “can no longer afford to live in Florida” due to economic changes, saying there’s “systemic racism against white, Christian men.” His big proof? A DEI presentation from Coca-Cola five years ago urged employees to “be less White” and demonstrate empathy. He refused to “recount” his “lived experience” when asked for proof.
— Fuentes en fuego: The candidate is a huge fan of Nick Fuentes, the OG groyper, and Palmeri pressed him on the apparent mutual admiration society. Fishback said many “patriotic and insightful” men support the controversial figure, and that’s good enough for him. He also soft-shoed when asked about Fuentes being a “White nationalist,” saying, “We’re not going to agree on everything.” Indeed.
— Points for Porras —
Rep. Juan Porras had a good week in Tallahassee, advancing three bills through Committee stops.
— HOA oversight: On Tuesday, the House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee OK’d legislation (HB 657) aiming to change how disputes with homeowners associations are handled, to empower homeowners. The measure would also provide a pathway to terminate HOAs. It has two more stops to go.
— Honoring Charlie Kirk: On Wednesday, the House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee moved along legislation (HB 33) honoring Kirk with a road designation to its final Committee stop. The bill would designate a one-mile stretch on Southwest 107th Avenue (State Road 90) between 8th Street and 24th Street as “Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue.”
— Risk protection orders: Then on Thursday, the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee approved a measure (HB 1455) ensuring respondents have the right to be represented by an attorney in a risk protection order proceeding and the right to have counsel appointed if they are indigent and desire representation. That bill also has two stops remaining.
— Veterans courts boost —
The House has passed HB 199, a measure aimed at strengthening Florida veterans’ treatment courts by bringing them in line with other specialty courts already operating statewide.
— Courts correction: Veterans treatment courts oversee cases where offenses are often tied to service-related trauma, mental health challenges or substance use, pairing close judicial supervision with treatment and mentoring.
— Why supporters cheer: Advocates say the bill preserves accountability while improving consistency and outcomes, arguing the model reduces repeat offenses and improves public safety when properly structured.
— Broad backing: The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Patt Maney and co-sponsored by Rep. Dean Black, has drawn support from veterans’ groups and victim advocates, including the VFW and the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
— Week ahead —
Here’s your rundown on the week ahead.
— A comparatively light advocacy calendar, with real action concentrated in the middle of the week. There’s little organized pressure on Monday, and Thursday and Friday are quiet enough to function as glide paths rather than crunch days. If this week feels calmer than the last few, that’s because it is.
— Tuesday: The hallway math gets real. Florida Nonprofit Day brings a broad, coordinated presence that touches nearly every policy area without owning any single one, while KPMG’s literacy initiative hums in the background. Layered on top of that, faith leaders convene for their quarterly meeting, and Miami-Dade Days kicks off with PaellaFest, turning the courtyard into a soft-power zone.
— Wednesday: Peak advocacy congestion. Catholic Days at the Capitol, Home Care Day, and the second day of Florida Nonprofit Day all compete for attention, meetings, and mental bandwidth. These are issue sets that lawmakers can’t easily dismiss and don’t want to mishandle.
— Parkland marker —
Nearly eight years after the Parkland shooting, U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz will join U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick for a bipartisan news conference pressing Congress to move school safety legislation.
— Bipartisan push: The lawmakers plan to spotlight proposals aimed at strengthening campus security, improving emergency notification systems, and tightening response protocols.
— Who’s there: Families who lost loved ones to gun violence in schools are expected to stand alongside the members, underscoring the human stakes behind the policy debate.
— When and where: The event is set for Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 10 a.m. in Cannon 130.
— CD 20 shake-up? —
A new poll shows turbulence at the top of the Democratic Primary in Florida’s 20th Congressional District, with challenger Elijah Manley narrowly edging incumbent U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
— Top of the ticket: In a four-way Primary that includes the incumbent, Manley posts 38% to Cherfilus-McCormick’s 35%, with former state Sen. Dale Holness at 10% trailing and a notable 13% bloc still undecided.
— If she’s out: When voters are asked to choose without the incumbent on the ballot, Manley opens a wider lead over Holness, 45% to 33%, suggesting a more straightforward path in a condensed field.
— One-on-one: A direct head-to-head with Cherfilus-McCormick shows Manley up 40% to 38%, well within the margin of error and with more than 1 in 5 voters still on the fence.
— Image problem: Favorability numbers cut sharply against the incumbent, who posts a 50% unfavorable rating, while Manley remains largely undefined but positive among those who have an opinion.
— Indictment factor: Seven in 10 voters say Cherfilus-McCormick should resign rather than seek re-election, underscoring how much her legal troubles loom over the race.
— SIP happens —
Two Tampa candidates are teaming up for a joint fundraiser this Friday, when Senate District 14 candidate Brian Nathan and House District 64 candidate Luis Salazar host “SIP Happens: Lotería Night” at Catrina’s Tacos and Tequila.
— Game night politics: The family-friendly event blends fundraising with culture, featuring rounds of Lotería, food, drinks and conversation as election season starts to heat up.
— What you get: Adult tickets run $60 and include a margarita flight and a Lotería game card, with organizers pitching it as equal parts civic engagement and social night out.
— Why they’re doing it: Salazar and Nathan say grassroots gatherings like this help candidates connect directly with voters ahead of the 2026 cycle.
For Tampa Bay, it’s a reminder that campaigning doesn’t always look like a stump speech — sometimes it comes with tacos and tequila.
— An American fair —
In Florida State Fair tradition, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson this week opened the event. The fifth-generation egg farmer took the dais Thursday to mark a special year.
— Farmer in the dell: Simpson noted the importance of an industry that feeds a state well known for beaches and theme parks. “Agriculture helped shape Florida long before we became one of the fastest-growing states in the nation,” he posted on X.
— Celebrating the nation: Surrounded by performers in traditional Army Fife and Drum Corps outfits from the Revolutionary War, Simpson noted the event served as well as a celebration of 250 years of American independence. A Ferris wheel lit with images of George Washington behind Simpson as he opened the event.
— Essential ingredient: “We’re reminded that agriculture isn’t just part of the American story — it IS the American story,” Simpson posted.
Simpson also reminds us this Super Bowl Sunday about including what’s Fresh from Florida in your Big Game planning:
— Sunshine on ice —
As the Winter Games unfold in Milan-Cortina, a strong contingent of Florida-born and Florida-connected athletes are representing Team USA on ice and snow.
— Flag carriers first: Speed skater Erin Jackson of Ocala and bobsledder Frank Del Duca from Fort Lauderdale were selected to carry the U.S. flag during the Opening Ceremony.
— Speed on the ice: Ocala’s Jackson (a 2022 Olympic gold medalist) and Brittany Bowe (four-time Olympian) are competing in multiple long-track speedskating events, joined by Crestview’s Mia Manganello.
— Racing down the track: Fort Lauderdale’s Del Duca and Sanford’s Josh Williamson are both entered in the two-person and four-person bobsled competitions.
— In the rink: Fort Walton Beach-born Mia Kilburg, a member of the 2018 bronze-medal team pursuit squad, is skating in her third Olympics, entered in the 1,000 meters and the women’s mass start. Coral Springs’ Andrew Torgashev takes the ice in figure skating. NHL stars with Florida ties include Orlando’s Jack and Quinn Hughes, as well as Florida Panthers stars Matthew Tkachuk and Seth Jones and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jake Guentzel.
— Flip the script —
When the Super Bowl coin hits the air this year, it won’t be the familiar Highland Mint flip coin fans have seen for decades.
— Coin tossed: In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the NFL will use a special Libertas Americana medal for the Super Bowl LX coin toss, a historic design commissioned initially by Benjamin Franklin in 1782 to mark the nation’s Revolutionary War victory.
— Florida connection: Melbourne-based Highland Mint, which has produced Super Bowl flip coins since 1994, didn’t mint the coin this year, but modified the NFL-provided medal. It will be sent to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History after the game.
— End of a streak: The change pauses a 30-plus-year run in which coin No. 00001 from Highland Mint handled every Super Bowl flip, with a special “Coin Zero” reserved for overtime games.
— Halftime divide —
While most Floridians say they plan to watch the Super Bowl, the Bad Bunny halftime show is proving to be a turnoff for some Republicans.
— Partisan split: Polling shows about three-quarters of Democrats plan to watch the game compared to 65% of Republicans, but the gap explodes at halftime, with 89% of Democrats tuning in versus just 40% of Republicans.
— Beyond the buzz: The University of North Florida PORL and SIJ survey also gauged how Floridians feel about sports off the field, where skepticism outweighs excitement for some.
— Trust issues: A clear majority of voters said the growth of sports betting has made them more likely to question the integrity of games, while only a small fraction said it eased their concerns. More than 8 in 10 respondents said they sometimes wonder whether gambling interests influence player or referee decisions.
— Super Bowl spots —
Budweiser is leaning into its roots with “American Icons,” a 60-second Super Bowl LX ad celebrating the brand’s 150th anniversary and America’s 250th.
— Patriotic pairing: The ad follows a Clydesdale foal that befriends a fledgling bald eagle as they grow up together against a sweeping Americana backdrop. The classic Clydesdales — making their 48th Super Bowl appearance — and the eagle symbolize a bond between brand heritage and national pride, with a real Budweiser barley farmer featured in the closing scene. It wraps with iconic Lynyrd Skynyrd music and Bud’s “Made in America” tagline.
— Slope scene: Michelob ULTRA’s “The ULTRA Instructor” casts Kurt Russell as a mysterious ski coach guiding Lewis Pullman’s character Greg through a rigorous slope training — including hauling Michelob ULTRA cases and mastering goofy tasks — all to the sound of Eye of the Tiger as he battles for bragging rights and beers.
— Star power: Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim and former NHL standout T.J. Oshie appear alongside Russell and Pullman as competitors who witness Greg’s ascent from amateur to answering the beer-on-the-line challenge.
— Love sells —
Valentine’s Day is also shaping up to be a banner holiday for retailers, with spending projected to hit a record high.
— By the numbers: The National Retail Federation expects Americans to spend $29.1 billion on Valentine’s gifts this year, up from last year’s $27.5 billion record, with shoppers averaging nearly $200 each.
— Who’s buying: About 55% of consumers plan to celebrate, and most of them will shop for a romantic partner, while others are spreading love to friends, children and co-workers.
— What’s popular: Candy leads the pack, with 56% prepared to buy sweets. That’s followed by flowers and greeting cards (41% each), while evenings out (39%) and jewelry (25%) round out the top five.
— Florida angle: The Florida Retail Federation is using the moment to nudge shoppers toward local businesses, pitching everything from candy to jewelry to keep Valentine’s dollars close to home.
— Breakup bounceback —
Valentine’s Day isn’t all roses, and a new FinanceBuzz analysis is aimed squarely at people looking for a reset after heartbreak.
— Sunshine upside: Orlando shines as one of Florida’s easiest places to meet new people, thanks to its date-friendly attractions and steady flow of newcomers.
— Capital comfort: Tallahassee lands at No. 14 nationally for starting over, with researchers pointing to a slower pace and lower pressure that can make building new connections easier.
— Not all wins: Jacksonville cuts the other way, ranking among the toughest big cities for young adults to connect due to its relatively small share of single residents.
For Floridians, the takeaway is simple — if Cupid missed, the right location might still give love another shot.
— Brunching out —
Five women in the hospitality business opened Dear Sunday Cafe on Jan. 18 in the cozy Midtown location that shares an address with Midtown Reader, featuring a from-scratch menu of breakfast, brunch and lunch fare.
— Backstory: Dear Sunday chef Erik Wheeler was a former chef for Jeri’s Midtown Cafe, which occupied this space before moving to the Northeast. Smorgasbord Catering Co. & Cafe was the most recent occupant. The new owners are Courtney Atkins, Tiffany Little, Lelia Wolf, Jackie Cook and Aysia Sylvia. Little and Atkins own Simply Entertaining, the catering and event business. Little is also an owner of Vice Society (coffee shop and cocktail bar) on Madison Street. Little, Wolf and Atkins are behind BLND, the College Town smoothie and panini shop.
— Setting: With its greenery, tables set under colorful umbrellas and outdoor ambiance, the courtyard at Dear Sunday is one of the favorite al fresco spots in Tallahassee. In cooler weather, you have an option to dine inside. The interior entrance resembles former cafes, but the new owners spruced up the dining area to make it brighter, with wainscoting, recessed lighting, and framed New Yorker covers. The backroom has more tables and additional lighting.
— The menu: Dear Sunday has an extensive, eclectic menu. Light, puffy popovers are a fun item on the Small Bites/Shareables list, which also features three pancake tacos. These are easy to share — the three pancakes are stuffed with scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, sausage or bacon, drizzled with garlic aioli, filling and flavorful. Other shareables include the chef’s flatbread, lox platter and biscuits. The menu adds soups, salads and items such as croque madame and shrimp and grits. Among egg specialties are shakshouka, huevos rancheros and three types of eggs Benedict. The Porch Eggs Benny were nicely poached, set atop Roma tomato, ham and microgreens, finished with a classic, creamy Hollandaise sauce. The Brekky is a basic two-egg platter with meat, potatoes and toast. Along with pancakes, handhelds feature a rib-eye sandwich, black bean burger and club sandwich. Bowls and sides are other options.
— Beverages: The coffee menu offers a range of lattes, including banana foster or tiramisu flavors. Dear Sunday also serves cocktails.
— Details: Dear Sunday is at 1123 Thomasville Rd., (850) 756-1971. Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closed Monday.