🌅🏖️ Blind Creek’s $1M glow-up

Good Morning, Sunland!

It’s Friday! We’re just five days away from Christmas. On that note, I’ll be taking off Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Realistically, I’ll probably still be working on the newsletter and the forthcoming Sunland Bookstore. But ideally, I’ll be busy debating my brother about the best Christmas movies of all time.

He’s a Home Alone guy—great film, no argument there. Personally, though, I think the best Christmas movie of all time is Die Hard, and I’m standing on that. To avoid a holiday filled with arguments, I might steer clear of the conversation altogether. But I want your take!

What’s the best Christmas movie of all time?

📌 Quick Note: If you missed yesterday’s events list or are looking for something to do this weekend, check out the full list here.

🍴 Restaurant Watch: Shameful confession—I’ve never had an empanada. I know, I’m almost afraid to admit it. The only reason this matters is because Sunland News’ Head of Image, J’Qwan, informed me there’s a new empanada restaurant opening on PSL Blvd.

It’s called Empanola, and I’ll definitely be checking it out.

📬 A Look Ahead in 5 Seconds:
🏖️ Blind Creek Beach gets $1M upgrade
🤾 Pickleball club closes suddenly
🎭 5 holiday events this weekend

🎶 What It Sounds Like: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” - Destiny's Child

☀️ Day: High of 76°F with areas of fog early, becoming mostly sunny this afternoon. Winds WNW at 5-10 mph. 6% chance of rain.

🌙 Night: Low of 45°F with clear skies. Winds NW at 5-10 mph. 3% chance of rain.

🌡️ Check Full Weather Report Here 
🚗 Check The Traffic Before You Leave

Local Stories You May Have Missed

St. Lucie County invests $1M in Blind Creek Beach upgrades
The popular clothing-optional beach will soon get a revamped parking lot with bathrooms, showers, and handicap accessibility. Renovations begin Jan. 6, with completion expected by mid-summer. Visitors can still access the beach via nearby lots, but tread carefully—some paths cross private property. Blind Creek, a favorite for naturists, saw its popularity soar post-pandemic, drawing nearly 770 skinny dippers for a 2022 event. 👉 Full Story —CS

Coming soon: Two new locations for Another Broken Egg Cafe
Breakfast lovers, it’s time! Another Broken Egg Cafe is bringing its Southern-inspired fare to Stuart and Port St. Lucie in the next 3–4 years. The PSL location, set for Becker Road by Oak and Ember Steakhouse, opens in early 2025. Stuart’s site is still being scouted.
👉 Full Story —GM

Starbucks is Moving in
A new Starbucks is brewing for Port St. Lucie, proposed at St. Lucie West and Cashmere boulevards. If approved, it will join five other PSL locations…

Meanwhile, Fort Pierce’s Gateway Plaza will soon welcome its second Starbucks, sharing space with a T-Mobile in a new 4,500-square-foot building south of the former Burger King. 👉 Full Story —GM

Port St. Lucie Pickleball Facility Closes Suddenly

Why it matters

The sudden closure of a state-of-the-art pickleball facility in Port St. Lucie highlights not only the sport's waning local popularity but also the risks members face with upfront investments in recreational clubs.

🔍 The Big Picture

The Pickleball Club, a premium indoor facility, shut its doors this week with only 24 hours' notice, citing financial struggles. Members, many of whom paid annual fees, are now left questioning the fate of their investments and the sustainability of pickleball’s popularity in St. Lucie County.

📋 Key Details

• The Closure: The club informed members via email that it could no longer continue operations and has begun liquidating assets at its Port St. Lucie and Lakewood Ranch locations.

• Membership Losses: Patrons like Chris Erickson, who paid $500 annually, feel shortchanged. Erickson reflected, “I won’t be paying upfront for any clubs again.”

• Local Impact: Members formed a tight-knit community through the facility, making the closure especially disappointing for those who relied on it as a social and recreational hub.

⚠️ The Fallout

• Refund Questions: Members await answers regarding potential reimbursements, with little communication from the club’s leadership.

• Pickleball’s Decline?: The closure coincides with a noticeable dip in interest in pickleball both locally and nationally, as seen in declining Google Trends data.

🚧 Broader Implications

The closure raises questions about the sustainability of sports trends and the financial viability of similar facilities. It also serves as a cautionary tale for recreational enthusiasts about paying large upfront fees without guarantees.

📅 What’s Next

Members are left waiting for clarity from The Pickleball Club’s leadership, including CEO Brian McCarthy, who has yet to respond to inquiries.

👉 Read more about this story here.

5 Events Ahead 🎉

Ugly Sweater Music Bingo
📅 Friday, Dec 20 | 6:30 PM
📍 Islamorada Brewery & Distillery, Fort Pierce
❄️ Put on your ugliest, most festive sweater and join the fun at Music Bingo with a holiday twist. Expect rounds of laughter, drinks, and seasonal vibes!
👉 Check it out

St. Lucie Ballet's The Nutcracker
📅 Friday, Dec 20 | 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM
📍 Lyric Theatre
Experience the magic of the holiday season with Clara as she journeys through the Land of Snow, the Land of Sweets, and encounters the Sugar Plum Fairy. Enjoy this timeless classic performed by the talented dancers of the Treasure Coast Ballet.
👉 Get Tickets!

Friday Drive-In Movie Nights: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
📅 Friday, Dec 20 | 7:30 PM
📍 Fort Pierce
Enjoy a festive outdoor movie night under the stars with the screening of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." Gates open at 6:00 PM.
👉 Get Tickets!

Saturday Drive-In Movie Nights: ELF
📅 Saturday, Dec 21 | 7:30 PM
📍 Fort Pierce
Bring the family for a classic holiday treat with "ELF" at the drive-in! Ice cream and milkshake trucks will be on-site. Gates open at 6:00 PM.
👉 Get Tickets!

Diana Ross & Natalie Cole Tribute w/ Muffy Charles & Angela Johnson Neely
📅 Sunday, Dec 22 | 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Harmony Music Lounge, Fort Pierce
🎵 Doors open at 5:00 PM. Enjoy soulful tributes in an intimate setting with a $10 entertainment fee.
👉 More Details

If you have an event, send it to me here

Things To Know Before You Go

🎨 Lucky Energy turns trash into treasure
Collected trash during Art Basel is now on sale at ArtBaselTrash.com. Proceeds go to a Miami inner-city arts program.

💸 What Floridians need to earn to join the 1%

• Florida: $863k AGI to qualify.

• U.S. Average: $798k AGI.

• Highest: D.C., at $1.22M.

• Lowest: West Virginia, at $426k.
  Figures based on 2021 AGI, adjusted for 2024 dollars.

Read more here

🏠 Homebuyers can now check neighbors' politics

• New platform Oyssey maps neighbor data (political leanings, income, pets).

• Free for buyers with an agent invite.

• Includes block-by-block trends and digital contract tools.

• CEO: "It’s about finding a neighborhood you’ll love."

KAYS POV📸

Having talented people around is a cheat code. I was going through my text and forgot kay sent me this picture. This photo screams SUNLAND and I love it!

Alright... see you next week!

With love,
Ja’Min

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