Good morning Villagers! From your favorite “outside the bubble” dining spots to Eastport’s rapid transformation and a clever cruise hack that earns you free cocktails at sea — this one’s loaded.

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Let’s dive in.

— Kevin Rogers, Publisher

Featured Event

🚗 Mopars With Big Daddy – Nov 1–2, 2025

at Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing

This year’s 38th Annual Mopars with Big Daddy isn’t just a car-lover’s dream — it’s raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, helping kids and families fight cancer at no charge. Enjoy the car show, swap meet, auction, Friday Night Dinner & Q&A with Don, plus a rare museum tour (limited to 25). Country Village Power Equipment will be on-site with Yamaha & MadJax golf carts and the first chance to buy 2026 Charity Golf Cart Raffle tickets. Don’t miss it — good fun for an amazing cause!

Monday’s Poll Survey Results

Your Favorite Restaurant Outside the Bubble

Villagers don’t mind a little windshield time for a great meal—and this week’s survey made that clear. Here are the reader favorites beyond The Villages:

Top Picks

• 🥇 Oakwood Smokehouse & Grill — The runaway winner. Readers rave about consistent BBQ, friendly hometown service, and good value across nearby spots (Wildwood, Lady Lake, Leesburg). 11 years here, and I’ve never been. That’s about to change.

• 🥈 Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille (Ocala) — A go-to for Cajun-Creole comfort, reliable execution, and a lively vibe downtown.

• 🥉 The Goblin Market Restaurant (Mt. Dora) — Charming, upscale atmosphere with thoughtful plates—a favorite for date nights and special occasions.

• 🍗 Miz Kathi’s Cotillion Southern Cafe (Wildwood/Belleview) — Southern done right: from fried chicken to pies, readers call it worth the detour every time. We highlighted Miz Kathi’s here in July!

Most folks are happy to drive 20–40 minutes for the good stuff. We even had a couple votes from St. Augustine and one mentioned in Orlando, that I would like to try: Adriatico Trattoria Italiana. If you love classic Italian dining, I personally recommend Christini’s Ristorante Italiano in the Marketplace at Dr. Phillips. Don’t let the plaza location fool you, it has spectacular ambiance with incredible service.

Got a poll idea for next week?
Hit reply and tell us what you want to ask your neighbors.

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Villages Development News

The Villages Is Exploding South: Inside Eastport’s Massive Build-Out

Big things are happening down south — and Gold Wingnut’s latest flyover proves it. From new bridges and tunnels to Eastport’s rising hotel, dining, and live-music spots, this update shows how fast the southern Villages are transforming.

See Farmstead, Long Prairie, and Middleton taking shape — plus the first look at Lake View and Eastport’s core. Check it out! 👇️

Pulse Travel

💡 Travel Hack: Cruise Perks for Shareholders

If you love cruising, here’s a clever insider perk many travelers have no idea about:
own 100 shares of a major cruise line, and you’ll score free onboard credit every time you sail.

Who offers it:
Carnival (CCL), Royal Caribbean (RCL), and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) — covering most of the world’s top brands.

What you get:

• 🛳 Short cruises (6 days or less): $50 credit

• 🌴 Week-plus cruises: $100 credit

• 🌅 Two-week or longer voyages: $250 or more

Use your credit for drinks, dining, spa visits, or shore excursions.

How it works:
Buy the stock through any brokerage (Fidelity, E-Trade, Schwab, etc.), keep at least 100 shares, then email your booking confirmation and brokerage statement to the cruise line’s shareholder-benefit team 2–3 weeks before sailing.
(One credit per stateroom.)

Why it’s worth it:
It’s the best mix of investing and travel hacking — earn potential stock gains and enjoy perks at sea.
For frequent cruisers here in The Villages, this little move can cover hundreds of dollars in onboard extras every year.

Heads up:
Perks don’t stack with some discounts or charter sailings, and each cruise line can change terms anytime — so always confirm before booking.

Bottom line:
A small investment could turn into free cocktails, massages, and memories on your next voyage. 🌊🍹

Business Briefs

• The barbecue favorite 4 Rivers Smokehouse is officially opening in the new Middleton section of The Villages — ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Nov. 3 at 7670 Middleton Drive.

• The new Bellaire Executive Golf Course in the Eastport area began tee time reservations on Oct. 29 and opens for play on Nov. 5, offering a fresh 9-hole, Par-27 layout.

Upcoming Events

Want a Featured Event with a poster/image? Reach out.

Deep Stack Holdem Tourney | Oxford Downs | Today | 6:15 PM | Details

🐎 Polo Tournament | Villages Polo Club | Oct 31 & Nov 2 | Details

Scooters Monster Bash | Spanish Springs | Oct 31 | 5 - 9 PM | Details

Thrill The Villages Perform | Spanish Springs | Oct 31 | 5 PM | Details

🏈 Villages Charter Buffalo Football vs Mount Dora | Oct 31 | 7 PM | Tickets

Rick Lynn Live | Tiki Bar Oxford Downs | Oct 31 | 8:30 pm - Midnight | Details

Junk in the Trunk | Browns Farm Oxford | Nov 1 | 7:30 am | Details

🍷 Weekends @ The Winery | Lakeridge Winery | Sat: Robbie Litt, Sun: Billy Buchanan | Details

Burn in the Burg Chili Cook-off | Leesburg Towne Square | Nov 1 | 5:30 - 8:30 pm

28th Lake Sumter Arts & Craft Festival | Nov 1 - 2 | 10 am - 5 pm | Details

🍸️ Patio Nights Drinks and Live Music/DJ | Brownwood Hotel | Nov 1 | 5 - 8 PM

🏌️‍♀️ New To Golf School 15% OFF | Sarasota| Nov 3 | 10 am | Details

⛳️ Full Swing Clinic | Legacy | Nov 3 | 10:30 am | Details

Free Movie: Sarah’s Oil | Old Mill Playhouse | Nov 11 | Tickets

On Sale This Week

Terry Fator Pure Imagination | The Tracy | Dec 27 | Details + Tickets

Chippendales All Night Long | The Sharon | Jan 17 | Tickets

AND SEVERAL MORE….

If you have an event you want to announce to 7,700+ local Villagers, email us the details at [email protected]

Live Music Lowdown

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Thanks!

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P.S. Want to get your business in front of 7,700+ local Villagers? Reach out here.