What were Pensacola’s top stories this week? Take a look
Before we start the new week, here's a roundup of our top stories that are available only to subscribers.
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Muscogee descendent won't let town's history be forgotten - or its unmarked graves
Moving through overgrown grass, bushes and the dead leaves, Billy Middlebrooks III was pointing out all the unmarked graves hidden next to Old Muscogee Cemetery.
The unmarked graves, grown over by the vines and roots of nature, nearly swallows whole any evidence of the burial grounds once held here by the Muscogees, Creoles, and Black people who once roamed the area.
Middlebrooks, a descendant of Muscogee, has an ancestor who is buried amongst the unmarked graves. Henrietta Williams, his great aunt on his mother's side, is one of the few with a marker decorated with a bright red wreath.
Middlebrooks is on a mission to not only bring awareness to the unmarked graves of Black, Indigenous and WWII veterans in this neglected grounds, but to convince people to get behind him in remembering the people and community of Muscogee who called this area right off the Perdido River in Cantonment their home.
Full story:A neglected cemetery, a ghost town, and one man's mission to help preserve Muscogees past
Lily Hall is now open. These 6 extraordinary details make it shine.
After over a year of transforming the former Mount Olive Baptist Church from the ground up into a chic, boutique lodging house, Lily Hall celebrated its ribbon cutting Wednesday on 415 Alcaniz St.
Nashville-based Stalhman Hospitality and Lily Hall Executive Host Kari Randle greeted a curious community with property tours, complimentary champagne and a charcuterie grazing board curated by executive chef Darian Hernandez.
Lily Hall offer guests 15 boutique suites to choose from, a breezy garden sitting area, library parlor, Spanish-inspired restaurant and main bar, and an intimate, prohibition-era speakeasy among several other unique hangout areas.
From the secret speakeasy entrance outside to the signature smell that carries up to the second floor, here are six details that make the space so spectacular. You'll also get a room by room video tour of the entire complex.
Full story:Get a 1st look at the new Lily Hall lodge and 6 'extra' touches that make it extraordinary
New downtown smokehouse wants to put Pensacola on map for best BBQ
Pensacola Smokehouse, a rebrand of the building that formerly housed the eclectic tapas bar Kitty Mitchell on 232 E. Main Street, intends to embody that feeling of lip-smacking food and enjoyable company.
The new smokehouse, pioneered by South Market restaurant owner Holly Hays, will be led by pitmaster Keith Pardue. Pardue recently launched the new location of South Market as executive chef but will be overseeing operations between the two restaurants.
While South Market dives into the finer things like fresh catch, oyster bars and the iconic Aunt Jennifer’s meatloaf: Pensacola Smokehouse is all about keeping it simple. Juicy barbecue, piled-high handhelds and flavor-packed sauces.
Full story:New downtown smokehouse is looking to put Pensacola on the map for best barbecue
Tamales, tacos and tongue on the menu new Pensacola Mexican spot
When walking into Tacos El Fluffy, the new restaurant in the 707 N. Pace Blvd. space that formerly housed the original location of Taste of Jerusalem, the first thing you will notice is the hand-pieced mosaic that encompasses the indoor order window.
The next thing you will notice is a warm welcome from 25-year-old Jodanny "Geo" Zlaya, beaming with pride over his family’s homemade tortillas and his mother’s famous tamales.
The family-driven authenticity carries over into through his local-ingredient sourced kitchen, where not even the refried beans are canned. His beef tongue burritos are a hot seller for those brave enough to try them, along with assorted tamales, barbacoa quesadillas and six different homemade salsa blends. The pickled habañero mix is a match for even his most iron-tongued customers.
In addition to the homemade treats, the restaurant also offers a variety of homemade juices, such as the creamy horchata, sweet tamarind, tart and tangy hibiscus and hydrating cucumber lime.
Full story:Homemade tamales and beef tongue burritos? Pensacola restaurant has authentic Mexican eats.
Pensacola restaurants open late: Forget midnight snacks, here's 19 spots for midnight meals
It's late on a Friday night out when the hunger pangs begin to kick in. You pull up Google Maps and start searching for a place that's still open.
Ten minutes later, you're pulling up to Whataburger on Gregory Street because you couldn't find anything better after trying to sift through search results inexplicably dominated by a list of already-closed restaurants.
Sound familiar? If so, you deserve better.
Pensacola has a wealth of great-tasting late night eats that will fill your soul as much as they will fill your stomach.
Full story:Pensacola restaurants open late: Forget midnight snacks, here's 19 spots for midnight meals
Milton's sewers are near capacity but Pace pipes can help. What is the holdup?
Wastewater utilities in Milton and Pace are putting together an interlocal agreement that will allow the overtaxed Milton plant to bleed off some of the raw sewage contributing to its operating at close to capacity.
State Sen. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, said he brought area utilities together a couple of years ago in hopes of averting a crisis as the Milton plant crept closer to capacity. There he learned the Pace Water System has capacity to spare at its plant and would be willing to assist its eastern neighbor.
The city of Milton's present plant, which has been in operation since 1983, has a permitted daily intake capacity of 2.5 million gallons per day. Its currently average daily use is 1.93 million gallons.
With growth running rampant in East Milton, the city has committed to providing sewage capacity to 12 ongoing developments that will soon add an additional 463,884 gallons to downtown plant. That will bring the operating daily capacity to 2.39 million gallons, which is dangerously close to the permitted 2.5 million.
Full story:Milton's sewers are near capacity and Pace pipes can help. Why won't city take advantage?
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola's top stories for the week of February 13-17
