🌱 Laughter Wellness Gang + Sallie's Bistro On TV + Hope Spot Festival

Good morning, neighbors. It's me, your host of the Dunedin Daily — here to tell you everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Including news on:

• A special vegan Valentine's Day menu
• A Laughter Wellness Gang workshop
• The upcoming Hope Spot Festival

But first, today's weather:

Fog will lift in the morning. High: 75 Low: 61.

Check out what our local sponsor can do for you:

Looking for original, unique artwork created by local Dunedin artists? Stirling Art Studios & Gallery is home to 12 professional artists honing their craft, while providing original artwork that appeals to collectors, interior designers, and homeowners alike. Located at 730 Broadway in the heart of Downtown Dunedin, their mission is to promote the arts to our community. Visit them here to learn more, or stop by Thursday-Sunday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. to view them at work and learn about the creative process.

Click here to get your business featured in this spot.

Here are the top 3 stories today in Dunedin:

1. Kelly Siegel of Empath Health hosts a Laughter Wellness Gang at 10 a.m. in the Hale Senior Activity Center on the first and third Wednesday of the month. This workshop will focus on Laughter for Health, which is a practice involving prolonged voluntary laughter providing physiological and psychological benefits. Those interested in participating should wear comfortable clothes and shoes. There's a session happening today, Feb. 1. (Dunedin Patch)
2. Owners of Sallie's Bistro in Dunedin appeared on Tampa Bay's Morning blend, showing off their skills in the kitchen! Michele Kamayi and Kieran Uylenbroek made some of the restaurant's traditional Belgian dishes, including Belgian cheese croquettes, Moules-frites with homemade mayonnaise, and chicons gratin. Check out their appearance on the show and be sure to stop into Sallie's Bistro on Main Street to enjoy authentic Belgian meals and Belgian beers. (ABC Action News)
3. The Hope Spot Festival is on Feb. 11, in Edgewater Park. This eco-friendly event kicks off with a beach cleanup between 9 and 11 a.m. Other activities begin at 10 a.m. and include live music, a wearable art contest, live animals, and various vendors offering hands-on activities and educational experiences. Event planners are working hard to make this festival Dunedin's first zero-waste event. All food and craft vendors will be using compostable, recyclable, and reusable supplies. All non-recyclable waste will be upcycled into compost, liquid fertilizer, and renewable energy. Stop by to join their mission to minimize waste and eliminate unnecessary plastics from our oceans. (ABC Action News Tampa Bay)

Dunedin Daily Pic of the Day:

Thank you, Frank Nelson, for sharing this incredible sunset photo you took a few years ago!

Today in Dunedin:

• Laughter Wellness Gang at the Hale Senior Activity Center (10 a.m.)
• Alzheimer Caregiver Support Group at the Hale Senior Activity Center (10 a.m.)
• Pinball Tournament at Reboot (5:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Greater Dunedin Little League shared a special thank you to Coach Blake and Solar Bear for their generous donation. With this gift, they were able to buy new catching gear and equipment. (Greater Dunedin Little League via Facebook)
• Looking for somewhere special to go for Valentine's Day? Caracara is offering a vegan Valentine's Day menu, which includes three courses and a chardonnay. Space is limited, so make your reservation as soon as possible. (Caracara via Facebook)
• With Mardi Gras comes the Mardi Gras Pageant on Feb. 18 at Blur Nightclub. Registration begins at 4 p.m., with the pageant starting at 7 p.m. (Dunedin Merchants via Facebook)
• Did you know Mease Life in Dunedin offers wellness classes, including yoga and tai chi classes? Additionally, they host educational wellness speakers, healthy eating clinics, and more. Check out their full calendar at the link. (Mease Life via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• DavisDNA & Family Research, Inc. — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• GriefShare (February 3)
• Creative Artist Guild of Dunedin Art in the Park (February 5)
• Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting & Open House (February 10)
• Wine Walk (February 18)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right. See you all tomorrow for another update!