The Hurricane Center had nothing spinning in the Atlantic Wednesday morning, which feels like a first.

The pumpkin train everybody wrote off for this year is running out of downtown Parrish after all.

And the Bulls are home Friday night.

Not a bad weekend to stay close.

No stop on this plan is more than about 10 minutes from the last one.

Leave the driveway by 8:45.

Start (Creekside Commons): Jersey Girl Bagels, 8730 US-301, Unit 105.

Bacon, egg and cheese is $8.99, a bagel with cream cheese is $4.25.

Their online ordering only takes scheduled orders, so set the pickup time the night before and walk in to a bag with your name on it.

Eat in the truck.

The train doesn't allow outside food, and you are not throwing away a Taylor ham, egg and cheese in a museum parking lot.

(941) 212-4832.

The Activity (about 10 min up 301): the Pumpkin Patch Express at the Florida Railroad Museum, 12210 83rd St E, Parrish.

Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., two and a half hours round trip.

It wasn't on the museum's booking calendar as of Monday; it is now, and all four departures showed seats Wednesday morning.

Coach class, the open-air cars, is $35 for 12 and up and $31 for kids 1 to 11.

Under 1 rides free on a lap.

It's about 30 minutes out to the patch, where there are hay rides, crafts, Lincoln Logs and games, and every kid picks one pumpkin to take home.

One.

The museum is firm on that.

Our take: book the 10:30 and ride Coach.

Coach is first come, first served at boarding, so the family that shows up early gets the open flatcar, and that's the car your kids will talk about.

Honesty box: arrive 45 minutes before departure, boarding opens 30 minutes before, and the train does not wait.

Parking is free.

No strollers, no coolers, and every bag has to fit on your lap.

The patch is open grass with no roof and the open-air cars have no AC, so hats and sunscreen.

Restrooms at the station, at the patch (accessible ones too), and on most of the cars.

Inside 48 hours of departure, tickets can't be refunded or swapped, so be sure before you click.

If you were planning on the library's free kid pass for the train, it covers the regular Willow Express only, and Willow Express doesn't run again until Oct 31.

Lunch (at the patch): the vendor out there sells hot dogs and hamburgers, cash or card.

With the no-outside-food rule, that's lunch, and nobody under 10 has ever complained about a hot dog next to a hay wagon.

Treat (about 10 min back down 301): Culver's of Parrish, 10824 US-301 N, at Harrison Ranch.

Open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Flavor of the Day is Devil's Food Cake on Saturday and Caramel Turtle on Sunday.

If you can swing the Sunday train, Caramel Turtle is the better reason to.

Bagel at 9, pumpkin by noon, custard by 2.

Never once on I-75.

Friday's quiet this week outside the stadium; the Bulls game is down in The Sideline.

The Bradenton Public Market sets up on Old Main Street, about 25 minutes, every Saturday through May.

Farmers, bakers and makers, free to walk.

The music lineup for this season isn't posted yet, so don't drive down for a band.

Drive down for the bread, and get there before 11 while there's still bread.

Parking is on the city's parking page.

Mixon Farms Market, 2525 27th St E, Bradenton, about 25 minutes.

If you heard it was a once-a-month thing, the county's page says otherwise: weekly, 9 to 2, through May 30.

Local vendors, live music, and a new playground on the property, which is the part your kids will care about.

Next Sunday, Oct 25, is the bigger Fall Harvest Market, same hours, if you'd rather save it for that one.

Questions go to 941-742-5923, ext. 5819.

Parrish Community High varsity hosts IMG Academy at the PCHS stadium, 7505 Fort Hamer Rd, in town.

General admission is $8, phone tickets only, on GoFan, and they're non-refundable.

Buy them in the driveway, not in the line at the gate.

GoFan doesn't show another home date after this one yet, so if you've been meaning to get to a Friday night, this is the one we can actually promise you.

i9 Sports winter 2027 is $198 if you pay by Sunday, Nov 1, per their registration page Wednesday, jersey included.

That's $180 registration, a $15 enrollment fee and $3 processing.

Co-ed soccer for PreK3 through 5th grade, and instructional girls volleyball for grades 3 to 12.

Seven Saturdays, Jan 9 to Feb 20, at Tom Bennett Park, 280 Kay Rd, Bradenton, about 20 minutes.

The page doesn't say what it costs after Nov 1, which is reason enough not to find out.

Buffalo Creek Little League still hasn't posted spring 2027, and fall ball filled with a waitlist, so call (830) 556-1805 now if that's your plan.

If your kid is a 9th grader, or a 10th to 12th grader who has never played an FHSAA sport, the state now requires an ECG screening, signed off on the EL1 form.

Any ECG done on or after July 1, 2024 counts.

Parents sign the new EL3, and a doctor can exempt a student with the ME1.

Book the appointment this month, not the week of tryouts.

I'Lunie's Dockside Sports Grill, 955 Riverside Dr, Palmetto, about 20 minutes south across the river.

It's the spot that used to be Mila's on the Manatee, same owner, and it says "eye-loonies."

Weekend hours on their ordering page: Saturday 9 to 9:30, Sunday 9 to 8:30.

The owner's from Philadelphia and the cheesesteaks come on Liscio's rolls, per the Business Observer.

Our take: that's your order, $15.95, and don't let anybody talk you into the flatbread.

Kids' meals are $8.50, and one of them is Cap'n Crunch chicken tenders.

You already know which one your kid is getting.

Grouper fingers are $18.95 if somebody at the table won't do a sandwich.

(941) 212-6006.

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One pumpkin per kid is the museum's rule, and you'll be glad of it when you're the one carrying them to the truck.

Until next week — stay gritty, stay healthy, and keep Parrish strong. — Greg.