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Rise and shine, Champaign!

In today’s planning-your-week edition: A major intersection closure, Peter and the Starcatcher, and a Louis Wain art exhibition + all our favorite events happening over the next seven days.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Champaign protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Intersection work in northwest Champaign: Paula Drive at Mattis Avenue closed starting Friday, February 27, for Garden Hills Phase 3, with a northbound Mattis lane shut, and the closure remains in place until further notice — get all the closure details.

Local business developments this week: Willow Branch Grooming launches mobile pet services today, bringing haircuts and nail trims to Champaign, while a Fairfield hotel and a Champaign Center Partnership executive director opening headline business updates — check out the full roundup.

Rescue group seeks support: Moore’s Rescue Ranch held bingo February 28 and launches Monical’s Pizza digital fundraiser today through March 9, as The Kitty Crib reopened and grant writers are needed — see fundraisers and volunteer needs.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Kids engineer boats that float
• Body-double, learn, and share A&S skills
• Design a pollinator-friendly native garden
• You’re probably overpaying for car insurance

🏆 Gold and silver are heating up

Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold

Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.

While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.

If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.

It’s free and worth reading before the next move.

🫶 We got your back

Wings worth a detour: Craving crispy, saucy bliss? At Watson’s Shack & Rail, fried wings land in classic tosses like buffalo or Carolina gold, with craveable sides and playful slushies. It’s easy weeknight comfort that still feels a little celebratory, perfect for when you want simple done right.

Treat your face right: Opt for a no-nonsense HydraFacial, microchanneling that actually does something, or simple guidance toward a saner routine. Benjamin & Co. Esthetique blends calm vibes with real results and pro-only formulas, so your skin can clock out from chaos and show up smoother, steadier, happier.

Your all-season fairways: Whether you’re squeezing in nine or going full 18, University of Illinois Golf Course delivers with the Orange and Blue layouts, classic parkland feel, real shotmaking, and year-round play. It’s the neighborhood spot where a quick round becomes catching up with friends between swings.

Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn more about my favorite online options here.

📆 Our favorite events this week

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🏺 Custom Mug Wet Clay Class @ The Pottery Place | Tuesday (3/3) at 6:00 PM – This hands-on class at The Pottery Place lets you handbuild a custom coffee mug, then come back to paint and glaze it. For $25, they supply clay, firing, and glaze. Retire that chipped Illini mug, bring kids if you must, and make something you’ll use.

🍀 Dublin Your Pleasure: Irish Culinary, Cocktail & Wine Tasting Experience @ Grovestone | Wednesday (3/4) at 6:30 PM – Grovestone in Village Green goes Irish for a chef-led, five-course tasting with two wines and The Irish Kiss. Think Guinness onion soup, proper stew, and Baileys-touched sweets, all with tips you can actually use. You eat, they teach, nobody scrubs a pot.

🌟 Peter and the Starcatcher @ Virginia Theatre | Thursday (3/5) at 7:00 PM – Nothing beats watching our Youth Theatre kick off the season with a Tony-winning prequel that makes Peter Pan feel new. Peter and the Starcatcher packs pirates, mermaids, shipwrecks, and cheeky humor. Bring the kids, the grandkids, or just your inner lost boy.

🎭 Romeo and Juliet @ Harold and Jean Miner Theatre | Friday (3/6) at 7:30 PM – Think you know Romeo and Juliet? This Central Illinois remix pits farm boots against cul-de-sac polish, with Shakespeare’s bite, surprises, and a love story that still stings. It’s at Harold and Jean Miner Theatre, and opening night is half-price, so feel fancy on a bargain.

🚣 Prairie Dragon Paddlers 2026 Annual Kick-Off Breakfast @ Stratford Park Bible Chapel | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 AM – Start the morning with carbs, camaraderie, and boat talk with the Prairie Dragon Paddlers, a supportive crew of local women. Over on Kirby, meet the team, learn how dragon boat racing works, and, if you’re game, claim a spot in the boat.

🦋 Monarch & Pollinator Fair @ McKinley Foundation | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Butterflies, bees, and the kids who chase them steal the show. Face painting, story circles, science, crafts, seed bombs, and temporary tattoos, no registration required, perfect for ages 3 to 12. Free parking in lot C6 on Daniel, with UIUC Pollinatarium and Urbana Park District.

🐱 Louis Wain Original Art Exhibition @ The Scratching Post | Sunday (3/8) at 2:00 PM – Swing by The Scratching Post for a free look at over 20 original Louis Wain drawings, a unicorn sighting this side of the Atlantic. He is the Victorian cat guy who made felines act human. Quirky, whiskered, very British charm, zero litter box.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/4 Music Bingo Wednesdays @ Pour Bros. Craft Taproom Champaign – 7:00 PM
• 3/5 SPEAK Café: March 2026 @ Krannert Art Museum – 6:00 PM
• 3/5 Peter and the Starcatcher @ Virginia Theatre – 7:00 PM
• 3/6 Romeo and Juliet @ Harold and Jean Miner Theatre – 7:30 PM
• 3/6 Light Show: Dark Side of the Moon @ William M. Staerkel Planetarium – 9:00 PM
• 3/7 Katie Flynn @ Watson’s Shack & Rail – 3:00 PM
• 3/8 Winter Comfort @ McKinley Memorial Presbyterian Church – 4:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Industry-leading home warranty protection ($150 off right now)
• 62+? See how much tax-free cash your home could unlock → free calculator
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• Treat yourself: Save $ on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 Champaign report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 45°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 8%

Partly sunny, with a high near 45. East wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Later: A chance of rain showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. East southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 54°F – Low: 47°F – Precip: 94%

Rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 54. South southeast wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Rain showers before 3am, then showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 47. Southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

Set on a private 1-acre lot in Champaign’s Trails at Brittany, this custom ranch brings resort energy to life. Over 4,600 finished square feet flow from a chef-worthy kitchen to sunlit living and dining, then out to a covered patio with fireplace and a 14×40 heated fiberglass pool. Extras include a hot-tub porch, steam shower, and a heated four-car garage.

Take a peek inside →