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Hello Hot Springs! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Gold’s big comeback, a midcentury school joins the National Register, and craft a custom Derby hat + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

Future leaders ready to represent: Arkansas High EAST students will head to Hot Springs for a national conference, preparing projects that blend service and technology. Expect innovators from Texarkana to showcase their work here soon — read the full story.

Nature, heritage, and easy living: Eight Arkansas cities, including Hot Springs, make $1,200 a month go further with small town charm and essentials covered. Fort Smith and Pocahontas offer budget friendly living and amenities — see which cities made it.

Midcentury landmark earns recognition: Hot Springs’ former Robert E. Lee School was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places, honoring its 1950 International Style design and decades of educating local children — read the full story.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Glow up at Shamrocks and Shimmer
• Craft custom Derby hats and fascinators
• Buy baked goods to fight cancer
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Tapas, no passport needed: Craving shareable Spanish-style bites? Diablos Tacos & Mezcal tucks a legit tapas lineup beside its tacos and big mezcal list. Think briny olives, garlicky mushrooms, jamón, and shrimp, all primed for mixing and matching, turning any weeknight into a casual let’s-split-a-few-things kind of party.

Gear up, Hot Springs: Whether you’re sneaking to Lake Hamilton before sunrise or upgrading that chewed-up spinnerbait, Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports has the tackle, rigging know-how, and hometown bass tournaments to keep you dialed. Friendly folks, legit selection, and smart ways to tune your setup so the weekend fishes smoother.

Your couch can wait: New releases, special events, and that big-screen buzz you actually leave the house for, all in one place. Central City 10 Cinema is an easy midweek reset with comfy seats, crisp sound, and zero fuss in Hot Springs… because sometimes streaming just can’t compete.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Fun for the whole fam

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.

❤ Powerful Tools for Caregivers Workshop @ The Caring Place | Wednesday (3/4) at 9:15 AM – Caregiving feels like a full-time sport, so this six-session workshop at The Caring Place covers self-care, stress management, and community resources. Every other Wednesday this spring with respite care, so you can actually show up. It’s $30 for class and e-book, limited spots.

🌲 The Woodland Workshop @ Garvan Woodland Gardens | Thursday (3/5) at 10:00 AM – If your 9-12-year-old could use fresh air that is not from the carpool line, Garvan’s Woodland Workshop delivers hands-on activities at Bonsai, a garden hike, and unstructured play. It runs first and third Thursdays in spring, with a six-session bundle including guardian admission, or drop-ins.

❤ Heart for Art @ Arkansas School For Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts | Friday (3/6) at 5:30 PM – Garland County art teachers, Heart for Art 2026 is your annual excuse to swap lesson hacks, brag on student masterpieces, and actually finish a cup of coffee. If the memo missed you, tap the organizers for details, and pencil it in before the glitter avalanche.

🎳 Arkansas Challenge Youth Handicap @ Central Bowling Lanes | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 AM – Let the kids chase glory at the Arkansas Challenge Youth Handicap, a real tournament where the scoring levels the field, not your excuses. Divisions from U8 to U18, entries fuel scholarships, and you get bragging rights by proxy, plus a quiet lane-side coffee.

🎳 Arkansas Spring 2026 Youth Scratch @ Central Bowling Lanes | Sunday (3/8) at 8:00 AM – The kids are running the lanes for Arkansas Spring Youth Scratch, formerly the Pepsi Championship, all scratch, all swagger. Pick a morning or afternoon squad, chase scholarship money, and let the pros debate oil patterns. U8-10 is $20, U12, U15, and U18 are $40.

♨ Historic Hot Springs Tour @ TBD | Monday (3/9) at 5:00 PM – Whether you grew up cruising Central or just know where the taffy is, this guided stroll from the Malco to the candy shop past the Arlington serves Hot Springs history with a wink. Meet at Central and Bridge, bring $20, and call it cultural cardio.

🧁 Relay for Life: Bake Sale @ Garland County Library | Wednesday (3/11) at 10:00 AM – Your favorite librarians are trading Dewey decimals for desserts at Garland County Library’s Relay for Life bake sale, where calories for a cause count. Bring cash, or tap to donate on your phone, snag something sweet, pick up a luminary, and know every dollar helps.

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.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• 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
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Hot Springs report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 76°F – Low: 62°F – Precip: 27%

A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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Tomorrow – High: 78°F – Low: 62°F – Precip: 51%

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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

This three-story Lake Hamilton retreat delivers 100 feet of sparkling frontage and sweeping water views. Inside, 5 beds and 5.1 baths pair with high-end finishes, built-ins, and oversized walk-in closets. The gourmet kitchen features double ovens, a gas range, and a large pantry. Two laundry rooms, abundant storage, and a location minutes to Oaklawn, shopping, and dining elevate effortless entertaining.

Take a peek inside →