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Hello Seattle! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Whale watching tour with guaranteed sightings, AI startup Nooks expands engineering, and Lunar New Year celebration + 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

Neighbors shape public art design: Raven Village’s substation walls on NW Leary Way will soon become a mural, a joint project with Seattle City Light and Chief Seattle Club, with Tulalip artist Ty Juvinel involved — meet the artist and partners.

Focus on scalable systems expertise: San Francisco AI startup Nooks is expanding engineering in Seattle, has grown to six hires and recruiting more, building AI tools for sales teams while tapping the region’s talent — read the full story.

Guided voyage through local waters: Puget Sound Express has launched a Seattle-area whale watching tour that stops on San Juan Island with a two-hour Friday Harbor visit and a naturalist aboard. Whale sightings are guaranteed — get all the details.

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:

• Dance nonstop to support Northwest Folklife
• Explore folklore, horror, and witchy wares
• Join Daybreak Star 5K Run & Walk
• 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 night, sorted: The Harvest Vine delivers chef’s-counter views of the kitchen, shareable tapas like tortilla española and grilled octopus, plus a wine list heavy on sherry and txakoli. Perfect for midweek catch-ups that somehow turn into just one more.

Trust your next trek: Feathered Friends keeps adventurers ready with Seattle-made down bags and jackets, plus a sharp selection of backpacking and climbing brands. Expect real-world advice from folks who actually get outside, and kit ready to work this week and every weekend.

Movies with personality: When your watchlist needs a jolt, The Beacon Cinema delivers smartly curated retrospectives, themed series, and repertory gems for an attentive crowd. Think of it as a midweek brain reset, cleverly disguised as a night at the movies.

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.

🎉 Spreefest 2026 @ The Summit at Snoqualmie -Summit West | Saturday (3/7) at 8:30 AM – Whether you’re fundraising or just into skiing with benefits, Outdoors for All’s biggest winter bash hits Summit West, funding adaptive recreation. Drop $100 for a lift ticket, beer garden, raffles, and tunes, then go full Spree-Haw in cowboy hats, flannel, and bravado.

🌿 Arboretum Lichens @ Washington Park Arboretum | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Grab your raincoat and head to the Washington Park Arboretum for a lichen look-see with Dr. Katherine Glew. Learn why those pretty patches are harmless, helpful, and low-key air-quality snitches, then enjoy late-winter greens, fresh air, and smug outdoor points.

🌱 Seed Share @ Jefferson Community Center | Saturday (3/7) at 10:30 AM – Bring your extra seeds, and grab something new at the season’s first seed share with Beacon Arts’ Beacon Hill Garden Club. It’s a relaxed drop-in with neighbors. Swap tips about slugs, soil, and coffee grounds, and snag free seeds and supplies while they last.

🧧 Lunar New Year Celebration 2026 @ Hing Hay Park ~ Chinatown | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – Nothing beats ringing in the Year of the Horse with drums, dragons, and dumplings in the CID. Free and all-ages, this street party brings lion and dragon dances, martial arts, the Food Walk, and crafty vendors, so arrive hungry, leave luckier.

🤝 Indigenous Peoples Community Day @ Seattle Aquarium | Sunday (3/8) at 9:30 AM – Skip brunch lines for something better, as the Aquarium teams up with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe for a day of Indigenous culture, storytelling, and demonstrations. Explore habitats and talk careers with staff. Open to Indigenous members and curious neighbors, your ticket unlocks all three buildings.

🍲 2nd Annual Seattle Sister Cities Soup Sampling @ National Nordic Museum | Sunday (3/8) at 2:00 PM – Seattle Sister Cities is ladling out the 2nd annual Soup Sampling at the National Nordic Museum, a cozy tour of broths from around the globe. Think Ballard vibes, steam on your glasses, and conversations warmer than your clam chowder.

🐟 Annual Salmon Dinner @ Ballard Elks Lodge #827 | Sunday (3/8) at 4:00 PM – Join the Ballard Elks for the annual Salmon Dinner, a local rite featuring salmon, chowder, and the fixings. It’s $30 for the works, it sells out, and bring cash for Emblem Club desserts, because saying no to dessert isn’t a hobby.

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

📻 Seattle report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 54°F – Low: 43°F – Precip: 98%

Rain before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm, then rain. Cloudy. High near 54, with temperatures falling to around 51 in the afternoon. South southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 50°F – Low: 43°F – Precip: 80%

Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth 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

This Riviera Place home has 75 feet of Lake Washington shoreline with yacht moorage. Great room and chef’s kitchen face walls of glass. A 600 SF primary retreat crowns the home, and the lake level adds a second kitchen, wine cellar, and guest suite. Resort grounds include a beach, covered wet bar with retractable roof, hot tub, and 40-foot dock.

Take a peek inside →