Subscribe | Get featured

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

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Media deepfakes exhibit, wizarding festival, and ride a retired rodeo horse + 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

Navigating today’s information maze: The Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center will open Media Matters on March 12, exploring media literacy, misinformation, AI, and deepfakes, and it will be free with pre-registration required — get details on attending.

Iconic peak’s volcanic story: Tucson drivers know Picacho Peak State Park, rising from the desert along I-10. Hunter Trail’s steep climb uses cables, and spring can bring poppies and purple lupine when conditions cooperate — get the geology and trail details.

New manufacturing ties forming: Pima County aims to land Taiwanese chip firm JSEDM, set to join University of Arizona Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing this month, with county-funded participation and demos at Tech Parks Arizona — see how the partnership works.

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:

• Ride retired rodeo horses in Saguaro
• Paint a wine glass, cuddle cats
• Walk the red carpet at Loft Cinema
• 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 upgrade: Downtown’s Basqueria serves pintxos the classic Basque way, with patatas bravas, tortilla española, garlicky shrimp, and paella for the committed. A glass or pitcher of sangria sets the pace, and an easy weeknight drifts into the inevitable “okay, one more.”

Desert-ready, no fuss: Since 1951, Miller’s Surplus has outfitted Tucson with camping staples, durable boots, field tools, and those just-in-case gadgets you’re secretly glad to have. When plans flip from couch to canyon, this low-key standby has your back.

Tonight’s perfect watch: Whether you crave new indies, cult oddities, or an open-air night under the stars, The Loft Cinema keeps it fresh and delightfully weird. Toss in Mondo Mondays and Hollywood Classics, and suddenly every week offers a ready-made movie night… equal parts discovery and nostalgia.

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.

🎉 Grand Opening and 15-Year Anniversary Party @ Carly Quinn Designs | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Carly Quinn Designs just opened on 6th Ave, and she’s celebrating 15 years with a neighborhood party. Drop in for daytime tours, glazing, and coffee, come back for evening music, snacks, and wine, and every purchase enters you to win a prickly pear tile mural.

🐝 First Saturday Pollinator Party @ Valley of the Moon | Saturday (3/7) at 10:30 AM – First Saturday is free at Valley of the Moon, and they are throwing a Pollinator Party. Help plant butterfly-friendly blooms in the Monarch Waystation, then stick around for crafts, magic folk, and wholesome spring vibes. Good for grandkids, knees, and your karma.

🎨 Paint & Create: Spring Gnome @ The Proper Collective on Speedway | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – If your yard already has enough gnomes, here’s a chance to make one that won’t melt by June. For 35 bucks at The Proper Collective on Speedway, enjoy a laid-back, beginner-friendly paint class, BYOB, free parking, spring colors, laughs, and a take-home masterpiece.

🍅 Home Grown Tomatoes @ Harlow Gardens | Saturday (3/7) at 2:00 PM – Finally, a tomato class that speaks fluent desert. Get Tucson-smart tips on varieties, watering, shade cloth, and outwitting hornworms, so your plants thrive past June and actually taste like summer. It is free, no registration, just show up with questions and dusty gardening shoes.

🐾 Pets of Pima Parade & Friends of PACC Festival @ 4th Avenue District | Sunday (3/8) at 11:00 AM – Follow the yellow brick road to a Wizard of Paws parade where dogs, cats, reptiles, and token flying monkeys strut for PACC. Chip in $50 to walk with your crew, kids free, then hit the festival for adoptions, vendors, and easy people-watching.

✨ Wizarding Out West 2026 @ Trail Dust Town | Sunday (3/8) at 2:00 PM – Western meets wizard at this fantasy bash, with potion demos, unicorn encounters, a magic show, rides, and spells served with turkey legs and cocktails. Dust off your boots and robes, browse Alley of Vendors, snag the tote, and buy early to dodge the gate price.

🎻 Civic Orchestra of Tucson Concert @ Crowder Hall, University of Arizona | Sunday (3/8) at 4:30 PM – Free symphony at Crowder Hall when your playlist can’t handle Firebird, Scheherazade, and Polovetsian Dances. Civic Orchestra of Tucson adds Shostakovich’s Waltz No. 2, Tchaikovsky, and a Khachaturian sprint, no tickets required. Sensory-friendly, abridged version at Canyon del Oro High School, too.

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

📻 Tucson report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 83°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 0%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South southwest wind 2 to 8 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 49. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

—

Tomorrow – High: 80°F – Low: 42°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 5 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 42.

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

On 5+ Sonoran Desert acres in Cobo Catalina Hills at Pima Canyon’s base, this 4,900+ sq ft estate was designed by Abbott Harle as his residence. Open living and a gourmet kitchen join a climate-controlled wine closet. A two-bedroom casita and 1,000 sq ft studio with steam shower, golf net frame a resort-style pool, hot tub, and six garages.

Take a peek inside →