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

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Mamma Mia!, best beach towns ranking, and Coastal Comic Con + 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

Five-year build deadline: On Greenville Loop Road, Wilmington’s parks board discussed next steps for a new 25-acre park backed by $9 million. A design charrette will invite community ideas amid floodplain concerns — see how to get involved.

National nod to coastal living: Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach were ranked third among the best U.S. beach towns to live by Travel + Leisure, praised for laid-back coastal vibes and a strong local culture — see who else was named.

A Southern flavor fest: The Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival returns to Wilmington’s Live Oak Bank Pavilion on March 14 with unlimited tastings, whole-hog pig pickin’s, and seminars led by distillers, brewmasters and pitmasters — get all the event 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:

• Tour Wilmington’s colonial and revolutionary landmarks
• Snuggle up for Wall-E family night
• Experience Wilmington’s first plant and crystal expo
• 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

Small plates, big mood: Circa 1922 keeps downtown dinners lively with grazeable plates like octopus a la plancha and house-made pastas, plus a strong wine and cocktail lineup. When you crave a little indulgence without the white tablecloth, it’s the easy “let’s meet here” choice.

Trail-to-tide essentials: From packs and camp stoves to breathable layers and kayaks, Great Outdoor Provision Co.makes Wilmington adventures simple, staffed by folks who know the local trails and waterways. When the week says get outside, they’ll help you dial in the right gear, so your plan becomes a real outing.

Movie night, upgraded: With 4K laser projection, Dolby Atmos, PDX large-format screens, and comfy high-back seats, The Pointe 14 delivers big-screen buzz without the mega-chain vibe. Ideal for a midweek reset with excellent popcorn, first-run flicks, and the occasional throwback, all right here in Wilmington.

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.

🎭 Mamma Mia! @ Wilson Center – Cape Fear Community College | Thursday (3/5) at 7:30 PM – If you’ve ever sung Dancing Queen into a wooden spoon, this one’s for you. On a sun-soaked Greek island, a bride hunts for her dad, three maybe-dads crash the party, and ABBA’s hits do the heavy lifting. Pure escapism, sparkly, and shamelessly fun.

🏠 Night Tour of the Burgwin-Wright House @ Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens | Friday (3/6) at 8:00 PM – Skip Netflix and time-travel to Colonial nightlife at the Burgwin-Wright House, where candlelit guides spill rituals, superstitions, and what life looked like before outlets, Uber, and ring lights. It’s $25 plus tax, space is tight, so call 910-762-0570 to reserve, no emails.

💥 Coastal Comic Con @ Wilmington Convention Center | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Nothing beats a weekend where you can justify your childhood obsessions as “collecting.” Right here in town, Coastal Comic Con brings retro games, VR, and a sea of toys, comics, and Pokémon, plus costume contests, panels, celebrity sightings, and 170 artists and vendors.

🚢 River Cruise: “Outlander in the Cape Fear” @ Wilmington Water Tours | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Wilmington Water Tours and the Burgwin-Wright House are taking you back in time on the Cape Fear, retracing the real Wilmington history woven into Outlander. No kilt required, just curiosity, a river breeze, and $40. Snag seats at WilmingtonWaterTours.net, or call 910-338-3134.

🚗 Circle the Wagens Car Show @ Waterline Brewing Company | Saturday (3/7) at 12:00 PM – Take a break from the grind and roll to Waterline for a Volkswagen show under the bridge, with air-cooled nostalgia, cold beers, and a benefit for NourishNC. Free to wander, register your ride for prizes, and bring a donation to score an extra ticket.

⚡ Pokepalooza @ Waterline Brewing Company | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – Apparently we’ve been catching them for 30 years, so Waterline Brewing is throwing a free, family-friendly bash with vendors, giveaways, and card trading, plus a Pikachu cameo. Bring the kids, your binder, and your best cosplay, then call it quality time.

🧩 Jigsaw Puzzle Competition @ theArtWorks | Sunday (3/8) at 2:00 PM – Channel your coffee table instincts for a speed puzzling showdown, where teams of two race to finish a 500 piece beast in two hours. Top three snag prizes, bragging rights, and probably a cramp. Grab your partner, then register online at www.eclecticdandelion.com.

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

📻 Wilmington report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 74°F – Low: 54°F – Precip: 3%

Patchy fog before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 0 to 6 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 3 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 75°F – Low: 57°F – Precip: 3%

Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Southwest wind 1 to 8 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.

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 5,398 sq ft custom home in gated Landfall, Wilmington, sits on a rare .8-acre lakeside lot with views of Landfall Lake. Light-filled rooms feature wood floors and a quartzite kitchen with wine fridge. The main-level suite includes a zero-entry shower. Upper and lower porches, a FROG suite, a 3-car garage, and a slate roof plus tankless water impress.

Take a peek inside →