Subscribe | Get featured

Hi Gainesville, we made it to Thursday! 

In today’s fun-for-grown-ups edition: NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout, North Central Florida Health Festival with free mammograms, and Ducks for Dogs + plenty of reasons to put on real pants 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

Community care in action: The UF College of Nursing will host the first North Central Florida Health Festival in downtown Gainesville this Saturday, March 7, with free mammogram appointments and mobile health outreach — get all the details.

NHRA season opener showdown: Right Trailers returns as title sponsor of the Top Fuel All-Star Callout, running March 7 at Gainesville Raceway with eight drivers, No. 1 seed Doug Kalitta, and a $130,000 purse — get all the event details.

Adventure brand’s growth accelerates: Colorado-based Rossmönster partnered with Florida’s Sunshine State RV, expanding Southeast access to its purpose-built rigs like the Baja Series, SKYE van, and HAVN camper, with hands-on demos for shoppers — 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:

• Dine at Leonardo’s to support Littlewood
• Explore science through nature games
• Shop plants, art, and local vendors
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🐾 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

Old-school burger fix: Mac’s Drive-Thru has served Gainesville since 1987 with made-to-order cheeseburgers and fries that hit the spot. Keep it classic, or go Mac’s Way with lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo. Either route is fast, unfussy, and exactly what you’re craving this week.

Roll into the week: Skate Station Funworks keeps the classic rink glow alive, plus side quests: arcade, Swamp Golf, go-karts, rock wall, batting cages, trampolines. When legs need a timeout, the games take over; later, lacing up turns midweek blahs into laps, laughs, and questionable moves.

Tinker time, Gainesville: For a midweek creative jolt, the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention offers hands-on labs, build-it-yourself experiments, and plenty of “wait, that actually works?” moments. Great for curious adults, kids, and anyone who can’t resist pressing buttons or seeing ideas click.

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.

📆 Gainesville for grown ups

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.

🌶 2nd Annual Rebuild Chili Cook-Off @ North Central Florida Community Center | Thursday (3/5) at 6:00 PM – Watch brokers sweat over secret recipes at the Battle of the Brokers chili cook-off at North Central Florida Community Center. Taste, mingle, and back Rebuilding Together NCF as they repair homes and lives, entry by donation, suggested 20 bucks, bragging rights, appraised at priceless.

🌱 Nowruz & International Festival @ Shoppes at Thornebrook | Saturday (3/7) at 3:00 AM – Celebrate Nowruz and a world of flavors at this international festival, where local vendors, music, and dancing make spring feel official. Bring your appetite, and your neighbors. If you want a booth, email [email protected], and ignore any randoms promising vendor spots.

🐄 Family Day 2026 @ UF IFAS Dairy Unit | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Nothing beats a morning of fresh air, curious cows, and free admission at the UF/IFAS Dairy Farm. Bring the crew for genuine, hands-on learning about how milk happens, meet the herd, and collect a few wholesome stories to lord over the grandkids later.

🦆 Ducks for Dogs @ Swamp Head Brewery | Saturday (3/7) at 12:00 PM – It’s duck adoption season, so around here you can sponsor a numbered quacker, support the pups, and maybe pocket $500. Grab a few for office parties, morale boosting, and proving you have range beyond cookie tins, then let fate do the rest.

🎉 Food and Music Festival and Pop-Up Market @ Celebration Pointe | Saturday (3/7) at 6:00 PM – Skip the dinner debate and meet at Celebration Pointe for street food and live tunes. Hit the trucks, browse the pop-up market, and catch Jamie Allen Band and Second Chance Band, a low-fuss evening that feels like quality time, minus the dishes.

🌻 Blossom, Brew & BBQ Plant Sale @ First Magnitude Brewing Company | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – Saturday at the Gainesville Garden Club means browsing member-grown natives, herbs, and shade lovers you’ll pretend are essential, then rewarding yourself with Danny from Looseys’ smoky BBQ, veg options, and a local brew. Free admission, easy to linger, good for the garden.

🎨 Annie Sloan Paint Workshop: Painted Planter @ The Mustard Seed Collection, The Seed | Wednesday (3/11) at 10:00 AM – Roll up your sleeves and turn a plain planter into a brag-worthy piece with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, then tuck in a fresh herb or succulent. You’ll learn brush basics, waxing, and distressing, all materials provided, and yes, you can bring your favorite beverage.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/5 Vincent Mason: There I Go Tour @ Vivid Music Hall – 7:00 PM
• 3/6 Killer B’s @ Cypress & Grove Brewing Co. – 7:00 PM
• 3/6 Julius Caesar @ Acrosstown Repertory Theatre – 8:00 PM
• 3/7 Ukulele Open Mic @ 4th Ave Food Park – 11:00 AM
• 3/7 Atlus and more @ Signal – 7:00 PM
• 3/7 Auditions: Gypsy @ Star Center Theatre – 7:00 PM
• 3/8 Introduction to Classical Guitar @ Academy of Music and Art & Gainesville Guitar Academy – 10:00 AM

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

📻 Gainesville report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 87°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 28%

A chance of rain showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny. High near 87, with temperatures falling to around 82 in the afternoon. East wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy. Low around 65, with temperatures rising to around 66 overnight. East wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

—

Tomorrow – High: 88°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 40%

A chance of rain showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny. High near 88, with temperatures falling to around 82 in the afternoon. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: A chance of rain showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

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

An exquisite Barry Bullard former Parade home featuring custom Busby cabinetry, exposed wood beams, and an antique brick arch around a 6-burner Thermador range. The gourmet kitchen adds granite, a ceramic farmhouse sink, Dacor, Bosch, and a wine bar with chiller. Highlights include a den with cherry built-ins, heated saltwater pool and spa, 3-car garage, and a Market Square location.

Take a peek inside →