Subscribe | Get featured

It’s Friday, McAllen! Let’s finish this week strong.

In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Harry Styles listening party, Swan Lake with a live orchestra, and a spy-themed Make-A-Wish gala + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.

Today’s sponsor (FinanceBuzz) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.

📰 In the news

A year of careful stewardship: Sunny Glen Children’s Home in South Texas recently released 2025 impact numbers, serving 431 children and highlighting 140 enrichment outings, with support from over 90 Church of Christ congregations — see the numbers and highlights.

A career of lasting impact: Longtime Rio Grande Valley realtor Michael J. Blum was honored by Marquis Who’s Who, recognizing decades shaping commercial real estate, NAI STX’s growth, and planning work connected to Sharyland Plantation — explore his career highlights.

Kiss All The Time preview: Pharr Out Records in Pharr is hosting an official Harry Styles listening party today at 6:30 p.m. for his first album in four years, with 25 fans selected via Instagram — 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.

Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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 all that up – learn more here.

Highlights this week:

• Enjoy pizza, support Boys & Girls Club
• Paint meaningful art with your son
• Run the Rock the Green 5K
• Over 62? See how to turn home equity into tax-free cash

🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?

Together with our sponsor FinanceBuzz

Auto insurance premiums have been climbing across the country… and most folks won’t notice until it’s time to renew and they’re hit with a higher bill.

The frustrating part? Loyalty rarely gets rewarded. Insurers adjust prices constantly, and new customers often qualify for better rates than long-time policyholders.

I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.

This free comparison tool lets you check rates from multiple insurers in just a few minutes. It costs nothing to look, and it could save you hundreds this year.

🫶 We got your back

Crave-worthy, plant-based fix: Put Maria Cruz on your eat-green list this week, serving 100% plant-based plates with Southern Mexican flair that even skeptics crave. Cozy downtown vibes and a legit bar invite lingering, so you leave full, happy, and a little smug.

Find a piece of history: If you’re drawn to Old West arms, Mexican and Spanish Colonial artifacts, or simply crave a gallery stroll that feels like stepping back in time, Nuevo Santander Gallery offers museum-worthy discoveries in Old Town McAllen… low-key, fascinating, and refreshingly unpretentious.

Brows that actually behave: Beauty Arte Ink does microblading, powder brows, lip blush, and eyeliner that outlast gym sweat and South Texas humidity, so you can hit snooze and still look polished. Expect brows that stay put, lips with soft tint, and liner that behaves… without the daily touch-up scramble.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

📆 Around town this weekend

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.

🎭 The Book of Will @ UTRGV Albert L. Jeffers Theatre, 1201 W University Dr, Edinburg, Texas | Friday (3/6) at 7:30 PM – Think group projects never work? Meet Shakespeare’s ride-or-die editors in The Book of Will, Lauren Gunderson’s funny love letter to theatre, friendship, and keeping the good stuff in print. Ages 13 and up at UTRGV’s Albert L. Jeffers Theatre. No late seating, be early.

🎸 The Beatles and more @ McAllen Performing Arts Center | Friday (3/6) at 8:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to upgrade your Beatles playlist to symphonic, this is it. Valley Symphony and Chorale blend Lennon-McCartney nostalgia with John Rutter’s choral glow, featuring mezzo Karmesha Peake, rich harmonies, and the kind of goosebumps you pretend are allergies.

🎨 Love and Heroes: Watercolor Workshop @ Kaboom Games – McAllen Tx | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – Trade morning cartoons for capes and watercolors at Kaboom Games, a free, beginner-friendly parent-kid superhero watercolor workshop where you paint iconic duos in love on 4×6 prints. Supplies included, frames extra, and yes, you actually have to register, no heroic walk-ins.

🛍 Lucky Girl Market @ Tsunami Sushi | Saturday (3/7) at 5:00 PM – Whether you roll your eyes at manifesting, or you’ve got crystals in the glove box, this night market lines up 20-plus local vendors, and photo ops. Swing by Cornerstone Blvd in Edinburg, shop local, soak up that lucky girl energy, and call it self-care.

🕵 26th Annual Evening of Wishes @ Mission Event Center | Saturday (3/7) at 6:00 PM – Suit up for Make-A-Wish RGV’s 26th Annual Evening of Wishes, a glam spy-themed gala where everyone plays secret agent for good. Kids get wishes, you get bragging rights, and you finally wear real shoes, with tables and sponsorships up for grabs.

🌮 MXLAN – Sabor a Mexico 2026 @ McAllen Convention Center | Saturday (3/7) at 7:00 PM – MXLAN’s Sabor a Mexico is taking over the West Lawn with big flavors, bigger vibes, and a 21-plus night under the stars. Grab a ticket, get Saturday MXLAN admission free, and call it a two-for-one cultural win. Leave the kiddos, bring your appetite.

🦢 Swan Lake @ McAllen Performing Arts Center | Sunday (3/8) at 6:00 PM – Swan Lake is gliding in with a live orchestra, 50 international dancers, and more hand-sewn sparkle than a quinceañera. Expect Little Swans, the Black Swan’s 32 fouettés, and zero tutus from us, just blissful goosebumps, date-night cred, and unapologetic applause.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/6 The Beatles and more @ McAllen Performing Arts Center – 8:00 PM
• 3/7 Neon Indian @ McAllen Convention Center – 5:00 PM
• 3/7 Circus Vazquez @ Circus Vazquez – 7:00 PM
• 3/7 Elías Medina @ McAllen Performing Arts Center – 8:00 PM
• 3/8 Brendan Kinsella Faculty Recital: “Quartet for the End of Time” @ UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W University Dr, Edinburg, Texas – 3:00 PM
• 3/8 Lueme @ McAllen Convention Center – 5:00 PM
• 3/8 Swan Lake @ McAllen Performing Arts Center – 6:00 PM

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
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 McAllen report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 93°F – Low: 73°F – Precip: 18%

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. South southeast wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

—

Tomorrow – High: 92°F – Low: 74°F – Precip: 7%

Mostly sunny. High near 92, with temperatures falling to around 88 in the afternoon. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southeast wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Something in your house is about to break 🏠

It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major system and appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’re staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast.

It never happens at a convenient time, and most homeowners just eat the cost because they don’t realize there’s a better option.

American Home Shield covers repairs and replacements on most of your home’s major systems and appliances — old or new, no inspection required.

The best part? Select plans are 50% off now through March 9th.

This house is wild

In Las Villas del Rio, this 4-bed, 4.5-bath home offers approx. 2,240 sq ft and a 2-car garage. A kitchen features modular cabinetry, a grand island, and granite throughout. Every room has surround sound. All bedrooms have ensuite access, including a Jack and Jill pair. The backyard delivers a swim-in-place lap pool, hot tub, grill, bar kitchen, and pool bath.

Take a peek inside →