Subscribe | Get featured

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

In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Young innovators earn top honors, Holi & Holika Dahan, and Florida strawberry truckload sale + 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

Young innovators earn top honors: Thirty-three Joliet District 86 junior high students will compete at a regional science fair at North Central College in Naperville on March 26, including a Double Gold night-light team — get all the details.

Seasonal events support veterans: At Kendall Hall just west of downtown, Lenten Friday fish fries continue through April 3, American Legion dinners carry on, and a Vietnam Veterans Day observance begins March 29 — get the full event schedule.

Support local environmental stewardship: Help clean the DuPage River in nearby Westmont. The Conservation Foundation’s DuPage River Sweep is set for Saturday, April 18. Volunteers must register in advance. Sign-ups close April 5 — see how and when to register.

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 Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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:

• Explore colon cancer stages and treatments
• Learn advanced buttercream floral techniques
• Shop my latest collection in Chicago
• 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

Plant-based comfort, no fuss: Manna Kitchen skips the cardboard vibes with creamy cashew mac ’n’ cheeze, seitan chorizo tacos, and house-baked cakes for when you promise “just a sliver” then end up with a whole slice. Need a cozy reset this week? This Lisle staple quietly delivers.

Treasure hunt, upgraded: Out of the Attic Antiques fills 10,000 square feet with 70+ dealers blending true antiques, vintage gems, and delightfully nerdy pop-culture finds. A low-stakes wander often starts with “my grandparents had this” and somehow ends with a comic, a camera, and maybe a brand-new hobby.

Wake up ready: iBrowtiful refines brows and lips with modern microblading and lip blush for a natural, polished look. Skip the daily makeup scramble and stay fresh through workouts, weather, and long days. Low-maintenance confidence that feels like you, just elevated.

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.

🎨 First Fridays @ Richard & Gina Santori Aurora Public Library | Friday (3/6) at 6:00 PM – First Fridays is rolling into the library with Alley Art Fest, and they need your steady hand to decorate cake postcards. We’re toasting Alley Art’s Sweet 16 and America’s 250th, so expect sprinkles, nostalgia, and neighborly vibes. Free, all ages, peak Aurora.

❤ Wrap Someone in Love: Family Volunteer Event @ Naperville Bank & Trust | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Need a winter plan that warms more than your coffee? Bring the kids ages 3 and up, learn about empathy, then tie fleece scarves for neighbors who could use warmth, dignity, and love. Bonus, tiny hands make excellent knots.

🌈 Color Holi & Holika Dahan\\ @ Shiv Durga Hindu Temple

4315 Westbrook Drive, Aurora, IL\ | Saturday (3/7) at 2:30 PM\ – Spring says hi with a splash at the Shiv Durga Hindu Temple by Fox Valley Mall, where Holi brings color clouds, water play, music, dancing, and Holika Dahan’s bonfire. Everyone’s invited, locals and newcomers alike. Dress for joy, forgiveness, and a heroic laundry day.

💐 Create a Floral Masterpiece @ Pinot’s Palette – Naperville | Saturday (3/7) at 3:00 PM – Pinot’s Palette Naperville is turning spring fever into a keepsake, guiding you to paint a modern bouquet for someone you actually like, flowers that never wilt, need water, or trigger allergies. Make it a date night, girls’ night, or blessed solo escape.

🔨 49th Annual Little Friends Benefit Auction @ The Matrix Club | Saturday (3/7) at 6:00 PM – Break out the good shoes and head to The Matrix for the 49th Annual Little Friends benefit auction, where we dress up, bid on things we don’t need, and feel good about it. Support autism services right here, with tickets and sponsorships ready to grab.

🍓 Florida Strawberry Truckload Sale @ Astro Fun World | Sunday (3/8) at 3:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to ditch winter’s sad berries, a truck is hitting Astro Fun World with sun-ripened Florida strawberries by the box. Blink and you might miss it, first come, first served. Also pecans, South Dakota honey, and bragging rights.

🧀 Make an Epoxy Charcuterie Board @ Pinot’s Palette – Naperville | Sunday (3/8) at 4:30 PM – Channeling your inner shop class and making an epoxy charcuterie board that actually earns you a humblebrag at wine night. Choose black walnut or a lighter hardwood, pick up to two epoxy colors, and craft a classic 11×16 handled board with Midwest Woodturners supplies.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/6 First Fridays @ The Venue – 7:00 PM
• 3/6 Ebony & Ivory @ Aurora Tap House – 9:00 PM
• 3/7 Johnny & Keith @ Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar – Naperville, IL – 7:00 PM
• 3/7 Improv Show @ Center Stage Theater – 8:00 PM
• 3/7 No Limits Sound @ Paulie’s Pub & Grille – 8:00 PM
• 3/7 Eddie Andersen @ Lennon’s Naperville – 8:30 PM
• 3/7 Paulie & The Shakers @ Quigley’s Irish Pub – 9:00 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

📻 Naperville report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 71°F – Low: 60°F – Precip: 72%

Areas of fog and a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9am, then patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms likely between 9am and noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. High near 71, with temperatures falling to around 69 in the afternoon. South southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

—

Tomorrow – High: 62°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 33%

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. West southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.

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

An architect-driven new build in Naperville’s nationally recognized District 203, crafted by an award-winning local design-build team. Set on a 50-by-174 lot, this sleek, modern residence pairs gallery-worthy lines with high-end finishes, smart-home systems, and forward-thinking floor plans. Ellsworth Elementary, Washington Junior High, and Naperville North serve the area, adding standout convenience and community appeal.

Take a peek inside →