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

In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: New wildlife plan, an interactive Beatles tribute you help create, and paint your pet + 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

New path for wildlife policy: The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a new Game Management Plan in Olympia on Feb. 13, guiding how more than 50 hunted species are managed and updated over time — see what’s in the plan.

Reexamining school policy burdens: Passed by the House, Rep. Skyler Rude’s bill would curb unfunded mandates on Washington schools with mandate reviews and a steering committee. Olympia parents and educators watch what comes next — see what’s in the bill.

From camps to city hall: Meet Paul Simmons, Tumwater’s new city administrator. The former Olympia Parks leader started January 16 and brings an action oriented style and regional know how to guide a growing Tumwater — see his background and vision.

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 Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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

• Craft your own pine needle broom
• SPSCC choirs celebrate dance in song
• Groove to funky blues while shopping
• 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-powered comfort fix: Craving a weeknight pick-me-up? The Wayside Cafe & Deli serves creative, all-vegan comfort food, with scratch-made sauces, house “meats,” mac ’n’ cheeze, and decadent shakes… plus a low-key vibe and beer and wine, ideal when cooking ambition mysteriously vanishes.

Treasure-hunting, upgraded: Two floors, 10,000 square feet, and over 40 vendors make Courtyard Antiques & Home Decor an effortless pop-in that turns into a full-on browse. Vintage meets home decor, with fresh finds arriving daily…perfect for that stubborn corner you keep side-eyeing.

Brows behaving nicely: If your mornings could use fewer steps, Primp Aesthetics Studio delivers natural-looking permanent cosmetics: brows, liner, and lip blush, plus lashes and brow shaping for effortless upkeep. Expect gentle, detail-obsessed artists and touch-ups you’ll actually enjoy… then get on with your day.

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.

🐦 Birding with Breakfast @ Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area | Saturday (3/7) at 7:30 AM – Grab your thermos, a DIY breakfast, and binoculars for a Woodard Bay wander, from quiet woods to Henderson Inlet overlooks where the locals have feathers. Beginner and intermediate birders welcome, no registration. Park with a Discover Pass or use the county lot up the hill.

💍 Olympia Wedding Expo @ Capitol City Barn | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Capitol City Barn hosts a wedding expo, basically a farmers market for vows where you can book the florist, taste cake, and size up DJs. Bring your partner, mom, or skeptical friend. Five bucks to turn Pinterest into a plan.

🌱 Seed Swap! @ Olympia Timberland Library | Saturday (3/7) at 2:00 PM – Nothing beats trading seeds with neighbors to kick off growing season. Bring your extra packets, starts, and cuttings, grab new varieties, swap tips, and use the provided envelopes and labels, fancy like that. No seeds? GRuB’s got extras, and leftovers feed the Seed Library.

🎸 Yesterday and Today @ Washington Center for the Performing Arts | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 PM – Come pick your Beatles favorites, jot why they matter, and watch the McGuigan brothers spin your stories into the night’s setlist. It’s a tribute that listens, not lectures, where every show changes, and the sing-alongs hit exactly where you left your youth.

🍿 OFS Kids Club: Little Amélie or the Character of Rain @ Capitol Theater | Sunday (3/8) at 1:00 PM – Take a parenting win and duck into OFS Kids Club for Little Amélie, an Oscar-nominated, English-language French animated gem set in post-war Japan. It’s tender, curious, and actually kid-friendly, and it buys you 78 blissful minutes. Free for children 12 and under.

🎨 Paint Your Pet @ Insert Coin Olympia | Sunday (3/8) at 4:00 PM – Paint night at Insert Coin, but make it your pet. You send a photo, they pre-sketch the canvas, and you sip a decent drink while an instructor talks you into whiskers that actually look like whiskers. All ages, all supplies, zero judgment, maximum bragging rights.

🎭 Matzah Mystery @ Temple Beth Hatfiloh | Sunday (3/8) at 5:00 PM – Craving a little whodunit with your wine? At Temple Beth Hatfiloh, you get a three-course dinner, mystery theater, live auction, and a dessert-fueled paddle raise, all benefiting the congregation. Adults chip in $72 suggested donation, kids 10+ free, childcare and separate dinner for under 10.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/6 Remainders and more @ Wild Child – 7:00 PM
• 3/6 The Foreigner @ The State Theater – 7:30 PM
• 3/7 Coffee & Cars @ Forza Coffee Company – 9:00 AM
• 3/7 Yesterday and Today @ Washington Center for the Performing Arts – 8:00 PM
• 3/7 O’Malley’s March Karaoke @ O’Malley’s Lounge – 8:00 PM
• 3/8 Matzah Mystery @ Temple Beth Hatfiloh – 5:00 PM
• 3/8 Marble and more @ Wild Child – 6:30 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

📻 Olympia report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 51°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 92%

Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 51. South southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 49. South southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 53°F – Low: 48°F – Precip: 68%

Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Southwest wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

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

This 3-bed plus office home in Olympia’s coveted Countrywood Park Estates sits on a generous third-acre lot with an open-concept layout designed for easy gatherings. Fresh interior paint and new carpet pair with a one-year-old roof and a new fence. Next to the Chehalis Walking Trail, it blends peaceful country vibes with quick access to shops and dining.

Take a peek inside →