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Happy weekend, New Haven! 

In today’s happening-today edition: Top micro-escapes list, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Pokémon League Cup + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.

Today’s sponsor (Money.com) 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

Local green spaces earn recognition: A new national survey named New Haven’s Wooster Square Park among the country’s top micro-escapes, alongside two other Connecticut parks, praised for easy walking and relaxing — see which CT parks ranked.

Inside their creative journey: New Haven indie band The Tines will release their second album, Barrows, this month. The group formed during the pandemic and has been steadily building a following across the region — learn how it came together.

A record of civic leadership: Orange resident Jody Dietch will be honored with the O’Sullivan Award by the Orange Democratic Town Committee on March 25, recognizing years of community service and her New Haven roots — read the full story.

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 Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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

• Experience forward-thinking jazz with Metta Quintet
• Enjoy Mary L Tracy Children’s Fair
• Celebrate St. Patrick’s with music and Guinness
• Over 62? See how to turn home equity into tax-free cash

🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?

Together with our sponsor Money.com

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

A soaring landmark: David de la Mano “About William Lanson” mural channels New Haven pride in Ninth Square, all eagles, history, and momentum on a single wall. Even a quick coffee run feels brighter as Lanson’s grit lends midweek a lift.

Cast-on inspiration: Knit New Haven fills your project basket with curated yarns, clever tools, and kind, no-judgment help when your stitch count goes rogue. They offer classes and workshops to level up that side-eyed sweater, learn new tricks, and finally bind off with confidence.

Crisp lager nightcap: When your week needs a no-fuss reset, East Rock Brewing Company delivers German-inspired lagers in a lively beer hall for neighbors, with easy vibes, clean flavors, and zero pretense. Bring a friend, settle in, and make it your midweek ritual.

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 today & tomorrow

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.

🛍 Fill a Bag @ El Thrift Store (East Haven) | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – Think you can out-thrift the regulars? El Thrift Store is running a fill-a-bag deal, they provide the bag, you scoop treasures from the bins and select fixtures, all for $15 a bag. Cheap thrill, greener closet, unexpectedly fun cardio.

🖼 Glory Opening Reception @ NXTHVN | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Swing by the opening reception Saturday, March 7, 1 to 5 pm, and step into an imagined 1970s Black American home, shag carpet and plastic couch covers included. A smart, soulful mix of art turns living rooms into archives, and everyday objects into memory keepers.

🏆 Pokémon League Cup @ Phantasm Gaming (Branford) | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Skip the errands and flex those trainer skills at Phantasm Gaming’s Pokémon League Cup. Twenty bucks gets you in, everyone walks away with four prize packs, and prizes scale with the crowd. It’s friendly competition, conversation, and zero yardwork, just the way we like it.

🎸 Rock House Group Showcase @ Randall’s Restaurant (West Haven) | Saturday (3/7) at 4:00 PM – If you’ve been craving proof talent beats overthinking, swing by Randall’s in West Haven for Rock House’s Showcase. The first rehearsal is the show, with students on guitar, bass, piano, drums, or vocals delivering goosebumps, grit, and glorious, well-orchestrated chaos. Braver than our garage bands.

🐱 Rainbow Kitten Surprise @ College Street Music Hall | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 PM – Rainbow Kitten Surprise is rolling into College Street Music Hall, with Common People warming things up, and it’s the indie catharsis you didn’t know your week needed. Big harmonies, weirdly joyful lyrics, and a crowd that listens. Grab tickets now, beat the Elm City procrastinators.

🧩 500 Piece Speed Puzzle Competition @ Armada Brewing | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – Grab your puzzle buddy and sprint through a 500-piece jigsaw at Armada Brewing, teams of two racing the same puzzle. Fifty bucks gets you the puzzle, two beers or NAs, and a shot at the season championship, because here even puzzling gets competitive.

🎤 Patti Murin @ Legacy Theatre (Branford) | Sunday (3/8) at 2:00 PM – Patti Murin, aka Princess Anna from Broadway’s Frozen, is bringing her pipes to Legacy Theatre, with Grammy and Emmy magnet John McDaniel at the piano. It’s a proper Broadway night without the Metro-North, just vocals, stories, and goosebumps. Grab seats, they go fast.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/7 Rock House Group Showcase @ Randall’s Restaurant (West Haven) – 4:00 PM
• 3/7 BaroqueFest @ Battell Chapel – 7:30 PM
• 3/7 Rainbow Kitten Surprise @ College Street Music Hall – 8:00 PM
• 3/7 Bad Mannerz @ Pub 34 (West Haven) – 8:00 PM
• 3/8 Patti Murin @ Legacy Theatre (Branford) – 2:00 PM
• 3/10 Jonathan Richman @ Space Ballroom (Hamden) – 8:00 PM
• 3/11 The Saint James Jazz Band @ Owl Shop Cigar Lounge & Tobacconist – 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

📻 New Haven report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 49°F – Low: 43°F – Precip: 21%

A slight chance of drizzle before 7am. Cloudy, with a high near 49. South wind 0 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Areas of fog and showers and thunderstorms likely after 7pm. Cloudy. Low around 43, with temperatures rising to around 49 overnight. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 60°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 62%

Rain showers likely and areas of fog before 2pm. Mostly cloudy. High near 60, with temperatures falling to around 57 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 36.

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