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Happy weekend, Traverse City! 

In today’s happening-today edition: The $1 Iron Giant matinee, Anna Quindlen live, and a giant fish experiment reshaping a river + 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

Building belonging and vitality: Grand Traverse County Senior Center Network is tackling loneliness with social and active programs keeping older adults connected. Transportation remains a hurdle, and many seniors rely on a local service — see what’s helping and hindering.

Engineering a smarter waterway: Traverse City’s FishPass is taking shape at Union Street Dam site, designed to move native fish upstream while blocking sea lamprey. Twin 400-foot lanes underway, with work wrapping this summer — see timeline and what’s planned.

Industry invests in long-term value: U.S. tart cherry industry previews steps to help products stand out, with a True Tart certification mark launching this summer, after a study found $1 in promotion returns about $3 — get details on the initiative.

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 Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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

• Warm up at family-friendly winter fest
• Groove to Jesse Jefferson live blues-rock
• Craft three classic cocktails with experts
• 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

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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

Snap-worthy wall alert: Traverse City’s The Little Fleet flaunts a bright, custom-painted mural that begs for a snap, then a linger over a drink or two. Haven’t swung by lately? File it under tiny errands that spark joy and make your feed feel suspiciously summery, even on a Tuesday.

Need a color fix? When your project bag gives side-eye, Lost Art Yarn Shoppe supplies yarn, needles, patterns, plus needlepoint and cross-stitch goodies to set things right. Inspiration lives here, with low-key classes where you can pick up a new trick, and your WIP pile might finally forgive you.

Where beer meets chill: Rare Bird Brewpub pours its own beer alongside guest taps, ciders, wine, and spirits in a restored 1931 brick hangout, with snug booths and bier-hall tables. A solid choice when you want local flavor without overthinking it: easy, friendly, and reliably Traverse City.

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.

🤖 The Iron Giant @ State Theatre and Bijou by the Bay | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to parent like a pro, here it is: The Iron Giant on the State’s big screen, a $1 kids’ matinee. Early birds snag the poster raffle, you snag a quiet hour, popcorn, and nostalgia that actually holds up.

📚 An Evening with Anna Quindlen @ Traverse City Central High School – TCAPS | Saturday (3/7) at 2:00 PM – Consider this the best book club you don’t have to host. Anna Quindlen returns to NWS to talk More Than Enough, friendships that shape us, and the mess in between. Smart conversation, Q&A, a signing, and tickets supporting Horizon Books, plus signed copies.

✨ A Midsummer Night’s Faery Tale @ Milliken Auditorium | Saturday (3/7) at 7:00 PM – Think you know your midsummer magic? A talented youth ballet whisks you to the faery garden, where Sneezlewort and Twig outfox an evil sorceress, set to Andreas Vollenweider and Joanie Madden. Chaos you can clap for. Reserved seats $22 adults, $12 students through MyNorth Tickets.

🐾 Glass Art Class: Pet-Themed Plant Stake @ Contigo Dogs | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – This hands-on glass class at Contigo Dogs lets you craft a dog or cat plant stake, because your pothos deserves a pet, not more pep talks. $60 covers materials, N/A drinks, small bites, a goodie bag, and discounts, or make two for $75. Limited spots.

☕ Coffee & Sugar Scrub Make and Take Station @ The Workshop Brewing Company | Sunday (3/8) at 12:30 PM – Nothing beats soft hands in winter, a pint, and fresh coffee grounds. Swing by Workshop Brewing for a quick make and take with Wild Daisy Creatives, blend your sugar and coffee scrub, keep winter skin happy, then toast your handiwork. All ages welcome.

💍 Second Hand Social Club: Jewelry Dishes @ Secondhand Social Club | Sunday (3/8) at 2:00 PM – Think your nightstand deserves an upgrade? Hand-build two clay jewelry dishes, make them yours with textures, stamps, or doodles, fold or coil the edges, then finish with bright paint. Perfect for rings, earrings, and that orphan cufflink you keep swearing will find its mate.

🎻 Téada @ Dennos Museum Center | Sunday (3/8) at 6:00 PM – Traverse City gets a proper Irish tune-up when Téada rolls back into town, celebrating 25 years of trad mastery. Expect driving tunes, rich melodies, and the kind of foot-stirring lift you feel in your ribs, not your Instagram. No shamrock kitsch, just world-class energy.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/7 HFP @ Traverse City Whiskey Co. – 3:00 PM
• 3/7 Jeff Socia @ Chateau Grand Traverse – 4:00 PM
• 3/7 Pathfinder Prom 2026: Written in the Stars @ Delamar Traverse City – 5:00 PM
• 3/7 A Midsummer Night’s Faery Tale @ Milliken Auditorium – 7:00 PM
• 3/7 Zie Simmons @ The Workshop Brewing Company – 7:00 PM
• 3/8 Comedy Lab @ The Workshop Brewing Company – 6:00 PM
• 3/8 Téada @ Milliken Auditorium – 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

📻 Traverse City report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 58°F – Low: 31°F – Precip: 92%

Patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms before 4pm. Mostly cloudy. High near 58, with temperatures falling to around 40 in the afternoon. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. West wind around 5 mph.

—

Tomorrow – High: 50°F – Low: 43°F – Precip: 3%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

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

This house is wild

This 6-bed, 3-bath lakefront retreat spans 4.96 acres on spring-fed Chandler Lake with 267 feet of sandy frontage. Reimagined in 2024, the 3,200+ sq ft home pairs panoramic views with a chef’s kitchen, an owner’s suite with spa bath, and a lounge with 171-bottle wine storage. Two patios, six-person spa, fire pit, RV hookups, and parcel-split potential round it out.

Take a peek inside →