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Rise and shine, Gainesville!
In today’s planning-your-week edition: Florida Bicycle Month safety tips, the Tom Petty mural’s return, and new restaurant and shop openings + all our favorite events happening over the next seven days.
Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Gainesville protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.
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📰 In the news
Protecting vulnerable road users: March is Florida Bicycle Month, and Alachua County is spotlighting safer streets with tips on night riding, helmet fit, hand signals, and motorists giving cyclists a safe passing distance — learn the rules and tips.
Backlash sparks mural’s return: After the Tom Petty mural on 34th Street was painted over to promote Islam on Campus’ Fast-a-Thon, 72-year-old artist Harry D. Michael is recreating it, expected to be finished Friday — read the full story.
New spots make a splash: February brought openings around North Central Florida, from a new Amrit Palace to dirty soda and a Gala Bank office, plus a Gainesville Italian counter and an indoor pickleball club — see all the new openings.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Highlights this week:
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🏆 Gold and silver are heating up
Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold
Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.
While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.
If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.
It’s free and worth reading before the next move.
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🫶 We got your back
Craving a cozy pho? Warm up with pho or the House Special Beef Noodle Soup at Red Rice Kitchen, then venture into Thai-Viet mashups when you want something playful. Comforting, slurpable, and weeknight-friendly… it’s the kind of spot you’ll keep in rotation without thinking twice.
Give tired furniture a redo: M & M Upholstery has been quietly rescuing Gainesville sofas, chairs, and headboards since 1975, with reupholstery, repairs, and custom touches that make you love your space again. The perfect excuse to fix that wobbly dining chair or revive those sunken couch cushions.
Craving real-deal breakfast? 16th Avenue Diner plates griddle-fresh omelets, fluffy pancakes, and biscuits drowned in homemade sausage gravy that tend to vanish. Slide onto a counter stool, sip hot coffee, trade a smile with the cook, and let classic Gainesville comfort quietly reset your morning.
What doctors wish every 65+ adult had at home: Physicians call it “long-lie,” and it’s the real reason falls are so dangerous for older adults. It’s not a broken bone… it’s lying on the floor for hours waiting for someone to notice. We dug into the options that actually solve this problem, and one stood out. See which one →
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📆 Our favorite events this week
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.
🐦 Alachua Audubon Bird Walk @ Sweetwater Wetlands Park | Wednesday (3/11) at 8:30 AM – Think you can tell a limpkin from a heron before coffee? Tag along with Alachua Audubon at Sweetwater Wetlands for a stroll through our premier hotspot, free with $5 park admission, binoculars on loan, all levels welcome, no judgment for pointing, squinting, and bird puns.
🍷 Women in Wine Benefit Tasting @ Public & General | Thursday (3/12) at 6:00 PM – If honoring Women’s History Month involves a glass or three, this one’s for you. $25 gets a flight of six wines by women winemakers, a signature dish from a famed female chef, and a special cocktail, with proceeds supporting National Women’s Liberation in Gainesville.
🎸 Gainesville Guitar Festival 2026 @ Heartwood Soundstage | Friday (3/13) at 1:00 PM – Think your guitar habit is fine? The third annual guitar fest packs gear swap, workshops, jams, and demos, plus sets from Kaki King, Millet Padrón, Mike Baggetta, and friends. Go All Access for Kaki indoors Friday, or snag GA for Saturday and the outdoor screen.
🎭 Steel Magnolias @ Star Center Theatre | Friday (3/13) at 8:00 PM – Swing by for Steel Magnolias, directed by Jamaili Tyler, a visit to Truvy’s Louisiana salon where natural beauty is a myth and friendships are forged. It’s laughter, tears, and life’s messiness, told with Southern charm, sharp wit, and plenty of hairspray.
🛍 Spring Pop Up Shops @ Grow Hub | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – This spring, second Saturdays are for strolling GROW HUB, grazing on good food, and pretending you only came for one plant. Shop local vendors, art, and an outrageous amount of greenery, with live music and fresh air. Free, outdoors, and actually kid friendly.
🦐 Taste of the Bayou Love & Food Fest @ The Oaks Mall | Saturday (3/14) at 12:00 PM – Turns out the best trip to Louisiana this month is the Oaks Mall parking lot, with legit gumbo, jambalaya, and crawfish, plus live music for a little two-step between bites. It’s free to get in, which conveniently funds beignets, po’boys, and your questionable spice tolerance.
🖼 Beginners Mosaic Workshop @ Curia On The Drag | Sunday (3/15) at 11:00 AM – Whether you last used glue in a school diorama or you’ve secretly wanted to mosaic your kitchen backsplash, this beginner workshop at The Auk Market lets you craft a 6-inch tray with Leah from Satchel’s. Hands-on, make-and-take, coffee nearby, courtyard drinks at Curia and Dad’s.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 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.
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📻 Gainesville report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 86°F – Low: 62°F – Precip: 7%
Areas of fog before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. West wind 0 to 7 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 5am. Partly cloudy. Low around 62, with temperatures rising to around 63 overnight. West wind 1 to 6 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 89°F – Low: 61°F – Precip: 5%
Areas of fog before 9am. Mostly sunny. High near 89, with temperatures falling to around 87 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 1 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
Access cash without selling your home 🏠
A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your house.
Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much tax-free cash your home equity’s worth, with no commitment required.
This house is wild
An Old Florida original in Gainesville’s Lazonby Acres, this mid-century, two-story home pairs history with upgrades. Reclaimed Jacksonville bank bricks form a rare wythe wall, cypress paneling adds warmth, and two wood-burning fireplaces anchor generous rooms. Possum Creek runs below. A guest house adjoins the garage. New roof 2024, refreshed kitchen and electrical 2025, 2.2 miles to UF.
Take a peek inside →
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