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Hey Dayton, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Air Force STEM complex, St. Patrick’s Day music bingo, and 99 cent meatball subs + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Dayton 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.

📰 In the news

Shaping tomorrow’s local innovators: The Air Force plans a $38 million STEM Talent Development Complex at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with labs, classrooms, and dorms. Completion is expected by 2031 under a 50-year lease — see what’s planned and when.

Inclusive disaster planning effort: ACIL’s Access and Functional Needs Committee is seeking Miami Valley members to strengthen emergency preparedness. It meets bimonthly on the third Tuesday at the Access Center for Independent Living — see how to get involved.

This week’s culinary roundup: Buckeye Vodka Battle of the Bartenders crowned El Meson in Dayton, Namesake Coffee is expanding, Jay’s Seafood drew raves, and Sheetz celebrates National Meatball Day with 99 cent subs today — see winners, reviews, and deals.

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.

Highlights this week:

• Craft a macramé plant hanger
• Master composting and get free composter
• Celebrate women in business, build connections

🫶 We got your back

Upgrade your lunch plans: At Charlie’s Deli & Catering, old-school deli magic means piled-high Reubens, the infamous 2 POUNDER, and creative melts on fresh-baked bread made to order. When your day needs saving, these hearty stacks come through… and yes, you’ll probably need extra napkins.

Your downtown nature break: RiverScape MetroPark is an easy midweek reset, with river views, skyline swings, and paths that turn quick walks into real escapes. When the weather cooperates, the plaza buzzes with pop-up events and fountains. When it doesn’t, the river still shows off.

Brick nirvana nearby: If the clack of LEGO bricks makes you or your kids light up, Dayton Brick Shop fuels creativity with new and pre-loved sets, minifigs, and community events that turn “just one more piece” into a cheerful ritual. Ideal for rainy-day builds and low-key dopamine hits.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

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.

🎤 Sonnet Slam @ International Peace Museum | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:00 PM – Nothing beats iambic pentameter to class up your week. The International Peace Museum and Gem City Groundlings host a Sonnet Slam with scheduled readings, spoken verse, and an open mic, so bring Shakespeare, your own poem, or just your dramatic whisper. Free, suggested donation appreciated.

🎵 St. Patrick’s Day Music Bingo @ Trolley Stop | Thursday (3/12) at 8:00 PM – Whether you can name that tune in three notes or just clap on two and four, St. Patrick’s Day music bingo is an easy win. Four themed rounds, four themed prizes, four chances to gloat, and it’s free. Wear something green, and gloat politely.

🖼 Opening Reception: Jason Revok, Jamea Richmond-Edwards and Paul Verdell @ The Contemporary Dayton | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – The Contemporary Dayton is kicking off three Detroit-rooted exhibitions, curated by Heather Jones, and yes, it is free and open to all. REVOK, Richmond-Edwards, and Verdell deliver Mutually Exclusive, Leviathan, and Tabernacle, which is fancy talk for bold color, big ideas, and excellent people-watching.

🧩 Opening Reception: Part of a Whole, Part 1/2 @ Dayton Society of Artists | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Swing by Dayton Society of Artists for Part of a Whole: 1/2, the members show where the town’s talent shows up. It’s free, it’s local, with prizes chosen by sculptor and former Sinclair prof Tess Little. Come support the folks making Dayton look good.

🤝 The Working Poor @ South Park Tavern | Friday (3/13) at 8:00 PM – Whether you’ve trailed The Working Poor since patio gigs or just need a mood lift, this spring kickoff delivers psychedelic indie, tons of delay, and good vibes, earplugs optional. Free show, toss a donation, grab some merch. Plus Cymatic, Luke Hummel, and 35 East.

🎶 2026 Showcase Concert @ University of Dayton | Sunday (3/15) at 3:00 PM – This afternoon concert spotlights UD’s New Horizons small ensembles, the folks who prove practice still beats streaming. Expect familiar tunes, tight playing, and zero ticket drama, just free seats at Sears Recital Hall, easy parking, and your kind of crowd.

🎺 OVBBB in Concert @ Wright State Creative Arts Center | Monday (3/16) at 7:00 PM – Take a break from the usual and swing by Schuster Hall at Wright State for the Ohio Valley British Brass Band. Forty-plus musicians bring burnished British sound, crisp marches, and lush hymns. It’s free, it’s polished, and it’s British pageantry without the airfare.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Dayton report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 75°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 16%

A slight chance of rain between 8am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Southwest wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain between 8pm and 11pm, then a slight chance of thunderstorms and a slight chance of rain between 11pm and 2am, then rain and a chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 75°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 100%

Rain and a chance of thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 75. Southwest wind 13 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Later: Rain and a chance of thunderstorms before 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Northwest wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Ohio but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

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Take a peek inside →