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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Nine specialty Oberons debut, downtown plazas get a glow-up, and a sour candy challenge pushes taste buds + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Nine specialty Oberons debut: Bell’s Brewery will celebrate Oberon Day on March 23 in Kalamazoo, with Oberon Light returning year-round and a sports-themed party at Eccentric Cafe featuring WMU Pep Band and local mascots — get all the Oberon Day details.

Contract boosts downtown public spaces: Kalamazoo city commissioners have hired James E. Fulton & Sons to refresh Rose Street Plaza and Farmers Alley Plaza this spring, adding lights, art, and landscaping to create welcoming spots — get the project details.

Unified platform boosts small retailers: Kalamazoo is partnering with Shop Local Greater KalamazOO on a website to help shops sell online, rolling out through 2026 with a broader launch before the holidays — see what’s planned for rollout.

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:

• Celebrate changed lives at Shepherd’s Heart Banquet
• Shop vintage with live vinyl tunes
• Score deals at Kalamazoo Mom2Mom sale

🫶 We got your back

Craving a real sandwich? City Centre Market & Deli stacks generous, made-to-order deli sandwiches with fresh sides and salads, letting you dodge the sad desk lunch without leaving downtown. Consider this your reminder to treat yourself to something satisfyingly simple this week, no fuss, just a good sandwich.

Downtown greenery fix: In the middle of everything, Bronson Park offers shady trees, sculptures, and easy paved strolls for a lunchtime reset or low-key meet-up. Book-break vibes welcome; benches feel like your porch, and the library even lends ping-pong paddles.

Nostalgia meets new fun: At Uncle Buddy’s Toy Stash, retro favorites mingle with screen-free, educational picks and delightfully goofy finds, all curated to spark grins from toddlers to kid-ults. Expect old-school charm, fresh discoveries, and the kind of surprise you didn’t know you needed until curiosity nudges you.

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.

🏙 Design It! Eastside Neighborhood Meeting – Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 @ Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association | Tuesday (3/10) at 5:30 PM – An open-house Eastside meetup where Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 turns wish lists into real plans, no speeches, just sticky notes. Drop in to weigh in on housing, streets, parks, and more, chat with City staff, win a rain barrel, and park at Dairy Queen.

📜 Teen Book Arts Program – Papermaking @ Kalamazoo Book Arts Center | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:00 PM – Got a teen who could use less scrolling and more making? This free papermaking workshop for grades 8 to 12 has them pulling cotton sheets with inclusions, ideal for portfolios and college apps. Part of a three-part series, register for one, two, or all three.

👣 Wild Wanderers Five Senses Walk @ Portman Nature Preserve (Mattawan) | Thursday (3/12) at 10:00 AM – Grab the kids and head to Paw Paw for a Five Senses Walk, a playful hike where they use sight, sound, touch, and smell to explore, not taste. Free with just 20 spots, so register, adults tag along, dogs stay home, and no restrooms.

🍋 Sour Candy Challenge @ Parchment Community Library | Friday (3/13) at 4:00 PM – Friday the 13th got your kid feeling sour? Send ages 10 to 14 to the library for a blind sour-candy taste test to rank tart champs and earn bragging rights. It’s free, after hours, and registration is requested, so plan pickup, prepare for lemon faces.

🛍 Winter Market @ Kalamazoo Farmers Market | Saturday (3/14) at 8:00 AM – Skip the big box shuffle and swing by the Winter Market for produce, artisan wares, and prime neighbor-ogling. Saturday mornings on Harrison Street through April, it is your source for soup veggies, crusty loaves, candles you actually like, and conversation you did not plan.

🍳 Veteran Brunch @ OHS 2nd Hand Store (Galesburg) | Sunday (3/15) at 10:00 AM – If you like your Sundays with purpose and pancakes, this one’s for you. Free veterans brunch every third Sunday, featuring biscuits and gravy or pancakes and sausage, and you can sponsor a vet by contacting Kim Enders. Warm food, warmer community, zero pretense.

🧒 Juniors Clinic @ Kalamazoo Kennel Club | Tuesday (3/17) at 7:00 PM – Junior showmanship gets a tune-up, with a free clinic for kids who want to present their dogs like pros. Past Kalamazoo Kennel Club Juniors will cover stacking, gaiting, and ring manners for 4-H, UKC, and AKC kids. You handle snacks, they handle the stack.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Kalamazoo report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 69°F – Low: 44°F – Precip: 14%

Mostly cloudy. High near 69, with temperatures falling to around 65 in the afternoon. South southeast wind around 7 mph. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 44, with temperatures rising to around 52 overnight. South southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 55°F – Low: 27°F – Precip: 100%

Showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 55. West wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible. Later: Rain showers likely before 8pm, then a slight chance of snow showers between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Michigan 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

Contemporary farmhouse style meets new-build polish in a neighborhood with Mattawan schools and Texas Township taxes. Main level spotlights a chef’s kitchen with large island and walk-in pantry. Upstairs features a loft and primary suite. A finished daylight basement adds a family room, workout area, fifth bedroom, and full bath. Screened porch, patio, deep yard, plus pickleball, basketball, and playground.

Take a peek inside →