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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital renaming, Bassmaster Classic celebrity pro-am, and GLP-1s are changing weight loss + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Partnership becomes official: Knoxville’s East Tennessee Children’s Hospital was renamed the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, marking a new chapter for the nearly 90-year-old pediatric center while care teams and services remain the same — get all the details.

Fishing’s biggest stage returns: Knoxville hosts the Bassmaster Classic this week, March 12-15, with Randy Moss, Lavell Crawford, and Tedy Bruschi in a March 12 celebrity Pro-Am and free fan events around town — get all the details.

Broader support for restoration: Knox Heritage has expanded its 2026 Community Preservation Grants, offering $50,000 for exterior rehabilitation. Projects at least 50 years old qualify, and 16 grants have been awarded — see which projects qualify.

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:

• Find your lucky four-legged match
• Explore Mabry-Hazen House after hours
• Learn women’s self-defense and situational awareness

🫶 We got your back

Craveable lunch upgrade: Steamboat Sandwiches keeps lunch interesting with fluffy house-baked bread and made-to-order stacks that taste like someone actually cared. When your fridge gives “there’s nothing here” energy, their hearty loaves and generous fillings step in, turning midday into something craveable without the fuss.

Fresh-air reset: Need a quick mood lift? Lakeshore Park delivers river breezes, long greenway loops, Smokies-in-the-distance views, ballfields, pickleball courts, and kid-approved playgrounds, all in one easy spot. Grab a coffee, take a lap, and let those emails fade for a while.

Play while you shop: Smart Toys and Books gives your kiddo a 2,000-sq-ft interactive playground while you browse for a brainy, genuinely fun gift. Local classes, parties, and hands-on demos turn errands into mini adventures, making this shop a win for curious kids and time-starved grownups.

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.

🌱 Museum Sprouts: Spring 2026 @ McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture | Tuesday (3/10) at 9:30 AM – This kid-friendly museum morning pairs a short guided wander with a hands-on craft, perfect for the 0 to 4 crowd and your attention span. It’s free, stroller friendly, and educational. Register early, spots go fast, and expect tiny hats, butterflies, and a dinosaur named Monty.

🎤 Duffy and more @ Flock Beer & Wine | Friday (3/13) at 7:00 PM – Three names, one stage, zero cover. Flock hosts Duffy, Lewis, and Nelson for a free live set that pairs nicely with a cold drink and not checking email. Whether you park at the bar or dance a little, your wallet gets the night off.

🆓 Friends Come Free Weekend @ Crunch Fitness – Fountain City | Saturday (3/14) at 7:00 AM – Thinking of finally dragging your buddy out? Every weekend, show this at the front desk and their $15 guest fee disappears, like your motivation after yard work. Bring a friend, be 18 or older, and mind the house rules, obviously.

💵 Knoxville Coin and Currency Show @ Rothchild Catering & Conference Center | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Swing by the Knoxville Coin and Currency Show, free admission and plenty of shiny distractions. Buy, sell, or gawk at silver dollars, gold, watches, and rarities, with free gifts for the kids, and learn something while you put that jar of mystery change to work.

🚗 Caffeine and Horsepower @ Star Powersports | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Trade the overpriced latte for free espresso all morning and Italian eye candy at Ducati Knoxville. Roll into the showroom, talk bikes with actual adults, and ogle the latest Ducati and Aprilia without pretending you’re just browsing. Bring your ride, sip, linger.

🥧 Dream Team Pi Day Slice & Dice @ TriStar Park – Badgett Field | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Pi Day at TriStar Park means slices of softball, not dessert, so bring cleats, not a calculator. The Dream Team tourney offers a 3-game guarantee and custom rings, 8U plays free, and spots vanish faster than good pie, so register now.

🐾 Lucky Match Foster Meet & Greet @ Pet Supermarket | Sunday (3/15) at 2:00 PM – St. Paddy’s luck meets wagging tails at a foster meet and greet with adoptable pups at Pet Supermarket on Clinton Highway. Come ask about fostering, meet the pups, and prepare for weaponized puppy eyes, the zoomies, and enough charm to melt a curmudgeon.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Knoxville report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 76°F – Low: 64°F – Precip: 64%

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2am and 5am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 81°F – Low: 44°F – Precip: 26%

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before 8pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Tennessee 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.

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Take a peek inside →