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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Golden Apple Award finalist, Chilean wine pairing dinner, and St. Patrick’s Day parade + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Recognizing transformative teaching: Naperville’s Matthew White, an orchestra teacher at Scullen Middle School, was named a 2026 Golden Apple Award finalist from nearly 600 nominees, and the winner will be announced this spring — get all the details.

Balanced bites for all: With spring around the corner, Crisp & Green in Naperville is making healthy eating feel easy, flavorful, and convenient, highlighting fresh options and user-friendly service for busy locals — read the full story.

Secondhand treasure hotspots: A recent roundup spotlights 10 Illinois flea markets, including Kane County Flea Market in St. Charles, plus Elgin and Chicago favorites with vintage finds and bargain furniture near Naperville — see all ten markets.

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:

• Discover pelvic health beyond Kegels
• Savor Chilean wine pairing dinner in Naperville
• Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with hands-on fun

🫶 We got your back

New sandwich obsession: Pronto Sandwiches is serving paper-crackly schiacciata that’s toasty outside, soft inside, and gloriously napkin-worthy. Go classic Italian cold cuts or the veggie-forward Loren, then pair with soup or salad for a weekday win… no stove required.

Stroll-worthy reset: At Naperville Riverwalk, brick paths, covered bridges, fountains, and river views make midweek stress fade. Meet a friend, push a stroller, or lap it solo, then settle into a quiet nook. There’s gentle buzz for people-watching that keeps you feeling connected to town.

Toy joy, solved: When last-minute plans strike or cabin fever sets in, Anderson’s Toyshop has a sharp mix of toys, games, crafts, puzzles, and STEAM picks. One easy stop, and you leave with a grin and a gift that actually gets played with, not parked on a shelf.

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.

❓ Family Feud Style Trivia @ McBride’s North (Aurora) | Thursday (3/12) at 7:00 PM – Round up your crew for Feud-style trivia at McBride’s North in North Aurora, free to play with gift cards and a crack at $1,000 Fast Money. Finally, your knack for guessing what strangers think pays off, plus reading the room, and ordering another round.

💰 Family Feud @ McBride’s North Pub & Grille (Aurora) | Thursday (3/12) at 7:00 PM – Whether you still shout answers at the TV or just want to humble your brother-in-law, McBrides North Aurora is throwing a feud-style team trivia night with a $1,000 jackpot, free entry, and a real shot at a Vegas getaway. Bring your crew, bragging rights optional.

🍀 2026 Naperville St. Patrick’s Day Parade @ Naperville North High School | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Parade day calls for comfy shoes, a splash of green, and a little hometown pride. Walk with WSI at the Naperville St. Patrick’s Day Parade, carry the banner, hand out info cards, and support women and teen girls. Steps, smiles, real impact, no treadmill required.

🌳 Volunteer Workday @ Oakhurst County Forest Preserve (Aurora) | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to trade screen time for fresh air, Oakhurst’s restoration workday is it. All-ages, no RSVP unless you bring ten or more. Wear boots, bring water and gloves, arrive early, bask in a do-gooder glow.

➗ MathFest ’26 @ Alive Center | Saturday (3/14) at 1:00 PM – Nothing beats a winter day spent flexing brain cells. Naperville’s MathFest turns logic and reasoning into a playground, with puzzles, friendly competitions, and skills you actually use beyond homework. Bring the kids, your inner mathlete, and a smug sense of deduction.

⛺ Naperville Camp Fair 2026 @ NIU Naperville Meeting and Conference Center | Sunday (3/15) at 12:00 PM – If you’re already dreading summer “I’m bored,” the second annual Naperville Camp Fair is your lifeline. Meet reps from over 50 camps and programs, ask real questions, and map out sanity-saving plans, all in one friendly browse. Bring the kids, or just your decision-making face.

🎶 Sound Meditation @ VFW of Naperville | Sunday (3/15) at 5:00 PM – At the VFW, it’s sanctioned napping, donation-based and blissfully horizontal, while singing bowls, gongs, and a didgeridoo rinse your brain like a gentle car wash. Bring a mat, a blanket, and water, or claim a chair if your knees would rather not negotiate.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Naperville report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 54°F – Low: 42°F – Precip: 38%

Patchy fog before 11am, then a chance of drizzle between 2pm and 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny. High near 54, with temperatures falling to around 51 in the afternoon. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy. Low around 42, with temperatures rising to around 46 overnight. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 44°F – Low: 28°F – Precip: 88%

Showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 44. North northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Later: A chance of rain showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 5 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Illinois 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

Brick-built and custom 2022, this Downtown Naperville stunner stacks four levels with an elevator serving every floor. Two Trex decks, including a full rooftop, elevate outdoor living. Floor-to-ceiling Pella windows, Hunter Douglas shades, and a chef’s kitchen with Sub-Zero and Wolf set a luxe tone. Highlights include a Murphy-bed guest room, a steam shower with radiant heat, and Sonos throughout.

Take a peek inside →