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Hello Lansing! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Shake Shack arrives, a 50-year maple festival, and an MSU Bug House tour + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

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

A hopeful path for youth: Lansing’s Mikey 23 Foundation has launched Envision, pairing teens with mentors to prevent violence. Derrel Braxton shared his story to kick it off, stressing positive guidance instead of Scared Straight — learn more about the program.

Superintendent search intensifies: Two Lansing-area officials are finalists to lead Holt Public Schools. Public interviews will be held March 11 and 12, and the board expects to choose a new superintendent by summer — see who’s in the running.

Eats and shops reshuffle: February brought a flurry of openings and closings in Lansing, including a Shake Shack near Frandor, Bubbakoo’s first Lansing spot, a bakery and deli, and Babe’s Corner downtown — check out the full lineup.

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:

• Celebrate 50 years of maple magic
• Enjoy brunch while you paint and sip
• Design native gardens that attract wildlife
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home

💎 Local business spotlight

Flaky-crust happiness: Local and family-run since 1983, Bake N’ Cakes turns out fruit and cream pies that hit every comfort note, perfect for dessert, office morale boosts, or “I earned this” moments. Flavors rotate and favorites vanish fast, with flaky crusts whispering warm, buttery joy.

Fresh blooms, zero fuss: Birthdays, apologies, or just-because moments happen. Hyacinth House/Van Peenen’s handles them with hand-arranged bouquets and a standout plant selection. Expect fresh stems that outlast your latte… plus delivery and quick pick-me-ups in store. Pretty, easy, and reliably charming.

Climb without the commute: Craving quick sends without the Ann Arbor or GR trek? Fun City Adventure Park brings a legit indoor rock wall and ninja-style obstacles to your week, so you can squeeze in a low-planning climb, stay warm, and shake off winter blahs right here in Lansing.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.

🫶 We got your back

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 →

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 →

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 →

Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Check out my favorite online options →

📆 Fun for the whole fam

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.

🐰 Easter Bunny Photos @ Meridian Mall (Okemos) | Thursday (3/12) at 11:00 AM – Hop to Meridian Mall for Easter Bunny photos, whether the kids still believe or you just want proof they wore pastels. Reserve a spot for sanity, or stroll in as a walk-in, and leave with keepsakes for the fridge, the mantle, and future blackmail.

🐛 MSU Bug House Tour @ MSU Bug House (East Lansing) | Thursday (3/12) at 12:30 PM – Tour MSU’s Bug House, where kids meet beetles, stick insects, and other surprisingly polite roommates. Staff guide brave little hands, there’s a take-home craft and snack, and you get bragging rights for supervising. Limited to 30, advance tickets only, no walk-ins.

🐟 Fish Fry @ St. Martha Parish (Okemos) | Friday (3/13) at 5:00 PM – St. Martha’s Fish Fry is back for Lent, serving fried pollack or baked haddock with potatoes, fries, mac and cheese, and coleslaw. Consider it meatless, not joyless. Adults $17, seniors $15, kids 6–12 $8, under 5 free, dine in or takeout, cash, checks, or cards.

🍿 Sensory Friendly Playdate @ NCG Cinema Eastwood | Saturday (3/14) at 10:15 AM – NCG Cinema’s doing a sensory friendly showing of Hoppers, lights up, volume down, no previews, and yes, wiggling is welcome. Perfect for families with kids on the spectrum, or with sensory needs. Free to join, you handle tickets, popcorn, and inevitable nap math.

🎶 Community Songs for All Ages @ MSU Community Music School, 4930 Hagadorn Rd, East Lansing, MI, United States, Michigan 48823 | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – Got small humans and a soft spot for folk tunes? Fiddle Scouts hosts Michigan favorite Joe Reilly for nature-loving singalongs where kids drum, sing, and try new instruments, and you hum along proudly. Suggested donation is $5 per child, or $10 per family.

🦎 S. Cedar St Exotic Pet Day @ Cricket Wireless | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – Take a break from errands and swing by Cricket Wireless on South Cedar for Exotic Pet Day, a parking-lot safari with zero airfare. Meet fascinating critters, ask questions, and let the kids stare while you pretend you just came for a phone case.

📚 Breakout with Christina Wyman and Ruth McNally Barshaw @ Schuler Books (Okemos) | Saturday (3/14) at 2:00 PM – Bring the middle schoolers, and your own flashbacks, to a chat with local bestseller Christina Wyman and Ruth McNally Barshaw as they launch Breakout, a funny, honest look at acne and eighth grade. Expect relatable laughs, real talk, and cake. RSVP: https://events.humanitix.com/christina-wyman-and-ruth-mcnally-barshaw-sbok

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Lansing report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 51°F – Low: 27°F – Precip: 88%

Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. High near 51, with temperatures falling to around 40 in the afternoon. North northwest wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain showers before 7pm, then a chance of snow showers between 7pm and 8pm. Mostly cloudy. Low around 27, with temperatures rising to around 29 overnight. West northwest wind 12 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 42°F – Low: 32°F – Precip: 3%

Sunny, with a high near 42. West northwest wind 8 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Later: Rain and snow showers likely between 8pm and 5am, then rain and snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Southwest wind 5 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

This house is wild

This timeless 2-story Colonial sits on .86 acres along the Grand River in one of Lansing’s most sought-after neighborhoods. A graceful curved staircase anchors the entry, leading to an expansive living room with wood-burning fireplace and patio access with river views. Four bedrooms, 1950s-style baths, hardwood floors, an office, and a finished lower level with separate entrance offer rare versatility.

Take a peek inside →