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It’s Friday, Cedar Rapids! Let’s finish this week strong.

In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: New animal shelter, The Ten Tenors, and Bert Kreischer + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.

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

New paths to public service: Linn County is highlighting a wide range of job openings, from seasonal to full-time, many not requiring a degree, with IPERS benefits and roles that make a community impact — see current openings and benefits.

Efficiency and room to grow: Cedar Valley Humane Society opened a new animal shelter on February 28 after a decade of fundraising. It can house about 100 cats and 80 dogs — get all the details.

Local burrito spot marks milestone: After a month-long facelift, the Lindale-area Pancheros in Cedar Rapids is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary, featuring a refreshed interior and a second make line for online orders — see what’s new inside.

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:

• IA Raptors FC game honors survivors, caregivers
• Experience Iowa’s gems, minerals, and fossils
• Play free bingo at NewBo City Market
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home

💎 Local business spotlight

Paper-crafting paradise alert: Refresh your stash at Scrapmania, a playground of wall-to-wall paper, stamps, dies, and inspiration. Join workshops, then keep the momentum at the nearby retreat house. Perfect reason to print those photos and finally finish that album you started…two summers ago.

Backyard refresh alert: If your boards creak or you want a new hangout before patio season, A W Home Improvement builds and rebuilds decks in Cedar Rapids with durable natural or composite materials, clean lines, and solid rails, so you can enjoy the porch sit, not just daydream about it.

Crave-worthy rolls, anyone? From a quick weekday fix to a long, celebratory dinner, Oyama Sushi & Steakhouse delivers fresh sashimi, inventive rolls, and satisfying grilled favorites. It’s the easy choice when you want something special without the fuss, with flavors that feel polished yet relaxed.

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 →

Thinning hair? Don’t treat the wrong thing: When my ponytail started thinning, I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, sprays, etc.) and not one of them lasted. Turns out, most products target the strand, not the follicle… and that’s the whole problem. Once follicles go dormant, they need targeted help to come back. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn about my favorites here →

Six figures you can’t spend: Most homeowners over 50 have spent years dutifully paying their mortgage, assuming the only time it’ll pay off is when they sell. I thought the same thing until I discovered you can tap into the equity you’ve earned whenever you want (without leaving your home). Overdue for a new roof? Want to build your dream bathroom? There are two ways to turn equity into usable cash →

📆 Around town this weekend

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.

🐟 Fish Fry @ St. Jude Catholic Church | Friday (3/13) at 5:00 PM – Skip cooking, you gave it up anyway, and hit the Knights of Columbus fish fry every Friday in Lent, except Good Friday. Fifteen gets you fish, tacos, or mac and cheese, church-basement fixings, and a drink; kids deals, a senior discount, and active-duty eat free.

🎤 The Ten Tenors @ Paramount Theatre | Friday (3/13) at 7:30 PM – Think tenors mean naps? These Aussies will wake you right up. The Ten Tenors swing through after sold-out runs abroad for their 30th with big harmonies, cheeky charm, and mashups of classical, Neapolitan, and classic rock, plus new medleys just for us.

🎭 Guys and Dolls @ Theatre Cedar Rapids | Friday (3/13) at 7:30 PM – Roll the dice on a sure thing: Guys and Dolls, the Broadway classic where Sky woos Sarah, and Nathan dodges commitment with Adelaide. From Times Square to Havana to the New York sewers, you’ll hum Luck Be a Lady, sip intermission drink, and grin.

♀ Made for Her @ Hawkeye Downs Expo Center | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – At Hawkeye Downs, this women’s lifestyle market turns a girls’ day out into a full-on excuse to shop, sip, and call it self-care. Think fashion shows, interactive goodies, and local brands that actually get you, not your algorithm. Rally your favorites, wallets included.

🥞 31st Annual Metro Pancake Breakfast @ Metro Harley-Davidson Suzuki | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Think you can stack ’em higher than last year? The 31st Annual Metro Pancake Breakfast brings all-you-can-eat flapjacks, sizzling griddles, and Metro H.O.G. hospitality. Roll in hungry, linger for the chatter, leave fueled for chores, nostalgia, and maybe a Sunday cruise.

💎 Spring Reveal @ Hidden Gems | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – If you need an excuse to swap flannel for florals, Hidden Gems is resetting the entire store for spring. Expect 100% new inventory, thoughtfully styled clothing, décor, and kitchen finds, and the bonus that every purchase supports CareNetworkCR, so your spree comes with purpose.

🌞 Stained Glass Mosaic Sun Catchers @ NewBo City Market | Sunday (3/15) at 1:00 PM – If you’ve been meaning to add something cheerful to that sun-starved window, come make a stained glass mosaic sun catcher. Pick a pattern, learn the satisfying rhythm of tiling, and leave with a kaleidoscope-worthy piece, no experience, glue trauma, or glitter necessary.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/13 Family Music Class @ Unity Center of Cedar Rapids – 9:15 AM
• 3/13 Pied Piper @ Cedar Rapids Public Library – 9:30 AM
• 3/13 Piano Workshop: In Music, We Carry Our Memories @ National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library – 3:00 PM
• 3/13 Evan Stock Band and more @ Old Neighborhood Pub – 7:00 PM
• 3/14 Almost Taylor: The Taylor Swift Experience @ The Olympic South Side Theater – 3:00 PM
• 3/15 Bert Kreischer: Permission to Party @ Alliant Energy PowerHouse – 7:00 PM
• 3/15 Bert Kreischer @ Cedar Rapids, Ia – 7:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Cedar Rapids report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 45°F – Low: 29°F – Precip: 1%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Northwest wind 15 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Later: A slight chance of snow after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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Tomorrow – High: 44°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 27%

A slight chance of snow before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Rain likely between 7pm and 4am, then rain and snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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