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Hi Augusta, hope you’re having a great weekend!

In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: New Piggly Wiggly, floating piers and a water taxi plan, and recteq Fest + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.

From today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz: Many Georgia drivers end up paying higher auto insurance premiums because they don’t shop around enough. The same driver with the same car can get wildly different quotes from different insurers, so it truly pays to compare. Their free tool makes it easy.*

📰 Most-clicked stories this week

Local shopping landscape shifts: A new Piggly Wiggly has opened in the former Harveys on Gordon Highway in Augusta, bringing fresh options and expected ripple effects along the corridor as employees welcome shoppers — read the full story.

Small business with big heart: Popn’ Off Gourmet Popcorn and Nuts is open on Broad Street, serving caramel, Oreo, and strawberry drizzle. Sheila Jones moved from Chicago, inspired by her son on the autism spectrum — read the full story.

Public survey shapes riverfront future: Augusta and North Augusta mayors weighed in on the 2035 Vision Plan, which could link the two downtowns with floating piers, bargelets and a water taxi, plus a canopy network — see what’s planned for both cities.

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.*

Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.*

All the crowd favorites:

• Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day lunch and dinner
• Sip and paint at Fort Gordon
• Bring kids to Columbia County Spring Thing

💎 This week’s top finds

Playtime, upgraded: With hands-on try-before-you-buy zones, smart picks you won’t find in big-box aisles, and friendly guidance for last-minute birthday scrambles, Orange Otter Toy Store makes kid-gift errands surprisingly easy… and actually fun for local families too.

Old-school deli comfort: Hildebrandt’s serves German-inspired comfort with family pride, turning out craveable sandwiches like the German Louis and Sweet Heat Louis, plus bratwurst. Think midweek lunch that tastes like tradition…with a wink: generous, satisfying, and just a little bit cheeky.

Classic drive-in vibes: Since 1964, SNO-CAP Drive-In has been the across-the-river standby for juicy burgers, classic hot dogs, and root beer floats that can rescue a Tuesday. It’s the throwback you crave only after two bites, all neon nostalgia, curbside ease, and unfussy charm.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements — they’re the local spots your fellow readers clicked on most this week.

🫶 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 →

Paying full price is officially optional: Blu Dot just marked down dozens of their best sofas, beds, dining tables, outdoor pieces, and lighting by as much as 60%. Not because something’s wrong with them, but because every great design eventually has to make room for the next one. The deals change daily, so it’s always a new adventure. *See what’s on sale today →

Most people have no idea what’s happening inside their body: Not because the data doesn’t exist, but because no one’s collecting it. Routine annual checkups miss things like body composition, biological age, and the biomarkers that can help predict long-term patterns. The good news? HumeHealth offers tools to help you track all of that at home for less than the cost of a specialist visit. *Use code NEW20 to save 20% →

Something in your house is about to break: It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’ll be staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast. An AHS home warranty covers these types of surprises + *select plans are $150 off right now →

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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.

⛳ 3rd Annual Tee Up Fore Education @ Topgolf | Monday (3/16) at 10:45 AM – Round up a foursome and tee it up for a cause at the 3rd Tee Up Fore Education, presented by SRP. No green jacket required, birdies, mulligans, and raffle wins that fuel classrooms, teacher grants, and student programs. Your slice counts, your generosity counts more.

🎨 Fort Gordon MWR Paint Party @ Fort Gordon Hilltop Riding Stable | Friday (3/20) at 6:00 PM – Skip the same-old dinner and hit Fort Gordon’s Paint Party, open to the public, supplies included, no talent required. Bring snacks, beer or wine if you’re 21, and a friend, $40. No gate access? Request a visitor pass online, then channel your inner Monet.

🍖 recteq Fest @ Recteq (Evans) | Saturday (3/21) at 7:00 AM – Whether you’ve been smoking brisket since dial-up, or you just show up for the samples, recteq is throwing a backyard-sized shindig. Nab scratch-and-dent deals early, then linger for mouthwatering bites, live music, exclusive merch, giveaways, and neighbors who actually know doneness temps.

🍀 Shamrock Shuffle 5K & Fun Run @ The Salvation Army Kroc Center | Saturday (3/21) at 8:15 AM – Before you call yard work a workout, shuffle through the Shamrock Shuffle 5K, or keep it breezy with the $10 Fun Run. Sign up early at $35, or procrastinate and pay $45, then reward yourself with a jig, a selfie, and something cold.

🌼 The Columbia County Spring Thing @ Evans Towne Center Park | Saturday (3/21) at 10:00 AM – If your kids need to bounce off something that isn’t your furniture, head to Evans Towne Center Park for a free Abilene Baptist bash for toddlers through fifth graders. Inflatables, rides, face paint, balloon animals, and candy, plus food vendors. Pre-register for entry at myabilene.org/spring.

📚 Bookish Market @ SpeakUpSis Empowerment Center | Saturday (3/21) at 11:30 AM – Think farmers market, but for book nerds. Browse local authors signing their work, swap that thriller you politely finished, and grab the open mic if your inner poet keeps clearing its throat. Free and open to all, fun to linger, a few author spots left.

🍖 2026 Roast on the River @ Savannah Riverkeeper | Saturday (3/21) at 6:00 PM – Bring your bib, your appetite, and your best front-porch stories to an oyster roast on the banks of the Savannah. Shuck, mingle, and back a mission that actually matters, because every ticket helps Savannah Riverkeeper keep our water clean, fishable, and flowing.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Augusta report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 80°F – Low: 59°F – Precip: 46%

A chance of rain between 1pm and 2pm, then a chance of rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms between 2pm and 5pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. East wind 2 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 5am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 72°F – Low: 31°F – Precip: 88%

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then rain and a chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Most popular house this week

Set in Belair Hills Estates, this 5-bed, 3 full and 2 half bath, 3-car garage Augusta home spans 3,566 heated square feet with rich hardwoods, formal living and dining, and a den with fireplace and built-ins. A custom kitchen anchors the layout, a huge bonus room opens to an oversized patio, and the primary suite connects to a screened porch.

Take a peek inside →