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

In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: Gold & silver are hot, a vintage & vinyl festival, and Florida strawberry truckload sale + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.

From today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz: Many Missouri 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

Area traffic shifts ahead: East New Haven Road by U.S. 63 closed March 9 for interchange work at Grindstone. Expect impacts near Lemone Industrial Boulevard and new signals at Lenoir Street — get all the details.

Where service meets community art: Local artist David Spear’s 100-foot mural will be completed this spring on the Balsamo Warehouse, capping Veterans United Foundation’s 20th and final art installation in the North Village Arts District — see how art and service connect.

Breaking stigma, building resilience: Columbia social worker Dr. Christine Woods has spent 30 years helping neighbors heal. Through Crowned Counseling, the MU professor normalizes mental health care and encourages Black residents to seek support — read the full story.

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:

• Paint potatoes to look like eggs
• Fish fry supporting Callaway County youth
• Master microbes to create super soil

💎 This week’s top finds

Catch a show this week: Columbia Entertainment Company rolls into its 47th season with Sordid Lives, a sharp, heartfelt romp that makes streaming feel sleepy. Trade the queue for real laughs, local talent, and that cozy community theater buzz that reminds you why living here still feels like the good seat.

Need a noodle hug? Bangkok Gardens serves green curry, peanut-sauced noodles, and cozy vibes that make weeknights feel special. When you want fragrant and truly filling, the menu hits the sweet, heat, umami trifecta without fuss. Comforting, satisfying, and unfussy… the kind of bowl you’ll think about tomorrow.

Chicago-dog cravings, solved: In Columbia, Just Jeff’s turns lunch into a mini party with snappy Vienna beef dogs, a sleeper-hit Chicago-style, messy-good chili cheese, and tots that disappear fast. Quick, casual joy without the fuss; pure craveable comfort.

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.

🍓 Florida Strawberry Truckload Sale @ Academy Sports + Outdoors (Columbia,MO) | Monday (3/16) at 3:30 PM – Florida’s rolling in with a truckload of sun-ripened strawberries for a quick 30-minute pop-up at the Academy Sports parking lot on Trimble. Snag an 8 lb box, plus pecans and South Dakota honey, first come, first served, and taste summer without farmers market lines.

🐝 2026 Columbia Missourian Regional Spelling Bee @ MU Bond Life Sciences Center | Tuesday (3/17) at 4:30 PM – Nothing says St. Patrick’s Day like tense silence and middle schoolers spelling words we only use on crosswords. The Missourian’s regional bee serves sharp kids, proud families, and a shot at the next level, so wear green, clap politely, and enjoy some serious brainpower.

🥧 MAD Boosters Pie Auction @ New Franklin Fine Arts | Thursday (3/19) at 6:00 PM – Clear your calendar and bring your sweet tooth for New Franklin’s most wholesome bidding war. Grab a slice, outbid your neighbor for bragging rights, and enjoy live tunes from the band and choir, student art, and a little theater flair.

🛠 Fused Glass Workshop @ Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital | Friday (3/20) at 1:30 PM – Make something shiny at a fused glass workshop at the Truman VA with their art therapist in the Health and Wellness Center. No experience needed, materials provided, just steady hands and a sense of humor. Only 10 spots, so call Natalie Akins at 573-814-6000.

♻ Home Composting 101 Workshop @ Calvary Episcopal Church, Columbia, MO | Saturday (3/21) at 10:00 AM – Whether your banana peels hit the trash or your coffee grounds have a fan club, this free workshop shows you how to turn scraps and yard waste into garden gold, trimming the 38 percent headed to landfills. Walk-ins welcome, register for details at como.gov/volunteer.

🎶 Vintage & Vinyl Festival @ Logboat Brewing Company | Saturday (3/21) at 12:00 PM – Patio season means crate digging and cold beer at Logboat, with vintage vendors, vinyl finds, art, and oddities, plus food trucks and games. Stick around as local bands take it outside, free entry and all ages, because your living room isn’t this fun.

🛍 Rhea Lana’s Spring/Summer Event 2026 @ Columbia Mall | Sunday (3/22) at 11:00 AM – Kids outgrow shoes between breakfast and lunch, so thank goodness Rhea Lana’s spring and summer upscale kids resale is back at Columbia Mall, next to Loft. Score used clothes, toys, baby gear, furniture, without boutique prices, then feel smug about decluttering, recycling, and beating retail.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Columbia report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 65°F – Low: 15°F – Precip: 85%

A chance of rain between 7am and 10am, then rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Cloudy. High near 65, with temperatures falling to around 44 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 14 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Later: A chance of rain before 7pm, then a chance of snow between 7pm and 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Northwest wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 27°F – Low: 12°F – Precip: 11%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. Northwest wind 17 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 12.

Most popular house this week

Custom-built in Old Hawthorne, this home pairs premium granite finishes with dual fireplaces. It offers 5 beds, 3.5 baths, a sixth office, and a private lower-level in-law suite. An excavated basement features an 860 sq ft astro-turf training arena, plus a John Deere room and fourth garage bay. A newer roof, screened porch, and fully fenced yard complete the home.

Take a peek inside →