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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Ghost town festival, a vegan ice cream shop born from an unlocked door, and a Purim circus + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

State-driven clarifications and corrections: Oviedo City Council unanimously passed Ordinance 1762 on Feb. 24, updating the Land Development Code, adding a Land Use Administrator, and making zoning map changes that could affect nearby development — learn what amendments were made.

Step back to the 1920s: The East Lake Heritage Festival will return March 21 and 22 at Rock Springs Run State Reserve, celebrating ghost town Ethel with reenactors, a tram tour, and family activities — get all the festival details.

From truck to storefront: Fragaria, a vegan ice cream shop, soft-opened in Maitland last month after an unlocked door drew a crowd. Current hours are 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, closed Monday — 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.

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:

• Walk together while listening to audiobooks
• Cheer award-winning student big band
• Staged reading of Silver Alert with Q&A
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🏆 Gold and silver are heating up

Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold

Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.

While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.

If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.

It’s free and worth reading before the next move.

🫶 We got your back

Weeknight pasta upgrade: If your fridge feels “meh,” Prato will handle dinner. House-made pastas, like mustard spaghettini, and a seasonal rotation make it perfect for a low-key catch-up or solo spoil. Settle in, share antipasti, and soak up that Park Ave magic.

Closet time machine: Whether you’re hunting a 60s mod mini, 40s silk, or a statement coat, Orlando Vintage Clothing & Costume is a Winter Park rabbit hole where “just browsing” becomes a wardrobe plot twist. They also rent costumes when life calls for flapper, spy, or space-cadet vibes.

Cool relief, zero drama: Whether runs, lifts, or laptop marathons leave you creaky, Park Ave Cryotherapy uses targeted cold therapy, cryo facials, and compression to calm inflammation and speed recovery. Get back to your week feeling loose, not limping, with smarter chill where you need it.

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. Learn more about my favorite online options here.

📆 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.

🎪 The Purim Circus! @ The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando | Tuesday (3/3) at 5:30 PM – Purim meets big-top vibes at the Roth Family JCC, with a megillah reading, circus acts, and enough snacks to keep the grandkids from revolting. Costumes encouraged, wallets not required, RSVP appreciated. Bring the mishpacha, schmooze a little, and celebrate properly, Orlando-style.

🤝 March Volunteer Day @ OurLegacy | Thursday (3/5) at 10:00 AM – Roll up for the monthly volunteer day, where doing good pairs nicely with a free lunch. It is neighborly sweat, zero awkward icebreakers, and you are home before dinner feeling smug, useful, and slightly superior to your to-do list.

☕ Good Morning Winter Park @ Winter Park Chamber of Commerce | Friday (3/6) at 8:45 AM – Good Morning Winter Park is pouring Barnie’s coffee and conversation, with Dr. Michael Meechin of Winter Park High on local schools, politics, and the marketplace, because caffeine pairs well with civic engagement. It’s free but space is tight, so register here: https://business.winterpark.org/events/details/good-morning-winter-park-03-09-2026-5051868?calendarMonth=2026-03-01

💃 Getdown Downtown @ Independence Lane | Friday (3/6) at 6:00 PM – Grab your lawn chair and head to Independence Lane for Maitland’s Getdown Downtown, where Switch handles the soundtrack, food trucks handle dinner, and you handle the people-watching. It is free, with vendors, a bounce house, and the unmistakable whiff of small-town swagger.

♻ Lake Baldwin Cleanup @ Lake Baldwin Park | Saturday (3/7) at 9:30 AM – Feel like spring cleaning the lake for once? Join the ASCE crew at Lake Baldwin for a laid-back cleanup where kayaks go to them first, BYO paddlecraft if you have one, sign the waiver, non-swimmers stay shoreside, shared gear awaits, and the haul gets weighed.

🎈 Kids Community Expo @ Urban Youth Park | Saturday (3/7) at 12:00 PM – Whether your kid thinks the couch is a jungle gym or you need them to burn off energy, head to Longwood for free parkour courses for ages 4+, a bounce house, and favorite vendors. There’s a raffle with a dozen-plus prizes, and grown-ups can browse.

👪 Pieces of the Puzzle: Addiction, Mental Health Issues, and the Impact on the Family System @ Magnolia Yoga & Wellness Center | Tuesday (3/10) at 11:00 AM – Free community talk digging into addiction, mental health, and how the fallout ricochets through the family, with veteran therapist Patti Hall taking questions and sharing local resources. It’s candid, practical, and mercifully jargon-light. Space is tight, so register, bring curiosity, and maybe a friend.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Industry-leading home warranty protection ($150 off right now)
• 62+? See how much tax-free cash your home could unlock → free calculator
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 Winter Park report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 80°F – Low: 64°F – Precip: 24%

A slight chance of rain showers between 1pm and 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 83°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 28%

A chance of rain showers after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 83. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of rain showers before 7pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

This 4-bed, 5.5-bath 1964 Winter Park ranch spans 4,300 sq ft minutes from Park Ave and Downtown Orlando. Light-filled living includes dual gas fireplaces, a bay-windowed lounge, and a courtyard patio framing pool views. A chef’s kitchen boasts Sub-Zero, Bosch, and a walk-in pantry. Highlights include a barrel ceiling family room with wet bar, a flexible guest suite, and a generator.

Take a peek inside →