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It’s Friday, Waterloo! Let’s finish this week strong.
In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: A highway safety overhaul, a Holi festival, and a comic con + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.
Today’s sponsor (FinanceBuzz) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.
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📰 In the news
Safety overhaul gains momentum: Cedar Falls is seeking a $25,000 grant as federal and state officials consider a plan to redesign Highway 58 and Greenhill Road, ranked Iowa’s second most dangerous high-speed signaled intersection — learn more about the proposal.
Big-box reboot could ripple: Waterloo’s former K-Mart was sold for $4.2 million and is becoming U-Haul storage, a redevelopment expected to lift the area and potentially spark interest in a nearby property for sale — read the full story.
Fresh finds for your space: The Eastern Iowa Home and Landscaping Show starts today at Waterloo Convention Center, March 6 to 8, with two floors of ideas, family activities, seminars, DIY classes, and tickets available — get all the details.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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 all that up – learn more here.
Highlights this week:
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🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?
Together with our sponsor FinanceBuzz
Auto insurance premiums have been climbing across the country… and most folks won’t notice until it’s time to renew and they’re hit with a higher bill.
The frustrating part? Loyalty rarely gets rewarded. Insurers adjust prices constantly, and new customers often qualify for better rates than long-time policyholders.
I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.
This free comparison tool lets you check rates from multiple insurers in just a few minutes. It costs nothing to look, and it could save you hundreds this year.
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🫶 We got your back
Build-your-own goodness: When dinner indecision strikes, Greenhouse Kitchen lets you load up rolls, bowls, or salads with tofu, veggies, grains, and bright sauces, all made from whole ingredients with a local-first mindset. Easy weeknight win, zero compromise.
Treasure-hunting made easy: CA Treasures and Collectibles packs a rotating mix of true antiques, vintage oddities, sports cards, and handmade pieces from local sellers into one low-key downtown spot. Inside, aisles invite wandering, curiosity leads the way, and something nostalgic may earn prime shelf space at home.
Low-effort, high-brow: Dark Rose Salon offers microblading, lip blush, and paramedical tattooing (think scar camouflage and areola restoration) from independent artists for a personalized, friendly, unfussy experience. Ideal for a quiet morning routine upgrade. Booking is direct with your artist, so it stays personal and precise.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
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📆 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.
🏡 Eastern Iowa Home & Landscaping Show @ Waterloo Convention Center | Friday (3/6) at 3:00 PM – Thinking about upgrading those floors that survived Hawkeye seasons and kid carpools? Visit the Eastern Iowa Home & Landscaping Show, find Floor Coverings International, and run your hands over hardwood, carpet, vinyl, and tile, with low-key guidance, no guilt, and no hard sell.
🌈 4th Annual Holi @ Hearst Center for the Arts | Friday (3/6) at 5:00 PM – Celebrate Holi, the festival of colors, love, and spring, with a splash at Hearst. We’re teaming up with the Office of International Engagement at McElroy Classroom and Corning Patio, free and open to the public. Wear something you won’t cry over, and call it cardio.
📚 Rosie the Riveters of Iowa: Book Presentation and Signing @ Grout Museum District | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Head to the Grout Museum District for Iowa author Linda McCann’s Rosie the Riveters of Iowa talk, packed with firsthand stories from women who kept factories running while men were overseas. Buy the book, get it signed, and remind everyone Iowa built more than casseroles.
🎰 Vegas, Baby! @ Waterloo Elks Lodge Weddings and Events | Saturday (3/7) at 6:00 PM – Waterloo’s Elks Club is going full Vegas, no red-eye required. House of Hope is serving a proper plated dinner, live and silent auctions, music, and a few sly surprises, so bring your lucky streak, your generous streak, and your appetite.
🎷 UNI Jazz @ The Black Hawk Hotel | Saturday (3/7) at 7:00 PM – Take a break from the usual weekend shuffle and slide into The Black Hawk for a free, open-to-all jazz series with UNI Jazz Studies and friends. It’s low-key, high-talent, and pairs beautifully with a Bar Winslow cocktail. Your shoulders will thank you.
💥 Cedar Falls Comic Con @ Cedar Falls Bien Venu Event Center | Sunday (3/8) at 10:00 AM – Think you know your way around a spinner rack? Cedar Falls Comic Con is packing creators, cosplay, autographs, and photo ops, no flight to San Diego required. Bring your inner nerd, best dad jokes, and shoes made for lines, and swap stories with the pros.
🐸 Frog & Toad’s Book Read @ The Ragged Edge Art Bar and Gallery | Sunday (3/8) at 1:00 PM – Frog & Toad’s Book Club is diving into We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds, so come flex those literary muscles without the homework hangover. Smart chat, neighborly vibes, and yes, you can snag a free copy by emailing [email protected], questions welcome.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 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.
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📻 Waterloo report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 70°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 98%
Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. High near 70, with temperatures falling to around 68 in the afternoon. South wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then rain likely. Mostly cloudy. Low around 35, with temperatures rising to around 38 overnight. West southwest wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 47°F – Low: 34°F – Precip: 6%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. West northwest wind 8 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.
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Take a peek inside →
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