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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Film incentive program, Dancing With the Stars live, and LEGO Opalooza + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Fresh support for filmmakers: Orange County is opening its film incentive program in early March to boost production and tourism. Projects must spend $250,000 and include five local grads to qualify for up to $50,000 — see what’s required and when.

Zoning rules under scrutiny: Orange County commissioners will consider a countywide buffer keeping tobacco and vape shops away from public schools on April 7, following parent complaints about a store near Olympia High School — see what’s being proposed.

Make, learn, and celebrate: Orange County Library System will host LEGO Opalooza at Orlando Public Library on Sunday, March 29, plus Women’s History Month programs and a Renaissance FAIRview celebration at branches around Orlando — check out the full lineup.

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.

Highlights this week:

• Experience Dancing With the Stars live
• Bring kids to Egg-Ceptional Family Festival
• Win cash at 80s music bingo brunch

🫶 We got your back

Satisfy the sandwich itch: Bernie’s Gourmet To Go stacks made-to-order subs on artisan breads, with house-made chicken salads that turn a quick bite into a weekly habit. Expect fresh, filling flavors, not another chain knockoff… the kind of lunch you actually look forward to.

A lakefront reset: When the week gets loud, Center Lake Park is a low-effort, high-vibe reset. Stroll the boardwalk, let kids rule the splash pad and playground, or lounge on the amphitheater lawn and breathe. Bonus: the dog park gives your pup a win, too.

Game night upgrade: Whether you’re knee-deep in Magic, new to Lorcana, or chasing miniatures that don’t topple mid-battle, Versus Games brings the goods and easygoing community vibes. Shelves to browse, singles trading, and tables where you might accidentally make five new friends keep game night bright.

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 →

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 →

📆 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.

🆓 Friends Come Free Weekend @ Crunch Fitness – Winter Park | Saturday (3/14) at 7:00 AM – Friends come free every weekend, so text that friend who keeps “meaning to check it out” and bring them along. Flash this at the front desk, their usual $15 guest fee disappears, and you look like a hero. 18+ only, regular club rules apply, obviously.

🏰 Enchanted Knights: Fairytales and Fables @ Oviedo Mall | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – Dust off your cloak and hit Oviedo Mall for a free, indoor ren faire with armored combat, live shows, and a sprawling artisan market. Yes, in the mall. Join the scavenger hunt storyline, snag Sidequest Shopping prints, test the fighting pit, costumes encouraged, parking free.

☘ St. Patrick’s Day Celebration @ Oviedo on the Park | Saturday (3/14) at 4:00 PM – St. Paddy’s in Oviedo means free entry, live Irish tunes, food trucks, kid-friendly chaos, and, yes, proper pints. Pro tip, buy a beer punch card online, skip the line, and channel your inner Dubliner without leaving the neighborhood.

🚲 Bike Repair Cafe @ Goldenrod Recreation Center (Winter Park) | Saturday (3/28) at 1:00 PM – Orange County’s first Bike Repair Café pops up at Goldenrod Recreation Center with free, hands-on fixes and quick workshops from volunteer mechanics. Bring the bike that squeaks like a screen door, leave smarter, and register on Eventbrite before spots vanish.

🌀 Community Classroom: Hurricane Preparedness Tips @ Oviedo Mall Community Room | Tuesday (3/31) at 6:00 PM – If your idea of storm prep is buying extra wine and hoping for the best, this is for you. Oviedo Mall’s new Community Classroom kicks off with hurricane home tips from local pro Carrie Moreau. Free, practical, and conveniently by Dillard’s.

💃 Discover Brazilian Zouk: Class & Dance Night @ Winter Park Ballroom Dance Co. | Thursday (4/2) at 8:30 PM – Whether you’ve been two-stepping since prom or your dance card’s mostly yard work, this free Brazilian Zouk class at Winter Park Ballroom keeps it fun, and low pressure. No partner, no heels, socks welcome, and free parking. Register, meet Jason and Tate, stay to practice.

🃏 The Central Florida Card Fest 4 @ Orlando Center Pointe Community Church of The Nazarene | Saturday (4/11) at 11:00 AM – Central Florida Card Fest is back in East Orlando for round four with free entry, 195 tables, sports and TCG cards, grading submissions, and the Lake Nona crew. Expect free parking, concessions, and nostalgia, so bring the kids, the trade binder, and comfortable shoes.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Alafaya report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 89°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 15%

Patchy fog before 10am, then a slight chance of rain showers. Sunny, with a high near 89. South southeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 89°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 3%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Florida but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

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