Subscribe | Get featured

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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: New pet protections, a Pulse memorial update, and AI summit insights + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Stronger safeguards for pets: Orange County tightened animal welfare rules effective February 17, adding required microchips for reclaimed pets and sterilization after impound, with more updates rolling out through 2027 across the Orlando area — see what’s changed and when.

Permanent tribute design preview: Orlando will share an update on the Pulse memorial as work ramps up. The Pulse sign is set for removal as early as March 10, with demolition planned March 18 — get details and timeline.

Closing data integrity gaps: The Gartner Data & Analytics Summit kicks off today in Orlando, where data integrity company Precisely and Entain share how Agentic-Ready Data can power AI and automation through March 11 — see the 3-stage framework.

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:

• Cheer Solar Bears’ Hockey Fights Cancer night
• Sing along at Beemo’s St. Patrick’s show
• Savor traditional high tea at Polly’s

🫶 We got your back

Serious sandwich energy: Whether you’re plotting lunch that carries you through the afternoon or craving a quick desk break, Bad As’s Sandwiches serves bold bites, like Ninja pork belly, the Capone, and rotating chef specials, turning weekday meals into small wins.

A downtown reset: Take a lap around Lake Eola Park’s 0.9-mile loop, give the swans a respectful nod, and let the skyline and fountain reset your brain. It’s a midweek breather that makes errands, inboxes, and Florida humidity feel manageable, like you snuck in a tiny vacation between meetings.

Toy hunt, leveled up: At Gods & Monsters, shelves brim with action figures, statues, manga, model kits, and TCGs, plus a cozy, cosplay-friendly lounge for a quick breather. Friendly, chatty energy makes rediscovering the hobby easy… collecting is still play.

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.

🥫 Volunteer with Second Harvest Food Bank @ Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida | Tuesday (3/10) at 8:15 AM – Second Tuesday mornings are for doing good without the pep rally. Join the CFFC crew at Second Harvest to sort donations, swap dry wit with Tony Pelham, and help a well-run operation feed Central Florida neighbors. Comfortable shoes, decent shorts, and your can-do sarcasm required.

🩺 Let’s Talk Veins @ USA Vein Clinics – Orlando | Friday (3/13) at 8:00 AM – USA Vein Clinics is hosting a one-day drop-in with free vein screenings, a pair of compression socks, and a complimentary lunch. If your calves look like an I-4 exit map or your legs feel heavy, come chat with the docs, get options, leave lighter.

🎨 JJ The Artist – Opening Night @ Lil Indie’s | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Pop into Lil’ Indies for JJ The Artist’s opening night, curated by Heidi Kneisl, and pretend you’ve been following their work for years. No cover, 21+, and cocktails that pair nicely with nodding thoughtfully, chatting with neighbors, and lingering longer than planned.

🧹 March 2026 Community Clean Up @ Walgreens | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Spring cleaning season calls for a neighborhood spruce-up, we’re rolling out to Walgreens at 2550 N Hiawassee Rd for a Pine Hills clean sweep. They bring gloves, bags, and cold drinks, you bring the can-do. Think cardio, civic pride, and quality neighbor time.

🃏 The Nona Collects Card Show @ Drive Shack Orlando | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – If your shoebox is still in the closet, consider this your cue: a free card show at Drive Shack with 170 tables of sports, TCG, vintage, and modern. Trade on the terrace, take a long-drive swing, maybe score a bounty refund up to 100 bucks.

🚗 Downtown Longwood Cruise @ Downtown Longwood Cruise In | Saturday (3/14) at 5:00 PM – Saturday Night Cruise is filling historic downtown Longwood with chrome, rumble, and that unmistakable smell of nostalgia. Over 100 cars and trucks, food trucks, and DJ Don from Cruisin Orlando, plus a 50/50 drawing. Free to wander, point, and tell tall garage tales.

🍀 Beemo @ Crooked Can Brewing Company (Winter Garden) | Saturday (3/14) at 6:00 PM – Live music, pints, and kilts at Crooked Can’s Celtic Festival, with local favorites Beemo back on stage. It is free, so bring a lawn chair, the neighbor who finds their Irish side every March, and your jig-adjacent shuffle. Expect singalongs, and prime Plant Street people-watching.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Orlando report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 89°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 16%

Patchy fog before 10am, then a slight chance of rain showers. Sunny, with a high near 89. East 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.

—

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.

This house is wild

This custom Eagle Creek residence in Lake Nona impresses with a sculptural red oak staircase, Greystone Hickory floors, and soaring ceilings. The chef’s kitchen stars a Dacor 48-inch dual fuel range, three dishwashers, and four wine fridges. A dual-sided onyx-surround fireplace warms the spa-like primary. Entertaining shines with a quartz-clad sports bar, private gym, and resort-style pool, spa, and lanai.

Take a peek inside →