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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Inside a playful dental practice, St. Patrick’s Day parades rev up, and a wild custom home stuns + 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

Inside a playful dental practice: Orlando Magazine featured Pediatric Dentistry of Winter Park on March 1, highlighting a Winter Park valedictorian and Harrison Scholar who leads a kid friendly practice focused on comfort and care — read the full spotlight.

Celtic energy meets sunshine: As St. Patrick’s Day nears, Florida festivities rev up, from Tampa’s River O’Green and Ybor’s parade to Winter Park’s storied march and Naples’ can’t-miss celebration — explore the parades and festivals.

Math readiness earns statewide recognition: Seminole County Public Schools has been ranked Florida’s top district for preparing students for college-level STEM in 2025-26, based on advanced math enrollment, a proud moment for nearby Winter Park — see what’s behind the ranking.

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:

• Meet artist Chris Wheeler at Booth 201
• Repot orchids and shop 3D-printed pots
• Master fruit tree care with experts

🫶 We got your back

For your midday fix: Tucked in Lakeview Office Park, Serious Sandwiches serves made-to-order sandwiches, vibrant salads, and daily specials inspired by global flavors, ideal when you crave comfort without the yawn. Perfect for a quick, delicious midday break that keeps your routine interesting.

A nature reset, anyone?: Swap screen time for birdsong and shaded trails at Mead Botanical Garden, a leafy loop of boardwalks, butterflies, and just enough wild in Winter Park. Ideal for a pre-work walk, post-dinner unwind, or spontaneous picnic. Go when you need a breather that doesn’t involve I-4.

Collectibles fix, secured: Whether you’re hunting that elusive Funko Pop, restocking Pokémon packs, or stumbling on irresistibly cute plush, Pop Us! Collectibles & Toys keeps exclusive drops and local favorites coming. Consider it a quick, happy detour when the week drags… a bright hit of nostalgia, surprises, and shelf-worthy joy.

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.

🧠 Trivia Night @ Aloma Bowl | Tuesday (3/10) at 6:30 PM – Tuesday and Sunday nights at Aloma Bowl mean one thing, Simon Time calling the shots while you swap gutter balls for glory. It’s free to play, heavy on bragging rights, and perfect for flexing those well-seasoned brains without lifting anything heavier than a pint.

🥫 Harvest of Hope Food Pantry @ Sanlando United Methodist Church (Longwood) | Wednesday (3/11) at 10:00 AM – Need a little help, or know someone who does? Harvest of Hope at Sanlando offers no-judgment pantry staples. Find the church lobby across from the forest parking lot, check in with volunteers, arrive after school drop-off, and plan ahead, no restrooms, and no smoking.

🖼 Exhibition Tour: Portrait of a Movement: A New Approach to the Bloomsbury Group @ Rollins Museum of Art | Friday (3/13) at 11:00 AM – Skip the endless errands and let Dr. Gisela Carbonell walk you through the Bloomsbury crowd at Rollins Museum of Art. Think close looking, good questions, and the behind-the-scenes stories you pretend you already knew. It is free with registration, civilized, and delightfully local.

🌱 Shoreline Restoration @ Lake Spier | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Lake Spier needs a spruce-up, so we are planting native aquatic plants to improve water, curb erosion, and invite wildlife. Sign up via Eventbrite in the linktree in bio, expect hands-on and a little mud, and bring sunscreen, water shoes, and dry wit.

🖼 Museum Highlights Tours @ Rollins Museum of Art | Saturday (3/14) at 1:00 PM – Trade errands for culture at Rollins Museum of Art’s docent-led highlight tours, free with registration on the second and last Saturdays. Let someone else read the labels, you just soak up the good stuff, nod thoughtfully, and enjoy the AC. Low effort, high culture.

🚗 Downtown Longwood Cruise @ Downtown Longwood Cruise In | Saturday (3/14) at 5:00 PM – Take a spin through historic downtown Longwood for the Saturday Night Cruise, a free, open-to-all hangout where the chrome shines brighter than your porch light. Over 100 cars and trucks, a 50/50 drawing, food trucks, and DJ Don from Cruisin Orlando keep it rolling.

🍿 Sunday Movie Night @ Oviedo Memorial Post 243 | Sunday (3/15) at 5:30 PM – Free movie night at Post 243, with Greyhound on the screen, Tom Hanks being reliably heroic, and hot dogs and chili doing the heavy lifting. Bring a side to share, settle in with the neighbors, and call it your Sunday productivity.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Winter Park 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. 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.

This house is wild

This custom luxury home in Winter Park pairs a showpiece chef’s kitchen with a 48-inch Z-Line gas range, Café appliances, quartz counters, and a walk-in pantry with floating shelves. Entertaining shines with a wine bar and upstairs beverage station. The spa-level primary impresses, and Philips Hue lighting, fingerprint entry, and a summer kitchen frame a Mediterranean-style courtyard.

Take a peek inside →