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Hi Columbus, hope you’re having a great weekend!

In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: EXE Sports district, RiverBlast Festival, and The Yard dog social club + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.

From today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz: Many Georgia drivers end up paying higher auto insurance premiums because they don’t shop around enough. The same driver with the same car can get wildly different quotes from different insurers, so it truly pays to compare. Their free tool makes it easy.*

📰 Most-clicked stories this week

Flagship destination poised to rise: EXE Sports, a planned $480 million district in Columbus, aims to boost sports tourism by blending sports, entertainment, retail, and a waterpark, expected to create thousands of jobs locally — get all the development details.

Officials outline multibillion-dollar investment: Choose Columbus addressed misinformation about a data center, saying Project Ruby will use Flint Energies, not Georgia Power, with homes a mile away. A meeting is planned in 2026 — read the full story.

New canine social spot: Paws Humane Society has opened The Yard, a membership-based dog social club at 1432 Fifth Avenue in Columbus, offering play areas and refreshments, with proceeds supporting homeless pets — get all the details.

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.*

Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.*

All the crowd favorites:

• Family Jeep scavenger hunt with cash prizes
• Feast at Hudson’s Easter buffet
• Create St. Paddy’s rainbow wind catchers together

💎 This week’s top finds

Fabric stash refresh: Serving Greater Columbus since 1974, Wards Textiles is a low-key goldmine for apparel, upholstery, vinyl, and those “I can make that” fabrics, plus rugs and mats for home makeovers. Touchably real materials, smart prices, and old-school know-how keep projects rolling.

Fried pie kind of week: Nellie’s Southern Fried Pies quietly turns family recipes into hand-sized, golden pockets of joy, filled with pecan, apple, coconut cream, and more. A couple this week could turn an afternoon coffee into a tiny celebration.

River breeze therapy: Skip traffic and to-do lists; Chattahoochee Riverwalk strings together miles of smooth path, shady overlooks, and grade-A people-watching by the water. Walk, roll, or cast a line, then feel that midweek serotonin rise. It’s the easiest reset around.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements — they’re the local spots your fellow readers clicked on most this week.

🫶 We got your back

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 →

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 →

Paying full price is officially optional: Blu Dot just marked down dozens of their best sofas, beds, dining tables, outdoor pieces, and lighting by as much as 60%. Not because something’s wrong with them, but because every great design eventually has to make room for the next one. The deals change daily, so it’s always a new adventure. *See what’s on sale today →

Most people have no idea what’s happening inside their body: Not because the data doesn’t exist, but because no one’s collecting it. Routine annual checkups miss things like body composition, biological age, and the biomarkers that can help predict long-term patterns. The good news? HumeHealth offers tools to help you track all of that at home for less than the cost of a specialist visit. *Use code NEW20 to save 20% →

Something in your house is about to break: It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’ll be staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast. An AHS home warranty covers these types of surprises + *select plans are $150 off right now →

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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.

☕ 19th Annual Rosa Parks Women of Courage Breakfast @ Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center | Monday (3/16) at 7:00 AM – Like your breakfast with a side of backbone? The 19th annual Rosa Parks Women of Courage Breakfast honors fearless women, funds scholarships for youth, themed Women in Social Justice, so come for the coffee, stay for inspiration, and ask SISTERS, Inc. or AKA for tickets.

🍪 Irish Icing Cookie Decorating Class @ The Cookie Co. | Monday (3/16) at 6:00 PM – Skip the green beer, shamrock-and-roll into The Cookie Co’s cookie decorating class, where you’ll tackle six St. Paddy’s designs with five colors, step-by-step help, and a to-go box. No piping PhD required, you keep the icing, grab a DIY kit for the kids.

🎡 Spring Carnival @ Just Breathe for Kids | Friday (3/20) at 6:30 AM – Craving a quiet house? Drop the kids at this spring carnival for crafts, face painting, outdoor sensory play, games, and a pizza-and-juice party, all under the Grow with the Flow theme. Indoor and outdoor fun, professional head massages, and limited spots, so register now.

📚 Friends of Libraries Annual Spring Book Sale @ Columbus Public Library | Friday (3/20) at 10:00 AM – Columbus Public Library is turning into the happiest kind of treasure hunt, a three-day Friends of Libraries book sale where paperbacks are cheaper than a latte. Cozy mysteries, thrillers, romances, and glorious serendipity, all $2 or less. Bring a tote, and your inner librarian.

🎭 Hairspray the Musical @ Springer Opera House | Friday (3/20) at 7:00 PM – Whether you swooned over the John Waters original or you just miss Aqua Net, this eight-time Tony winner serves up 1962 Baltimore with big hair, bigger heart, and seriously catchy tunes. Bring the kids, or your inner one, and prepare for joyful, justice-filled shimmying.

🚗 Driving Out Domestic Violence Car, Jeep, and Motorcycle Show @ Rally Point Harley-Davidson | Saturday (3/21) at 10:00 AM – Whether you’re polishing chrome or just here to people-watch, this annual, family-friendly car, Jeep, and motorcycle show is free to attend. Enter your ride for $35 pre-registration, or $40 day-of, and 100% benefits Hope Harbour, the lifeline for victims of domestic violence.

🌊 RiverBlast Festival @ National Civil War Naval Museum | Saturday (3/21) at 10:00 AM – RiverBlast is taking over the riverfront to toast 25 years of our Civil War Naval Museum, cannons and all. Expect live music, guided tours, reenactors, kid-friendly tinkering, food trucks, and craft vendors, with free admission and history you can feel in your chest.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Columbus report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 80°F – Low: 46°F – Precip: 12%

Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: Showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

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Tomorrow – High: 62°F – Low: 29°F – Precip: 86%

Showers and thunderstorms before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. West wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Most popular house this week

This 4100 sq ft lakefront retreat crowns a hill with sweeping views. A two story foyer opens to a great room with an electric fireplace and a chef’s kitchen with granite, an island, and an induction range. The 1200 sq ft lower level adds a private suite, a golf simulator and putting green, and a 9×16 4K Dolby Atmos theater.

Take a peek inside →