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Happy weekend, Cedar Rapids! 

In today’s happening-today edition: Alash Ensemble, Bugs Bunny at the symphony, and Black-Owned Business Market + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.

Today’s sponsor (Money.com) 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.

📰 In the news

Land-use decision stirs controversy: Linn County supervisors approved rezoning for a memory care facility near Hiawatha, despite commission denial and resident concerns, paving way for an Omaha operator to serve dementia and Alzheimer’s patients — get all the details.

Manufacturing projects across Iowa: In February, the IEDA Board approved the first BIG incentives, backing projects in Hiawatha and four other cities, bringing new jobs and investment, including plans by Arconic and Vermeer — see the projects and impact.

New happenings around town: North Liberty’s March activities guide is now available, highlighting Hy-Vee Amphitheater’s inaugural season with a free debut concert, arts partnerships, and Blues and BBQ festival news — see what’s planned for March.

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 Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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:

• Bring your project, join creative community
• Experience a five-week beginner qigong series
• Learn line dancing over dinner and drinks
• Over 62? See how to turn home equity into tax-free cash

🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?

Together with our sponsor Money.com

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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.

🫶 We got your back

A mural worth a stroll: On the west wall of The Ideal Theater & Bar, the “Homage to Immigrants” mural by Gary Kelley, Ali Hval, and Thomas Agran brings WPA-era warmth to NewBo. Pause, let the colors sink in, and feel quietly proud of Cedar Rapids’ patchwork roots, history painted where the neighborhood hums.

Thread your week: When your fabric stash looks a little too organized, Inspired to Sew delivers fresh prints, smart notions, and classes that nudge projects from “someday” to “done.” The crew is genuinely helpful, and you’ll leave with ideas you didn’t know you needed.

Czech Village pint fix: Small-batch pours, a cozy kitchen menu, and welcoming community energy make Lion Bridge Brewing Company a weeknight upgrade. Peek at the brewhouse while you sip, and suddenly your “quick one” feels like a mini field trip, no permission slip required.

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.

📆 Around town today & tomorrow

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.

🛍 Black-Owned Business Market @ NewBo City Market | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – NewBo City Market is hosting a Black-Owned Business Market, a treasure hunt of handcrafted, curated goods from talented local entrepreneurs. Think less big-box, more neighbor-made. Bring a tote, your coffee, and your gift list, then spend your money where it actually matters.

🏁 Pinewood Derby Race @ Lindale Mall | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – If you’ve waited for a sign to relive the glory of wood glue and graphite, the Pinewood Derby rolls into Lindale Mall. Local scouts race hand-built cars down the ramp in a blur of creativity, craftsmanship, and sportsmanship. Bragging rights, not speed limits, apply.

🏛 Curator-Guided Tour — The Soul of Moravia: Joža Uprka Reprised @ National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Whether you can pronounce Joža Uprka or not, take a curator-guided tour through 120-plus works steeped in Moravian color, custom, and folklore at the Czech & Slovak Museum. Only 20 per tour, so register. Members $7, non-members $15, other galleries extra.

👣 In Her Steps: Women’s History Tours @ Brucemore’s Carriage House | Saturday (3/7) at 10:30 AM – Women’s History Month at Brucemore means a 90-minute tour that actually makes the mansion’s history feel alive. Meet Caroline Sinclair, nod to Margaret Hall, and trace the Cedar Rapids threads of labor, class, and philanthropy, plus a few jaw-dropper stories you somehow never heard.

🎶 Chorale Midwest Hit Parade Gala @ St. Ludmila Catholic Church | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Craving doo-wop with your good deeds? This fundraiser spins the best of the ’50s and ’60s, with a silent auction and diner-inspired treats that taste like Saturday nights used to. Tickets are $25 through Chorale Midwest folks, at the door, or online: https://www.choralemidwest.org/event-details-registration/hit-parade-50s-and-60s-gala

🎤 Alash Ensemble @ CSPS Hall | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 PM – Trade your usual Saturday soundtrack for Alash at CSPS Hall, a seated show where masters of Tuvan throat singing stack harmonies like a choir in one throat. It’s ancient, hypnotic, surprisingly modern, and pure goosebumps. $15 advance, $20 at the door.

🎨 Watercoloring Workshop: Crocus @ Amazing Space at Indian Creek Nature Center | Sunday (3/8) at 1:00 PM – If your yard is still mud and wishful thinking, come paint the first brave bloom of spring, the crocus, in a beginner watercolor workshop. Template provided, supplies included for $40 or BYO for $32, ages 8 to 100, leave with a finished piece, so pre-register.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/7 Chorale Midwest Hit Parade Gala @ St. Ludmila Catholic Church – 1:00 PM
• 3/7 2026 SaPaDaPaSo Irish Hooley Fundraiser @ Cliff’s Dive Bar & Grill – 4:00 PM
• 3/7 St. Practice Day @ The Ideal Theater & Bar – 6:30 PM
• 3/7 Patrick Tecklenburg @ Up In Smoke BBQ – 7:00 PM
• 3/7 Pops III: Bugs Bunny at the Symphony @ Paramount Theatre – 7:30 PM
• 3/7 Alash Ensemble @ CSPS Hall – 8:00 PM
• 3/8 Rahlan Kay @ North Point – 2:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 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.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Cedar Rapids report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 45°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 9%

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 61°F – Low: 45°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 61. Later: Clear, with a low around 45.

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The best part? Select plans are 50% off now through March 9th.

This house is wild

This custom-built condo pairs river and green space views with speedy access to I-380, downtown, and NewBo. Engineered hardwood and quartz finishes frame an open layout with a floor-to-ceiling fireplace and a four-season sunroom. A gourmet kitchen with breakfast counter, luxe primary suite, office, and laundry shine. The walkout lower level adds two bedrooms. HOA covers water, sewer, and trash.

Take a peek inside →