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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Let’s Eat Challenge with prizes, Pop Mart opens, and s’mores on the square + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around the North Shore 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

Head Chef title awaits: Downtown Evanston’s Let’s Eat Challenge is back, inviting locals to explore over 70 eateries, collect app-based rewards and deals, and compete for tasty prizes through May 15 — see how to participate.

Help for greener commercial spaces: Evanston announced sustainability grants up to $25,000 for small businesses in buildings over 20,000 square feet. Applicants need a free ComEd assessment. Efficiency benchmarks for large buildings begin in 2030 — see eligibility and assessment requirements.

Pop culture fans rejoice: POP MART is now open at Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie, bringing cult-favorite collectibles to the North Shore. It’s the brand’s sixth Illinois location, with favorites like MOLLY and Labubu — see what’s in store.

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.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Experience sound healing for deeper sleep
• Celebrate Evanston women balancing the scales
• Discover skincare trends with personalized samples
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🏆 Gold and silver are heating up

Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold

Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.

While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.

If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.

It’s free and worth reading before the next move.

🫶 We got your back

Twirl-worthy pasta plans: Francesco’s Hole in the Wall is a cozy Northbrook standby with a daily whiteboard menu and made-to-order plates. Think sausage rigatoni, rich sauces, and cooking that feels personal… ideal for a midweek reset or an easy win when you’d rather not cook.

Vintage, but make it you: Kameo Vintage curates sustainably sourced, high-quality preloved pieces and offers personalized styling, so you can build outfits with history and personality. Closet feeling stale? Real humans pull looks that fit your vibe, making getting dressed easier and more you.

Cold boost, warm vibes: Aching knees or off-kilter sleep? Glo Cryo offers quick local cryo, cryo facials, infrared sauna, red light, and compression to take the edge off and help you rebound faster, a midweek reset you can actually feel.

Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn more about my favorite online options here.

📆 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.

🎸 American Folk / Blues @ Celtic Knot Public House | Tuesday (3/3) at 5:00 PM – Settle in for American folk and blues from Pierce Crask, a true troubadour who makes a weeknight feel like front-porch Sunday. Every Tuesday, it’s a weekly fix, no cover, soulful pickin’, warm vocals, and the kind of storytelling your playlist forgot. Come, sip, nod, repeat.

🧠 Thursday Night Trivia @ Village Inn Pizzeria Sports Bar and Grill | Thursday (3/5) at 7:00 PM – Thursday trivia at Village Inn Pizzeria, free and hosted by Pub Trivia USA, calls for your brain, your team, and your appetite. Win gift cards now, chase big cash tournaments for locals later, and enjoy pizza, pints, and a smug glow from remembering 90s sitcoms.

⛸ Spring Skating Exhibition @ Centennial Ice Arena | Friday (3/6) at 5:00 PM – Centennial’s Spring Skating Exhibition is gliding in with Learn to Skate champs showing what they’ve been drilling all season. It’s free to watch, so bring coffee, polite claps, and warm socks. Skaters pay $35 to participate, questions to Deb at [email protected].

🎼 One Composer, One Community: Manuel María Ponce Celebration Concert @ Nichols Concert Hall | Friday (3/6) at 7:30 PM – Curious what you’ve been missing in Mexican classical music? A free concert at Nichols Concert Hall spotlights Manuel María Ponce with MIC faculty and students on piano, guitar, vocals, the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company, and a keynote by Jeordano Martínez. Free culture, zero pretense.

🐾 The Love of Animals Art Show @ Evanston Animal Shelter | Saturday (3/7) at 12:00 PM – A community art show that pats your soul and funds kibble. It spotlights local works inspired by the human-animal bond, with proceeds helping the Evanston Animal Shelter. Free tickets, feel-good vibes, and if you make stuff, they’re taking submissions in all styles.

🔥 S’mores on the Square @ Fountain Square | Saturday (3/7) at 5:00 PM – Patio weather can wait, we’re doing campfire vibes at Fountain Square instead, with open fire pits and free s’mores kits, one per person. Toast, chat, act like a marshmallow sommelier, and bring extra fixings if you’re ambitious. Register ahead, and snag Wayfair tent giveaways.

🚵 IL NICA Info Night @ Wheel & Sprocket | Tuesday (3/10) at 6:30 PM – Got a kid who treats the lakefront path like a singletrack, or a parent who secretly loves a clipboard? Swing by Wheel & Sprocket Evanston for a free NICA info night, a 20-minute overview with Q&A covering mountain biking for grades 5-12, teams, and coaching.

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.

• Industry-leading home warranty protection ($150 off right now)
• 62+? See how much tax-free cash your home could unlock → free calculator
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 North Shore report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 45°F – Low: 31°F – Precip: 31%

A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy. High near 45, with temperatures falling to around 43 in the afternoon. East wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. East northeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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Tomorrow – High: 49°F – Low: 38°F – Precip: 27%

A chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. East wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of rain showers before 9pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

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 outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

This new-construction Glencoe showpiece pairs sleek sophistication with resort-style living. Wide-plank oak floors, high ceilings, and custom European windows frame a chef’s kitchen clad in iceberg quartzite and Thermador appliances. Entertain indoors by a fireplace and a wet bar, or out on a grill patio overlooking a heated pool. Extras include a sauna, fitness room, dog wash, and heated drive.

Take a peek inside →