Monday, April 27, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: 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.*

Safer playground, brighter days: Millennium Park in Lake Charles reopened April 16 after a closure for surface upgrades to turf. Mayor Marshall Simien reopened the gates before This Is Home Festival earlier this month -- get all the details.

Boundaries shift for upgrades: The City of Lake Charles has annexed 115 acres at Chennault International Airport, a laydown yard with three businesses. Officials call it an investment to strengthen infrastructure and support growth -- get all the details.

Unmasking local Carnival traditions: Lake Charles' new Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu opened in Nellie Lutcher Cultural District, replacing one lost to Hurricane Laura and featuring the world's largest Mardi Gras costume display -- see what's inside the museum.

The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Movie night upgrade: Whether it’s a new release or a throwback you missed, Cinemark Lake Charles and XD nails the essentials, with crisp sound, comfy seats, and dangerously good popcorn. Call it your midweek reset: bring a friend, mute the group chat, and let someone else handle the plot twists.

Need a nerd fix: Whether you’re hunting your next storyline, a booster pack for game night, or a figure that finally earns the top shelf, Paper Heroes delivers the good stuff with friendly, know-what-you-like energy. Treat yourself to a midweek browse and leave a little happier.

Subtle glow, big vibes: When your skin is doing the most, The Sculptry delivers signature facials, laser treatments, and a curated skincare shop so your glow goes home with you. Low-key luxe, results-forward, and unmistakably Lake Charles.

The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

Selling your house doesn't have to take months: If you need to sell quickly — because you're downsizing, relocating, or just ready to close this chapter — Liz helps seniors sell their houses fast. As-is. No repairs, no showings, no drawn-out back-and-forth. You pick the closing date. *See how it works →

Unknown-number calls aren't random: Scammers don't just pick numbers out of a hat. They pay data brokers a few bucks and get everything they need to harass you, trick you, rob you, or steal your identity outright. Incogni removes all of your personal info from these data broker sites and keeps an eye out to make sure it stays gone for good. *Get protected →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

🎨 Paint Night: Midnight Asters @ Painting with a Twist | Tuesday (4/28) at 7:00 PM – Tuesdays at Painting with a Twist in Lake Charles mean $10 off Paint Night, so you can sip, save, and finish a project this week. Bring friends, a date, or your inner artiste, tackle Midnight Asters, and skip the cleanup.

🍎 Moss Bluff Farmer's Market and Swap @ Moss Bluff Farmers Market and Swap | Saturday (5/2) at 8:00 AM – Whether you're hunting tomatoes that taste like tomatoes or trying to unload that extra crockpot, the Moss Bluff Farmer's Market and Swap delivers. Stock up on local produce, homemade goodies, and small-biz finds, then trade, chat, and catch up on neighborhood news.

🚗 Rollin’ on the River Car Truck and Motorcycle Show @ Sam Houston Jones State Park | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Rollin’ on the River is posting up at Sam Houston Jones, so come ogle cars, trucks, and bikes, talk shop over barbecue, and pretend you’re not pricing that project truck. Then trade exhaust for birdsong with a stroll along the West Fork of the Calcasieu.

🌕 Full Moon Fest @ Drew Park | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Nothing beats a free day of yoga, sound baths, and mellow vibes with the neighbors you actually like. This community fest gathers local teachers, artists, and wellness vendors for movement, stillness, and real connection, plus live atmospheric sound all day.

🌱 4th Annual SWLA Plant Swap @ LeBlue Settlement | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Pack your cuttings and head to Lebleu Settlement for the 4th Annual SWLA Plant Swap at that new rural venue everyone claims they discovered first. Trade figs, ferns, and mystery succulents, swap tips, and somehow leave with more plants than porch space.

🌊 Lagoon-Palooza @ Game2Life | Saturday (5/2) at 3:00 PM – Take a break and christen Lucky Lagoon, with Ashes of Babylon, The Quadroholics, Cats & Aliens, Secret Stache, and John Guidroz holding court. Bring a chair, save your back, skip the ice chest, kids 10 and under $10, 11+ $25, four or more, $20 each.

🎟 Chicago @ Lake Charles Event Center | Saturday (5/2) at 8:00 PM – Nothing beats live horns that actually know what to do with a chorus. Chicago is rolling in with those smooth harmonies, big hooks, and all the songs you forgot you remember. Bring your high school memories, your concert sneakers, and someone who sings off-key.

This 5-bed, 3.5-bath stunner blends original character with sleek updates. Wide-plank oak floors and a soft palette frame a chic kitchen with custom cabinetry, quartz, brushed brass, and a butler’s plus large pantry. The main-level primary suite feels like a spa. A gas fireplace warms windows facing a privacy-fenced yard with pool and pavilion, plus four upstairs bedrooms and nooks.