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Hey Ann Arbor, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Autonomous trucking engineering center, leprechaun scavenger hunt, and pasta making class + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Ann Arbor 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

Commercialization efforts accelerate: Torc announced a new engineering center in northeast Ann Arbor to advance autonomous trucking, partnering with MEDC on incentives and including roles in machine learning, software, hardware, and systems engineering — read the full story.

Onsite support for residents: Dunbar Tower has opened in downtown Ann Arbor. First residents began moving in Feb. 12. Half the apartments serve people exiting homelessness, and half are aimed at artists near Kerrytown — read the full story.

Climate millage backs e-waste recycling: Ann Arbor’s first of six electronics recycling events starts today at City Hall, running March 9 through 24. Accepted items include laptops, phones, cables, and alkaline batteries. No lithium batteries — see what’s accepted and where.

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:

• Bowl to support Camp Michitanki
• Craft in pajamas during Mamma Mia
• Flow into spring with sun salutations

🫶 We got your back

Crave-worthy stacks: When lunch needs a lift, Zingerman’s Delicatessen builds towering, made-to-order sandwiches on legendary Bakehouse bread… including that Reuben you’ve been meaning to finally order. Their pickle-speared magic turns an ordinary day into a small celebration, one hearty bite at a time.

Weekend river reset: With paved loops and island bridges along the Huron, Gallup Park is an easy win, with playgrounds for quick breaks and a canoe/kayak livery if you’re feeling paddly. The Border-to-Border Trail lets you stretch it out, turning a simple walk into a full reset.

Upgrade the toy bin: Last-minute birthday panic or cabin-fever blues? The Little Seedling stocks puzzles, pretend-play gear, craft kits, and squishy friends, plus staff who actually know what kids love. You’ll find something fast, no wild goose chase, and leave with a grin.

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.

🐦 Birding and Bird Feeders @ Gallup Park Meeting Room | Tuesday (3/10) at 1:00 PM – Round up the kids for a free birding stroll at Gallup Park, then craft pinecone, peanut-butter feeders the local chickadees will review five stars. For K–5 with an adult, meet in the park’s meeting room, registration required, and sorry peanut-allergy folks.

🤝 Caregiver Lunch and Learn: Exploring Care & Support Services @ Brown Chapel AME 1043 W Michigan Ave. Ypsilanti, MI 48197 | Thursday (3/12) at 1:00 PM – Caregivers, bring your questions and your appetite to a free lunch where you connect with people who get it, get straight answers on respite, residential, and end-of-life care. Free onsite respite means you can listen for once, and space is limited, so snag a spot.

🏊 Shamrock Splash Night Family Swim! @ Goldfish Swim School | Friday (3/13) at 7:00 PM – Shamrock Splash Night means a free family swim, no fees, no fuss, just the whole crew splashing around under the lights. Let the kids chase leprechauns in the shallow end while you enjoy warm air, dry towels, and the rare budget-friendly outing.

🛍 Spring Craft and Vendor Show @ Living Water Lutheran Church (Whitmore Lake) | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Spring around here means one thing, the craft and vendor show returns with local makers, practical finds, and the occasional wildly specific candle scent. Wander the booths, chat with neighbors, and let your inner magpie roam. Free admission, questionable restraint.

🍝 Pasta Making Class @ Dixboro United Methodist Church | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – Think you can roll a decent noodle? Join the pasta making class at Dixboro UMC’s Fellowship Hall where the ingredients are covered, the carbs are righteous, and donations keep it neighborly. Bring that Silpat you swore you’d use, a drying rack, and your church gossip.

🏛 Sunday Drop-In Tour | Women in the Ancient World @ Kelsey Museum of Archaeology | Sunday (3/15) at 2:00 PM – Nothing beats a free Sunday drop-in that actually teaches you something. This guided tour digs into depictions of women across the ancient Middle East, Cyprus, Etruria, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, from goddesses to real people. Low effort, high culture, open to all.

🍀 Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt @ 2|42 Community Center Ann Arbor | Tuesday (3/17) at 10:00 AM – The community center is crawling with sneaky leprechauns, and the kids get to hunt them down for a prize while you pretend this counts as cardio. It’s free, no registration required, recommended for ages 3+, and yes, wear your lucky green like you mean it.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Ann Arbor report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 69°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 30%

A chance of rain before 5pm, then a slight chance of thunderstorms and a slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy. High near 69, with temperatures falling to around 64 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain and a chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 49, with temperatures rising to around 54 overnight. South southeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 59°F – Low: 26°F – Precip: 99%

Rain and a chance of thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 59. West southwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Later: Rain before 11pm, then a slight chance of snow between 11pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West northwest wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Michigan 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

A densely wooded 10-acre parcel in prestigious Scio Township offers a custom-home canvas, tucked at the end of a cul-de-sac in Dexter Schools with lower taxes and quick access to Ann Arbor, U of M, and I-94. One-third is buildable with a completed soil evaluation, utilities on a private paved lane, executive neighbors, east-west exposure, and flexible builder options.

Take a peek inside →