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It’s Friday, Brainerd! Let’s finish this week strong.
In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Boat Show 2026, St. Patrick’s Day celebration, and someone Googled you this week + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.
Today’s sponsor (FinanceBuzz) 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.
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📰 In the news
Board praises leadership vision: Chip Rankin is set to become Brainerd Public Schools’ superintendent after second-round interviews, pending a contract and background check. He brings Brainerd ties, a 100-day plan, and focus on enrollment — see what impressed the board.
Peer voting shapes community change: More than $740,000 in Sourcewell’s Impact Funding went to nonprofits in December, with projects ranging from a SANE program relaunch in Brainerd to plans for expanded food access in Baxter — get details on selected projects.
Proposal could prevent school closures: Brainerd School Board members looked at a fix for budget shortfall, agreeing to draft a resolution to let the district shift $1 million from construction funds into its general fund — read the full story.
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 Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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:
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🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?
Together with our sponsor FinanceBuzz
Auto insurance premiums have been climbing across the country… and most folks won’t notice until it’s time to renew and they’re hit with a higher bill.
The frustrating part? Loyalty rarely gets rewarded. Insurers adjust prices constantly, and new customers often qualify for better rates than long-time policyholders.
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.
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🫶 We got your back
Veggie-fueled lunch escape: Passport dishes globally inspired bowls, stir-fries, and salads with clearly marked vegan picks, plus a rotating country menu that keeps things fresh, no airport required. Downtown Brainerd’s easy go-to for plant-based eating that still packs flavor.
Weekend treasure hunt: The Mercantile mixes antiques, vintage curios, local art, and repurposed oddities from rotating vendors, the kind of spot you enter for a trinket and exit with a tale or two. If your shelves crave personality, it slips in here with charm and a little mischief.
Fresh brows, zero effort: From microblading, nano brows, and soft shading to lash-line enhancement and lip blush, Ideal Ink creates features that look like you, just more awake. Kristy’s precise approach delivers natural, low-maintenance polish so your morning routine finally feels effortless, all week long.
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.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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.
🩸 CTC Spring Blood Drive @ Brainerd VFW Post 1647 | Friday (3/6) at 9:00 AM – Roll up your sleeve at the CTC Spring Blood Drive at the Brainerd VFW #1647, then brag about saving lives over your next coffee. It’s simple, neighborly, and they let you sit down. Grab a slot at redcrossblood.org, because snacks taste better after heroics.
🚤 Boat Show 2026 @ Northern Pacific Center | Friday (3/6) at 11:00 AM – Swing by the Brainerd Boat Show, where lake folks kick hulls and score show-only discounts on pontoons, wake boats, fishing boats, and the gadgets. Free admission, Notch 8 fueling the stroll, and local experts and vendors ready to upgrade your summer.
🧺 Berry Picking Basket Workshop @ The Crossing Arts Alliance | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Basket master Shannon Lucas-Westrum is guiding a hands-on workshop to craft a sturdy berry-and-mushroom basket, leather handle included. It’s sold out, of course, so stalk the waitlist, flex those dexterous fingers, and thank the Minnesota arts grant for picking up the materials.
🧘 Mindfulness Training @ Carnegie Wellness | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – Swap the doomscrolling for a 75-minute reset with mindfulness, gentle yoga, and actual breathing. This session leans into mindful eating and communication, then melts you into Lake Superior hot stones, warm oil towels, and tea. First-timers are free, which feels very zen.
🚀 Refine & Rise @ Lakes Area Yoga Association | Sunday (3/8) at 11:00 AM – Craving a class that turns down the chaos, turns up the heat, and still respects your knees? This vinyasa flow balances smart alignment with spicy sequences, slowing to refine, then building fire with playful transitions. All levels welcome, $25, and yes, child’s pose counts.
🎤 Karaoke for the Kids @ O’Neary’s Irish Pub | Sunday (3/8) at 4:00 PM – Round up the crew for a family karaoke takeover at the Irish Pub in downtown Brainerd, all ages welcome. Pre-game with slices and joysticks at Big Jay’s Arcade, or an escape-room victory at Copper Cat, then let the kids belt while you harmonize and grin.
🍓 Fresh Strawberries & Oranges @ El Tequila Mexican Restaurant | Sunday (3/8) at 5:30 PM – Whether your fruit bowl has been on a months-long beige diet or you just want to see neighbors in the El Tequila lot, Freshly Picked Tour is bringing farm-fresh strawberries, citrus, pecans, and Michigan maple, just days post-harvest. Pre-order for the discount, pay at pickup.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 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.
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📻 Brainerd report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 47°F – Low: 24°F – Precip: 61%
Drizzle likely and patchy fog before noon, then rain likely. Mostly cloudy. High near 47, with temperatures falling to around 39 in the afternoon. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Snow likely before 7pm, then rain and snow likely between 7pm and 9pm, then snow likely and freezing rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible. Little or no ice accumulation expected.
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Tomorrow – High: 43°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 7%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
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Take a peek inside →
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