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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: A 90-year-old Art Deco diner, Barbie with a post-film panel, and Vintage & Vinyl Festival + lots of fun things to do for free.

Quick money tip: 2025 was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%. Analysts expect the momentum to continue, making precious metals a smart way to protect your savings. Curious how it works? Check out AHG’s free investor guide.*

📰 In the news

Step into savory nostalgia: Columbia’s Ernie’s Cafe & Steak House is a 90-year-old Art Deco diner serving beloved comfort food, from legendary pancakes and waffles to crispy hash browns, with breakfast offered all day — read the full story.

New gateway to city services: Columbia launched the My Key system on March 10, letting residents apply once for multiple aid programs and cutting repeat paperwork for utility help, parks and recreation, medication and paratransit — get all the details.

New structure for city outreach: Columbia City Council approved a Communications Department to streamline information and build trust, adding 24 full-time roles and four part-time positions, funded by eliminating other jobs without impacting this year — see how it’s structured.

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.*

Paying hundreds of dollars a month for car insurance? Switching providers could save you up to $600 a year, and shopping around is way faster than it used to be – free comparison tools like this one make it easy.*

Highlights this week:

• Savor spring tea and chocolate pairings
• Craft fused glass suncatchers at Plume
• Honor Maplewood Barn’s theatre legends
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home*

💎 Local business spotlight

Weekend zoomies approved: Garth Nature Area has a fenced, 3-acre dog park with a pond and a handy dog wash for post-splash cleanups. Want a change of pace? Leash up and loop the wetland trails next door—an easy way to turn “walkies” into an actual walk.

Me-time, upgraded: If your shoulders have been auditioning for “Boulder of the Year,” Riversong Spa & Salon delivers with relaxing facials, deep-tissue massages, and tidy pedis—zero drama, maximum exhale. Book a midweek reset and return to the week feeling a couple notches lighter.

Low-key whiskey refuge: Dive Bar Como leans into the name with relaxed, lived‑in energy, a deep whiskey list, and weekly trivia, bingo, live music, and brunch that make anyone a regular fast. If this week needs an easy win, Dive Bar Como is a no‑fuss, good‑times answer.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.

🫶 We got your back

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, *their curated kits are worth a look →

The $1,300 mistake most Americans make every year: According to the National Financial Education Council, poor financial literacy costs the average American over a thousand dollars annually. That’s not investment losses. That’s money lost to bad decisions, missed strategies, and advice from people who may not always put your interests first. There’s a free way to fix that, and it starts with one question. Find out what it is →

$22k in interest (on a $30k balance): That’s what minimum payments cost you over 20 years. You’ll pay back nearly double what you borrowed, and your credit card company is counting on you not doing that math. Debt settlement programs negotiate balances down and get people out of debt in 2-4 years instead of 20. Learn more about how they work →

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 five programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

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. We looked into solutions that fill that gap. Here’s what we found →

📆 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.

🎀 Barbie @ Ragtag Cinema | Wednesday (3/18) at 6:00 PM – Barbie is strutting back onto Ragtag’s screen, all pink, plastic, and surprisingly existential. Stick around after the laughs for a smart, lively panel with MU researchers who will make sense of the patriarchy, product placement, and those rollerblades. Free for Ragtag Members.

🧘 Spring Equinox Sound Bath and Meditation @ Broadway Christian Church | Thursday (3/19) at 6:15 PM – Spring equinox says we get to lie down without guilt, so take a 30 minute sound bath with Audra Sergel, chimes and crystal bowls, to shed winter heaviness. Bring a mat, blanket, and pillow; free, with donations supporting Broadway Christian Church’s Music Internship Program.

🎶 Vintage & Vinyl Festival @ Logboat Brewing Company | Saturday (3/21) at 12:00 PM – Patio season means crate digging and cold beer at Logboat, with vintage vendors, vinyl finds, art, and oddities, plus food trucks and games. Stick around as local bands take it outside, free entry and all ages, because your living room isn’t this fun.

🏔 Customer Appreciation @ Squawvalley Farms (Fulton) | Saturday (3/21) at 1:30 PM – If your idea of community service is breaking clays at a skeet shoot, eating fried fish, and a side bet, this is for you. Squawvalley Farms is hosting, everything provided, bring family, an appetite, and find the white barn marked ‘SMITH’ off County Road 111.

👾 Comic, Toy, & Pokemon Show @ Columbia Mall | Saturday (3/21) at 4:00 PM – Ready to relive your mall glory days without maxing a card? Quad Con takes over Columbia Mall with a free pop culture spree, vintage video games, comics, toys, Pokemon cards, art, and the collectibles you pretended to outgrow. Easy stroll, big nostalgia, zero admission.

🎶 Joseph C. Beale @ VFW Post 2657 (Fulton) | Saturday (3/21) at 8:00 PM – Skip the fancy reservations and swing by the VFW for Joseph C. Beale, twanging through country with a little rock on the side. No cover, open to the public, cold drinks and Prison Brews pizza. It’s familiar, friendly, and just rowdy enough.

📖 Give 5: Discover Your Next Chapter @ Aging Best | Tuesday (3/24) at 8:00 AM – Whether you just retired or finally admitted you hate daytime TV, Give 5 is a free, four-day, climate-controlled shuttle tour that connects Lake locals with nonprofits that actually need you. Meet the doers, find your lane, and skip the honey-do list with purpose.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Columbia report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 38°F – Low: 34°F – Precip: 14%

Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Southwest wind 3 to 10 mph. Later: A chance of snow before midnight, then a slight chance of rain between midnight and 2am. Mostly cloudy. Low around 34, with temperatures rising to around 38 overnight. South wind 8 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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Tomorrow – High: 66°F – Low: 46°F – Precip: 3%

Sunny, with a high near 66. Southwest wind around 7 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.

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This 7,500± sq ft custom estate spans 26 acres with a stocked private lake, islands, and bridges, plus abundant deer and turkey. Inside are 4 beds, 5 baths, hand-scraped teak floors, two fireplaces, and an entertainment-ready basement. A Wolf kitchen with hidden pantry, a sunroom, a spa-like primary suite, and a two-story outbuilding sit just 7 miles from downtown Columbia.

Take a peek inside →