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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Fake QR code parking meter scam, a revived Costco plan, and a scenic marathon + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Officials investigate payment scam: Asheville is warning drivers about fake QR code stickers on parking meters. Stickers found on Biltmore Avenue led to a phony payment site. Report suspicious stickers to city officials — read the full warning.

Interprofessional teamwork in practice: At Asheville’s MAHEC, Beyond Clinic Walls pairs pharmacy, medicine, nursing, and social work students with residents 65 and up to identify barriers and help navigate appointments and prescriptions — see how the partnership works.

Retail project back in motion: City Council member Bo Hess is working with state leaders to revive the proposed Enka-Candler Costco after the project was withdrawn in February over rising costs and required improvements — get details on the plan.

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:

• Rewild your instinct and intuition
• Tango night with DJ Mike Eblen
• Run Asheville’s scenic marathon and half

🫶 We got your back

Panini cravings, sorted: Roman’s Deli & Catering nails downtown lunch with panini pressed on Annie’s Bakery bread, hearty housemade soups, and grass-fed burgers from Hickory Nut Gap Farm. When midday hunger hits, this spot delivers simple, satisfying comfort without the fuss.

Downtown reset spot: Need a midday breather or a kiddo energy burn? Pack Square Park offers easy benches, wide lawn lounging, glimpses of public art, and Splasheville’s splashpad when it’s running… all in the thick of downtown. Bring coffee, a book, or just take a few deep breaths.

Playtime, leveled up: Dancing Bear Toys is a family-owned Asheville staple stocked with LEGO, puzzles, plush, and brainy finds. It even lives inside a former Hooters, which kids and parents love to giggle about. With try-me stations and playful in-store events, curiosity stays humming.

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.

📖 Hora del Cuento – Bilingual Story Time @ Enka-Candler Branch Library | Wednesday (3/11) at 10:30 AM – Ready to trade screen time for story time? Head to the library for Mr. Keith’s bilingual romp with books, rhymes, and songs in Spanish and English, sneaking in early literacy while the kids think it is playtime. No tickets, just show up.

🥕 Rad Farmers Market @ New Belgium Brewing Company | Wednesday (3/11) at 3:00 PM – Swing by the New Belgium lawn every Wednesday for the year-round RAD Farmers Market, where your midweek grocery run pairs with a pint. Local produce, meats, breads, pastries, flowers, and crafts, plus SNAP, Double SNAP, and market prescriptions, so your kale can be fiscally responsible.

🥕 ASAP’s CSA Fair @ YWCA of Asheville | Thursday (3/12) at 3:30 PM – Meet the folks who grow your dinner at ASAP’s CSA Fair, ask what’s in the box each season, and choose a pickup spot that fits your life. It’s free, family friendly, and there’s no hard sell. Sign up on the spot, or follow up later.

🎶 Womansong EP Release Party @ The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage | Friday (3/13) at 6:30 PM – Mother Nature bailed on the first try, so Womansong’s EP party is back for round two, and it’s free. Expect Echo Mountain studio footage, live singing, prizes, and specialty cocktails and mocktails curated by the folks at The Mule. Local, joyful, zero cover.

🎸 Pied Pisces Reunion @ The Social | Friday (3/13) at 9:00 PM – Pisces season called, it wants its band back. The all-star fish are reuniting for a once-a-season, free concert with Grateful Family Band warming things up, and it’s our first chance to raise a glass to Dave, with good tunes, shared smiles, and zero fuss.

♻ Woodfin Litter Clean-Up @ Victory Baptist Church | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Roll up with the Woodfin YMCA crew for a low-barrier litter clean-up near Victory Baptist Church on Olivette Road, because those roadside souvenir cups are not composting themselves. Family friendly, first-timer approved, and good for neighborhood pride. Sign up: https://togetherhood.serve828.org/need/detail/?need\_id=1213387

🃏 Asheville Card Show @ Asheville Mall | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Whether you collect vintage Topps or just know Pikachu from your kid’s backpack, the Asheville Mall card show is free, low-pressure, and dangerously nostalgic. Wander booths, swap stories, maybe score a rookie or a rare holo, then reward yourself with a pretzel, obviously.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Asheville report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 78°F – Low: 57°F – Precip: 37%

A chance of rain showers before 8am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8am and noon, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 1 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 81°F – Low: 44°F – Precip: 10%

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 1 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Later: Rain showers likely after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. West southwest wind 6 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across North Carolina 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

This hillside retreat above Biltmore Park pairs a porte-cochere, beamed ceilings, reclaimed wood floors, and decks designed for sunset views. A chef’s kitchen with Viking appliances anchors the home, plus an elevator, generator, and radiant floors. A luxe primary suite and two ensuites join a flexible lower level that opens to a water feature and mountain vistas near Town Square.

Take a peek inside →