Happy Friday, Toledo. In today’s edition: Christmas Tree Ship, Frozen in Time, Nights at the Lights, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Engineering ingenuity goes wild: Seven University of Toledo seniors designed and installed a squirrel obstacle course at the Toledo Zoo, presented on Dec. 5 at the Senior Design Expo among about 75 student projects — read the full story.

Timeless maritime craftsmanship: The National Museum of the Great Lakes has opened Frozen in Time, a display of wooden and antique boats, from an Indigenous canoe design to wooden cruisers, through Feb. 15 — get exhibit details and dates.

Affordability drives Midwest demand: Realtor.com’s 2026 forecast puts Toledo atop U.S. price growth, with home values projected to jump 13.1% next year while local sales are expected to fall 1.2% amid balanced national market — read the full market outlook.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Pack winter hygiene kits with United Way
• Disney On Ice brings Frozen and Encanto
• Sensory-friendly holiday fun for all
• Holiday craft show funds drama scholarships
• Experience runway storytelling at Pursuit Magazine’s launch
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

🫶 We got your back

Overnight incident in south Toledo: Frontera Mexican Restaurant on Airport Highway in south Toledo is temporarily closed after an overnight kitchen fire around 12:15 a.m. Toledo firefighters said heavy smoke came from the roof vents and traced the flames to a deep fryer believed left on. Smoke damaged the building, and the restaurant will stay closed for repairs. Read the full story.

Major overhaul underway: Starting Dec. 15, the Toledo Museum of Art will close several West Wing galleries, including the Great Gallery, for a sweeping reinstallation running through 2027. Baroque/Rococo favorites like The Architect’s Dream go off view, but the museum stays open with highlights like El Greco’s The Agony in the Garden and Kiefer’s Athanor. See what’s closing and what’s open.

Neighborhood pints, dialed in: Toledo’s own Earnest Brew Works Westgate keeps 18 taps flowing in a laid-back room where friends gather, patio tables await, and Vito’s comes from the bar to your seat. Expect crisp, hoppy, or easygoing pours, always fresh and unfussy.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

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.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🍸 Winterfest: Libbey House Cocktails Christmas Tour @ Libbey House | Friday (12/5) at 6:00pm – Tour the Libbey House in the Old West End, three floors of Christmas magic, spiked punch, wine, and apps for $25. Think decorating inspo without the ladder. Reserve a spot, bring your 21-plus self, and pretend you live there for a minute.

🦉 Owl Prowl Birding Day Trip @ Oakwoods Nature Center | Friday (12/5) at 6:00pm – Swap the couch for dirt trails at Oakwoods Metropark on the Huron, and prowl for owls with TZ Bird Club and Metropark naturalists. Meet a rescued Great Horned Owl, try Screech Owl calls, maybe see a few. Register on their website, not via comments.

This weekend

🚢 Christmas Tree Ship @ National Museum of the Great Lakes | Saturday (12/6) at 1:00pm – Skip the mall and hit the lakefront for the Christmas Tree Ship tradition, where Santa arrives by tugboat, because Toledo. Free museum admission, trees handed off to people, and you can sponsor one for a neighbor. Donate, and UToledo Health adds a hygiene kit.

🌿 Spice Up Your Life, the Healing Benefits of Winter Herbs & Spices @ TolHouse | Saturday (12/6) at 2:00pm – If your winter wellness plan is tea, wishful thinking, and a scarf, come get cozy with a deep dive into healing herbs and spices. Learn simple ways to turn pantry staples into soothing teas and rubs, and leave with simple ways to turn pantry staples into soothing teas and rubs for winter wellness.

📚 Plants and Pages Book Club @ The Toledo Zoo | Saturday (12/6) at 5:00pm – Green thumb or page-turner, this new Toledo Zoo book club mixes botanical reads, lively chat, and a mimosa or coffee, because multitasking counts. Pick a single meet-up or spring for the series and save, and since spots are limited, register online.

🔎 Finders Keepers @ Glass City Center | Sunday (12/7) at 10:00am – Toledo’s Glass City Center turns into a holiday bazaar with 150 vendors, live music, food trucks, and photo ops with Santa, the Grinch, and Cindy Lou Who. Five bucks cash gets you in, kids 12 and under are free. Shop local, and skip the mall crowds entirely.

🥞 Hallmark Holiday Brunch @ Cork & Knife Provisions | Sunday (12/7) at 11:00am – Take a pause from the to-dos and enjoy a cozy, cinematic-feeling brunch. Mini movie plots with each dish, seasonal ingredients, and festive drinks, plus games and cozy décor. Like a Hallmark binge, only edible, and mercifully well-cooked.

🍬 Gingerbread House Workshop @ Epworth United Methodist Church | Sunday (12/7) at 2:00pm – Roll up your sleeves and get ready to engineer the sweetest piece of real estate you’ll ever own. With icing, candy shingles, and all the gumdrop glam you can handle, this hands-on workshop is equal parts creativity and sugar rush. Perfect for families, crafty types, because every gingerbread project is better with extra frosting anyway

Next week

🎉 Jolly Jamboree @ Lucas County Board of DD | Monday (12/8) at 9:00am – Holiday market season means one thing, stocking up on budget-friendly handmade gifts, festive décor, and creative crafts from local makers and individuals served by the Board. Shop for them, treat yourself, repeat. It is feel-good, wallet-friendly, and the kind of local cheer we do best.

🎄 Grinch Please Sea Glass Christmas Tree Workshop @ CJs on Third | Monday (12/8) at 6:00pm – Channel your inner Grinch and craft a beachy sea glass Christmas tree that even Whoville would side-eye approvingly. It’s a laid-back workshop, all skill levels welcome, with salty vibes, crafty chat, and zero glitter explosions. Come craft, unwind, and head home feeling unexpectedly festive.

🌟 Nights at the Lights presented by Mercy Health @ The Toledo Zoo | Tuesday (12/9) at 3:00pm – Zoo Lights are dialing it down with sensory-friendly Nights at the Lights, so you get sparkle without overload. Quiet rooms at the museum and aquarium, headphone zones, and a map that avoids the blinky bits. Included with admission, free for members.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/5 David Janeway @ Lucille’s Jazz Lounge – 7:15 pm
• 12/5 A Christmas Carol @ Notre Dame Academy – 7:30 pm
• 12/6 14th Annual Christmas Bazaar @ St. Clements Hall – 11 am
• 12/6 Keigo Hirakawa Trio @ TolHouse – 7:15 pm
• 12/7 Home for the Pawlidays @ Cass Road Baptist Church – 3 pm
• 12/7 Handel’s Messiah @ Rosary Cathedral – 4 pm
• 12/12 Urinetown the Musical @ Historic Ohio Theatre – 7 pm
• 12/12 Fantasy Ball @ Collingwood Arts Center – 8 pm
• 12/13 Wear Your Story @ Fifth Third Center – 6 pm
• 12/13 Beer & Pastry Pairing @ Quenched & Tempered Brewing – 7 pm