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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: New Hobby Lobby store, parade of shamrocks, and St. Pat’s 5K + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Learn, move, and create: Lehigh Valley Active Life in Allentown is offering March activities including tap dancing, art classes, Tai Chi for Balance, low impact workouts, photography classes, and evening line dancing to music — check out the full lineup.

National craft chain expands: A new Hobby Lobby is set for Airport Shopping Center in Hanover Township, with construction underway behind the center near former Christmas Tree Shops and no opening date announced — learn what we know so far.

Co-op advances toward launch: Bethlehem Co-op Market has hit $600,000 to advance work at 250 East Broad Street, part of a $1.6 million goal. Next come inspections, inventory, and hiring. No opening date yet — see what’s next for the co-op.

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:

• Join Allentown’s St. Patrick’s coronation celebration
• Celebrate Oasis grand opening open house
• Run flat, festive St. Pat’s 5K

🫶 We got your back

Home of the Hog: Midweek lunch rut? Wally’s Deli comes through with the Hog, stacked on a round roll and slathered in dressings that actually have opinions. Big flavor, zero fuss, totally local. A small midweek upgrade you deserve.

Fresh air reset: When the week gets loud, make a loop through Lehigh Parkway, where tree-lined paths and long stretches for runs meet enough quiet to unclench your jaw. Ideal for a lunch-break lap or after-work stroll when you need screen-free headspace and a glimpse of real sky.

Little playtime pick-me-up: Sweet Pea Children’s Shop stocks cheerful toys, crafts, and books, plus thoughtful baby and kid essentials, perfect for last-minute birthday gifts or to reward a week well done. Friendly, local, and smartly curated, it’s an easy win when the “I’m bored” chorus kicks in.

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.

🧠 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Talk @ Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley | Tuesday (3/10) at 11:30 AM – If you’ve been chalking up forgetfulness to just getting older, spend an hour with the Alzheimer’s Association learning the 10 warning signs, what’s normal, and what’s not, for you or someone you love. It’s free, practical, and judgment free. Advance registration required at lvjcc.org/ALZ.

🎼 March Bach at Noon @ Central Moravian Church (Bethlehem) | Tuesday (3/10) at 12:00 PM – Need a midday reset that doesn’t involve coffee? This free Bach at Noon in Bethlehem brings Baroque instruments, Choir and Orchestra, with Barthold Kuijken and Sherezade Panthaki, featuring Ich habe genug and the B-minor flute sonata, plus Christopher Jackson’s remarks, a community gift you’ll use.

🧶 Knit & Crochet Night @ The Knitter’s Edge (Bethlehem) | Thursday (3/12) at 6:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to finally finish that scarf, this is it. The Knitter’s Edge runs a free, no sign-up Thursday night knit and crochet hang with comfy couches, good company, and no judgment, plus bookable evening instruction if you want help.

🎨 ArtVentures @ Allentown Art Museum | Saturday (3/14) at 11:30 AM – Swing by the museum’s American galleries to channel stunning Mayan textiles, then try your hand at weaving on a small loom with yarn in Art Ways. Free, all ages, and drop in, with reference images on hand. Think therapy you can frame, minus the co-pay.

☘ Parade of Shamrocks @ Broad Street (Bethlehem) | Saturday (3/14) at 1:00 PM – Bethlehem’s Parade of Shamrocks is going full St. Paddy’s, and the Bernese Mountain Dog crew wants in. If you and your Berner want to strut downtown, they’re forming a group, costumes encouraged, RSVPs needed soon. Expect wagging tails, no speed demons, and neighborly cheer.

🎶 Carnegie Hall Preview Concert @ Christ Lutheran Church, Allentown PA | Sunday (3/15) at 3:00 PM – The Allentown Band warms up for their Carnegie Hall showcase with a free hometown preview, Ronald Demkee on the podium. Think world-class brass without the tolls, the schlep, or Midtown prices. Polished, proud, and very Allentown.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Allentown report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 74°F – Low: 52°F – Precip: 2%

Sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 2am. Mostly clear, with a low around 52. South wind 0 to 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 76°F – Low: 45°F – Precip: 51%

Patchy fog before 8am, then a chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Southeast wind 0 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain showers likely before 11pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 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 Pennsylvania 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.

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Take a peek inside →