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Hello Allentown! Hope your coffee’s especially good this morning.

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Firefighter cancer screening, a new high-end restaurant, and Puscifer in concert + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Heads up for pet parents: 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.*

📰 In the news

New early detection benefit: Allentown firefighters are eligible for an annual blood test that looks for signs of more than 50 cancers, offered as part of their union contract to address a leading killer — get all the details.

New restaurant plans advance: Allentown City Council approved a liquor license for The Felix Restaurant at the former TGI Fridays, clearing the way for a higher-end American spot, new jobs, and an interior makeover — read the full story.

Local acclaim goes national: Bethlehem’s Main Street has been nominated again by USA Today as one of America’s Best, with public voting open through April 6 as a new campaign spotlights the city — see how to get involved.

Gold just hit record highs. What about your savings? While traditional IRAs have been treading water against inflation, gold has gained over 50% in three years. That gap is why more retirees are rolling a portion of their savings into gold IRAs (the kind that hold physical metal). We compared the top five options and broke down who they’re best for. Check it out here →

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:

• Join FPCA’s annual Easter egg hunt
• Experience Puscifer live in concert
• Steph & Bob rock Volpe’s Sports Bar
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home*

💎 Local business spotlight

Symphony vibe, zero stuffiness: If your week needs a little goosebump-inducing live music, Miller Symphony Hall keeps the calendar full—from Pops to chamber nights—so you can swap doomscrolling for actual crescendos. Bookmark it for an easy midweek culture reset with friends or a treat-yourself solo night.

Local art, unfiltered: The Alternative Gallery is Allentown’s scrappy creative hub inside the Cigar Factory Artist Studios—think rotating exhibits, DIY shows, and over 40 working studios. Book a tour, peek the print shop, and let a quick pop-in somehow turn into an unexpectedly inspiring evening.

Southside serenity, zero fuss: The Green House Tea Room pairs a selection of teas with tiered trays of smoked-salmon and cucumber‑dill sandwiches, lemon blueberry scones, macarons, and more—served in a lovingly preserved 1905 home that feels like a mini escape without leaving Bethlehem.

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 →

Own a piece of Apple for less than a coffee: Every time you buy something from Amazon or Starbucks, you’re putting money in their pocket. Fractional shares flip that: you can own a slice of those companies for as little as a dollar. Most investing apps make it incredibly easy, with zero commissions and no account minimums. See which ones we recommend →

Mom says she’s fine. You’re not so sure: “What if something happens when you’re home alone?” You’ve asked a hundred times, but the outcome’s always the same. I don’t need that. Life Alert’s for old people. The real struggle isn’t finding a medical alert system that’ll work… it’s finding one she won’t fight you on. We looked into five options designed to settle the standoff, from smartwatches to systems with nothing to wear at all. See which ones stood out →

Thinning hair? Your shampoo was never going to fix it: I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of money on hair-loss products, biotin, masks, sprays, you name it. Not one of them lasted. Turns out, most things target the strand, not the follicle (where thinning actually happens). Dermatologists have been prescribing treatments that work for years, but there are now plenty of options available with no office visits required. See our top picks for men and women →

Strangers can buy your personal data for $0.50: Data brokers sell your name, home address, phone number, estimated income, and other personal info to anyone willing to pay. Scammers and identity thieves use these databases to take advantage of you. There are dozens of affordable services that can help you protect yourself. These three are our favorites →

📆 Fun for the whole fam

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.

🚗 2026 Lehigh Valley Auto Show @ Stabler Arena (Bethlehem) | Wednesday (3/18) at 5:00 PM – Craving that new car smell without the monthly payment? The Lehigh Valley Auto Show rolls into Goodman Campus with new tech, tuners, and classics that still turn heads on Route 22. Kick the tires, quiz pros, bring the kids, and let your inner 16-year-old rev.

👑 2026 Coronation Celebration @ Allentown Fairgrounds Agriplex | Friday (3/20) at 7:30 PM – All hail Mike and Samantha Griffin, as the St. Patrick’s Parade crew throws a proper coronation at the Allentown Fairgrounds. Expect DJ tunes, bagpipes, Irish dancers, beer and soda, BYOB, and family-friendly fun. Bring a canned good, earn karma, maybe snag a prize.

☘ Irish Cultural Community Day @ Allentown Fairgrounds Agri-Plex | Saturday (3/21) at 12:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to teach the kids a proper jig, here it is. This free Irish Cultural Community Day brings dance, hurling, Celtic games, bagpipes, fiddle, and ceili to the Allentown Fairgrounds, plus hands-on fun that tires them out before dinner.

🏞 Design the Future of Franklin Park – Meeting #2 @ Franklin Park, 214 N. 14th Street, Allentow, PA | Saturday (3/21) at 1:00 PM – Help redesign Franklin Park, from better playgrounds to greener, calmer corners. We’re meeting at the park, rain moves to Ripple Church, and yes, this is round two. Bring your best opinions, your neighbors already have theirs, or catch the final session at Ripple Church.

📚 Lecture & Book Signing “Decision at Brandywine: The Battle on Birmingham Hill, 1777” @ Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum | Saturday (3/21) at 1:00 PM – Think you know your Brandywine lore? This lecture and book signing takes you up Birmingham Hill in 1777, with eyewitness accounts that make the battlefield you drive past feel uncomfortably alive. Members free, non-members $10, kids $3, and toddlers free.

🍿 Dive In Movie: Zootopia @ JCC of the Lehigh Valley | Saturday (3/21) at 6:30 PM – Parenting pro tip: drop the 7-and-ups at a dive-in showing of Zootopia for Shabbat-friendly games, a swim, and a movie on the big screen in the pool. You get quality grown-up time, they get bragging rights. $50, $40 JCC members, register at lvjcc.org/DiveInMovie.

🎗 2026 Bingo for a Cure @ Allentown Agri-Plex | Sunday (3/22) at 1:00 PM – Allentown Fairgrounds Agri-Plex is going full-on bingo for Joshua’s Future of Promises, so your B-12 might actually do some good for FOP research. $35 in advance or $40 at the door gets you every game, a $4,000 guaranteed payout with a $1,000 grand prize, plus raffles.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Allentown report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 40°F – Low: 26°F – Precip: 0%

Partly sunny, with a high near 40. West wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. South wind 0 to 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 49°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 2%

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: A chance of rain after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

This house is wild

In the Robin Hood section of Lehigh Parkway, this character-filled home delivers grand scale with wraparound porch, multiple fireplaces, and a two-story living room. The renovated kitchen features Italian Calacatta and Raven quartz. Recent updates include a new roof and HVAC, plus an indoor pool, skylit sunroom, five to six bedrooms, 5.5 baths, a putting green, and five garage bays.

Take a peek inside →