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Hello Altoona! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Gold and silver are surging, a roaring 1920s speakeasy, and an exoplanets sky show + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

Peer-powered workout guidance: Penn State Altoona has launched KINect, a free six week fitness mentorship that pairs students with upper level kinesiology mentors for personal training, progress tracking, and confidence building on campus — get all the details.

Rebrand reveals playful identities: The Altoona Curve revealed a 2026 promotional calendar with 19 fireworks shows, three bobblehead giveaways, and new specialty uniforms for the team’s 27th season. Opening night is April 2 — check out the full lineup.

Upskill for the AI era: Registration is open for an online AI Literacy for Professionals course using real-world examples and discussions to explain how AI is changing work, with enrollment available to professionals worldwide — get all the details.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/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.

Highlights this week:

• Celebrate St Patty’s with food and music
• Experience a roaring 1920s speakeasy
• Join free modern dance classes for adults
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Shareable bites, great pours: Split pierogies, burrata toast, or something crispy with a cold pint at The Knickerbocker Tavern, where weeknights stay easy and fun. Craft beer does the talking, and the shareable plates deliver… minimal planning, maximum ‘see you there’ energy.

Winter-ready, local fix: Spokes n Skis keeps local adventures rolling and gliding, with bikes for the thaw and skis, snowboards, plus cross-country setups for now. On-site tunes and season rentals keep edges sharp, so sneaking in a few more Blue Knob days feels easy.

Make a night of it: Need an excuse to ditch the couch? Mishler Theatre keeps Altoona’s arts heartbeat thumping with stage shows, touring acts, and hometown productions on a beautifully restored historic stage. It’s the kind of night-out energy boost February desperately needs, no matter your seat, with history, talent, and local charm under one roof.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 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.

🐟 Fish Frydays @ Second Avenue Global Methodist Church | Friday (3/6) at 4:00 PM – If you’ve been craving a proper Lenten Friday ritual, the youth group’s all-you-can-eat, church-basement fish fry has you covered. Think baked pollock, crispy cod, crab cakes, hush puppies, mac n cheese, and more, all for a good cause. Bring cash, bring appetite, leave smug.

📖 Story and Craft Hour @ Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art Altoona | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Give the toy bin a break and head to SAMA for story time and a take-home craft. They’ll hear a tale, make something proudly wobbly, and you’ll bank a little calm, plus new fridge decor. Ideal for ages 3 to 6, with a grownup attached.

✨ Glow Night @ Urban Air Adventure Park | Saturday (3/7) at 7:00 PM – If the kids are bouncing off the walls, or your inner 12-year-old is, send them to Glow Night on Saturdays, a blacklight bash with glow lights, music, and enough jumping to guarantee bedtime. It’s $24.99 per jumper, and worth every quiet, post-car-ride minute.

🔮 Spheres Bubble Show @ Mishler Theatre | Sunday (3/8) at 3:00 PM – Back at the Mishler for a fourth run, Spheres debuts ORBS, a bubble show your inner five-year-old will actually thank you for. Guinness-record bubble wizard Blaise Ryndes blends lasers, fog, art, science, and comedy into a one-hour swirl of jaw-drops, giggles, and floating soap sorcery.

🔭 Exoplanets Sky Show @ Neil Armstrong Planetarium | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – Catch a Saturday matinee as the Exoplanets Sky Show debuts, with a quick intro to get you space savvy. It is a cushy tour of worlds beyond our solar system, zero turbulence, no sunscreen, and the cheapest trip you will take all year.

🎲 Basket Bingo 2026 @ The Bavarian Aid Society | Sunday (3/15) at 2:00 PM – Grab your lucky dauber and snag tickets to Basket Bingo, where 35 bucks gets you a meal, a non-alcoholic drink ticket, and 20 games of bragging rights. Bringing six or more? Reserve a table for 15 more, cash, check, or Venmo.

🌶 CC’s Lowdown Chilli Cookoff @ The Eldolyn Terrace | Saturday (3/21) at 12:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to eat your weight in chili, this is it. CC’s Lowdown ladles out homemade pots to sample, you’ll vote for favorites, and one chef pockets $250. Tasters and cooks alike, bring a spoon, $20, and your beans-or-no-beans argument.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Altoona report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 52°F – Low: 44°F – Precip: 45%

Patchy fog before 8am, then a chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. East wind around 2 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Rain showers. Cloudy, with a low around 44. Southeast wind around 2 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 63°F – Low: 53°F – Precip: 88%

Rain showers before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 63. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

A thoughtful remodel pairs quality craftsmanship with fresh style throughout. The brand new kitchen features warm modern cabinetry, granite counters, a coffee bar, and a farmhouse workstation sink. A standout laundry room blends storage and design. The primary suite offers a walk-in tiled shower. A finished third-floor flex room, a private brick patio, and off-street parking complete the package.

Take a peek inside →