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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Friendliest small business honor, a chili cook-off for a cause, and an Oscar watch party + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

What set this shop apart: Bloomfield’s White Whale Bookstore was named Pennsylvania’s friendliest small business by Advance Funds Network, and it also landed among the top 150 small businesses nationally — see how it ranked.

New investments boost patient care: VA Pittsburgh is expanding the emergency room at its Oakland hospital, with renovations for therapy, neurology, and vascular care to speed triage, reduce wait times, and add beds for veterans — see what’s being upgraded.

Major dining refresh announced: Live! Casino Pittsburgh will open Mangia, an Italian market and eatery featuring DeLallo goods and recipes, in April at Westmoreland Mall, bringing a new local flavor to Hempfield Township — get all the details.

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:

• Share soup to fight hunger
• Play bingo to support rescue cats
• Learn IBD advances with UPMC experts

🫶 We got your back

Craving a proper banh mi? Banh Mi & Ti keeps it classic with crackly BreadWorks baguettes, house-made mayo, and a Viet Special hitting sweet, savory, and herby notes. Consider it a low-key lunch upgrade… with legit boba for an afternoon lift.

Catch the rivers meeting: Point State Park is an easy downtown reset: breezy walks, skyline views, and fountain-side people watching. Bring coffee, loop the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, and watch the rivers meet… let the confluence work its very Pittsburgh magic.

Toy joy, locally: Hunting a birthday lifesaver or craving a quick nostalgia fix? S.W. Randall Toyes and Giftes stocks classics, quirky imports, trains, puzzles, and plush you didn’t know you needed. Their Pokémon League and Magic meetups turn fresh finds into instant playtime.

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.

🎂 Birthday Boys: Music by Composers with Birthdays in March @ Rodef Shalom, Levy Hall, 4905 5th Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 | Tuesday (3/10) at 1:00 PM – Celebrate the March birthday boys the classy way, with Bach, Haydn, Chopin, Bartók, and Barber performed by Tuesday Musical Club pros at Rodef Shalom. It’s free, welcoming, and livestreamed, so you can clap in Shadyside, sip tea at home, or both, no sheet cake required.

🎤 Kelso Lecture: The Evidence of Faith: Resistance, Resilience, and the Road to Liberation @ Mount Ararat Baptist Church | Thursday (3/12) at 6:00 PM – Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in East Liberty is hosting Kelso Lecture, and online, with Rev. William H. Lamar IV on joy as marathon fuel for resistance. Stay for goosebump harmonies from the Hampton University Concert Choir. Free, reflective, and yes, you still have to register.

💃 Bell School of Irish Dance Performance @ Bakery Square Conservatory | Friday (3/13) at 6:30 PM – Irish dance is popping up at Bakery Square’s Conservatory, with Bell School students bringing reels, jigs, and St. Patrick’s spirit. It’s free, public, and registration is optional, which pairs nicely with coffee, a pastry, and our collective fear of trying a high kick.

🐰 Easter Bunny Returns @ Wagsburgh (Bellevue) | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Hop over to Wagsburgh for free Easter Bunny photos, then toss a few bucks toward the Humane Society of Greene County, because kibble is not a personality. Bring the kids, the leashed dog, or the crated cat, keep your chill, and enjoy the chaos.

🌶 Chili Cook-Off @ Velum Fermentation | Saturday (3/14) at 3:00 PM – Grab a spoon and hit Velum Fermentation on the South Side for a chili cook-off that warms more than your sinuses, benefiting the Pittsburgh DeafBlind Lions Club. Free to attend and sample, with a basket raffle, donations encouraged, and a pint to wash it down.

🏭 Industrial Revolution, The Second Act @ Squirrel Hill Sports Bar | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 PM – Monthly industrial night returns, free and 21+, with DJs Cemetery Wind and Abadon pounding out heavy, stompy, angry cuts, plus a little Gary Numan pregame. Lace up the black boots, grab the good earplugs, and consider it cardio, we’re bringing serious pro audio.

🏆 Arcade-emy Awards: Oscar Watch Party @ Arcade Comedy Theater | Sunday (3/15) at 7:00 PM – Oscar night at Arcade Comedy Theater means one thing, a free watch party where Pittsburgh’s funniest cinephiles roast gowns and speeches while you play Ballot Bingo, snag prizes, and actually enjoy awards season. Trade your couch for laughs, camaraderie, and some gloriously petty commentary.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Pittsburgh report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 72°F – Low: 62°F – Precip: 16%

A slight chance of rain between 8am and 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain between 2am and 5am, then a chance of rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 76°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 94%

Rain and a chance of thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Rain and a chance of thunderstorms before 5am, then rain and snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 35. West wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters 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.

This house is wild

Stately 1932 stone Tudor in premier Mt. Lebanon pairs classic craftsmanship with updates. A two-story entry with grand staircase and stained glass opens to a flowing first floor with a chef’s kitchen, wet bar, and an office with fireplace. Luxurious primary suite with Restoration Hardware spa bath, third-floor guest suite, finished lower level, expansive flagstone patio, and six-car garage.

Take a peek inside →