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Rise and shine, Beaumont! Mardi Gras on motorcycles for charity, a Lunar New Year lion dance, Texas Roadhouse expansion, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Recognition elevates local music: Nearby Vidor earned Texas Music Friendly Community status, with four venues now in state directory. The city celebrated with a Walk of Fame and approved 2026 Walk of Forever nominees — get all the details.
Local leaders bridge care gaps: Beaumont has launched a monthly coalition connecting veterans to housing, food, mental health, and addiction support, uniting agencies and veterans with participation from the VA Office of Suicide Prevention — read the full story.
A familiar face steps up: Nederland ISD has named Torrey Gomez principal of Hillcrest Elementary, recognizing 25 years in education. He has served as Hillcrest’s assistant principal since 2017 and is praised for community relationships — read the full story.
Funding boosts city utilities: Port Arthur was awarded more than $16 million to upgrade its water system, with plans to replace about five percent of lines and add fire hydrants, potentially saving $4.1 million — learn how funds will be used.
Gold and silver are (still) on fire: Gold’s strong run continues, and silver is outperforming nearly every major asset class in the last year. With demand rising and supply tight, precious metals offer the right combination of market hedge and growth. Augusta Precious Metals is a great way to invest in gold because you can just roll over part of your retirement account into their gold and silver IRAs. Curious to learn more about it? Grab their free guide here.
Compare rates for free: Insurance prices drop all the time, but you’ll only know if you check. I assumed my rate was fine until I compared options and realized I was leaving real money on the table. It took a minute to check and instantly showed better offers for where I live. If it’s been more than a few months, you should probably run this comparison tool here.
One pet emergency can easily cost $7,000+ but pet insurance helps ease the financial and emotional burden. It’s something I wish I’d had after spending $10k on last-minute surgery for my cat (her name is Miss Stache). I learned my lesson and signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Lighthearted love meets rivalry: Four Southeast Texas couples compete in The Not-So Newlywed Game, the eighth annual fundraiser for Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Texas. It will be at Beaumont’s Downtown Event Center on February 5. Voting is open online, with every dollar equaling one vote. Winners announced by hosts Natasha and Colin Garrett. See how to vote online.
New comforts for diners: Beaumont’s Texas Roadhouse has completed its expansion and is now seating more guests indoors. Work began in October and added a dining room addition and another emergency exit. The upgrade means more tables available for dine-in and a slightly larger footprint for busy evenings. Learn what’s new inside.
A local laugh fix: When the week needs a reset, Jazz and Jokes blends stand-up, smooth jazz, R&B, and the occasional zydeco for quick laughs, good vibes, and a solid excuse to tell the group chat you’re actually going out.
Craving-level pizza alert: Whether you’re team classic cheese or crave a slice piled with feta, Kalamata olives, and tomatoes, Eddie’s Gyro & Pizza delivers comfort with Greek flair. Add a gyro, kabobs, or baklava for good measure… and you can call that a balanced meal.
A smart way to save on big purchases: When costs hit the tens of thousands, credit card and personal loan interest racks up fast. A HELOC lets you tap into your home’s equity as a flexible line of credit at a lower rate… all without refinancing your mortgage. I’ve been looking into this myself, and Figure’s HELOC stood out for its 100% online application, no in-person appraisal, and quick access to cash.
Your neighbors are Googling you:It’s an uncomfortable thought, but people search names all the time — employers, new friends, other parents at school pickup. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up on the first page, it can shape how people see you before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so the first impression you make actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s not your name, you can help a friend or family member with that too.
Get clarity on financial decisions: Managing retirement, taxes, and investments alone can feel overwhelming, especially during big life transitions. Financial advisors provide holistic guidance, help reduce risk, and keep emotions away from costly decisions. I found a tool called Unbiased that matches you with the right financial advisor based on your personal situation so you can get a second opinion… it never hurts.
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📆 Around town this week
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.
🍲 Empty Bowls @ United Way | Tuesday (2/3) at 11:00 AM – Empty Bowls is the rare sit-down lunch where art, appetite, and good deeds share a table. Hand-painted bowls meet JWilson’s gourmet soups, funds boost local families, and you get a heartwarming United Way of Beaumont update, elevated vibes included. Bring napkins, not tissues.
🎨 Watercolor Wednesday 2/04 @ The Art Studio, Inc. | Wednesday (2/4) at 6:00 PM – Wednesday night at TASI means trading email for easels, with Virginia Johnson guiding a two-hour dive into watercolor basics, color theory, and puddles. Beginners welcome, seasoned dabblers can sharpen skills, materials provided, but bring an apron. It is $35, spots go fast, register ahead.
🦆 Cattail Marsh Van Tour @ Cattail Marsh Wetlands Education Center | Thursday (2/5) at 12:00 PM – Trade the chaos for cattails on a guided van tour at Cattail Marsh, where migration gossip is better than brunch. Binoculars are provided, the birds are plentiful, and seats are capped at 12, so call dibs before the herons do.
🔨 Blacksmith Demonstrations @ Spindletop Gladys-City Boomtown Museum | Thursday (2/5) at 12:15 PM – Think you know hard work? Go watch Mr. Rob’s blacksmith demo at the forge, where history, heat, and deadpan wisdom meet. He turns iron and stories into the spirit of Spindletop. It’s hands-on heritage, zero gimmicks, and you’ll leave oddly inspired to fix something.
🎸 First Thursday Songwriter’s Circle @ For The Record | Thursday (2/5) at 5:00 PM – First Thursday at For the Record brings back the songwriter’s circle, so expect stories, harmonies, and the kind of tunes that pair nicely with a nightcap. Cactus Cactus pops up with giftable greens for Valentine’s, spring, or that shelf you swore you’d style.
🎬 Classic Movie Night: Coming to America @ Jefferson Theatre | Friday (2/6) at 7:00 PM – Ready to bow to the king of ’80s comedy? The Jefferson is rolling Coming to America on the big screen, so expect barbershop banter, royal romance, and enough nostalgia to make your Jheri curl glisten. Grab a friend, quote freely, laugh loudly.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Beaumont report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 67°F – Low: 53°F – Precip: 0%
Patchy frost before 7am. Sunny, with a high near 67. Southwest wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 69°F – Low: 47°F – Precip: 51%
A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
This house is wild
This updated traditional in Calder Place pairs classic crown molding and gleaming wood floors with a chef-ready kitchen and generous rooms. Four bedrooms and two and a half baths provide space and function, plus a two-car garage. An expansive backyard features a patio for easy entertaining. Fresh exterior paint and a 2025 roof replacement add confidence and curb appeal.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
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