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Happy weekend, Charleston! 

In today’s happening-today edition: Code a robotic Iditarod sled dog, Irish road bowling, and vivid landscapes and local art + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.

Today’s sponsor (Money.com) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.

📰 In the news

Vivid landscapes and local art: From the foliage-rich New River Gorge to Dolly Sods and Wheeling’s mural-filled streets, a roundup spotlights West Virginia’s most colorful places, including Charleston’s West Side Wonder Mural — check out the full roundup.

Student scholars shine statewide: Morgantown High took first and Weir High second at WVU’s regional Academic Showdown on Feb. 20, earning spots in the finale in Charleston on May 1 — get all the details.

Impostors exploit public records: Kanawha County deputies warn about a scam that poses as a jailed loved one and demands a Pretrial Diversion Fee, advising residents to hang up and verify with law enforcement — learn how the scam works.

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.

Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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 all that up – learn more here.

Highlights this week:

• Code a robotic Iditarod sled dog
• Savor rotating macarons at Capitol Market
• Paint a Lucky Gnome at Kita
• Over 62? See how to turn home equity into tax-free cash

🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?

Together with our sponsor Money.com

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I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.

This free comparison tool lets you check rates from multiple insurers in just a few minutes. It costs nothing to look, and it could save you hundreds this year.

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A quick color boost: When your brain needs a pick-me-up, swing by the West Side Wonder Mural and let its riot of shapes and color jolt your Tuesday. A simple detour turns errands into a mini art walk, no tickets needed, just a brighter mood.

Fiber fix, found locally: When your project basket overflows with ambition, Kanawha City Yarn Company offers natural-fiber yarns, friendly know-how, and low-pressure classes to get you unstuck. Expect squishable skeins, inspiring color combos, and the kind of renewed motivation that might launch a new WIP.

A quick pint reset: Fife Street Brewing fuels Charleston’s beer buzz with a tap list ranging from crisp golden ales to a black IPA that begs another pour. Cozy room, community spirit, and regular live music make it the kind of place you duck into once and somehow keep returning.

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.

📆 Around town today & tomorrow

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.

🏃 5K Kilt Run and 2K Walk @ City of Charleston Spring Hill Cemetery | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Feeling lively? Try a kilt-clad 5K or an easy 2K stroll through Spring Hill Cemetery Park, complete with bagpipes, sweeping Kanawha views, and a pretty tour of our history. Kilts optional, hills not, and the vibes raise money for the arboretum. Very Charleston, very Celtic.

🚂 C&OHS at the St. Albans Depot @ St. Albans Chesapeake and Ohio Depot | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Swing by St. Albans Depot first Saturdays for model trains, trains rumbling by, and railroad lore straight from C&OHS volunteers who actually worked the rails. Grab a $1 book or a Blenko suncatcher, then bask in miniature Kanawha County scenery. Pure local nostalgia.

🌱 Seed to Feed @ Miss Ruby’s Corner Market | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Whether your houseplants fear you, or you secretly name your tomatoes, come dig in with neighbors to start seeds, swap sustainable fixes for the block, and give the brain a breather. Little love-our-block walk, hands-on learning, free coffee, free street parking, deli closed.

🎻 Celtic Village @ City Center Live | Saturday (3/7) at 10:30 AM – City Center and Slack Plaza become a Celtic village, with pipes, drums, cloggers, duelists, wolfhounds, and more crafters than Summers Street parking spots. Come for the music and dance, stay for the pageant prizes, kids tug o war, a Welsh Dragon with Kinnfolk, and parade.

🍀 Irish Road Bowling @ Kanawha State Forest | Sunday (3/8) at 2:00 PM – At Kanawha State Forest, we hurl 28 oz steel balls down the road, call it sport, and pretend the rake is for leaves. Bring two friends, or we’ll find you some, roll to Salamander Trail, then toast with road bowler stout at Fife Street.

☘ A Taste of Dublin @ Clay Center | Sunday (3/8) at 3:00 PM – Take a break from usual and catch Ireland’s music and dance spectacle, fresh from the West End and Off Broadway. Riverdance vets, live vocals, and acapella tap battles, plus revamped classics like Danny Boy, deliver real craic, zero leprechaun kitsch. Limited run, so snag seats.

🎭 Celtic Calling: 5 Plays @ Short Story Brewing | Sunday (3/8) at 4:00 PM – Readers theatre meets pub night with the top five Celtic Calling plays, and you pick the Audience Favorite. Bring cash or Venmo for voting, because democracy tastes better with a pint, and Short Story Brewing has the craft beers and tasty fare to prove it.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/7 Patrick O’Flaherty @ Kanawha County Public Library – 1:30 PM
• 3/7 Father Son & Friends @ Short Story Brewing Charleston – 5:30 PM
• 3/7 House of Hamill @ Capitol Theatre – 7:30 PM
• 3/7 Tim and Maggie @ Taylor Books – 7:30 PM
• 3/7 Traditional Celtic Music Session @ Adelphia Sports Bar & Grille – 10:00 PM
• 3/8 Mountain Thyme @ Folklore Music Exchange – 1:00 PM
• 3/8 Celtic Calling: 5 Plays @ Short Story Brewing – 4:00 PM

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
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Charleston report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 83°F – Low: 56°F – Precip: 51%

A slight chance of rain showers between 7am and 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 66°F – Low: 48°F – Precip: 92%

Showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of rain before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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Take a peek inside →