Hello Cedar Rapids! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Airborne dogs, a Muppet summer movie, and a 30th anniversary Broadway season + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Roadwork impacts local travel: 34th Street SE closed Tuesday from Terry Drive to Bever Avenue and remains shut through early November. Local access available, with detours via Cottage Grove, East Post and Mount Vernon -- read the full closure details.
New way to connect: Linn County Treasurer's Office launched an online appointment portal, letting residents schedule any service, including vehicle registrations, with reminders and simple cancel or reschedule options across Linn County -- see what’s changing.
Anniversary season lineup: Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids announced its 30th anniversary Broadway season, featuring A Christmas Story, Legally Blonde, and The Bodyguard, with 7:30 p.m. showtimes. Season ticket holders can buy now -- see the full schedule.
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.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Fresh greenery fix: Crazy Plant Gal is the kind of neighborhood plant shop that turns "I’ll just look" into "okay, one more pot," with friendly advice and shelves of leafy temptations. Give your living room a new superstar this week, and maybe a pep talk on how not to overwater it.
Tag, you’re it: Swap doomscrolling for mission-based tactical laser tag at Dragon's Lair, LLC, where you can squad up for objective games, then tackle an escape room or VR adventure. Perfect for friend groups, teens, or team nights when you need fast laughs this week and a little sweat equity.
Fresh-air sanity saver: When the wiggles hit hard, Morgan Creek Park delivers with a solid playground and enough room to roam that you’ll actually finish a conversation. Bring a coffee, let the kids climb, you bank steps, everyone resets... and bedtime magically comes sooner.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🎮 Game On: Greene Square @ Greene Square Park | Wednesday (6/24) at 10:00 AM – Round up the kids and hit Greene Square for hands-on fun for ages 5 to 12, with games, crafts, and active play. They get something new each visit while you snag a shady bench under the oaks, sip your coffee, and call it quality time.
🎺 Double Concert @ Kingston Yard | Wednesday (6/24) at 7:00 PM – Bring a lawn chair and your best small talk to Kingston Yard for a double dose of hometown sound. Iowa Brass and the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band trade melodies while you sip something cold, catch up with neighbors, and pretend you always knew that march.
🐶 DockDogs® @ Newbo Neighborhood | Thursday (6/25) at 5:00 PM – Freedom Festival weekend calls for airborne dogs, handlers, and a dockside splash zone. Watch Dueling Dogs, Big Air, Extreme Vertical, and Speed Retrieve, and yes, newbies can try it, no resume required. Peak Cedar Rapids summer, with wet fur, lawn chairs, and cheers.
🐸 A Very Muppet Summer: “Muppet Treasure Island” @ Cedar Rapids Public Library | Friday (6/26) at 2:00 PM – Summer is serving up classic Muppets on the big screen, and this week it is Muppet Treasure Island from 1996. Kermit captains, Long John schemes, you get adventure, sea shanties, and G-rated laughs. Consider it a pirate cruise for your inner eight-year-old, no Dramamine needed.
🏳 Pride Fest @ NewBo City Market | Saturday (6/27) at 11:00 AM – Downtown at NewBo during Pride means rainbow everything, and better people-watching than the cereal aisle at Hy-Vee. Rockstar Cocker Rescue will be there with volunteers happy to talk rescue, plus grab bags, so you can support rescue, sip something local, and feel neighborly.
🌊 CR SILTfest @ Veterans Memorial Building | Saturday (6/27) at 11:30 AM – CR SILTfest is a family friendly open house celebrating the Iowa idea of keeping good dirt growing good food. Meet the folks protecting farmland, hear from partner groups, and show the kids where dinner starts. Because you cannot eat condos, and soil beats sprawl.
🎮 June Pokémon Celebration @ Coulee Cards & Gaming | Sunday (6/28) at 12:00 PM – This mid-year Pokémon bash serves up a standard tournament, free play before, during, and after, and prize support to match. Bring your own standard-legal, sleeved 60-card deck, pay $10, and chase a champion playmat for each division like it is 1999, minus the holographic tantrums.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. 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 Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Cedar Rapids report Weather forecastToday — High: 81°F — Low: 58°F — Precip: 24%
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 79°F — Low: 58°F — Precip: 3%
Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. This house is wildThis 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath retreat sits on more than an acre at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, wrapped in wooded privacy. A charming front porch, wood floors, crown molding, and a fireplace set the scene inside. Two three-season rooms, a walkout lower level with bar and workshop, and an oversized garage add standout versatility.
Take a peek inside → |
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