Monday, April 27, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: 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.*

Decision time for park project: Asheville pickleball fans can weigh in on the city's first public complex with dedicated courts, proposed at Aston Park or Roger Farmer Park, with the site expected by summer's end -- get all the details.

Regional innovators unite: The WNC Food Waste Solutions Summit returns tomorrow, April 28, at A-B Tech Convention Center in Asheville. Expect networking and waste reducing ideas, with tickets from $25 -- get all the event details.

Resilience brews in Asheville: Summit Coffee has reopened in the River Arts District after Tropical Storm Helene, at 37 Paynes Way, under a mile from former site. Joyful Noise expected to open in May -- get all the details.

The bill everyone over 50 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.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Refresh your kitchen gear: Locally made pottery you’ll reach for every day, with perfectly weighted mugs, plates tough enough for weeknights, and a tight edit of cookware and prep tools. East Fork keeps the upgrade simple, focusing on the pieces you use most so your kitchen works harder.

Scottish vibes, Blue Ridge skies: At Reems Creek Golf Club, rolling linksy hills, brisk breezes, and gutsy risk-reward holes bring Scottish spirit to Blue Ridge views, minus the resort fuss. Expect to lose a couple balls, then savor that I-earned-it snack after 18... you're still in Weaverville.

Putt-putt with personality: Need an easy weeknight reset? Tropical Gardens Mini Golf delivers low-stress, high-chuckle fun with 18 playful holes past flamingos, waterfalls, and one very judgmental giraffe. Bring a friend, keep score or wing it, and reclaim bragging rights with every dramatic bank shot.

The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

Selling your house doesn't have to take months: If you need to sell quickly — because you're downsizing, relocating, or just ready to close this chapter — Liz helps seniors sell their houses fast. As-is. No repairs, no showings, no drawn-out back-and-forth. You pick the closing date. *See how it works →

Unknown-number calls aren't random: Scammers don't just pick numbers out of a hat. They pay data brokers a few bucks and get everything they need to harass you, trick you, rob you, or steal your identity outright. Incogni removes all of your personal info from these data broker sites and keeps an eye out to make sure it stays gone for good. *Get protected →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

📚 Authors for Literacy @ AB Tech Conference Center | Thursday (4/30) at 5:00 PM – Celebrate the 17th Annual Authors for Literacy at A-B Tech, a feel-good fundraiser where your ticket fuels real change, and bestselling author Margot Lee Shetterly delivers the goods. Come for heavy hors d’oeuvres, stay for the stories, the keynote, and a Malaprop’s book signing.

🕯 Candlelit Collage Flora & Forage @ Flora Asheville | Thursday (4/30) at 5:30 PM – Need a screen break that actually feels good? Head to Flora & Forage for candlelit collage with Miranda, plants, and no pressure. Think kindergarten art class for grownups, with botanicals, good lighting, all materials included, $40, and no one turned away for lack of funds.

🎨 First Friday ArtFolk Craft Pop Up @ Lexington Glassworks | Friday (5/1) at 5:00 PM – First Friday at Lexington Glassworks, ArtFolk-style, means grown-up crafts where tissue paper and Mod Podge become a faux stained glass candle holder you might actually display. First ten are free, then $20, and you can gawk at the glassblowers before or after for inspiration.

👠 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz @ Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre | Friday (5/1) at 7:30 PM – Montford Park Players kick off the season with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, free, outdoors, and fun for the whole crew. Catch it on weekend evenings all month, bring a blanket, bug spray, and a willingness to follow the Yellow Brick Road. No tornado required.

🌱 74th Annual Plant Sale & Marketplace @ Clem's Cabin | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Whether your garden is a showpiece or a shuffle of pots you keep promising to water, the French Broad River Garden Club’s 74th plant sale gathers growers, artists, and makers for browsing and neighborly chatter. Proceeds fund scholarships for WNC students in horticulture and conservation.

❤ Health & Wellness Fair @ Clarion Inn Asheville Airport | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Whole-body wellness is taking center stage at this inaugural fair, with local pros sharing practical tips, screenings, and low-pressure ways to feel better. Think movement you can do, snacks that taste like food, and swag a chiropractor would approve. Bring curiosity, not ego.

🤹 Busker Fest @ River Arts District | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Take a lap through the River Arts District for Buskers and Brushes, where street performers soundtrack your art stroll. Pop by Wedge Brewing, Marquee, and All Souls Pizza, then slip into open studios and galleries to see artists making the good stuff. Steps, upgraded.

This nearly 5,000-square-foot modern showpiece comes fully furnished for $4,432,500. An open plan centers on a $100K sculptural staircase and gathering spaces. The upstairs offers a possible second primary suite, two ensuite bedrooms, and a game room. A private gym with hydraulic folding door faces a fenced saltwater pool, spa, and pavilion. Expansive grounds offer sweeping lawns for outdoor living.