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.*

Generations united in remembrance: Former Gackle resident Alcuin Al Scheet is on the Western North Dakota Honor Flight today with his granddaughter Jennifer Henderson of Bismarck, making their first visit to Washington memorials -- read the full story.

Local favorite gears up: Downtown Bismarck’s Dairy Queen at 230 W Broadway plans to reopen this spring. Aiming for a May 6 opening as repairs wrap up, according to manager Lethe Houdoud -- get all the reopening details.

New chapter for local events: Oak View Group, a national venue manager, will take over the Bismarck Event Center next month, with more concerts and convention traffic expected and staff keeping comparable pay and benefits -- 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.*

A cozy Irish reset: Blarney Stone Pub brings that classic Irish pub comfort, with plenty of taps, cocktails, and hearty pub grub that actually satisfies on a Tuesday. This week, slide in, settle up with something warm and a pint, and let the chatter do the heavy lifting.

Slurp-worthy comfort: Ichiban Ramen serves up the kind of warm, noodle-powered reset your week deserves, plus a mix of Japanese and Asian bistro staples. Order online for easy pickup, then enjoy cozy vibes at home while Bismarck does its Bismarck thing outside.

Burger bliss, locally: Sometimes you just need the menu to match your mood. Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews keeps Bismarck fed with 50 burgers and 50 rotating brews, from a classic Garage Burger to the gloriously unhinged Glazed Doughnut creation, so your next bite can be chill or full send.

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 →

🌎 Earth Day Festival @ Bismarck Event Center | Tuesday (4/28) at 4:00 PM – Round up the crew for the 18th Annual Bis-Man Earth Day Festival, a free, all-ages romp with interactive activities and a family scavenger hunt. The kids burn energy while you collect eco-cred, a few fun facts, and a pleasantly lighter conscience.

🧩 Lions Club Puzzle Contest @ Bismarck/Mandan Elks Lodge #1199 | Wednesday (4/29) at 6:00 PM – Sharpen your readers, rally three friends, and race a jigsaw at the Lions Club’s puzzle contest at the Elks. It’s friendly competition for a good cause, with dinner, drinks, and good company, which is to say bragging rights, full bellies, and your neighbor’s edge-piece obsession.

🍷 Chablis and Canvas @ Art From The Heart | Thursday (4/30) at 6:30 PM – Thursday nights are for pretending we’re Monet with better wine. Chablis and Canvas is a two-hour, adults-only paint and sip, $25 a painter, with zero pressure and plenty of laughs, steady pours, and surprisingly fridge-worthy masterpieces. Your walls and nerves will thank you.

🗑 13th Annual Keep Bismarck Beautiful Clean-up Day @ Peace Park | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Grab coffee, and swing by Peace Park for Bismarck’s 13th annual spring cleaning. From 9 to noon you get a vest, bags, and a zone, you bring long pants and gloves. Earn service hours, feel virtuous, and find that missing Frisbee; sign up at https://tinyurl.com/jjradkue.

🚗 Rides' Annual Car Show @ Rides Auto Sales | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Bis-Man's first auto show of the season rolls in on the first Saturday in May, open and free to the public, bigger every year with everything from vintage to rowdy modern builds. Expect popcorn, a food truck, and a Crossroad's Tavern deal, plus lawn-chair people-watching.

🧚 Fairy Garden Class @ Bismarck Art & Galleries Association | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Swap your pruners for pixie dust and build a tiny garden you might actually keep alive. Kim Eslinger walks you through crafting a bowl-sized fairy yard, complete with wee houses, mossy paths, and personality. Supplies included, $35 members, $40 non, register at bismarck-art.org/engage.

📚 Free Comic Book Day @ Comic Realms, Café Realms, and Bisman Bricks | Saturday (5/2) at 11:00 AM – Take a victory lap for your inner kid, grab five free comics, plus five more per dollar or canned good up to five, basically the lot. Do the basement crawl, Comic Realms, Café Realms, Bisman Bricks, with freebies, sales, half-off iced drinks, and rummage raid.

On 162 acres in the Bismarck area, this equine estate centers on the region's largest indoor arena, an insulated 100'x200' steel-frame space with dual heat, LED lighting, sound system, and automated sprinklers. Two heated barns provide 27 stalls with drainage, plus 37,000 SF of heated facilities, a 46,000 SF outdoor arena, and two residences including a 6,000 SF 5-bed home.