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.*

Bringing Italy to North Dakota: Joe's Italian has opened in downtown Minot, serving scratch-made pasta and pizza. It is open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for now, as it awaits a liquor license -- read the full story.

Echoes of a Scandinavian celebration: Bidding is open in an online auction to liquidate the former Norsk Hostfest in Minot, with McLaughlin Auctioneers listing kitchen gear, fixtures, furniture, and festive Nordic decor -- see what's up for auction.

Mapping issues prompt rule updates: Minot City Council approved new road safety ordinances on April 20, including lowering the speed limit on 2nd Ave SW to 20 mph, with all seven members voting yes -- see what changed and why.

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.*

Your midweek hideout: Blue Rider is that dependable, conversation‑friendly hangout you keep meaning to revisit, equal parts cozy and unpretentious. Slide in after work, grab a seat, and let the week exhale while you catch up with friends and remember why simple nights out in Minot still feel special.

Time for a glow-up: Evolution Salon obsesses over education and detail, with dimensional color, lived-in blondes, extensions, and smoothing that stays put on windy days. If you’ve delayed a refresh, booking is painless, and the vibe is supportive, never stuffy.

Upgrade your lunch break: When the midday hunger turns feral, Magic City Hoagies & Sweets comes through with stacked, flavor-packed hoagies that beat anything from the break room. Grab a little something sugary on the side and suddenly Wednesday feels like a win.

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 →

🎶 Spring Concert @ Minot North High School | Monday (4/27) at 7:30 PM – Take a breather from pruning roses and drop by a Spring Band Concert, free, open to everyone, and refreshingly low fuss. Real instruments, real people, zero cover. It’s the kind of easy night out you remember, and you can still be in bed by ten.

🌿 Lunch & Learn @ Ward County Administration Building | Tuesday (4/28) at 12:30 PM – Pack your sandwich and swing by the Ward County Administration Building for a free, 30-minute Lunch & Learn with the Ward County Master Gardeners. Tuesdays at lunch, they tackle weeds, herbs, and a couple TBD surprises, so your yard and your basil stop judging you.

🌱 Decoupage Planter Workshop @ Coterie | Thursday (4/30) at 6:30 PM – Answer spring’s call and play with paper and dirt at a decoupage planter workshop, then tuck a plant in your masterpiece. You’ll also stamp vintage-style spoons into garden markers, the kind your basil would brag about. All materials included, BYO beverage, bring a friend, $45.

♻ Citywide Cleanup @ Minot Area Chamber EDC | Friday (5/1) at 9:00 AM – Now that winter’s gone, the snowmelt surprise is everywhere in the Magic City, because nothing says spring like last November’s coffee cup. Pitch in, snag free gloves and bags at the Chamber EDC for the first 500, and stack your haul curbside for pickup.

🛍 Junk Lover Vintage Market @ North Dakota State Fair Center | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Take a break from sorting your garage and poke around North Central North Dakota’s biggest indoor junk market. Granville JunkAholics are packing it with vintage, rustic, and boho finds, the good kind of junk. Come treasure hunt, barter a little, and swap stories with neighbors.

🏐 Ignite Volleyball Dine to Donate @ Prairie Sky Breads | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Take a lunch break and swing by Prairie Sky Breads for a Dine to Donate pizza day benefiting Ignite Volleyball. Twenty percent of every pie helps the kids keep spiking, you keep chewing, and everyone gets to call carbs community service. Bring a friend.

🎨 Brushes & Bouquets Workshop @ Lexi Lou | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Nothing beats flowers you didn’t have to weed. At LexiLou, choose a flower painting class for $25, a floral arranging class for $35, or bundle both for $50, vase included. Bring a friend, snag a spot, leave with a canvas, a bouquet, and zen.

An executive custom build frames North Dakota prairie views from the foyer. Rich wood floors, wood colonnades, and a gas fireplace set the tone for a chef’s kitchen with custom cabinetry and double-thick granite. The lower level adds a theater room and space for a future wet bar. A heat-ready three-stall garage and fenced, sprinklered yard shine in Pheasant Run.