Sunday, April 26, 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.*

Landmark reimagining takes shape: Early plans for Akron’s Quaker Square were unveiled this month, featuring an accessible tower, a rooftop restaurant, and a potential silo tunnel, as owners consider highlighting the tallest tower -- see what's being planned.

Mending decades-old divides: Akron has released a master plan to remake the defunct Innerbelt, reconnecting neighborhoods cut off from Downtown with 50 acres of housing, green space, and investment in nearby commercial areas -- see what's in the plan.

A new recipe for opportunity: Earlier this month, LeBron James’ foundation opened Buckets, a full-service chicken restaurant in Akron that doubles as job training for I Promise families and students -- see how dining supports training.

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.*

Craving a cozy slurp? Skip the sad desk lunch and treat yourself to Noodle King—bowls of rich ramen and soothing pho, plus bao buns and sushi when you want extra fun. It’s the kind of reliable, warm-you-up spot that turns weeknights into little wins, whether you dine in or carry out.

A comeback worth sipping: Akronym Brewing is back in the groove downtown, with original brewer Shawn Adams steering a tap list that swings from crisp pilsners and schwarzbier to juicy hazy IPAs. Pair a pint with flatbreads, wings, or an Akron Polish Boy and call it a very good weekday.

Craveable Akron classic: Luigi's Restaurant is that downtown Akron staple that nails Italian without shortcuts—award‑winning pizza, baked lasagna, and homemade sausage in a cozy, dim‑lights setting since 1949. When you need a no‑drama dinner win this week, go here and let the cheese pull fix your mood.

That patch of scalp that wasn't there a year ago: It's more common than most folks talk about. Especially in your 50s... hormones, stress, and nutrition all start pulling at hair density at once. Nutrafol is a drug-free daily supplement designed to work on those causes together — and in clinical studies, 93% of women said their hair looked healthier after six months. *Take a look →

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 →

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 →

Two sprays before bed, no more snoring? It really is that simple. No mouthpiece to wrestle with, no CPAP mask, no nose strips that peel off at 2am. This doctor-developed throat spray has been keeping sleepers quiet for 30 years, and first-time orders are 40% off right now. *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 →

♻ Free Paper/Document Shredding @ Summit e-Waste Recycling Solutions | Tuesday (4/28) at 9:00 AM – Whether you’ve been hoarding pay stubs since '98 or just need those tax forms to disappear, free paper shredding is back every Tuesday. Swing by with up to one file box per week, per person, feel virtuous, and maybe drop a Google review, neighbor.

🎻 UA Symphony Orchestra @ E.J. Thomas Hall | Thursday (4/30) at 7:00 PM – UA Symphony Orchestra is filling EJ Thomas with Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Vivaldi’s D minor Bassoon Concerto featuring Breanna Sasanecki, and Bernstein’s Overture to West Side Story. Call it a free passport to Paris, Venice, and the West Side, no TSA.

🎟 Pull Tab Palooza @ Akron Ronald McDonald House | Friday (5/1) at 3:00 PM – Clear out that coffee can of pull tabs and roll over to Akron’s Pull Tab Palooza for weigh-ins, music, a prize wheel, giveaways, and photo ops. Last year we turned 23,000 pounds into help for families, so yes, your junk drawer can do something useful.

🦆 Akron RubberDucks Star Wars Night @ 7 17 Credit Union Park | Friday (5/1) at 5:00 PM – Bring your inner Jedi to Star Wars Night as the RubberDucks face the Harrisburg Senators. Expect lightsabers, mascots in capes, and more puns than a seventh-inning stretch. Costumes welcome, and you can sign up on the Ohio Star Wars forum: https://www.ohiostarwars.com/oswforum/showthread.php?tid=3426

🍩 Donut Dash 5K @ Hardesty Park | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Lace up for a sweet 5K starting and finishing in Hardesty Park, looping Castle Park, and handing you a donut at the line. Walkers, runners, strollers, and a kids fun run welcome, race tee included, all supporting Summit County Children’s Services’ WAB. Carbs well earned.

✂ Rita's Italian Ice Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening @ Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard | Saturday (5/2) at 12:00 PM – Rita’s is cutting the ribbon and celebrating the grand opening, including free Italian Ice for a year for the first 50 customers, free face painting, and giveaways. Bring patience, the grandkids, and your best line strategy. Brain freeze is temporary, bragging rights are not.

🐞 Beetlejuice & Sandworm Craft @ Akron-Summit County Public Library | Saturday (5/2) at 2:00 PM – Ready to introduce the kids to Beetlejuice without the nightmares? The Main Library and Killer Video are hosting a free, all-ages matinee with creepy-cool coloring, a Sandworm sock-puppet craft, and costumes encouraged, plus free parking, so your only scare is humming Day-O all afternoon.

This stately hilltop brick colonial by renowned architect Phil Franz crowns Fairlawn Heights with elegance and modern ease. A marble foyer and sweeping staircase set the tone, leading to fireplaces, a screened porch with Franklin stove, and a chef’s kitchen with Sub-Zero and Viking. A main-level primary suite, dual garages, greenhouse, and a partially heated drive complete the picture.