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.*

City launches street safety push: Allentown is rolling out new speed cushions to slow drivers and address rising pedestrian deaths, starting on Parkway Boulevard, with Ott Street at the Cedar Creek Pool entrance up next -- read the full story.

High-speed fiber rollout: Greenlight Networks begins a $62 million Lehigh Valley expansion, with Bethlehem getting service first this spring. Roughly 22,000 homes and businesses are expected to gain access, with plans from $30 -- get all the details.

Locally owned concept expands: Zekraft will open a new Forks Township cafe at 1550 Sullivan Trail, the former Richard's Drive-In, adding indoor and outdoor seating and a central kitchen, with local hiring underway -- get all the details here.

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.*

Game Night No-Brainer: When you want a spot where the TVs are actually visible, the wings are worth a second napkin, and the vibe screams hometown sports, Copperhead Grille Allentown delivers. Grab a table with your crew, order a few shareables, then let the game soundtrack do the rest.

Craft smarter, not pricier: Cut the Scrap! is Allentown’s secondhand arts-and-crafts hub for gently used supplies, easygoing workshops and clubs, and tool rentals like Cricut and EasyPress. Clear out that someday bin, find what you need, and turn half-starts into finished pieces with less waste and more fun.

Find your perfect stride: Keystone Running Store nails the fit with a smart process and staff who listen. Whether you're returning to walks, chasing a PR, or hitting the trails, you'll leave in gear that simply feels right. You might even get nudged into a friendly group run.

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 →

🌸 Garden Party Spring Charity Event @ AM Luxe (Bethlehem) | Thursday (4/30) at 5:30 PM – Break out your Liverpool Los Angeles for a party to sip, shop, feel virtuous. Bites at Edge, a patio fashion show, then AM Luxe shopping, with proceeds to St. Luke's and partners. Tickets required, limited seating, and Liverpool outfits enter a $50 gift-card drawing.

🎮 Pinfest Pinball Show 2026 @ Allentown Fairgrounds Ag Hall | Friday (5/1) at 10:00 AM – Pinfest is taking over the Fairgrounds with the East Coast’s largest pinball and arcade show, hundreds of machines on free play. Relive your high-score glory, try titles from Stern and Jersey Jack, no quarters needed, tickets are online or at the door.

🕯 Concerts by Candlelight @ Vault 634 | Friday (5/1) at 7:00 PM – If your idea of a wild night now includes a comfy seat, soft candlelight, and music you can actually hear, this is it. In Allentown’s historic haunts, strings and piano reimagine Vivaldi, Queen, and Beyoncé, no PPL Center decibels, all date-night glow.

📿 Loom Beadwork Demonstration @ Museum of Indian Culture | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Trade your weekend errands for something with real stitch count. The new Native American Beadwork exhibit opens, and you can watch Kiowa and Guaymi Maya artist Joy Tonepahhote at the loom, where Plains iconography meets pop culture wit, patient hands, and zero hot glue.

🌿 Rooted - Health & Wellness Festival @ The Hamilton at Grand Plaza | Saturday (5/2) at 11:00 AM – If your step counter needs motivation beyond pacing the Giant produce aisle, downtown’s hosting a health and wellness fest with yoga, Zumba, parkour, and free Plant Bingo. Think local vendors, good eats, live tunes, and $10 Da Vinci tickets, all on the Hamilton plaza.

⚾ Devonta Smith Celebrity Softball Game @ Coca-Cola Park | Saturday (5/2) at 12:00 PM – Back for year five, this celebrity softball showdown brings Eagles, Phillies, and a few legends to the Lehigh Valley for a Home Run Derby and seven breezy innings. Cheer for Saquon, Brandon Graham, and Ryan Howard, enjoy kid-friendly fun, and support a great cause.

🎤 America Sings Concert & Cocktail Fundraiser @ Christ Lutheran Church | Saturday (5/2) at 3:00 PM – Take a cultured detour and catch the Camerata Singers performing America Sings, a spring program of American composers with Frostiana, Copland, Price. Then stick around for the separately ticketed cocktail fundraiser with American-inspired bites, a wine pull, live tunes, and a brag-worthy quilt.

Rebuilt from the studs, this stately brick home blends new-construction quality with an established Parkland setting. It offers 6 beds and 4 baths across 4,600+ square feet plus a newly finished lower level nearing 2,000. Highlights include a custom kitchen with walk-in pantry, a spa-like primary suite, a full second kitchen downstairs with garage access, and an in-ground pool.