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.*

New path to homeownership: The City of Chattanooga has launched a down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers, offering 0% interest deferred loans and eligibility for households earning up to 120% of median income -- see eligibility and program details.

School community faces parking squeeze: Chattanooga City Council will vote April 28 on a Southside Cowart permit parking plan near Battle Academy, which has 46 spaces, raising concerns about permit eligibility and enforcement hours -- read the full story.

Visitor routes changing this spring: Construction on Dyer Road in Chickamauga Battlefield resumes today, bringing closures as crews improve safety and the visitor experience, with the park expecting to finish the project by late May -- get closure details and timeline.

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.*

Low-key flavor reset: Attack of the Tatsu brings cozy izakaya vibes with shareable plates, slurp-worthy comfort, and that just-one-more-bite energy. Plan a quick bite with a friend, then laugh when you realize you accidentally stayed and turned it into a whole catch-up session.

Fresh cut, fewer regrets: Studio B-3 pairs continuous training with L’Oréal Professional expertise for custom color, precision cuts, and extensions. Co-owners Andrew Burns and Olivia Robinson keep Riverview and Main Street teams sharp, ideal for a midweek reset when your hair hints at chaos.

Ribs worth the detour: Sugar's Ribs serves spare ribs, BBQ pork butt, chopped brisket, and scratch-made sides like mac ’n’ cheese, turnip greens, and cornbread. When weeknights get wild, their online ordering keeps barbecue easy, so dinner still shows up smoky and satisfying.

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 →

🧠 Women Protecting Our Brain Health @ Chattanooga Hamilton County Family Justice Center | Thursday (4/30) at 12:00 PM – Skip the WebMD spiral. Get a practical, local primer on stroke prevention, risk reduction, and what to do when minutes matter, courtesy of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter. You will leave informed, empowered, and ready with a plan.

🌱 Mother’s Day Sprouting Love for Mom @ The Little Sprout Spot | Friday (5/1) at 9:00 AM – Skip the Mother’s Day brunch meltdown and let the littles make something real at The Little Sprout Spot. They decorate a pot, plant a flower, and leave with a legit keepsake, not glitter glue. Members free, non-members $15 per child, spots fill fast, pre-book.

🏺 Berry Bowls Family Clay Workshop @ Scenic City Clay Arts Classroom | Friday (5/1) at 4:30 PM – Bring the kids for a clay workshop to make berry bowls, poke holes on purpose, and decorate, then pick a glaze. Ages 7+ can go solo, 3+ with an adult, $30 each, and pieces return in four to six weeks, call it a patience lesson.

🐰 Bunny Hop! 2026 @ First Tennessee Pavilion | Friday (5/1) at 6:00 PM – Spring calls for herding the crew to the open-air First Horizon Pavilion for the 25th annual Bunny Hop, benefiting Chambliss Center for Children. Bunnies, inflatables, kid karaoke, and enough sugar to power a small city, while you socialize. Grandparents and kid-free pros welcome.

✈ Challenge Air Fly Day @ Wilson Air | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Clear skies for a Fly Day at Wilson Air, where Chattanooga kids 7 to 21 with special needs take the co-pilot seat, and confidence takes off. Got a heart, a headset, or a checkbook? Volunteers, pilots, sponsors, and families can sign up at ChallengeAir.org.

🤠 Life of Frontier Living @ Audubon Acres | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Think your camping chops could hack the 1750s? Walker Farm’s longhunter crew leads a hands-on dive into frontier life, from shelter-building and fire-starting to casting round balls and loading a musket, chaperoned, of course. It’s ages 10+, family-friendly, and smells like campfire.

💬 Free Comic Book Day @ Epikos Comics, Cards & Games | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Epikos is throwing Free Comic Book Day like the Saturday mornings we actually miss, with free reads, comic creators on hand, and unapologetically good sales on back issues, keys, and collectibles. Cosplay is for kids, teens, and grown-ups, with prizes, bragging rights, and nostalgia.

This 5-bed, 4.5-bath, 5,327 sq ft waterfront retreat spans 1.45 acres on Lake Chickamauga’s main channel with sunrise and sunset panoramas, minutes from downtown, Hamilton Place, Hixson, and the airport. Tivoli Theatre heart-of-pine floors pair with a chef’s kitchen, 48 inch Dacor cooktop, and Sub-Zero wine fridge. Guest house, dock, boathouse, PWC port, fire pit, horseshoe pit, and basketball court.