Plus, new speeding cameras take effect
 
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Today’s Forecast

75º | 9% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:06 a.m. | Sunset 6:50 p.m.

 
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Travel to NC’s ‘Stars Hollow’ for your next fall getaway

A series of photos including carved pumpkins, baskets of picked apples, an elephant eating a pumpkin, fall trees, and a corn maze.
Your pups don’t have to miss out on the Fall fun. Bring them along to the corn maze at Kersey Valley.  | Photos provided by Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau. Gif Created by RICtoday
Picture this: It’s a crisp October morning. You wake up in a cabin surrounded by explosive hues of red and orange from peak fall foliage. You wrap yourself in a warm blanket before stepping outside to enjoy a steaming cup of coffee before kindling a cozy, crackling morning fire.

If you’re imagining this scene in a town hundreds of miles away (say, Vermont or Upstate New York), what if we told you this fall fantasy was only one state away?

Randolph County is located in the heart of North Carolina — a mere three hours from Richmond. That means you can step into this postcard scene (and of all your favorite nostalgic, small-town fall activities) in less than a half day’s drive.

Here’s a peek into your weekend in Randolph County, NC:

🍎 Orchards + pumpkin patches

Millstone Creek Orchards hosts new events each weekend including pumpkin picking, orchard tours, live music, and an apple cider-themed menu at The Cider House. (We’re eyeing the apple cider donuts.)

Bonus: Meet Dooley and Rooster, the orchard’s Highland cows (yes, the ones with the bangs). For more animal-themed activities, check out Boo at the North Carolina Zoo.

🌽 Corn mazes + haunted houses

Explore the winding corn maze or take a festive wagon ride to the pumpkin patch at Kersey Valley during the day... and once night falls, get lost in the Spookywoods. This haunted attraction has been an NC staple for over 40 years, and with more than a dozen themed sets like an abandoned motel (Psycho vibes), it’s not hard to see why.

🍂 Picturesque downtowns + cozy cabins

Explore artisan shops, restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops in Stars Hollow — ahem, we mean downtown Asheboro. Stop by Four Saints Brewing Co. for a pumpkin ale or Leo’s Whiskey Bar for an apple bourbon smash.

Then settle back into your cabin tucked away in the woods or set up camp for a more rustic experience.
A note from our team: While Hurricane Helene has impacted many communities in Florida, South Carolina, and Western North Carolina, Randolph County was spared from the storm and is ready to welcome visitors. Our hearts go out to the communities + individuals impacted.
 
Asked

You’ve picked your pumpkin from the patch, now it’s time to decorate. Which method do you prefer?

A. Carved pumpkins
B. Painted/decorated pumpkins
Pick your pumpkin preference
Children's Museum of Richmond
 
Events
Wednesday, Oct. 2
  • Dominion Energy Jazz Café | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 6-8 p.m. | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts | Free | Head to the atrium for a toe-tapping evening with Triple Crossing Jazz Project.
Thursday, Oct. 3
Friday, Oct. 4
  • Tales of the Cryptic Art Gallery | Friday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 6 | 4-9 p.m. | Blk VA Theatre Alliance | Free | See work by Black, non-binary, and women artists inspired by their experiences as well as the obscure and mysterious.
  • Driftwood | Friday, Oct. 4 | 7 p.m. | Richmond Music Hall | $20 | The band is on the Harvest Moon Tour with Nate Hadley.
Saturday, Oct. 5
  • Dachtoberfest | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Richmond Raceway Complex | $10+ | This celebration of all things dachshunds will include races, costume contests, raffles, vendors, and guest speakers.
  • Banned Wagon Visit | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 12 p.m. | Fountain Bookstore | Free | Free books will be available while supplies last when this national road trip swings through Shockoe Slip.
More local events
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Weather
  • The James River is under a flood warning until tomorrow evening. The city issued the warning yesterday, at which time the forecast predicted levels to peak at 15.8 feet this morning.
Traffic
  • The grace period for nine speed cameras around the city has ended. For the last few months, those caught speeding by the cameras have only received warning tickets. Now, first-time offenders will be fined $50, and then $100 for each violation thereafter. (ABC 8News)
Pets
  • The city is buying a building in the Fan with the intention of turning it into an animal adoption center. This would be the second location for Richmond Animal Care & Control, with hopes of easing the overcrowding at its current Northside shelter. (Richmond BizSense)
Holiday
  • Scoop has brought back its apples and honey flavor for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. For a limited time, enjoy vanilla-cinnamon ice cream with an apple compote and a honey-caramel swirl.
Coming Soon
  • Wong’s Tacos is planning to open a fourth location, this one in Hanover. The spot is coming to Rutland Park sometime this spring. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Edu
  • 84.5% of Virginia schools received full state accreditation last school year, a 5.5% drop from the previous year. No schools in the state were fully denied accreditation, however — the remaining schools were accredited with conditions. (Virginia Mercury)
Cause
Health
  • Stop missing out on the conversations that matter — try these stealthy, barely noticeable next-gen hearing aids. No wonder 400,000+ customers love them.*
Wellness
  • Upgrade your morning cup of joe when you switch to VitaCup’s Genius Coffee. It’s infused with vitamins and minerals that support all-day energy + focus. Try it in coffee pods.*
 
Cause

How to help after Hurricane Helene

How Richmonders can help with relief efforts after Hurricane Helene
RIC hurricane helene flooding
The damage in places like Asheville (above) has been severe and extensive. | Photo by AVLtoday
Though the effects of Hurricane Helene almost completely missed Richmond, some areas of southwest Virginia and nearby states are dealing with extreme devastation from the storm. Not far from us, western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee were hit particularly hard.

There are several ways that Richmonders can help those effected by Helene.

You can support communities by donating directly via Mutual Aid Disaster Relief. You can also donate to United Way of Southwest Virginia to support those in areas like Damascus and Taylor’s Valley affected by the storm.

Supply drives

In addition to monetary donations, Richmonders can also drop off supplies at several local drives.

SoulShine Studios
The Stony Point studio is accepting water, non-perishable food, clothes, blankets, hygiene supplies, hand sanitizer, tarps, tents, and more.

No Limits Nutrition
Drop off first aid supplies, non-perishable food items, and personal hygiene supplies at No Limits or either RVA Iron Gym location (Richmond + Chester). Five items will get you a free No Limits shake or a day pass at either gym. Drive will continue until Sunday, Oct. 6 at a 6 p.m.

Helen’s
Bring water, baby formula, tarps, plastic bins, hygiene products, non-perishable food, and more to the backyard of the restaurant.

Väsen
Anyone who brings supplies to the Scott’s Addition will not only be helping those in need — they’ll get a discount on drinks for the night. The brewery is offering 15% off a beer or non-alcoholic beverage for every item donated.

The Red Cross is also accepting donations to go straight to hurricane relief efforts. When you give online, you can select that it go towards helping those effected the storm. In addition to money, this is a perfect time to donate blood at a drive near you.
The Buy

The Buy 10.02.24 (Affiliate)
Pantene’s Keratin Leave-In Conditioner — it can repair split ends + protect against future damage, helping you achieve strong, silky-smooth hair. Psst, it’s less than $20.
More worth The Buy
 
The Wrap
 
David Lefkowitz.png

Today’s edition by:
David
From the editor
If you’re anything like me, you’ve got bags of clothes in your trunk that you’ve been meaning to donate for ages. I’ll be swinging by SoulShine today to (finally) drop those off — I hope you’ll consider doing the same.
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