Historic Pump House promises plenty of foliage... and an eerie vampire-esque atmosphere, perfect for October. | Photo by @takeone.aerial
The first of fall will set its crisp, cozy scene next Monday, Sept. 22. One of the simplest and least expensive ways to enjoy the season: catching the changing leaves at Richmond’s parks.
Here are our picks for the best leaf-peeping parks in the area:
Deep Run Park, West End, Henrico
Catch leafy reflections on the forested lake or take to the wooded trails.
Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield
Three lakes, 7,000+ acres, and 90 miles of nature trails speak for themselves.
Pumphouse Park, Byrd Park
A historic Gothic structure centers a web of wooded trails (great for bird watching).
Larus Park, Stony Point
106 acres of woods make you feel like you’re in a mythical storybook.
Bryan Park, Lakeside
Enjoy the views while playing soccer, disc golf, or tennis.
Liberty Antiques Festival | Friday, Sept. 26-Saturday, Sept. 27 | 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | Liberty Antiques Festival, Staley, NC | $10 | Twice a year, 400 dealers from 25+ states pack this 100-acre farm with 18th to 20th-century antiques including furniture, pottery, clocks, dolls, toys, jewelry, quilts, folk art, and more.*
🍂 Cozy up to fall at one of MICHELIN’s best lake vacations
Presented by The Lake House on Canandaigua
Lake life is a year-round affair at The Lake House on Canandaigua | Photos courtesy Chris Churchill, Joe Thomas, and Take Out Creative
When you think of fall in New York, you might picture foliage in Central Park, “When Harry Met Sally,” and lots and lots of crowds. Flip the script with a relaxing lakeside escape at The Lake House on Canandaigua.
Autumn is The Lake House’s best kept secret season. The resort’s beauty and opulent perks earned it a MICHELIN guide feature (read: top 15 best lake vacations in the world).
Check out a recent rendering of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s multi-million dollar expansion. The development will nearly double the conservatory’s size, plus introduce a permanent butterfly house + seven additional garden acres. Construction is underway, aiming for completion in spring 2026.
Announced
A $5 billion manufacturing project is in the works at West Creek in Goochland. Spearheaded by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly + Co., the facility plans to make antibody treatments used to target cancer and other autoimmune diseases. The site anticipates ~650 permanent job openings. (Richmond BizSense)
Drink
Starbucks doesn’t stand a chance. Fall-themed menus are dropping at local coffee shops around the city. Here are a few sips that piqued our interest: Cardamom Latte + Cherry Almond Chai at Early Bird Biscuit Co. and Salty Pumpkin Shaken Espresso at Riverbend Roastery.
Travel
Richmond International Airport introduced a new red-eye hack, allowing guests to take free Ubers to the airport between the hours of 4 to 6 a.m. Start at a GRTC bus stop, order your Uber, and let your ride-share friend sleep in.
Wellness
By mid-October, Henrico residents will have two new urgent care facilities. One clinic opened earlier this month on Staples Mill Road, near Glen Allen. Another is slated to open next month, across the street from the Laburnum Square shopping center. (Richmond BizSense)
Civic
Find some free time, and avoid the long lines. Early in-person voting for Virginia’s Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General begins tomorrow, Sept. 19, and continues through Saturday, Nov. 1. The General Election for non-early voters will be Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Biz
Why are the same firms that backed Uber, Venmo, and eBay also backing Pacaso(Nasdaq ticker reserved: $PCSO)? Because it’s disrupting the $1.3 trillion vacation home market with co-ownership, already earning $110 million+ in gross profit in under five years. (And until midnight, you can join the 10,000+ shareholders.)†‡*
Our annual Holiday Gift Guide is making a comeback, and we want to feature your business.
We know, we know — it’s only September. But the early bird gets the worm, right?
That’s why we’re offering 20% off inclusion in our 2025 guide now through Wednesday, Oct. 1. Secure your spot to promote your business’ one-of-a-kind gift, festive product, or unique service.
A great deal on a clothes steamer. Snag HiLIFE’s portable, handheld steamer while it’s 35% off — the steamer is quick to heat up, easy to use, and perfect for garment touch-ups without hauling out the ironing board.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
I actually just visited Pumphouse Park this past weekend for a river day. As always, the scene is set for a gorgeous fall backdrop. Every breeze I caught made me more excited to return in October.
Before you make a trip to the unofficial vampire dwelling, we can help you brush up on its Gothic architectural history.
‡‡Finance “investment method” disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar success. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
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