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⛅ Today's weather: Partly sunny, with a high of 69 and a low of 62.

🎧 Sounds like: "Shine A Light" by The Rolling Stones.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member David Hamelman!

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Today’s newsletter is 1,088 words — a 4-minute read.

Richmond is sweltering through near-record October heat, just as the federal government has issued an emergency order to help keep the Mid-Atlantic's power grid running.

Why it matters: The order is designed to prevent blackouts amid unusually high electricity demand — but that doesn't mean your lights are about to go out.

• Regional grid operator PJM says customers don't need to take any action right now.

Driving the news: The U.S. Department of Energy issued the emergency order Monday, giving PJM additional tools to keep electricity flowing through Friday, like tapping additional power generation.

• The problem: Utilities typically schedule maintenance during cooler fall months, when electricity demand is lower.
• But this week, temperatures are expected to run 10–20 degrees above normal across PJM's territory, Dominion Energy spokesperson Jeremy Slayton tells Axios.

Threat level: Dominion's service area was identified as one of three areas facing the most acute grid challenges across PJM's 13-state territory, along with the Baltimore and D.C. areas, according to the order.

Zoom out: PJM says its emergency measures are intended to keep the grid reliable, not signal that widespread outages are imminent.

• So far, customers aren't being asked to voluntarily conserve energy.

What they're saying: Dominion says the emergency underscores the need to build more power plants and transmission infrastructure to meet growing electricity demand.

• And PJM says that demand is growing faster than new power generation can come online, while "unseasonable weather patterns" are leaving fewer opportunities for routine maintenance.

What's next: The emergency order runs through Friday, though PJM says additional measures could be necessary depending on grid conditions.

• Some relief is on the way after yesterday's 90-plus-degree heat.
• Temperatures are expected to drop into the low 70s today before climbing back into the upper 80s tomorrow.

The bottom line: No need to panic — or unplug your air conditioner. But an October power emergency is another reminder of the challenges facing the region's electricity grid.

Full story

An unspecified equipment problem at a Richmond substation knocked out streetlights across multiple neighborhoods Tuesday night, leaving stretches of the city in darkness.

Why it matters: Dark streets can pose safety risks for pedestrians, and some residents say it's a recurring problem.

The intrigue: The outages coincided with the federal power-grid emergency (see above), but there's no confirmed connection.

Driving the news: The issue at Trafford Substation, which helps power streetlights, caused a three-hour outage that's since been resolved, Richmond spokesperson Jensen Gavulic tells Axios.

Who it affected: Residents from the Fan to Scott's Addition and Oregon Hill, per social media.

• At least four 311 complaints reported outages around Floyd and Rosewood avenues, while Axios witnessed dark streetlights on Robinson.
• Similar complaints in August and September flagged issues near Arthur Ashe, Grove Avenue and Strawberry Street.

How it works: Dominion supplies electricity to Richmond's streetlights, but maintenance depends on ownership, spokesperson Craig Carper tells Axios.

• Carper confirmed Tuesday's outage involved city-owned lights and said Dominion found no power issues that would explain it.

Zoom out: Richmond spent $3.6 million inventorying its streetlights, but a July city audit found no centralized system to track repairs, making it difficult to determine how long outages went unresolved.

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🛒 Trader Joe's will open its third Richmond-area store in 2028 in Midtown64, a $500-million development in the works at the intersection of West Broad and I-64, near Glenside Drive. (Times-Dispatch)

🚌 YWCA's Sprout School has partially reopened after a teacher strike over understaffing closed the downtown preschool last week. (The Richmonder)

• Some classrooms remain closed and parents are now demanding a board investigation into longstanding operational problems.

🫗 Lola's Farmhouse Bistro in Manakin-Sabot will close next Saturday after 10 years in business. (Facebook)

⚾️ City officials offered VCU a new lease to keep playing baseball at The Diamond — the same day they ordered the Flying Squirrels to vacate the old stadium. (The Richmonder)

• VCU has until Friday to respond to the city's offer, but a school spokesperson said they expect to play at The Diamond.

🎸 Matchbox Twenty will play Allianz Amphitheater next July. Tickets go on sale Oct. 23. (News release)

Thank goodness the weekend is here.

Tonight

🌟 Maymont's Garden Glow is back with a wonderland of light displays through Nov. 8. Last entry at 9pm. $20 for non-members.

Friday

🍺 The 56th Richmond Oktoberfest returns to the Richmond Raceway. 6pm-10pm. $10, free for ages 15 and under.

🎸 The Brook & The Bluff perform at the Broadberry. Doors open at 7pm. $36.60.

Saturday

🦪 OystoberFest, an oyster-and-beer-themed fundraiser, is at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in Ginter Park. Noon-6pm. Suggested $2 donation.

🍕 Sons of China Panda is having a pop-up at Zorch Carytown with a vegan General Tso's pizza through Sunday. Until sold out. Free admission.

Full list, including a Sloth Run and National Opossum Day

Baltik's Bagel is opening a second location in the former Alamo BBQ in Church Hill.

Why it matters: Since Baltik's debuted in 2024, the bagel shop has racked up multiple awards, including the coveted People's Choice award at NYC Bagelfest.

State of play: The Church Hill Baltik should open in November, offering the same scratch-made bagels, Baltik's signature "softie" sandwich bagel and "lightning-fast service," owner Yero Rudzinskas tells Axios.

• On the menu: Bagels (.99 cents-$1.90) and schmear ($1.25-$2.95), plus sandwiches ($6.95- $12.95) like newcomer the Ooh...Lala (basically a very fancy French dip on a bagel).

Fun fact: Baltik's might also serve some kind of dog treat out of the iconic Jefferson Avenue space, Rudzinskas says.

Yes, but: Like Stratford Hills, Church Hill won't be open on Sundays.

• Rudzinskas says he's committed to giving staffers off one weekend day.

What's next: Baltik's Church Hill should open next month.

Tell a friend

🥂 Karri is extremely excited that the Stratford Hills ABC store is moving across the street.

• If you've ever tried to make a left out of that parking lot (or the car wash), you know her pain.

💡 Sabrina wants to know: Have your streetlights been going out, too? Reply and tell her where, when and if it's happened before.

Thanks to Alexa Mencia Orozco for editing today's edition