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Event Spotlight
☕ Happy National Coffee Day
As newsletter writers, the holiday doesn’t change much about our routine; like every other day, we’ll get through it with a whole lot of coffee. It does, however, give us the perfect excuse to highlight the upcoming DMV Chocolate and Coffee Festival.
Time and place: Saturday, Nov. 15-Sunday, Nov. 16 at Dulles Expo Center South Hall, Chantilly
Price: $17-$34 (get discounted tickets through Oct. 31)
Expect: 200+ vendors, seminars, and coffee education labs
What we’re eyeing: The “Cupping Specialty Coffee Like a Professional” labs at 10:30 a.m. + 1:20 p.m. on both days.
We’re celebrating coffee all week in honor of National Coffee Day. Make sure to tell us your favorite coffee shop, and we’ll try to spotlight as many submissions as we can.
AI Unlocked: Experience the future in National Landing
Presented by JBG SMITH
This brand-new, two-day event by SCSP and JBG SMITH is bringing conversations, demos, and hands-on experiences to show how AI shapes everyday life. | Photo by SCSP, provided by JBG SMITH
Get ready to see AI like never before. On October 3-4, AI Unlocked: Where Innovation Meets Imagination (a free outdoor event organized by SCSP and JBG SMITH) brings conversations, demos, and immersive experiences to National Landing. Designed to spark curiosity and show how artificial intelligence is shaping daily life, this event has something for everyone — tech pros, policymakers, families, and curious minds alike.
Here’s what to expect:
Thought-provoking keynotes from leaders in government, business, and academia
Hands-on tech demos that bring AI tools to life
Interactive robotics you can build, operate, and play with
VR racing chairs and immersive digital art experiences
Saturday programming built for families, with AI storytelling, creative workshops, and games designed to engage kids and adults together
Whether you’re learning, exploring, or just playing, this event is designed to make AI exciting and accessible. Don’t just watch the future — step inside it and see how AI is transforming the world around us.
A new Whole Foods Market Daily Shop is set to take over the former Amazon Fresh location in Crystal City, with a grand opening slated for Thursday, Oct. 23 at 8 a.m. The store marks Whole Foods’ first Daily Shop location outside of NYC. (Northern Virginia Magazine)
Mansion Monday
Have you every looked at a home and thought, “boy, I could sure win a game of hide-and-go-seek there.” That’s what we felt when stumbling across this 7-bed, 10-bath McLean mansion. Take a peek inside.
History
Fairfax County’s William H. Randall Estates, a neighborhood designed between 1962-1974 for middle-class Black families, was recently recognized on the Virginia Landmarks Register. Now, the community awaits potential inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. (FFXnow)
Seasonal
NOVA’s peak fall foliage will likely fall around Oct. 20-27. That’s according to this interactive map, which also comes with a handy tool to report foliage colors to make future predictions more accurate. Prep for the colors by reading our guide on where to see fall foliage. (Smoky Mountains)
Watch
Coming to a theater near you — The Official Release Party of a Showgirl. On Friday, Oct. 3 through Sunday, Oct. 5, you can see the world premiere of Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” including the music video and behind-the-scenes footage. Get tickets to a screening in Northern Virginia.
Eat
Order up. Pink Cadillac Diner in Natural Bridge is the most iconic diner in Virginia, according to Reader’s Digest. You’ll have to drive ~200 miles to get its famous pulled pork, but we have plenty of exciting new restaurants to try right here in NOVA.
Featured Deal
This is your last call to take advantage of our early bird deal + get 20% off your business’s spot in our 2025 Holiday Gift Guide. Use code EARLYBIRD20 before it expires on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Finance
This versatile card has quickly become a favorite for many. With no annual fee, 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers into 2026, and up to 5% cash back on everyday purchases, it’s easy to see why it stands out.Explore the perks.*
Bonus: Get a free fleece blanketwhile supplies last at the festival’s information tent when you show a receipt for a $5+ purchase from a Rosslyn restaurant or retailer. | Photo via Rosslyn BID
Our favorite time of year? Fall festival season. (Forget we said this when it comes December and we say that our favorite time of year is “holiday lights season,” ok?)
Add these upcoming festivals to your bucket list.
Rosslyn Fall Fest | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 1-6 p.m. | NOW Pop-Up Park, Arlington | Free | Celebrate the fall season with cider flights, live music, pumpkin decorating, and other seasonal activities.
49th Annual Fall Festival | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Downtown Fairfax, Fairfax | Free | Check out over 400 different vendors, including crafts, food, children’s activities, beer gardens, and other October attractions.
Fall Harvest Family Days | Saturday, Oct. 18-Sunday, Oct. 19 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon | Free+ | What better way to celebrate the fall season than with 18th-century activities like wheat threading, basket-making, and cooking?
Something to make your morning coffee ritual last longer this cool-weather season: a temperature control mug, rated 4.7 stars and currently 10% off. This smart mug lets you control your beverage’s temperature down to the degree, with auto shut-off technology after two hours.
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’m currently making Thanksgiving travel plans to be in Arlington near my sister and her family. I’m thinking of taking Amtrak, and I found some great discounts while searching for tickets — check out these DC to Boston and NYC Night Owl deals.
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