🚗 We're driving obsessed

😃 Fri-yay!

⛈️ Today's weather: Showers with possible thunderstorms after 2pm. High near 78.

🎧 Sounds like: "Strike (Holster)" by Lil Yachty.

🚨 Situational awareness: Folk Fest is this weekend and that means road closures (and no parking) from today at 4pm to Sunday at 11:59pm between:

• S. 7th St. and Belle Isle lot, Haxall Point and the Federal Reserve Building, S. 2nd and 7th streets, Lee Bridge off-ramp and East Byrd Street, East Canal and Byrd Streets.

🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios Richmond member Laura Bateman! And happy early birthday to members Ellen Kowalski, Jacob Sztraicher, Nathan Hatfield and Chip Jamerson!

Today's newsletter is 903 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Richmonders are driving more than they were before COVID, a new analysis finds.

Why it matters: The pandemic, when driving plummeted as people sought to "stop the spread," was a chance for cities to get a lasting handle on transportation-related emissions.

• They didn't.

The big picture: Average daily vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita increased 12.3% across the 100 biggest U.S. metro areas this past spring compared to the same period in 2019.

• In Richmond, it was an 11.5% increase.
• That's according to a new report from StreetLight Data, a transportation analytics firm.
• A separate study out earlier this year found Richmonders logged the sixth-highest rate in the nation for daily miles traveled.

Between the lines: While higher VMT tends to mean more vehicle-related emissions, it can also be a sign of changes generally perceived as positive, like more economic activity.

• Lower VMT can be a sign of successful public transit or cycling projects — or an indication that people are still working hybrid or remotely.

Yes, but: "It's not just that [VMT] is back up, but we're actually seeing a bit of an acceleration compared to the previous couple of years," Emily Adler, director of content at StreetLight, tells Axios.

• "So that suggests that we're not peaking, that whatever efforts we've strived for to keep VMT down, they're not quite working — or they're not working yet."

Tell a friend

The Richmond restaurant scene did not care one lick where in the world Axios Richmond reporters were this week and just kept going with its hot self.

• Feast on these new and coming-soon RVA restaurants.

🇬🇧 The British Embassy debuted downtown on the corner of Main and 12th streets.

• The dedicated Brit food spot is the standalone spin-off of the secret menu in a Short Pump Thai restaurant.
• On the menu: Fish and chips (including a gluten-free option), bangers and mash, a sausage roll, Scotch egg and sticky pudding ($4.99-$16.99).

🍗 Southern Kitchen is up and running in Stony Point Fashion Park after closing its Jackson Ward location earlier this year.

• On the menu: Chef/owner Shane Roberts-Thomas' signature fried chicken, smothered pork chops, catfish bites and more.

☕️ Sugar & Twine's long-awaited Carytown coffee cafe — the one with indoor seating — opened yesterday and is now letting folks sit and sip daily from 7am-3pm.

🦞 Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls, a fast-casual chain out of Maryland, opened its first Richmond location off Midlo at 14213 Winterview Parkway.

☕️ Can Can's morning hours and coffee and pastry service are back starting Wednesday and running 7-10am every Wednesday-Saturday after that.

Keep reading for hours of operation and more dining news

😬 Virginia has gone through its $400 million stash to help families with the wildly expensive costs of child care. (WVTF)

• There's a waitlist of about 10,000 families that'll take $100 million to clear. Yikes.

🏎️ A Mary Washington poll on next year's race for governor has Rep. Abigail Spanberger in a neck-to-neck matchup with whoever the GOP nominee ends up being. (Times-Dispatch)

• If against Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears: 39-39%.
• Against Attorney General Jason Miyares: 40-39%.

🫗 Virginia ABC recently laid off four agency directors, two months after cutting 25 HQ jobs, all in a cost-savings move to combat slowing liquor sales. (Times-Dispatch)

The upcoming exhibition features floral interpretations throughout the museum, talks from guest speakers and VMFA curators, luncheons, floral design workshops, family activities and more.

General admission is free, and tickets for programs and events are on sale now.

Learn more.

It's increasingly likely that thousands of dockworkers at major ports along the East and Gulf coasts, including the Port of Virginia, will strike next week, Axios' Emily Peck reports.

Why it matters: We'll feel this one. A strike that lasts longer than a few days increases the chances of product shortages and higher prices.

• Think of it as along the lines of the supply chain crisis of 2021.

State of play: The parties, the International Longshoremen's Association and United States Maritime Alliance, haven't resumed negotiations over pay raises and automation rules since early summer.

• Their current agreement expires Monday. A strike could start as soon as 12:01am Tuesday.

Threat level: A shutdown would affect everything from cars and car parts, to perishable vegetables and fruits — even the inflation-resistant banana — to furniture and all the things Americans usually want to buy for the holidays.

By the numbers: The 14 ports stretching from Maine to Houston are responsible for more than half of all the goods shipped in containers in and out of the U.S., Bloomberg notes.

• In Virginia, around half a million jobs are connected to port operations, per WAVY.
• That includes around 53,000 workers in the Richmond region's supply chain industry, according to the Greater Richmond Partnership.

Go deeper

Women Lead NC at Raleigh Convention Center on Oct. 18: Boost Your Career. Enhance Wellness. Grow as an Inclusive Leader. With globally renowned keynote speakers, informative breakouts, expanded networking opportunities, the largest exhibit hall yet, professional headshots, onsite bookstore, and more. Expect a sold-out crowd of 1,000+ female professionals and their male allies.

Hosting an event? Email local-events@axios.com.

Let's face it: the coffee tastes better at local coffee shops.

• But who would we be if we didn't share how to get caffeinated for free-ish on National Coffee Day this Sunday?

The big picture: National chains are known for their discounts and freebies on the holiday.

Yes, but: Before we dive into some of them, we recommend checking out local coffee shop Instagrams in case they post deals, too.

• That includes Black Hand, Lamplighter, Minglewood, Idle Hands, Riverbend, Ironclad, Fat Rabbit, Lift, Urban Hang Suite, Gold Lion, Reviresco, The Smoky Mug, Stir Crazy and more.

For the national deals:

• Dunkin': Rewards members get one free medium hot or iced coffee (cold brew excluded) with a purchase.
• Krispy Kreme: A free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase Sunday. For pickup, use code COFFEE.
• Sheetz: Get a 99-cent cold brew, including the pumpkin one, via the Sheetz app.

Fuller list

Fine Arts & Flowers transforms the museum with 76 dazzling floral interpretations. Other special events include talks, luncheons, workshops and family activities.

General admission is free, and tickets for programs and events are on sale now.

Learn more.

🐺 Karri is so excited to traumatize some kids this year thanks to Costco's awesome 7-foot tall Halloween animatronic werewolf, which went on super sale at the West Broad store this week and her mom nabbed her one of the last four.

🐻 Sabrina is missing the precious lil bear in overalls that came with her iced latte the other day and wishes she could take one home as a pet — because if not friend, then why friend-shaped?

Thanks to Fadel Allassan for editing today's edition.