Network

• Networking 101 | Tues., Oct. 27 | 9-10 a.m. | Virtual | Free | Experts will teach participants how they can improve their networking skills, especially in the time of predominantly virtual communication. Registration is limited to employees of Raleigh Chamber member firms. 💻

Cause

• Sunset Yoga |  Tues., Oct. 27 | 5:30 p.m. | Flying Biscuit, 2016 Clark Avenue| Donation  | Head over to the Flying Biscuit with your canned food donations for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, then join the yoga class hosted by Barre-Up Raleigh and Models for Charity. 🧘‍♀️

Civic

• Dix Edge Area Study | Tues., Oct. 27 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. |  Virtual | Free | City Planning and Development are interested in surveying residents that live around Dorothea Dix Park about potential changes to the surrounding area. 🌳

PlanAhead

• Zumba in the Park | Thurs., Oct. 29 | 6-7 p.m. | Sanderford Road Park, 2623 Sanderford Road | $5 | Participants will join a party-like atmosphere incorporating easy-to-follow moves. 💃
• Florence Dore | Fri., Nov. 6 | 8 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Tune in for the free performance from the  a Nashville-born, NC-based independent musical artist. 🎤

NowOpen

• NC State’s new-and-improved Wellness and Recreation Center officially opened yesterday. The facility’s renovations included modernized + expanded space, and now features a state-of-the-art climbing wall, test kitchens, and new training areas. 💪

Civic

• Yesterday, Wake County announced the WakeSUPPORTS program, which is intended to assist working families with students attending school virtually. With $5 million from the CARES Act, Wake County will pay for kindergartners through eighth graders to attend virtual school at a safe location with reliable oversight, or receive before and after school care. Read about the qualifications here + apply. 🏫

Biz

• The pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG is buying Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio), a gene therapy company based in RTP. With this merger, Bayer AG hopes to establish an innovative cell and gene-therapy platform that prevents or cures genetic diseases. Bayer AG is paying $2 billion upfront for AskBio and will potentially give $2 million more in payments over time. 🏥 (Triangle Business Journal)

Coronavirus

• The Orange County Health Department is administering free COVID-19 tests for residents on weekdays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center located at 300 W. Tryon Street in Hillsborough. Pre-registration is encouraged. 🦠

Vote

• Today by 5 p.m., is the deadline to submit your request for an absentee ballot in NC. Since early voting started, 780,000 North Carolinians have already cast their ballot by mail for the November 3 election, which is approximately four times more by-mail voters than this stage in 2016. Learn more about absentee voting in our state here. 🗳

Arts

• The 2020 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards is accepting nominations for the best local theatre performances and actors in the area over the past decade. The nomination period is open until October 31 with categories including Arts Educator Of The Decade, Costume Design of the Decade, and Best Theatre Staff. Winners will be announced in January. 🎭

Outdoors

• The NC Wildlife Resources Commission has created a tool to report sightings of feral swine or any damage they have created. DYK: Each year feral swine cause around $1.5 billion in damage to agricultural crops, landscaping, and historic sites nationwide. Access the tool here. 🐗

Ranked

• WalletHub ranked US states by how powerful their individual voters are, using multiple methodologies, including whether they’re in a swing state or not. NC — a commonly-acknowledged battleground state — was ranked as having the 6th most influential voters in the presidential election + the 9th most influential voters in the US Senate election. Read more here. 📝

Asked

• We know it might be daunting to think of all the things you have to buy, prep, or freeze for Thanksgiving this year. If you plan on picking up your Thanksgiving meal or sides this year, where do you plan on ordering from? Let us know so we can share with everyone else. 😋
• Have you heard about Mary Willis, the 18th century ghost who reportedly haunts Mordecai House by playing her piano? Learn more about the apparitions here, then reply to this email and let us know about other haunted spots + scary stories in Raleigh. (ABC 11) 🎹

TheBuy

• The Ridge threw away the manual on what a wallet should look like. They ditched thick, folding wallets for a slim design with RFID-blocking tech and the perfect amount of room for cards and cash. Shop here (bonus: free shipping + free returns). 💵 Ⓟ