Queue up the history

• “The Ghost of Lavinia Fisher” | Charleston, SC | Legend has it, Lavinia Fisher was the first female serial killer in the US — it’s said that her ghost haunts a local jail.
• “Birthplace of NASCAR” | North Wilkesboro, NC | It was in the backwoods of Appalachia that this sport had its “thrilling and illicit conception.”
• “Tightsqueeze” | Chatham, VA | Familiarize yourself with the narrow passage between buildings that forced buggy and wagon drivers to slow to a walking pace just to squeeze through.
• “Mary Reeser’s Spontaneous Combustion” | St. Petersburg, FL | Hear one of Tampa Bay’s strangest, most mysterious true crime cases of a 67-year-old woman whose scorched remains were found surrounded by unburned items in the same room.
• “Plant City’s Depot Was Their Hub” | Plant City, FL | Learn how Plant City got its name — not from vegetation, but a man named Plant.
  

• Xtreme Hip Hop Step Class | Monday, July 8 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | 2623 Sanderford Rd., Raleigh | $5 | Move your body to an upbeat tempo + merge fun with exercise.
• “The Bachelorette” Watch Party | Monday, July 8 | 7-10 p.m. | AVA Rooftop Bar, 301 Fenton Gateway Dr., Cary | $5-$40 | Grab your gal pals for a night of champagne, roses, games + food.

• Digital Art with Canva | Monday, July 8 | 1-4 p.m. | Artspace, 201 E. Davie St., Raleigh | $160-$180 | Give the kiddos a digital creative outlet with a multi-day exploration of graphic design + digital art techniques.

• Stretching & Meditation at the Farm | Wednesday, July 10 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Planet Peace Farm, 6121 Forestville Rd., Raleigh | $10-20 | Grab your yoga mat + come out to stretch and unwind among a pasture of horses.

• Gov. Roy Cooper approved a new specialty DMV plate, “Home of the Venus Flytrap,” designed by Durham-based artist Preston Montague. The plate will cost $30, and for every specialty plate renewed each year, the NC Botanical Garden Foundation will receive $20 while the NC DMV receives $10. (CBS 17)

• The Wake County school system is considering converting year-round schools Pine Hollow Middle + Rolesville Middle to a traditional calendar, citing enrollment and funding issues. Assistant Superintendent Glenn Carrozza will brief the school board on the calendar conversion proposal and alternatives this month. (The News and Observer)

• Common Cause NC will host the first annual Carolina Daze music and art festival on Sept. 14 at Red Hat Amphitheater. The festival will feature performances by Tierra Whack, Moses Sumney, Lute + more. Tickets go on sale July 11 at 10 a.m. (INDY Week)

• We’ve got another snuggle buddy for you. Meet Little Mama, a sandy brown two-year-old Staffordshire Terrier who is a loving, smart + calm companion. Little Mama is one of many pets available for adoption at Wake County Animal Center, which is trying to free up space.

• There’s a new podcast in town (and it’s worth a listen). City of Raleigh’s Big Ideas Raleigh highlights the people behind the city’s big ideas and the largest challenges we face, like growth, transportation, and housing. Bonus: They also explore RAL’s hidden gems, thriving food scene, and more. Listen + subscribe.*

• The Exchange is officially open in Midtown. This new 40-acre mixed-use development is designed to maximize green space and connectivity — centered around a four-acre park that will eventually run through the entire campus. See the finished flagship office tower + future phases.*