The sun's back, the sky's clear, and we're hitting 79° this afternoon with a southwest breeze gusting to 26 mph. It's the kind of day that feels generous — warm enough for short sleeves, bright enough to make you squint on the Market Street walk, breezy enough to keep the patio comfortable through the afternoon. Tonight stays mild in the upper 50s, though clouds build in and light showers could arrive after 2 a.m. By Wednesday morning, we're into steady rain and thunderstorms that stick around most of the day.
The Taubman Museum is open 10 to 5 today, and the current exhibitions are worth the seven-minute walk if you want air conditioning and good light. Center in the Square keeps the same hours — planetarium shows run at 2 and 3:30 if you're looking for something contained and cool. Mill Mountain Theatre has an 8 p.m. curtain tonight; check their site for the current run. A Few Old Goats downstairs taps at 4 p.m. as usual, and their patio faces west, so you'll catch the late-day sun without the earlier intensity.
This is your outdoor day before the rain settles in. The Roanoke River Greenway from Wasena Park upstream toward Green Hill is flat, shaded in stretches, and about as easy as it gets — perfect for a lunchtime walk or a post-breakfast jog. Mill Mountain is another option if you want elevation and views; the drive or ride up is quick, and the overlook gives you the full valley spread. If you're on foot and want something shorter, the stretch from Elmwood Park down to the river and back is about two miles round trip, mostly under tree cover.
Tomorrow's a washout — showers and thunderstorms likely through the afternoon, then heavier rain Wednesday night with totals between a quarter and half inch. It's an indoor day from the start, so plan accordingly. The good news: it clears out by Thursday, and we're back to sun and mid-70s by the weekend.
At the flats, RND Coffee opens at 7 a.m. downstairs if you want to start the day with a cortado and a seat by the window. The courtyard's open and pleasant this morning, though the breeze picks up by afternoon. A Few Old Goats taps at 4, and the patio's in play until the clouds thicken tonight. If you're staying in, crack a window — this is the last mild air before the rain moves in.