The week ends with sun and 72°. West winds at 5 mph, no clouds, the kind of Friday that makes you leave work early or skip the indoor plan altogether. By tonight it drops to 50° under mostly clear skies — cool enough for a sweater on the patio after dark, warm enough to stay out past sunset at 8:22 p.m.
The Taubman is open until 5 today, last chance this week to see the current galleries before the weekend crowd. Center in the Square closes at 5 as well — the Science Museum's top floor has windows that face Mill Mountain if you want the view without the hike. Mill Mountain Theatre has a 7:30 curtain tonight, and if you're headed that direction, RND Coffee downstairs here at the flats is open until 2 for an afternoon espresso before the walk over.
This is greenway weather. The Roanoke River Greenway runs east from Wasena Park — flat, paved, shaded in spots, about 2 miles to the pedestrian bridge and back. If you want elevation, Mill Mountain is a 20-minute drive or a committed urban hike up Walnut Avenue. The star's visible day or night, but today you'll actually want to be outside for the climb. Tomorrow pushes to 76° and mostly sunny, so the weekend holds if today doesn't work.
Downstairs, RND has pastries and pour-over until mid-afternoon, A Few Old Goats taps the first pints around 4. The courtyard between the buildings catches late sun this time of year — metal chairs, string lights, enough space to stretch out with a book or a beer. If you're here tonight, the brewery's open until 10, the patio stays warm enough under the lights, and the air's still.