It's Thursday, friends!

☁️ Today's weather: Mostly cloudy, high near 72.

🎧 Sounds like: "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key" by Billy Bragg and Wilco.

🥟 Congrats to Tim K., Cate A., Jim L., Joann A. and Gary M., who correctly guessed Nebby was at the Neill Log House in Schenley Park yesterday!

Today’s newsletter is 991 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Pittsburghers love to flock to Florida or Myrtle Beach, but they should also look just a few hours east for a fun time.

The big picture: Day-tripping is on the rise in Pennsylvania as travelers look to sidestep high lodging costs, per a new report industry group Tourism Economics.

By the numbers: Day-tripping increased about 3% last year compared to 2024 and 12% since 2021, per the report.

One good option: Hollidaysburg is around two hours away by car, has plenty of interesting stops in between, and won't break the bank.

Context: The borough is Blair County's seat and home to about 5,500 residents. The county courthouse is gorgeous and is on the National Register of Historic Places for its Gothic Revival architecture.

Where to start: The historical district on Allegheny Street. The architecture almost feels colonial, though most buildings date after the 1830s.

⚡️ Lightning Bug Gift Co. has Pennsylvania-themed merch in modern styles and affordable prices. State park hoodies, squonk stickers and stylish caps fill the shop.

☕️ Boro Coffee Co. is a cozy cafe overlooking the railyard. Find a nook and relax.

🪨 Chimney Rocks Park not only showcases the namesake impressive limestone pillars, but also spectacular views of the charming borough.

Nature lovers should head 15 minutes east of Hollidaysburg to Canoe Creek State Park and explore its 155-acre lake by boat or walk its trails in search of migratory birds, otters and other critters.

💭 Ryan's thought bubble: I bought a Horseshoe Curve T-shirt at Lightning Bug, and think the actual curve would be a good stop on your way home.

• If you want to see a passenger train take the curve, visit at around 9:45am or 5:25pm.
• More trips will be added in November.

Zoom out

The dance floor is calling, but your bedtime is safe.

The big picture: Earlybirds Club, a national dance party series, is coming to Pittsburgh later this month with throwback hits, new friends and plenty of time to get your beauty sleep.

• Launched in Chicago two years ago, Earlybirds Club has spread to more than 47 cities across the U.S. and Canada.
• Designed for women, trans and nonbinary people, the parties offer an earlier alternative to traditional nightlife.

Zoom in: Pittsburgh's DJ Jess will spin pop, hip-hop, new wave and dance jams from the '80s through the 2000s.

• The event is geared toward people in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Sponsor Aerie will have giveaways.
• Although the party's median age is 46, it's open to people 21-plus.
• 10% of ticket proceeds will benefit the Susie Lee Legacy Fund, named for the Earlybirds Club's co-founder, who died of breast cancer in 2025.

What they're saying: Co-founder Laura Baginski tells Axios she created the event because, at 51, she missed dancing with friends but not the late-night clubbing atmosphere.

• "We have three generations on the dance floor very often," Baginski says. "No one's judging your dance moves. Most of us are in a similar stage in life where you give fewer F's about most things and it really comes down to women supporting each other."

If you go: Earlybirds Club is 6-10pm Oct. 24 at Stage AE, 400 North Shore Drive.

• Tickets are $40.

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🗳️ PA-17 candidates U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Fox Chapel, and Republican challenger Tony Guy, Beaver County sheriff, sparred over data center regulations, President Trump's policies, the Iran war, AI, social security, ICE and more during an hourlong KDKA debate Tuesday.

• Watch the debate here.

🌕 Voyager Technologies, formerly North Side's Astrobotic, said its Griffin Mission One lander passed inspection ahead of a planned launch to the lunar South Pole later this year, part of a push to establish a permanent moon base by 2030. (Post-Gazette)

👔 Kroger, which plans to buy Giant Eagle, will cut 3,000 corporate jobs over the next three years as it expands its use of AI and trims costs. (AP)

👀 President Trump urged Democratic Sen. John Fetterman to switch parties ahead of midterm elections that could shift control of Congress.

• Fetterman has repeatedly ruled out becoming a Republican, citing his voting record with Democrats despite growing tensions within his party. (AP)

💨 Pennsylvania's Act 57 takes effect Saturday, requiring retailers to remove nicotine-containing e-cigarette products not listed on the state's new registry of approved products or risk seizure and fines.

• The Attorney General's Office will begin targeted enforcement Monday. (TribLve / press release)

Friday

Get inked at Boos & Toos Tattoo Horror Fest Friday through Sunday.

• 📍 Monroeville Convention Center
• ⏰ Noon-10pm Friday-Saturday; 11am-7pm Sunday
• 💰 $20 for a day; $45 for a weekend pass

Saturday

Sip your way through local ciders at A Few Bad Apples Ciderfest.

• 📍 Altered Genius Brewing Trailside Taproom, 258 Main St., Imperial
• ⏰ Noon-6pm
• 💰 $55. Tickets here

Watch giant pumpkins drop from a crane at the Monster Pumpkins Festival through Sunday.

• 📍 The Stacks at 3 Crossings, Strip District
• ⏰ 10am-6pm
• 💰 Free!

See pumpkins soar across a field from a full-size trebuchet at Punkin Chunkin. Dress up your pup for the nearby Bark or Treat from noon-2pm at Hartwood Acres Dog Park.

• 📍 Hattwood Acres Amphitheater, Allison Park
• ⏰ 11am-4pm
• 💰 Free!

Join "Pumpkin Patch with a Purpose," at Halloween Hangout feat. Scarehouse with spooky character appearances, music and cider. Pumpkin sales benefit the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.

• 📍 151 Mazeroski Way, North Shore Plaza
• ⏰ Noon-4pm
• 💰 Free admission; pumpkins $3-$10

🐴 Chrissy is reading about Lawrenceville's reported ghost horse in an 1896 Pittsburgh Press article thanks to a reader tip!

⛔ Ryan is OOO.

Thanks to Tyler Buchanan for editing this newsletter.