Austin – September 17, 2026 -- Home shoppers hoping to stretch their budget should mark September 27 through October 3 on their calendars, according to Realtor.com's 2026 Best Time to Buy Report.

During that week, buyers may find up to 31.9% more active listings than at the start of the year. Listing prices are projected to sit 3.5% below their seasonal peak, translating to roughly $14,000 in savings on a median-priced home of about $416,000.

Buyer competition drops nearly a third below its annual peak

Competition, measured by Realtor.com listing views per property, is historically 30.1% below its yearly high during this week and 14.4% below the average week. Homes are expected to sit on the market for about 64 days during the Best Week -- roughly 13 days longer than the year's fastest-selling stretch.

Fairfax, Va. – September 17, 2026 -- Commuters along Virginia's I-66 corridor can now skip tolls and save on gas through a new 66-day carpooling initiative called the I-66 Slugging Challenge, which launched Sept. 14 and runs through Nov. 20, 2026.

The program, organized by the I-66 Slugging Network, revives "slugging," a decades-old Washington-area tradition where drivers pick up strangers to meet HOV-3+ requirements and drive toll-free in express lanes, while passengers ride for free.

Commuters meet at two Park and Ride hubs to start their trips

Morning slug lines form at the Monument Drive Park and Ride in Fairfax and the University Boulevard Park and Ride in Gainesville, typically operating from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Riders are dropped off at four Washington-area destinations: Rosslyn, L'Enfant Plaza, Navy Yard, and Metro Center.

Berlin – September 17, 2026 -- Global e-bike brand ENGWE has named Dutch football legend Robin van Persie as its new brand ambassador, timed to launch ahead of European Car-Free Day on September 22.

The campaign links Van Persie's career to a promise of reliability

The partnership, called "GOOD AS G.O.A.T," plays on the phrase "good as gold" and the sporting term GOAT (Greatest of All Time). It ties Van Persie's playing career -- which included a Premier League title, two Golden Boots and his 2014 World Cup diving header for the Netherlands, across Feyenoord, Arsenal and Manchester United -- to the idea of being someone people can count on, both on and off the pitch.

Tokyo – September 16, 2026 -- Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo has finalized its lineup of drop-in cultural workshops running from September through December 2026, letting guests craft their own souvenirs on-site without a reservation.

The program includes flower arranging inspired by the mid-autumn full moon and tsumami-zaiku ornamental hairpins

Sessions take place regularly in the Lobby on the 3rd floor of the hotel's Main Tower, part of a series called "Journey into Japan: A Workshop of Cultural Discovery." Each monthly workshop is led by Japanese artists and tied to a seasonal theme, giving participants a finished piece to take home.

Amsterdam -- Lexar and Leica opened a photography exhibition on September 11, 2026, at Leica Gallery Amsterdam, titled Threads of Time: A Journey Through Silk and Lens.

The show documents Suzhou kesi, a traditional Chinese silk weaving craft, through the lens of Leica award-winning photographer Jing Huang. Huang's images follow Hao Naiqiang, known as Jingwei, a young kesi artist and custodian of the craft, as he works thread by thread to create intricate silk patterns.

Kesi weaving turns patience into visible art

Suzhou kesi differs from printed or embroidered textiles because artisans hand-weave each thread to build color and texture. Jingwei described the craft as one built on restraint, created within the order of warp and weft rather than through free gesture.

Las Vegas – September 16, 2026 -- SIRUI's upcoming Aurora 15mm F1.6 full-frame autofocus lens won a "Best of Show" Award at IBC 2026 on September 13, recognizing the company's latest push into ultra-wide, large-aperture optics for full-frame creators.

The Aurora 15mm F1.6 pairs a wide field of view with fast light gathering

The lens combines an ultra-wide 15mm focal length with an F1.6 aperture, a 0.3-meter minimum focusing distance, low distortion and a compact, lightweight build. SIRUI notes the lens reflects its in-house development and production of aspherical lens elements.

Yibin – September 16, 2026 -- A new season of the China Media Group travel reality show "Travel China with the Spring Festival Gala" is currently airing, spotlighting Yibin as its second featured city after Yiwu.

The show turns entire cities into game boards for cultural exploration

The program uses live-action competitive games and immersive cultural exploration to convert a city's geography, heritage and modern development into variety entertainment, using Spring Festival Gala branch venue cities as its map. The first episode covered Yiwu, framing it as the "world's supermarket" through cross-cultural interaction segments that drew strong audience response.

Verona, Wis. – September 16, 2026 -- Everlight Solar has been voted Madison's People's Choice Favorite Solar Company for 2026, marking the company's third consecutive year receiving the honor from the Wisconsin State Journal's People's Choice Awards.

Local homeowners cast the votes that decided the win

The People's Choice Awards recognize businesses across Dane County chosen directly by the public for their service and community impact. Everlight Solar's third straight title reflects its ongoing work providing solar installations, customer service, and access to renewable energy for area homeowners.

The CEO credits the community for the repeat honor

"Being recognized by the Madison community for a third year means so much to our entire team," said William Creech, President and CEO of Everlight Solar. "We're incredibly grateful for the homeowners, families, and neighbors who continue to support Everlight Solar."

Cape Girardeau – September 16, 2026 -- A new HelloNation article featuring insights from insurance agent Nick Hogan breaks down the parts of a homeowners policy that first-time buyers frequently overlook, warning that gaps in understanding can lead to costly surprises after a loss.

Many buyers assume coverage stops at the house itself

According to the article, first-time homeowners often focus on purchase price, mortgage terms, and moving costs while spending little time learning how their insurance actually works. Many mistakenly believe a policy only protects the physical structure, when most homeowners policies bundle several distinct types of protection.

New York – September 16, 2026 -- GORGIE has launched Berry Burst, a new flavor available exclusively at Target locations nationwide starting September 13th.

Each can packs 150mg of green tea caffeine with zero sugar

Berry Burst contains 150mg of green tea caffeine alongside Biotin, B Vitamins, and L-Theanine. The drink has zero grams of sugar, five calories, and no artificial sweeteners.

The purple-toned can was designed to match fall fashion trends

GORGIE styled the launch campaign on the streets of New York City, pairing the can with leather jackets and seasonal looks tied to Fashion Week. Founder and CEO Michelle Cordeiro Grant said the flavor was built around the idea that "your drink can double as your best accessory," adding that Berry Burst was made to bring energy to everything from meetings to workouts to late-night plans.