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1962 Bob Dylan Gem Was Reimagined by Elvis Presley and Transformed Into a Raw Studio Jam

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 7:27am

When Elvis Presley stepped into Nashville’s RCA Studio B in May 1971, he was not planning to turn a folk standard into an eleven-minute rock ‘n’ roll marathon.

But as the band kicked into Bob Dylan’s classic “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” the king let the tapes roll, turning an informal studio run-through into a blues jam. What began as a spontaneous moment between takes eventually became a legendary moment in 1970s music history, proving that even a celebrated Dylan composition could be completely reimagined in the King of Rock and Roll’s hands.

According to Graceland’s official website, Presley went into RCA studios in Nashville, Tennessee, to record what would end up being called the “1970 marathon sessions.” The idea was to record as much material in a short amount of time to generate multiple releases.

“The goal of these sessions was to generate perhaps a year’s worth of new songs. RCA and the Colonel let Elvis know they’d like a new Christmas album, a gospel album, a pop album, and “several new singles for summer and fall releases,” and so, Elvis’ music coordinator/producer Felton Jarvis booked a whole week of all-night sessions starting March 15, 1971,” the site explained.

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These sessions marked the last time Presley recorded in Nashville in his career. The material reflected an eclectic blend of songs, including the king’s take on Dylan’s 1963 gem from The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.

It was the closing track on his 1973 album, Elvis, sometimes called The “Fool” Album, named after its first track. Although the track was shortened to almost three minutes, the original jam session version clocked in at over 11 minutes.

In a statement reprinted by Far Out Magazine, Dylan spoke of one of his most prized accomplishments. “Elvis Presley recorded a song of mine. That’s the one recording I treasure the most. It was called ‘Tomorrow Is A Long Time’. I wrote it but never recorded it,” said Dylan.

“When I first heard Elvis Presley’s voice, I just knew that I wasn’t going to work for anybody and nobody was going to be my boss. The highlight of my career… that’s easy, Elvis recording one of my songs.”

According to American Songwriter, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” was the B-side of “Blowin’ in the Wind.” In the album’s liner notes, the website reprinted quotes from journalist and social commentator Nat Hentoff, where he spoke of the song.

Hentoff said, “Dylan treats ‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right’ differently from most city singers. A lot of people make it sort of a love song—slow and easygoing. But it isn’t a love song. It’s a statement that maybe you can say to make yourself feel better. It’s as if you were talking to yourself.”

Decades later, that spontaneous recording session stands as a testament to Elvis Presley’s undeniable musical instincts. It remains a fascinating bridge between him and Bob Dylan, proving how a single unscripted moment can turn a folk classic into a piece of rock ‘n’ roll history.

2000 Pop-Rock Song, Produced by the Hitmaker Behind Shania Twain and Def Leppard’s Biggest Hits, Is Still a Sing-Along Hit 26 Years Later

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 7:11am

More than two decades after its June 2000 release, “Breathless” remains a pop anthem that you simply can’t help but sing-along to.

Released as the lead single from The Corrs’ third studio album In Blue, the track became a defining hit, helping propel the Irish sibling group further into the global mainstream.

“Breathless” was co-written by siblings Andrea, Caroline, Sharon and Jim, along with hitmaker Robert John “Mutt” Lange, who also served as the producer.

It was in good hands, as Lange was responsible for crafting some of the biggest pop and rock hits of all time—and albums—including Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” and AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

Andrea recalled producing the song with Lange, per MTV archives: “It was a beautiful, sunny day when we wrote it,” she continued, “and I think that’s very much in the song, because it’s kind of high impact and driven and sunny and summery and it’s a love song. It’s about seduction and how when you’re falling in love, you’re just enticing that person to go one step further. It’s good, good fun.”

The track had a radio-ready sound working in its favor, leaning into pop-rock in a way that was different from the band’s previous releases, resulting in a massive international hit.

Not only did it top the UK Singles chart—their only British chart topper to this day- it was also the 33rd highest-selling single in the U.K that year. Their other single “Runaway” peaked at No. 2 in 1999.

It went number one in the Czech Republic, Finland, and Poland, while also gaining momentum in the U.S.

Appearing on five Billboard charts, including No. 34 on the Hot 100, marking the group’s only top 40 appearance, it also hit No. 14 on the Adult Contemporary chart, No. 22 on Pop Airplay, No. 7 on the Adult Top 40 and No. 30 on Radio Songs.

It quickly became the band’s most recognizable song outside their home country and earned them a Grammy nominationfor Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 2001.

Of course, the hook of the song, with a breezy chorus that’s fun to belt out—“Go on, go on/Leave me breathless”—made it a go-to choice for weddings, karaoke nights, car singalongs, and so much more.

And even 25 years later, it continues to circulate in nostalgic playlists and early-2000s radio rotation, where it still resurfaces regularly.

The music video, filmed in the Mojave Desert and at Trona Airport, also became a frequent fixture on MTV and VH1, further cementing the tune’s legacy.

While the band is often found on lists of one-hit wonders, The Corrs actually had multiple successful songs, including “What Can I Do” and “So Young,” though “Breathless” remains, to this day, their most commercially recognizable hit.

Prince Harry Has “Very Few Friends Left” as Royal Family Rift Takes Another Turn

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 7:10am

With Prince Harry currently estranged from his brother Prince William, and relations with his father King Charles III only just beginning to thaw, he and his wife Meghan Markle will need all the allies they can get when they move back to the U.K. in the coming days.

Two of those allies used to be Harry’s cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. He and Meghan were particularly close to Eugenie, with the princess and former actress having known each other before Meghan started dating Harry.

Now it has been revealed that not only is there a rift between Harry and Meghan and most of the other royals, but that their relationship with the daughters of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has also fractured.

A source told Hello that Harry and Meghan are “not so close” with Beatrice and Eugenie anymore, and that—worryingly—the Duke of Sussex “has very few friends left from before.”

Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, who recently welcomed their third child (Adelaide Elizabeth Annina), currently live in Portugal. It was assumed that Harry and Meghan met up with Eugenie and Jack when they vacationed in Portugal with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet earlier this summer.

But no.

The source said that Beatrice and Eugenie are “not even in touch” with Harry and Meghan.

They went on, “They didn’t even see each other when they were over in Portugal recently, probably because Eugenie was so heavily pregnant, but it’s a real difference to how close they used to be, so close that they let Eugenie and Jack stay in Frogmore Cottage […] when they needed a place to stay.

“They’re not that close anymore.”

After moving to Montecito in California in 2020, Harry and Meghan handed over the keys to their marital home of Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate to Eugenie and Jack, with a source telling with a source close to the Sussexes telling Harper’s Bazaar that the duke and duchess were “delighted to be able to open up their home to Princess Eugenie and Jack as they start their own family.”

Frogmore Cottage remained Harry and Meghan’s official U.K. residence until Charles made the decision to evict them following the publication of Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare in 2023.

It’s quite possible that Beatrice and Eugenie are putting distance between themselves and the Sussexes in order to stay on the royal family’s good side.

The York sisters are in a precarious position when it comes to their current status. Charles stripped their father Andrew of his titles prince and Duke of York only last year, and also evicted Andrew from the 30-room mansion Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate.

Previously Eugenie had visited Harry and Meghan at their home in California and was the only member of the royal family who agreed to be interviewed for their Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan.

Rumors of a rift between her and Harry and Meghan have been growing for a while, and became particularly acute earlier this month when Eugenie chose the occasion of Meghan’s 45th birthday to announce the birth of her daughter.

Many saw it as revenge for a 2018 incident at Eugenie and Jack’s wedding, when Meghan chose to reveal to the other royals that she was pregnant with her and Harry’s first child.

Next, Where Will Archie and Lilibet Go to School? Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s U.K. Plans

Travel Advisors Reveal Where They’re Booking 60+ Travelers This Shoulder Season

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 7:10am

For travelers in their 50s and 60s, the appeal of peak summer travel has officially worn off. Between record-breaking heat waves, packed airport terminals, and overwhelming crowds at iconic landmarks, fighting high-season chaos is no longer worth the splurge.

Instead, savvy vacationers and top travel advisors are leaning into the ultimate luxury travel secret: the shoulder season. In fact, recent industry data shared at Virtuoso Travel Week reveals that European fall bookings have surged by 49% this year as travelers look beyond traditional summer windows, with luxury tour operators like Kensington Tours seeing a major spike in affluent travelers chasing thinner crowds, milder weather, and seamless access to premier hotels.

Traveling in the sweet-spot months of autumn and late winter allows mature vacationers to stretch their budget significantly further. “It’s less about finding the cheapest vacation and more about getting more vacation for the same money,” explains Emma Guse, a river cruise specialist and travel advisor with Travelmation and founder of PlanYourRiverCruise.com. “Sometimes shoulder-season pricing means my client can move up a cabin category, stay at a nicer hotel before or after, add a private experience, or simply travel at a higher level than their budget would allow during peak season.”

From the sun-drenched Mediterranean coast to the misty highlands of Central America, three luxury travel advisors share the exact destinations, properties, and insider booking strategies they are using to deliver five-star vacations for way less.

1. The Italian Lakes and Coastal Greece: 5-Star Icons at Off-Peak Rates World famous Grand Hotel Tremezzo on the Como Lake, Italy

CAHKT via Getty

When it comes to securing grande-dame luxury without the eye-watering summer price tag, the Mediterranean in early autumn is tough to beat.

“Lake Como and the Italian Lakes in late September and October,” recommends Duncan Greenfield-Turk, CEO and Chief Travel Designer at Global Travel Moments. “Once August empties out, the grande-dame hotels like the Grand Hotel Tremezzo soften their rates considerably, yet the weather is still warm and the lake is calm. It is flat, gentle and easy to get around, so you get genuine five-star dining and service without the summer premium or the crowds.”

For coastal lovers, the Greek island of Crete offers exceptional luxury in the fall. “Crete is an easy recommendation for this request, especially the Elounda area,” says luxury travel advisor Sheree Holt. “I like late September into October, when you can still enjoy warm weather and the coast without as much peak-season traffic. The luxury is everywhere. You can add private boat charters, spa days, wine and olive-oil experiences, exquisite meals, and private tours around the island.”

For accommodations, Holt highlights Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection, noting its tranquil suites and villas. “One thing to note is that while the layout is stunning, it’s steep,” Holt advises. “There are golf carts to get around though, and if there are any concerns about walking uphill, just make sure to book one of the suites in the lower area close to reception.”

2. Settle-In Stays: From Madeira’s Promenades to Panama’s Highlands

Madeira

For 60+ travelers looking to unpack once and settle into a destination for two weeks or more, advisors prioritize comfortable climates, accessibility, and unhurried local culture.

Greenfield-Turk points directly to the Portuguese island of Madeira. “It is one of the mildest places in Europe year-round, so autumn and winter are lovely, and long-stay rates drop sharply off-season,” he notes. “The promenades and gardens are gentle and walkable, English is widely spoken, and a grande dame like Belmond’s Reid’s Palace is built for settling in for two weeks or more at a fraction of high-season pricing.”

Guse agrees that southern Europe shines for extended stays, but emphasizes the need to assess true mobility: “With my 60+ clients, I’m also careful with the word ‘walkable.’ A city can technically be very walkable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is going to be easy or enjoyable for every traveler. Accessibility, hills, cobblestones and how much walking they actually want to do all matter.”

For an unexpected, cooler-climate escape, Holt suggests heading to Boquete, Panama. “Because it sits in Panama’s highlands, the climate is pretty mild, and the town is compact enough that an active traveler in their 60s can enjoy restaurants, cafés, and everyday conveniences without making every outing a major production,” says Holt. “May and November can be sweet spots for better value because they fall outside the busiest dry-season months. You can book a boutique hotel or upscale rental as a home base, then venture out to coffee estates, nature experiences, and day trips through the Chiriquí Highlands.”

3. Multigenerational Escapes: Private Estates in Tuscany and Mallorca Calo des Moro is a small, sandy beach with shallow turquoise waters. The water is so clear. landscape of a cove with crystal clear turquoise waters

Eduardo R via Getty

Traveling with adult children and grandchildren often requires balancing space, privacy, and varied activity levels—which is where private estates and island villas shine during harvest season.

“Tuscany in September, in a staffed private villa during the grape harvest,” says Greenfield-Turk. “The estates are warm, private and beautiful, the harvest energy is wonderful for grandchildren, and the August surcharges are gone. For families who want the water, a crewed yacht charter through the Greek islands or the Croatian coast in September gives you calmer seas and far better rates than the peak weeks.”

For an island estate getaway, Holt recommends Mallorca. “A multigenerational family or group of friends can rent a beautiful finca or villa and design their days around a variety of experiences: exploring Palma, chartering a boat to sail along the coast, bringing in a private chef for dinner, etc.,” Holt notes. For couples or adults-only groups, she suggests Castillo Hotel Son Vida, a Luxury Collection Hotel just outside Palma for its views and proximity to championship golf.

Guse emphasizes that the real value of a private villa comes with curated ground service: “When you add private transfers, guides, chefs, tastings and experiences that are designed specifically around that family or group, that’s when the trip really becomes special.”

4. Small Ships and River Cruises: Calmer Waters and All-Inclusive Pampering A first look at AmaWaterways’ new AmaRudi, debuting on the Danube in spring 2027.

AmaWaterways

Cruising during shoulder months delivers high-touch service and world-class dining while eliminating the logistical headache of switching hotels every two nights.

“An AmaWaterways river cruise would be one of my first choices for small ship and river cruise travel in shoulder season,” says Guse. “I’ve personally traveled with AmaWaterways in November, February, and March and I think there is a lot of value to traveling these times of year. Obviously, you have to be okay with cooler weather, but pricing is very appealing for all that is included… You’re still getting the service, food and personal touches that make the trip feel elevated. You’re really just changing when you go, and in exchange you can get a much better value and see Europe with far fewer tourists as in peak months.”

For wine and scenery lovers, Greenfield-Turk recommends heading south: “A small-ship Douro river cruise in Portugal during the autumn harvest. The waters are gentle, the ships are intimate and high-touch, the scenery is at its best, and the value is real. I would deliberately steer clients away from the Rhine and Danube in early autumn this year, as low water has been forcing bus transfers, so the Douro, or a small-ship Mediterranean sailing with a line like Seabourn or Silversea in October, is the smarter, calmer choice.”

Holt also highlights boutique coastal yachting: “I’d look at a small-ship cruise along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast in September, like Belmondo / Cruises’ Dalmatia Discovery itinerary from Split to Dubrovnik. September departures usually offer better value than peak-summer sailings, with fewer crowds in port, and it’s an intimate way to see places like Hvar, Korčula and Dubrovnik without constantly packing and unpacking.”

5. Crowd-Free Culture: Why Florence and Rome Shine in November The view from the rooftop of the W Florence hotel has incredible views.

W Florence

For art, architecture, and culinary exploration, Italy’s cultural capitals completely transform once summer crowds dissipate.

“Florence and Rome in November,” Greenfield-Turk advises. “The summer queues simply vanish, so private, early-morning access to the Uffizi or the Sistine Chapel is easy to arrange, rates come down, and the pace suits relaxed sightseeing, private tastings and long lunches.”

“Florence in summer can be…a lot,” agrees Holt. “But when the temperature gets a little cooler and the crowds thin out, it’s a completely different experience. You’ll be able to really appreciate the museums and can pair city sightseeing with a few days in neighboring towns. For 60+ travelers, that breathing room makes a huge difference and allows them to really experience Italy without feeling rushed through it.”

For lodging, Holt recommends the iconic Four Seasons Hotel Firenze in the city, or heading into the Tuscan hills for a stay at Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco.

6. The Calendar “Sweet Spots” and High-End Advisor Perks

Timing is everything when targeting shoulder season luxury.

“The two or three weeks right after Labor Day, roughly the second and third weeks of September, and the first two weeks of November, are the ultimate window: good weather, low crowds, softened rates,” explains Greenfield-Turk.

More importantly, softer booking windows allow advisors to secure luxury amenities that are impossible to get during high season. “The perk to lean on is that shoulder season is when hotels have the space to be generous, so through a preferred-partner program a good advisor can routinely secure a suite upgrade on arrival, a complimentary fourth night, and hotel credits toward dining or the spa that simply are not on the table in peak weeks,” Greenfield-Turk adds.

Holt notes that this dynamic applies across global destinations: “From an advisor perspective, during those softer-demand periods, there’s better odds and scoring value-adds like complimentary room-category upgrades, resort or spa credit, early check-in/late checkout, or other amenities that can make the stay feel more elevated.”

For river cruise enthusiasts, Guse points to another under-the-radar window: “For river cruising, I really like late February into early March. It’s that point in winter when a lot of people are ready to get away and have something to look forward to, and you can still find pricing that is considerably better than later in the season.”

7. What 60+ Travelers Want Most Right Now: Space, Ease, and Immersion

Across all destinations, travel specialists agree that mature travelers are shifting away from ticking off checklist monuments in favor of meaningful, high-touch experiences.

“Japan is the runaway request right now, drawn by the autumn foliage and genuine value from the weaker yen,” says Greenfield-Turk. “After that, Italy beyond the summer crowds, Portugal for longer and gentler stays, and end of season safari in Southern Africa, which is at its very best in our autumn. The common thread is that this generation wants space, ease and time, not a packed itinerary.”

“They don’t necessarily just want to say they went to Italy or sailed the Rhine,” adds Guse. “They want the 5-star hotel, the private guide, the food and wine experience, tastes of local culture beyond the tourist traps, and enough time to actually enjoy where they are.”

Holt echoes that sentiment, seeing strong demand for Portugal, Costa Rica, and Colombia: “The common denominator is that they’re not asking me how many places they can squeeze into one vacation. They’re asking where they can go, settle in a little, eat well, experience the culture, and come home feeling like the trip was worth the investment.”

The 1970s Chicken Dinner That Deserves a Spot on Your Weeknight Rotation

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 7:04am

I have a soft spot for retro recipes, especially the ones that immediately transport you back to another era. Give me an old community cookbook, a handwritten recipe card or a casserole that was once a fixture on every family dinner table and I’m immediately interested. And lately with the nostalgia trend in full effect, old school recipes seem to be fully having their moment.

Chicken Divan is exactly that kind of dish. If you grew up eating it, you probably remember some version of chicken and broccoli tucked under a creamy sauce, topped with cheese and something buttery and crunchy, then baked until bubbling around the edges. It’s cozy, easy to make, uncomplicated to serve and exactly the kind of dinner that makes sense on a busy weeknight.

While Chicken Divan actually dates back much further than the 1970s, the creamy casserole versions many of us associate with the dish became staples of American home cooking in the mid-century decades. And when I came across this vintage Chicken Divan recipe from Serving Up Southern, that felt like it had all the components of the chicken dish I knew from yesteryear, I understood why families have kept making it for generations.

As a busy mom, I’m always looking for a new, or in this case, old, way to get dinner on the table quickly. And sometimes the best weeknight dinner inspiration isn’t a brand-new recipe at all, but a classic that’s been making family dinners easier for decades.

The 1970s Classic: Why Chicken Divan Is Making a Comeback

Despite its very French-sounding name, Chicken Divan is actually an American creation. The dish originated at the Divan Parisien restaurant inside New York City‘s Chatham Hotel, where chicken and broccoli were served in a rich, cheesy sauce. The original recipe was famously kept secret, although versions inspired by it generally included a Mornay-style sauce.

By the late 1950s, Chicken Divan had made its way into home kitchens, and that’s where the recipe began evolving into the creamy casserole many people remember. Convenience versions swapped the more involved restaurant-style sauce for ingredients like condensed soup and mayonnaise, making it much easier for home cooks to get dinner on the table.

And isn’t that exactly why retro weeknight chicken recipes like this deserve another look? Chicken Divan checks so many of the boxes we’re still looking for today: protein, vegetables, a creamy sauce, plenty of cheese and a crispy topping, all baked together in one dish. It’s comforting without being complicated, it can be assembled ahead of time, and it’s an easy dish for everyone to love.

Related: The 30 Best Tater Tot Recipes

The Simple Swap That Modernizes Classic Chicken Divan

One of the most recognizable ingredients in vintage Chicken Divan is condensed cream of chicken soup. The Serving Up Southern version combines it with mayonnaise, lemon juice, curry powder and sharp cheddar to make the creamy sauce that blankets the chicken and broccoli.

If you want to give the classic a slightly more modern feel, this is the easiest place to do it; Instead of opening a few cans of condensed soup, make a quick creamy sauce from scratch using butter, flour and chicken broth, then finish it with milk or cream and cheese. It’s a return to the roots of the dish, while still keeping the casserole incredibly approachable.

I also like that making Chicken Divan from scratch (aka no canned soup) gives you more control over the consistency and seasoning. You can still add that little bit of curry powder that gives so many vintage versions their signature flavor, plus lemon juice to brighten everything up. You aren’t reinventing Chicken Divan; you’re just giving the sauce a small update.

The Ultimate Weeknight Shortcut: Rotisserie Chicken

The vintage Chicken Divan recipe calls for boneless chicken breasts, which cook along with the casserole, so it’s already a pretty streamlined dinner. But on a busy weeknight, I love making it even easier by grabbing a rotisserie chicken instead.

Simply remove the meat from the chicken and cut or shred it into bite-size pieces before layering it with the broccoli. There’s no worrying about whether the chicken is cooked through, and since it’s already cooked, you’re really just waiting for the casserole to get hot and bubbly and that buttery topping to turn golden brown, probably cutting your cooking time in half.

It’s one of those rotisserie chicken dinner ideas that makes a store-bought shortcut feel like an actual homemade dinner and exactly the kind of trick that can get dinner on the table a little faster.

Ingredients Needed

One of the things I love most about a recipe like Chicken Divan is that you really don’t need a ton of ingredients to make it. You’ll need 2 to 3 bunches of fresh broccoli, 3 boneless chicken breasts or 2 cups of sliced rotisserie chicken, 2 cans of cream of chicken soup, 1 cup of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of curry powder, 1/2 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup of buttery cracker crumbs, 1 tablespoon of butter and a little parsley. It’s very much a classic casserole ingredient list, nothing fancy or hard to find, which is exactly what I want when I’m trying to get an easy, cozy dinner on the table.

How To Make Chicken Divan

Start by lightly steaming the broccoli until it’s just tender-crisp. Don’t take it too far here because the broccoli is going back into the oven and you don’t want it turning mushy.

Arrange the broccoli in the bottom of a baking dish and place your chicken breasts and or scatter your shredded or chopped rotisserie chicken over the top.

If you’re making your own sauce, here’s where you’d combine butter, flour, stock and milk to make a sauce. If you’re using canned soup, stir in mayonnaise, lemon juice, curry powder and shredded sharp cheddar and season with salt and pepper.

Pour the creamy sauce evenly over the chicken and broccoli.

Finish everything with crushed buttery crackers mixed with a little melted butter and parsley. Bake at 350°F until the casserole is heated through, the sauce is bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Make-Ahead and Freezing Instructions

This is one of those make-ahead vintage casseroles that earns its place in your recipe box.

You can assemble Chicken Divan the day before you plan to serve it, cover the baking dish and refrigerate it overnight. When you’re ready for dinner, let the casserole sit out briefly while the oven preheats and then bake until it’s hot and bubbly.

For freezing, I prefer assembling the casserole and freezing it before baking, leaving off the cracker topping so it doesn’t get soggy. Wrap it tightly and freeze. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, add the buttery cracker topping and bake as directed, adding extra time as needed to make sure the center is completely heated through.

You can also freeze leftovers in individual portions, which makes future meal prep very easy.

What To Serve With Chicken Divan

Rice is probably the most natural pairing for Chicken Divan because it catches every bit of that creamy, cheesy sauce. You could also serve it with egg noodles, mashed potatoes or a big piece of crusty bread if you really want to lean into the comfort-food factor. Since the casserole already has broccoli built right in, you don’t technically need another vegetable, but a crisp green salad with a bright vinaigrette is a nice contrast to the richness.

However you serve it, this is one retro dinner I’m ready to bring back. Chicken Divan is creamy, cheesy, crunchy on top and incredibly easy to adapt to the way families cook today. Add a rotisserie chicken and a quick homemade sauce, and suddenly this vintage casserole feels right at home in a modern weeknight rotation.

'80s Metal Band From Chicago Makes Announcement About Final Album

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 7:00am

The industrial metal pioneers continue to give fans a taste of their final album.

Ministry, the ’80s band from Chicago, is ready to close a chapter in its groundbreaking music career with its upcoming final album, Hate to Go (Take Out or Delivery).

Months ahead of its release, the band, fronted by lead vocalist Al Jourgensen, has officially dropped its second single, “We Hate.”

Accompanied by an AI-generated music video directed by Joshua Bradford, a former member of Revolting Cocks, the new song features Ministry’s signature dark, aggressive industrial-metal sound, powered by Jourgensen’s deep, powerful vocals.

Al Jourgensen of Ministry performs at The Warfield on June 03, 2025.

Steve Jennings/Getty Images

Prior to this, the band gave listeners the first preview of its 17th studio album with the release of its debut single, “Burned Out,” back in July.

Speaking about Ministry’s final album, Jourgensen reflects on the end of the band’s 45-year career while taking pride in its legacy.

“I’m f—ng done,” he said in an interview as cited by Blabbermouth. “I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. I’m amazed at the path that it’s taken, from ‘With Sympathy’ to where we’re at today, and all points in between. It’s been quite a ride, but I’m completely at peace with the fact that it’s done. It’s time to herd goats.”

Scheduled to be released on Oct. 30 via Cleopatra Records, the 10-track album will not only showcase the chemistry between the current members, guitarists Monte Pittman and Cesar Soto, sampler/synth player John Bechdel, bassist Paul D’Amour and drummer Pepe Clarke Magaña, but also feature a special collaboration with a former member.

For the closing track, “We’re Still Here,” the band teamed up with longtime bassist Paul Barker, marking his first appearance on a Ministry album since his departure in 2003.

Apart from the new song and upcoming album, Ministry offers a special treat for fans as they bid goodbye to their supporters.

This year, the band is scheduled for standalone performances and festival appearances before kicking off the Hate To Go farewell tour in the U.K. and Europe in April.

Joining them on select dates as a special guest is Die Krupps.

Ministry Tour Dates

Sep. 15 — Morrison, CO — Red Rocks
Sep. 20 — Louisville, KY — Louder Than Life
Oct. 3 — Chicago, IL — Salt Shed
Oct. 24 — Fort Worth, TX — Sick New World Texas
Apr. 2, 2027 — Utrecht, Netherlands — Ronda
Apr. 3, 2027 — Saarbrücken, Germany — Garage
Apr. 4, 2027 — Brussels, Belgium — Ancienne Belgique
Apr. 6, 2027 — Manchester, England — O2 Victoria Warehouse
Apr. 7, 2027 — Dublin, Ireland — 3Olympia
Apr. 9, 2027 — Nottingham, England — Rock City
Apr. 10, 2027 — London, England — Troxy
Apr. 12, 2027 — Paris, France — Bataclan
Apr. 14, 2027 — Madrid, Spain — La Riviera
Apr. 15, 2027 — Barcelona, Spain — Paral-lel
Apr. 17, 2027 — Lausanne, Switzerland — Docks
Apr. 18, 2027 — Munich, Germany — Tonhalle
Apr. 19, 2027 — Vienna, Austria — Gasometer
Apr. 21, 2027 — Prague, Czechia — Forum Karlín
Apr. 22, 2027 — Warsaw, Poland — Progresja
Apr. 24, 2027 — Berlin, Germany — Columbiahalle
Apr. 25, 2027 — Hamburg, Germany — Grosse Freiheit 36
Apr. 26, 2027 — Copenhagen, Denmark — Amager Bio
Apr. 27, 2027 — Oslo, Norway — Rockefeller
Apr. 29, 2027 — Stockholm, Sweden — Fållan
May 1, 2027 — Helsinki, Finland — House of Culture

Harry and Meghan’s Shock UK Return Could Change Archie and Lilibet’s Relationship With Their Royal Cousins

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 6:33am

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made the decision to move back to the U.K. with their children, and will be living there by the end of this month with Prince Archie (7) and Princess Lilibet (5) set to start at new schools at the beginning of term in September.

The location of Harry and Meghan’s new residence remains a closely-guarded secret. What we do know is that it is not in London, and is likely in the rural ‘British Beverly Hills’ Cotswolds region.

But everyone is wondering, how will the Sussexes’ shock relocation change Archie and Lilibet’s relationship with their royal relatives?

The Sussex kids don’t have much contact with other members of the royal family. After all, the Sussexes’ much-hyped meeting with King Charles III and Queen Camilla earlier this summer marked only the second time that the king met his granddaughter Lilibet Diana.

And now that their father Harry is estranged from his brother and future king Prince William, Archie and Lilibet—who up until now have been raised in Montecito, California—have had no relationship with their cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

According to Town & Country magazine, the news of Harry and Meghan’s decision to move back to the U.K. came as a bombshell to Charles. The king was informed that they would be relocating only days before it was announced publicly.

They wrote, “The King is understood to welcome the opportunity to see more of the Sussex family in a private capacity.

“However, he is also clear that there will be no change to their role and status as non-working royals and that there will be no half in/half out option for Harry and Meghan.”

It means that the Sussexes will more than likely be included in royal family events such as the royals’ traditional Christmas morning walk to church on the Sandringham estate, Easter service at Windsor, and summer vacation at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

The move will be a big change for Archie and Lilibet, who until now have only known the Sussexes’ idyllic Riven Rock estate in sleepy Montecito with its tiered rose gardens, Italian cypress trees, swathes of lavender, and olive trees that are over one hundred years old.

However a source told Woman’s Day that the Sussex kids are thrilled at the prospect of a new adventure in the U.K.

“Archie and Lili loved their recent time in the U.K., it was a truly magical experience and they’ve been raving about it almost non-stop ever since,” they said.

““So they’re super excited about this move, which makes Harry feel extremely happy and validated that he’s making the right decision.”

They went on, ““But what excites the kids more than anything, by all accounts, is that they’ll finally have the chance to get to know their cousins.”

At 13 and 11 years old respectively, George and Charlotte are a bit older than their Sussex cousins but their younger brother Louis (8) is closer in age to Archie and Lilibet—which raises the prospect that he and Archie could end up attending high school together in future.

That school would most likely be Eton, the elite boys-only boarding school of which both William and Harry are alumni.

George is set to start attending Eton this fall, only a 15-minute drive from his family’s home of Forest Lodge in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

It has been theorized that the news of George’s enrollment at Eton could have been a catalyst for Harry and Meghan’s decision.

The source went on to tell Woman’s Day that Archie and Lilibet see “the way that George, Charlotte and Louis live over there and it’s literally the stuff of fairytales, so it stands to reason that they feel a little left out.”

They added, “Archie is a very bright and engaged character, he’s heard all about George’s upcoming start at Eton and apparently he loves the idea of following that path himself when he’s old enough.”

Whether Prince William and Kate Middleton are thrilled at the prospect of Louis and Archie someday attending school together is another matter.

The rift between the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex became permanent with the publication of Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare in 2023.

At that point, an insider said, William felt he had “lost his little brother […] quite possibly for life.”

'60s Rock Icon, Nicknamed 'The Lost Beach Boy,' Turns 78

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 6:33am

A member of one of the most iconic bands to emerge in the ’60s, David Marks found early success as The Beach Boys’ rhythm guitarist. Today, Aug. 22, 2026, he celebrates his 78th birthday.

Born Aug. 22, 1948, Marks joined The Beach Boys around 1962, replacing the band’s co-founder and original rhythm guitarist Al Jardine. At the time, Marks was just a high school teenager, but he would soon be on his way to stardom.

“I started attracting attention. We had to leave public school and enroll in a private school in Hollywood, the Hollywood Professional School,” he explained to Guitar World in 2026. “It’s not there anymore, but a lot of big producers and actors went there, so we fit in better, except that we didn’t learn anything.”

Marks was a key player in some of The Beach Boys’ greatest hits, contributing to the band’s first four studio albums: 1962’s Surfin’ Safari, and 1963’s Surfin’ U.S.A., Surfer Girl, and Little Deuce Coupe.

“We definitely were a guitar band,” he said. “We were heavily guitar-oriented. That, combined with Brian’s brilliant vocal stuff, created our identifying sound. Everybody knows that without a foundation, you can’t build anything. And those first four or five albums were our foundation.”

Despite his major contributions to the band, Marks was famously omitted from its Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1988 and has spoken with Guitar World about the lack of credits and royalties received. This, in turn, earned Marks the nickname “The Lost Beach Boy,” which is also the title of his biography.

Marks initially departed The Beach Boys in 1963, during the band’s early rise to fame, amid tensions with manager Murry Wilson. In 1997, he was asked to rejoin the band after a 34-year absence for touring and special appearances.

In 2011, the chart-toppers announced a 50th anniversary reunion tour, along with a new album. That’s Why God Made the Radio was released on June 5, 2012, and became an instant hit, debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and cementing itself as the band’s highest-charting set in nearly 38 years.

7 Fall Home Decor Trends Designers Love—and 4 They’re Completely Sick Of

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 6:16am

Every fall, there are a few home decor trends you can expect to see come out of hibernation. From pumpkins on stoops to signs that say “grateful,” the autumnal aesthetic is pretty varied; and sometimes, it can be hard to tell which fall home decor trends are actually nice and which are tacky.

To find out which home decor trends are projected to rise in popularity this fall, we spoke with two interior designers: Wendy Glaister, CEO, founder and Principal Designer at Wendy Glaister Interiors, and Eric Goranson, an interior designer, Certified Kitchen Designer and the host of the national radio show and podcast Around the House Show.

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Both designers shared a few home decor trends they’re expecting (and hoping!) to see inside and outside of homes this autumn, as well as a handful of fall decor trends they’re totally sick of.

“I’m really excited for a subtle, beautiful, timeless fall season full of friends, family and fun,” Glaister tells Parade. Overall, she’s hoping to see “lots of tastefulness, none of the tacky.”

Curious for Glaister and Goranson’s insights about fall decor this year? Keep reading.

Interior Designers Say These 7 Home Decor Trends Will Be Everywhere This Fall

This fall, you can expect to see these home decor trends everywhere, in no particular order.

1. Botanical patterns

Jena Ardell / Getty Images

This fall, you can expect to see lots of fabrics, upholstery and art with autumnal botanical patterns, according to Glaister.

“It’s all turning up trees, leaves and roses and I’m here for it,” she says. “I love the way a botanical influence adds whimsy and color to a room. Paired with the earthy neutral palette that’s so popular now: deep greens, rusty red and burgundy and warm golds make it the perfect compliment for a cozy fall story.”

2. Chocolate brown

MoMo Productions / Getty Images

“Chocolate brown is back, and I’m genuinely glad,” Goranson tells Parade. “We spent a good decade drowning in white kitchens and greige-on-greige, and it got sterile. Now brown’s showing up in paint, throw pillows, rugs, accent walls—actual color again.”

Goranson also notes that chocolate brown is a “forgiving” color when it comes to stains and wear.

3. Dark wicker and cane

Ruslan Lytvyn / Getty Images

“Nothing brings the textured warmth and interest to a room as wicker and cane,” says Glaister. “A couple of years ago, we saw these materials in blonde and lighter colors. Now it’s more of a deep caramel and coffee. Combined with the colors found in neutral botanicals, rooms instantly become more alluring.”

4. Layered lighting

Ashley Blessing / Getty Images

For fall, Goranson foresees homeowners “finally fixing their lighting.”

“One overhead fixture doing all the work in a room is fine in July when the sun’s up till nine,” he explains. However, once the sun starts setting earlier in the fall, “it’s brutal,” says Goranson.

“I’m seeing a lot more table lamps, sconces and dimmers going in this time of year—the difference between a house that feels cozy at 6:00 p.m. and one that feels like a DMV waiting room.”

Glaister agrees, noting that mini rechargeable lamps are growing in popularity and becoming available in more styles and shapes. Whether they’re made of glass, stone or gold metal, she thinks “the combinations of colors and materials are really fun.” She adds that she likes to stick these lamps in nooks like bookcases and countertops “for a happy little evening glow without the fuss of cords and outlets.”

5. Monograms

madisonwi / Getty Images

“The whole season makes its mark because of special traditions,” explains Glaister. “It’s back to the overall classic aesthetic that’s so wonderfully embraced right now.”

And one way to do that is with “beautifully monogrammed cocktail napkins, hand towels, pillows and stationary items, which can “bring a sense of quiet sophistication to any room.” Glaister loves these for the dining table or guest bathroom.

6. Real dried florals

Grace Cary / Getty Images

To decorate for fall, many people buy foam and plastic faux florals at big box stores—but Goranson prefers “actual branches, real pumpkins arranged with some thought [and] dried arrangements that hold up all season.” He notes that not only do real florals often cost about the same as the fake stuff, but real botanicals actually look “like an adult did it.”

7. The Greek key pattern

Veni vidi...shoot / Getty Images

Glaister loves the “classic design motif” of the Greek key for fall.

It makes a statement, “whether carved into the back of a dining chair, sewn onto the lead edge of drapery or etched around the outside of a wine glass,” says Glaister. “It never really goes out of style and that’s a lovely thing.”

Interior Designers Are Sick of These 4 Fall Home Decor Trends

Glaister and Goranson are hoping less people will embrace these four trends this fall.

1. Heavy fragrance

Tatiana Maksimova / Getty Images

“Sicky sweet fall fragrances are not at all in vogue and I am so grateful for that,” says Glaister. “It’s tough to walk into a home and feel as though you’ve walked into a Hallmark store. The sense-slapping strong scents of old have been replaced by subtle, more sophisticated notes of amber, bourbon and light pine.”

Goranson agrees, singling out artificial pumpkin spice scents.

“Candle, diffuser, plug-in, all going at once, in basically every house you walk into come October,” he says. “One’s festive. Six of them running and your living room smells like a Starbucks that just reopened after a fire. Plus, how heathy are the chemicals you now have floating around your home?”

2. Tacky fall decorations

PondShots / Getty Images

Glaister is against “kitschy” decor featuring fall motifs like turkeys, jack-o’-lanterns and candy corn.

Instead, she prefers “botanicals in natural, neutral colors,” which are “more widely available and at multiple price points … nearly anyone can enjoy them and because they’re not an overtly fall theme, they can be used and appreciated all year long.”

3. Too much orange

TShum / Getty Images

Goranson has observed that every fall, a lot of homeowners decorate their homes with endless items in the same shade of rust-orange.

“At some point it stops being a fall refresh and starts looking like Spirit Halloween set up shop in your entryway for six weeks,” he jokes. “There’s a whole palette available now: plum, mustard, deep green. Use it.”

4. Signs with fall quotes

Catherine Lane / Getty Images

“While I am thankful, grateful and blessed, I don’t want to see a sign over my door proclaiming that to the world,” jokes Glaister. “If you can’t get that sense from me by my actions and deeds, no sign will make you believe it.”

Up Next:

Sources:

Wendy Glaister, CEO, founder and Principal Designer at Wendy Glaister Interiors
Eric Goranson, interior designer, Certified Kitchen Designer and host of Around the House Show

Jessica Simpson’s Lost 2003 Interview Reveals What She Really Thought About Nick Lachey and ‘Newlyweds’

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 6:16am

In late spring 2003, as the entertainment editor at CosmoGIRL!, I argued against putting Jessica Simpson on our September cover.

Jessica first graced the March 2001 issue of CosmoGIRL! with this cringy cover line: The Real Jessica Simpson: She’s No Prude. It was a not-so-subtle reference to how Jessica differentiated herself from the other blonde pop stars (Britney, Christina, Mandy and so on) of the day. Though Jessica was dating 98 Degrees’ heartthrob Nick Lachey, she was open about saving herself for marriage.

It sounds wild in hindsight, but at the time, Jessica was not a sure bet. For context, this was spring 2003. While Jessica and Nick had recently tied the knot, her second album, Irresistible, had underperformed. Boy bands were cooling off, dimming the star power of her new husband. Of course, there was intrigue over Nick and Jessica as a “celebrity couple” and we were told they had filmed an MTV reality series. But the premise sounded like an uphill battle: a struggling pop singer cast as a clueless housewife, debuting decades before anyone coined the term “tradwife.”

All those doubts aside, we genuinely lucked out. Their now iconic reality show, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, became an inescapable cultural juggernaut and we never could have predicted that Jessica Simpson would be the blonde pop star to make the world say, “Britney who?”

For 23 years, the full transcript of our 40-minute phone interview has lived in my archive. Looking back at the raw, unedited tape today, what struck me most was how much pressure Jessica was already carrying. The most shocking revelation? Record executives originally planned to pit the newlyweds directly against each other by releasing their respective new albums on the exact same day. Jessica’s third album In This Skin was slated to drop on August 19th, 2003 (complete with songs she’d written herself, a first in her career) along with Nick’s solo debut, Soulo.

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Hearing a 23-year-old artist openly admit she’d happily sacrifice her own shot at the top of the charts just to protect her husband’s ego says everything about the impossible expectations placed on women in that era. Ultimately, cooler heads intervened. Nick’s album was quietly delayed to November, while Jessica’s In This Skin dropped in August, going multi-platinum and debuting at number 10 (Nick’s later debuted at number 51). The tension Jessica so cheerily brushed off was already forming cracks beneath the surface.

Here is the exact moment she defended that high-stakes setup, completely unaware of the emotional trap it laid.

CosmoGIRL!: Whose decision was it to put you guys up against each other with album releases?

Jessica Simpson: Um, well we both have this show, and it’s just more publicity, more press. I think that it also makes a good statement . . .that we’re not in competition. That if he’s number one, and I’m number two, it will be the best thing in the world. I mean, what husband and wife were ever number one and number two together? What’s mine is his, and what’s his is mine. I think it’s a really cool statement to make. So, it’s kind of our idea, I don’t know…. It’s a promotional thing.

CG: Is there any friendly competition over who’s going to come in at number one?

JS: Oh, we might joke around with each other, but I mean, this is Nick’s first time out, you know? We’re just…. he’s so nervous because it’s his first solo thing and none of his music is familiar, he’s not with the other guys [from 98 Degrees]. So, he’s really nervous. I would love for him to beat me out because I know how much it would mean for him to be number one.

‘There Are No Rumors Because Everything Is Reality’

Seven months into marriage, Jessica was entirely sincere about welcoming MTV cameras into her home, convinced total transparency would protect her relationship rather than destroy it. Here’s how she spun it.

CG: Is it hard, especially being newlyweds, and having the cameras around you all the time? Are you at all regretting not having a little bit of privacy so soon in your marriage?

JS: You see us as real people which I think is nice. There are no rumors because everything is reality. And you know what? Nick and l are just so easy going. We’re both really laid back people who don’t really care what people think of us. If anything, it’s an incredible opportunity. The power of MTV right now is unbelievable, especially with Punk’d and all these shows, all these reality shows. I mean there’s The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, people picking and choosing the person to marry. But there’s never been a reality show of the actual marriage and what all goes into it. And especially a celebrity marriage. I mean, people buy magazines every month, every week, to see what bag a celebrity is carrying or what they’re wearing. But, this is our life. You’re going to see everything. From fighting, to making up, to us in the studio, how we deal with being apart, how we make it work.

Early Echoes of Toxic Diet Culture

Long before the tabloid frenzy over her weight and years before her Daisy Duke era, Jessica was already navigating the suffocating demands of Hollywood’s physical standards. This excerpt shows how much she was already thinking about the public perception of her body.

CG: You don’t feel pressured to be thin, or always look great when you’re on camera?

JS: I mean you always have that pressure because you’re on film. You know, you’re being taped every day. But I love to work out, I love to do yoga, and you know, it’s just a part of my life. To say I don’t worry about it or think about it is a lie. Because I do. And to say that I try not to eat pizza and hamburgers, you know, or say that I EAT that and stay thin? That’s a lie too. Because I know a lot of people say that, especially models, are like “oh yeah, I eat everything.” Okay, right. Sure. Uh huh. It’s like no. I mean, you gotta watch what you eat, and you have to work out if you want to look great. And of course, I want to look great for myself. Not necessarily just for the press or whatever – not that I want to look better than anybody else. I just want to feel good in my clothes.

CG: Absolutely. What do you think gives you your confidence?

JS: For me, if I have a good day working out, eating healthy, and just spending time with my husband, I feel confident. You know, confidence comes from being on stage and getting applause. It comes from a compliment on my dress. Always accept compliments, and always listen to your compliments, because people aren’t just saying them to say them. It was in their mind to say it, and that’s why they said it, so believe it. Most people are just like “oh no….thanks anyways.” But I really believe in compliments. If somebody tells me, “Oh, you look so thin today— it makes my day!”

Life as Married Woman

Jessica knew Nick was “the one” the moment she met him but admitted he wouldn’t propose until she was more of a “woman” and had to “grow up.” I did ask Jessica about waiting for marriage to have sex as a way to offer some “very “grown up” advice to our young readers (which she did). But it’s what she said about her relationship with her parents even after her wedding that makes me wonder if she was ready to be a wife, or at the least the wife that Nick wanted her to be.

CG: Your decision to wait to be with Nick until you were married was very public. We have so many readers that write to us and say that they want to wait, they want to save themselves, but they’re boyfriends just don’t understand. Not everyone is as lucky to have somebody that is understanding as Nick so what is your advice to them?

JS: My advice is there ARE the guys out there that will understand. They’re very rare. But it’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. And Nick wishes he would have done the same. Because when you find the love that we have, it’s like, you want to be able to share this one thing, with that one person. And I can’t imagine being that intimate with anybody else BUT him. I just find that gross just because he’s IT for me. And I knew that the moment I met him.

CG: What is your relationship with your parents now that you’re married? Do they treat you more like an adult? Do they expect more from you?

JS: It’s not really different. You know, my parents are my parents, I’ll always be their little girl. I still have my mom pick out my outfits, and my dad still handles all my business, and gives me advice, and nothing’s really changed other than the fact that they’ve accepted Nick as family. And we have a new family with his family. Nothing’s really changed, it’s just our family has expanded.

Why I’m Sharing This Now

None of this ran the way I wrote it in 2026. Back in 2003, CosmoGIRL! was covering a pop star’s happy marriage and a hit reality show, not looking into a crystal ball, trying to guess what would happen and what she’d say about it two decades later. But that’s exactly what makes an unedited transcript like this worth revisiting. Jessica told the truth as she understood it in June 2003. She just didn’t know yet how much of it would change, or how candidly she’d eventually tell the rest of the story herself. Here’s the original cover story:

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

Want to hear about Lauren’s Y2K adventures in teen magazines? Head over to The Teen Mag Time Machine, for more never told stories straight out of the vault! And check back here weekly at Parade for more!

Next, Jessica Simpson Shines on Stage During Major Music Comeback

We Asked 3 Travel Advisors for the Best Fall Leaf-Peeping Train Trip—They All Said the Same Thing

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 6:10am

There’s nothing like riding a train through upstate New York in autumn.

Hop on Amtrak’s Adirondack at Penn Station in New York City, and a September or October journey carries you north through charming small towns, remote forests, glimmering lakes and the Adirondacks, the trees ablaze in vibrant shades of amber, crimson and gold.

Instead of gripping a steering wheel, you can enjoy immersive, panoramic views and a smooth ride toward Montréal’s Gare Centrale, arriving in time for an evening stroll, a Québécois meal and a stay at a glamorous hotel.

It’s a journey that travel advisors consistently rank among the best in North America, and it’s easy to see why. Here’s why the Adirondack is one of the best trains on the continent for autumn leaf-peeping.

Why Fall Is the Best Time to Ride the Adirondack Amtrak’s Adirondack train travels daily between New York City and Montréal.

Photo courtesy of Amtrak

The Adirondack runs daily year-round, but autumn is when the 381-mile route between New York and Montréal truly shines. Trains depart Manhattan each morning and wind north along the Hudson River through cities and towns like Rhinecliff, Hudson, Saratoga Springs and Westport, arriving in Montréal by early evening; a trip of about 10 to 12 hours.

“This trip offers a front-row seat to everything the Northeast has to offer, from the Hudson River to the Adirondacks to Lake Champlain,” says travel advisor Christy Fischer, owner of WanderRail Travel and founder of the Amtrak Solo Travelers Facebook group. “Very few trains in North America can match the Adirondack’s range of scenery.”

From late September through mid-October, the route passes through luminous foliage in the Hudson Valley and Adirondack Park, with color shifting like a kaleidoscope as the train climbs north.

“Adirondack Park is the largest publicly protected area in the U.S. It’s larger than Yellowstone, Glacier and Yosemite combined—and as a result, the foliage changes at different times depending on where you are in the park and on the route,” says travel advisor Ryan Hanehan, founder of Travel Beginnings.

Onboard: Wide Seats, Valley Views and Peak Foliage Saratoga Spa State Park is located in Saratoga Springs, New York, a popular overnight stop on Amtrak’s Adirondack route.

Photo by Barry Winiker, courtesy of Getty Images

The Adirondack offers coach-class seating with wide reclining seats, tray tables and generous legroom. There’s no full-service dining car, but a café car serves snacks, sandwiches and drinks for the ride. Free WiFi is available, though service can be spotty in more remote stretches of the Adirondacks.

“Many travelers bring wine and cheese, which gives the trip the relaxed feel of a scenic ride through wine country,” Fischer said. “Sharing a picnic while passing landmarks like the Hudson River’s Bannerman Castle is unforgettable.”

The route also lends itself to multi-stop planning, with standout overnight stops that include Saratoga Springs, known for its Victorian architecture, mineral springs and lively dining scene; Hudson, prized for antique shopping, historic architecture and farm-to-table dining scene; and Westport, a scenic lakeside village on the Western shore of Lake Champlain. However, since the train runs just once daily, any stopover requires a new ticket and an overnight stay.

“Historic Saratoga Springs has the perfect combination of a charming downtown and easily accessible parks to take in the changing season,” says travel advisor Kim Foley MacKinnon, founder of Escape with Kim and an award-winning travel journalist, editor and guidebook author. “If you can, getting out on Saratoga Lake offers an ideal way to see the fall foliage with nothing in your way. Saratoga Springs is also famous for its mineral waters and horse racing—taste from the 21 public springs around town, then learn about the city’s racing history at the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame.”

Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains: The Trip’s Best Stretch New York’s Adirondack Mountains are a highlight of Amtrak’s Adirondack route.

Photo by Benedek, courtesy of Getty Images

The final leg of the journey before crossing into Canada—between Port Henry and Rouses Point—is the trip’s highlight. Here, the tracks trace the shore of Lake Champlain while the Adirondack High Peaks rise majestically across the water. This remote stretch can be difficult to navigate by car but wonderful to experience through a train window, framed by hillsides of sugar maple, birch and beech in blazing shades of red, orange and yellow.

“The final U.S. stretch is jaw-dropping,” Fischer says. “The train runs just feet from Lake Champlain, with Vermont’s Green Mountains in view and the Adirondacks rising nearby. It’s a simple trip with the most beautiful views.”

This is a section of the state with few roads and even fewer towns, which is part of what makes the train journey so memorable: mile after mile of untouched forest, lake and mountains, visible without ever having to navigate it yourself.

“The route is so much more aesthetically appealing via train than driving,” Hanehan says. “Instead of concentrating on traffic and roads, the train and its scenery is simply there to be enjoyed.”

The Ultimate Fall Destination: Montréal Canada’s second largest city, Montréal is famous for its distinct blend of European charm and North American energy.

Photo by Eva Blue, courtesy of Tourisme Montréal

One of the route’s top benefits is its arrival: the Adirondack arrives directly into Montréal’s Gare Centrale, with one of the city’s most spectacular hotels just an elevator ride away. One of Canada’s famous grand railway hotels, the 950-room Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth sits directly above the station and is connected by a dedicated elevator; travelers can easily stroll from train platform to hotel lobby without ever stepping outside.

“Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth is an exquisite hotel with sweeping downtown views,” Fischer says. “Its design blends mid-century modern style with Gilded Age grandeur, and the cocktail lounge is very chic.”

Beyond the hotel, Montréal is one of the most walkable cities in North America, and fall may be its finest season for exploring on foot. Known as the City of Festivals for its packed cultural calendar, this world-class city is very international; French is the primary language spoken, giving even a short visit the feel of a trip to Europe without the long flight.

“Montréal’s churches and cathedrals are stunning, including the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal, known for its Gothic Revival architecture, celestial ceiling and stained-glass windows depicting the city’s history,” Fischer says. “Another favorite is Mount Royal Park, which sits in the heart of the city and was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same landscape architect behind Central Park.”

More Fabulous Fall Train Rides Across North America The Rocky Mountaineer’s GoldLeaf cars feature panoramic glass-dome views, perfect for fall leaf-peeping.

Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountaineer

The Adirondack isn’t the only scenic fall ride worth booking. In New England, Amtrak’s Vermonter connects Washington, D.C., to St. Albans, Vermont, climbing through the Green Mountains and past historic railroad towns. Amtrak’s Cardinal passes through the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains (and through West Virginia’s dramatic New River Gorge National Park and Preserve) during its journey between New York City and Chicago, while the glass-domed Rocky Mountaineer offers breathtaking views of the Canadian Rockies.

“Fall is one of the best times of the year to ride the Rocky Mountaineer through Western Canada,” Fischer says. “September and October mean fewer crowds, crisp mornings and glass-domed coaches with windows that curve up and over your head, so the views are all around you, not just out one side. This provides incredible views of fall foliage and wildlife.”

Amtrak’s Empire Builder between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest skirts the southern edge of Montana’s Glacier National Park, while West Virginia’s Cass Scenic Railroad runs vintage steam locomotives up a historic logging grade through Appalachian hardwood forest. North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains Railroad winds through the Nantahala Gorge and lush mountain passes, and California’s Napa Valley Wine Train rolls past miles of golden, color-changing vineyards.

“If you go on a leaf-peeping adventure by car, it means the driver naturally misses out on all the beauty. If you go by train, everyone gets to enjoy the views,” MacKinnon says. “There are so many options for taking a fall foliage excursion by train, from a trip that’s just a couple of hours to all day to overnight. It’s a wonderful way to see more than you would otherwise.”

Tips for Planning the Ultimate Leaf-Peeping Train Journey A highly walkable city, Montréal is beautiful to visit by train in autumn.

Photo by @daph.nico, courtesy of Tourisme Montréal

Book early. “Because seasonal trains are popular and so specialized, try to book as early as possible,” Fischer says.

Time it right. “Each year is different, so check local foliage reports before locking in your dates,” Hanehan says.

Grab a window seat. “Book it in advance, so you don’t miss a thing,” MacKinnon says.

Stay flexible. “Traveling on a weekday instead of a weekend gives you a better chance of lower fares,” Fischer says.

Build in extra time. “Stopping along the route lets you enjoy the journey without rushing through it,” Hanehan says.

Pack layers. “Fall weather can be unpredictable, so dress for it so you’ll be comfortable,” MacKinnon says.

Bring binoculars and a camera. “The sights are memorable — you’ll want to see and document them,” Fischer says.

Ride during daylight. “Plan your trip so you’re on the train during peak daylight hours; the scenery is the main attraction,” Hanehan says.

Bring your passport. “Don’t forget your passport if you’re crossing a border,” MacKinnon says.

Your Perfect Girls' Trip, Based on Birth Month

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 6:08am

There’s nothing quite like getting away with your closest friends, but everyone has a different idea of what makes the perfect girls’ trip. Some groups want to fill every minute with sightseeing and adventure, while others would happily spend the entire weekend lounging by the pool, enjoying long, leisurely dinners, and just catching up with the people they love.

According to astrology, your birth month can offer some insight into the kind of vacation that feels most enjoyable based on the qualities of the two zodiac signs that share it. Whether your ideal getaway involves exploring a familiar favorite destination or experiencing something completely outside of your comfort zone, there’s a destination that matches your travel style. Here’s where you should go on your next girls’ trip, based on your birth month.

January: Aspen, Colorado

Known for its world-class skiing, breathtaking mountain views, and cozy luxury, Aspen is a wonderful destination for a month shared by ambitious Capricorns and visionary Aquarians. Capricorns love structure, even when on holiday, so a place that has lots to do to keep them busy, especially outdoorsy, recreational activities, will keep them engaged. And a sign represented by a mountain goat feels right at home on the slopes! Aquarians appreciate experiences beyond the ordinary, making Aspen’s mix of adventurous activities, art, picture-perfect nature, and community rather appealing because even vacation is an excuse to get them out of their comfort zones!

February: Tulum, Mexico

Tulum is a beautiful destination for those born in February as it offers a mix of adventure and relaxation that will leave visitors feeling nourished. Between the turquoise Caribbean Sea, bohemian beach clubs, ancient Mayan ruins, and world-famous wellness retreats, it’s a place that encourages you to slow down and savor the moment. Innovative Aquarians will love its creative, free-spirited vibe, while dreamy Pisces will happily spend days floating in the ocean, exploring cenotes, or watching the sunrise from the beach.

March: New Orleans, Louisiana

For those born in March, a girls’ trip needs a destination that needs to feel celebratory with equal parts magic and adventure, making New Orleans the perfect choice for a getaway. Mystical Pisces will appreciate the city’s rich history, vibrant art scene, and spiritual roots. Adventurous Aries will fill the itinerary with late nights of live music and great food. Both signs will enjoy the thrill of a ghost tour that lets them learn about notable people’s lives as well as their spirits.

April: Nashville, Tennessee

From live music on Broadway to incredible restaurants and rooftop bars, Nashville has everything you could want in a memorable girls’ trip. Aries have a lot of energy, so they will love that the city offers ample opportunities for dancing and music as they explore and satisfy their need for adventure. Tauruses are more laidback and will appreciate the city’s vibrant food scene, boutique shopping, and all-around Southern hospitality. Whether it’s a lively concert or a leisurely brunch, Nashville has something for everyone born in April.

May: Charleston, South Carolina

With its charming cobblestone streets, pastel-colored homes, and welcoming food scene, Charleston’s laid-back vibe is perfect for people born in May. Indulgent Tauruses will love the sensory pleasures the city has to offer through the local Lowcountry cuisine, window shopping, and abundant opportunities to wander through gardens while appreciating the beauty of different architectural styles. Curious Geminis will happily spend time exploring historic neighborhoods and chatting with the locals to find the best hidden gems. Relaxing yet far from dull, Charleston will provide a memorable girls’ getaway.

June: Cape Cod, Massachusetts

A bustling beach town with proximity to water satisfies the desires of both social Geminis and comfort-seeking Cancers, and a destination like Cape Cod allows everyone on the trip to set their own pace. Geminis will love how easy it is to navigate and explore all of the little towns as they flit up and down the coast, whereas Cancers can slow down and take their time, perhaps not even leaving the cozy cottages this area is known for renting to visitors.

July: Lake Como, Italy

With alpine scenery and picturesque towns, Lake Como is one of Italy’s most gorgeous destinations. Water-ruled Cancers will appreciate the slower pace, with opportunities for lunches by the lake with their nearest and dearest capped off by leisurely boat rides. Glamorous Leos will love the stylish hotels, beautiful scenery, and chic experiences the villages have to offer. It’s a destination that makes even the simplest moments feel special, whether you’re sharing a long meal with friends or taking in the view with an Aperol spritz in hand.

August: Palm Springs, California

A girls’ trip to Palm Springs provides an abundance of opportunities for effortless glamour! Whether spending afternoons lounging by a pool, taking in the city’s gorgeous midcentury architecture, or browsing the endless array of vintage shops, this desert oasis is quite appealing for sun-loving Leos and detail-oriented Virgos. There’s enough excitement to keep a Leo entertained and plenty of space to slow down and recharge for the Virgo who desperately needs a vacation.

September: Napa Valley, California

The natural beauty of the Napa Valley makes it a beloved destination to visit with friends who have great taste, which those born in September have in abundance! Discerning Virgos will appreciate the attention to detail found everywhere from farm-to-table restaurants to relaxing spas, while Venus-ruled Libras will fall in love with the vineyards, beautiful hotels, and effortlessly romantic atmosphere. If your circle is in need of a getaway to slow down and indulge, this is an enjoyable option.

October: Savannah, Georgia

Savannah offers the perfect combination of beauty and mystery for those born in October. Aesthetically minded Libras will be enchanted by the city’s gorgeous architecture and stunning old houses, lush gardens, and historic squares. Supernatural-loving Scorpios will want to hear every ghost story and explore the city’s famously haunted history. Spend the afternoon wandering beneath Spanish moss-covered trees before taking a ghost tour after dark, followed by cocktails and dinner with your closest friends. Equal parts charming and spooky, Savannah feels almost tailor-made for an October-born girls’ trip.

November: Reykjavík, Iceland

For those born in November, a successful girls’ trip requires a bit of an adventure, making Reykjavík an excellent choice. Scorpios will feel right at home soaking in geothermal hot springs surrounded by otherworldly scenery. Free-spirited Sagittarians will love having the opportunity to experience Iceland’s dramatic landscape of waterfalls and the elusive Northern Lights. Both signs appreciate being out of their comfort zones and in a place that is wildly different from their everyday lives, and this Nordic city will satisfy that daring desire.

December: Paris, France

There’s never a shortage of things to do on a girls’ trip to Paris, making it perfect for December-born travelers who like to make the most of every vacation. Adventurous Sagittarians can spend all day exploring the city, visiting museums, and discovering new neighborhoods. Traditional Capricorns can indulge their love of history by seeing iconic places like the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and Versailles in person. And after a busy day of sightseeing, both signs will be more than happy to slow down over a bottle of wine and a long dinner with their closest friends.

Costco’s New Bakery Loaf Looks Like a True Summer Dream

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 6:05am

With the last weeks of summer winding down, Costco is giving us one more dreamy taste of the season. And this time, the bakery is combining summer berries, crunchy pecans, and hearty grains in a sourdough loaf that sounds just as good toasted for breakfast as it does in a grilled cheese sandwich.

The new Kirkland Signature Cherry Berry Sourdough Bread with Pecans is made with dried tart cherries, blueberries and cranberries, along with pecans and a blend of seeds and grains. Even better, Costco uses a long fermentation process to develop the sourdough before baking.

Priced at $9.99, the new bakery loaf is Costco item #2033252. You can see it up close in this August 18 Instagram from Rachel (@discovering_costco):

View this post on Instagram Costco’s New Cherry Berry Sourdough Bread Uses Long Fermentation for Extra Flavor A classic sourdough loaf.

Photo by Ben Stein on Unsplash

There’s more happening here than simply folding fruit and nuts into a loaf of bread. Sourdough’s fermentation process gives naturally occurring yeasts and bacteria time to work on the flour, contributing to the bread’s characteristic flavor and texture.

According to the Sourdough Institute, extended fermentation does more than build flavor. As the wild yeasts and bacteria in the starter work through the dough, they begin breaking down gluten and starches before the bread is even baked, a process the Institute describes as “pre-digestion.” Longer fermentation has also been linked to a lower glycemic index compared to bread made with commercial yeast, as well as better availability of certain vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

For Costco’s new loaf, that tangy sourdough base sounds especially good against the sweet-tart mix of cherries, blueberries and cranberries. Pecans bring some richness and crunch, while the seed-and-grain blend adds another layer of texture.

And there are plenty of ways to put those flavors to work. Toast a slice and add butter in the morning, pair it with a creamy Brie or sharp cheddar for a late-summer cheese board, or use it for a grilled cheese or turkey sandwich when you’re ready for something more savory. It could even make a delightful base for French toast when you want to lean into the sweeter side.

With fall flavors already creeping onto store shelves, this colorful new loaf feels like a delicious way to enjoy the last little bit of summer before pumpkin season officially takes over.

‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ Star Reveals the Scene That Made Him Most Nervous to Film

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 6:00am

The 1982 movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High featured several suggestive scenes, but one of them almost cost the filmmakers an X rating.

In an August 2026 interview posted on Chris Jericho’s Talk Is Jericho podcast, actor Robert Romanus, who played teen ticket scalper Mike Damone in the Amy Heckerling coming-of-age film, revealed that he filmed a full-frontal nude scene that was cut down.

The scene featured Romanus’ character’s sexual encounter with Stacy Hamilton, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, in a pool house. Romanus knew he would be required to film a full-frontal nude scene when he signed on for the role, but that didn’t make it any easier when it came time for the shoot.

“It made me very nervous,” Romanus, 70, admitted on Jericho’s podcast. “And I remember sitting in my trailer. It was in the morning and a closed set, you know. I mean, all the anybody who’s working on the film is off the set except for maybe the cameraman, the sound man, and the director. And I’m sitting in my trailer and Amy knocks on the door and she says, ‘How you feeling?’ I say, ‘I’m really nervous.’ She says, “You need anything?” I said, “I could use a shot of gin.’ So, I took I got a little gin and took one or two shots, and I took off my robe and I walked out of the trailer.”

“I’m nervous as Bob Romanus, but Mike Damone is very nervous in this pool house because he’s a virgin,” he added. “And he’s like as nervous as anybody about having sex. And so I can use that, you know what I mean? I can use all those feelings that Bob’s feeling and put them right into Mike Damone. And so that’s how I kind of got through that, you know? But then as far as naked goes, after 30 seconds or a minute of being naked on the stage, you don’t even really think about it. It’s just another day at work. But the buildup was quite nerve-wracking.”

Part of the scene was ultimately cut, as the movie was already under the censor’s watch due to Phoebe Cates’ questionable scene with a carrot.

“So, I think the censor said, ‘You’re getting an X-rating. Either you get rid of this scene, or you get rid of this scene.’ And so they ended up cutting some of the some of the pool house scene down,” Romanus shared.

Heckerling once admitted that she fully intended to show nudity on both sides in the scene.

Speaking on the It Happened in Hollywood podcast in April, the director explained that she felt like there should “be some equality” in the sex scene.

“It’s a very, very uncomfortable scene,” she continued. “And for these two people, you feel naked, you feel awkward, you feel insecure, and on both sides. And I wanted to capture that.”

Heckerling ultimately heeded the warning of the Motion Picture Association, which dangled an X rating over her film.

“I said, ‘But if it was a woman, it wouldn’t be an X rating,’” the director recalled. “And they said, ‘Well, the male organ is aggressive.’ How do you fight that?”

After Romanus’ nude scene was cut, Fast Times at Ridgemont High premiered with an R rating in 1982.

1977 Linda Ronstadt Album, With a No. 3 Billboard Smash, Dethroned Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours'

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 5:50am

In late 1977, Fleetwood Mac‘s Rumours seemed completely unshakeable at the top of the Billboard 200, until Linda Ronstadt pulled off one of the biggest chart upsets in rock history.

Having spent a staggering 29 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1, the pop-rock juggernaut had effectively locked down the charts for nearly seven months. That unbroken streak came to a dramatic halt when Ronstadt released Simple Dreams.

Powered by her iconic, Grammy-nominated cover of Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou,” which climbed all the way to No. 3 on the Hot 100, Ronstadt pulled off the ultimate chart topple. She dethroned Rumours the week of December 3, 1977, cementing her reign as the undisputed queen of the album charts.

Rhino Records reported the feat in a story discussing Ronstadt’s Living in the USA LP. They wrote, “By the year 1978, Linda Ronstadt was a bona fide music superstar. The singer’s 1977 release, Simple Dreams, was a massive success, big enough to knock Fleetwood Mac’s monster record Rumours from the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 in December of that year, holding the top position for the rest of ’77.”

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Simple Dreams would have an 11-week chart run, and hold the top spot for five. The triple-platinum blockbuster cemented Ronstadt’s status as the only solo artist in 1977 capable of breaking Fleetwood Mac’s stranglehold on the charts.

Additionally, the LP became Ronstadt’s fifth consecutive platinum album. It was a record-setting seller for a female recording artist at the time, according to Acoustic Sounds, selling more than three and one-half million copies in less than a year.

The LP included a country song recorded with Dolly Parton (“I Never Will Marry”), covers of Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison hits (“It’s So Easy” and “Blue Bayou”), and songs from Warren Zevon (“Poor Poor Pitiful Me”) and The Rolling Stones (“Tumbling Dice”).

Additionally, Simple Dreams knocked Elvis Presley‘s Elvis in Concert album out of the number-one spot on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart around the same time, in late 1977. Presley’s double LP was his first posthumous release, recorded during his final tour in June 1977 and tied to a CBS television special.

Ultimately, unseating Rumours wasn’t just a win for Ronstadt. It showed the sheer impact of her voice at a time when bands dominated rock and roll. Although Fleetwood Mac created a landmark record, Linda Ronstadt gave the world an album that was every bit as unforgettable and set the stage for female rockers to step into their own spotlight in the years to come.

1986 Coming-of-Age Classic Named After a Song Covered by John Lennon Is Still a Hit 40 Years Later

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 5:31am

Stand By Me premiered nationwide in the U.S. exactly 40 years ago today, on August 22, 1986, and the film’s three surviving stars are marking the milestone the same way they’ve spent much of this year: back together on stage.

Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell have been touring since December, revisiting the coming-of-age story in theaters across the country before sitting down for live, in-person conversations about making it. Feldman told the Associated Press he was “very grateful to be back with my bros.”

The reunion carries extra weight this year. Director Rob Reiner died in December 2025, just before the tour’s first stops, and the trio has said they were already thinking about the film and gathering for screenings the weekend before his passing. On tour, they’ve also kept an empty seat reserved for River Phoenix, who played Chris Chambers and died in 1993. Wheaton called Phoenix “incredibly special.”

The film almost had a very different name. It’s based on Stephen King‘s 1982 novella The Body, but Reiner and the studio dropped that title before release, instead naming the movie after the Ben E. King song that plays over the closing credits. That choice paid off: the song, already a hit in 1961, climbed back onto the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986 thanks to the movie’s exposure. It’s also been covered dozens of times over the decades, most famously by John Lennon in 1975, more than a decade before it became forever linked to the film.

Four decades later, Stand By Me keeps finding new audiences. It earned an Oscar nomination for its screenplay back in 1987, and this year’s reissue and reunion tour suggest the story of four boys walking a set of train tracks in 1959 still resonates the same way it did when the credits first rolled in theaters back in 1986.

Kelly Clarkson's Vintage-Inspired Area Rug Gives Any Room an Old-Money Feel for Less

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 5:30am

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The Kelly Clarkson Home collection is a fantastic option for those looking to make their space a little more welcoming, blending Southern hospitality with French country elegance and offering a designer look at a more accessible price.

One standout shoppers are loving right now is the Kelly Clarkson Home Oriental Area Rug. Right now, this rectangle 6-foot-7-inch by 9-foot rug is $108, down from $415 — that’s 74% off. This vintage-inspired rug brings character to any space with its softly faded pattern and classic design. Reviewers said it’s “gorgeous” and “very soft,” and praised how it added warmth and personality to their homes.

Kelly Clarkson Home Oriental Area Rug, $108 (was $415) at Wayfair

Courtesy of Wayfair

Shop at Wayfair

Inspired by traditional Turkish rug patterns, the design pairs an intricate geometric design with delicate botanical details, giving it the look of a one-of-a-kind vintage find. It’s made from durable polypropylene with a low 0.35-inch pile, which holds up well in high-traffic areas and slides easily under furniture. Since the pile runs on the thinner side, Wayfair suggests pairing it with a rug pad, which adds some cushioning and helps keep the rug from shifting.

Caring for this rug is easy, thanks to stain-resistant fibers that let you tackle spills quickly before they set. For everyday upkeep, a regular vacuuming is all it really needs to stay looking fresh.

The rug comes in a variety of rectangular sizes, from a compact 2-by-3-foot option up to a spacious 7-foot-10-inch-by-10-foot-3-inch, so there’s a fit for just about any room. Prices start at $32 for the smallest size and go up to $137 for the largest option in stock.

With so many size options, the rug can easily be incorporated into nearly any space. Style a smaller rug in an entryway or bedroom for a cozy feel, or buy a larger one to anchor a living room or dining area. “This rug is so well made and just beautiful. It is my inspiration piece for decorating the room,” one reviewer wrote. Another Wayfair shopper said, “The rug really livened up my space!”

With this 6-foot-7-inch by 9-foot Kelly Clarkson Home Oriental Area Rug on sale for just $108, now’s a great time to give your space a designer-inspired refresh for less. Whether you’re updating an entryway, bedroom, or living room, this vintage-style rug is worth adding to your cart before the sale ends or your favorite size sells out!

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’60s Fictional Band Legend, Who Went on to Work With Cher and Barry Manilow, Turns 81

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 5:10am

In 1945, a future hitmaker was born in Staten Island, N.Y., decades before his voice would become famous as the sound of a band that didn’t actually exist.

Ron Dante, the real-life lead singer behind fictional cartoon group The Archies, turns 81 on Aug. 22.

Dante supplied the lead vocals for The Archies’ 1969 smash “Sugar, Sugar,” which became the No. 1-selling single of the year in the United States. But his unusual career didn’t end when the cartoon band’s heyday did. He went on to become a successful producer, working closely with both Barry Manilow and Cher.

Ron Dante Was the Real Voice Behind The Archies

Born Carmine John Granito on Aug. 22, 1945, Dante grew up in a large Italian-American family on Staten Island. Although no one in his family worked professionally in music, he recalled that “everybody sang” when he was growing up.

Elvis Presley became one of Dante’s earliest inspirations, prompting him to pick up the guitar. He was also influenced by The Platters, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino and especially The Everly Brothers, he told New Jersey Stage in 2020.

Dante eventually became a staff singer and songwriter for music impresario Don Kirshner, who would give him the opportunity that changed his life.

After hearing Kirshner was developing an animated TV project based on the Archie Comics characters, Dante called and asked to audition as the group’s lead singer.

“I went and auditioned and got the part,” Dante told New Jersey Stage.

The result was an unusual kind of stardom. Audiences knew The Archies, but they didn’t necessarily know the man whose voice they were hearing.

Dante told Culture Sonar in 2021 that he initially worried too much attention from the project might limit his career, so when The Archies’ records began climbing the charts, “I just hid.”

Then came “Sugar, Sugar.”

Written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim, the irresistible confection spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and finished 1969 as the year’s No. 1 single.

Dante told Goldmine Magazine that he deliberately approached the lead vocal with a softer style inspired by Donovan’s delivery on songs such as “Mellow Yellow.” He also shot down a long-running story that “Sugar, Sugar” had first been offered to The Monkees, saying he had confirmed with Barry that the rumor wasn’t true.

Ron Dante Had 2 Top 10 Hits at the Same Time

Even while “Sugar, Sugar” was dominating the airwaves, Dante was essentially competing against himself.

In 1969, he recorded “Tracy” under another fabricated group name, The Cuff Links. Dante created the sound of an entire vocal group by repeatedly overdubbing his own voice.

“I did, maybe, two dozen voices that night,” he recalled, explaining that his background in doo-wop helped him imagine the different vocal parts and harmonies.

For three weeks that October, Dante had two songs simultaneously in the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 10: “Tracy” and “Sugar, Sugar.” Remarkably, neither record credited Dante by name as its singer.

His voice was also hiding in plain sight elsewhere. Dante became a prolific commercial singer, recording jingles for brands including Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper, Coppertone and McDonald’s. One of his biggest was McDonald’s “You Deserve a Break Today.”

And one commercial session would help lead Dante into the next major phase of his career.

Ron Dante Helped Launch Barry Manilow’s Career

During a Coca-Cola jingle session, Dante found himself singing alongside Valerie Simpson, Melissa Manchester and a then-aspiring Barry Manilow. Dante and Manilow struck up a friendship that eventually became a hugely successful producing partnership.

Dante later recalled that he helped Manilow secure a record deal as a solo artist and co-produced his recordings during the singer’s breakthrough years. After an initial album failed to take off, they got another opportunity.

That second chance produced “Mandy.”

“Mandy” became Manilow’s first No. 1 hit, and Dante wasn’t only behind the control board. He also sang backup on the record.

“In my heart, it’s got to be ‘Mandy,'” Dante told New Jersey Stage when asked to choose his favorite Manilow hit, calling it the “breakthrough career-making record” for the singer.

Dante continued producing Manilow through a string of successful albums and sang backup on his records, even joking that when female voices can be heard on “Copacabana,” “I’m in the girl group singing with them!”

Ron Dante Went on to Produce Cher

Dante’s production career also brought him into the studio with another superstar: Cher.

He worked on Cher’s 1979 album Take Me Home, which returned the singer to the Top 10 with its disco title track.

Dante later described Cher as his favorite memory of working with the many major artists who crossed his path, remembering her as both extraordinarily famous and remarkably easy to work with.

“Working with Cher was like working with the most famous woman in the world,” he told New Jersey Stage. “She was just the nicest person.”

One particular phone call stuck with him.

Dante recalled Cher calling him at 3 a.m. to play him “Too Far Gone,” a deeply personal song she had written about her ex-husband Gregg Allman. Cher asked whether they could record it, and Dante immediately agreed. The song ultimately appeared on Take Me Home.

Speaking with Goldmine, Dante also remembered Cher as a consummate professional who arrived on time and stayed in the studio for as long as the sessions required. Even visits from Sonny Bono or her then-boyfriend Gene Simmons didn’t distract her for long before she returned to work.

Ron Dante’s Career Came Full Circle

Dante’s résumé continued to grow well beyond The Archies, Manilow and Cher. His production work included other major artists, and in 1978 he produced the Tony Award-winning Broadway revue Ain’t Misbehavin’.

Decades later, he returned to performing the songs that had made his voice famous.

After appearing on the Happy Together Tour, Dante was asked in 2018 to step in for Howard Kaylan as lead singer of The Turtles.

“I almost dropped the phone when they asked me,” Dante recalled. The move allowed him to go from opening concerts with his Archies songs to closing them by singing The Turtles’ catalog.

It’s a fitting late-career chapter for a singer whose name was once deliberately kept out of sight.

More than five decades after millions of listeners heard Ron Dante’s voice without necessarily knowing who he was, the man behind one of the most famous fictional bands in pop history has built a very real legacy.

3 Epic Repositioning Cruises to Book This Fall for Maximum Sea Days, Rare Ports, and Major Value

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 5:10am

If your idea of the ultimate vacation involves long, uninterrupted stretches of sea days, crossing major ocean channels, and visiting ports that standard week-long itineraries never touch, repositioning cruises remain the industry’s best-kept secret.

As cruise lines transition their fleets from European summer waters and Alaska routes into winter homeports across the Caribbean and Florida, these one-way seasonal journeys offer a completely different rhythm than traditional loop cruises. Recent survey data from Cruiseline.com and Shipmate shows that booking intent for transatlantic sailings is surging this year as travelers actively seek out longer, slower-paced voyages.

Beyond the romance of open-ocean crossings, repositioning cruises pack a major financial perk: travelers within driving distance of a U.S. homeport only need to purchase a single one-way international flight, disembarking right back on American soil without paying roundtrip transatlantic airfare.

For MSC Cruises, these sailings also come with a unique behind-the-scenes twist. As ships make their way toward the States, onboard hospitality and culinary teams use the crossing to transition operations—tailoring dining menus, training service staff on U.S. hospitality preferences, and fine-tuning programming so the ship seamlessly blends European flair with American comforts before arriving in its new homeport.

If you are looking to trade everyday rush for unhurried days on the water, here are three standout fall repositioning itineraries worth checking out:

View this post on Instagram 1. The Transatlantic Grand Voyage: MSC Meraviglia (26 Nights) MSC Meraviglia, Horizon Bar

MSC Cruises

Dates: October 16 – November 11
Route: Palermo, Sicily to Miami, Florida
The Route Highlights: This epic month-long journey starts in Southern Italy and winds through the Western Mediterranean—hitting Naples, Livorno (Florence), Marseille, and Barcelona—before making stunning island stops in Funchal (Madeira) and Ponta Delgada (Azores). From there, the ship makes a rare coastal sweep into Boston and New York City before dropping anchor in Miami to begin its winter Caribbean season.

MSC Cruises

Dates: October 25 – November 14
Route: Marseille, France to Port Canaveral, Florida
The Route Highlights: Perfect for travelers who want a rich blend of iconic European cities and relaxed Atlantic sea days, this sailing departs Southern France to call on Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Palma de Mallorca, and Barcelona. After a scenic stop in the botanical paradise of Madeira, the ship crosses the Atlantic, stops in Miami, and finishes at Port Canaveral just in time for the Florida winter season.

3. The Coast-to-Coast Panama Canal Transit: MSC Poesia (19 Nights) MSC Poesia

MSC Cruises

Dates: September 28 – October 17
Route: Seattle, Washington to Miami, Florida
The Route Highlights: If an ocean crossing isn’t on your radar but a modern engineering marvel is, this West-to-East Coast repositioning is a bucket-list classic. Departing Seattle, the ship sails down the Pacific Coast with stops in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Cabo San Lucas, before heading south to Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Guests then experience a full daytime transit of the Panama Canal, followed by stops in Colón and the colorful walled city of Cartagena, Colombia, before concluding in Miami.

Remember Manny From ‘Modern Family’? Rico Rodriguez, 28, Is All Grown up With Long, Curly Hair

Sat, 08/22/2026 - 5:00am

Rico Rodriguez rose to stardom on Modern Family, but the beloved star is almost unrecognizable with long, curly hair.

Rodriguez, 28, was just a kid when he scored the role of Manny Delgado on Family alongside Ed O’Neill and Sofia Vergara. Playing the precocious Manny, who was the son of Vergara’s character, Gloria, Rodriguez grew up in the role. He starred on the series from 2009 to 2020, when his character started attending college. But in 2026, Rodriguez looks quite a bit different than he did in the role of Manny.

On his Instagram page, Rodriguez shares hilarious videos that show he’s gone for a different look these days. Instead of Manny’s clean-cut hairstyle, Rodriguez has longer, curly locks and glasses, with a beard. He might be unrecognizable to some people who are less familiar with his roles over the years.

Check out some of Rodriguez’s funny videos below:

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Looking Back on Modern Family

When Modern Family finally went off the air in 2020, Rodriguez had nothing but love for his colleagues on the hit series.

“Coming to work every day with my cast and crew never actually felt like work, it felt more like hanging out with my extended family,” Rodriguez wrote in an Instagram post. “Words cannot even begin to describe the life-changing experience I have had on this show. I have, quite literally, grown up right before everyone’s eyes.”

Rodriguez also thanks his family and friends for sticking by him through the years as he navigated acting as a young man. But he made it clear that out of everyone, he wanted to thank the show’s legions of fans the most.

“Thank you to my parents, my siblings, & all of my family & friends for always being by my side throughout my acting journey. But especially thank you to our fans, who have continued to watch our show for the past 11 seasons. I hope you all tune in tonight at 8/7c on ABC & celebrate with us one final time. ❤,” he wrote.

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‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ Star Reveals the Scene That Made Him Most Nervous to Film

1977 Linda Ronstadt Album, With a No. 3 Billboard Smash, Dethroned Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours'

1986 Coming-of-Age Classic Named After a Song Covered by John Lennon Is Still a Hit 40 Years Later

Kelly Clarkson's Vintage-Inspired Area Rug Gives Any Room an Old-Money Feel for Less

’60s Fictional Band Legend, Who Went on to Work With Cher and Barry Manilow, Turns 81

3 Epic Repositioning Cruises to Book This Fall for Maximum Sea Days, Rare Ports, and Major Value

Remember Manny From ‘Modern Family’? Rico Rodriguez, 28, Is All Grown up With Long, Curly Hair

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