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If your ideal Disney vacation isn’t complete without taking a slow-moving journey through human history inside an 18-story geodesic sphere—and catching the unmistakable scent of Rome burning—get ready for some exciting news.

EPCOT’s crown jewel is officially preparing for its next chapter.

Last night at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, Disney announced that Spaceship Earth will receive a comprehensive reimagining, bringing the beloved opening-day dark ride into the modern era for the first time in nearly two decades.

The reveal took place during the star-studded Horizons: A Carousel of Progress showcase, where host Neil Patrick Harris was joined onstage by Walt Disney Imagineering executive Ali Rubinstein and popular engineer and creator Mark Rober to celebrate the attraction’s engineering legacy and look toward the future.

As Disney Parks writer Laura Pilat noted of the big reveal, “As Neil Patrick Harris was talking about outer space on the Horizons: A Carousel of Progress stage at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa, conversation naturally shifted to our favorite geodesic sphere from the ‘80s. Makes sense. How can you talk about the future of Disney Experiences without discussing the iconic attraction that celebrates humanity’s march from the caves to the cosmos and inspires guests to imagine, create, and build a better tomorrow.”

Related: 10 Iconic Disney World Rides That Have Closed Forever—And What Replaced Them

From Human Communication to Human Connection

Ever since EPCOT opened its gates on October 1, 1982, Spaceship Earth has traced humanity’s grand story of progress, taking riders from prehistoric cave paintings and the invention of the printing press straight through the dawn of the 21st century.

While previous iterations of the ride have focused specifically on the evolution of human communication, Imagineering is widening the aperture for this upcoming refresh.

“Spaceship Earth’s story has been updated several times since it debuted in 1982, but it hasn’t actually been touched in nearly 20 years,” explained Rubinstein on stage. “Tonight, I can share, we’re bringing this iconic attraction back into the present day and beyond. Today, Spaceship Earth focuses on the story of human communication. We’re broadening that… our new version of Spaceship Earth will be about human connection.”

Rubinstein emphasized that while the team will be “bringing new magic to every scene,” the update will preserve the soul of the park. “Spaceship Earth will remain classically EPCOT—a journey through time celebrating the progress made possible through human connection.”

Related: Disney Just Showed What Animal Kingdom’s New Tropical Americas Land Will Actually Look Like

A Historic Milestone for an Engineering Marvel

The update marks the first major overhaul of Spaceship Earth since its current version, famously narrated by Dame Judi Dench, debuted in early 2008. Over its 40-plus-year run, the attraction has featured legendary voice narrators including Vic Perrin, Walter Cronkite, and Jeremy Irons.

Standing at 180 feet tall and housing 2.2 million cubic feet of space, the attraction remains one of the most intricate ride systems Imagineering has ever engineered, utilizing a continuously moving spiral track that ascends into the sphere before rotating backward for the descent back to Earth.

“Inside is one of the most complicated ride systems Imagineering has ever created,” explained Nasa Engineer Mark Rober on stage. “It’s a continuously moving train of vehicles that spirals up into the structure and then turns around backwards, comes back down to Earth.”

While Disney has not yet announced an official closure date or construction timeline, the project represents a major creative commitment to preserving the heart of original EPCOT. As Pilat put it, “So, here’s to the next 30,000 years on Spaceship Earth. The present is just the beginning!”

Related: Pixar Announces ‘Cars’ and ‘Coco’ TV and Film Sequels, Video Games and Expansions Across Disney Parks at D23 2026

As a chef and dietitian, I assess produce for flavor, nutrition, versatility, food waste and, most importantly, value. That matters especially at a warehouse club like Sam’s Club. A large package may seem like a bargain, but if I use only half before it spoils, I haven’t saved money. However, bulk produce packages can be excellent buys when I know my family will eat them or I have a plan to preserve and use them.

I find myself looking beyond the sticker price and considering the bigger picture. What will I use? What looks freshest? What will work in the meals I’m already planning? And which items catch my eye simply because they’re something a little different?

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During my recent trip through the Sam’s Club produce section, the sheer variety immediately stood out to me. There were familiar grocery list staples alongside fruits and vegetables that made me stop and take a second look. I saw everything from apples, bananas, oranges and avocados to colorful peppers, leafy greens, potatoes and a wide assortment of fresh fruit.

What really made the trip interesting, though, was seeing some less common produce mixed in with the everyday favorites. I spotted specialty grapes, dragon fruit, drinking coconuts, apriums—a fusion of apricots and plums—as well as Cara Cara oranges and several other varieties that aren’t necessarily available at every grocery store. For someone who enjoys cooking, trying new foods or simply adding a little variety to the usual grocery routine, that kind of selection is fun to explore.

As I made my way through the department, I took photos of many of the fruits and vegetables that caught my attention. Looking back at those photos, I realized just how much there was to consider—not only from a nutrition standpoint, but also from a cooking, convenience and value perspective.

So, I took a closer look at the produce I found during my visit to see which items stood out to me and why. Here are my top picks for what to buy from the Sam’s Club produce section—and which you may want to skip.

Related: 5 Best Produce Items To Buy at Trader Joe’s (and 4 To Skip)

Does Sam’s Club Have Organic Produce?

Courtesy Julie Andrews

Yes, Sam’s Club carries organic produce, although the exact selection can vary by club and season. On my trip, one of the items that stood out was organic baby spinach. Sam’s Club currently lists organic baby spinach, and its produce selection also includes other organic fruits and vegetables depending on availability.

From a nutrition perspective, some people may feel that they have to buy organic produce to eat a healthy diet, but conventional fruits and vegetables are still nutritious choices. If eating organic is important to you, however, you’ll appreciate having the option at this warehouse club.

For something like baby spinach, pay attention to the package size. Spinach is nutritious, but it is delicate and perishable. I like having a large container when I know I’ll use it in salads, omelets, smoothies, sandwiches and cooked dishes throughout the week. If I’m not going to use that much, a smaller package at another grocery store may actually be the better decision from a price perspective.

That’s the key with warehouse shopping. It’s important to look at price per ounce and also consider the amount your family can realistically eat.

9 Best Items To Buy From the Sam’s Club Produce Section

One of my favorite things about Sam’s Club produce is the combination of everyday staples and specialty produce. Here are my picks for the best Sam’s Club produce section finds.

1. Mini Produce, Like Mini Peppers, Mini Cucumbers and Baby Broccoli

Courtesy Julie Andrews

View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article

I would happily buy the Wild Wonders mini peppers I saw in the store. Seedless mini peppers are one of those ingredients I find incredibly useful in the kitchen. You can slice them into salads, sauté them with onions, roast them on a sheet pan or simply put them on a snack plate.

Mini cucumbers are excellent sliced and served with a sprinkle of salt, and are also perfect in salads, grain bowls and eaten as a snack.

Sweet baby broccoli can be roasted, grilled or sautéed, making it an excellent side dish for busy weeknight meals. It works beautifully with pasta, rice bowls, chicken or roasted potatoes.

2. Salad Favorites, Like Romaine Hearts and Spinach

Courtesy Julie Andrews

Romaine hearts and spinach are classic examples of produce I’d consider a good warehouse club purchase if you know you’ll use them.

Spinach has plenty of uses beyond making a salad too. You can add it to soups, stews and pasta dishes, and serve it sautéed as a side dish. It’s also incredibly easy to freeze if you won’t use it all before it goes bad. Romaine hearts are equally versatile. They can become salads, lettuce wraps or even a grilled side dish.

3. Citrus Fruits, Like Lemons, Limes and Oranges

Courtesy Julie Andrews

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

The bags of lemons, limes and oranges at Sam’s Club caught my attention because citrus is one of those ingredients I use constantly when cooking.

As a chef, I think of lemons and limes almost like seasoning. A squeeze of fresh citrus can brighten roasted vegetables, fish, chicken, salads, grains and sauces. Whole oranges are an easy snack, while Cara Cara oranges add a little variety to the usual citrus routine, making a great snack or breakfast accompaniment.

The important thing here is to compare the per-pound price with your regular grocery store. If Sam’s Club has the better price and I know I’ll use the bag, I’m interested. If I’m only buying two lemons for a recipe, the warehouse-sized bag isn’t necessarily a bargain.

4. Grapes

Courtesy Julie Andrews

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

I was especially intrigued by the variety of grapes. I saw Grape Soda grapes, Sugar Drop green grapes and Cotton Candy grapes on my trip.

This is an area where I think Sam’s Club has a real advantage—variety. Specialty grapes aren’t always something you can find at every supermarket. If you’re shopping at a conventional grocery store, you might see one or two types of grapes. At Sam’s Club, you may have the opportunity to choose something much more unusual.

From a nutrition standpoint, grapes are a convenient fruit choice that requires virtually no preparation. From a chef’s perspective, specialty varieties are fun because they can make a simple fruit platter feel much more interesting.

6. Tropical Fruits and Specialty Produce

Courtesy Julie Andrews

View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article

The Frieda’s Sillies drinking coconuts were another example of something you wouldn’t necessarily expect to find everywhere. The same goes for dragon fruit, kiwi, mangoes, fresh pineapples and other tropical fruit. This is where Sam’s Club can be particularly fun if you enjoy experimenting with food.

Dragon fruit, drinking coconuts and other specialty fruits may not be everyday purchases for everyone, but if you’re curious about trying something new, having those products in one place is convenient. The same goes for apriums—a cross between an apricot and a plum. They’re exactly the kind of produce item that can make a routine grocery trip more interesting.

7. Seasonal Fruits, Like Berries, Peaches and Melons

Courtesy Julie Andrews

View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article

I’d also look closely at the seasonal fruit at Sam’s Club. Berries, peaches, nectarines, watermelon and cantaloupe can all be great purchases when the quality and price are right.

This is where I become very price-conscious. Fresh berries can vary significantly in price from store to store, and their shelf life can be short. If Sam’s Club has a large package at a good price and I know my household will eat it quickly, great. If not, I might choose a smaller package elsewhere.

Watermelon and cantaloupe are similar. A whole melon generally gives me more fruit for my money than pre-cut fruit, assuming I’m willing to do the work.

8. Pantry Staples, Like Onions, Garlic and Potatoes

Courtesy Julie Andrews

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

Some of my favorite practical purchases were the onions, garlic and potatoes because they’re staples you’ll always want to have on hand.

Onions can be diced or sliced and are the base of countless meals. Sweet potatoes can be roasted, mashed or turned into grain bowls. Potatoes can become breakfast potatoes, sheet pan dinners or side dishes. And, of course, garlic is a kitchen essential.

9. Bulk Favorites, Like Avocados, Bananas and Apples

Courtesy Julie Andrews

View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article

Avocados are another item where I’d check the quantity carefully. They’re nutritious and versatile, but buying a huge bag only makes sense if I can use them before they become overripe.

Bananas are a steal at Sam’s Club, often sold as a large bunch for less than $2. If they become too ripe, they can be turned into banana bread or frozen to make smoothies at a later date.

Apples can be used in sweet desserts and savory dishes, and they make the perfect on-the-go snack to be enjoyed anytime. Sam’s Club has multiple varieties, including gala, honeycrisp and Cosmic Crisp.

Related: I Asked 3 Chefs the Best Canned Pantry Staple, and They All Said the Same Thing

2 Sam’s Club Produce Items You Can Skip

These are the two produce section items at Sam’s Club to buy elsewhere.

1. Pre-Cut Fruits and Vegetables (Sometimes)

Courtesy Julie Andrews

When I say “skip,” I don’t mean the produce itself is bad. I mean that the package may not be the best value for every shopper. Eating fruits and vegetables in general is a huge win. But if I have to choose a caution, it’s the cost of pre-cut fruit and vegetables.

Sam’s Club sells convenient options such as cut pineapple spears and cut fruit and vegetable trays that are perfect for gatherings. There is absolutely a place for these products. If having to cut a pineapple is the difference between eating pineapple and not buying one at all, the convenience may be worth paying for.

But if I have the time and ability to cut fruit myself, I would generally compare the price against a whole pineapple. For example, Sam’s Club carries whole fresh pineapple as well as prepared pineapple products, illustrating why comparing the price per pound or ounce is important.

The same principle applies to pre-cut melon and other ready-to-eat fruit. You’re paying for labor and convenience. That’s not necessarily a bad thing—it just means I want to know what that convenience is costing me.

2. Large Quantities of Produce If You Can’t Eat It All Before It Goes Bad

Courtesy Julie Andrews

I’d also be cautious about buying large quantities of highly perishable produce simply because the unit price looks attractive. A giant box of mangoes, a large container of berries or spinach, or a large amount of ripe fruit can become expensive food waste if you can’t finish it, prep it, or freeze it before it goes bad.

And this is where my dietitian side and chef side agree completely—the healthiest food is the food you’re actually going to eat. If buying a smaller quantity at a traditional grocery store means you waste less, that may be the better purchase.

Final Takeaways

Courtesy Julie Andrews

After walking through the Sam’s Club produce section, my biggest takeaway is that I wouldn’t approach it as a simple “everything is cheaper here” shopping trip.

Instead, shop strategically. Compare prices with your local grocery stores, paying particular attention to the price per pound, ounce or individual item. Then, think about how much your household can realistically eat. Choose whole produce when you’re willing to wash, peel and cut it yourself, and happily pay for pre-cut options when convenience is worth the premium.

When the price is competitive, put staples such as apples, bananas, citrus, sweet potatoes, potatoes, garlic, romaine, celery, mini peppers, cucumbers, asparagus and broccoli high on your Sam’s Club shopping list.

You should also take advantage of the variety available. Specialty and tropical produce and other less common produce can be a real perk of shopping at Sam’s Club. Those are the items that can be difficult to find at some conventional grocery stores, and they give you an opportunity to try something new.

Ultimately, my strategy for shopping at Sam’s Club is simple: buy what you’ll eat, compare the unit price and don’t confuse a big package with a bargain. Sam’s Club can be an excellent place to stock up on fresh produce, but the best deals are the ones that fit your household, your cooking habits and your ability to use everything before it goes bad.

And if you can walk out with a cart full of colorful fruits and vegetables—including a few unusual finds you wouldn’t normally see at your neighborhood grocery store—that’s a pretty successful grocery trip in my book.

Related: 7 Best Items To Buy From Costco’s Produce Section (and 5 To Skip)

If you’ve ever piloted the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Disneyland, your spaceflight missions are about to follow you straight into your living room.

In one of the most unexpected physical-to-digital announcements to come out of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney and Epic Games revealed a brand-new crossover linking Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run directly with Fortnite.

The initiative debuts alongside Smuggler’s Gambit, a new Star Wars Creative island in Fortnite developed in close partnership with Lucasfilm.

Reporting on the ground from the D23 presentation, Dani Meyering of Attractions Magazine broke down the ambitious mechanics behind the project, noting that “Fortnite is about to connect directly with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, allowing something guests accomplish aboard the Millennium Falcon at Disney’s theme parks to follow them home into the video game”.

Related: Disney Makes Huge Change to Millennium Falcon Attraction That Fans Are Calling a ‘Huge Improvement’

View this post on Instagram How the Ride-to-Game Rewards Work

Guests waiting in line for Smugglers Run can now link their MyDisney account to their Epic Games profile inside the official Disney parks mobile app.

Once connected, riders unlock an enhanced bonus mode aboard the attraction. As Meyering detailed from Disney’s presentation, “the experience includes a special mission briefing from Hondo Ohnaka, additional secrets inside the Falcon’s cockpit and crates that crews can collect during their mission”.

The rewards don’t stop when your flight ends. Cargo and loot collected inside the physical theme park cockpit convert into digital rewards in Fortnite, including an exclusive Forsworn Trooper outfit and in-game credits to upgrade gear in the Smuggler’s Gambit island.

Even better for competitive gamers: Disney confirmed that progression and milestones achieved while playing at home will help boost your score when you return to ride the attraction in person.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Best Places to Ride, Shop and Eat

The Future of Theme Park Storytelling

While other entertainment destinations are bringing video games to life by building physical lands, Disney is taking a two-way interactive approach.

As Meyering highlighted, Disney described the crossover as a “full circle physical-to-digital connection” and an early preview of larger plans to bridge real-world park memories with immersive home gaming.

For vacationing families and gaming fans alike, your next cockpit run on Batuu is officially more than just a ride—it is the start of your next gaming quest.

Related: Disney Is Adding Nighttime Hours This Fall to Its ‘All Bangers’ Park

When Men in Black hit theaters on July 2, 1997, Will Smith was no stranger to the big screen; he’d already appeared in films like Six Degrees of Separation, Bad Boys, and Independence Day. While the sci-fi comedy co-starring Tommy Lee Jones didn’t necessarily push his acting in new directions, it became a pivotal moment for his music career instead.

Global Chart Success

Smith’s song for the film, also titled “Men in Black,” became a sensation. Along with topping the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart (renamed to Radio Songs in 2014) for four weeks, it reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart on August 16, 1997. The song also dominated the charts in Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, and other countries worldwide. Since it was not issued as a commercial retail single in the U.S., it couldn’t appear on the main Billboard Hot 100 under the rules at the time.

After years of creating music with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Smith wrote the Men in Black theme song on his own. Since it heavily sampled Patrice Rushen‘s 1982 song, “Forget Me Nots,” she’s credited as a co-writer along with Terri McFadden and Freddie Washington.

The song took off and became a hit, and Smith later released it on his debut solo album, Big Willie Style. At the 1998 Grammy Awards, “Men in Black” went up against LL Cool J, Notorious B.I.G., Trevor Smith, Jr., and Missy Elliott. Still, Smith was the one who walked away with the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.

Sampling, Vocals, and Music Video Drama

In addition to sampling “Forget Me Nots,” it also featured Coko (Cheryl Gamble) of the group SWV, who provided the female vocals. According to Poke (Jean-Claude Olivier), who produced the song with Tone (Samuel Barnes), Coko refused to appear in the video.

“She was like, ‘Will Smith? F**k outta here,'” he recalled to Complex. “She sang the record but she was like I’m not doing this video. That was the worst mistake of her life.”

“Men in Black” didn’t just top the charts; it proved Smith could dominate the music world and be a box-office king.

It was one of Bruce Springsteen‘s most successful chart hits, but it never reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Dancing in the Dark” has gone down in history as one of the biggest songs from Springsteen’s catalog, but some may be surprised to know that it actually never hit No. 1. Released as the lead single from Springsteen’s smash-hit album Born in the U.S.A. in 1984, the song exploded on the radio and quickly climbed its way up the Billboard Hot 100 — though it landed just shy of the No. 1 spot.

The Springsteen rock staple instead peaked at No. 2, where it spent four consecutive weeks. It was blocked from the No. 1 spot by other dominant ’80s tracks like Duran Duran‘s “The Reflex” and Prince‘s “When Doves Cry.”

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But missing the No. 1 spot didn’t stop “Dancing in the Dark” from becoming one of the most enduring songs of the ’80s. The dance-rock hit also had an iconic accompanying music video, famously featuring a young Courteney Cox, that helped launch Springsteen into global superstardom.

The song would also end up being Springsteen’s highest-peaking Billboard Hot 100 song ever, with his next-best placement coming it at No. 5 with hits like “Hungry Heart,” “Glory Days” and “Brilliant Disguise.”

The fan-favorite track “I’m On Fire” peaked at No. 6 on the Hot 100, while some of The Boss’ other most notable songs didn’t even crack the Top 5, like “Born in the U.S.A.,” which peaked at No. 9, and “Born to Run,” which peaked at No. 23.

According to Billboard, “Dancing in the Dark” is considered to be one of the best No. 2 hits of all time, placing at No. 11 on the newly-released ranking of the 100 Best Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 Hits. Additionally, it comes in at No. 221 on Billboard’s Top Songs of the ’80s.

Related: 1985 Soft-Rock Track, Written in 2 Minutes, Unexpectedly Became a Fan-Favorite Bruce Springsteen Song

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Whether you’re creating a cozy home library, filling an empty living room wall, or giving your home office a storage upgrade, a tall bookcase can do more than just hold your favorite reads — it can make a serious style statement, too.

If you’re looking for something with a little more presence, Walmart has a deal worth adding to your cart. Right now, the Homfa 6-Tier Bookcase With Arched Top and Pilasters is on sale for $106, down from $197. Its standout design features an arched top framed by decorative columns, giving the bookcase a high-end look without the designer price tag.

Homfa 6-Tier Bookcase With Arched Top and Pilasters, $106 (was $197) at Walmart 

Courtesy of Walmart

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Measuring 29.5 inches wide, 10.9 inches deep, and 73.2 inches tall, the bookcase has a slim profile but plenty of vertical storage. Its six-tier shelves are spaced about 11 inches apart, which give you enough space to store books and other collectibles. In total, it holds up to 300 pounds. If you need even more storage, the bookcase has flush edges which makes it easy to place two or more bookcases side by side.

Its arched silhouette and elegant columns on either side channel the old-money aesthetic, giving it the feel of something you might find in a stately home or grand library. It also comes with wall anchors to help keep it securely in place.The bookcase comes in white and black colors, so you can choose the finish that best suits your space. 

Shoppers say the bookcase looks far more pricey than its price tag suggests. One reviewer said it “looks expensive,” while another praised its “modern look” and “classic feel.” Reviewers also mentioned its sturdy construction, with one shopper saying while it took about an hour to assemble, the end result was “well worth the time.” 

Shop More Deals

• Gocvo Puffy Bag, From $16 (was $26) at Walmart
• Litfun Platform Slides, $19 (were $35) at Walmart 
• Tnuyoah Farmhouse Bedside Table Lamp Set, $50 (was $90) at Walmart

Related: Walmart’s ‘Beautiful’ 9-Cube Farmhouse Bookcase Is a ‘Great Organization Solution for Small Spaces,’ Now 53% Off

At nearly half off, the Homfa 6-Tier Bookcase With Arched Top and Pilasters is an easy way to bring an old-money aesthetic to your home for less. This Walmart deal won’t last long, so consider this your sign to snag one while it’s still in stock and on sale!

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

Kristen Bell just proved that you never quite know what’s going to happen at a Savannah Bananas game. The Frozen star made a surprise appearance at the team’s Denver game, and fans absolutely lost it when she started singing.

Bell joined Derek Klena at Coors Field for a surprise Frozen performance that quickly became the kind of Banana Ball moment fans couldn’t stop talking about. In video from the game, Bell suddenly appears in the stands, singing as she walks down an aisle toward the field while fans cheer, scream and pull out their phones to capture the unexpected moment. She then stops to salute Klena, who is waiting on the field in his Bananas uniform, before he joins her for his part of the song.

The duo took the performance a step further with an unexpected recreation of the iconic Dirty Dancing lift. The Savannah Bananas were clearly just as thrilled as the crowd, calling the unexpected crossover “the mashup we never knew we needed” on Instagram. Fans quickly flooded the comments with praise, with one declaring it the “dream collab.”

“Obsessed!!!!” one fan wrote in the comments of a YouTube video of the performance. Another Savannah Bananas fan called it “the best mashup everrrrr” and praised Bell for “living every 80s girl’s dream” by doing the Dirty Dancing lift while singing.

Fans also couldn’t get over Klena’s multi-faceted talents. “Wait- hold up- he sings like that AND PLAYS BANANA BALL?!??!!?!” one person wrote.

The surprise came just hours after Bell reunited with her Frozen costars Idina Menzel and Josh Gad at D23 on Friday, Aug. 14, to preview Frozen 3. The trio sang new songs and teased major developments, including Anna and Kristoff’s wedding and Olaf falling in love. The film is set for a 2027 theatrical release, with Bell returning as Anna, Menzel as Elsa and Gad as Olaf alongside Jonathan Groff as Kristoff. The original Frozen songwriting team is also returning, while Disney has already confirmed Frozen 4 is in development.

Ella Langley’s historic 2026 run isn’t even close to being over.

Unless you’ve been hiding out in one of Aaron Rodgers’ infamous darkness retreats, you already know “Choosin’ Texas” has taken the world by storm. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you’re working, pumping iron or doomscrolling your life away — the catchy hit is bound to find you.

You know it’s the year of a lifetime when you release new singles after massive success and that very success doesn’t dwindle. Langley now has four different hits simultaneously reaching new peaks across Billboard’s radio charts, including her collaboration with fellow country superstar Morgan Wallen, according to Forbes.

Factor in launching an energy drink and teaming up with Texas brewery Shiner for a Dandelion Honey Kölsch — and it’s icing on the cake.

Radio—yes, radio, as people still turn the dial in their cars—isn’t letting up either. “Choosin’ Texas” just gave Langley her first top 10 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart, while her Morgan Wallen duet hit No. 1 on Country Airplay.

Meanwhile, “Be Her” and “Loving Life Again” are reaching new highs of their own, with Langley’s music now gaining ground across country, pop and adult contemporary radio. That gives her the unusual distinction of having four different songs reaching new peaks all at once:

• “I Can’t Love You Anymore” with Morgan Wallen — No. 1 Country Airplay and No. 11 Radio Songs
• “Choosin’ Texas” — No. 9 Pop Airplay, her first top 10 on that chart
• “Be Her” — No. 22 Adult Contemporary
• “Loving Life Again” — No. 23 Country Airplay

Ella (without a fella) was recently spotted on vacation in St. Thomas, joining a local band for an impromptu performance before hitting the road to finish off her Dandelion Tour:

• Aug. 20 — Green Bay, WI
• Aug. 21 — Springfield, IL
• Aug. 22 — North Little Rock, AR
• Aug. 28 — Auburn, AL
• Aug. 29 — Auburn, AL
• Sept. 10 — Newark, NJ
• Sept. 11 — State College, PA
• Sept. 12 — Charleston, WV
• Sept. 17 — Oxford, MS
• Sept. 18 — Athens, GA
• Sept. 19 — Jacksonville, FL
• Sept. 24 — Knoxville, TN
• Sept. 25 — Columbus, OH
• Sept. 26 — Moline, IL
• Oct. 7 — Morrison, CO
• Oct. 9 — Tulsa, OK
• Oct. 10 — Lubbock, TX
• Oct. 13 — Los Angeles, CA
• Oct. 14 — Los Angeles, CA
• Oct. 29 — Des Moines, IA
• Oct. 30 — Lincoln, NE
• Oct. 31 — Saint Paul, MN

There really is a great big, beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day—and for fans of Walt Disney’s most historic stage show, that future just got some major star power.

Last night at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, host Neil Patrick Harris kicked off the Horizons: A Carousel of Progress showcase with a crowd-thrilling casting announcement: Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis and Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston are officially stepping in to voice Sarah (Mom) and John (Dad) in a brand-new reimagining of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.

The update marks the attraction’s most substantial overhaul in over three decades, bringing fresh energy to the most performed stage show in American theater history while honoring the heart and optimism Walt Disney originally dreamed up for the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair.

Related: Disney World’s Carousel of Progress Closes Its Current Chapter After 30 Years

View this post on Instagram A Star-Studded Mantle for an Iconic American Family

For generations of parkgoers who know every word of the Sherman Brothers’ theme song by heart, John and Sarah have felt like family. Handing the microphone to Curtis and Cranston brings an incredible blend of warmth, comedic timing, and charm to the rotating theater.

Curtis—beloved across the Disney community for her role as Madame Leota in 2023’s Haunted Mansion and her recent Disney Legend induction—takes on Sarah at a pivotal moment in the show’s history. For the first time ever, Sarah will take center stage in the brand-new 1980s scene, highlighting how new household tech and gadgets are revolutionizing life for the family. Meanwhile, Cranston steps into John’s shoes with the relatable, everyman dad energy fans know and love, found out on the front porch handing out Halloween candy to trick-or-treaters.

Related: Disney Just Announced a Massive, Retro-Chic Revamp of a Beloved Classic Attraction

Stepping Into New Decades and Meeting Walt Himself

Disney Parks Blog

Originally created to look back 60 years from the 1960s to the turn of the 20th century, the refreshed version will fast-forward to time periods that today’s audiences grew up with:

• Opening Scene: Guests will be greeted by an incredible new Audio-Animatronic figure of Walt Disney himself, recreating his iconic appearance in the 1964 television special Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair.
• Act 1 (The 1960s): The family gathers around the television on a warm summer night in July 1969 to watch the historic Apollo 11 moon landing.
• Act 2 (The 1980s): Set on Halloween night in 1985, Sarah shows off the era’s latest appliances while John manages trick-or-treaters and Uncle Orville complains about having “no privacy around here” in the bathroom.
• Act 3 (The New Millennium): The family rings in Y2K on New Year’s Eve 1999, discovering early dial-up internet while Grandpa nods off before midnight and Grandma sneaks the TV channel over to pro wrestling.
• Act 4 (The Possible Future): Inspired by original concept sketches from legendary Disney Imagineer John Hench, the final act transports the family into a futuristic, out-of-this-world home with helpful home robotics and space travel.

When to Catch the Reimagined Show

Disney Parks Blog

The attraction is currently closed as Walt Disney Imagineering works on the new sets, props, and animatronics. The reimagined Carousel of Progress is set to officially welcome guests back to Magic Kingdom in late spring 2027.

And don’t worry—the beloved family dog Rover and the timeless chorus of “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” will still be waiting right there to guide you through every spin.

Related: Disney’s Newest Lake Houses Are a Love Letter to Classic Disney Artistry

Beloved by generations, from grandparents to the little kids in your life, these Pixar favorites are seizing their moment across Disney Experiences and Disney Entertainment. Cars celebrates 20 years in a big way with Piston Peak at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World and a new television show. Meanwhile, at the Disneyland Resort, the Coco ride is set to embark on a journey to the land of the dead, bringing families together and bridging the story between the first film and Coco 2.

At D23: The Ultimate Fan Event, both franchises unveiled how they’ll continue their stories through Disney Parks experiences as well as on big and small screens near you.

Cars Gears Up to open new rides at Walt Disney World Courtesy of: Disney Experiences

Courtesy of: Disney Experiences

Walt Disney World Cars area: Construction continues in Orlando, Florida, as the Cars area officially gets named Piston Peak at the Magic Kingdom. During the D23 Horizons theme parks main event, Disney Imagineers unveiled more about the attractions that will make up the land inspired by America’s national parks, by way of Pixar’s hit franchise.

First up, Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) will be featured on the main attraction, Cars Ridge Run Rally, a race that takes place up and down a snow-capped Piston Peak. Thrill-seekers should expect off-roading fun with vehicles that will rock, bump, and drop over adventurous terrain thanks to the magic of Imagineering tech.

New to the theme park world of Cars is Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along, which brings to life the demolition derby fan-favorite character from Cars 3 in all her glory as a giant school bus Audio-Animatronics figure. The ride is described as a stampede-style demolition derby ride for the whole family. No opening date for the area has been announced.

Related: Disney Celebrates Fan-Favorite Eras With Nostalgic ‘Fanniversary Frenzy’ Collection (Exclusive)

New Cars television show: The world-building doesn’t stop there, as Pixar also announced more details about its upcoming Cars universe series, Cars: Lightning Racers. The Disney Junior and Disney+ show will follow Lightning McQueen and Mater, with its stars returning to reprise their roles for new adventures. We’ll likely see Piston Peak on the small screen first on Lightning Racers before it opens at Walt Disney World. To close out the announcements, Sheryl Crow, who joined the Cars family 20 years ago with the feature film’s hit single “Real Gone”, performed “Built to Last,” a new original song for the show due out in 2027.

F1 and Cars collaboration: Disney expanded their partnership with F1 beyond their Mickey core release, with Lightning McQueen joining the racing lifestyle line-up for the brand. The new collection, which features a Disney Store exclusive pin, hat, and fleece in addition to die-cast vehicles from Mattel, debuted at D23 over the weekend and online at DisneyStore.com.

‘Coco’ crosses over at Disney California Adventure and the digital beyond Courtesy of: Disney Experiences

Courtesy of: Disney Experiences

Disney California Adventure Coco ride update: During the Horizons panel, Disney Imagineers detailed a bit more about the story behind the previously announced Coco boat ride coming to the Disneyland Resort’s second theme park. Set to be built at Pixar Pier by the Inside Out: Emotional Whirlwind attraction, fans will enter the “casa museo” set to the music of Miguel’s great-great-grandfather, Héctor Rivera, whose legacy has rightfully been restored. A first look at the animatronic statue figure was revealed earlier on the D23 show floor.

Imagineering revealed that the classic-inspired boat dark ride picks up on Miguel’s story a year after the events of Coco and that they’ve worked with Pixar to make sure the story on the attraction fills in the gap between the original film and the new one. Above all, the journey through memory is the key to the concept and aims to bring in multi-generational families to celebrate Mexico’s culture. The best thing? There’s no height requirement, so the whole family can enjoy the colorful and musical crossing into the land of the dead.

Related: Adam Driver and Christopher Abbott Lead New ‘X-Men’ Cast in D23 Reveal

Coco 2: During the Entertainment showcase, it was announced that Coco 2 is set to be released in November of 2029. Benjamin Bratt, who played the first film’s nefarious music-stealing villain, announced that he’s set to reprise his role as Ernesto de la Cruz, who returns a few years later to get revenge (over being exposed) but ends up becoming a foe Miguel will need to team up. Why? Well, on that the actor teased a reason that proves “fate has a truly twisted sense of humor.”

Kingdom Hearts IV crosses over with Coco: The Coco 2 presentation was crashed by the iconic Y2K game, as it draws on the power of memory and The Land of the Dead from Coco to set the stage for the Square Enix game’s big return. The lore in the Pixar franchise definitely holds the key to explaining how the Disney video game hero Sora (Haley Joel Osment) returns to the franchise to reunite with Mickey and friends to take on the forces of evil. Kingdom Hearts IV is set to be released in 2027 (finally).

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On the second day of D23 during the “Scrubs: Scrubbing Back” panel moderated by Scott Foley, it was announced that former Saturday Night Live writer/performer John Higgins has joined the cast of ABC’s Scrubs revival.

According to Deadline, in the second season, Higgins will play Grant, a new chief resident, “who is envisioned as a thorn in J.D.’s side the way he himself once was for Dr. Cox.”

Donald Faison, who plays Dr. Chris Turk on Scrubs, revealed what it’s been like working on set with the SNL star.

“John Higgins joins the cast; it’s been a lot of fun to watch him work, actually him and Ava Bunn, who plays Tosh. They’ve been great additions,” Faison said.

In addition to Higgins, Keyla Monterroso Mejia will also join the cast, playing a surgical nurse named Mimi. However, recurring players from season 1, like X Mayo and Joel Kim Booster, will not be returning to the show.

Higgins is best known for his work on SNL, where he often appeared with his comedy group Please Don’t Destroy. Alongside Ben Marshall and Martin Herlihy, the trio became a recurring group from seasons 47 to 50. Although he left SNL ahead of season 51, the comedy group continued with the 2023 feature Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain.

The film follows three friends living together who realize they don’t like the trajectory of their lives. Together, they set off to find “a gold treasure that is rumored to be buried in the nearby mountain,” per the logline. The film is now streaming on Peacock, and the Please Don’t Destroy comedy trio is on tour around the East Coast this summer.

Higgins will return to TV screens once again with Scrubs season 2, which is set to premiere on ABC on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Check out the official teaser trailer here:

If you’ve been eagerly awaiting updates on the future of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, this weekend’s D23 event in Anaheim just delivered in a major way.

Inside the massive Walt Disney Imagineering: Horizons pavilion, Disney pulled back the curtain on its upcoming 11-acre Tropical Americas expansion, officially named Pueblo Esperanza, which is set to debut in 2027. Through detailed show-scene models, intricate Audio-Animatronics figures, and physical ride vehicles, fans are getting their first real, tangible look inside the land’s three brand-new attractions.

Reporting live from the show floor, theme park expert Tom Bricker of Disney Tourist Blog took an up-close look at the reveals and noted why this expansion carries so much weight for Walt Disney World.

“This project is the one that’s most necessary, as Animal Kingdom badly needs about a half-dozen new rides,” Bricker pointed out. “Three will have to suffice for now, but hopefully this is just the start of big plans to make DAK a full-day park for the average guests and not just super fans.”

Related: One of Disney’s Most Beloved Original Restaurants Is Closing Down for Good

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The heart of the expansion centers around Pueblo Esperanza (“Village of Hope”), a lush town square featuring a central gathering fountain, a massive quick-service hacienda restaurant, and a working critter carousel repurposed from an old horse stable.

Beyond the village, guests will find the world’s very first dedicated Encanto ride-through dark ride. The story picks up right as young Antonio receives his magical gift of communicating with animals, transforming his bedroom into a vibrant rainforest. Disney showed off a detailed model set in the kitchen of the magical Madrigal Casita decorated for Antonio’s birthday, complete with animatronic models of a donkey, a toucan, and his capybara friend, Chispi. The ride vehicles are uniquely crafted out of living household furniture, featuring benches shaped like couches and chairs.

Related: A Beloved Disney Ride Is Nearing the End of Its 28-Year Run

As Bricker observed of the ride’s potential, “The Encanto Madrigal Casita dark ride has tremendous potential to be a great family-friendly dark ride, and everything we’ve heard has us optimistic. (It honestly doesn’t bother me in the least that this isn’t trackless–most guests won’t even know as the ride profile should be very dynamic.)”

Across the rainforest, thrill-seekers will find an all-new Indiana Jones Adventure attraction, which takes over the former DINOSAUR building. Rather than a direct copy of existing rides in California or Tokyo, this will feature an original storyline where Indy investigates a newly discovered, perfectly preserved Maya temple in search of a mythical creature.

“Ditto Indiana Jones Adventure, which is very promising both in story and ambition,” Bricker shared. “It should easily surpass DINOSAUR, which admittedly isn’t a high bar.”

As Bricker highlighted, Tropical Americas is currently “the project at Walt Disney World that’s furthest along” with a confirmed 2027 opening timeline, making this rich sneak peek a reassuring sign of the next chapter for Animal Kingdom.

Related: Disney Just Revealed Exciting New Details for Its First-Ever ‘Coco’ Ride—and We Are Officially Feeling ‘Un Poco Loco’

With days getting shorter and nights a little cooler, fall is just starting to creep in. And one of the most delightful aspects of this time of year is the return of comfort food. Costco is already getting into the spirit with the return of two classic deli dinner pies.

Both the Kirkland Signature Chicken Pot Pie and Shepherd’s Pie have begun making their way back into warehouses, giving members two hearty, ready-to-bake options for those nights when you want something warm and satisfying without starting dinner from scratch.

You can see them back in stores in this August 13 Instagram video from @discovering_costco:

View this post on Instagram Costco’s Chicken Pot Pie and Shepherd’s Pie Are Back in the Deli

First up is Costco’s enormous Chicken Pot Pie, item #16382. It’s priced at $3.99 per pound, and the one shown in the video weighs 5.74 pounds for a total price of $22.90.

Made with 1.5 pounds of all-white rotisserie chicken breast, the pie is loaded with potatoes, peas, carrots, corn, and onions in a rich, creamy gravy. The filling is tucked between a substantial bottom crust and flaky top crust made with Costco bakery pie dough.

Related: Costco’s New Bakery Cake Is a Slice of Pure Bliss With Coffee

At roughly 6 to 8 servings per pie, that $22.90 example works out to approximately $2.86 to $3.82 per serving, depending on how generously you slice it. That’s an especially appealing option for feeding a family or turning one deli pickup into dinner with leftovers.

To prepare it, Costco recommends removing the plastic packaging, placing the pie on a baking sheet, and baking it at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes until it reaches the recommended internal temperature.

Image via Shutterstock/calimedia

Then there’s Costco’s Shepherd’s Pie, item #41217, another substantial cold-weather favorite. It’s currently priced at $4.29 per pound, with containers weighing around 5.5 pounds. The one featured in the video comes to $23.60.

This one starts with seasoned ground beef combined with peas, corn, carrots, and caramelized onions in a savory Burgundy wine gravy. Instead of pastry on top, it’s finished with a generous layer of creamy Yukon Gold mashed potatoes made with butter, milk, and cream and sprinkled with parsley.

A tray feeds approximately 4 to 6 people, putting the $23.60 example at around $3.93 to $5.90 per serving. Add a simple green salad or a vegetable on the side, and dinner is essentially taken care of.

Costco recommends baking the Shepherd’s Pie at 380 degrees for approximately 60 to 90 minutes, or until the center reaches the recommended internal temperature.

With both back in the deli as summer begins winding down, Costco appears more than ready for cozy dinner season to begin.

More often than I care to admit, I ask myself, “Can you ever have enough serving pieces?” This happens whenever I’m faced with a gorgeous tiered tray, lovely serving platter or oversized bowl that I can literally picture filled with spaghetti and meatballs in Sunday sauce. Yes, I may have a problem. It’s just that with every serving piece, I imagine throwing a fun dinner party or, if it looks vintage, pretending I live in Downton Abbey. (I don’t.)

It doesn’t help that I write about home decor for a living, so I’m pretty much looking at pretty things all day, every day. As a Libra, it’s great. As for my budget? Not so great. Still, when I spy tableware that looks versatile, I can’t help but think, “Eh, just one more piece won’t hurt.” And that’s exactly my thought process with Costco’s two-piece fluted serving bowl set.

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Trudeau Nesting Serving Bowls – 2-Pieces, $29.99 at Costco

Costco

If your serving bowls are going to earn their keep, they should look pretty enough for the table and be practical enough for everyday use. This fluted porcelain set checks both boxes. You get one large serving bowl measuring 11 inches in diameter and one medium bowl measuring 10 inches, giving you a couple of useful sizes for whatever you’re serving up.

Related: Marshalls Is Selling a Stunning 2-Pack of Cordless Wall Sconces to Add Ambient Light Anywhere You Wish

The fluted detailing adds a little texture and visual interest without making the bowls feel stodgy, so they can easily work for both casual weeknight dinners and a table set for company. And because they’re both microwave and dishwasher safe, you don’t have to treat them like precious china. Warm something up, serve it straight from the bowl, and then let the dishwasher handle cleanup.

I also can’t help but notice how much this two-piece set (that costs $29.99) looks remarkably similar to Crate & Barrel’s French Kitchen Marble White Scalloped Serving Bowl, which retails for $169.95—and that’s just for one. Now, obviously, there are some major differences in terms of material—C&B’s bowl is made of heavy marble, whereas the Costco set is made of lighter porcelain—but the overall concept is the same, with the crisp white color and fluted design.

Costco’s nesting bowl set is giving real “get the look for less” energy, and I, for one, am absolutely here for it.

Related: Kohl’s Sweet Scallop-Edged Comfort Mat From Reese Witherspoon’s Line Will Brighten Up Your Kitchen

I’ve covered a lot of viral food trends over the last few years and while a few of them leave me scratching my head in disbelief, most of them are pretty tasty. (In fact, I’m still making cheese-wrapped pickles and that’s a trend that’s been long gone.) The very best food trends are usually the simplest and the ones that make me go, “How come I’ve never thought of that before?” along with any and every French bakery hack. Enter the viral croissant ice cream sandwich.

Lately, croissants are having a moment. We’ve seen smashed and topped croissants turned into open-faced sandwiches, chocolate-dipped flat croissants, crème brûlée croissants…the list goes on. And America’s obsession with the simple French pastry is nothing new. Food & Wine even published the headline “Are Croissant Trends Getting Out of Control?” a couple of years ago.

Apparently, the answer is no because there’s a brand-new croissant trend making the rounds online this summer. The #magnumcroissant hashtag is building on Instagram and the concept could not be easier: Take a chocolate-covered ice cream bar, slide it into a croissant and remove the stick. Eat.

You’re either going to love it or hate it and people are firmly on one side or the other. “I need to try this!! It loooks insane,” one Instagrammer commented. “The perfect mix of flaky, creamy, and delicious. 😍❤️” said another. Others weren’t so sure, commenting about the calorie count and accusing the trend of ruining a perfectly good croissant (or ice cream bar). But very few people have tried this one on camera and turned their nose up at it. I mean, really, how could you?

After seeing the viral croissant ice cream sandwich all over my FYP, I knew I had to try it. I grabbed a croissant from my favorite local bakery, swung by the grocery store for a pack of ice cream bars and got to work. The verdict: It was super easy and it didn’t disappoint.

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View this post on Instagram The Verdict: Why the Croissant Ice Cream Sandwich Actually Works

Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel

The croissant ice cream sandwich works for exactly the reason you think it will: You’re combining a buttery, flaky croissant with cold, creamy ice cream and a crisp chocolate shell. There was very little chance this was going to be bad.

I chose Magnum vanilla ice cream bars covered in chocolate and almonds since Magnum bars seemed to be the trend online (the company itself is even embracing the trend on their Instagram page). The chocolate shell and crunchy almonds were especially good with the buttery croissant, but it doesn’t have to be a Magnum bar, of course (see below for our flavor suggestions!). The finished dessert is good but a tad heavy (obv, it’s ice cream in a buttery pastry pocket). You definitely only need one to get the idea. It’s a little reminiscent of taiyaki ice cream, which pairs ice cream with a fish-shaped Japanese cake. Here, the croissant becomes an ice cream cone of sorts, except it’s buttery, flaky and arguably more satisfying.

Ultimately, this is an outdoor treat, which makes it perfect for the heatwave of 2026 we all seem to be experiencing. It’s also a pretty genius solution for that melting ice cream bar at the pool. You get the ice cream and an edible, delicious wrapper to catch the drips. What more could you want?!

Ingredients Needed

Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel

For this one, you’ll need one full-size croissant and one chocolate-covered ice cream bar on a stick. This would also work with a day-old croissant since the goal is to support the melting ice cream and that doesn’t require a soft, fresh-from-the-bakery croissant…but that is the only time you’ll hear me say that. You’ll also need a small knife or sharp kitchen shears to cut the end off the croissant. That’s it.

Related: Magnum’s New Ice Cream Bar Flavor Is ‘Heavenly,’ Fans Say

How To Make It Yourself

Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel

Start by taking the ice cream bar out of the freezer and letting it sit at room temperature for a few minutes. In the comments, people are saying to leave the ice cream bar out for a bit to make it easier to take the stick out (and they’re right)

Next, cut the end off the croissant and eat it (duh). Once you can see the airy interior, use your fingers to gently push the center inward and make room for the ice cream bar.

Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel

A note about “hollowing out” the croissant here: When you cut the end off, you’ll notice that it’s much more about pushing in the center than actually hollowing it out and throwing away the innards of your precious croissant. Quelle horreur!

Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel

Keeping the ice cream bar on its stick, carefully slide it into the pocket you created. Once the ice cream is securely inside the croissant, slowly pull out the stick. The croissant should grip the slightly softened bar and hold it in place.

The Crucial Step: To Toast or Not To Toast?

Some people online are toasting their croissants, but I didn’t find that to be a necessary step. In fact, I would not personally recommend it.

I experimented with the idea of using a toasted croissant because: 1. A warm, crisp pastry and cold ice cream sounded pretty good, and 2. People online were saying this was a necessary step. Toasting my croissant made it crispier, yes, but croissants are already hard to eat, with their shatteringly crisp exteriors and bits of pastry going everywhere. Why make this any more difficult than it has to be? It made a complete mess when I attempted it and I didn’t notice much of a difference in taste from the un-toasted one. If you’re eating one in the privacy of your own home, a bit of flaky mess is no big deal. But IMO, there’s nothing worse than eating a croissant in public. And one filled with ice cream? Pass.

Related: Häagen-Dazs Just Turned One of Its Best-Selling Flavors Into a New Ice Cream Bar

How To Eat It Without Making a Mess

Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel

Surprisingly, the ice cream stays inside the croissant “cone,” even when it’s slightly soft. I expected it to slide out or drip everywhere, but I made three of them and the croissants held the ice cream in place even in the heat of a summer afternoon. I was surprised when I didn’t need all of the napkins I took out.

4 Flavor Combos to Elevate the Viral Hack

Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel

The best ice cream for croissants is ultimately whichever bar you already love. Vanilla, chocolate, caramel, coffee or fruit-flavored bars could all work. As long as it’s on a stick, you’re in business. If you want to move beyond the classic vanilla-and-Magnum version, here are four combinations to try out:

1. Oreo ice cream bar: A cookies-and-cream bar adds plenty of chocolate-cookie crunch to the buttery croissant.
2. Diana’s Bananas chocolate-covered banana: This swaps ice cream for a frozen banana, but you still get a creamy center and crisp chocolate shell. It’s basically breakfast now, right?
3. Magnum Dubai chocolate bar: Pair one of Magnum’s Dubai chocolate-inspired bars with a croissant for pistachio, chocolate and buttery pastry that combines two viral trends in one.
4. Ben & Jerry’s Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream bar: For the fruit fans, strawberry cheesecake-flavored ice cream and a buttery croissant feel like a combination that screams summer.

Related: Your Perfect Ice Cream Truck Treat, Based on Birth Month

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Coastal jewelry is having a major moment this summer, but it’s evolved far beyond classic puka shells. This season’s take on the trend feels more elevated, bringing in seaside-inspired details that can easily work with everything from vacation outfits to everyday looks.

Fortunately, Anthropologie has plenty of jewelry that puts a sophisticated spin on the coastal trend. We rounded up three of our favorite necklaces: a colorful layered set, a sleek shell pendant, and a modern pearl necklace. Whether you prefer something eye-catching or understated, there’s an option here for you.

Threaded Layered Necklace Set, $30 (was $54) at Anthropologie

Courtesy of Anthropologie

Shop at Anthropologie

The Threaded Layered Necklace Set comes in five colors, ranging from easy neutrals to brighter shades like blue and red. Each set includes two necklaces designed to be worn together or separately. One features a longer pendant decorated with playful motifs like fish, shells, and pearls, while the shorter necklace sits closer to the collarbone with a colorful crystal fringe.

Made with 14-karat gold-plated brass, stone, cubic zirconia, glass, and polyester thread, the set has a lobster clasp and plenty of texture. Since the necklaces already create a layered effect, they work especially well with simple, solid-colored tops that let the charms and crystals stand out. 

One shopper called the set “so cute,” writing, “I love this set together but also as separates! I have been wearing it nonstop!” Another described it as “pretty and fun,” adding, “This necklace is a staple piece for my jewelry collection — a simple and easy way to add to your outfit.”

Related: Amazon’s ‘Darling’ $10 Seashell Trinket Tray Adds So Much Coastal-Charm to Any Space 

Metal Shell Pendant Necklace, $35 (was $54) at Anthropologie 

Courtesy of Anthropologie

Shop at Anthropologie

For a more understated take on the trend, the Metal Shell Pendant Necklace features a wide, fan-shaped seashell pendant. Five delicate teardrop charms hang along the bottom edge, giving the simple silhouette a little extra movement and detail.

The necklace comes in gold-tone or silver-tone finishes and is made with 14-karat gold-plated brass with a lobster clasp. It’s easy to wear on its own for a sleek, minimalist look, or layer it with thinner chains when you want to create a more personalized combination.

Pearl Duet Necklace, $30 (was $48) at Anthropologie

Courtesy of Anthropologie

Shop at Anthropologie

The Pearl Duet Necklace offers a fresh take on the traditional pearl necklace. Rather than using one continuous strand, it combines two contrasting sections: a delicate strand of tiny faux pearls that rests along the collarbone and a sleek chain on the other side. Made with faux pearls and 14-karat gold-plated brass, it has a chic yet wearable look.

The result feels modern, classic, and easy to wear every day. It looks refined on its own, but it can also be layered with a simple chain or dainty pendant for a curated look without feeling overly busy.

Shop More Deals

• Summer Shell Crystal Earrings Set, $35 (was $58) at Anthropologie
• Metal Shell Cuff Bracelet, $20 (was $38) at Anthropologie
• Ceramic Star Post Earrings, $25 (was $44) at Anthropologie

Anthropologie’s necklace selection makes it easy to bring the coastal jewelry trend into your wardrobe without going overly beachy. Between colorful charms, seashell motifs, and classic pearls, these pieces strike a nice balance between playful and wearable, making them easy choices for vacations, brunch, summer outfits, and beyond.

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When planning a trip to Central Florida, it’s easy to picture soaring roller coasters, massive resort complexes, and endless smartphone apps dictating your daily schedule. But long before Orlando became the polished theme park capital of the world, road trips through the Sunshine State had a very different kind of magic.

They looked like roadside fruit stands, cypress swamps, and a giant concrete alligator mouth welcoming families to an attraction that felt authentically, wonderfully wild.

Founded in 1949 by Owen Godwin Sr., Gatorland—affectionately known as “The Alligator Capital of the World”—predates Walt Disney World by more than two decades. Today, while the surrounding region has transformed into a bustling metropolis, this family-owned 150-acre park and wildlife preserve remains a peaceful pocket of classic Americana.

At the center of its modern renaissance is Savannah Boan, Gatorland’s Crocodilian Enrichment Coordinator and International Ambassador for Gatorland Global. A former U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Orlando radio personality who spent seven years applying for her dream job at the park, Boan has built a massive social media following by introducing millions of people to animals they might otherwise fear.

Here’s what makes this vintage Florida institution so special today, how one resilient little reptile inspired the world, and why a visit to Gatorland offers the kind of authentic connection travelers are craving.

Related: This Serene Florida Beach Is One of the Best in the Country for a ’90s-Style Digital Detox

A True Taste of “Old Florida” Magic

Gatorland

In an era of hyper-planned theme park vacations, stepping into Gatorland feels like taking a refreshing breath of fresh air. The nostalgic vibe is everywhere, right down to the Gatorland Express train—a staple that has taken families over the alligator habitats since the park’s early days.

Even the iconic, giant alligator mouth entrance has stood the test of time, enduring decades of Florida hurricanes and fires to welcome generations of visitors.

“If you’re coming to Florida, you want to see real Florida—and Gatorland is real Florida,” Boan explains. “It’s not manufactured. Gatorland was here before Disney and all the big parks. If you want real value for your dollar, to have fun, learn something, and have a great family day without being stressed out about a $25 Coca-Cola—or paying for parking—come visit us.”

Boardwalks wind beneath natural cypress canopies, giving visitors a shaded look at Florida’s native landscape that remains unchanged by nearby commercial growth. That blend of nostalgia and simplicity is exactly why generations of visitors keep coming back.

“We see the same families year after year, and we still have the same decorations from way back in 1949—like this big fiberglass alligator everybody sits on to take pictures,” Boan shares. “Occasionally, people send me photos of themselves on it when they were four or five, and then photos in the exact same spot at 40 or 45. It’s such a beautiful thing and a part of Florida family history. Grandparents bring their kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids over and over again.”

Related: 10 Great Things to Do in the Orlando Area Before or After a Cruise

Behind-the-Scenes Connections and Daily “Drama”

Gatorland

Beyond the throwback atmosphere, what sets Gatorland apart is the deep, genuine connection between the staff, the visitors, and the resident reptiles.

“We definitely don’t have an app—the most progressive thing we have is a YouTube channel, which I started when I came to work here,” Boan notes. Through their videos and livestreams, the team has built an intimate community: “Our guests are like our family. We’re very bonded with them through YouTube, and we get to watch annual passholders’ kids grow up.”

While Gatorland spans 150 acres, only about 25 to 30 acres are developed as the main park—leaving the surrounding property as an untouched natural sanctuary. The preserve is a thriving Florida ecosystem home to wild otters, wood storks, herons, and raccoons. During nesting season, thousands of wild migratory birds fill the trees directly over the alligator lakes, using the gators below as natural protection against tree-climbing predators.

Inside the park’s expansive lakes, Boan knows the animals’ distinct quirks and behaviors intimately.

“Our CEO is so smart in encouraging us to develop relationships with the animals under our care,” Boan says. “I have favorite alligators that are mostly tuned to my voice. I know everything they do, what they like, and what they don’t like. Crocodiles, on the other hand, are a lot of drama—they’re like a soap opera or a telenovela, especially the male crocodiles.”

That daily dynamic unfolds across interactive park experiences like the iconic Jumperoo Show, where gators leap out of the water to demonstrate their natural power, and Adventure Hour, where guests go behind the safety fence to feed giant gators up close. For handlers like Boan, every reptile is a distinct individual. She tracks the daily movements of resident gators like Terminator, using subtle clues to figure out why he might have moved across the lake on any given afternoon.

Related: This Orlando Theme Park Was Just Named No. 1 in the Country—and It’s Not Disney or Universal

The Inspiring Tale of Jawlene

Gatorland

No story at Gatorland has captured more hearts than Jawlene, an alligator rescued in Sanford, Florida, in September 2023 who had lost her entire upper jaw.

When she first arrived, her chances of survival seemed bleak. “When we got her, she was bone thin and on death’s door,” Boan recalls. “Our vet gave her an assessment and said, ‘I don’t know, Savannah.’ But I said, ‘Nah, she’s going to be fine.'”

Through endless patience and creative feeding techniques—from floating food pellets with crickets to hand-feeding—Jawlene made a miraculous recovery. Today, Jawlene lives comfortably alongside her unexpected pool mate—a small donated pet turtle named Nelly Wafer—and continues to inspire visitors from all over the world.

“You’d think Jawlene would love me, but she’s still an alligator and tries to bite me every morning when I clean her pool,” Boan laughs. “She’s super feisty, but she wouldn’t have survived if she wasn’t. She’s the queen of all alligators and probably the most famous alligator on the planet.”

Today, as Jawlene approaches the third anniversary of her rescue, Boan is working on a children’s book to share her message of resilience: “We’re writing a children’s book about her with the message to not give up. We were just amazed at how inspirational she’s been and what a great ambassador she is for her species.”

Protecting Crocodilians on a Global Stage

“Gatorland Global is something my boss, Mark McHugh, and I created,” Boan explains. “We use it for all of our conservation projects in Florida and around the world, and none of that money stays in-house.” Funded in part by revenue from their massive YouTube channel, the initiative supports hands-on crocodilian research, habitat preservation, and community education across the globe:

In Cuba, Gatorland Global partners directly with scientists at the Enterprise for the Conservation of Zapata Swamp to protect critically endangered Cuban crocodiles through head-start and release programs. The initiative also provides financial backing and resources to the Holland Bay Sanctuary in Jamaica to support breeding, microchipping, and wild release efforts for American crocodiles.

Halfway across the world in Timor-Leste, Boan travels to communities like Suai Loro to consult with village elders on safe human-crocodile coexistence while honoring local cultural beliefs that revere the crocodile (Avo Lafaek, or Grandfather Crocodile) as sacred.

Closer to home, Gatorland serves as a primary rescue facility for local Florida “nuisance” alligators displaced by suburban expansion and human interaction.

“Gatorland is alligator paradise for a reason—our alligators are like high society,” Boan says. “They live a sweet life.”

To learn more about Savannah Boan’s global conservation work with reptiles, check out her TEDx Orlando Talk, read about her rescue efforts with Jawlene in Orlando Weekly, or explore Gatorland Global to support wildlife initiatives around the world.

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Elizabeth Berkley is reflecting on the tumultuous period that followed her role in the disastrous 1995 erotic drama Showgirls.

Berkley, 54, is best known as caffeine pill queen Jessie Spano on Saved by the Bell. The actress rose to stardom as the overachieving teenager on the Saturday morning TV series, which ran from 1989 to 1993 on NBC, and has found a tremendous career in film and television in recent years. But in a new Instagram post, Berkley is opening up about the intense response that Showgirls received from critics, and the ways she kept going during the tumultuous period.

Sharing a photo she found of herself at 21 years old that she found at her parents’ house, Berkley noted that it came from the world tour for Showgirls. In the film, Berkley played Nomi Malone, a young drifter who came to Las Vegas aspiring to be a showgirl.

“Having to defend myself and a movie that was made by many people. I didn’t ask ‘why’- I stood in my power, despite the journalists wanting to try to take it away. In my world, that wasn’t an option. I’m sure you all have moments, whether public or private that have tried to destroy your sense of self. While being tested over and over, I refused to self-destruct and because of the choices I made, it emboldened mine. The reality that replaced the fantasy might have been brutal at the time, it ended up being far more fantastic. Hold onto your dreams and yourself no matter what!💕,” Berkley shared. “I found this today at my parents’ house… there were other far more glamorous pics I sorted through, but something about this one struck me that I wanted to share… Hope it reminds you of how special you are if you needed that today ❤️❤️🎥✨.”

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What Is Elizabeth Berkley Up To These Days?

While she made waves with her film Showgirls, Berkley went on to become an indie darling and appeared in a variety of TV series, including NYPD Blue and Titus. In 2011, she wrote a guidebook, Ask Elizabeth, for teenage girls.

These days, her acting career is still thriving, with appearances on Cobra Kai and All’s Fair. She even starred in a recent campaign for Betsey Johnson, looking better than ever.

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We were stunned by a recent photograph that Berkley shared on her Instagram page. The black-and-white shot showed the blonde beauty with her hair smoothed down in soft waves.

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Related: ‘Saved by the Bell’ Star Elizabeth Berkley, 53, Has Only Gotten More Stunning Since Her Jessie Spano Days

In 1983, Madonna was just beginning to break through with her self-titled debut album. More than four decades later, she is still adding No. 1 albums to her résumé, and on Aug. 16, the woman once dubbed the “reigning queen” of video celebrates her 68th birthday.

Madonna Louise Ciccone was born Aug. 16, 1958, in Bay City, Mich., and eventually became one of the defining artists of the MTV era. But her influence on music video went far beyond simply being in the right place at the right time.

Cultural critic Mark C. Taylor went so far as to call the music video the quintessential postmodern art form in his 1993 book Nots, naming Madonna its “reigning queen,” a title that she arguably still holds today.

Decades later, Billboard backed up that lofty assessment in a major way, ranking Madonna No. 1 on its 2020 list of the 100 Greatest Music Video Artists of All Time.

In its ranking, Billboard credited Madonna’s “high-concept videos” with helping her achieve era-defining fame, noting that the visuals were “an integral part of her ever-changing image.”

The publication pointed to videos including “Material Girl,” “Like a Prayer” and “Vogue” as particularly significant moments in her career, ultimately choosing the David Fincher-directed video for “Vogue” as her finest.

The honor came nearly two decades after MTV also ranked Madonna as the greatest music video artist of all time, citing her “innovation, creativity and contribution to the music video art form” and “her ability to always intrigue the audience captivates.”

In 2010, Rolling Stone named her no. 36 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and several of her albums have been named to the publication’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

It’s hard to separate Madonna’s rise from the music-video revolution of the 1980s. Videos became an essential part of her work, from the old-Hollywood homage of “Material Girl” to the religious imagery and controversy surrounding “Like a Prayer.”

“Vogue,” meanwhile, became another defining visual achievement. The black-and-white video drew heavily on the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age while bringing voguing and elements of ballroom culture to an enormous mainstream audience.

But Madonna’s ability to reinvent herself wasn’t limited to her visuals.

After moving to New York City in 1978 to pursue dance, Madonna played drums and guitar in bands before eventually turning her attention toward a solo music career. She released her debut single, “Everybody,” in 1982, followed by her self-titled debut album the next year.

Then came Like a Virgin.

Released in 1984, the album became Madonna’s first No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while its title track gave her the first of her 12 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.

Over the decades that followed, Madonna amassed 38 Hot 100 top 10s and 50 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart. She also became the best-selling female music artist of all time and generated more than $1.6 billion in concert ticket sales over the course of her career.

More than 40 years after her breakthrough, Madonna isn’t simply celebrating past accomplishments.

Her 15th studio album Confessions II arrived on July 3, 2026, as a follow-up to her hugely successful 2005 album Confessions on a Dance Floor. The new album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, giving Madonna her 10th chart-topper.

That achievement put her in extraordinarily rare company: Madonna and The Beatles are now the only acts to have accumulated at least 10 No. 1s on all four of the Billboard 200, Billboard Hot 100, U.K. Albums Chart and U.K. singles chart.

She’s been busy elsewhere in 2026, too. Madonna joined Sabrina Carpenter at Coachella in April, performed during the FIFA World Cup final halftime show in July and recently teamed up with Kylie Minogue for a new version of “Love Sensation.”

The collaboration became another milestone when it reached the top 10 in the U.K., giving Madonna her highest-charting single there since “Celebration” in 2009.

More than four decades after music videos helped turn her into one of the world’s biggest stars, the “reigning queen” of the medium is still finding new ways to rule the charts.

Related: Paul McCartney’s No. 1 Duet Partner Swooped In to Outbid Him For The Beatles’ Catalog For $47.5 Million 41 Years Ago Today

In 1978, Frankie Valli traded a movie role for a No. 1 hit.

The song was “Grease,” and it was the theme song for the blockbuster movie of the same name.

Written by Bee Gees legend  Barry Gibb, “Grease” featured a funky beat and a catchy chorus, with Valli’s high-flying vocals giving it instant appeal. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1978 and gave Valli a new record deal with Warner Bros. Records.

It all started when Valli rejected a role in the movie that starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in favor of recording the title song.

“Barry Gibb called and said, ‘I wrote a song. I think it’s for you. It’s going to be the title song for this motion picture,'” Valli recalled in an interview with Billboard.

He noted that his manager at the time, Allan Carr, who was partnered in the movie Grease with Robert Stigwood, offered him the choice of taking a role in the movie or recording the theme song.

“Well, I had already heard the title song, and I loved it,” Valli shared “I called [arranger] Don Costa up and told him to come over right away and hear this song. He said, ‘If you don’t record this song, you’re crazy.’ So I said, ‘What’s the song if I want to be in the movie?’ And they said, ‘Beauty School Dropout.’ It was done by Frankie Avalon. It never became a hit, but he made a lot of money from it being on the soundtrack. But ‘Grease’ was one of the biggest records I ever had in my career.”

Interestingly, Avalon also initially turned down the role, which was the character Teen Angel in the iconic  1978 film.

“I turned it down,” Avalon told the Riggle’s Picks podcast of the first time he was offered the part of Teen Angel. “I had seen the play on Broadway, and I said ‘pass.’”

Producers wouldn’t take no for an answer, but Avalon insisted, “I’ve seen the play. Teen Angel is an extension of Elvis. I’m not Elvis. I don’t have the long sideburns, I don’t do the gyration, I don’t sing like that. I got my own style.”

Producers told the singer they would change the character and have him wear all white instead of black. “So they designed the role the way I wanted to do it,” Avalon revealed.

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Avalon performed the song “Beauty School Dropout” in a dreamy scene with Frenchy (Didi Conn) as he advised her to go back to high school.

He later described the filming experience for Grease as a good one. “I was on the set for about six days, rehearsing, and then two days of filming, and that was it,” Avalon told Remind magazine in 2025.

Elvis, who died in 1977 during the summer that Grease was filmed, had actually been considered for the Teen Angel role, accoing to Entertainment Weekly. Donny Osmond was also considered to play the crooning angel in the fantasy sequence.

Decades later, it’s hard to imagine Grease any other way. Valli delivered the perfect theme song, while Avalon pulled off a swoon-worthy performance in the film that fans still adore.

Related: 1978 Pop-Rock Duet, Written Overnight for Hit Film, Climbed the Charts to No. 1 48 Years Ago Today