Parade
8 Aldi Food Finds That Are Secretly Made by Major Brands
Walk into Aldi for the first time, and you might notice something missing: many of the national brands you’d see at other grocery stores. Instead, most of the shelves are filled with Aldi-exclusive labels. In fact, more than 90 percent of the products Aldi sells are exclusive brands.
That limited selection is part of Aldi’s strategy for keeping prices low. The grocer carries fewer versions of the same product and operates smaller stores than many traditional supermarkets.
😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳🍔
Of course, Aldi doesn’t make all of those products itself. Some of Aldi’s private-label products have been made by major food companies that also stock grocery stores under their own names and brands. And once you start digging into who makes what, there are some pretty unexpected connections.
There are also plenty of rumors about Aldi products online, so we did some digging of our own. We checked USDA and FDA records, recall notices, and food-industry sources to find connections we could back up. Suppliers can change, and sharing a manufacturer doesn’t mean two products are exactly the same, but we did find that some big name-brand food companies are secretly behind some of the Aldi favorites you may already have in your kitchen.
Name-Brand Cereals Hiding in Plain SightCatherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images
Aldi’s ties to a major cereal maker go back decades. In 1998, a CDC investigation into a cereal recall identified Malt-O-Meal as the manufacturer of Millville Toasted Oats sold at Aldi. The same plant was also making Malt-O-Meal Toasty O’s, along with store-brand cereals for several other grocery chains.
Post Holdings acquired Malt-O-Meal’s parent company, MOM Brands, in 2015, and Malt-O-Meal became part of Post Consumer Brands. A few years later, Post was linked to another Millville cereal. In 2019, Store Brands, a trade publication covering the private-label industry, listed Post Consumer Brands alongside Aldi’s Millville Original Balance Multigrain Cereal in its Editors’ Picks Awards.
Today, Post’s cereal lineup includes Honey Bunches of Oats, PEBBLES, Grape-Nuts, Honeycomb and Malt-O-Meal. The company also makes cereals specifically for private-label partners, so producing cereal without the Post name on the box is nothing new.
Related: The Big-Name Brands Secretly Behind 12 of Walmart’s Great Value Labels
The Big-Name Brands Hiding Behind Aldi’s Private LabelsSome Aldi-exclusive products are made by companies you already know from the grocery aisle.
1. Rosina Food ProductsCourtesy Fred Hernandez
Aldi’s Bremer Italian Style Meatballs have been manufactured by Rosina Food Products, a New York-based company that’s been making frozen Italian specialties since 1963. Rosina is also behind the namesake Rosina brand, along with Celentano, Mama Lucia and Italian Village.
The connection became especially clear in February 2026, when Rosina recalled nearly 9,500 pounds of Bremer Family Size Italian Style Meatballs sold at Aldi stores nationwide due to possible metal contamination.
2. Tyson FoodsKseniya Romazanova / Getty Images
Aldi’s Kirkwood chicken has a major name behind at least some of its products: Tyson Foods, one of the largest poultry producers in the country. Aldi has directly confirmed the connection too.
In 2019, the grocer recalled Kirkwood Buffalo and Honey BBQ Crispy Chicken Strips in cooperation with Tyson Foods due to the potential presence of pieces of metal in the products. The recall directed customers with questions about the chicken strips straight to Tyson Foods Consumer Relations.
Tyson is a giant in the meat aisle. The company says it produces about 20 percent of the beef, pork and chicken in the United States, and its brands include Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Aidells and State Fair, in addition to Tyson.
3. J&J Snack FoodsThe company behind SUPERPRETZEL and ICEE has also made food for Aldi. In 2019, J&J Snack Foods Handhelds recalled more than 56,000 pounds of stuffed sandwiches, including Bremer Classic Pepperoni Pizza and Ham & Cheese Hot Stuffed Sandwiches sold at Aldi.
J&J’s story started with pretzels. Founder Gerald Shreiber bought a struggling pretzel company at a bankruptcy auction in 1971 and turned it into SUPERPRETZEL. The company has since added some pretty recognizable snack-aisle and concession-stand names, including ICEE, Dippin’ Dots and Luigi’s Real Italian Ice.
4. Fresh ExpressAldi’s Little Salad Bar has a big name in the bagged salad business behind at least some of its greens. In 2020, Fresh Express recalled several Little Salad Bar products sold at Aldi that had been produced at its Streamwood, Illinois, facility, including Garden Salad, Classic Coleslaw and two chopped salad kits.
And Aldi wasn’t the only store brand coming out of the Fresh Express facility. The same recall included salads carrying Walmart’s Marketside, Jewel-Osco’s Signature Farms, Hy-Vee and other private-label names, along with salads sold under the Fresh Express name itself. Fresh Express is no small player, either: The company says it produces nearly 40 million pounds of salad each month.
Related: The 11 Best French Groceries to Buy at Costco (and 3 to Skip)
5. Reser’s Fine FoodsThat tub of macaroni salad from Aldi has ties to a company that’s been making deli salads for decades. In 2024, Reser’s Fine Foods recalled a batch of 32-ounce Aldi Deli Macaroni Salad that it had produced at one of its regional facilities and distributed to Aldi.
Deli salads are what put Reser’s on the map in the first place. The family-owned company got its start in 1950 when Mildred Reser began making potato salad in her Oregon farmhouse kitchen and started selling it to stores the following year. Today, Reser’s sells its own line of macaroni salads, potato salads and coleslaw, and has grown into one of the country’s largest family-owned prepared-food companies.
6. Fratelli BerettaThe company behind Fratelli Beretta salami and prosciutto has also made charcuterie for Aldi. In 2024, Aldi recalled its Appleton Farms Gourmet Deli Selection in cooperation with Fratelli Beretta USA after a potential processing issue.
Fratelli Beretta has been in the meat business since 1812, when it got its start as a small meat-processing business in Italy. More than 200 years later, the company sells its own salami, prosciutto, mortadella and pancetta in the U.S., where it has been producing meat since the 1990s.
The Secret Behind Aldi’s Famous Frozen PizzasAleksandr Fedosov / Getty Images
Mama Cozzi’s is one of Aldi’s best-known private labels, and at least some of its frozen pizzas have ties to the company behind DiGiorno. In 2015, USDA records show that Nation Pizza, a pizza manufacturer in Schaumburg, Illinois, produced Mama Cozzi’s Rising Crust Pepperoni Pizza for Aldi.
Nation Pizza later became part of Nestlé. A 2021 USDA recall for DiGiorno Crispy Pan Crust Pepperoni Pizza identified the manufacturer as Nation Pizza Products and noted that the company was owned by Nestlé USA. Even the establishment number on the DiGiorno pizza, EST. 1682A, matches the one listed on the recalled Mama Cozzi’s pizzas. In other words, Aldi’s rising-crust pizza and DiGiorno pizza have come out of the same pizza plant.
Final ThoughtsThese are only some of the Aldi manufacturers we could trace through public records. Who makes many of the grocer’s other private-label foods isn’t nearly as easy to pin down, so there may be more big names behind those Aldi labels that you just don’t know about yet.
Related: 12 Generic Store-Brand Items That Are Secretly Made by Major Brands
Is Starbucks Open on Labor Day 2026? Here's What You Need to Know
Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, and whether you’re heading to a barbecue, squeezing in one last beach day or just enjoying the long weekend, a coffee run might be part of the plan. But before heading out for your usual latte or breakfast sandwich, you’ll want to know if Starbucks is open on Labor Day.
Labor Day falls on Monday, Sept. 7, and holiday schedules can sometimes affect when restaurants and coffee shops are open. Whether Starbucks is your first stop before a road trip or you’re looking for an afternoon caffeine boost between plans, here’s what to know before heading out.
😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳🍔
Is Starbucks Open on Labor Day?Yes, most Starbucks locations will be open on Labor Day 2026, so you can still stop by for your favorite coffee, Refresher or breakfast bite. However, hours can vary by location, and some stores may operate on a modified holiday schedule.
This is especially true for Starbucks locations inside grocery stores, malls and other businesses, which may follow the hours of the store or building they’re located in. That means the Starbucks you normally visit could have a different schedule than another location just a few miles away.
Related: I Tried Peet’s New Fall Menu—and My Favorite Item Was a Total Surprise
What Are Starbucks’ Labor Day Hours?There are no set Starbucks Labor Day hours across all locations. Many stores are expected to operate during their regular hours on Sept. 7, while some may open later or close earlier for the holiday.
Starbucks stores often open early, with many locations opening around 5 a.m. and some as early as 4:30 a.m. Many close between 8 and 10 p.m., though some stay open until 11 p.m. or later.
The easiest way to find out when your local Starbucks is open is to use the Starbucks store locator. Search by your city, ZIP code or address to find nearby cafes and see their individual hours. You can also check your store through the Starbucks mobile app, which is especially handy if you’re planning to order ahead.
It’s a good idea to check again on Labor Day before leaving home, since holiday hours can differ from a store’s usual Monday schedule. And if your regular Starbucks has reduced hours, another nearby location may have a different schedule.
Whether you’re starting Labor Day with an iced coffee or need an afternoon pick-me-up, chances are you won’t have to give up your Starbucks run. Just be sure to check your local store’s schedule before heading out.
Baby Naming Expert Says This 'Gorgeous' Double Name Is About To Be Everywhere
Choosing a baby name as a parent comes with a lot of pressure, especially if you tend to be on the more indecisive side. But that’s exactly why the growing double name trend is perfect. Instead of having to narrow your choices down to just one first name, you can give your child a double-barrel name—essentially two first names that can be joined by a hyphen or separated with a space.
With this type of moniker rising in popularity, Parade spoke with Colleen Slagen, an expert baby name consultant and author of the book Naming Bebe: An Interactive Guide to Choosing a Baby Name You Love. She explains why double baby names are becoming more popular nationwide, and also how they’re shifting in style. Where you might be accustomed to double-barrel names like Billy-Bob or Mary-Jo, today’s trends point towards more unique options.
Slagen has her eye on one key aspect of this naming trend: gender neutral options that lead with a more unique first name, plus a more traditional second name. And there’s one double name in this vein she thinks people will start seeing everywhere. She also explains what it is about it that makes it so irresistible to expecting parents choosing monikers for their little ones.
Keep reading to learn more about this baby name trend and get inspiration for clever double-barrel names you can use for your child.
Related: We’re Obsessed With These 125 ‘Aesthetic’ Names for Baby Boys and Girls
The ‘Gorgeous’ Double Name Set To Dominate Baby Name TrendsSlagen acknowledges that there’s a lot of variety amongst rising double-barrel names, but she thinks one in particular will be especially popular in the coming months.
“Stylistically, the idea of pairing a boy-leaning or gender neutral name with a more traditional [second] name, like Scottie Jane, will be popular,” she states.
Per Ancestry.com, Scottie comes from the Latin term “Scotus,” meaning “Scottish” or “from Scotland,” making it especially meaningful for parents with a Scottish background. In contrast, the more traditional name Jane has a Hebrew root and means “God is gracious.”
Slagen previously told Parade that Scottie was amongst the quickest rising names of the last few years, for girls in particular.
“I’m not sure I have seen a name climb that fast,” she said at the time. In 2025, the name ranked 126th for baby girls compared to 202nd in 2024, per data from the Social Security Administration.
In 2023, influencer Allison Kuch named her daughter Scottie Bee, and just last year Pete Davidson named his daughter Scottie Rose. It seems that the pairing of Scottie and a more feminine and traditional second or middle name continues to be a popular choice for both everyday parents and celebrities.
Related: 260 Old-Fashioned Baby Names That Are Making a Major Comeback
Why Double-Barrel Baby Names Are Making a Massive ComebackSlagen says that today’s double-barrel baby names give parents a way to choose classic names, but with a twist that makes the moniker more modern.
She adds that “traditional double names are alive and well in certain parts of the country,” like the South, but that more modern, minimalist double names like Scottie Jane, Etta James or Mary Campbell are starting to appear “in regions where double names historically have not been as popular.”
She chalks the shift up to many parents’ desire to be original.
“I think it’s a way to be distinctive or unique without going too far out there or inventing a new name,” Slagen tells Parade, adding, “It’s bold but still rooted in tradition.”
Related: Have a Wee Lad or Lass on the Way? Try These 150 Old English Baby Names on for Size
The Psychology of Baby Naming: What Makes a Name ‘Everywhere’?Slagen says that celebrities and pop culture often influence baby name cycles, but for the double name trend, she attributes the growing popularity to cyclical naming trends and positive feedback loops.
“There is definitely an aspect of groupthink,” she says, adding, “Often people will say, ‘We chose this name, and we had no idea it was popular.’ But more than likely, you were drawn to it because it’s popular and you were hearing it out and about.”
She continues: “Familiarity breeds likeness… so once a name is popular, that feeds its spread.”
Related: 75 Most Popular Baby Names in the Midwest Right Now
15 Elegant Double Name Combinations To Inspire Your SearchSlagen shares these other 15 double names she’s loving right now. They all have special origins and meanings, per data from Ancestry.com and NameBerry.
1. Merritt ClaireThis moniker stems from the Old French word “merite,” meaning “worth,” and the Latin term “clara,” meaning “bright” or “famous.” Give this name to your daughter, and she’ll have star power from birth.
2. Ada ClarkThis studious name translates essentially to “noble scholar.” Ada stems from the Germanic word “adal,” meaning “noble,” and Clark comes from the Old English word “clerc,” for “scribe.”
3. Romy ScottThis is a double-place name, with Romy meaning “from Rome” in Latin, and Scott meaning “from Scotland.” It’s a fun choice for parents with ties to those places.
It can also be connected to the ocean—since Romy can also be derived from the Latin word “rosmarinus,” meaning “dew of the sea.”
4. Winnie LouOriginally a shortened form of the English name Winifred, Winnie has gained traction as a name on its own. Jimmy Fallon gave the moniker to his daughter in 2013, and it means “gentle friend.”
In contrast, Lou means “renowned fighter,” so this double moniker holds a balance of strength and peacekeeping.
5. Levi GrayIf you want to use a top 20 baby name but put your own spin on it, adding a more unique second name is a great option.
Per Social Security Administration data, Levi was the 12th most popular name for baby boys in 2025, and it comes from the Hebrew word for “united.” Adding Gray to make it a double name helps it stand out while still being somewhat traditional.
6. Parker AnneThis traditionally masculine first name has also gained popularity as a girls’ name, and it means “park keeper.” Anne has Hebrew origins and means “grace.” It’s a great name option for families who love nature and the outdoors.
7. Sadie BeaFrom the Hebrew name Sarah, Sadie means “princess,” and Bea comes from the Latin word “beatus,” meaning “blessed.” Slagen says this dual moniker basically translates to “blessed princess.”
8. Ruby HayesPair this Latin gemstone name with the more masculine Hayes, which means “hedged area” from the Old English word “haeg.” It’s especially ideal for babies born in July, since the red ruby is that month’s birthstone.
9. August LaneThis moniker works for boys or girls, with the first half meaning “magnificent” from the Latin word “augustus.” The second half comes from the Old English word “lanu” for “path.”
10. Ella MoonElla has roots in multiple languages. It can stem from the German word “ali,” which means “all” or “completely.” But it can also have Hebrew roots from the name “El,” meaning “God,” or the Latin “ella,” meaning “she.” Moon as the second half of the moniker gives the whole name a dreamy vibe.
11. Micah JuneMicah is a Hebrew name that means “who is like God.” Pair it with the more feminine June, which has roots in Roman mythology with Juno, the goddess of marriage and fertility.
12. Ziggy RooZiggy has ties to the popular musician David Bowie and his alter-ego Ziggy Stardust. It’s thought to stem from the Germanic name “Sigmund,” meaning “victory.”
Roo is equally unique, not even cracking the top 1,000 names for babies in 2025. It can be considered a nickname for monikers like Ruth or Rupert, which come from the Hebrew word for “friend” and the Germanic word for “bright fame,” respectively. Parents can use this double-barrel name for girls or boys.
13. Bennett BlakeThis double-B name could also be used for a boy or girl. The Latin Bennett means “blessed,” and different Old English translations have Blake meaning either “fair” or “dark,” so parents can pick the interpretation that best fits their little one.
14. Thomas MackThis strong moniker merges the traditional Aramaic name Thomas, meaning “twin,” and the Scottish Mack, meaning “son of the hero.”
15. Theo TateMerging these Greek and Norse names gives your child a double moniker that essentially means “happy blessing,” says Slagen. It stems from Theodoros, which means “gift of God,” and Tati, which means “cheerful.”
How To Create Your Own Perfect Double Baby NameWhen crafting your own double-barrel baby name, Slagen tells Parade you should “prioritize rhythm and ease of pronunciation.”
“If you say the name out loud, does it flow easily or do you get tripped up trying to connect the two names?” she adds.
The baby name expert also cautions against having the second name start with the same letter that the first name ends with.
“For example, Tatum Mae. The ‘m’ in Tatum and ‘m’ in Mae get jumbled together,” she states, citing Tatum Rose or Tatum Grace as better options.
Slagen recommends keeping the total number of syllables to four or less to avoid making the moniker too complex. You can choose to connect the names with a hyphen or not, and she adds that whether or not you also pick a middle name is up to you.
“If there is a meaningful family name you want to throw in there, go for it,” she suggests. “If you want to keep it simple, stick to just the double name.”
Up Next:
Related: 75 Most Popular Baby Names in France Right Now
Source:- Colleen Slagen, who goes by @namingbebe on Instagram, is a baby name consultant and author of the book Naming Bebe: An Interactive Guide to Choosing a Baby Name You Love.
1971 Soft Rock Hit, Covered by Davy Jones, Is the Whimsical Favorite Fans Still Love 55 Years Later
In 1971, Harry Nilsson introduced the world to “Me and My Arrow.”
The whimsical song featured a gentle melody with a sweet story of companionship and adventure highlighted by Nilsson’s distinctive vocals. More than five decades later, “Me and My Arrow” remains an enduring favorite, a musical fairytale that takes fans back in time.
Written by Nilsson for his 1970 concept album The Point, “Me and My Arrow” became a Top 40 hit, reaching No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1971. It was also the theme song of the 1971 animated TV movie The Point and later found an unexpected connection to Davy Jones of the Monkees.
RELATED: The Monkees ‘Best Song of All Time’ Became a No. 1 Hit Twice
“Me and My Arrow” started out as a fable centered on Oblio, a kid with a round head in a world of pointy-headed people, and his trusty dog Arrow. Nilsson once revealed he came up with the idea for the story while walking in the woods.
“I was on acid, and I looked at the trees, and I realized that they all came to points,” he once said, according to Rolling Stone. “I thought, ‘Oh! Everything has a point, and if it doesn’t, then there’s a point to it.'”
In the fable, Oblio is teased by the pointy-headed people. “The only real friend he had was his dog, Arrow,” Nilsson shared.
The Point, the animated ABC movie that showcased “Me and My Arrow,” featured Dustin Hoffman as a narrator and Mike Lookinland (Bobby Brady from The Brady Bunch) as the voice of Oblio.
Not only did the song become a TV film, but it became the centerpiece of a London stage musical starring Davy Jones as Oblio and fellow Monkee Micky Dolenz as the son of an evil count. Jones also recorded “Me and My Arrow” for the original cast soundtrack to The Point.
During a 1977 appearance on the UK series Our Show, Jones and Dolenz talked about their connection to Nilsson and revealed why they were invited to star in the stage show.
“Harry Nilsson, who wrote The Point, knew both of us personally. He used to write some of the Monkees songs years and years ago,” Dolenz shared. “One of his first hits ever as a writer was one of the Monkees songs, ‘Cuddly Toy.’”
Dolenz also described the show as a “musical fantasy,” while Jones noted the production required “a lot of preparation.” Jones also introduced fans to the puppet version of the dog Arrow that was used in the play.
Decades later, “Me and My Arrow” takes fans back to an unforgettable era of music, where an offbeat story could become pop gold.
Related: 55 Years Ago, This 1971 Soft Rock Hit Reached No. 1 and Became a Timeless Classic
The 10 Best New Cruise Ship Restaurants to Book Right Now, According to Cruise Experts
There was a time when cruise dining meant towering midnight buffets, rigid set seatings, and banquet-style prime rib. But over the past decade, a quiet culinary revolution has transformed the high seas.
Today, cruise ships are attracting world-renowned celebrity chefs, debuting immersive dining tech, and rolling out signature restaurant concepts that easily rival top tables in New York, London, and Tokyo.
“Cruise lines are doing an incredible job of building out their culinary offerings onboard,” says Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic. “Over the past decade, lines have really leaned into their specialty dining offerings—both to differentiate themselves from other cruise brands and also to ensure guests have a wide range of offerings when they’re onboard. From partnering with celebrity chefs to building out only-at-sea dining options, there’s a ton to be excited about.”
In fact, dinner reservations are no longer just an afterthought—they may even be driving travel bookings.
“For avid cruisers, especially those who are loyal to particular cruise lines, onboard restaurants can certainly help to drive bookings—whether they’re looking to try their favorite line’s newest restaurant, or they already know how much they love certain restaurants,” explains McDaniel. “And for more casual cruisers, while it might not be the sole driving factor of a booking, it can certainly be a key consideration—especially when choosing to book on a brand-new or newly-refurbished ship. Consider, for example, it might be hard to get to or get a reservation for a Nobu restaurant on land. But on a Crystal Cruise, you can dine at his restaurant, Umi Uma.”
Whether you want to linger over fresh pasta all evening, sip an aperitivo on an alfresco rooftop, or watch culinary theater unfold beside your table, here are 10 incredible cruise ship restaurants foodies are dying to try right now.
Related: 11 Best European River Cruises for Unforgettable Family Vacations, According to Experts
1. Eataly (MSC Cruises—MSC World America) Dining room of Eataly restaurant on MSC World America with wooden tables, teal chairs, and hanging greenery overhead.MSC Cruises
The global Italian emporium has officially set sail, and aboard MSC World America, it is an absolute showstopper. Designed with airy light-wood accents and lush greenery, this is hands-down the standout specialty venue on the ship. The appetizers set a high bar—particularly the creamy burrata, served alongside a vibrant basil purée that rivals anything found in Milan. The spaghetti carbonara hits every comfort-food note with rich, authentic perfection, but the undisputed grand finale is the viral tiramisu: brought to the table encased in an acrylic collar that you lift off with your camera ready to capture the decadent layers cascading across the plate. Paired with attentive servers who will enthusiastically serenade your table for celebrations, it brings genuine Italian hospitality straight to the Caribbean.
Related: The New Megaship Delivering European Style and Big Value for the Whole Family
2. Royal Railway – Legend Station (Royal Caribbean—Legend of the Seas) Royal Railway – Legend Station – Deck 6 Midship Portside Legend of the Seas – Royal Caribbean InternationalRoyal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has mastered immersive storytelling with its high-tech dining train cars, and this second installment takes diners on an embellished recreation of Marco Polo’s epic return along the ancient Silk and Spice routes. Guests take their seats inside a meticulously detailed, historic train carriage surrounded by ultra-high-definition digital “window” screens that smoothly roll past sweeping landscapes synchronized with each course. The food is an explosion of exotic spices and regional flavors, but the live-action performance by the train conductor ties the entire multi-sensory adventure together.
Related: Every Incredible New Surprise Aboard Royal Caribbean’s Latest Megaship, Legend of the Seas
3. Hollywood Land Supper Club (Royal Caribbean—Legend of the Seas) Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas preview photos Hollywoodland Supper ClubRoyal Caribbean
Tucked away in a quiet, ambient enclave of Legend of the Seas, this sultry venue is a stylish homage to the golden age of cinema. Channeling the effortless glamour of mid-century date nights, the supper club pairs high-end cuts and seafood with craft cocktail pairings and sultry, live jazz entertainment. With plush booths, warm low lighting, and vintage Hollywood design accents, it’s easily the most sophisticated hideaway on the ship for cruisers who want to dress up and turn dinner into a full evening event.
4. Emeril’s Coastal Seafood (Carnival Cruise Line—Carnival Festivale)Carnival Cruise Line
Chef Emeril Lagasse has already charmed Carnival cruisers with fresh raw-bar seafood and warm beignets at his onboard bistros, but his upcoming concept aboard the Carnival Festivale in 2027 is his most ambitious yet. Dubbed Emeril’s Coastal Seafood, the destination venue weaves together the coastal influences of his culinary life—tracing his roots from fresh Massachusetts seafood to soulful New Orleans Creole techniques. Designed as a flagship culinary destination, Emeril has made no secret of his sky-high aspirations, declaring he is aiming to earn cruising’s very first Michelin star at sea.
Related: Carnival Announces a Massive Overhaul to Onboard Dining—Here’s What’s Changing
5. Trattoria Rossa (Celebrity Cruises—Celebrity Solstice) The elegant interior of an upscale restaurant featuring plush green velvet booths, tan leather chairs, and marble-topped tables under a warm, geometric-patterned wood ceiling.Celebrity Cruises
Introduced as part of Celebrity Cruises‘ fleet modernizations, Trattoria Rossa brings intimate, regional Italian trattoria warmth to the sea. The experience leans into cozy tableside elements, featuring freshly tossed Caesar salads and massive wheels of Parmesan grated right beside your table. With comfortable, colorful banquettes and inviting lighting, it feels like an authentic trattoria in Florence. Best of all, no one rushes you out the door. It naturally invites that European tradition of lingering over velvety tiramisu and piping-hot espresso for hours, making it an ideal anchor for slow travel conversations.
6. Bora (Celebrity Cruises—Celebrity Xcel) Outdoor dining space at Bora aboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel.Meghann Foye
McDaniel highlights this breezy alfresco venue as one of her absolute personal favorites across the industry. “I love Celebrity’s new restaurant, Bora, which offers some pretty excellent Mediterranean food in an open-air venue,” says McDaniel. “I especially like that the cruise line has made it an experience—you show up a little early and enjoy cocktails, like a Hugo Spritz, chat with fellow diners, and enjoy the weather before you head in. If it’s chilly, your waiter will bring you a blanket while you dine. It feels both upscale and chill at the same time. It’s special.”
Related: A First Look at Celebrity Xcel, the Cruise Line’s Most Inspired Ship Yet
7. The Catch by Rudi (Princess Cruises—Sun Princess & Star Princess)Meghann Foye
Princess Cruises bills its new Sphere-class vessels as the foodiest ships afloat, and legendary Master Chef Rudi Sodamin makes a commanding case for that title with The Catch by Rudi. Known for taking classic seafood staples and elevating them with contemporary flair, Sodamin’s menu delivers standout raw-bar towers, delicate tuna tartare, and an exceptionally well-executed surf-and-turf. The airy, nautical room feels spacious rather than crowded, creating an energized atmosphere tailored for lively groups who want to order several bottles of crisp white wine and share fresh seafood platters.
Related: This Might Be the Foodiest Cruise Ship in Europe—And It Sails From Rome to Athens
8. Love by Britto (Princess Cruises—Sun Princess)Meghann Foye
Perched at the aft of Sun Princess on Deck 17, Love by Britto merges fine dining with playful modern art. Created as a collaboration between pop artist Romero Britto and Master Chef Sodamin, the romantic boutique venue boasts panoramic ocean wake views bathed in golden sunset light. Guests dine on a seven-course prix-fixe menu surrounded by vivid pop-art sculptures and cheeky heart motifs woven into the dish presentations, starting with pink bubbly champagne cocktails and finishing with warm chocolate fondue.
9. Enchanté & Palo Steakhouse (Disney Cruise Line—Disney Wish) Enchante is an adult-only restaurant on Disney’s Wish Class ships.Disney Cruise Line
9. Enchanté & Palo Steakhouse (Disney Cruise Line — Disney Wish, Disney Treasure & Disney Destiny)
Disney Cruise Line proves adult-exclusive dining can hold its own against the finest kitchens in the world. For an ultra-luxurious French feast, Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement features multi-course tasting menus conceptualized by the three-Michelin-starred chef, wrapped in subtle, gilded homages to Beauty and the Beast’s Lumiere. For lovers of classic northern Italian cuisine, Palo Steakhouse remains the gold standard of adult Disney cruising, famous for its decadent chocolate soufflés, prime cuts, and sweeping floor-to-ceiling ocean views.
Related: 9 Best Things To Do For Grandparents On Disney Cruise Line
10. Tamara (Norwegian Cruise Line— Norwegian Aura)NCL
While Norwegian Cruise Line made waves with interactive pan-Asian dining at Marco Polo Fire & Ice on Norwegian Aqua, its upcoming sister ship is taking things in a rare, exciting direction. McDaniel notes that one of the upcoming debuts she is most eager to sample is Tamara, an upscale Indian restaurant launching on Norwegian Aura. “Surprisingly few cruise lines have dedicated Indian restaurants, despite large kitchen staffs that often feature Indian chefs,” McDaniel points out. With open tandoor ovens and rich regional curries, it aims to fill a major culinary gap on the ocean.
Related: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Next Mega-Ship Is Bringing a Massive Dining First to Sea
IKEA Is Selling a Vibrant 3-Piece Stoneware Set That Has Shoppers Going Back for Seconds
It’s wonderfully freeing to set a table that doesn’t look like it came straight out of a catalog but still looks beautiful. When you’re hosting, mixing and matching your dinnerware can make the whole setting feel more personal—and there’s no rule saying every plate, bowl and mug needs to match perfectly. In fact, a little contrast is often what makes a table interesting. Different colors give meals a little pizazz, while varying shapes and patterns make a holiday gathering feel styled without looking like you tried too hard.
It’s also a great way to use pieces you already own. That favorite blue plate happily coexists with your grandmother’s floral bowl and those neutral dishes you picked up last year. The trick is finding some thread that ties everything together, whether that’s color, material or just a general aesthetic. Your guests aren’t grading you on whether everything matches—they’re there to eat, relax and hopefully ask where you found those fun dishes.
🍳 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & fun food news in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳
SPJUTLILJA 3-Piece Serving Set, $14.99 at IKEAIKEA
Shop It!IKEA does the mixing and matching for you with its SPJUTLILJA serving set that includes a light blue plate, burgundy bowl and sunny yellow mug. With each piece in a different color, the set has a playful mix-and-match look that can stand on its own or be paired with other pieces already in your kitchen cabinets.
That happy yellow mug handles both your morning coffee and a cold drink, but it’s also cute enough to pull double duty as a little decorative accent when it’s not in use. The plate and bowl speak for themselves.
While the description on IKEA.com says the set is made of porcelain in one paragraph, it’s actually made of sturdy stoneware. In fact, all of the pieces in the SPJUTLILJA collection are stoneware, which is a major score for people who love that material for their dinnerware.
“I love them so much and I will back too IKEA soon to get them again,” says a shopper in their review.
Another customer is singing the set’s praises just as loudly.
“I love ’em,” they wrote. “Already scratched them a tiny bit, but they’re nice and weighty, beautiful and still wash up in the dishwasher even though they’re quite sculptural.”
Whether you mix and match with these or buy multiples so you have place settings for your entire household, the SPJUTLILJA collection is a great place to start.
Related: Dollar General’s $8 Glass Pumpkin Jars Are the Elegant Way to Decorate This Fall
1959 Rod Serling Show, With 92% Rotten Tomatoes Score, Ranked as One of the Greatest TV Series Ever Made
If you’ve ever said “this feels like something out of The Twilight Zone,” congratulations, you’ve been quoting a show that’s been off the air for over 60 years.
Rod Serling created, produced, hosted, and personally wrote more than 80 of the roughly 156 episodes of this CBS anthology series, which premiered back in 1959. Each half-hour episode dropped you into a completely different, usually pretty unsettling, situation, then hit you with a twist ending you absolutely did not see coming. And that calm, deadpan narration Serling used to open and close every episode? Just as memorable as the stories themselves, and still one of the most parodied voices in TV history.
The show leaned entirely on ideas, using sci-fi and horror as a sneaky way to talk about things like prejudice, conformity, and war at a time when network TV mostly avoided that stuff. That ambition attracted serious writing talent, including genre legends Richard Matheson and Charles Beaumont, and gave a career boost to a bunch of actors before they became household names, including a young Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds, and Roddy McDowall, all making appearances well before their big breaks.
And somehow, the show has barely aged a day. It’s sitting at a 92% average score on Rotten Tomatoes right now, with its first two seasons both landing a perfect 100%. It regularly shows up on “greatest TV series ever” lists next to shows made 60 years later, which is a wild flex for a black-and-white show that predates color TV in most American living rooms.
Its fingerprints are everywhere, too. You can trace bits of Black Mirror, The Omen, and countless other twist-heavy stories straight back to this show, and “twilight zone” itself became a permanent part of the English language for anything strange or unexplainable. There have been reboots in 1985, 2002, and 2019, but none of them have quite managed to bottle what Serling did the first time around.
’60s Legend, Who Played With The Monkees and Photographed More Than 250 Album Covers, Turns 88
In the 1960s, Henry Diltz was a musician who found himself playing on recording sessions with The Monkees. Then he picked up a camera and began a second career that would put him in the room with some of the biggest names in rock history.
On Sept. 6, the legendary musician and photographer turns 88.
Born in Kansas City, Mo., in 1938, Diltz performed with the Modern Folk Quartet before becoming interested in photography. He met The Monkees, played on some of their recording sessions and began taking photographs of the group.
His relationship with The Monkees eventually became so close that, according to Micky Dolenz, they didn’t want anyone else photographing them.
Henry Diltz Played With The Monkees Before Becoming Their PhotographerDiltz and Dolenz recently revisited their nearly 60-year friendship for Spectrum News California’s The SoCal Scene, meeting at West Hollywood’s legendary Troubadour.
“This is since ’67,” Diltz said of their friendship. “In fact, Tiger Beat hired me to go down and photograph this group called The Monkees.”
Dolenz remembered that the band had struggled to find photographers they actually enjoyed having around.
“They were having trouble finding photographers that we would get along with,” he said. Then Diltz showed up, whom Dolenz affectionately described as “this other long-haired weirdo, just like us.”
Rather than constantly posing the band, Diltz simply followed them through their everyday lives.
“He just would follow us around to lunch or just around the lot,” Dolenz recalled.
Eventually, The Monkees made their feelings about Diltz official.
“At one point, we said, ‘That’s it. Henry Diltz is the only photographer that’s allowed to shoot us,'” said Dolenz with a laugh.
That unobtrusive approach would become a hallmark of Diltz’s work.
Henry Diltz Photographed More Than 250 Album Covers“I didn’t know about lighting and studios and all that,” Diltz explained on The SoCal Scene. “I just photographed what I saw.”
He also offered a wonderful explanation for how photography opened up a completely different world for him.
“Having a camera is a passport into people’s lives, you know?” Diltz said. “Why would I be hanging out with the Eagles or Jim Morrison or any of those people? It’s just having that camera.”
And Diltz’s camera went just about everywhere.
He photographed more than 250 album covers, including The Doors’ Morrison Hotel, James Taylor’s Sweet Baby James, Crosby, Stills & Nash’s self-titled debut and several albums by the Eagles, including Desperado. He was also an official photographer at Woodstock and photographed the Monterey Pop Festival and the Miami Pop Festival.
Diltz became particularly associated with the musicians of Los Angeles’ Laurel Canyon, documenting a scene that included artists such as Joni Mitchell and The Mamas and the Papas.
His work has continued to earn recognition decades later. In 2023, Diltz received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Abbey Road Music Photography Awards. And in 2025, he made a fitting cameo as himself in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, photographing the fictional rock band.
Even at 88, Diltz still carries a camera.
As The SoCal Scene observed while Diltz and Dolenz wandered through the Troubadour together, he is “still telling stories about the past.”
Fortunately for rock fans, Diltz spent nearly six decades making sure there were pictures to go with them.
1983 U2 Track Stands as One of Rock’s Greatest Songs Inspired by the Bible
When U2 was putting the final touches on their 1983 album War, they were literally running out of studio time and needed one last song.
Lead singer Bono opened a Bible to Psalm 40 and started singing the verses right off the page. The result was the song “40,” which morphed into a raw, spiritual track that turned an ancient prayer into one of the most unforgettable concert closers in rock history.
According to a 2024 post on the band’s official blog, Bono explained the song’s origins during the band’s residency at the Las Vegas Venue, The Sphere. He shared how matter-of-fact its creation was.
“It’s been 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. What’s a fella with a messianic complex gonna do?’ Bono began.
Parade Daily🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬
“This is a song we wrote in 40 minutes. We had 40 minutes left on the War album to record,” he concluded. “I opened up the sacred text to the Psalm of David and just kinda read it out. That was the lyric. This is ’40.'”
The lyrics are a psalm of praise. “I will sing, sing a new song. I will sing, sing a new song. How long to sing this song? How long to sing this song?”
According to Songfacts, U2’s bass player Adam Clayton was unavailable when they recorded “40.” Therefore, The Edge played both guitar and bass. Larry Mullen Jr. drummed.
The song became an instant fan favorite and a concert closer. For many years, the band ended their live shows with the tune, and as each member walked offstage, Mullen remained to play out the song’s remaining beats.
Bono said in an undated interview, as reprinted by Far Out Magazine, “I didn’t really begin spending a lot of time on lyrics until halfway into the ‘80s, so this and a lot of the early songs were written very quickly – in just minutes in many cases.”
Fans of the band continue to call this song “special.” There is an entire Reddit thread dedicated to why this is so.
“One time I saw U2 way back in the day they closed with ’40.’ The entire stadium walked out singing. Absolutely amazing experience,” one penned.
A second wrote, “If you experienced it live…It sticks with you.” A third listener agreed, “I am not remotely religious- the opposite, in fact. Even when I became a fan in the ’80’s as a teen. That said, this song has always been beautiful, and as others have mentioned, hearing it and singing along to it live is an incredible experience.”
More than four decades later, “40” hasn’t lost an ounce of its quiet power. By taking an ancient song of hope and turning it into a vulnerable, arena-sized prayer, U2 proved that the oldest stories can still speak directly to modern listeners.
Quote of the Day: Philosopher Jane Addams Once Said This About Helping Others…And Her Words Still Inspire Us Today
Jane Addams, the pioneering social reformer and philosopher, spent her life asking a deceptively simple question: What can we do to make the world better for one another? Her answer was not simply to talk about change, but to roll up her sleeves and create it. Born on September 6, 1860, in Cedarville, Illinois, Addams became one of the most influential women of her era and devoted her life to people who had been overlooked and underserved by society.
In 1889, Addams and her friend Ellen Gates Starr founded Hull House in a working-class immigrant neighborhood in Chicago. Inspired by Toynbee Hall, a settlement house Addams had visited in London, they created a place where people from different backgrounds could come together, learn from one another and build a stronger community. Hull House offered everything from educational classes and cultural programs to a day nursery, gymnasium, community kitchen and services for working women, while becoming a training ground for generations of social workers and reformers.
Addams’ activism extended far beyond Hull House. She fought for better conditions for workers, juvenile-court reform, housing regulation, factory inspections, workers’ compensation and women’s suffrage. She advocated for immigrants and African Americans and became a leading voice for peace, chairing the International Congress of Women at The Hague in 1915 and helping establish the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. In 1920, she was also involved in the founding of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Her commitment to peace and social reform eventually earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931, which she shared with Nicholas Murray Butler. Addams was the first American woman to receive the prize, but her legacy goes far beyond that honor. She demonstrated throughout her life that meaningful change comes from recognizing our connection to one another—and working to make opportunity, dignity and peace possible for everyone.
Quote of the Day by Jane Addams“The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain, is floating in mid-air, until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life.”
Addams expressed this idea in a lecture about social settlements in 1892. The address, delivered at the Ethical Culture Societies’ summer school in Plymouth, Massachusetts, explored why settlement houses were needed and what they could accomplish. Addams argued that genuine social progress could not happen when people lived in isolation from one another.
The quotation gets to the heart of what Addams hoped Hull House could accomplish. She did not see charity as simply wealthy people giving something to people who had less. Instead, she believed that people from different economic and social backgrounds could learn from one another and become part of the same community. Hull House was intended to create that kind of connection in the middle of a rapidly changing Chicago neighborhood.
For Addams, democracy was about more than voting or participating in government. It was also about people sharing in the opportunities, education, culture and social life of their communities. At Hull House, immigrants could access educational programs, cultural activities and social services, while reformers could learn firsthand about the challenges facing working-class families.
Addams was arguing that an individual’s success is never completely separate from the well-being of the larger community. If some people are excluded from opportunity, education, safety or dignity, she believed, the progress enjoyed by everyone else remains incomplete.
Related: Quote of the Day: Psychologist Rollo May on the Importance of Communication and Community
The Deeper Meaning of Jane Addams’ QuoteMore than a century after Addams wrote these words, the idea behind them remains remarkably powerful. Her message was that personal well-being and social well-being are connected. It is difficult to build a truly healthy society when prosperity and opportunity are available only to some while others are left behind.
The quote also reflects Addams’ belief in the power of community. She spent decades bringing people together at Hull House and creating opportunities for them to participate in civic and cultural life. Rather than viewing people living in poverty as problems to be solved from a distance, she believed reformers needed to live alongside communities, listen to them and work with them.
One of the most important elements of Addams’ message is her insistence that progress should be shared. Her life demonstrated that belief in action: She fought for women’s rights, workers, immigrants, children and peace, while using Hull House as a place where people could learn, organize and build connections.
Jane Addams died in Chicago on May 21, 1935, at age 74, but the philosophy behind her work continues to resonate. Her Nobel Peace Prize recognized her commitment to peace and social reform, while her legacy at Hull House helped shape the modern social-work movement. Her words remind us that progress is not simply what one person can achieve. It is truly about what a community is able to achieve together.
More Quotes by Jane Addams“The trouble lies with the American people themselves, who refuse to recognize the culture and breadth of view which many foreigners bring to this country with them.”
“What we desire is peace at once, and a peace founded on justice and law.”
“We must make the world understand that permanent peace can be based only on justice and law.”
“War shows that women should have a voice (the ballot) in every affair of world’s nations.”
“True peace is not merely the absence of war, it is the presence of justice.”
Next: Quote of the Day: Political Activist Angela Davis on Uplifting Others as We Succeed
Amazon’s $10 15-Piece Organizer Bins Set Is a ‘Must for Bathrooms, Offices, and Junk Drawers’
Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
While the contents of your drawers aren’t in plain sight, keeping them organized is a great way to add an extra layer of calm and order to your home. Whether you have junk drawers that have been accumulating miscellaneous items for months or bathroom drawers cluttered with makeup and skincare products, you should streamline them so you can find everything you need with ease. This Manalete 15-Piece Drawer Bins Set is a great way to tidy up your belongings, and it’s currently a steal at Amazon!
This drawer organizer set is now available for just $10. This is a deal you won’t want to miss because you’re getting these bins for well under a dollar each!
Manalete 15-Piece Drawer Bins Set, $10 at Amazon Shop at AmazonIf you get overwhelmed every time you open your drawers, these organizing bins can help. This set includes four different bin sizes designed to meet all your decluttering needs — one large bin, two medium bins, five small bins, and seven mini bins. With different sizes to work with, you can configure the bins to perfectly fit in your drawers and maximize storage space.
All the bins have 1.8-inch tall edges, offering enough height to prevent items from falling out while still being shallow enough to fit in most drawers. For size reference, the large bin measures 8.7 inches wide and 5.8 inches long, while the mini ones are 2.8 inches wide and long. The mini and small bins are great for organizing little bits and bobbles, trinkets, and even jewelry, while the medium and large bins are ideal for anything from bulky tools to kitchen utensils.
These bins are incredibly versatile. You can use them to streamline any drawer in any room. They’re great for organizing craft supplies, toiletries, skincare products, stationery, tools, and much more. They’d be especially handy to declutter your junk drawers and give all those miscellaneous items a designated place so you can find everything easily.
Courtesy of Amazon
Reviewers said that they loved how well these bins kept all their little things separated and appreciated the variety of sizes. If you want to see how customers used these bins, check out these satisfying photos that they shared!
“These are a must for bathrooms, vanities, offices, and junk drawers,” one reviewer commented. Another shopper said that “these clear plastic bins are a game changer for anyone trying to get organized” and described them as “functional, sturdy, and sleek.” They also raved that they’re “perfect for decluttering drawers.”
Sturdy and durable, these bins are made of non-toxic polyethylene terephthalate plastic (PET). They have a stackable design, so you can nest one on top of the other when they’re not being used to save space. As a bonus, they look sleek and aesthetically pleasing, so you can use them to organize your countertops without being an eyesore.
Related: Amazon’s 3-Piece Lazy Susan Set Is an ‘Organizing Dream Come True’ for Just $20
Even the unseen parts of your home deserve to be neat and polished. If your drawers could use some tidying up, head to Amazon and snag the Manalete 15-Piece Drawer Bins Set for just $10. You should definitely hurry because it’s flying off the shelves — over 5,000 customers have purchased it in the past month!
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.
Legendary '70s Singer-Songwriter, Who Everyone Believed Would Be The Next Bob Dylan, Vanished Without a Trace 51 Years Ago
The last time anyone heard from Jim Sullivan, he called his wife and told her something he refused to explain.
It was March 5, 1975. Sullivan, a Malibu folk singer who’d struck up friendships with the likes of Lee Marvin, Lee Majors, and Dennis Hopper, was somewhere on Route 66, driving toward Nashville in his VW Beetle to chase one last shot at a music career. When his wife Barbara asked if he was okay, he told her, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” then asked her to forget he’d said anything at all. He was never heard from again.
What happened next has kept true crime forums, UFO researchers, and music historians arguing for 50 years. Sullivan was never seen again after checking into the La Mesa Motel in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, but records show he never actually slept there.
Theories have piled up ever since. Some point to the desert itself, that Sullivan got disoriented and died of exposure, though that doesn’t explain why he wandered from a perfectly good motel room in the first place. Others suspect foul play, since the New Mexico corridor he vanished into was a known route for drug traffickers in the 1970s. A smaller camp believes he simply walked away from his old life on purpose, reportedly having once told his manager that if he ever wanted to disappear, he’d do it by walking into the desert and never coming back.
Then there’s the theory that refuses to die: that Sullivan was taken by the very thing he sang about. His car was found abandoned roughly 75 miles from Roswell, New Mexico, ground zero for America’s most famous UFO legend. His 1969 album, U.F.O., is packed with lyrics about long highways, leaving loved ones behind, and encounters with beings from beyond, details that read very differently once you know how his story ends.
Danny Bonaduce Reveals Shirley Jones’ No-Nonsense Side on ‘The Partridge Family’ Set
Before she was cast in The Partridge Family, Shirley Jones was already an Academy Award-winning star and Broadway veteran. So when it came time for her TV role as a ‘70s sitcom mom, it was business as usual.
From 1970 to 1974, Jones, now 92, played musical mom Shirley Partridge on The Partridge Family. The cast included Danny Bonaduce, Susan Dey, Dave Madden and Jones’ real-life stepson David Cassidy.
During a September 2026 appearance on The Scott Baio Podcast, Bonaduce recalled working with the legendary actress 10 years after she won an Oscar for her performance in the film Elmer Gantry.
“She was beautiful working with me,” Bonaduce, 67, recalled of Jones. “She didn’t tolerate too much shenanigans, if you will. You know, when it came down to kids wasting time that they should have been working. She’d drop a little bit of a hammer, but not nothing, you know, terrible.”
RELATED: Danny Bonaduce Shares Details of On Set Clash That Got ‘Partridge Family’ Star Fired
Bonaduce, who was a pre-teen when he appeared on The Partridge Family, previously revealed that Jones would sometimes discipline him when he acted up on the set.
“I would be doing something that she would find inappropriate, and she’d go ‘Danny, you go to your room right now!’” he told Gary James’ Classic Bands in an interview. “And I was like, ‘Shirley, I don’t really have a room here.’”
While she couldn’t really send him to his room on set, Jones revealed she found ways to keep the mischievous young actor in line.
“[Danny was] a rebellious little kid,” Jones told The Los Angeles Times in 1991. “When I was working with him, I would swat him once in a while and make him behave. Danny had a rough home life. … He’d show up late and had a bad mouth and played practical jokes. He responded to my discipline, though. He listened to me. We got along really well, but you just had to keep him in line.”
On Baio’s podcast, Bonaduce also recalled an ongoing joke Jones had on The Partridge Family with young cast members Brian Forster and Suzanne Crough, who hardly had any lines in the ABC sitcom.
“Neither of the two kids did [very much],” Bonaduce said. “They had Suzanne Crough and Brian Forster, and they had a running joke where Shirley or anybody would say something like, oh man, something about Benny Goodman, and the two little kids would say ‘Who?’ in unison, and Shirley would say something to the effect of, ‘Oh, I got to start hanging out with an older crowd.’”
Related: ‘Partridge Family’ Star Danny Bonaduce Gives Rare Update on Susan Dey and Shirley Jones
1966 Song Ranked as One of the 'Greatest Bob Dylan Covers' of All Time
King of Folk Music Bob Dylan‘s expansive catalog has been covered by artists across genres—from soul and pop to R&B and rock. The Staple Singers—who are said to be among the legendary musician’s “idols”—put their spin on one of his tracks, “Masters of War,” in 1966, and it’s still considered one of the greatest covers of his work decades later.
The release was ranked No. 11 on Rolling Stone‘s lengthy list of the 80 greatest Bob Dylan covers of all time, with the famed music publication praising the vocals on the group’s rendition.
“Within two years of releasing ‘Masters of War,’ Dylan’s idols, the Staple Singers, were already covering the songwriter’s anti-war meditation as the United States escalated its involvement in Vietnam. The Staple Singers covered many of Dylan’s early material – ‘Blowin’ In the Wind,’ ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ –but ‘Masters of War’ is perhaps their finest Dylan-covering moment, with Pops Staples delivering a slow-building, tour-de-force vocal performance,” the outlet noted.
The tune is one of Dylan’s “fiercest” anti-war anthems. It describes the true nature of war: how the folks at the top initiating and orchestrating the chaos are safe in their homes, while young people are forced to go out and fight. Meanwhile, it begs the question if war is ever really “won” when the losses are immeasurable on both sides.
“You that never done nothing but build to destroy / You play with my world like it’s your little toy / You put a gun in my hand and you hide from my eyes / And you turn and run farther when the fast bullets fly,” the poignant lyrics express, per Genius.
CIRCA 1960: Photo of Staple SingersPhoto by Tom Copi/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Dylan’s original version was recorded and released in 1963 as part of his second studio album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.
Other tracks from over the decades that made Rolling Stone‘s roundup are Nina Simone‘s “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” (1969), Sam Cooke’s “Blowin’ In the Wind” (1964), The Byrds’ “Mr. Tambourine Man” (1965), Elvis Presley’s “Tomorrow Is a Long Time” (1966), Guns N’ Roses’ “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (1991), and The Jimi Hendrix Experience‘s “All Along the Watchtower” (1968) in the top spot as the No. 1 greatest Bob Dylan cover of all time. (Dylan himself reportedly said to Hendrix, “I don’t know if anyone has done my songs better,” according to the outlet).
Next, 1969 Folk Song, Written by a 21-Year-Old Bob Dylan, Is Still a Powerful Hit 57 Years Later
Travel Experts Say These 5 European Cities Are Better in Fall Than Summer
Imagine strolling through a world-class city in Europe in autumn. The air is crisp, the leaves are a kaleidoscope of fiery gold and crimson, and cultural attractions are uncrowded. And a bonus: airfare costs a fraction of what it would have in summer.
There’s room to breathe at a coveted café table, and an afternoon can be spent wandering through a leafy park, stopping for coffee and a pastry and ending the day at a museum or fall festival. You book one of the coziest hotels in town (for a great price), and you’re able to truly experience the city like a local.
That’s the case for visiting Europe in autumn, and we asked travel experts to recommend cities that are particularly spectacular in the fall. Here are five destinations worth building a trip around this season.
Related: We Asked 3 Travel Experts for Europe’s Most Scenic Fall Train Trip
Gothenburg, Sweden A tree-lined city canal in autumn in Gothenburg, Sweden.Getty Images/Photo by Martin Wahlborg
Sweden’s second-largest city, Gothenburg (Göteborg) is famous for its major maritime port, fresh seafood and friendly west coast charm. In autumn, the city grows colorful with fall foliage and quieter once the summer crowds clear. City parks like Slottsskogen and Trädgårdsföreningen fill with vibrant shades of scarlet and amber, and the tree-lined promenade along Nya Allén is one of the most picturesque fall walks in the region. In the Haga neighborhood, Café Husaren is known for its Hagabullar (oversized cinnamon buns), a good excuse for a fika: a Swedish coffee-and-pastry break.
“The Swedish fika concept is strong here,” says Gothenburg-based travel influencer and consultant Therese Gavare. “October 4 is Cinnamon Bun Day, and every café in the city stocks up for it. Pair a warm bun with a fresh cup of coffee and you’ve got one of the most festive rituals in Sweden.”
A 10-minute tram ride from downtown Gothenburg, the Gothenburg Botanical Garden is also worth a visit in fall — known for its seasonal colors, smells and sounds, Gavare says. And an annual highlight is the largest literary festival in Scandinavia: the four-day Gothenburg Book Fair, which draws more than 90,000 authors, publishers and book lovers from across the world each September.
“If you love books, the book festival is one of the most fun experiences in Gothenburg. The chance of meeting renowned authors is high, and you can participate in amazing discussions and enjoy great food,” Gavare says. “If you want something a little spookier, Liseberg amusement park also goes all-in on Halloween festivities this time of year.”
The city is also a great base for a leaf-peeping adventure: the car-free southern archipelago is easily reached by public ferries from the city center. Fall marks lobster and shellfish season in the archipelago and attending a kräftskiva—or traditional crayfish party—is essential for visitors who want to experience a Swedish seasonal tradition. The city’s hip multilevel bar Skanshof hosts a public crayfish dinner every Thursday in autumn.
“There’s something magical about the west coast in fall, with its clear skies, crisp air and incredible seafood,” Gavare says. “Head out to the archipelago for a few hours to yourself, or join a crayfish party and make some new friends. The weather is also exquisite—it’s not too warm, but not yet snowy. It’s the perfect in-between.”
Related: A New Ranking Named This Storybook European City the World’s Best-Value Vacation Spot
Copenhagen, Denmark People walk between autumn-themed market stalls at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark.Getty Images/Photo by QuazzMe Photo
Denmark’s beautiful capital is known as one of the most walkable and bicycle-friendly cities in the world—and autumn is the perfect time to experience it. The summer tourist crowds dissipate by mid-September, and October brings Kulturnatten (Culture Night), when more than 200 museums and cultural institutions open their doors after hours. Less than $20 covers all admission and transit costs, and two children under 12 get in free with each adult pass.
“Copenhagen is endlessly walkable, with museums everywhere,” says Doni Belau, founder of the women’s solo group travel company Girls’ Guide to the World. “Don’t miss Designmuseum Danmark—the Danish Modern collection alone is worth the trip.”
In the city’s center, the beloved amusement park Tivoli Gardens transforms into an autumn wonderland with thousands of pumpkins, lights and festive treats. Other top spots to see fall colors include the Copenhagen Botanical Garden and Kongens Have (The King’s Garden), where you can stroll past bright copper and russet tree-lined paths surrounding Rosenborg Castle.
“The ideal time to see beautiful fall foliage in Copenhagen is mid to late October,” says senior travel advisor Alyssa Woods, who specializes in European travel for Andrew Harper.
For the coziest stay in the city, check into Hotel Sanders, a stylish boutique hotel nestled on a quiet neighborhood street in the heart of Copenhagen’s historic center. Created by renowned Danish ballet dancer Alexander Kølpin, the hotel feels especially inviting in the fall; just inside, a living room beckons with brimming bookshelves and an open fireplace. Guests can also borrow the hotel’s bikes to cycle through the city, a joy in the brisk autumn air.
“Travel by bike in Copenhagen to see the city the way locals do. Copenhagen’s bikes are very comfortable, with wide seats, upright handlebars and the all-important bell,” Belau says.
Related: Europe’s Most Beautiful Place Is Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
Paris, France A sunny autumn day at the Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris.Getty Images/Photo by Alexander Spatari
One of the world’s most famous cities, Paris welcomes tens of millions of visitors a year, most of them during the peak summer months. That makes autumn an ideal “secret season” to visit the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre. With the tourist crowds gone, Parisians back in town and the weather cool and romantic, it’s also a wonderful time to experience the city the way locals do: sipping coffee on a café terrace or strolling along the Seine past the bouquinistes, the iconic riverside booksellers whose tradition dates back roughly 500 years.
“The fall months bring some of the city’s best festivals,” Belau says. “The Fête des Vendanges in Montmartre kicks off in early October, celebrating the grape harvest at one of the last working vineyards in Paris. October also brings Fashion Week to Paris, and with or without a ticket, the people-watching in the Marais is a show in itself.”
Fall is a great season for a day trip to the immaculate grounds of Versailles or a visit to Disneyland Paris, which offers a mix of fall festivities and lower crowds in September and early October; the Disney Halloween Festival typically runs from late September through early November.
“Book a private VIP tour of Versailles if you can,” Belau says. “As many tours don’t include Marie Antoinette’s private apartments, the ones that do are expensive but worth it. And a trip to Disneyland Paris will have far fewer lines unless your visit falls during France’s school break, which typically falls in late October.”
Autumn is an ideal time for a dream stay in a sought-after boutique hotel like the Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal, next to the lovely Palais-Royal Gardens. Flights from the U.S. are affordable, too: fall is one of the best times of year to book with French Bee, an excellent low-cost, long-haul option for travel to France. Just book early, since flights run less frequently than in summer.
“Summer always brings the highest airfare costs for Americans,” Woods says. “Traveling in the fall can help you score a better deal while avoiding the busy summer tourist season.”
Related: 8 Carry-On Essentials I’m Packing for a Spring Trip to Paris
Munich, Germany Autumn pumpkins and other treats are seen for sale at the Viktualienmarkt, an open-air food market and square in Munich, Germany.Renowned for its rich Bavarian culture, Munich draws millions of visitors every autumn for Oktoberfest, the world-famous festival that runs from mid-September through the first weekend of October and features lively beer tents, traditional music and parades.
“If you want to drink beer and eat sausages at Oktoberfest, you’ll want to plan ahead,” Belau says. “Hofbräu-Festzelt draws the biggest international crowd and gets rowdier as the day wears on. Käfer Wiesn-Schänke has a cozy, wood-lodge feel and a reputation for celebrity sightings. Augustiner-Festhalle is where the locals go, and it’s the only large tent still serving beer from wooden barrels. A ticket broker can help secure seats.”
Munich is also consistently ranked one of Germany’s most livable cities, and a fall visit showcases why. For beautiful weather and smaller crowds, visit in mid to late October and catch open-air markets perfect for the season: Auer Dult, a traditional market at Mariahilfplatz, features antiques, crafts and specialty food items, while Viktualienmarkt sells seasonal produce, including roasted chestnuts and fresh apples.
“Munich really comes into its own in the fall,” says Stephen McGillivray, chief partner marketing officer at global travel services company Internova Travel Group. “Oktoberfest may be the headline, but the appeal goes well beyond that. Cooler temperatures make exploring more comfortable and travelers often find better value as hotel occupancy softens. The city feels lively and authentic, with restaurants, shops and cultural attractions in full swing.”
For peak autumn foliage, stroll through the massive Englischer Garten (larger than Central Park) or the 500-acre baroque grounds of Nymphenburg Palace, where fall colors reflect beautifully off the grand canals and lakes. Munich’s Christmas markets, including the one at Marienplatz in the heart of the old town, typically open in late November.
“The Christmas market at Marienplatz is beloved for a reason—it dates back to 1310, making it one of the oldest in Europe,” Belau says. “Warm up with a Feuerzangenbowle, a wine punch made with rum and served with a flaming sugar cube. It’s the perfect antidote to a cold night.”
Related: 12 Best European River Cruises for Unforgettable Family Vacations, According to Experts
Florence, Italy The Tuscan hillsides of Florence turn golden each fall, highlighting the city’s Renaissance architecture.Getty Images/Photo by SBorisov
The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence feels like stepping into an expansive open-air museum filled with stone palaces, medieval towers and the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge. Most visitors come in the peak summer months, but autumn offers an appeal all its own.
“Florence is simply cooler in the fall, and I mean that both literally and figuratively,” says Eric Hrubant, founder and president of CIRE Travel, an affiliate of Global Travel Collection. “Autumn is not necessarily cheap, but it offers much better value in the experience: more comfortable temperatures, fewer crowds, and a city that regains some of its rhythm.”
The fall months bring mild weather, fewer crowds and vendemmia (the grape harvest) across Tuscany, making it prime time to taste fresh Chianti wines. Local restaurant menus fill with seasonal delicacies like fresh porcini mushrooms, chestnuts, truffles and the first pressing of fresh olive oil. In a city known for its endless culture, the fall calendar also ramps up, with film festivals and seasonal art exhibitions held throughout the season.
“Florence’s seasonal art exhibitions are fantastic, and wine lovers shouldn’t miss Il Palagio—it has one of the best wine selections in Florence,” says Hrubant.
For magnificent foliage, walk through Parco delle Cascine, the city’s largest public park, where long avenues of chestnut and other deciduous trees turn brilliant shades of gold and orange. Or plan a day trip to Casentinesi Forests National Park, a picturesque reserve in the Apennines famous for some of Italy’s most vibrant beech and fir foliage.
“White truffle season runs from October through December, and it’s an unforgettable fall experience,” Woods says. “Head into the hills of Tuscany to see how the dogs are trained to find them, then cap it off with a glass of Chianti and a meal built around truffles.”
Related: 7 Things You Should Do in Florence at Least Once, According to Celeb Travel Experts
Tips for Planning a Fall Trip to Europe Beautiful autumn colors are seen in a city park in Copenhagen, Denmark.Getty Images/Photo by Jenifoto
Work with a travel advisor. “Travel is an investment. A great travel advisor makes sure you get the most out of every day and every dollar,” Hrubant says.
Bring the right shoes. “I’d recommend lighter boots. It can be cold, rainy and windy,” Gavare says.
Track peak foliage. “Leaf-turn timing shifts year to year — check each city’s seasonal estimates before you book,” Belau says.
Book 2-3 months out. “Book early to avoid limited availability at the best hotels,” Woods says.
Pack for rain. “Bring a foldable umbrella. Fall in Europe is wetter than people expect,” Belau says.
Pack layers. “Always pack layers to prepare for any weather,” Woods says.
Reserve dining in advance. “Chefs shop based on reservations, so walk-ins often mean a lesser table — or no table at all,” Belau says.
Splurge a little. “Hire a private guide or driver for the day. You’ll enhance your experience with firsthand knowledge from a local,” Woods says.
The Pioneer Woman’s ‘Darling’ Scalloped Ramekins Are Just $5 and Perfect for Snacks, Dips, and Desserts
Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
A great set of ramekins can quickly become one of the hardest-working pieces in your kitchen. These compact dishes are useful for everything from serving dips and desserts to baking individual portions, and a cute design means they can go straight from the oven to the table. They’re also an easy way to add a little extra charm to everyday meals or casual entertaining.
Right now, you can get a particularly charming and affordable set from The Pioneer Woman. The Colette Stoneware Ramekins Set is currently 31% off at Walmart, bringing the price for a four-piece set down to as little as $5. Known for combining practical cookware with distinctive designs, The Pioneer Woman delivers that same mix of function and style with these charming ramekins.
The Pioneer Woman Colette Stoneware Ramekins Set, $5 (was $8) at Walmart Shop at WalmartThe set includes four round stoneware ramekins, which are made from durable stoneware and designed to hold up to regular kitchen use while maintaining their coordinated look. Each ramekin has a 12-ounce capacity, making them a convenient size for individual servings of casseroles, desserts, dips, snacks, and other small dishes.
Available in blue, cream, green, and purple, the ramekins feature the Colette collection’s signature scalloped design. The decorative edges give them a rustic farmhouse feel with plenty of cottagecore and vintage-inspired charm, so they look just as nice sitting on a serving table as they do tucked into a kitchen cabinet.
Each ramekin measures approximately 2.1 inches tall and 4.3 inches wide and long, offering enough room for individual portions without taking up excessive space. The compact size makes them especially handy for portioning ingredients while cooking or serving small treats when you’re entertaining.
They’re also designed to make cooking and cleanup easier. The ramekins are microwave-safe, dishwasher-safe, and oven-safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can prep, heat, bake, serve, and clean them with minimal fuss. That versatility makes them useful for quick weeknight meals as well as gatherings where you want individual portions ready to serve.
The bestseller has earned more than 300 five-star reviews. One reviewer called them “cute little ramekins for everyday use,” adding, “They’re perfect for snacks, casseroles, desserts, or dips. I love the color, the design, and all of the uses!” Another shared, “The color is so darling and the scallops are the perfect touch.”
Shop More Deals- Vesteel Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set, $18 (was $35) at Walmart
- Vancasso Ceramic Baking Dish Set, $33 (was $63) at Walmart
- Kikcoin 21-Piece Bakeware Set, From $60 (was $120) at Walmart
For a practical kitchen addition that brings plenty of personality without costing much, The Pioneer Woman Colette Stoneware Ramekins Set is an easy pick. And with the current 31% discount, you can get all four ramekins for as little as $5, making it an especially tempting buy for anyone who loves versatile kitchenware with a little farmhouse-inspired flair.
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.
These Are Planet Fitness' Labor Day Hours
Keeping track of holiday hours for all the different establishments you frequent is no easy task. And while you might not always think about it ahead of time, it is nice to know your options should a last-minute visit be in the cards come the big day.
If you’ve already stocked up on essentials for the holiday get-together and just want to get a quick workout in before the festivities begin, you might be wondering: Is Planet Fitness open on Labor Day?
🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬
Is Planet Fitness Open on Labor Day? View this post on InstagramSince there is no real “right” time to get your swole on, the best time for you might look different from everybody else’s. Thankfully, most gyms follow a fairly forgiving operating schedule, so even holidays don’t necessarily mean you have to skip your routine. If you’re hoping to get your workout in, you’ll be pleased to know that Planet Fitness will be open on Labor Day 2026, albeit with limited hours.
Related: Hobby Lobby’s $6 Two-Tier Pantry Staple Keeps Kitchen Essentials Neat and Easy to Access
What Are Planet Fitness’s Labor Day Hours?Although hours of operation will likely vary by location, Planet Fitness will still be open for a decent chunk of the day come Monday, Sept. 7. That means you can stop in anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and get a quick routine in before going about the rest of your day. That said, it’s recommended that you check with your local club ahead of time, as some locations may be operating on a slightly different schedule. You can also use the Planet Fitness app to check, as the hours for all locations are updated there regularly.
Related: Costco’s $25 Holiday Glassware Looks Just Like an Anthropologie Style Nearly 3x the Price
’70s Rock Legend, Who Shared a Historic Stage With Paul McCartney, Turns 83
Roger Waters turns 83 today, and more than five decades after co-founding Pink Floyd, he’s still one of rock’s most towering, and most polarizing, figures.
Waters was born on September 6, 1943, in Surrey, England. Five months later, his father was killed at the Battle of Anzio during World War II, a loss that would go on to shape huge portions of his songwriting, from The Wall to The Final Cut, the latter dedicated entirely to his father’s memory. He co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 alongside Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright, and after Barrett’s departure due to mental health struggles, Waters gradually took over as the band’s chief lyricist and conceptual driving force.
Under his direction, Pink Floyd released some of the most successful concept albums in music history, including The Dark Side of the Moon in 1973, which has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide and spent an astonishing 14 years on the Billboard 200 chart. The Wall, released in 1979, has sold more than 23 million certified units in the U.S. alone, making it one of the best-selling albums in American history.
Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 following creative disputes with guitarist David Gilmour, and the two have had a famously contentious relationship ever since, occasionally thawing enough for reunions, including their 2005 Live 8 performance in London. Since leaving the band, Waters has built a substantial solo career, releasing albums like Amused to Death and touring extensively, including the record-breaking “The Wall Live” tour, which became the highest-grossing tour ever by a solo artist.
More recently, Waters revisited his most famous work directly, releasing The Dark Side of the Moon Redux in 2023, a full re-recording of the classic album made, in his words, with the perspective only an 80-year-old could bring to it.
1984 Hit, From the English Band’s Debut Album ‘Diamond Life,’ Is Still an Unforgettable Hit 42 Years Later
The smooth and sophisticated sounds of the four-piece English band Sade helped define the mid-1980s, but the third track from their debut album, Diamond Life, stood out and continues to captivate audiences more than four decades later.
“Smooth Operator” was released in August 1984, introducing listeners and the mainstream to a mesmerizing fusion of jazz, soul, and pop, with Grammy.com noting that the album even laid some of the “groundwork for Neo-Soul.”
The sound set them apart from their contemporaries, with the song quickly gaining momentum and earning global recognition. Additionally, the album became one of the best-selling and most acclaimed of the decade, selling 7 million copies worldwide. Sade even set the record for the best-selling debut album by a British female singer, per the site.
The laid-back tune told the story of a charming two-timer (with the video portraying him as a professional criminal) who traveled the globe and lived a double life, giving the track an almost movie-like quality.
Co-written by lead singer Sade Adu and Ray St. John, the song was written years before it was even heard by the public, when the duo was part of another band called Pride. John was not a member of Sade.
While chart success is the goal for every artist, it doesn’t necessarily equate to staying power.
“Smooth Operator,” with its seductive saxophone and warm, understated vocals, continues to be an unforgettable tune 42 years later, despite never soaring to No. 1.
It did, however, reach the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, peaking at No. 5 in February 1985 and spending a total of 20 weeks there. It also topped the Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks, marking the band’s first major breakthrough in America, while becoming a major international hit, peaking at No. 19 in the U.K.
To this day, “Smooth Operator” remains Sade’s highest-charting and most iconic commercial success, garnering over 400 million Spotify streams and remaining a tour staple.
The World’s First Harry Potter Land With Both Hogwarts Castle and Diagon Alley Is Officially in the Works
For more than a decade, visiting the Wizarding World has meant making a deliberate park-hopping choice.
If you want to stroll the cobblestone alleys of Diagon Alley and watch a dragon breathe real fire over Gringotts, you buy a ticket to Universal Studios Florida. If you want to gaze up at the soaring stone turrets of Hogwarts Castle, you head over to Islands of Adventure—or book a flight to Hollywood, Osaka, or Beijing. Even with the Hogwarts Express stitching parks together, theme park fans have never been able to walk through both legendary movie locations within the exact same gates.
Now, that boundary is officially about to disappear.
According to a Forbes report, government construction filings and recent teaser reveals show that Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is constructing a brand-new Harry Potter theme park expansion that will feature full-scale recreations of both Hogwarts Castle and Diagon Alley, alongside a trek through the Forbidden Forest.
The move will make the Yas Island destination the only theme park in the world to house all of those flagship environments under one climate-controlled roof.
Related: Why You Don’t Need Pricey Skip-the-Line Passes This Theme Park Season:
View this post on Instagram A Groundbreaking Milestone for the Wizarding WorldWhile Universal has long held the exclusive operational reins for Harry Potter theme park lands under a landmark 2007 licensing deal with Warner Bros., this development marks an industry turning point: it will be the seventh theme park worldwide to feature Potter attractions, but the very first outside the Universal network.
Instead, the land is being built directly within Warner Bros. World, which opened on Yas Island in 2018 as the world’s largest indoor theme park at roughly 1.65 million square feet (153,000 square meters).
According to project construction permits reported by Forbes, the ambitious expansion will boost the indoor park’s footprint by approximately 26 percent. In addition to the multi-part Harry Potter development, the broader expansion plans also include a high-speed Superman roller coaster tied to the park’s existing DC Metropolis zone.
Related: Two New Massive Superman Rides Are Coming to This Global Theme Park Hub
What the Experience Looks Like InsideBeyond the juxtaposition of Hogwarts’ Gothic spires and Diagon Alley’s crooked, Dickensian shopfronts, fans have plenty of new ride engineering to anticipate.
Official teasers and park permits point to at least three new rides and attractions alongside dedicated themed dining and interactive wand-shopping venues.
One of the most heavily anticipated headliners teased by the park centers around Arthur Weasley’s enchanted flying Ford Anglia. While Universal built world-class rides around the Hogwarts Express, broomstick flight, and Hagrid’s motorbike, the reckless flying car sequence from Chamber of Secrets has never had its own signature ride—fueling buzz that guests could soon dodge the Whomping Willow and swoop into the Forbidden Forest themselves.
And because the entire Yas Island park is built indoors and fully air-conditioned, visitors will be able to wander through chilly Scottish castle corridors and shaded London alleys in complete comfort, completely shielded from the desert heat outside.
With the Potter franchise continuously expanding—from billions in global box office receipts to Warner Bros.’ upcoming television reboot for HBO—putting the boy wizard’s most famous stomping grounds side by side proves there is still plenty of new magic left to bring to life on the theme park stage.
