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And the award for best-dressed red carpet goes to…well, we’ll let you be the judge! Hollywood’s finest stepped out for the 2026 Academy Museum Gala on Saturday night, and let’s just say the fashion girlies (and guys!) did NOT come to play. From old-school Hollywood glamour and showstopping couture to daring silhouettes and looks that practically screamed, “All eyes on me,” the stars treated the red carpet like their very own fashion show. Taylor Swift, Teyana Taylor, Colman Domingo, Janelle Monáe, and more brought the drama, the elegance, and a little bit of fashion chaos (the good kind, of course). Grab your imaginary scorecards, because we’ve got some looks to discuss!

The sixth annual gala took place in Los Angeles on October 17, celebrating cinema while honoring Charlize Theron, Colman Domingo, and filmmaker John Carpenter. Kendall Jenner, Inde Navarrette, Law Roach, and more famous faces showed up and showed out, proving once again why this event has earned its reputation as the “Met Gala of the West.”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 17: Kendall Jenner attends the 6th Annual Academy Museum Gala at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 17, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage)

Daytime Emmy winner Susan Lucci, best known for her role as Erica Kane on the ABC soap opera All My Children, isn’t letting a little thing called aging hold her back from experiencing her “zest” for life as she shares her tips for aging gracefully at the DKMS Gala at New York’s Cipriani Wall Street.

Lucci spoke with Hello Magazine reporter Nova M. Bajamonti, where she explained her philosophy on aging and her experience watching Celine Dion’s opening night in Paris.

During the conversation, Lucci, now 79, reflected on her zest for life and the advice she would share with those who want to follow similar paths. The award-winning actress explained, “First of all, I think you’re just kind of born with that,” adding that a ‘zest’ for life isn’t something you can develop but rather something you have naturally.

The actress elaborated that if you have that approach to life, then the key is to not “lose track of that, that curiosity, that wonder, that excitement.”

She finished her thought adding, “There’s a big wide world out there and keep on keeping on, have fun.”

Lucci played the role of Erica on All My Children from the very first month of the show, debuting on January 16, 1970, and remained a part of the series until its broadcast television finale on ABC on September 23, 2011.

While All My Children returned briefly as a web series produced by Prospect Park for Hulu, Lucci did not take part in the 43-episode revival.

With that said, the actress has expressed interest in reprising her beloved fan-favorite role if All My Children were to return. Former All My Children stars Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are currently in the early stages of developing a revival movie series for Lifetime, which would allow viewers to see what Erica has been up to since the 2011 finale.

Daytime Emmy-winning headwriter Ron Carlivati and The Young and the Restless headwriter Jamey Giddens have completed work on the script for the first film. At the same time, Leo Richardson has been tasked with writing the follow-up.

No official production date has been set for these movies, but fans are hopeful they will see Lucci return to the screen as Erica Kane sooner rather than later.

True Seinfeld fans know that Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) does not appear in the first episode of the show. The pilot, which aired under the title The Seinfeld Chronicles, established a trio of Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), George (Jason Alexander) and Kramer (Michael Richards).

After several months in limbo post-pilot, NBC finally greenlit a meager four-episode season order. This four-episode stretch was creator Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld’s final chance to convince the network that Seinfeld was a show that could command a large audience.

NBC’s only major condition for greenlighting the short first season was that the show must add a woman to the cast, and for Larry David the choice of woman was obvious.

As explored in the new biography of Larry David — Emperor of Nothing by Blake J. Harris, releasing October 20, 2026 — David and Louis-Dreyfus had both worked on Saturday Night Live together, and neither of them had a good time. The two bonded over their frustrations with the job and their mutual dislike of Dick Ebersol, who’d replaced Lorne Michaels as the SNL showrunner in the early ’80s.

“Dick Ebersol was always wielding a baseball bat,” Julia recalled to Harris. “He would always hold this bat when he would have these meetings. The writers and the actors would be there, and he would have the bat in his hand. It was really very Al Capone-y.”

David, for his part, hated Ebersol for cutting so many of his sketches. He had also infuriated Ebersol in return by refusing to pull all-nighters on Tuesdays, the day where the show’s writers were expected to prepare sketch pitches for the Wednesday table reads. David quit SNL after one season, and Louis-Dreyfus quit the same year.

When it was time to cast Elaine five years later, the Seinfeld crew held perfunctory auditions for a wide range of actresses. Emperor of Nothing reveals Patricia Heaton, Wendie Malick, Rosie O’Donnell, and Megan Mullally as big names who auditioned. But David, who was familiar with Louis-Dreyfus’ comedic sensibilities from their time at SNL together, knew there was only one woman for the role. There was just one problem.

In early 1990, Louis-Dreyfus had a major role in a sitcom called Day by Day, playing the main couple’s annoying neighbor. The show had wrapped up its second season in June 1989, and the third season spent an agonizingly long time stuck in development limbo.

“During that time, I kept bugging Julia’s manager,” recalled casting director Marc Hirschfeld. Her agent kept telling him, “It’s bad optics if my actress, who’s a series regular on a show, is coming in to meet for another series before it’s canceled.”

When NBC finally made Day by Day‘s cancellation official, Hirschfeld immediately set up a meeting. And although the meeting went great, with Louis-Dreyfus and Jerry Seinfeld hitting it off, she still hesitated to sign on to the show.

“[David] goes ‘Well, what do you think?…’ and I go, ‘Well, I don’t know…'” Louis-Dreyfus said. “Frankly what I didn’t say to him at the time was, ‘You know, I don’t know if this is the right move for me.'”

It’s easy to forget today, but it really wasn’t until season 4 that the future of Seinfeld felt safe. The show struggled in the ratings for its short first season, only performing well enough to earn a half-season order for season 2.

Even when NBC ordered a full-length renewal for season 3, David wouldn’t inspire much confidence with his reaction. “All the good ideas were used up the year before!” he recalled thinking at the time. “How am I replacing those?!”

Related: Why Jason Alexander Nearly Declined His Iconic ‘Seinfeld’ Role.

The Seinfeld pilot, the only episode aired before Louis-Dreyfus was asked to sign on, is also nearly unrecognizable to the show most fans know and love. The episode features far more Jerry stand-up than usual, George feels too much like Woody Allen, and the plot is incredibly slow-paced compared to the plots of later season episodes.

But even though Seinfeld didn’t quite become Seinfeld until late season 2, Louis-Dreyfus was impressed enough by those four season 1 scripts to be convinced to sign on.

“And once we got her,” Jerry Seinfeld said in the 2004 documentary Seinfeld: How it Began, “I was absolutely convinced from then on that nothing could really hurt this show. It really… it just felt like a balanced team.”

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If you’re craving an easy seasonal refresh for your bedroom, it’s worth investing in some new bedding. A lightweight, brightly printed comforter can give your room a fresh, updated feel for fall and winter even when it turns cold and dreary outside. Macy’s bestselling Wysteria Floral 8-Piece Comforter Set is a top-rated option that’s perfect for brightening up any room, and it’s now on sale for 67% off.  

Originally priced at $100, the gorgeous set is currently marked down to just $33. You can shop it in twin, full, queen, and king-sized options, which are all on sale for the same price. 

Courtesy of Macy's

Featuring a pretty floral vine print inspired by the beauty of a blooming garden, this set will brighten up any bedroom. It comes with everything you need to revamp your sleep space, including a comforter, two shams, a bed skirt, a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. The twin size includes six pieces, featuring only one sham and pillowcase. 

Made from 100% polyester with a plush polyester fill, the lightweight comforter is “super soft” to the touch and suitable for any season. You can use it on its own during warmer months, and layer it with a heavier blanket or quilt in the winter. Shoppers called it “absolutely stunning,” praising the “pretty” print and ultra-cozy feel. 

Related: Macy’s ‘Beautiful’ 8-Piece Striped Comforter Set Is Reversible for an Easy Bedding Update, Now 67% Off

With its gorgeous floral pattern and lightweight feel, this summer-ready eight-piece comforter set will make an elegant bedding refresh for any home. Grab one while it’s still on sale for 67% off at Macy’s. 

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.

J.K. Rowling built an empire after launching the Harry Potter series, earning her the distinction of being the first billionaire author, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the fantasy book series and its film adaptations became a massive hit after the British writer published the first book in 1997, while the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone premiered in November 2001.

It was an instant box office hit, sparking a global phenomenon among avid readers, also known as Potterheads.

By 2004, five of the seven books from the franchise had been published and three films had hit the theaters, including Sorcerer’s Stone (1997), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000 ) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003.)

Marco Secchi/Corbis via Getty Images

In 2004, J.K. Rowling, whose full name is Joanne Rowling, was named the first billionaire author and became one of only five self-made female billionaires, according to Forbes and the Guinness Book of World Records.

The impressive feat marked the author’s first appearance on Forbes’ 2004 rich list, following the enormous book sales driven by the Harry Potter franchise.

Throughout the years, Rowling maintained her status for seven years, from 2004 to 2011, amid the height of global Pottermania.

However, a year later, the Gloucestershire native fell off the elite list after she was removed from Forbes’ billionaire rankings because of her charitable donations.

Despite her rags-to-riches journey, Rowling never forgot her humble beginnings and has continued to give back to those who are less fortunate.

In 2012, her philanthropic streak came at a significant financial cost after she donated an estimated $160 million to different charities, an amount equivalent to about 16% of her net worth, according to PolitiFact.

Apart from her generous donations, Britain’s high tax rates also had a significant effect on her loss of billionaire status, as reported by Forbes via Business Insider.

At that time, Rowling joined 128 people who dropped off the publication’s billionaire list, including BlackBerry’s former chair and co-CEO Jim Balsillie.

In a speech at Harvard University, Rowling defined the meaning of success and spoke about finding genuine happiness and understanding what truly matters to a person.

“So given a Time Turner, I would tell my 21-year-old self that personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a checklist of acquisition or achievement,” she mentioned in her speech via ‘The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination, adding, “Your qualifications, your CV, are not your life, though you will meet many people of my age and older who confuse the two.”

Interestingly, the famed author returned to Forbes‘ billionaire list in 2025 with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion.

Related: In 1962, Marilyn Monroe paid $77,500 for a 2,900-square-foot Los Angeles house; a trust bought it in 2023 and filed to demolish it, and today it is a city historic monument

The hits keep coming for comedian Shane Gillis as backlash over his sexist gym joke on last week’s Saturday Night Live continues. Now, SNL UK has taken a swipe at the controversy.

Gillis was widely criticized last week after his SNL monologue fell flat when he joked about returning to the gym and said, “I haven’t been to the gym in so long. I didn’t know women just dressed like whores now.” The remark drew a few nervous laughs from the audience, while the SNL house band, often seen laughing along during monologues, appeared unimpressed.

The backlash was swift, drawing criticism from SNL alum Ego Nwodim and Dan Levy. Meanwhile, Weekend Update co-anchor Michael Che, who was promoting his Netflix special, joked that the controversy would make press appearances a little tougher, since it was all anyone wanted to talk about.

Just as the dust began to settle, SNL UK couldn’t resist making Gillis the butt of a joke during its own Weekend Update segment. Anchor Ania Magliano discussed a ride operator in Germany who offered women shorts to wear on an attraction to prevent them from being “upskirted.”

“Wearing the gym shorts will protect women from being upskirted, but it does make them vulnerable to something much worse,” she said, as producers displayed a photo of Gillis.

“Last week on SNL, comedian Shane Gillis also caused controversy by dropping the F-bomb,” Magliano continued. “Oh, shame. You’re not allowed to say that, you stupid f—ing c—.”

The joke also sparked a fierce reaction on X, with some viewers praising SNL UK for taking a sharper shot at Gillis than its American counterpart, while others criticized the decision to platform misogyny. “Gotta love when snl uk fires back before our side even wraps the episode,” one user wrote. Another declared that Gillis was “never escaping that monologue.” Others were far less amused, arguing that the joke crossed a line amid ongoing concerns about sexism and male violence.

Visiting Walt Disney World Resort often means budgeting hundreds of extra dollars for vacation splurges, paying up for Lightning Lane access, or waiting in 60-minute standby lines under the hot Florida sun just to snap a photo with Mickey Mouse.

But a surprisingly little-known park perk allows select visitors to completely bypass standard queues for a private meet-and-greet—complete with free photo downloads—tucked away inside EPCOT.

The hidden perk was recently put back in the spotlight by viral content creator Evil Dad of @evildadhacks, who broke down the wallet-friendly secret on Instagram: “Here’s a not so evil tip for anyone who is a Chase Disney Visa card, or Chase Disney debit card holder. There’s an exclusive area at EPCOT, where you can take photos with major Disney characters at no charge to you. The photos are added to your My Disney Experience App, and you can download them from there. This is a slightly different location than they have been for most of the year.”

Related: 15 Free Things You Can Do at Walt Disney World Without Entering a Park

The experience is open daily from 1:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. inside World Celebration right next to Journey Into Imagination With Figment. To enter, guests only need to show a physical or digital Disney Visa Card or Disney Visa Debit Card from Chase. A single card grants entry for up to six people, who are escorted behind closed doors for an intimate, unhurried session with classic characters like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, or Pluto.

Even better, while Disney typically charges around $185 to $210 for an unlimited Memory Maker photo package, Disney PhotoPass digital downloads from this specific location are 100% complimentary and sync straight to your account.

Related: Disney Just Dropped a New $149 Chase Card—And It’s Built for Superfans

The reveal sparked immediate excitement and veteran vetting from Disney fans in the comments. “We’ve done this a few times, and the characters change day to day, so you never know who you’re going to get! It’s a lot of fun,” wrote one frequent traveler, while another added, “We just discovered this a few days ago!!! We got our photo with Minnie Mouse! Love that they’re doing this!!” Others pointed out the financial upside, with one joking it’s “one of those little perks of being Disney in debt!!” and another calling it “a real hack. Impressive.”

Experienced park-goers in the thread noted that timing is key to making the hack work seamlessly. “Have done this many times over the years, always a great experience. Make sure to check times because they normally close around 5-6pm,” advised one commenter, while another cautioned that midday lines can back up, making early afternoon arrival ideal. Chase cardholders can also head to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where a companion cardmember photo spot operates near Echo Lake to meet Stitch.

So before you drag your tired feet (and cranky kids) through another grueling standby line, do a quick wallet check.lashing your card for a cool, uncrowded breather with Mickey and free photos to show for it might just be the sanity saver your EPCOT day needs.

Related: Disney Experts Reveal Their Top Picks From Epcot’s Biggest Food Festival

Few songs in the history of American music have generated as much controversy, confusion, and outright debate as a certain 1963 garage rock hit.

The slurred vocals and infectious beat of The Kingsmen‘s “Louie Louie” were so notoriously indecipherable that the FBI stepped in to investigate whether the song was secretly obscene. Decades after the controversy died down, the iconic track remains an essential sing-along favorite, even if almost no one knows the actual words.

Grunge ranked the song as one of the Commonly Misunderstood Classic Rock Lyrics You May Be Singing Wrong. It claimed that the Richard Berry song, first recorded in 1957 before the Kingsmen made it a hit, has “lyrics no one understands.”

According to The New Yorker, one of the key reasons that the song has such intelligible lyrics is that singer Jack Ely stood several feet above him, hanging from the ceiling. This distance created a muffled effect on April 6, 1963, when the song was recorded in Portland, Oregon.

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A 1963 FBI report shares possible interpretations of the song. Their investigation ran through 1965, but in the end, they could not readily determine what Ely was singing; therefore, government investigators officially concluded that the song was “unintelligible at any speed,” a finding that only cemented its place as a rock legend.

According to Far Out Magazine, the Kingsmen “had a studio with three measly microphones booked for one hour and one hour only. ‘Louie, Louie’ was recorded in a single take; it even features the drummer shouting the f-word when he dropped his stick.”

Ely was quoted, per Far Out, that recording the song was indeed, challenging. He explained, “It was more yelling than singing because I was trying to be heard over all the instruments.”

The BBC shared a quote from Ely, who revealed that “Louie Louie” was initially supposed to be an instrumental. He explained, “We were initially just going to record the song as an instrumental, and at the last minute I decided I’d sing it. It’s all of this is in a 10-by-10 room with one microphone. I’m standing on my tippy toes yelling into the microphone: ‘Louie Louie! Louie Louie! We gotta go!'”

The Kingsmen may have accidentally made the most misquoted record in history, but classic rock fans wouldn’t have it any other way. It proves you don’t need perfect studio polish to make rock and roll history—just three simple chords and a great beat.

Related: The 1963 Country Classic That Told a Story Too Hot for Its Time

Death row inmate Christa Pike surviving her execution made headlines around the world.

But here’s the thing: Tennessee had already tried—and failed—to execute another death row inmate just months earlier.

Tony Von Carruthers was scheduled to die by lethal injection on May 21 for the 1994 murders of Marcellos Anderson, Frederick Tucker and Tucker’s mother, Delois Anderson.

He never made it to the lethal drugs.

Medical personnel successfully placed the primary IV required under Tennessee’s execution protocol, but ran into trouble when attempting to find a suitable vein for the backup.

They tried Carruthers’ other arm, left hand and left foot before turning to a central line, which involves placing a catheter into a large vein.

That didn’t work either.

After more than an hour of attempts, Carruthers was still very much alive—and his execution was called off.

His attorney, Maria DeLiberato, who witnessed the ordeal inside the execution chamber, told reporters Carruthers was “wincing and groaning” during the attempts and described seeing blood and multiple puncture wounds.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee subsequently granted Carruthers a one-year reprieve, meaning the state couldn’t try again until at least May 2027.

Fast-forward a little more than four months.

Pike entered the execution chamber at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville on Sept. 30. This time, Tennessee made it past the IV process.

Officials administered two doses of pentobarbital.

Pike didn’t die.

She continued breathing and was eventually transported from the prison by ambulance. After spending days hospitalized, Pike recovered enough to return to prison.

There was another connection between the two attempts.

Dr. Mark Fowler, who was involved in trying to establish IV access during Carruthers’ execution, confirmed before Pike’s scheduled execution that he would also serve as the physician overseeing hers.

Following Pike’s failed execution, Lee halted Tennessee’s remaining execution scheduled for 2026 and ordered a third-party investigation into what went wrong.

So, within a span of a little more than four months, Tennessee entered the execution chamber twice expecting an inmate to die.

Both came out alive, adding new fuel to the long-running debate over capital punishment and how executions are carried out in the U.S.

Cyndi Lauper is giving fans a chance to own a piece of music history, with some of her most recognizable outfits and personal memorabilia headed to auction.

The “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” singer is teaming up with Bonhams for Cyndi Lauper: Suitcase of Memories, a two-part sale featuring clothing, accessories, awards and other items from her decades-long career. The first auction is scheduled for October 22, while the second sale runs online through Oct. 23. The timing coincides with the 40th anniversary of Lauper’s 1986 album True Colors.

“Few artists have shaped popular culture with the originality and impact of Cyndi Lauper,” Anna Hicks, Bonhams Head of Private & Iconic Collections, US, said in the announcement. “What makes Cyndi so remarkable is her unwavering commitment to being authentically herself, and that spirit is evident throughout this collection.”

Among the most recognizable pieces is the newspaper skirt Lauper wore on the True Colors album cover and in the accompanying music video, created with Laura Wills, owner of the vintage clothing shop Screaming Mimi’s.

“I thought I lost it. When I found it at the bottom of the trunk, I couldn’t believe it,” Lauper told Vogue of the memorable skirt.

Other pieces up for grabs include the leopard-print pajamas from “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” the lunchbox featured in “Time After Time,” the red plaid dress Lauper wore to the first-ever MTV Video Music Awards, as well as the bra and jewelry from the “True Colors” music video.

The auction also extends beyond clothing. Other lots include music awards, photographs, tour-used equipment, and personal pieces from Lauper’s closet, including jackets and skirts from Alexander McQueen’s spring 2008 collection.

Lauper reflected on the meaning behind the collection, explaining that going through her archives gave her a chance to think about the collaborators who helped shape her career. She also described the connection between fashion, music and art that runs through the items.

“I wanted this collection to bring together the things that have always been connected for me – art, music, and fashion,” Lauper said in the auction announcement. “To me, fashion is art, and these pieces represent that creative journey.”

In 1977, 20-year-old Debbi Fields had no business experience, but she did have a chocolate chip cookie recipe she believed in.

Fields, then a young housewife, opened her first cookie shop in Palo Alto, California, that year. Called Mrs. Fields’ Chocolate Chippery, the store offered something unusual for the time: oversized chocolate chip cookies served soft and warm from the oven.

There was just one rather significant problem. Nobody was buying them. By noon on opening day, Fields hadn’t sold a single cookie.

Years later, Fields recalled to the Los Angeles Times that her husband Randy Fields had predicted she wouldn’t even make $50 in sales that day. As the hours passed without a customer, it looked increasingly likely that he was right.

Instead of waiting behind the counter, Fields loaded up a tray with freshly baked cookies and headed outside. She began giving the cookies away to people on the street, essentially turning free samples into an impromptu marketing campaign.

It worked.

Ron Galella / Getty Images

People followed Fields back to the store to buy more, and she ended her otherwise disastrous first day with $75 in sales. That modest sum was the beginning of what would become the Mrs. Fields cookie empire.

Fields had been baking since she was a young teenager and had spent years tinkering with chocolate chip cookies. But when she decided to turn that passion into a business, she faced considerable skepticism. According to the University of New Hampshire’s Rosenberg International Franchise Center, Fields approached several banks before securing financing to open her first shop.

Mrs. Fields didn’t stay a one-store operation for long.

By 1986, less than a decade after Fields walked onto the street with that tray of free cookies, the company had 350 stores in 25 states as well as locations in Canada, England, Japan, Australia and Hong Kong. Fields told the Los Angeles Times at the time that the company was expected to do more than $100 million in business that year.

And sampling, the desperate tactic Fields used when no one would buy a cookie on opening day, remained part of the company’s strategy. In a 1987 profile, the Los Angeles Times followed Fields as she visited one of her stores and enthusiastically praised a manager for handing out samples.

What began as a way to salvage a terrible first day had become part of the formula behind one of America’s most recognizable cookie brands.

Nearly 50 years after Fields opened that first shop in Palo Alto, Mrs. Fields remains in business, selling the soft-baked cookies that launched the company in 1977.

Related: Skinny Mixes Launches 3 New Sugar-Free Flavors For the Dirty Soda Craze

Rising country singer Justin Fabus just received a major vote of confidence from Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Richard Marx.

Marx, who co-wrote Fabus’ upcoming single “Anywhere You Want To Go” with Vertical Horizon frontman Matt Scannell, says Fabus has a key ingredient for a successful music career that goes beyond talent: dedication.

“Aside from talent, Justin has what I consider to be the absolute most important component to having a great career: complete dedication. His commitment to making music and performing should be an inspiration to all up-and-coming artists out there,” Marx said in a release.

Fabus, whose new single arrives October 23, said working with Marx and Scannell is a dream come true. The single is available to pre-save and pre-order through Fabus’ website. 

“I couldn’t be more honored and excited to announce that my next single was written by my dear friend and legend, Richard Marx, and the insanely talented Matt Scannell of Vertical Horizon. Richard has become somewhat of a mentor to me over the past years, and I’ve been a huge fan of Matt since the ‘Everything You Want’ album. So to say this is a full circle moment for me would be an understatement,” Fabus said.

The release continues Fabus and Marx’s creative relationship. The two previously collaborated on “Somebody Like You,” which appeared on Fabus’ 2020 album Shelter From The Storm. The album reached No. 25 on the iTunes Top 200 Country Albums chart.

“Richard has become an incredible friend and mentor over the past years. When you get the chance to work with one of your idols, it’s a dream come true. Not only is Richard one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time, he’s one of the most kindest people you’ll ever meet. I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for me,” Fabus said.

The new single also marks another step forward for Fabus after a difficult year that sidelined him for months and forced him to postpone a planned European tour until 2027.

As previously reported by Parade, Fabus was hospitalized for more than two weeks after a mysterious illness and severe depression. He said the ordeal left him struggling to eat and sleep and caused him to lose 30 pounds.

“I thought I was dying, but now that I’m back on my feet again, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life thanks to God and my family for helping me get through,” Fabus said. “When you’re at your darkest, I promise you there is light closer than you think.”

Fabus, named a Country Music Association Emerging Artist in 2017, has shared the stage with Trace Adkins, New Kids on the Block, Debbie Gibson and Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys. His 2021 EP, The Aftermath, reached No. 2 on the iTunes Top 200 Country Albums chart.

In 2025, Fabus continued building his international audience, performing for large crowds at London’s Lil’ Nashville and releasing “Me and Bon Jovi,” which led to an invitation to perform at Jon Bon Jovi’s bar in Nashville. In 2026, he also released “Moment I Knew,” recorded with guitarist Jake Curran, known for his work with Niall Horan.

Now, Fabus is looking ahead with new music and performances on the horizon.

“I still have a lot left in the tank,” Fabus said. “I still have a lot of songs to write and shows to play.”

Some of rock’s greatest moments weren’t planned. For U2, one of them happened on July 13, 1985, in front of thousands of fans at London’s Wembley Stadium and millions watching Live Aid around the world.

The Irish band was scheduled to perform three songs: “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Bad” and “Pride (In the Name of Love).” But things took an unexpected turn during the second number.

As MusicRadar reported on Saturday, Bono left the stage during “Bad,” climbed down toward the audience and connected with fans near the front. He made his way toward the crowd, where he embraced and briefly danced with 15-year-old fan Kal Khalique, whom he feared was being crushed against the front barrier as the audience surged forward.

The song, inspired by heroin addiction and its devastating consequences, stretched into an extraordinary performance lasting roughly 12 minutes. As a result, U2’s second and final song became an unplanned performance of “Bad,” from their then-latest album, The Unforgettable Fire. During the extended rendition, Bono improvised excerpts from Lou Reed’s “Satellite of Love” and “Walk on the Wild Side,” along with the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday” and “Sympathy for the Devil.”

The spontaneous moment became one of the most memorable performances of the entire event. But not everyone in the band immediately recognized its significance. Bono later acknowledged that his unexpected trip into the audience had thrown the original plan off course.

“We didn’t do the hits because I’d gone AWOL,” he recalled, according to U2’s official website.

The band had released The Unforgettable Fire the previous year, but Live Aid helped introduce U2 to a much wider international audience, transforming them into stadium rock stars. “It really took us by surprise when people started talking about U2 as one of the performances of the day. I thought we were crap,” Bono said.

“Bad,” originally released on that album, became a defining part of the group’s live shows, thanks in part to its emotional intensity and room for improvisation. Two years later, U2 released The Joshua Tree, the album that would take them to another level of worldwide success.

Looking back, it’s remarkable that one of U2’s most memorable televised performances became legendary not because everything went according to plan, but because Bono deliberately abandoned the plan at the last moment.

As much as I love heading over to Disney Springs for drinks, finishing an epic 25,000-step park-hopper day at EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios made having a fantastic nightlife option right in our backyard feel like pure magic. Staying at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn ahead of embarking on a Disney cruise, my cousin and I disembarked the FriendShip boat at Crescent Lake, strolled down the wooden promenade past the strolling quartet harmonizing under the streetlamps, and headed straight toward the buzz at Hurly-Burly, the brand-new seaside-theater-themed lounge taking over the former Jellyrolls space. The venue opened its doors on October 1, bringing something the resort area has sorely missed: an elevated, golden-era supper club experience that stays open until 1:00 a.m.

Related: This Is The One Disney World Restaurant I Never Skip As An Adult Without Kids

Meghann Foye

Arriving around 10:30 p.m. on opening weekend, we joined a modest line of five or six people outside, where a cast member with a clipboard took our cell numbers for the walk-up waitlist. A roughly 30-minute wait was a small price to pay, and right around 11:00 p.m., the text buzzed our phones. Stepping through the doors felt like stepping back into an intimate 1930s vaudeville playhouse. The expansive room is lined with rich velvet banquettes, low cocktail tables, and warm art-deco lighting, all fanning out from a focal center stage.

Under the spotlight, a singer dressed in a dazzling, 1930s-style silver beaded flapper gown crooned alongside a three-piece band, delivering smooth, jazz-infused renditions of nostalgic Disney melodies like “When You Wish Upon a Star” seamlessly fused with unexpected jazz-age renditions of hits like Taylor Swift‘s “Blank Space.” The server wasn’t playing an elaborate interactive character, and honestly, that was a relief. The atmosphere was calm, sophisticated, and genuinely relaxing—exactly what tired grown-ups need after twelve hours of dodging strollers, managing Lightning Lanes, and navigating sensory overload.

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Meghann Foye

Hurly-Burly’s culinary lineup leans heavily into Italian-American, Atlantic Coast boardwalk comfort foods, thoughtfully refined for modern palates. For late-night noshing, we gravitated toward the shareable plates, ordering the Theater Concessions—a smart trio plate pairing mini savory meatballs in tomato gravy with a buttery sweet sugar cookie and warm buttered popcorn. The combination was the ultimate after-park bite: salty, savory, and sweet in equal measure.

The rest of the menu doubles down on hearty, Italian-American boardwalk comfort designed for grazing rather than sitting through a heavy, multi-course dinner. Standouts like the Meatballs in Tomato Gravy—a savory blend of veal, pork, and beef simmered in rich gravy and topped with creamy stracciatella, sharp Pecorino Romano, and crusty focaccia—deliver robust flavor without weighing you down. You will also spot seaside staples like Tomato Pie on airy focaccia, Oven-Roasted Shrimp tossed with sweet pepper-onion relish, shaved Roast Beef Sliders with pungent horseradish cream, and warm Mini Pretzels served alongside a decadent bacon-cheese fondue. For a warm dessert before the late-night walk back to the hotel, the Mini Apple Cider Doughnuts come drizzled with a rich miso-caramel sauce that hits the exact right nostalgic, autumnal note.

The bar program is equally ambitious. While cocktails like the Caramel Corn Old Fashioned (shaken with Woodford Reserve, real caramel corn, and bitters) could easily veer into overly sweet novelty territory, it arrived smooth, smoky, and expertly balanced. With moderate small-plate pricing and an impressive wine and craft beer list highlighting coastal labels from Brooklyn Brewery to Allagash, it offers table-service quality without the stuffiness of signature fine dining.

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Meghann Foye

Between BoardWalk Ice Cream, the mid-century carnival games, and the treasure-trove shopping at Thimbles & Threads, the BoardWalk promenade has always had plenty of kinetic energy. But Hurly-Burly heightens the district’s turn-of-the-century narrative while giving Crescent Lake guests—including those at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin—a late-night sanctuary just steps from their rooms.

More than that, it highlights Disney’s evolving appeal to every travel party style: multigenerational groups, milestone celebrations, girlfriends’ getaways, and adults visiting without kids. While the venue transforms into a strictly 21-and-over speakeasy after 9:00 p.m., early evening hours (starting at 4:00 p.m.) feature host-led family trivia and interactive games reminiscent of the casual family lounge activities on Disney Cruise Line ships like the Disney Wish or Disney Treasure. Whether you drop in for afternoon trivia or close out the night with a craft cocktail under the glow of the stage, it proves that the magic of Disney doesn’t have to end when the fireworks fade.

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By the 1970s, Queen had built a reputation for electrifying live performances, extravagant parties and Freddie Mercury’s unmistakable stage presence. But away from the spotlight, the legendary frontman had a quieter side, including a surprising interest in board games.

According to Roger Taylor, that’s exactly how he and Mercury sometimes spent their downtime. In a new interview with Classic Rock, published October 14, the 77-year-old drummer recalled the Scrabble battles he used to have with Mercury between recording sessions.

“Fred was very good at it, actually,” Taylor said. And the competition wasn’t just about coming up with impressive words.

“I always liked a bit of Scrabble. It’s not about words, it’s about points,” he explained. Taylor was speaking from his holiday home in sunny France, where he admitted he’d spent part of the morning playing Scrabble on his computer.

The memories also brought him back to the years when he and Mercury shared an apartment and enjoyed the more extravagant side of rock stardom.

Taylor previously described himself and Mercury as Queen’s “naughty ones,” a reputation that seems worlds away from their quieter moments around a Scrabble board.

Asked whether he missed those wild days, Taylor didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, I do, really,” he admitted. “Because I couldn’t really get up to it all now. Too old. I think it would kill me.”

Mercury died in 1991, but Taylor and guitarist Brian May have continued performing Queen’s music, most recently touring with Adam Lambert.

Taylor has also been busy with his seventh solo album, Violence Insane In A Beautiful World. And although he’s now in his late seventies, retirement doesn’t appear to be on his agenda.

For fans who remember Queen’s spectacular concerts and larger-than-life personalities, it’s a lovely reminder that behind all the rock ‘n’ roll excess, two of the band’s biggest stars were also friends who enjoyed a simple good game of Scrabble.

Konerak Sinthasomphone was 14 years old, and he’d lived in Milwaukee for most of his life. His family had fled a rice farm in communist Laos in 1979 and settled in Milwaukee with help from the Catholic archdiocese. He was the youngest of several siblings. Some of his older brothers had found work as welders and machinists to help support the family. They’d built something in America. What none of them knew on the afternoon of May 26, 1991, was that Jeffrey Dahmer had already come for their family once.

In September 1988, Dahmer had approached Konerak’s older brother Somsack near their neighborhood and lured him to his apartment. Somsack was 13. He managed to escape. Dahmer was arrested, charged with second-degree sexual assault, and served 1 year in prison. He was released in early 1990 and put on 5 years’ probation. He was still on that probation the afternoon he spotted Konerak on Wisconsin Avenue. He didn’t know who Konerak was. He offered him money to come back to his apartment for photographs. Konerak went. He lost consciousness inside. Dahmer left to buy beer. When he came back outside, Konerak had woken up and stumbled into the street.

He was naked. He was bleeding. He couldn’t stand on his own. Glenda Cleveland’s daughter, Sandra Smith, and her niece, Nicole Childress, found him in the alley near their building. Both of them were teenagers. They called 911. Officers John Balcerzak and Joseph Gabrish showed up. Dahmer got there right after them. He told the officers Konerak was 19 and his boyfriend. He said they’d had a fight and Konerak had too much to drink. The officers didn’t ask for ID. They took Dahmer’s word for it.

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Sandra and Nicole told them the boy was a child. The officers threatened to arrest them if they didn’t back off. Then they walked Konerak back up to Dahmer’s apartment and left him there. Down the hall in the bedroom, the body of another victim was on the floor. On the radio back to their dispatcher, one of the officers was laughing. The intoxicated Asian male had been returned to his sober boyfriend. His partner said he’d need to get deloused at the station. If they’d run Dahmer’s name that night, they’d have seen an active probation case for molesting the boy’s own brother.

Glenda Cleveland had been on the phone with the 911 dispatcher the whole time. After the police left, she kept calling. She got through to an officer connected to the call and asked him directly whether the boy was a minor in danger. He told her it was a domestic dispute between adult men. Days later, she saw a photo of a missing 14-year-old in the newspaper and recognized him as the boy from the street. She called the police again. Nobody called her back. She called the FBI. Nobody followed up.

Thirty minutes after Balcerzak and Gabrish left the apartment, Dahmer killed Konerak. He was Dahmer’s 13th victim. Five more men died before Tracy Edwards escaped Dahmer’s apartment on July 22, 1991, with a handcuff still on his wrist and flagged down a police car. When officers went inside, they found photographs. It was over.

Balcerzak and Gabrish were fired in September 1991. They appealed. In 1994, a judge ordered the city to take them both back and pay each of them $55,000 in back pay. Balcerzak came back to the force and in 2005 was elected president of the Milwaukee Police Association — the union that represents Milwaukee officers in contract talks with the city. The officer who’d handed a bleeding 14-year-old back to a serial killer was now representing Milwaukee police. He retired in 2017. Gabrish eventually became interim police chief of a department in Grafton, Wisconsin.

Glenda Cleveland stayed in her building near 25th Street until 2009, then moved a couple of blocks away. The county board formally honored her. Her mayor called her a model citizen. She died in 2011 at age 56. She told a reporter in 1991: “I don’t see any excuse for people not caring for other people.”

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For millions of moviegoers, Molly Ringwald practically was the 1980s. With her red hair, unmistakable style and starring roles in some of the decade’s most beloved teen movies, she became the face of a generation.

But it turns out that Ringwald wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic about everything the ’80s had to offer as her fans might imagine. In an interview with People, published on Saturday, the 58-year-old actress opened up about the fashion trends she couldn’t stand during the decade that made her famous.

“There were things that I didn’t like about it at the time,” she admitted. Her biggest complaints were the oversized power suits and enormous hairstyles that became synonymous with ’80s fashion.

“That wasn’t really my ’80s,” Ringwald explained. Instead, the actress gravitated toward vintage clothing, developing a personal style that was quite different from the decade’s more extravagant trends. “That was my vibe in the ‘80s,” she explained.

Ringwald knows a thing or two about ’80s fashion. She starred in three John Hughes classics: Sixteen Candles in 1984, The Breakfast Club in 1985 and Pretty in Pink in 1986.

Aaron Rapoport / Getty Images

And her complicated relationship with the decade’s style goes even further. As she said in a Harper’s Bazaar interview, she actually cried when she saw the now-iconic prom dress her character Andie wore in Pretty in Pink. “I cried. I burst into tears,” she said.

Despite that reaction, the dress became one of the most recognizable costumes in teen movie history. Today, Ringwald says she feels nostalgic for the decade, even if she still doesn’t love everything about its fashion.

Ringwald’s comments reflect a familiar contradiction of ’80s nostalgia: the decade’s movies and music remain beloved, even if some of its biggest fashion trends are best left in the past.

Music in the Air premiered on Broadway 94 years ago, and with it came the first-ever performance of “I’ve Told Every Little Star.”

The original version is a bit slower than what modern listeners are familiar with — it takes over a minute, for instance, for the lyrics to begin — but it’s undeniably catchy. The musical’s creators knew it, too, because they made the song central to the plot and gave it a reprise later in the first act.

The song’s composer Jerome Kern later revealed that his inspiration for the song’s melody came from a bird singing outside his window. He initially forgot to write his lyrics down and went to bed frustrated, only for the bird to return the next morning to inspire him again.

The Broadway show ended its run in 1933, and its film adaptation in 1934 was sadly a box office failure. The musical was briefly revived on Broadway in 1951, but this time it ran for less than seven weeks. By 1961 “Every Little Star” was all but forgotten about, until the little-known teen pop singer Linda Scott decided to put her spin on it.

Scott’s version of “I’ve Told Every Little Star” stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for 14 weeks, earning Scott the first and only gold disc of her career.

“It’s an unusual sensation hearing your voice over the radio,” the 15-year-old singer told the Record in February 1961, and yet she’d have to grow used to the feeling from that point forward. Scott had two more hits in 1961 alone (“I Don’t Know Why” and “Don’t Bet Money Honey,”) and she continued to make the charts for the next three years.

The catchiest part of “I’ve Told Every Little Star” is its opening doo-wop vocals, “Dum, da-dum…” which are entirely absent from the 1932 song. The original “Every Little Star” takes a while to get going, while Scott’s version hooks you in immediately. When Scott’s cover played on the radio, every listener knew exactly what song was playing from the very first second.

Scott’s version isn’t just catchy; it has a nostalgic, dreamlike quality that seems to have captured filmmakers throughout the years. Director David Lynch famously used it to great effect in his surreal 2001 masterpiece “Mulholland Drive,” in which a mysterious woman lip syncs to Scott’s cover song.

Although no direct cover could ever outshine Scott’s version, young rapper Mac Miller sampled Scott’s opening bit in his 2010 song “Knock Knock,” introducing Scott’s hit ’61 single to a whole new generation of listeners.

For the song’s music video, Miller told director Rex Arrow that he wanted it to feel like a “throwback.” As Arrow told DJBooth in 2019, Miller had wanted the video to feel “a little Westside Story” with sections of it filmed in old-fashioned black-and-white.

Much like Scott’s cover nearly 50 years earlier, Miller was mixing something old with something new and turning it into another hit. 16 years after “Knock Knock” released, maybe it’s time for a new musician to take inspiration from “Every Little Star” once again.

According to birth date numerology, your birthday might reveal the autumn activity or experience that makes you feel most alive. From cozy nights spent baking to spontaneous road trips through colorful foliage, here’s the one fall activity to add to your bucket list based on the day you were born.

Check your birth date, ignoring the month.

In numerology, these birth dates are associated with the Sun, which symbolizes confidence, vitality, and individuality. You thrive when you can follow your own interests, so make time for a solo autumn adventure. Why not visit a charming New England town? Browse independent bookstores, stop at a local cafe for a pumpkin spice latte, and wander through streets lined with colorful foliage. Give yourself permission to explore at your own pace without worrying about anyone else’s plans.

Your ideal autumn experience involves bringing your favorite people together. Ruled by the Moon, these birth dates are associated with intuition, emotions, and nurturing energy, making meaningful connections central to your fulfillment. Host a cozy dinner with seasonal comfort foods, warm lighting, and a delicious homemade dessert. Put your phones away, share stories, and enjoy quality time that makes you feel grounded and connected.

READ: The 11 Best Deep Plum and Burgundy Nail Ideas Perfect for Late Autumn

If your birthday falls on one of these dates, embrace the playful side of autumn with an afternoon at a pumpkin patch. Wander through the fields, search for the most unusual pumpkin, and sample seasonal treats from a local farm stand. You’re ruled by Jupiter, ruler of optimism, expansion, and abundance. You know how to turn an average autumn day into an exploratory outing. Invite friends along for a friendly competition to see who finds the best pumpkin.

Your autumn bucket list includes creating a space where you can feel comfortable, organized, and completely at ease. Ruled by Uranus, the innovative planet, you’re often on the go. Take time to unwind this season. Gather soft blankets, add a few pillows, light a fall-scented candle, and keep your favorite books within reach. Once your cozy corner is ready, set aside an evening to read without distractions and enjoy life at a slower pace.

Mercury rules communication, curiosity, and movement in astrology, making exploration a fitting autumn activity for these Mercurial-ruled birth dates. Instead of sticking to your usual routine, shake things up! Choose a scenic route and head somewhere new to admire the changing leaves. Stop at small-town shops, explore local attractions, and take the occasional detour when something catches your eye. Leave some room in your itinerary for unexpected discoveries, since the best part of the adventure may be the places you never planned to stumble upon.

EXPLORE: Which Fictional Universe Matches Your Birth Date?

If you were born on one of these dates, your ideal fall bucket list item involves indulging your senses and creating something special. You’re ruled by Venus, the planet of luxury and love. Spend a Venusian soft afternoon baking apple crisp, pumpkin bread, or cinnamon rolls. Fill your home with the comforting aromas of cinnamon and vanilla, then enjoy your creation with a warm drink. Sharing your baked goods with friends or neighbors will only make the experience even sweeter.

You’re ruled by Neptune, the planet linked to imagination, spirituality, and the unseen. A quiet autumn nature walk will help you reconnect with yourself and appreciate the changing season. Find a wooded trail surrounded by colorful leaves, leave your headphones at home, and pay attention to the sights and sounds around you. Use the time to reflect on what you’ve learned this year, release what no longer serves you, and consider what you want to welcome into your life next.

Those born on these dates may appreciate experiences that feel both restorative and worthwhile. After all, they’re ruled by Saturn, the planet of ambition, discipline, and long-term rewards. Give yourself something to look forward to by booking a weekend at a cozy inn, mountain cabin, or spa retreat. Spend your days enjoying scenic views, taking leisurely walks, and treating yourself to a little luxury. Think of it as an opportunity to step away from your responsibilities and recognize how much you’ve accomplished this year.

NEXT: Your Perfect Chocolate, Based on Birth Month

Ruled by the warrior Mars, representing action, courage, and adventure, you’re meant for a thrilling, spooky autumn experience. Instead of spending another fall weekend at home, grab your friends and head to a haunted hayride or nighttime corn maze. Between creepy surprises, eerie decorations, and plenty of opportunities to scream and laugh, it’s the perfect way to embrace your adventurous side and make unforgettable Halloween memories.

If you grew up in the 1980s, you might remember spending a Saturday afternoon at a fall festival, checking out the games, wandering past the food booths and convincing your parents to buy you one more treat before heading home. And while the activities were fun, the food was a pretty big part of the experience.

Of course, not every fall festival looked the same. Some were held at local schools or churches, while others took over entire fairgrounds for the weekend. In apple-growing towns, you might even catch the smell of fresh cider being pressed or pies coming out of the oven.

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Elsewhere, there might be a chili cook-off underway, sausages sizzling on the grill or a church bake sale with tables full of homemade goodies. You could easily spend more time deciding what to eat than enjoying the games.

So, what was on the menu 40 years ago? We took a look back at fall festivals from the 1980s to see what people were eating. You might be surprised by how many of these foods are still festival favorites today. See how many you remember—you may just have a new cooking or baking project this week to recreate your own favorite fall festival food.

Menus varied by region, but these were some of the foods you might have found at a fall festival in the 1980s.

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If you grew up in the 1980s, you probably remember sloppy Joes from your school cafeteria. They were also a handy option for community gatherings and fundraisers because you could make a big batch without spending much money. Ground beef simmered in a sweet, tangy tomato sauce was spooned onto hamburger buns, usually with enough filling to spill out the sides.

Sloppy Joes had been around long before 1986, but Hunt’s Manwich, introduced in 1969, made the sandwiches even simpler to prepare. Just brown the beef, add the canned sauce and stir. For anyone feeding a hungry crowd, that was a pretty good deal.

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You could usually smell the roasted corn before you spotted the stand. Whole ears of corn were cooked over a hot grill, sometimes right in their husks, then peeled back and slathered with butter. A little salt was all they really needed, especially when the corn was fresh and sweet from the late-summer harvest. And if you got an ear with a few charred kernels, even better.

Corn season was winding down by the time many fall festivals rolled around, so roasted corn was a chance to enjoy some of the last fresh ears of the year. It was also one of the more affordable things you could pick up at a food booth, especially compared with some of the bigger meals. And unlike a plate of food, you could eat it while waiting in line for the next game or attraction.

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If you attended a fall festival in apple country during the 1980s, there was a good chance you’d find fresh cider for sale. Some orchards even had old-fashioned cider presses running, so you could watch the apples being crushed and squeezed into juice. The cider was cloudy, sweet and a little tart, with a stronger apple flavor than the clear, filtered juice at the grocery store.

You could pick up a jug to take home or enjoy a cup while wandering around the orchards. And with fresh apple fritters, homemade pies and other baked goods often on sale nearby, it was hard to leave with just a cup of cider. It’s no wonder apple harvest festivals were such a popular fall outing.

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At some fall festivals in the 1980s, particularly in the Southwest, you could find Frito pie on the menu. Despite the name, there wasn’t any actual pie involved. Instead, vendors piled hot chili, shredded cheddar cheese and chopped onions over Fritos corn chips, sometimes serving the whole thing right in the bag. It wasn’t particularly neat to eat, but it certainly beat trying to balance a plate while walking around the festival.

Frito pie had been popular for decades, and it made sense for outdoor celebrations where people wanted something warm and filling. The chili softened some of the chips underneath, while the ones on top stayed crunchy. If you were hungry after spending the afternoon checking out the booths, this was a pretty satisfying choice.

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Chili cook-offs were having quite a moment in the 1980s, and it wasn’t unusual to find one at a local fall festival. You could wander past rows of simmering pots, with cooks hoping their recipes would impress the judges. Some made thick, Texas-style chili with chunks of beef and no beans, while others favored ground beef, tomatoes and kidney beans. The amount of heat was another matter entirely, so sampling a few different recipes could be an adventure.

Of course, you didn’t need a cook-off to enjoy homemade chili at a festival. A bowl topped with shredded cheddar, diced onions and a few saltine crackers was plenty satisfying, especially when the weather started turning chilly. And if you were really hungry, you could always go back for seconds.

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Apple dumplings were another reason to visit apple country in the fall. Alongside the usual pies and turnovers, you could find whole apples wrapped in pastry, baked with cinnamon, sugar and a generous pat of butter. The apples softened in the oven, and the butter and sugar turned into a syrup that collected around the crust. They weren’t dainty desserts. One dumpling could take up most of a plate.

Depending on the recipe, they might come with a splash of cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or extra syrup spooned over the top. The combination of warm apples, flaky pastry and melting ice cream was hard to beat on a chilly fall afternoon.

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Funnel cakes weren’t an everyday dessert, which made getting one at a fall festival that much better. You could watch the vendor pour batter into hot oil in a bunch of messy loops, then flip the whole thing until it turned golden brown. A few shakes of powdered sugar later, you had a fried treat that barely fit on its paper plate. The crispy pieces around the edges were one of the best parts, although the thicker, softer sections were pretty good too.

Powdered sugar was the classic topping, but some stands offered strawberries, whipped cream or cinnamon sugar. Of course, the more toppings you added, the harder it was to eat while walking around. You’d probably end up with sticky fingers and powdered sugar on your shirt, but at least you’d have a funnel cake.

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Back in the ’80s, you couldn’t look up a festival’s food vendors ahead of time or scroll through photos to see what everyone was eating. You had to show up and see what was cooking. Maybe you’d spot a long line at one stand and decide to find out what the fuss was about. Or you’d walk past something that looked good, check how much money you had left and make a mental note to come back before heading home.

What you found also depended on where you lived. Apple-growing towns had their harvest celebrations, while school and church festivals often sold food to raise money for local programs. And once the festival packed up, you might have to wait until the following fall to get your favorites again. Today, grocery stores start stocking pumpkin-flavored everything while it’s still hot outside. Back then, the arrival of fall gave you something to look forward to, including what was on the menu.

Was the food actually better back in the ’80s? Maybe, maybe not. But I’d love to go back for an afternoon, see what everyone was lining up to eat and find out which treats were worth going back for seconds.

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