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Few songwriters in history understood the bittersweet weight of young love quite like Brian Wilson.

Long before music historians and online countdowns started analyzing every note of his catalog, the Beach Boys founder possessed an uncanny instinct for young heartbreak. In the summer of 1964, while the rest of the music world churned out simple love songs, he tapped into something far more real and turned the quiet agony of an unrequited crush into a two-minute pop song that still cuts deep.

That track, of course, is “Wendy.” Tucked into the band’s iconic All Summer Long album, the song’s soaring harmonies wrap around a story every teenager knew by heart: watching the person you’re crazy about walk off with someone else.

Between Wilson’s vulnerable lead vocal, a driving bassline, and even a subtle, unedited studio cough left on the master recording, the song hit a nerve for millions of kids listening on their car radios. It still cuts just as deep today.

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Wilson discussed the song in a video clip shared on his official YouTube channel. He opened up about how the track wasn’t actually inspired by a high school girlfriend, but was written as a deliberate nod to another legendary pop group.

Wilson admitted that the song was a homage to The Four Seasons by capturing their signature vocal style and punchy arrangement. However, he likely never expected his own version would stand as one of the most heartbreaking Beach Boys tracks of all time.

Wilson said, “‘Wendy’ sounded like a Four Seasons kinda thing, you know? There’s something I think the voice sounded good too, very nice.”

He added, “It wasn’t about any girl named Wendy. It was just a song called ‘Wendy.'”

In the comments section of the YouTube video, fans responded to Wilson’s remarks. They shared their thoughts about the song, and how it has impacted them on a musical level.

“I think that this is one of the best-ever teenage heartbreak songs. The lyrics are so simple, yet they convey so much emotion/sadness/disappointment. Even the line ‘guess I was wrong’ cuts to the core,” wrote one follower.

A second fan wrote, “Thank you, Brian, for this song. It was the reason for my first name; Four Seasons Dawn is the reason for my middle name.”

“Another BB song that you ask why it didn’t get a hit,” wondered a third social media user.

A fourth Beach Boys fan concluded, “Another wonderful song from the great American treasure. Hugs to you, Brian Wilson, love always.”

“Wendy” reached No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100. It remained on the charts for a total of six weeks.

Related: Brian Wilson Was Completely ‘Blown Away’ By This 1971 Rock Masterpiece, One of the Greatest Songs Ever Written

Zach Bryan made a statement at Robert Kraft‘s Gillette Stadium, wearing a “Free Palestine” T-shirt during his concert just weeks after the venue became embroiled in the controversy surrounding Ed Sheeran and Macklemore.

Bryan, 30, performed Friday, October 2, at the Foxborough, Massachusetts, stadium as part of his With Heaven On Tour. Several members of his band also wore shirts bearing the same message, according to footage from the show. The timing drew attention given the recent dispute over pro-Palestinian statements at concerts via TheWrap.

In September, Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour after making pro-Palestinian remarks during a performance at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. The rapper shouted “Free Palestine,” performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall,” and displayed footage from Gaza during his set.

Macklemore subsequently alleged that Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium through the Kraft Group, was instrumental in his removal from the tour. Kraft confirmed that Macklemore would not be permitted to perform at Gillette, describing his remarks as deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community. Sheeran later said the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour’s promoter. Sheeran’s scheduled September 25 and 26 performances at Gillette were ultimately canceled because of severe weather, TMZ reports.

Bryan’s appearance prompted a wave of reactions on social media, including on Reddit, where some users applauded the singer. “Robert Kraft is about to lose his mind over this,” one commenter wrote, while another added, “As a lifetime Patriots fan, I’m okay with this.”

Tonight at Gillette Stadium, Zach Bryan, one of the biggest country music artists in the world, wore a Free Palestine shirt onstage.

Gillette Stadium is owned by Robert Kraft, who pushed Ed Sheeran and his promoter to drop Macklemore from his tour.

Bryan isn’t just a major… pic.twitter.com/qthBfWOBbi

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) October 3, 2026

Reactions on X were mixed. “Nice 🕊️🇵🇸,” one user posted, while another criticized Kraft, writing, “No one hates free speech more than Robert Kraft.” Others were less enthusiastic, with one user admitting, “Sad thing is, I like his music. I don’t want to know your opinion on stuff. Now I like your music less.”

On Threads, some users called Bryan’s gesture punk, with one writing, “This is punk.” Others questioned the message and the singer’s personal history, with one commenter noting, “Nah being punk does not include DV! He made a statement we like, he is still very problematic.”

Bryan has not publicly explained his decision to wear the shirt or addressed the online reaction. He is scheduled to perform a second night at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, October 3.

If you’re planning to decorate for Halloween this weekend, Sarah Michelle Gellar has a few decorating tips that could help make your home look much spookier.

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star and horror movie icon knows all about creating a scary atmosphere, and now she’s sharing some of the tricks that make scary movies so effective—and how you can put them to use in your home this Halloween.

Gellar shared her Halloween decorating tips as part of her work with smart lighting brand Govee. Through the brand’s Turn Up the Spooky. Slay Halloween. campaign, the mom of two is revealing how she adds some scary Hollywood drama to her own front porch during spooky season.

Here are top tips from Gellar, who’s starred in horror films like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream 2, for making your front yard the envy of the neighborhood this Halloween:

• Start With a Mood, Not Just ‘Halloween’: “Before choosing colors or effects,” says Gellar, “decide how you want the house to feel. It could be mysterious and moonlit, classic and dramatic, or playful and family friendly. Starting with a clear mood helps every part of the display feel connected rather than like a collection of separate decorations.”

Sarah Michelle Gellar teams up with Govee to show how strategic lighting can give a home a spooky, cinematic look for Halloween.

Govee

• Don’t Light Everything. Let the Shadows Do Some of the Work: “Some of the most memorable scary scenes work because they do not show you everything, and the same principle can apply at home,” Gellar explains. “Instead of covering every inch of the exterior in light, choose one architectural or landscape feature to be the focus, such as the roofline, a tree, or the front facade. Leaving some areas darker creates contrast and makes the illuminated areas feel more dramatic.”
• Keep the Front Door Welcoming: “A Halloween display can feel spooky from the street without making guests feel like they should stay away,” Gellar offers. “Use moodier colors across the roofline, landscaping or wider exterior, then introduce warmer light around the front door, porch or steps. This creates a natural transition from theatrical Halloween atmosphere to a space that still feels inviting for family, friends, and trick-or-treaters.”

Thanksgiving travel is about to get a lot more expensive for many Americans.

With millions of people expected to hit the road and take to the skies for the holiday, travelers are already facing higher costs in 2026. A new analysis from Hopper found that the average domestic round-trip airfare for Thanksgiving is currently $402—a 31% increase from last year. Hotel rates are averaging about $170 per night.

For those planning to drive instead of fly, where you live (or where you’re headed) can also make a difference.

These States Have the Most Expensive Gas for Thanksgiving Travel

AAA’s state-level gas data from the 2025 Thanksgiving travel period provides a useful look at where drivers have historically faced the highest fuel costs around the holiday.

California topped the list, with regular gas averaging $4.59 per gallon on Nov. 25, 2025. Hawaii followed at $4.44, while Washington ranked third at $4.19. Oregon, Nevada and Alaska also landed among the states with the highest gas prices.

The 10 most expensive gasoline markets in AAA’s Nov. 25 data were:

• California: $4.59 per gallon
• Hawaii: $4.44
• Washington: $4.19
• Oregon: $3.82
• Nevada: $3.78
• Alaska: $3.72
• Arizona: $3.35
• Idaho: $3.27
• Pennsylvania: $3.26
• Illinois: $3.23

At the other end of the spectrum, Oklahoma had one of the nation’s lowest prices at about $2.50 per gallon during the 2025 Thanksgiving travel period. Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and Arkansas were also among the cheaper states for filling up.

Thanksgiving Flights Are More Expensive, Too

Gas isn’t the only travel expense rising this year.

According to Hopper’s latest 2026 Holiday Travel Index, Thanksgiving airfare has reached a 10-year high. The average domestic round-trip ticket is currently $402, compared with $307 in 2025.

When travelers choose to fly can make a significant difference. Hopper says the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday are among the most expensive times to travel. A round-trip ticket returning Sunday, Nov. 29, is averaging $604, while travelers who return Monday or Tuesday could pay around $350.

And the clock is ticking for anyone who hasn’t booked yet. Hopper recommends booking Thanksgiving flights and hotels before Halloween to get ahead of additional price increases as the holiday approaches.

RELATED: Months Before Ken Urker and Gypsy Rose Blanchard Welcomed Their Daughter, He Revealed This Job

May 19, 1962, when Marilyn Monroe stepped onto the stage at Madison Square Garden she didn’t just wow, she dazzled. The Hollywood icon was there to wish President John F. Kennedy a happy 45th birthday, but her performance became one of the most talked-about moments in American pop culture. And her dress became a legend in its own right.

There was more to the evening than a birthday celebration. Kennedy’s actual birthday was May 29, but the star-studded event was held 10 days early as a Democratic Party fundraiser to help pay off debts from his 1960 presidential campaign. Approximately 15,000 people attended, including Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte, Jack Benny and Shirley MacLaine.

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Monroe, who was in Hollywood filming Something’s Got to Give, traveled to New York to take part in the show. Monroe sang a sultry rendition of “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” in a shimmering, nude-colored gown that was so formfitting, she reportedly had to be sewn into it just before taking the stage.

More than six decades later, that famous dress continues to make headlines. In 2016, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! purchased the gown at Julien’s Auctions for $4.8 million, earning it a Guinness World Records title as the most expensive dress sold at auction.

The Story Behind Marilyn Monroe’s Iconic Dress

The legendary gown was created by Hollywood costume designer Jean Louis, based on a sketch by a young Bob Mackie, who was then working as Louis’s assistant. Mackie, who died in September 2026 at age 87, would go on to become one of the most influential costume designers in entertainment, creating unforgettable looks for stars including Carol Burnett, Cher, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Liza Minnelli and Elton John.

Made from flesh-toned silk gauze, the dress was designed to create the illusion that Monroe was wearing little more than sparkling light. Its intricate embellishments, featuring thousands of hand-sewn crystals, caught the stage lights, giving the impression that the actress was wrapped in glittering stardust. The gown was custom-made to fit Monroe’s body like a second skin, leaving little room for adjustments.

Related: 1961 Film Named One of the Best Marilyn Monroe Movies Ever Made Was Originally a Commercial Failure

From $1.3 Million to a Record-Breaking $4.8 Million

The dress’s auction history is almost as remarkable as the gown itself.

In 1999, financier and art collector Martin Zweig purchased it for $1.3 million. Seventeen years later, Julien’s Auctions offered the dress for sale again, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! won the bidding on November 18, 2016, with a reported purchase price of $4.8 million.

That sale turned an extraordinary piece of Hollywood memorabilia into a record-setting fashion collectible. It also demonstrated just how much cultural significance can add to the value of a garment. This wasn’t simply a beautiful dress. It was the dress Marilyn Monroe wore during one of the most recognizable performances of her career.

How Does It Compare With Marilyn’s Famous White Dress?

Monroe’s other legendary gown, the white halter dress designed by William Travilla for the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch, sold at auction in 2011 for approximately $4.6 million before the buyer’s premium, or about $5.6 million including fees.

The distinction is important. The white Seven Year Itch dress’s total price, including fees, exceeded the $4.8 million paid for the “Happy Birthday” gown. Guinness World Records distinguishes the categories, however. The Seven Year Itch dress holds the record for the most expensive film costume sold at auction, while the Jean Louis gown holds the title for the most expensive dress sold at auction.

The white dress is famous for the scene in which air from a subway grate blows Monroe’s skirt upward. It is one of cinema’s most enduring images. Both gowns are now part of fashion history, each forever linked to an iconic moment in Monroe’s career.

Related: Marilyn Monroe Played a Babysitter-Turned-Villain in This 1952 Thriller Based on a Bestselling Novel by a Little-Known Suspense Author

Other Dresses That Made Auction History

Monroe’s gowns aren’t the only garments to command extraordinary sums. In 2011, Audrey Hepburn’s elaborate Ascot ensemble from My Fair Lady, designed by Cecil Beaton, sold for approximately $4.55 million. With its oversized hat, dramatic silhouette and extravagant detailing, the outfit is a reminder that a film costume can become as memorable as the performance itself.

Royal fashion has also proved remarkably valuable. In December 2023, a star-embroidered evening gown worn by Princess Diana and designed by Jacques Azagury sold for $1,148,080 at Julien’s Auctions. Diana wore the blue-and-black gown during a visit to Florence, Italy, in 1985 and again to a Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performance in 1986. The sale was reported as a record for the most expensive dress worn by Diana sold at auction.

Why Marilyn Monroe’s Famous Dress Still Captivates Us

Ultimately, the appeal of Monroe’s “Happy Birthday” gown goes far beyond its price tag. It captures a moment when celebrity, politics, fashion and spectacle came together—and when Monroe, with one unforgettable performance, created an image that has endured for generations.

But perhaps Monroe understood better than anyone that her appeal was about more than a dress, a figure or a carefully constructed Hollywood image. As she once explained, she knew what photographers said about her: “Don’t let anyone tell you it’s in her hips or her bosom. You know where it is. It’s in her mind.”

Next, 50 Marilyn Monroe Quotes That’ll Make You Feel Empowered, Inspired and Confident

It takes three actresses to cover a life this big.

Before her death in August, Dolly Parton chose all five leading stars of Dolly: A True Original Musical, which she co-wrote with Maria S. Schlatter and which is set to her hit songs. Katie Rose Clarke tops the bill as Parton, the established superstar, reprising the role she originated in Nashville. Broadway fans may know Clarke from the 2024 Tony-winning revival of Merrily We Roll Along and as Glinda in Wicked.

Carrie St. Louis will portray Parton’s move to Nashville and her early days on The Porter Wagoner Show. She most recently starred as Sandra Dee in Just in Time on Broadway and originated the role of Rose in Titanique off-Broadway. Then there’s the newcomer. Eleven-year-old Norah Nunes, a finalist from the “Search for Dolly” online open casting call, makes her Broadway debut as Little Dolly, representing Parton’s childhood in the Smokies.

Grammy nominee John Behlmann will play Carl Dean, Parton’s husband of almost 60 years, and Tony winner Gabriel Ebert will play Porter Wagoner.

Producer Adam Speers told Entertainment Weekly that Parton wanted performers with “strength, kindness, and humanity as well as talent.”

Matthew Murphy

The production is also giving back in a way that fits Parton perfectly. The woman who spent decades putting books in children’s hands through her Imagination Library is now giving kids a seat at Broadway. Producers are partnering with the New York City Department of Education to give 30,000 free tickets to public middle and high school students during the show’s first year, according to EW.

Dolly: A True Original Musical begins performances at the St. James Theatre on Dec. 7. Opening night is Jan. 19, 2027, which would have been Parton’s 81st birthday. Parton died on Aug. 25 at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer.

Dolly Parton won’t be in the audience when her life story arrives on Broadway, but she made sure it would be told by the people she trusted.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been spotted enjoying a pub date in the Cotswolds. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped out together in what appears to be their first public sighting in the U.K. since their move from the U.S. On Oct. 1, Meghan and Harry were photographed holding hands as they arrived at the pub, according to photos published by The Sun.

They looked as loved-up as ever as they enjoyed lunch at the pub, where they reportedly tucked into meat pie with mashed potatoes and classic fish and chips.

The couple kept things casual for their date. Meghan wore a black long-sleeve knit top with jeans and white sneakers. She carried her phone in one hand and appeared to leave the handbag at home, finishing the look with oversized sunglasses. Harry also wore dark sunglasses and a baseball cap, along with a blue T-shirt, medium-wash jeans and a zip-up jacket.

The couple was photographed looking at the menu board outside the 16th-century pub, located around the corner from the Beckhams in Great Tew, Oxfordshire.

Meghan and Harry, along with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, returned to the U.K. in late August, although the family still keeps its home in Montecito, California.

According to BBC News, a spokesperson for the Sussexes said in August that the family’s chickens—which have regularly appeared on Meghan’s Instagram—would remain in California. Their dogs, Mia and Pula, however, were making the move with them.

Last week, Prince Harry traveled to Toronto, Canada, where he took part in a charity event and met with veterans.

Shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 15, 1919, a steel storage tank in Boston’s North End burst and released about 2.3 million gallons of molasses into the streets. Twenty-one people died and about 150 were hurt.

The tank stood 50 feet tall and 90 feet across. Purity Distilling Company built it in 1915, and it later came under the ownership of United States Industrial Alcohol, per Smithsonian. The weather had turned that week, with temperatures rising to about 40 degrees from 2 degrees earlier, according to The Conversation.

The wave moved at about 35 miles per hour and is estimated to have stood 15 to 25 feet high at the start. “A dull, muffled roar gave but an instant’s warning before the top of the tank was blown into the air,” the Associated Press reported at the time, as quoted in a 2019 AP story. The surge knocked a firehouse off its foundation and damaged the elevated rail line, according to CBS News. About 25 horses died as well, per WBUR.

Historian Stephen Puleo, who wrote a book on the disaster, has said the molasses gives the whole event “this unusual whimsical quality.” That quality is why the flood keeps turning up on lists of strange historical facts, but the toll was real, and so was the question of who was responsible.

The company blamed anarchists. Hugh W. Ogden, the auditor who heard the case, did not agree. When he issued his decision on April 28, 1925, he wrote that “no bomb or high explosive and no traces of a bomb or high explosives were discovered at or near the scene of the accident,” according to Puleo’s book “Dark Tide.”

An MIT professor, Charles Spofford, had found the tank’s “factor of safety” was only 1.8 when sound practice called for 3 to 4, according to the MIT Alumni Association. Puleo also writes that a company executive, Arthur Jell, admitted he had consulted no engineer and had skipped the water test.

After Ogden’s decision, the company settled within hours. Ogden had recommended about $300,000, and United States Industrial Alcohol agreed to pay $628,000 instead, according to Puleo. Estates of the people who died received about $6,000 each, and injured plaintiffs received between $400 and $7,500, depending on the severity of their injuries. In all, 119 plaintiffs were compensated.

The case left a mark on how buildings get approved. Boston began requiring engineers and architects to file their calculations along with stamped, signed drawings, a practice that spread across the country, per Puleo and ISHN.

Today, a softball diamond at Langone Park sits where the tank once stood. Ground-penetrating radar showed in 2019 that the tank’s foundation remains about 20 inches underground, The Boston Globe reported. At the 100th anniversary that year, the names of all 21 victims were read aloud. Parks Commissioner Christopher Cook called it “a tragic event.”

Halloween is just weeks away, and a new NOAA map is giving Americans their best look yet at which parts of the country could be facing the coolest weather as trick-or-treaters prepare to head outside.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center released its newest Week 3-4 Temperature Outlook on Friday, Oct. 2, taking the forecast to Halloween weekend.

And while much of the United States could be warmer than usual as October winds down, the outlook suggests the eastern part of the country has the best chance of escaping that late-season warmth.

NOAA’s new map favors above-normal temperatures across much of the western and central United States, stretching from the West Coast through the Plains. The highest probabilities for above-normal temperatures are along the Southwest coast.

Meanwhile, much of the eastern United States is marked “Equal Chances,” meaning NOAA is not favoring above-, near- or below-normal temperatures in those areas.

NOAA map showing temperature probabilities across the United States for Oct. 17 through Oct. 30, 2026.

NOAA

That includes portions of the Midwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, making the eastern half of the country the comparatively cooler side of NOAA’s outlook heading into Halloween.

There is one notable exception in the Southeast: Parts of Florida are shaded for above-normal temperatures.

NOAA explained in its forecast discussion that some of the models used to develop the outlook showed “weak chances for below-normal temperatures” over the East. However, forecasters said there was not enough evidence to officially favor below-normal temperatures in that region.

In other words, NOAA is not currently predicting an unusually cold end to October for the eastern states. Instead, the agency sees greater uncertainty there, while confidence is considerably stronger that much of the West and central United States will experience above-normal temperatures.

The pattern is tied in part to a ridge of high pressure expected over the western and central United States. NOAA said its dynamical models were generally in agreement on that pattern, while forecasting more neutral conditions over the East.

NOAA map showing precipitation probabilities across the United States for Oct. 17 through Oct. 30, 2026.

NOAA

The Climate Prediction Center also noted that El Niño is present and expected to remain a dominant influence. NOAA reported that the latest weekly sea surface temperature departure in the Niño 3.4 region had reached 2.2 degrees Celsius above normal, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong El Niño event developing during the fall and winter.

The Weather Channel is also warning that El Niño could complicate Halloween plans this year. In a new video titled “El Nino Could Haunt Halloween Costume Plans,” the outlet noted that the climate pattern could tilt the odds toward wetter conditions in the South, potentially putting delicate costumes at risk, while the Northern Tier could see milder temperatures and less need for extra layers.

However, The Weather Channel emphasized that El Niño only “tips the scales” rather than guaranteeing any particular Halloween weather, advising people to have a backup plan ready.

The newest map is considerably more useful for Halloween planning than NOAA’s monthly October outlook, which was issued Sept. 30. The Week 3-4 forecast zeroes in specifically on the second half of October and runs through Friday, Oct. 30.

There is still plenty of time for the forecast to change before the costumes come out.

NOAA will issue another Week 3-4 outlook on Friday, Oct. 9, which will bring the forecast window even closer to Halloween and could offer a clearer picture of whether cooler air will make its way into the eastern United States by the end of the month.

For now, people across much of the West and central United States may want to plan for a warmer-than-normal run-up to Halloween, while those farther east have a better chance of seeing more seasonable—and potentially cooler—late-October weather.

Related: NOAA Map Shows US States Bracing for Heavy Snow This Winter

Hayden Panettiere’s engagement ring from her former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, reportedly went missing following her death.

The One Life to Live actress, who died at 36 from an accidental overdose, kept the ring after she and Ukrainian boxer, now 50, called off their engagement in 2018.

According to Us, Panettiere’s loved ones have not been able to locate the ring and believe it was taken from her.

“Hayden’s engagement ring from Wlad that she’s held onto for all this time is missing,” the source told the outlet in a report published on Friday, October 2.

The insider added, “Friends and family think that someone who was with her in her final days took it when they were pawning her things.”

Hayden Panettiere and Wladimir Klitschko attend the Ein Herz Fuer Kinder Gala 2013 at Flughafen Tempelhof on December 7, 2013, in Berlin, Germany.

Photo by Luca Teuchmann/Getty Images

Panettiere and Klitschko were in an on-and-off relationship from 2009 to 2018. They got engaged in 2013. The former couple also shared an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.

Panettiere was closely involved in designing her stunning engagement ring. In 2013, she told E! that she personally worked with Montblanc to create the one-of-a-kind piece.

“They made me this amazing book where they did a bunch of sketches,” the Scream star told the outlet at the time. “I told them my idea over time and tweaking things here and there, it came to fruition.”

The $500,000 engagement ring features a 6-carat, emerald-cut diamond and a split-shank setting.  

Hayden Panettiere, newly engaged to Wladimir Klitschko, arrives at the 2013 Environmental Media Awards at Warner Bros. Studios on October 19, 2013, in Burbank, California.

Photo by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Rumors of Panettiere and Klitschko’s engagement first started in August 2013 when she was spotted with a huge sparkler on her ring finger.

The actress officially announced her engagement in October 2013 during an appearance on Live With Kelly & Michael, per ABC News.

In April 2013, Panettiere opened up about her rekindled romance with Klitschko.

“It’s like the 2.0 version,” the actress told  Glamour magazine. “I’ve always had great relationships and stayed really good friends with the guys I’ve dated. It blows my mind sometimes that us getting together has gotten so much attention. It’s like, Really? This is breaking news?”

October is a particularly dangerous month to walk into Costco hungry. There’s Halloween candy to consider, dinner to figure out, and the entirely reasonable possibility that your freezer could accommodate one more thing if you rearranged it properly (or just bought a second freezer, let’s be honest). Add a returning food court favorite, and suddenly the shopping list you brought feels more like a…loose suggestion, shall we say?

This month’s lineup offers plenty of reasons to stray from your usual shopping route. There are shortcuts for busy mornings, easy answers to the nightly dinner question, and a few things that might persuade you to put the coffee on and take an actual afternoon break. Fall hosting is covered, too, whether you’re feeding a crowd or volunteering to bring dessert because you not only know exactly where the bakery department is but how precious your time is, too. And yes, Halloween gets a little shelf space, of course. If you’re someone who buys treats early and then has to buy them again before October 31, you’ll have plenty of great options. That first bag was simply quality control, anyway.

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Some of the most intriguing finds put an unexpected spin on familiar favorites, while others lean into the cozy comforts we look forward to every fall. And there’s news beyond the aisles this month: a familiar favorite is making a comeback after checkout.

As always, prices and availability vary by warehouse, and some of these finds are regional or available for a limited time. Here are 11 Costco finds to keep an eye out for this October.

Related: Costco Just Expanded Its Uber Eats Perks for Members

1. Sunshine Buns

Sunshine Buns

Homemade cinnamon rolls are a lovely idea until you remember the kneading, rising, and dishes involved. Sunshine Buns offer a considerably shorter route: these frozen cinnamon rolls heat in the microwave in just 45 seconds (yup, you heard that right!). Based on a 45-year-old family recipe, they’re made without preservatives or additives and contain 8 grams of protein per bun. Keep them in the freezer for weekend breakfasts, an afternoon coffee break or mornings when oatmeal simply isn’t going to do it. They’re available at Costco nationwide. Find them for $14.99 for a 10-serving package.

2. TAZO Classic Chai and Pumpkin Spice Latte Concentrates

Courtesy of TAZO

Your fall latte habit is getting a Costco-sized assist. TAZO’s Classic Chai Concentrate combines black tea with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and vanilla, ready to mix with milk and serve hot or iced. Previously available year-round in the Midwest, it’s expanding across seven Costco regions beginning in mid-October through December. For shoppers leaning fully into pumpkin season, TAZO’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Concentrate is already on shelves in the Midwest and Texas. Find the Classic Chai for $15.99 for a 32-ounce carton and the Pumpkin Spice Latte Concentrate for $15.99 on shelves now.

Related: The 11 Best Greek Groceries To Buy at Costco (And 3 To Skip)

3. Synear Albóndigas Soup Dumplings

Courtesy of Synear

Soup dumplings meet another comfort-food favorite in Synear’s new Albóndigas Soup Dumplings. Inspired by traditional Mexican albóndigas soup, they combine a savory beef-and-pork meatball filling with tomato-based broth inside a delicate Chinese-style soup dumpling wrapper. It’s a different direction for your freezer stash, especially if dumplings already make regular appearances at dinner. The product launched September 22 at select Costco warehouses in the Los Angeles region, making this a regional find to watch for on your next shopping trip.

4. Famous Dave’s Original Recipe Cornbread Mix View this post on Instagram

The first pot of fall chili practically demands cornbread, and Famous Dave’s makes it easy to have the mix waiting in the pantry. Costco’s four-pack contains four 15-ounce boxes of the restaurant-inspired Original Recipe Corn Bread Mix, which makes sweet, moist cornbread you can serve alongside soups, barbecue or a Sunday dinner. Each box yields approximately 12 regular muffins or six jumbo muffins, so you can bake what you need and save the remaining boxes for another meal. Look for it at select warehouses for $7.99 for four 15-ounce boxes.

5. Bagelista Everything Seasoned Stuffed Bagel Minis

Courtesy of Bagelista

Bagels and cream cheese are already an excellent pairing. But putting the cream cheese inside the bagel makes that pairing especially convenient. Bagelista’s frozen Stuffed Bagel Minis are made with slow-fermented New York-style dough, filled with real cream cheese and coated in everything seasoning. You can heat them in the microwave, toaster oven or air fryer, with the latter two options recommended by the brand for a crispier crust. Each resealable bag contains 20 pieces for breakfasts or snacks. They’re available at select Costco warehouses in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Find them for $12.89 for a 30-ounce bag.

6. Ghirardelli Jack O’Lanterns Chocolate Assortment

Courtesy of Ghirardelli

The Halloween candy bowl deserves a little variety, and Ghirardelli’s seasonal Jack O’Lanterns deliver it in pumpkin-shaped form. The individually wrapped chocolates come in Milk Chocolate Caramel Apple, Milk Chocolate Caramel and Milk Chocolate, giving you three options for party favors, trick-or-treat bags or a small stash reserved for the person who bought the candy. The caramel apple variety adds an especially appropriate fall touch without requiring anyone to wrestle an actual caramel apple off a stick. The assortment is available at Costco nationwide for the season. Find it for $15.49 for a 15.2-ounce bag.

7. Wild West Almond & Sea Salt Bear Claws

Courtesy of Wild West Chocolate

Try to keep your paws off this one (sorry, I had to). Wild West’s claw-shaped nut clusters combine 70% cacao organic dark chocolate with roasted almonds and sea salt for a crunchy, sweet-and-salty treat. The chocolate is sweetened with fruit, and the clusters are organic, vegan and gluten-free. Costco’s bag contains approximately 24 individually wrapped pieces, making them easy to tuck into a lunchbox, set out for guests or keep near the coffee supplies for a little afternoon something. Look for them at select warehouses for $12.99 for a 10.8-ounce bag.

Related: Costco’s New $8 Pantry Staple Brings Southern Comfort to Wholesome Family Dinners

8. Bibigo Korean BBQ-Style Pizza

If your freezer pizza rotation could use a little change-up, Bibigo has an option that goes well beyond your basic pepperoni. Its Korean BBQ-Style Pizza layers beef, carrots, caramelized onions, green onions, mozzarella and cheddar over Korean BBQ-style sauce on a classic crust. The sweet-and-savory combination brings a different flavor to pizza night while keeping the familiar convenience of a frozen pie. Each box contains two individually wrapped pizzas, so there’s one for dinner and another waiting for the next evening when cooking plans fail to materialize. Look for it at select warehouses. Find it for $11.99 for a two-pack.

9. Twisted Churro View this post on Instagram

Some Costco finds don’t need space in the cart or on the shelf. The cinnamon-sugar-coated Twisted Churro is returning to U.S. food courts for a limited time, giving fans another reason to make a stop after checkout. Costco announced the comeback last month, with individual warehouses rolling it out over the following weeks. That means timing may vary at your local store, and there’s no announced end date for its return. Whether you eat yours on the way to the car or alongside a cup of soft serve, it’s a sweet little reunion. Find it for $1.49 each at participating U.S. food courts.

10. Kirkland Signature Pumpkin Bar Cake View this post on Instagram

Pumpkin pie gets plenty of attention this time of year, but Costco’s Pumpkin Bar Cake deserves a spot on the dessert table, too. The rectangular cake combines pumpkin sponge cake, pumpkin mousse and whipped cream, giving pumpkin fans another way to get their seasonal fix. At 2.5 pounds, it’s a substantial dessert to bring to a fall gathering, with no mixing bowls or oven time required. Slice it up after Sunday dinner or serve it alongside coffee when company comes over. Look for it at select warehouses for $16.99 for a 40-ounce cake.

11. Tyson Spooky Nuggets

Courtesy of Tyson

Halloween dinner deserves a little attention before the candy takes over. Tyson’s Spooky Nuggets are back at Costco for a limited time, bringing pumpkins, bats and ghosts to the freezer aisle. Made with 100% white meat chicken, the nuggets offer a savory way to get into the season, whether you’re feeding little trick-or-treaters or simply appreciate a dinner shaped like a bat. They’re rolling out at select warehouses, with availability concentrated in California, so keep an eye on your local freezer section. Find them for $13.99 for a 5-pound bag.

Related: This Costco Food Court Item Is Returning and Shoppers Have Thoughts

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If you’ve been keeping your prized books, photo albums, and CD covers stored away because you don’t have a place to display them, you may want to add a shelving unit to your home. A piece worthy of holding your most beloved possessions should be sturdy and beautiful, much like this Casacomoda Six-Tier Tree Bookcase at Walmart. 

Luckily for shoppers, it currently starts at just $29 for the vintage brown colorway, while white and black options are on sale for $35 and $33, respectively. Those are fantastic prices for a bookcase that’s both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

Casacomoda Six-Tier Tree Bookcase, From $29 (was $48) at Walmart Shop at Walmart

Fitted with six slanted shelves, each measuring 5 inches deep and 5.4 inches wide, this unique bookcase offers plenty of room to display everything from books to music albums. For additional storage and to ensure sturdiness, the base features a rectangular open cubby. The shelves zig-zag into each other, giving this tree bookcase a geometric design. Shoppers love the look of this unit and described it as beautiful and stylish.

“An eye-catching, useful piece!” one shopper raved “This unique shelf has received numerous compliments.”

Courtesy of Walmart

The bookcase is made from wood and is held secure by a metal frame, earning praise from customers for its high-quality materials and sturdy design. While extremely functional for decluttering and organizing homes, its unique and modern design allows it to double as a standout decor piece. 

“I couldn’t be happier with the quality,” a second reviewer said. “The compact design fits the space perfectly, and it looks fantastic — it’s stylish and most of all functional.”

Related: Walmart Sells a $99 Folding Floor Sofa That’s ‘Very Firm’ and Perfect for Small Spaces

Measuring 43.3 inches tall and 15.7 inches wide, this bookcase takes advantage of vertical space. It’s ideal for those who live in smaller homes and don’t have extra floor space to sacrifice. Thanks to its slim design, it can easily be tucked into a corner or slotted into an empty area in your home. As a bonus, shoppers noted that assembling this piece was easy. One even said it only took them 30 minutes to put together! 

Whether you’re looking to declutter your home or need a space to display your belongings, this Casacomoda Six-Tier Tree Bookcase will be a lovely addition to your space. Don’t hesitate to head over to Walmart and get it for as low as $29 before this deal ends! 

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.

Having the right (and stylish!) backpack can make traveling so much easier, whether you need plenty of room for a weekend trip, smart pockets to keep everything organized or a comfortable design that won’t weigh you down. The best travel backpacks also have thoughtful features like laptop compartments, luggage sleeves and easy-access pockets that help keep essentials within reach while you’re on the go.

As someone who covers shopping and travel essentials for outlets like Editorialist, Coveteur, Martha Stewart Weddings and Harper’s Bazaar, I’ve tested and tried countless travel products over the years and learned which features actually make a difference. These travel backpacks for women over 50 are spacious, comfortable and stylish, with practical details that make everything from navigating the airport to exploring a new city a little easier.

Related: 8 Wrinkle-Free Packing Essentials Every Over-50 Traveler Needs

CALPAK Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack in Dark Cherry

CALPAK

This backpack comes in a variety of gorgeous colors, especially perfect for fall travel. It’s incredibly sturdy, fits a surprising amount and opens wide like a suitcase, so packing and finding everything you need is easy.

Get it on Calpak.com Stubble & Co. The Roll Top 30L Backpack

Stubble & Co.

This is a smart choice for weekend trips because it’s spacious without feeling bulky. The waterproof material keeps belongings protected, while the roll-top design gives flexible packing space. Plus, supportive straps, a padded laptop compartment and luggage sleeve make navigating travel days feel effortless.

Get it on StubbleandCo.com July Everyday Backpack

July

The wide bucket-style opening is what makes this backpack stand out—it lifts up like a lid so you can easily see and reach everything inside. It’s roomy without feeling oversized, has plenty of pockets for staying organized and a coated interior that makes spills and messes easy to wipe clean.

Get it on July.com

Related: 8 Minimalist Carry-On Finds For Travelers Over 50

Leatherology Sloan Backpack

Leatherology

The monogram option gives this leather backpack a personal touch and makes it feel extra special for travel. The two open side pockets are another thoughtful detail, keeping your phone or water bottle within easy reach without having to dig through the main compartment.

Get it on Leatherology.com Quince Voyage Nylon Commuter Backpack

Quince

If you need a backpack that holds a lot, this one is very spacious with plenty of room for everything you need on a long travel day. Multiple pockets keep smaller essentials organized, while dedicated laptop and tablet compartments mean your tech has its own place without taking over the rest of the bag.

Get it on Quince.com Osprey Proxima 30L Campus Laptop Backpack

Osprey

This backpack has so many smart details that make traveling easier, especially when you want to stay organized. There’s a separate spot for your laptop and tablet, a scratch-free pocket for sunglasses and valuables, and even compression straps on the outside for carrying a jacket or travel blanket.

Get it on Amazon TOPO Designs Rover Pack Classic

TOPO Designs

This backpack has a sporty, outdoorsy look that works just as well for sightseeing as it does for a weekend adventure. The cinch-top design gives you plenty of room to pack, while expandable side pockets keep water bottles and other essentials within easy reach.

Get it on TopoDesigns.com

Related: 8 Lightweight Travel Essentials That Save Your Back and Shoulders

Baggallini Classic Anti-Theft Windsor Backpack Bag

Baggallini

This backpack takes some of the stress out of traveling with anti-theft details like locking zippers, cut-resistant straps and an RFID-protected passport pocket. The wide frame-top opening also makes packing easy, and the expandable side pockets have enough room for a larger water bottle and a portable umbrella.

Get it on Macys.com

Related: 8 Wrinkle-Free Packing Essentials Every Over-50 Traveler Needs

If you’re a peanut butter lover, you already know few things are better than having it freshly made. Between the creamy texture and that fresh peanut aroma, it’s hard to resist eating it straight from the spoon.

But if you’ve ever wondered just how clean those make-your-own nut butter machines at stores like Whole Foods really are, one recent test revealed a pretty surprising result.

A TikToker who tests everyday surfaces for bacteria swabbed one for himself, and plenty of viewers braced for the worst. Check out what he found in this Sept. 27 TikTok shared by @howdirtyis:

@howdirtyis

How dirty is the *ahem* make your own nut butter station at Whole Foods? #science #scienceexperiments #scienceathome #facts #wholefoods

♬ Refreshing and light indie pop(1552207) – Cheng Lee Whole Foods’ Nut Butter Machine Gets Put to the Test

For the experiment, @howdirtyis used a sterile swab to collect a sample directly from the dispenser of a Whole Foods make-your-own nut butter machine. He tested the honey roasted peanut butter grinder, labeled at $5.49 a pound in the video.

Related: Whole Foods’ New ‘Build Your Own’ Family Meal Is a Weeknight Win

He then placed 1 microliter of the sample solution on a nutrient plate, which provides bacteria with food and a surface to grow on. After the plate incubated for 24 hours at 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), it was time for the moment of truth.

No visible bacterial growth appeared on the plate.

“Not a speck of nasty to be seen,” @howdirtyis reported while showing the surprisingly clean result.

Of course, one swab of one machine can’t tell us how clean every self-serve nut butter machine is, and this wasn’t the same thing as comprehensive laboratory testing for every possible microorganism. But for anyone who has ever hesitated before putting a container underneath one of these dispensers, this particular result was certainly reassuring.

Whole Foods Shoppers Were Prepared for Much Worse

Judging by the comments, many viewers expected this experiment to ruin a favorite.

“Whew! I was prepared to be really sad,” Kristi Martin admitted.

ScottyC seemed equally conflicted before seeing the result, writing, “I REALLY do not want to know….. but I need to know………”

rusak / Getty Images

Another viewer joked that they thought the test was “about to end one of my safe foods.”

The top comment, with more than 5,400 likes, took a different angle, joking, “Me after spending the last 2 hours cleaning out,” alongside a photo of the machine.

And randysalinas402, who said their store ground and prepackaged its own nut butter, wrote that staff cleaned the machine “with soap and hot water every time.”

A machine used by shoppers throughout the day might seem like an obvious place for germs to collect, but in this case, the petri dish told a much cleaner story.

So if freshly ground peanut butter is the reason you look forward to a Whole Foods run, this is one test you may actually be glad you watched.

Every woman likely craves full, voluminous hair, but sometimes, our manes fall flat and don’t match our expectations. Thinning hair is something many people experience at some point, and it becomes increasingly more common as you progress through life.

Your thinning hair might not be fully in your control, but if you’re trying to avoid calling attention to any sparse strands, there are a few things you can control, like your hairstyle. For instance, two common haircut mistakes secretly make thin hair look even thinner, according to celebrity hairstylist Alex Pardoe, who has worked with Kristin Cavallari, Ashley Tisdale and Priyanka Chopra.

Throughout his career, Pardoe has learned a lot about what makes thin strands look thinner, and he knows all about the haircuts to avoid with sparse hair.

While chatting with Pardoe, we learned what to tell your stylist if you have thin hair so that you get the most flattering cut possible.

When you get home from the salon, you’ll also need some tips for making your locks look fuller between cuts, and the stylist was happy to share a few of his go-to tricks. Plus, you’ll find some tips below for which products to avoid if you don’t want to weigh down your strands.

Related: The One Thing You Should Never, Ever Do if You’re a Woman Who Wants To Avoid Thinning Hair as You Age

The 2 Haircut Mistakes That Can Make Thin Hair Look Thinner

The right haircut can work wonders for your hair’s texture and level of thickness. But certain styling mistakes can make thin strands look worse. With this in mind, Pardoe has pinpointed two major mistakes that stylists make while cutting thinning hair.

1. Over-layering

Layers can help ensure that your haircut frames your face perfectly. But it’s best to proceed with caution if you have thinning hair.

“Over-layering or removing too much weight can make thin hair look even more sparse,
especially through the ends,” Pardoe says.

The stylist often sees haircuts that feature too much layering or thinning with texturizing shears.

“This removes the density that fine hair really needs,” he says.

2. Over-texturizing

Adding a bit of texture to your haircut is always fun, but it’s easy to go overboard with thinning strands.

“Excessive texturizing, razor cutting or very long styles can leave fine hair looking stringy rather than full and dense,” Pardoe says.

The stylist often sees clients whose ends have been over-texturized.

“This can leave the perimeter looking wispy and make the overall hair appear thinner,” he says.

Related: 7 Best Youthful Hairstyles for Women Over 70, According to a Celebrity Stylist

What To Ask for Instead

Getty

Overly layered or texturized styles may not work well with thinning hair, but stylists have a few other tricks to help you get your best haircut yet.

“Ask for a cut that maintains weight and creates a strong, blunt perimeter. Bobs, lobs and
one-length cuts are especially great for giving the illusion of thicker hair,” Pardoe says. “If you want layers, keep them minimal and strategic so you’re adding movement without sacrificing density on the ends.”

Related: 7 Best Short Hairstyles for Women Over 40 With Glasses, According to a Celebrity Stylist

The Product Mistake That Weighs Down Fine Hair

When you’re dealing with fine, thin hair, your choice of styling product becomes even more important.

“Using moisturizing conditioners, masks or heavy leave-ins can leave fine hair feeling heavy and limp, and it can cause fine hair to look even thinner,” Pardoe says.

This is because heavy oils, rich creams and excessive conditioner near the roots can weigh down fine hair and make it look flat or greasy.

Luckily, Pardoe has a simple trick for avoiding this pesky hair faux pas.

“I recommend sticking with lightweight formulas and applying conditioning or smoothing products primarily from the mid-lengths to the ends,” he says.

Related: 2 Hair-Washing Mistakes That Can Make Thinning Hair Look Worse

How To Make Thin Hair Look Fuller Between Cuts

You can’t have a stylist on demand every day, but you can work your own magic at home and create the illusion of fuller hair between salon sessions.

“Focus on creating lift at the root with a lightweight volumizing mousse or spray, and blow-dry your hair in the opposite direction from its natural fall to build volume,” Pardoe says.

Dry shampoo and texturizing sprays can also add grip and body between washes.

“This helps prevent fine hair from falling flat. Sometimes, I use a dry shampoo on the roots even on day one to help prevent the roots from getting oily too fast,” Pardoe says.

Up Next:

Related: Celebrity Hairstylist Warns This Is the 1 Ingredient You Should Never Put on Thinning Hair Because It Makes Your Strands ‘Look Oily and Lifeless’

Source:

• Alex Pardoe is a celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Kristin Cavallari, Ashley Tisdale and Priyanka Chopra.

When Amanda Knox studied abroad in Perugia, Italy, for a year, she didn’t know her experience would involve a highly publicized trial of the murder of her roommate, British exchange student Meredith Kercher.

Knox attended the University of Washington to study linguistics. When she was just 15 years old, her family took a trip to Italy, where they visited various cities and fell in love with the country. While in college, Knox worked various part-time jobs to fund an academic year in Italy, despite her stepdad saying she was too naive to go. The 20-year-old Knox decided to stay in Perugia because it’s less touristy compared to Florence.

While in Perugia, Knox and three other women lived in the flat at Via della Pergola 7. Her flatmates were Kercher and two Italian trainee lawyers in their late twenties. On a night out in October, Knox and Kercher met Raffaele Sollecito, a 23-year-old software engineering student, and they started dating.

Amanda Knox in her holding cell in 2009.

ALBERTO PIZZOLI / Getty Images

On November 1, 2007, Kercher returned home after watching a movie at a friend’s house. That night, Knox spent the night with Sollecito, but returned to the flat the next morning. She found the front door open and there were drops of blood in the bathroom that she shared with Kercher. Knox noticed that Kercher’s door was locked, but she assumed it was because she was sleeping, and went back to Sollecito’s spot.

Knox called Kercher’s phone multiple times, but she didn’t respond. Italian police were eventually called and they entered the flat. When they discovered that Kercher’s phone had been dumped, another roommate, Filomena Romanelli, demanded that her door be opened. The door was kicked down by Romanelli’s friend, and they all found Kercher’s body on the floor, who had been stabbed and died of blood loss from neck wounds.

Detectives told colleagues that the murderer was definitely not a burglar and that apparent signs of a break-in were staged as a deliberate deception. Since Knox was the only occupant of the house (both roommates were on holiday) at the time, she became a suspect. Knox told police that she spent most of the night of November 1 with Sollecito, but Sollecito told police he couldn’t remember if Knox was with him that evening or not.

Police arrested Knox, Sollecito and Patrick Lumumba, the owner of the bar Knox worked at part-time, who was charged a few days later with breaking into the flat, then sexually assaulting and killing Kercher. The bloodstains found on the walls belonged to Rudy Guede, another friend of the girls who lived near Via della Pergola 7, and he ran away to Germany the night Kercher’s body was found. He was brought back to Italy and arrested. After they found Lumumba was not affiliated with the crime, he was released.

22-year-old Amanda Knox crying during her trial on December 2009.

TIZIANA FABI / Getty Images

Knox and Sollecito’s trials were held in prison, more than a year after Kercher’s murder. They both pleaded not guilty. A prosecutor suggested that Knox, Sollecito and Rudy Guede taunted Kercher, and then Knox stabbed her neck. Afterward, they stole Kercher’s phones and money to fake a burglary. On December 4, 2009, Knox and Sollecito were convicted of murder and sentenced to 26 and 25 years in prison, respectively.

A second trial took place in November 2010. The court ordered a review of the DNA evidence after independent experts noted many basic errors when it came to gathering evidence from the case. They also concluded that Kercher’s DNA was not found on the alleged murder weapon. On October 3, 2011, Knox and Sollecito were acquitted after already spending four years in prison. Though she and Sollecito were once again convicted for Kercher’s murder in 2014, Italy’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, ruled that Knox and Sollecito were innocent and thereby definitively ended the case in March 2015.

Amanda Knox in 2011.

Oli Scarff / Getty Images

After Knox was released in 2011, she returned home to Seattle. She eventually completed her degree and worked on a book about her case, titled Waiting to Be Heard: A Memoir, and all of the money made went towards legal fees. Throughout the 2010s, she went on to become a journalist and an activist for the wrongly accused. She has since released two books about the ordeal and executive produced the 2025 Hulu series, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox. On February 29, 2020, she got married to author Christopher Robinson and they now have two children together.

In 2023, Knox started her career in stand-up comedy, making her debut as an opener of The Roast of Whitney Cummings that streamed on OnlyFans. Last year, she performed at the Tacoma Comedy Club for the first time, and two months ago, the 39-year-old debuted her one-woman show called Cartwheel, which pokes fun at the alleged story that she did cartwheels in the police station after Kercher’s death, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

“If I bomb, God forbid, on a comedy set, what’s the worst you can do to me?” Knox said to the audience at the Golden Globes in October 2025 alongside host Nikki Glaser. “I bombed in a courtroom, and they sent me to prison, so I’m just saying I’d rather be heckled than shackled.”

Related: Christa Pike Was Sentenced to Death for a 1995 Murder Committed at 18; She’s the Only Woman on Tennessee’s Death Row, and Her Execution Will Now Proceed

In 1881, a Philadelphia engineer named James Lafferty had a stretch of empty beachfront south of Atlantic City and a problem: nobody wanted to buy lots in the middle of nowhere. His solution was a 65-foot wooden elephant.

More than 140 years later, Lucy the Elephant is still standing in Margate, New Jersey.

The idea was to lure curious visitors, and with them buyers. Lafferty believed the “unusual structure” would “attract visitors and property buyers” to his holdings, according to the official Lucy history. The building first went by “Elephant Bazaar,” and a later owner, Sophia Gertzen, gave her the name Lucy.

The construction cost was first reported at $25,000, and Lafferty later said it reached $38,000, per the official history. He patented the design on Dec. 5, 1882, for a building shaped like an elephant, with stairs in the legs and a lookout on top called a howdah, the National Archives reported. Lafferty built three elephants, and only Lucy survives.

Over the years Lucy has served as a tavern, a summer cottage, a tourist camp, a boardinghouse, a hotel and a bathhouse, among other things, according to Ripley’s. By the 1960s she was rotting, and a developer was negotiating to buy the land beneath her, according to the official history.

That is when the neighbors stepped in. The Margate Civic Association formed the Save Lucy Committee in 1969, led by Edwin T. Carpenter, per the official history. Volunteers raised money through fundraisers and door-to-door canvassing, Ripley’s reported, and the plan was to move Lucy two blocks to city-owned parkland.

But, the move almost didn’t happen. Three days before the July 20, 1970 deadline, a neighboring property owner got an injunction, and Atlantic County Judge Benjamin Rimm held an unusual Saturday hearing and dissolved it. A small yellow pickup truck then towed the 90-ton, six-story elephant for about seven hours while crowds and TV crews watched.

“This is the most unusual moving job we have ever been asked to perform,” said project director Albert Ranalli. “The only thing that could equal it would be to move the Sphinx from the Valley of the Nile.”

Lucy has been drawing visitors ever since. She is “older than the Statue of Liberty,” Save Lucy Committee executive director Rich Helfant told 6abc. She is now a National Historic Landmark and has survived two direct lightning strikes, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In 2023, Lucy booked a record 42,267 tours, topping the previous record set in 2018, according to WOBM. The Inquirer reports that more than 150,000 people visited her in 2024. Staffers even have a name for the window in her rear: the “pane in the butt.”

Lucy isn’t the only American attraction built to make people stop and look. She is one of the stops on a roundup of roadside attractions still worth pulling over for.

Rick Springfield has spent over four decades writing radio-ready anthems, but one of his signature tracks just secured an impressive new honor.

In a new ranking celebrating the standout releases of the 1980s, the hitmaker landed near the top of the pack, finishing ahead of major singles from several fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famers. It reaffirms the Grammy-winning track not just as a nostalgia favorite, but as a permanent fixture in the decade’s pop-culture best.

That honor belongs to “Jessie’s Girl,” the 1981 smash that turned the former General Hospital actor into a rock star overnight. Powered by a driving guitar and a storyline every listener could relate to, the track spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Landing at No. 35 on SiriusXM‘s official ranking of the 500 Best Songs of the 1980s, the hit finished well ahead of dozens of fellow rock icons. Its spot near the top of the countdown proves what fans have known for decades: the song hasn’t lost an ounce of its edge.

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Springfield’s track landed at No. 35 on SiriusXM’s breakdown of the 500 Best Songs of the 1980s. This placed it squarely in the top 7% of the entire decade.

“Jessie’s Girl” ranked ahead of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Janet Jackson (“Miss You Much”), Chicago (“Hard to Say I’m Sorry”), Whitney Houston (“I Wanna Dance With Somebody Who Loves Me”), and Van Halen (“Jump”). The rankings were compiled by SiriusXM, largely based on Billboard chart performance.

The song won the songwriter and performer Grammy Award in 1982 in the category of Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. That critical acclaim only added fuel to its incredible chart run, and laid the groundwork for a legacy that continues to this day.

Although “Jessie’s Girl” is relatable to everyone who has ever experienced heartbreak, the song has a surprising origin story. Louder spoke to Springfield about the song, and he shared, “At school I was always girl-obsessed but unbelievably shy. I didn’t get a whole lot of satisfaction, so to speak. So ‘Jessie’s Girl’ was based on something that happened to me later on.”

“The riff came first,” Springfield concluded. “And although it’s a pretty simple-sounding song it wasn’t easy to write. It took about two months, working on the guitar and piano. It’s a bubbly and vivacious song, but it’s dark. It’s also covetous, which a lot of my music is.”

Rick Springfield continues to tour, with dates scheduled through December 2026.

Related: 45 Years Ago, Rick Springfield’s ‘General Hospital’ Role Turned Him Into a Soap Opera Icon

It’s been 65 years since The Dick Van Dyke Show premiered.

Starring Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam and Larry Matthews, the CBS sitcom made its debut on Oct. 3, 1961, and ran for five seasons as it followed the life of TV comedy writer Rob Petrie (Van Dyke), at work and at home. The groundbreaking, Emmy-winning series was one of the most beloved sitcoms of the early 1960s.

Moore was just 23 years old when she auditioned for the part of Van Dyke’s wife, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Laura Petrie. But Van Dyke, who was in his mid-30s at the time, was concerned about their age gap. He also wasn’t sure if Moore could do comedy years before she scored her own self-titled sitcom.

In an interview with CBS News, Van Dyke, now 100, recalled that Moore almost didn’t go to her audition for The Dick Van Dyke Show.

“She had kind of a mid-Atlantic accent — kind of a Katharine Hepburn. And I thought, ‘Gosh, she’s beautiful, but do you think she can do comedy?’” Van Dyke said.

The young actress proved her co-star wrong, quickly proving she was perfect for the part.

“It was amazing how quickly she picked it up… had such good timing,” Van Dyke recalled of Moore, who died in 2017. “In no time, she had us laughing. … The chemistry that happened between us was just serendipity. We became an improv group. We could almost reach each other’s mind.”

CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images

RELATED: Iconic Mary Tyler Moore Show Episode Turns 50, and It’s Still One of TV’s Funniest Moments

Dick Van Dyke Show creator Carl Reiner had auditioned dozens of other actresses for the role when his pal Danny Thomas suggested Moore.

“When I had to cast Mary, the part of Laura, I was at my wits’ end,” Reiner told ABC News. “I had auditioned literally 23 or 27 girls, and I told Sheldon Leonard, our executive producer, ‘I don’t know what I’m looking for.’ I said, ‘None of these girls seem to work.'”

Reiner was mesmerized when he met Moore.

“She walked into the room, I looked at those eyes, the smile and those legs and I said, ‘I found her,'” the showrunner recalled. “I wanted to see if she could talk, so I gave her a script…she read one line, the first line, and I heard this intelligent ping…and I said, ‘That’s it.'”

“Dick was a little nervous about the fact she was 23, and he was 30-something,” Reiner added. “There was a 12-year difference or something, and he was very worried about that, and I said, ‘Nobody’s going to notice.’ And nobody ever mentioned the fact that they were not a couple. They were a couple from the moment they kissed in the main title.”

RELATED: ’Mary Tyler Moore Show’ Episode Featured Rare Cameo by Johnny Carson

Laura Petrie had originally been written as a small role, but that all changed when Moore was cast.

“As I saw it originally, it was only a minor role. I thought she would just be there to greet Van Dyke when he came home at night and to serve him his dinner,” Reiner once told The Courier, per MeTV. “Mary has fantastic dedication to her work, and we soon discovered we had accidentally stumbled onto a kid who could do great comedy if for no other reason than her relentless will to excel.”

What ensued was one of the greatest comedy partnerships of television’s golden era, and one that stands the test of time 65 years later.

“It was just fascinating to watch Mary Tyler Moore grab it, just grasp it so quickly from the first day,” Van Dyke once told The Television Academy Foundation. “Right from the beginning she saw what was happening and played off it … by the time the week was up, and we were in front of the audience, we knew we just had something going there.”

Related: Dick Van Dyke Recalls the Behind-the-Scenes Moment That Left Mary Tyler Moore So Annoyed

‘Tis the season.

Almost.

Spirit Halloween may currently have a death grip on strip malls across the U.S., but once trick-or-treaters move on to plates full of turkey and Grandma’s questionable “dressing,” holiday cheer is in full force.

The same seasonal brand relaunched Spirit Christmas in October 2024, much to holiday shoppers’ delight after the concept had been dormant for years.

Rather than funny Halloween costumes and spooky accessories, Spirit Christmas offers an array of larger-than-life lawn inflatables, Christmas animatronics, ornaments, nutcrackers, festive apparel, stocking stuffers, white elephant gifts and other holiday décor.

Well, there’s good news: Spirit Christmas is coming back for another year!

There will be dozens of storefronts to peruse across the country.

While details are slim at the moment, its official website states, “Coming soon!”

According to The Freebie Guy, a popular social media account that serves as a treasure chest of deals, it was announced the company will be expanding to 43 locations this year.

Even though trick-or-treaters have yet to ring our doorbells, many commenters are already hearing sleigh bells—especially those feeling like they’re missing out:

“Need one in the NYC area like Staten Island or Brooklyn!!!!”

“We need these stores in ARIZONA!!!”

“No stores in Texas is crazy work!”

Here is the full list of new locations:

• Connecticut: Manchester, Milford
• Florida: Clearwater, Coral Springs, Jacksonville, Winter Garden
• Illinois: Aurora, Bloomingdale, Joliet, Springfield
• Indiana: Clarksville, Fort Wayne, Hobart
• Maryland: Waldorf
• Massachusetts: Dartmouth, Natick, North Attleborough
• Michigan: Flint, Grand Rapids, Macomb, Taylor
• New Jersey: Hamilton, Marlton, Riverdale, Rockaway
• New York: Albany, Buffalo, Newburgh, Scarsdale
• North Carolina: Mebane
• Ohio: Dayton, Mentor, North Olmsted, Youngstown
• Pennsylvania: Bethel Park, Erie, Mechanicsburg, Springfield
• South Carolina: Charleston
• Tennessee: Knoxville, Nashville
• Virginia: Colonial Heights, Manassas