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Today’s NYT Mini Crossword puzzle deals with various topics including taxes, Rocky Mountain animals, common text phrases, and the geography of India.

Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword, too!

Although the NYT is known for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.

So, if you’re working on today’s Mini Crossword on Saturday, September 5, and need some help (I’ve been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by “Across Answers” and “Down Answers,” so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!

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Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Saturday, September 5, 2026

Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: Its state quarter features a grizzly bear catching a salmon — HINT: Starts with the letter “A”

7 Across: Run-of-the-mill — HINT: Ends with the letter “N”

8 Across: Needing a friend — HINT: Starts with the letter “L”

9 Across: Grazing animal in the Rockies — HINT: Starts with the letter “E”

10 Across: Freestanding counter at the center of a kitchen — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”

13 Across: Eating plan participant — HINT: Starts with the letter “D”

14 Across: Class with colored belts — HINT: Ends with the letter “K”

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: Knee injury site, for short — HINT: Ends with the letter “L”

2 Down: Brit’s bathroom — HINT: Starts with the letter “L”

3 Down: Memory loss issue — HINT: Ends with the letter “A”

4 Down: Nose, by function — HINT: Ends with the letter “R”

5 Down: Major Indian city that’s the capital of West Bengal — HINT: Starts with the letter “K”

6 Down: “___ given Sunday!” (football fan’s maxim) — HINT: Ends with the letter “Y”

10 Down: Texting equivalent of a shrug — HINT: Starts with the letter “I”

11 Down: After taxes — HINT: Ends with the letter “T”

12 Down: “Dr.” who co-founded Death Row Records — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Saturday, September 5, 2026

Don’t go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Answers

1 Across: Its state quarter features a grizzly bear catching a salmon — ALASKA

7 Across: Run-of-the-mill — COMMON

8 Across: Needing a friend — LONELY

9 Across: Grazing animal in the Rockies — ELK

10 Across: Freestanding counter at the center of a kitchen — ISLAND

13 Across: Eating plan participant — DIETER

14 Across: Class with colored belts — KARATE

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: Knee injury site, for short — ACL

2 Down: Brit’s bathroom — LOO

3 Down: Memory loss issue — AMNESIA

4 Down: Nose, by function — SMELLER

5 Down: Major Indian city that’s the capital of West Bengal — KOLKATA

6 Down: “___ given Sunday!” (football fan’s maxim) — ANY

10 Down: Texting equivalent of a shrug — IDK

11 Down: After taxes — NET

12 Down: “Dr.” who co-founded Death Row Records — DRE

Related: I Recreated the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars Every ’90s Kid Loved

Jodie Foster solidified her status in the industry as one of the most respected actresses after delivering a career-defining performance in the 1988 drama The Accused.

At that time, the California native had already earned impressive accolades from her years as a child star through her teenage years, but the courtroom drama transitioned her career into more mature and adult roles.

Directed by Jonathan Kaplan, The Accused centers on a survivor’s fight for justice.

Foster, who played the role of Sarah Tobias, portrayed a working-class woman who suffered a brutal assault after being gang-raped by three men in the back room of a neighborhood bar.

As the attack unfolds, she hears patrons cheering and watching from the sidelines, as though her suffering were nothing more than a disturbing spectacle.

Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of her ordeal, as she finds herself battling the legal system.

With her powerful performance, Foster earned her first Best Actress Oscar at the 61st Academy Awards in 1989, beating iconic stars like Glenn Close for Dangerous Liaisons, Melanie Griffith for Working Girl, Meryl Streep for A Cry in the Dark and Sigourney Weaver for Gorillas in the Mist.

Jodie Foster holding her ‘Best Actress’ Oscar for the film ‘The Accused’, at the 61st Annual Academy Awards

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

During her acceptance speech, she described her win as a “big deal” to her “simple life.”

“There are very few things: there’s love and work and family. And this movie is so special to us because it was all three of those things,” she added, as cited by the Oscars.

She also left a powerful message, saying, “And mostly that cruelty might be very human, and it might be very cultural, but it’s not acceptable. Which is what this movie’s about.”

Decades later, The Accused remains one of Foster’s most acclaimed films, ranking second on Gold Derby’s list of her best movies of all time, behind her iconic film The Silence of the Lambs.

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Her performance not only captivated audiences at the time but also continues to resonate with viewers today, with The Accused earning a 93 percent on the Tomatometer, or a positive score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Commenters have highlighted how relevant the story remains today while praising the lead star for delivering not only an Oscar-winning performance but also a powerful portrayal of such a horrifying incident.

“This performance didn’t just win an Oscar. It won the hearts of every woman who has ever had to endure the horror of assault and the continued injustice of having to fight against prejudice and a legal system steeped in patriarchy to be heard,” one wrote.

“Possibly the best performance Foster has ever given,” another added.

“Powerful rape drama,” a commenter remarked about the film.

Related: 1991 Hit Film Ranked Among ‘Best Movies of All Time’

Music fuels the frights at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. This year’s fall event raises the bar by soundtracking its nightmares with more than blood-curdling screams and monsters revving up chainsaws.

Ozzy Osbourne is homaged in a haunted house that offers an immersive journey into the music of the Prince of Darkness and pays fitting tribute to the late, great metal legend. Then a ghost not too unlike Jimi Hendrix rises from beyond in the Sinners Club Juke that’s straight out of Ryan Coogler’s Academy Award-winning vampire film, recreating one of the film’s most iconic scenes. Then Horror Nights frequent collaborator, Guns N ‘Roses guitarist Slash adds another original, mesmerizing, and macabre music score for the annual Halloween theme park event. And that’s just the music-inspired set of scares, which gets major co-headlining support from 80’s to modern Horror Nights favorites.

Related: Ozzy Osbourne and ’80s Horror Get the Metal Merch Treatment at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights

So if you’re planning on making spooky season plans and love classic rock, 80’s horror, holiday mayhem and, of course, transcendent rhythm and blues (which vampires just can’t resist), then you can’t miss this year’s Halloween Horror Nights.

Here are some of our favorite moments from the West Coast Universal Studios event that succeeds in monster-mashing genres to bring park-goers into yet another year of fantastic frights from the world of music and the movies.

All hail Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness

Courtesy of: Universal Studios Hollywood

The legend of Ozzy Osbourne lives as you board the “Crazy Train” through a killer setlist of his beloved metal hits, including the aforementioned plus tracks like “Iron Man.”

“Each needle drop comes to life, making you come face to face with the Prince of Darkness’ musical alter egos, such as the Mad Doctor from 1983’s “Bark at the Moon”. Our favorite moment is the larger-than-life encounter with a giant bat that wields Ozzy’s head in a genius tribute take on the rock star’s infamous moment when he unwittingly bit the head off a real bat back in his Diary of a Madman tour days.

Pro-tip: Check out Ozzy’s Bar to raise a toast to the memory of the late metal god with drinks inspired by his music and feast on curry-inspired snacks the Indian cuisine-obsessed rock star would have approved of.

Slash presents killer sweet party music for a “Killceñera”

Guns N’ Roses and frequent Horror Nights collaborator Slash is back to soundtrack a new kind of original house at Universal Studios. Having previously scored Universal Monsters experiences for Horror Nights past, he’s enlisted to make music for a “Killceñera,” think a Sweet Sixteen (but make it fifteen) coming-of-age Latin Tradition. The generational guitarist blends John Hughes charm and Stephen King dread into his riffs that set the tone for the original horror house’s revenge story that is definitely Sixteen Candles meets Carrie by way of Latin Folklore. The blood-soaked tale raises hell with Slash’s signature sound infused with late 80’s to 90’s Latin rock vibes.

Courtesy of: Universal Studios Hollywood

Courtesy of: Universal Studios Hollywood

Pro-Tip: Don’t miss the scare zone “El Circo de La Muerte” right at the exit of this house, which has a hidden mini-haunt.

Sinners takes it back to the dawn of rock with blues battling vampires

The veil of time gets ripped away when you enter the haunted house inspired by filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners.” Witnessing the movie’s most powerful moment in a masterful 360-degree set piece brings you into the world of the Academy Award-winning picture. Horror Nights stunningly pulled off the night’s most awesome moment. It was sheer magic to see a performer as Sammie shadowplay to “I Lied To You,” which raises the spirits of music’s past and future all around you. And yes, one moment, as the Hendrix-infused guitar riff by Sinners’ composer Ludwig Göransson fills the space, you’ll see a purple trench-coated spectre and find yourself asking, “Jimi, is that you?” From there, it’s truly incredible to race your way along with the blues soundtrack as you hit each beat of the vampire showdown spectacular in the event’s most cinematic house.

Related: Shocking Ozzy Osbourne Bat Moment is now a Wild Theme Park Drink

Pro-tip: Pray you catch the little performance by Stack inviting you to Speakeasy’s fateful opening night. Fingers crossed Michael B. Jordan shows up to play the role he originated there at some point during the season.

Cult punk clownery unleashed with the Killer Klowns from Outer Space

Courtesy of: Universal Studios Hollywood

The Dickies severly underrated theme song for Chiodo Bros‘ cult Killer Klowns from Outer Space kicks off the big top fun of one of the most popular Horror Nights houses. In fact, we think it’s done a lot to introduce this ’80s B-movie gem to new audiences, as its freaky aliens have become Halloween staples thanks to the movie’s blend of sci-fi humor and grossly colorful practical effects. There’s a reason this particular house’s return is always met with excitement plus this year they’re not the only clowns in town.

Pro-tip: Hit this right after Ozzy for maximum campy fun.

Art the Clown goes looney with festive Terrifier Terror-Tram takeover

Art the Clown continues his festive reign as Horror Nights Hollywood’s nearly official master of scaremonies. And with this year’s holiday mayhem, we’ve found ourselves asking: Jack, who? (IYKYK). Damien Leone’s Terrifier franchise has quickly solidified itself as one of this generation’s horror mainstays, especially at Universal Studios’ annual Halloween events. Fan-favorite killer clown Art has become an instant icon, thanks to the Charlie Chaplin-meets-Mel Blanc level of character performance by David Howard Thornton, who radiates old-school charm as the mime from hell. A signature in his performance that all the Arts at Universal channel and look like they have a blast with. If you haven’t seen the Terrifier films, which are not for the faint of heart and harken back to grindhouse-era gore with dark slapstick humor, you might be shocked at why there are even kids’ Art the Clown costumes. But what can we say? Art has given horror fans a beloved, sweet, silent killer, beloved by young and old. While this isn’t Art’s first year at the event we’re very excited to see his kickass final girl Sienna Shaw show up as the warrior angel destined to destroy his evil.

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Pro-Tip: Select Terror Tram guests might be able to get a visit with Santa Art in select mall-Santa-inspired locations, including a secret one with an additional side quest surprise.

ABBA gets thrown into the final Stranger Things 5 mix

The last Stranger Things house at Horror Nights is one last ride into Hawkins, Indiana, circa 1987. Filled with the final season’s greatest showdowns, including Will vs. the Demogorgon and Eleven vs. Vecna, it’s this mom’s badass moment that steals the show. Set to ABBA’s Fernando, we get to see Karen Wheeler’s wine bottle battle against a Demogorgon that became one of the franchise’s all-time greatest scenes. It’s pure 80s action-star energy.

Courtesy of: Universal Studios Hollywood

Pro-Tip: Hit the lower lot early as this is stacked next to Ozzy and Killer Klowns as an eighties trifecta.

Gen X Horror Hellraiser Franchise Unboxed

Clive Barker’s eerie and seductive Pinhead invites guests into an intense descent into the Hellraiser series’ Lament Configuration box. The alt-kink-inspired imagery, along with its lords of pain and pleasure, comes to grotesque life with an experience that’s an awesome assault on the senses. The film’s industrial synth score and illicit human sound effects perfectly soundtrack the faithful recreation of its willing victims’ consequences as you spectate.

Pro-Tip: Don’t miss this one; it’s on the upper lot past the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood continues September 4-6, 10-13, 17-20, 23-27; 30; October 1-4, 7-11, 14-18, 21-25, 28-31; November 1, 2026.

Years before Bette Midler starred in such iconic movies as Beaches, First Wives Club and Hocus Pocus, she was a singer with her first movie role ever in the heartbreaking musical drama The Rose.

Directed by Mark Rydell, The Rose starred Midler as a self-destructive ’60s rock star, Mary Rose Foster (a character loosely based on Janis Joplin). The 1979 movie was a commercial hit, pulling in a total of over $29 million dollars, as well as a critical success, nabbing four Academy Award nominations — including Best Actress in a Leading Role for Midler. (Quite an accomplishment, especially considering it was her screen debut.)

Midler also performed on the soundtrack album, naturally, with the title track becoming one of the biggest hits of her career. Decades later, both the song and the movie are still considered classics. Billboard ranked Midler’s appearance in The Rose at #23 on a list of the “100 Best Performances by Musicians in Movies,” with Melinda Newman writing, “Midler slices open an emotional vein and bleeds all over the role in one of the most vulnerable performances ever committed to screen. And of course, that’s all before even getting to her singing, which is predictably gut wrenching — and produced a pop perennial ballad in the No. 3-peaking title track.”

In a 2015 interview with the Criterion Channel, Midler opened up about how she prepared for the role that would change her life forever.

“I have been listening to R&B really since I discovered R&B when I think I was about 10 or 11 years old,” Midler explained. “I’ve been listening to all that and I think the hardness, the difficulty of those lives for those women…I really tried to bring that to the table.”

Midler went on to mention some of the singers who inspired the way she approached the role, including Big Mama Thornton, Nina Simone, and Tina Turner.

Paul Rothchild, who produced Joplin’s last album, Pearl, was the logical choice to produce the soundtrack for The Rose, though Midler didn’t always enjoy working with him.

“He was a really interesting character,” she recalled, calling him “very tough.”

“I didn’t really like him,” Midler admitted, adding that he drove her to sing “until I bled,” though she thought the band he assembled was “fantastic.”

Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection / Getty Images

In addition to extensive vocal rehearsals, Midler worked on her rock star “stage movement” for months before filming started.

“I did gymnastics for like six months before I even started because I wanted it to have like this crawling feeling about it,” she said.

“I wanted like the character to be able to do, you know, dips and…I never got to the splits, but we live we live in hope,” Midler quipped, noting that she was able to master somersaults and handstands.

“I really wanted to have like a kind of a panther quality to her movement on the stage, especially when she got on the floor,” she said. “She was a creature on the stage…there didn’t seem to be anything soft…it was always very, you know, lots of punches and lots of angularity so I think we got that.”

As for that chart-topping title track, without Midler’s input, it might have been a very different kind of song altogether. According to American Songwriter, some of the people making the movie wanted a more up-tempo, rocking tune. But when Midler heard “The Rose,” submitted for consideration to producers by actress/singer-songwriter Amanda McBroom, she fell in love with the ballad.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Related: 1987 Box Office Smash, Ranked ‘Best Acting Performance by a Musician in a Movie,’ Won Cher an Academy Award

In 1980, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was in the middle of an unusual chapter in its long career.

The group had temporarily shortened its name to the Dirt Band and moved toward a smoother soft rock sound. That experiment produced a pair of notable crossover hits: “An American Dream,” featuring Linda Ronstadt, and “Make a Little Magic,” featuring another remarkable singer, Nicolette Larson. Jeff Hanna later remembered both songs as important pop successes for the band in an interview with Vintage Guitar.

Released as a single in the summer of 1980, “Make a Little Magic” climbed to No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

More than four decades later, it’s easy to hear why.

Nicolette Larson Helped the Dirt Band ‘Make a Little Magic’

Written by Hanna, Richard Hathaway and Bob Carpenter, “Make a Little Magic” is built around a simple invitation to stop making excuses and take a chance on romance.

Hanna handles the lead vocal, but listen closely and another voice becomes an essential part of the record: Nicolette Larson.

Larson provided backing and harmony vocals on “Make a Little Magic,” as well as two other tracks from the album, “Do It! (Party Lights)” and “Harmony.”

She was only 27 when the album was recorded, but Larson had already accumulated a résumé that reads like a roll call of the era’s singer-songwriter scene.

She had sung with Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and the Doobie Brothers, among others, while her recording of Neil Young’s “Lotta Love” had become a major hit in its own right, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

And Young knew exactly how special Larson’s voice was.

In his autobiography “Waging Heavy Peace,” Young remembered visiting Ronstadt and Larson in Malibu in 1977 to play them songs he was preparing to record.

“We sang harmonies with him and he was jazzed,” Larson recalled of that initial meeting. Soon afterward, Larson and Ronstadt recorded vocals for Young’s American Stars ‘n Bars, with Larson later joining Young for Comes a Time.

Young’s own memory of those sessions was equally glowing. He recalled Ronstadt and Larson singing his new songs and wrote, “the two of them sang like birds.”

Years later, his admiration hadn’t dimmed. Young placed Larson in some extraordinary company, writing of Ronstadt, Harris and Larson, “Some artists just have it.”

Related: Legendary Country Band Announces Final Show After 60 Years

‘Make a Little Magic’ Became a Crossover Hit

Larson’s contribution came at an interesting transitional moment for the band.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had emerged in the 1960s mixing folk and jug-band music before increasingly embracing country rock. By the late 1970s, the group had shortened its name to the Dirt Band and moved toward soft rock.

The shift paid off on pop radio.

First came “An American Dream,” the Rodney Crowell-penned song featuring Ronstadt, which reached No. 13 on the Hot 100. Then came “Make a Little Magic,” with Larson’s harmonies helping the song reach No. 25.

Hanna later described the two songs as crossover hits that found audiences at both pop and country radio.

“Make a Little Magic” spent 16 weeks on the Hot 100, reaching its No. 25 peak in August 1980 and holding there for three weeks.

It would also prove to be part of a turning point. In the early 1980s, the band returned to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band name and shifted more decisively toward country music, eventually scoring No. 1 country hits including “Modern Day Romance” and “Fishin’ in the Dark.”

But “Make a Little Magic” captures the group in between those worlds.

There’s country rock underneath it, California soft rock on top and Larson’s airy harmony floating through the whole thing. Forty-six years later, that combination still makes a little magic.

Related: Founding Member of Country-Rock Pioneers Turns 79 Today

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Sometimes a product comes along that just screams overachiever. That’s exactly what you want from outdoor gear, especially during this time of year. As you begin planning camping, entertaining, and vacation adventures, it’s worth considering a portable chair for your list of essentials. One that’s equipped with multifunctional features has the potential to become your MVP throughout late summer and fall!

That’s the case with the Coleman Portable Camping Chair. It’s basically the chair of your dreams, brought to life by the purveyors of top-selling coolers. The brand naturally built a cooler into this chair, too, along with a slew of other features that make it both comfortable and incredibly functional for everything from tailgates to glamping trips. Marked down from $59 to just $40 ahead of Labor Day weekend, it’s an excellent investment for any outdoor enthusiast.

Coleman Portable Camping Chair, From $40 (was $59) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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Available in black, blue, gray, and red, the chair offers everything you could possibly want but didn’t realize you actually needed. The seat and back are both cushioned for maximum support, keeping you comfortable no matter how long you plan to kick back and relax. The cooler is designed to hold up to four cans at a time, so your favorite beverages will stay chilled for hours. There’s also a handy mesh cup holder built into one armrest, along with a roomy side pocket that conveniently holds anything from your phone to a book.

Coleman designed its camping chair with thoughtful technical features that set it apart. It supports up to 325 pounds thanks to the robust and durable steel frame, with a comfortably wide 24-inch seat that provides generous wiggle room. The arms are adjustable, so you can truly customize the setup to meet your specific comfort needs.

The real highlight is the portability factor. When it’s not in use, it folds up in just seconds and slides easily into the included carrying case. At just 8.2 pounds, the chair is just the right weight. It’s secure and substantial, but not so heavy that you’ll have trouble moving it around. That will come in especially handy during outdoor events, whether you’re tailgating or just transporting it from one spot on your patio to another. 

With nearly 50,000 five-star reviews, the chair has earned praise for its quality construction and next level features. It’s “sturdy and good looking,” one shopper noted, adding that the design is “genius” and that the brand “thought of everything.” 

Another customer agreed. “I can’t believe the quality for this price. It’s really well made and very easy to set up.” Many people were also impressed with the soft padding, sharing that it amplified their comfort when they sat for hours.

Related: Refresh Your Closet for Sweater Weather With This $30 Amazon Clothes Rack

As your late summer and early fall plans start taking shape, you’ll appreciate having the versatile Coleman Portable Camping Chair handy. Suitable for getaways, games, entertaining, and beyond, it checks every box for an excellent price.

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First launched in 2012, Anthropologie’s exclusive AnthroLiving Old Havana line has been beloved by shoppers for its gorgeous handcrafted pieces. From baking dishes to cereal bowls and so much more, AnthroLiving’s Old Havana collection makes a beautiful statement in any home, helping you serve up rustic charm at every meal. However, if you’re in the mood for dessert, the line also features a striking cake stand that shoppers say is a total “head-turner.” And we have to agree—it really is stunning.

Anthro’s Old Havana Portuguese Stoneware Cake Stand is an elegant piece of servingware that beautifully elevates any table setting. Available in mint (pictured below), white or sand, this cake stand is constructed from sturdy stoneware that is durable and built to last.

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Old Havana Portuguese Stoneware Cake Stand, Mint, $78 at Anthropologie

Anthropologie

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This cake stand measures five inches in height and 11.5 inches in diameter, which makes it perfect for displaying cakes, quiche, cupcakes, cookies and so much more. It’s super versatile in this way. What’s more, when not in use, it makes a pretty piece of decor. It really is too pretty to stow away.

Related: Dollar General’s Vibrant $6 Cake Stand Is the Sunniest Way to Serve Dessert

Anthro shoppers love this stoneware cake stand, giving it an average rating of 4.5 stars on Anthropologie.com. Fans appreciate it for its size, durability and beautiful style.

“I’ve bought virtually everything in this line over the years and never been disappointed. They hold up very well and love the look,” said an Anthropologie customer in a five-star review on Anthropologie’s website.

“Both the white and the blue are head turners at every social gathering. I use the white for every day and the blue for dinner parties and it’s always a head turner! This cake plate is the perfect size for your average cake pan and I bought a basic cake dome online that worked perfectly. Highly recommend,” said one fan in a five-star review on Anthropologie.com.

You can find these beautiful cake stands on Anthropologie.com. Each one retails for $78.

Related: Anthropologie’s Pretty Acacia Wood Cake Stand Is Cottagecore Perfection

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A home security system can feel reassuring right until the Wi-Fi goes out.

Suddenly, cameras may stop streaming, app controls become unavailable and devices that rely entirely on your home internet connection may lose their path to the outside world. That doesn’t necessarily mean your entire security system has stopped working, as much of it depends on how the system communicates when Wi-Fi is unavailable.

For homeowners comparing home monitoring options, that’s an important distinction. A system with cellular backup has another communication path for certain alarm events when the internet goes down, while a Wi-Fi-only setup may be more dependent on the same internet connection you use to stream movies or browse the web.

So, why is cellular backup important for security systems? The answer comes down to redundancy—and what you expect your security system to do when one connection suddenly disappears. Here’s everything you need to know.

If you’re not sure how your current home security setup would handle an internet or power outage, ADT offers free quotes and can recommend a professionally monitored system based on your home and security needs.

What Happens to a Home Security System When Wi-Fi Goes Down?

When Wi-Fi goes down, internet-dependent security features, such as remote app controls, live camera feeds and cloud video, may stop working. Security systems with cellular backup can still transmit supported alarm events over a cellular connection, providing another communication path when home internet service is unavailable.

A Wi-Fi outage can happen for plenty of ordinary reasons. Your internet provider may have an outage. A router could fail. Someone might accidentally unplug equipment or a storm could knock out service to the neighborhood.

What happens next depends largely on how your security system was designed.

Some local functions may continue even without internet access. Door and window sensors, for example, may still communicate with a central security hub inside the home. The bigger question is whether that hub can still communicate outside the house. That’s where cellular backup becomes important.

ADT says its current security systems include cellular alarm-event backup. If Wi-Fi becomes disconnected, supported alarm events can still be transmitted using cellular data and/or cellular SMS. That gives the system another route to send an alarm instead of relying completely on the home’s broadband connection.

Why Is Cellular Backup Important for Security Systems?

Cellular backup is important because it provides a home security system an alternate way to transmit alarm events when Wi-Fi or broadband service fails. That redundancy can help maintain professional monitoring during an internet outage rather than leaving the system dependent on a single communication method.

Think of cellular backup as a second road out of town. Under normal conditions, your system may use Wi-Fi. If that road suddenly closes, a cellular connection can provide another route for alarm information.

The benefit isn’t that cellular networks never fail. They can. The advantage is simply that your security system isn’t dependent on one connection.

ADT’s professional monitoring materials describe multiple communication layers, including Wi-Fi, cellular data and cellular text for supported systems. That becomes especially relevant when a security system is protecting more than doors and windows. Professionally monitored systems may also incorporate smoke, carbon monoxide, water and other sensors, depending on the equipment and monitoring plan.

In other words, connectivity isn’t merely about whether you can open an app. It’s about whether an alarm can still get where it needs to go.

Does Cellular Backup Mean Everything Still Works Without Wi-Fi?

No. Cellular backup usually protects critical alarm communications, but it does not necessarily keep every smart-home feature functioning. Live video, cloud recording, remote app controls and some connected devices may still require working Wi-Fi and internet service.

This is an important distinction.

It would be easy to hear “cellular backup” and assume the entire smart home continues operating normally during an internet outage. That’s not necessarily true.

ADT notes that features such as remote controls, notifications, video streaming and video recording can depend on working internet and Wi-Fi. Cameras are particularly dependent on connectivity.

So, during an internet outage, you may temporarily lose the ability to pull up a live camera feed from your phone, even though supported security alarm events can still be communicated through cellular backup.

ADT introduced a cellular-only option for ADT+ in 2025. The company says qualifying customers can operate core security functions using cellular service even without Wi-Fi, although connected devices such as cameras and smart thermostats require Wi-Fi before those features become available.

That’s a useful reminder that alarm communication and smart-home connectivity aren’t exactly the same thing.

What Happens if the Power Goes Out, Too?

A power outage creates a second problem because your security hub, router and other devices may lose electricity along with the internet connection. Systems with backup batteries can continue operating for a limited time, while cellular communication can help preserve supported alarm reporting if the cellular network remains available.

Internet outages and power outages often happen together, particularly during severe weather. That’s why homeowners should ask about both.

ADT says its security sensors include features intended to keep the system operating during power outages, including up to 24 hours of battery backup on supported equipment. However, that doesn’t mean every device in the house remains online for 24 hours.

Your Wi-Fi router, modem, cameras and other equipment may have their own power requirements. Video and other internet-dependent functions can therefore disappear even while the core security system remains active.

So, instead of simply asking whether a security system has battery backup, it helps to look at what that backup actually keeps running. For example:

• Which devices remain operational?
• How long does backup power last?
• Can alarm events still reach professional monitoring?
• What happens to cameras?

Those details give homeowners a much clearer picture of how a security system will perform when both power and internet service are disrupted.

Is Cellular Monitoring Better Than Wi-Fi Monitoring?

Neither connection is inherently perfect. Wi-Fi is useful for cameras, apps and smart-home features, while cellular communication provides valuable redundancy for alarm events. For professionally monitored security, a system capable of using both generally provides more resilience than relying on Wi-Fi alone.

This isn’t really an either-or contest. Modern home security systems benefit from Wi-Fi. It makes remote control convenient, supports cameras and allows homeowners to check their systems from virtually anywhere.

But Wi-Fi is also something most homeowners have seen fail at least occasionally. That’s why I would pay more attention to backup communication than to whether a security company describes its system as “smart.”

A smart system that loses external connectivity when your router fails isn’t nearly as reassuring as one with another way to report an alarm.

ADT allows some customers to use cellular as the primary connection for supported ADT+ security functions rather than merely as a backup. For most homeowners with broadband, however, the more practical benefit is having cellular connectivity sitting in reserve when Wi-Fi fails.

What Should You Look for in a Home Monitoring System?

Look for multiple communication paths, backup power and clear information about which security functions remain available during internet or electrical outages. Professional monitoring adds another layer by allowing trained personnel to receive qualifying alarm signals and contact emergency services when appropriate.

Before choosing a home monitoring system, I’d ask five basic questions:

• Does the system have cellular backup?
• Is cellular backup included, or does it require a particular monitoring plan?
• How long will the system operate during a power failure?
• Which features stop working when Wi-Fi goes down?
• Can professional monitoring still receive alarm events during an outage?

For homeowners comparing systems, cellular backup is one of those less-visible features worth checking before focusing on cameras, apps or monthly promotional prices.

The Bottom Line on Cellular Backup for Home Security

Wi-Fi has made home security more convenient than ever. But convenience and redundancy aren’t the same thing.

If your home’s internet connection disappears, a system with cellular alarm backup has another way to transmit supported security events. Add battery backup and professional monitoring, and you have multiple layers working together instead of relying on a single router and internet connection.

That’s ultimately why cellular backup matters. You may rarely think about it when everything is working normally. But the moment your internet goes down is exactly when you’ll be glad your home monitoring system has another way to communicate.

ADT offers free home security quotes for homeowners who want to see how professional monitoring, cellular alarm-event backup and other security features work together in their home.

Fifty-three years ago, rock icon Rick Derringer released his solo version of “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,” becoming his signature career hit and launching him into solo stardom.

“Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” was first recorded in 1970 for the band Johnny Winter And, featuring Derringer on lead vocals. In 1973, the rocker re-recorded the track as the lead single from his debut solo album, All American Boy. By early 1974, it entered the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 23 in March.

Although the song never hit No. 1, it became the definitive mainstream breakthrough of Derringer’s solo career. In total, “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” charted for 15 consecutive weeks, marking his longest and highest-charting solo hit on the tally.

Drummer Randy Z (Randy Zehringer), his brother, guitarist Rick Derringer and singer Johnny Winter of Johnny Winter And, originally Johnny Winter and the McCoys, circa 1971.

Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Creating “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo”

“Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” was the first song a young Derringer wrote for Johnny Winter during his time with Johnny Winter And. The track articulates the intense, euphoric reaction Derringer experienced when he first heard rock ‘n’ roll music.

In Johnny’s biography, Raisin’ Cain, Derringer reflected on bringing the track to life, noting that the song was a compromise between his and Winter’s sounds: “‘Rock and roll’ to satisfy the rock ‘n’ roll that I was supposed to be bringing into the picture. ‘Hoochie Koo’ to satisfy the kind of blues sensibility that Johnny was supposed to maintain. It worked out great.”

Wanting to establish himself as a solo artist, Derringer took “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” to producer Bill Szymczyk. The pair collaborated to give the song a new life, recording the updated rendition at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colorado. The barn-turned-studio transformed the sound of the original track, adding a sharper, harder-rock edge that was lacking in the 1970 version.

Over five decades after its release, Derringer’s 1973 take on “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” continues its legacy as a classic rock powerhouse. In the digital era, the song has found new audiences, connecting with modern listeners the same way it did with classic rock ‘n’ roll fanatics and racking up millions of streams on Spotify.

Related: 1977 Soft Rock Song, Written in 15 Minutes in Hawaii, Became a Major Hit

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Pumpkins may get most of the attention when fall rolls around, but mushrooms are another seasonal motif that deserves a spot in your decor. Walmart’s Glasseam 10-Piece Handmade Glass Mushroom Planter Set is currently just $34, down from $56, and the tiny mushroom shapes add a whimsical woodland touch to any room. It includes 10 multicolor glass planters in a mix of warm red, amber, green, pink, and clear tones. There’s also a five-piece option for $22.

Each planter is handmade from borosilicate glass and designed with a wide base for stability. The larger opening makes it easier to add water and arrange greenery, and you can use the pieces for plant propagation, single-stem flowers, small plants, or herbs. The mushroom shapes and colorful glass also give the set a whimsical cottagecore look that’s oh-so-perfect for autumn.

Glasseam 10-Piece Handmade Glass Mushroom Planter Set, $34 (was $56) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

These are especially fun if you’ve been propagating plants in plain jars and want something that looks more decorative. You could line a few mushrooms along a windowsill or console table, then add cuttings to mix in some greenery. And since you get 10 pieces, you can group several together for a tiny mushroom garden or spread them throughout the house.

One reviewer called the set “adorable” and “perfect for propagating cuttings,” while another described the planters as “pretty, unique, and colorful.” A third said they’re “super cute.” Other reviewers mentioned that the glass is delicate, and one noted the lightweight planters can tip more easily, so they’re best kept somewhere they won’t get bumped around.

Related: Anthropologie’s ‘Very Pretty’ $15 Ceramic Pumpkin Planter Is a Gourd-geous Way to Welcome Fall

Unlike some seasonal planters and decor, these cutesy mushrooms can stay out year-round if you like a whimsical or cottagecore look, and they’re easy to restyle with different plants and flowers as the seasons change. And in case you’re torn between the two sizes, the 10-piece set offers better value at $3.40 per planter, compared with $4.40 each for the five-piece set.

Shop More Deals

• Foukus 5-Pack Plastic Planters, $16 (was $27) at Walmart
• Xueyu 5-Pack Self-Watering Planters, From $17 (was $30) at Walmart
• Hc Companies Round Plastic Planter, $26 (was $37) at Walmart

If you’ve been wanting to give your fall decor a more playful woodland touch, the Glasseam 10-Piece Handmade Glass Mushroom Planter Set is a fun and budget-friendly way to do it. Be sure to check Walmart while the 10-piece set is still marked down to just $34.

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.

Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, REO Speedwagon released several hits, including 1980’s “Keep On Loving You,” off the band’s ninth album, Hi Infidelity.

The Kevin Cronin-penned track was highlighted on Ultimate Classic Rock‘s ranking of “Top 40 Soft Rock Songs,” coming in at the 27th spot. Other tunes from the soft rock genre included on the list were John Denver‘s “Annie’s Song” (1974), “Take It to the Limit” by the Eagles from 1975, Eric Clapton‘s 1991 tune, “Tears in Heaven,” and “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas from 1977. The publication gave the No. 1 ranking to “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, released in 1977.

In a 2024 interview with Dan Rather, alongside his REO Speedwagon bandmates, Cronin discussed writing “Keep On Loving You.” According to the vocalist, he had a stroke of inspiration “in the middle of the night,” causing him to race down to his studio where he kept his piano. That night, he “pounded out the verses for ‘Keep On Loving You.'”

Cronin also said that he introduced the tune to the rest of REO Speedwagon the following day at the band’s rehearsals.

“The way our band works is the songwriter, whoever it is, whether any of us comes in with an idea and starts just kind of tinkering around with it at rehearsal, and the other guys are doing their thing and if it’s something that gets their attention, someone will pick up their instrument and start playing along,” said Cronin in the interview.

According to Cronin, his bandmates didn’t seem all that interested in the track. However, guitarist Gary Richrath, who died in 2015 at the age of 65, eventually started to play with Cronin.

“Finally Richrath grabbed a Les Paul guitar and plugged into this giant stack of Marshall amps and dialed in this gnarly, this real just rocking, like big sound,” said Cronin.

He also said that he knew that Richrath’s guitar playing was “exactly what this song needs.”

“It was at that moment that we, kind of, went, ‘Oh, we’ll take this love song, this tender love song or this emotional thing that’s a deep feeling for the writer, and put this giant band around it.’ And all of a sudden, it took the song from what could have been a Barry Manilow-type middle of the road ballad into a rock song,” said the musician, now 74.

True love is a rare thing in this world. We all want someone we can grow old with – someone who will be there until the very end. For Carol and JoAnn Van Zandt of Mount Vernon, Texas, they were literally there together, passing on the same day after 73 years of marriage.

Their story is reminiscent of the heartbreaking ending of The Notebook, when Noah and Allie spend their final moments together. Carol and JoAnn’s story is very much their own, but their family says there is something comforting about knowing neither had to live through the pain of losing the other.

As reported by People from KLTV, Carol and JoAnn died of natural causes on Aug. 29. Carol died early that morning, followed by JoAnn less than 12 hours later. The couple had been married since 1953.

For their family, the grief is inseparable from the grace of it. “The beauty of their story overshadows any sadness,” their daughter Toni VanZandt told KLTV. That sentiment comes from knowing their parents remained together until the very end. “Leaving one behind would’ve been excruciatingly painful,” Toni said.

The family also recalled that JoAnn, who had been unresponsive, appeared to sense Carol’s absence after he died. She began crying – the first emotion she had shown since she had been in her hospital bed. “There were tears! That’s the first time she had shown any emotion since she’d been in the hospital bed,” Toni recalled.

Carol and JoAnn built a life that included three children, five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. They enjoyed rodeos, camping and golf, but their family says their greatest strength was simply enjoying each other’s company. “They did everything together,” grandson Leonard Heath Ray told KLTV. And perhaps the most fitting tribute came from daughter Tina Dilday: “Nobody had to grieve the other.”

Their neighbors saw the same devotion. “She would always have her hand on him; they were very loving,” Tom Dorman said. “It was just a love story.” And perhaps that is the most beautiful part of their story.

Paul McCartney earned a major milestone as a solo artist when he released his No. 1 hit, “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey,” in 1971, following the disbandment of the iconic group, The Beatles.

Featured on his sophomore album Ram, the song was also a collaborative work with Linda McCartney.

At that time, the iconic bassist wanted to escape the pressure and tension of the music industry, especially after The Beatles broke up on bad terms. As a way to cope, he teamed up with his wife for his second album.

“This is me and Linda at that time, and this is sort of what we did,” he mentioned in an interview as cited by American Songwriter. “[W]e wanted to escape the rigid systems we were living in … [W]e were rebellious, rebels with a sense of humor … We were involved with, like, the animal activists, getting our own Christmas tree … [going] vegetarian.”​

Linda McCartney and husband Paul McCartney of Wings posed in 1973.

Michael Putland/Getty Images

Fifty-five years ago, the track quickly became a major commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

On Sept. 4, 1971, the former co-lead vocalist and bassist of The Beatles scored his first solo chart-topper in the U.S., surpassing his previous highest-charting song, “Another Day,” which peaked at No. 5.

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Moreover, the song also ranked No. 22 on Billboard’s year-end Top Pop Singles of 1971.

Decades later, “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” remained Paul McCartney’s notable solo hit, with Rolling Stone describing it as a “weird masterpiece” after it secured the No. 81 spot on its list of the Best Beatles Solo Songs of All Time.

Written by the couple, the inspiration behind it was Paul McCartney’s real-life uncle.

“Uncle Albert would stand on the table, roaring drunk, and recite the Bible,” he recalled in a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone.

As for Admiral Halsey, whose real name is Admiral William “Bull” Halsey and who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, the singer-songwriter shared that he likely encountered the name somewhere while writing the song.

“I don’t know where I got Admiral Halsey from,” he revealed, “I would’ve just read it or heard it somewhere. And then, now I’m this arrogant, upper-class person who’s gotten into the song, and I’m just having fun with it.”

Besides “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey,” “Monkberry Moon Delight” also featured on the album Ram and was another collaborative work between McCartney and his wife.

Related: 1970 Track From Hit Album Ranked ‘Worst Song’ by The Beatles

Nearly a quarter-century after it first aired, one HBO miniseries is still sitting near the very top of IMDb’s rankings, and it’s not hard to see why.

Band of Brothers premiered in 2001, based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose’s 1992 book of the same name. It followed Easy Company, 506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, from their training ahead of D-Day through the brutal fighting across Europe that followed, all the way to the war’s end. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks served as executive producers, bringing the same kind of grounded, unflinching approach to World War II they’d already explored together in Saving Private Ryan.

What set the series apart was its commitment to authenticity. Each episode opened with interviews featuring the real surviving veterans of Easy Company, whose firsthand accounts were woven directly into the storytelling. Reportedly made on a budget north of $100 million, an enormous sum for television at the time, the series spared little expense recreating the scale and chaos of combat, from the Normandy jump to the fight for Bastogne.

Critics and audiences responded overwhelmingly. The series took home six Primetime Emmys, including Outstanding Miniseries, and currently holds a 9.4 out of 10 rating on IMDb, landing it among the site’s top three highest-rated TV shows of all time. Fans and critics alike have pointed to its deep bench of now-recognizable actors, including Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, and Scott Grimes, along with its refusal to romanticize war, as reasons it’s held up so well over time.

The series’ impact stretched well beyond its original run, too, inspiring companion projects like The Pacific and Masters of the Air, which applied the same format to other corners of the war. More than 20 years later, Band of Brothers is still regularly cited as one of the gold standards for war storytelling on television.

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When thinking about at-home skincare that feels luxurious, many of us immediately visualize face masks. From clay, sheet, overnight, foaming and peel-off, there seem to be endless mask options. I’ve heard of and personally used many different kinds, but I paused when I recently saw something about air bubble masks for the first time.

Then, I was given the chance to test out four different K-beauty air bubble masks from Gear By Gash, and I was immediately intrigued, especially because they were called “face masks in a can.” That sounded kind of fun!

As Sona Oh, brand manager with Gear By Gash, tells Parade, “This revolutionary K-beauty innovation uses patented Air-Bubble CDS technology to transform active ingredients into micro air bubbles 4.9 billion times smaller than a pore, instantly absorbed for 461% skin absorption.”

So, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work adding this extra step to my skincare routine for 30 days, ready to see if I’d notice a difference. Find out more about the technology, benefits and application, as well as my honest thoughts after trying out these bubble masks for a month.

Related: 9 Best Overnight Face Masks for Effortlessly Glowy Morning Skin, According to Dermatologists

Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer

What Are Bubble Face Masks, Exactly?

I hadn’t actually heard of bubble face masks before this year. If you’re unfamiliar as well, here’s what to know.

“A bubble mask is a sheet-free mask—instead of a fabric sheet soaked in essence, the foam itself is the mask,” Oh tells Parade. “When you pump it out, it transforms into a rich, dense foam right in your hands, and that foam carries the formula onto your skin as you press it in.
Because it is delivered as a fine foam rather than a standard emulsion, it spreads evenly and sinks into the skin’s surface for a fresh, conditioned feel.”

Related: This Cult-Favorite Lactic Acid Serum Gets a Dermatologist’s Seal of Approval for Dull, Uneven Skin After 50

How Often Should You Use a Bubble Mask?

It will likely depend on the specific brand and mask itself, but here’s what Oh shares about Gear By Gash’s masks.

“For intensive care as a mask, three to five times a week after your skincare is ideal,” she explains. “If you are using it in place of your basic skincare, it is gentle enough for daily use, morning and night. There is no strict maximum—adjust to your skin’s needs and how you are using it.”

Related: The 12 Best Face Masks for Acne That Unclog and Transform Skin, Tested by Dermatologists

Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer

Gear by Gash Air-Bubble CDS Technology

For these bubble masks, specifically, I was curious about the “CDS technology.”

“There are two parts to CDS,” Oh tells Parade. “First is how the foam is created. Before you pump, the formula is a clear, ampoule-like liquid; the moment it is dispensed, an aerosol mechanism turns it into a dense, even foam. Because the foam is generated physically—by air, not a chemical reaction—the active ingredients stay stable in the formula.”

She continues, “Second is the micro-bubble processing of the ingredients themselves: the formula already contains ingredients prepared in extremely fine micro-bubble units, measured at roughly 2.04 µm, so the actives are carried onto the skin in a very fine, even form.”

How they’re different from other bubble masks

“Most bubble masks fall into two types,” Oh explains. “With purely physical methods, the bubbles tend to be uneven in size, and chemical-reaction methods can feel harsher on the skin. On top of that, the foam in many bubble masks collapses quickly, so the usable time is short.”

For Gear By Gash, specifically, the bubble masks dispense “dense foam” that “holds up while you work it in,” allowing the experience to last longer.

Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer

Gear By Gash bubble masks cheat sheet

I’ve tested this brand’s four different air bubble masks—Ultra V-Aqua Bomb, Perfect Mela Zero, Triple Serum Repair and Boosted Skin Firming With Lacto Collagen.

“In Korea, all four are certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, MFDS, as functional cosmetics for brightening and improving the appearance of fine lines,” Oh tells Parade.

According to Oh, this is a quick guide to matching each mask to your skin goal:

Air Bubble Mask Type

Best For

What It Helps With

Boosted Skin Firming With Lacto Collagen

Loss of firmness

Helps skin look firmer, bouncier and more lifted

Ultra V-Aqua Bomb

Dry, dehydrated skin

Deep, lasting hydration—skin looks plumped and feels comfortable

Perfect Mela Zero

Dull, uneven-looking tone; dark spots

Helps skin look brighter and more even-toned

Triple Serum Repair

Sensitive, blemish-prone skin

Soothes the look of stressed skin and helps it feel calmer

Shop Them at Gear By Gash How To Apply the Bubble Masks

The instructions are pretty simple.

“Pump the foam into your hands, then press it gently onto your face so it sinks in,” Oh explains. “You will hear the foam softly popping as you press—keep pressing lightly, and pat any remaining liquid into the skin until it is absorbed.”

When to apply air bubble masks in your skincare routine

As for when to apply these masks in your skincare routine, here’s the recommended approach: “Use it after cleansing and your first toner or prep step,” Oh says. “Apply a generous, even layer over the whole face and let it absorb.”

“It works both as a treatment mask and as a stand-in for your basic skincare steps,” she continues. “If your skin feels a little dry afterward, finish with a small amount of cream.”

(Personal note: I would say that while my face sometimes had a little stickiness to it after applying the bubble masks, it never felt dry.)

Related: Can’t Tolerate Retinol? Dermatologists Say Bakuchiol Is the Next Best Thing for Mature Skin

Benefits of Using Air Bubble Masks

Here are some of the biggest benefits, according to Oh:

• “In the short term, right after use your skin looks smoother and more refined, with an immediate glow (it is perfect the night before an important event or shoot, when you want your skin looking its best fast).
• Over time, with consistent use, the key ingredients in each line build up and you start to see a visible difference in how your skin looks and feels.
• Depending on which one you use, you can expect lasting hydration, a brighter and more even-looking tone, or skin that looks firmer and more supple.”

Most people start to notice a change after about two to four weeks of regular use, she explains.

Related: The Best Korean Eye Creams for Fine Lines, Puffiness, Dark Circles and Mature Skin

Parade

Bubble Face Mask Review: My Honest Thoughts After Trying Them for 30 Days

I never felt like my face was dry after using any of these four masks, even though Oh suggested following up with a moisturizer if that had been the case. Instead, my face felt hydrated and there was a slight stickiness, or a little bit of a tacky film left, but nothing too crazy.

My skin definitely looked glowy immediately after using the bubble masks, which I loved, and I can confidently say they helped my skin feel firmer toward the end of the 30 days.

My two favorites were the Boosted Skin Firming With Lacto Collagen and Ultra V-Aqua Bomb cans, but I did feel like all four had similar textures, smells and immediate brightening impacts.

I liked the fact that I didn’t have to wash anything off after application, or set a timer for a certain time to remove product, like other types of facial masks require.

The only downside, in my experience, was getting the foam to truly spread throughout the skin evenly. With the thickness of the product when it’s sprayed out of the can, it would almost fold up over my hand as I tried to spread it, instead of gliding seamlessly across my face, which took some time to get used to and learn how to adjust accordingly. It was helpful to focus more on the “pressing into the skin” focus that Oh had shared.

I cannot stress enough how I was a huge fan of the actual “bubbling” of the product. Oh described the sound earlier as “softly popping,” which I’d agree with, and it was entertaining (and weirdly satisfying?!) to watch the bubbles popping and fizzing, actually seeing the product do its thing.

I’m planning on continuing to use bubble masks throughout my regular skincare routine going forward.

Up Next:

Related: The 12 Best Collagen Masks, According to Dermatologists

Source:

• Sona Oh, brand manager with Gear by Gash

Scorpions’ fans received unfortunate news on Wednesday.

It was announced by Live Nation that German metal band Scorpions have postponed their 2026 residency at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas to September 2027. The residency was supposed to kick off on Sept. 17 and run until Oct. 3, with Buckcherry serving as their opening act. The global entertainment company that is known for producing concerts and managing artists cited “unforeseen circumstances” as its reason.

“Scorpions regret to announce that, due to unforeseen circumstances, their upcoming September shows in Las Vegas will need to be postponed,” the social media post read. “The band is extremely disappointed but looks forward to returning to Las Vegas in September 2027.”

On Thursday, Scorpions also released a statement, apologizing for the inconvenience and telling their fans the new dates of their postponed concerts in Las Vegas and Mexico, which were also set to take place this month.

“We are extremely disappointed but look forward to returning in 2027 along with a number of European shows with details to be announced soon. We cannot wait to rock with you all again!” Scorpions wrote on Instagram. “To those who have purchased tickets, all tickets will be honored for the rescheduled dates. Refunds will be available for those who cannot attend the rescheduled shows.”

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The postponed residency was an extension of the group’s Coming Home – 60 Years Of Scorpions Tour. Prior to this, Scorpions have held three sold-out runs at the Planet Hollywood in 2022, 2024 and 2025.

While on their Rock Believer Tour, frontman Klaus Meine teased a 60-year anniversary tour back in 2022, telling Monsters, Madness and Magic that he believes that “there’s so many rock believers out there.”

“When you think, so many people in all those years said rock is dead because of grunge, because of hip-hop, because of rap, whatever it is. But no, it’s not dead at all. There are millions of rock believers out there, and we can’t wait to see them in 2024 and in ’25, because it will mark the 60th anniversary of the Scorpions,” Meine said.

Guitarist Rudolf Schenker of the Scorpions performs during Scorpions – Coming Home to Las Vegas 60th Anniversary Las Vegas Residency kickoff at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on August 14, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Live Nation Las Vegas

The Scorpions were established in Hanover, Germany, in 1965, by Rudolf Schenker, who founded the group with three friends from school. Starting as a cover band in the late 1960s, they performed all over Germany before releasing their debut album Lonesome Crow in 1972. After a brief breakup, they reformed two years later and released Fly to the Rainbow, which was a commercial success and made Scorpions more mainstream. The metal band spent the 1980s and 1990s releasing more albums and touring the world, increasing their fan base.

Since their formation more than 60 years ago, the Scorpions have released 19 studio albums with original music, with their most recent being Rock Believer in 2022, as well as a live album put out late last year to celebrate the anniversary.

“We are very happy to have the possibility, especially after starting to be a musician and making this music called rock music, where everybody says in the beginning, ‘Okay, when the Beatles and Rolling Stones came, this holds for another two or three years, then it’s over,’ and now I’m still doing it,” Schenker told the San Antonio Current in 2016 while they were celebrating 50 years. “I remember when the people told me, ‘You still make music, after three or four years.’ I said, ‘Yes, why?’ ‘It’s stupid … you have to do something real; you never will get famous; you never will do this music for longer.’ So, in this case, we proved everybody wrong.”

Klaus Meine of Scorpions performs onstage during a concert at Piazza Napoleone on July 10, 2025 in Lucca, Italy.

Francesco Prandoni/Getty Images

Fans who have purchased tickets to Scorpions’ 2026 residency in Las Vegas will be honored at the rescheduled dates. Refunds can be made at the point of purchase for those who can no longer attend.

The rescheduled dates for Scorpions’ 2027 Las Vegas residency are September 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, and 25.

Related: Beloved Metal Band, Disbanded for 5 Years, Announces Final Performance

In an era where K-pop music has taken the world by storm, a certain coffee giant hailing from South Korea is now making its way over to the U.S.

Twosome Place, the Asian country’s leading premium café brand, has just announced plans to open its first location in Alexandria, Virginia.

Since opening its first café in Seoul in 2002, Twosome Place has grown to more than 1,750 locations, according to a recent news release, building a café experience around the pairing of specialty coffee and cake.

Check out one of its decadent desserts in the Instagram post below by Food & Beverage Magazine on Thursday, September 3.

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“Our debut in the Washington region is an important milestone for Twosome Place as we look ahead to future growth in the U.S.,” Jay (Young Joo) Moon, CEO of Twosome Place Korea, said in a statement shared on Thursday. “We’re excited to introduce American consumers to the café culture we’ve built over the past two decades, one centered on quality, hospitality, and creating a place where guests can gather over exceptional coffee and cake.”

The first U.S. café will offer an assorted menu, featuring Twosome Place’s signature cakes, available both whole and by the slice, including the iconic Strawberry Chocolate Cream Cake and the bestselling Ice Box Cake.

Alongside classic espresso beverages, Twosome Place will introduce Korean-inspired items developed specifically for the U.S. market, including handcrafted beverages such as the famed Black Sesame Latte and Korean Apple Cinnamon Tea.

The all-day menu offered by the restaurant, which is expected to open in mid-October, will feature:

• K-Toast with Bulgogi and egg
• K-Chicken Panini
• Bibimbowl

More details regarding opening celebrations will be announced in the coming weeks. Additional U.S. locations are planned as Twosome Place continues its expansion, with two locations set to open soon.

Danica McKellar‘s new Christmas movie briefly looked more like a crime drama on Thursday, September 3. While Great American Family was filming The Greatest Christmas Gift, starring McKellar and Matthew Marsden, police showed up to arrest former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, who was on set to be an extra in the movie.

According to the Lexington Herald Leader, sheriff’s deputies arrived at the 88-acre Houstondale farm in Paris, Kentucky, in search of Bevin, who had an active arrest warrant over a divorce and child support case.

Bevin, who served as the Republican Governor of Kentucky from 2015 to 2019, had eluded arrest since Judge Angela Johnson issued the warrant on June 5 because he’d failed to provide financial records for the case, per the outlet. The father of nine children was also ordered to attend several court hearings in person but didn’t appear at any, including the most recent hearing in July.

Farm owner Jessica Mohr told the Lexington Herald Leader that she wasn’t aware Bevin was on-site when deputies from the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office arrived, noting, “No one really knew who he was. There wasn’t any hype about some former governor being here.”

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Once Bevin was located on the property, officers escorted him to a restroom, Mohr said, and then took him into custody. According to Kentucky Today, someone on the set called authorities to alert them that Bevin was there, and he was cooperative when police arrived.

After spending the night in jail, the outlet reported, Bevin appeared in Jefferson Family Court, where Judge Johnson ordered him to serve 60 days in jail for contempt of court. She said the sentence is appealable, and that she may revisit the case in 30 days.

McKellar, who’s best known for her role as Winnie on the ’80s sitcom The Wonder Years and past rom-coms on the Hallmark Channel before her move to Great American Family in 2021, has posted periodically from the Kentucky set, but has not addressed Bevin’s arrest publicly.

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The Greatest Christmas Gift was expected to finish filming at the farm on Friday, and is scheduled to premiere on November 29.

“Kudos to them for not letting it derail them and their schedule, and handling it very professionally,” Mohr told the Lexington Herald Leader of how the cast and crew handled Bevin’s arrest. “I guess the big question is if he’ll still be in the film.”

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There’s a reason Winnie the Pooh has managed to stick around for generations, charming everyone from toddlers to grown-ups who probably thought they had outgrown stuffed bears and storybooks. Sure, Pooh is adorable, with his little red shirt, honey obsession and generally sunny outlook. But that’s only part of the magic. His seemingly simple observations about friendship, kindness, bravery and being there for the people you love have a way of sneaking up on you. Sometimes the simplest words really are the ones that stick.

And then there’s the Hundred Acre Wood crew, each bringing something special to the friendship. Piglet reminds us that being scared doesn’t mean you can’t be brave; Tigger brings an infectious enthusiasm for life; Eeyore somehow makes melancholy feel lovable; and Christopher Robin ties it all together with the kind of childhood wonder we could probably all use a little more of.

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Lego Disney Winnie the Pooh Building Set, $149.99 at Target

Target

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Maybe that’s why Pooh never really feels like a character we outgrow. He’s a reminder that life can be complicated, but friendship doesn’t have to be. And now, you can bring a little of that timeless charm to your shelf with a sweet Winnie the Pooh Lego set at Target.

The 1,399-piece set is designed for builders ages 18 and up, featuring a smiley Pooh beside a dripping pot of honey (or “hunny” as he might spell it) and a couple of bumblebees hovering over it.

Related: Dollar General’s $8 Glass Pumpkin Jars Are the Elegant Way to Decorate This Fall

But wait, there’s more. The honey pot actually opens, and there are two “hidden rooms” within it, including a Pooh minifigure and an Eeyore figure.

Disney fans are loving this build, according to reviews on Target.com.

“I purchased this set and it sat awhile,” says a shopper. “I finally got started and almost could not stop. I was excited to see him take shape and let not forget his honey jar that’s what really makes this set a must have. Love the way it turn out.”

Others noted how much they love the little surprise of the honey pot’s hidden rooms.

“Really enjoyed building the Lego Disney Winnie the Pooh set,” they wrote. “The colors are bright and cheerful, and it was a lot of fun from start to finish. It actually took me a bit longer than I expected, which made it even more enjoyable. The honey pot design was a very cool idea, and I loved the little Easter egg hidden inside Pooh’s head.”

While the $149.99 price tag might be a little eye-popping, it sounds like it’s well worth the entertainment the build provides.

Related: Aldi’s $20 Washable Runner Rug Is Botanical Beauty at Its Finest

Stevie Nicks‘ younger brother, Christopher Aaron Nicks, has died at age 72 after battling cancer for two and a half years.

The former Fleetwood Mac frontwoman’s niece, Nixi Parkinson Nicks, announced her father’s death on Instagram Friday, September 4. She posted a photo of herself holding her father’s hand, writing, “second star to the right, and straight on till morning. i love you, daddy. rest easy.”

Nixi also shared a longer tribute on her Instagram Story, revealing that Christopher died earlier that morning surrounded by his loved ones. “It is with a broken heart that I announce the passing of my father, Christopher Aaron Nicks, early this morning, surrounded by family,” she wrote. 

Nixi explained that her father had been privately battling cancer. “Some of you may know that he has spent the last 2.5 years battling a cancer diagnosis, and to some this may come as a shock,” she wrote. “If this is news to you, please know it was because he never wanted people to worry about him that he kept this to himself.”

She went on to remember the impact her father had on those around him, particularly his close friends. “I know that he has left his mark on so many people, and this will leave many more than his immediate family with a piece of them missing. I know I speak for my dad when I say that his friends, his lost boys, meant the world to him.”

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She ended the emotional tribute by writing, “Rest easy, Coach. We will see you in Neverland.” 

At the time of writing, Stevie had not shared a public statement about her brother’s death. Christopher was five years younger than Stevie, and the siblings grew particularly close as adults.

Christopher welcomed Nixi with his ex-wife, Lori Perry-Nicks, who previously sang as one of Stevie’s backing singers.

In a 2003 interview with You Magazine, Stevie opened up about what it was like growing up with her younger brother. She jokingly admitted that she wasn’t exactly thrilled when Christopher came along.

“By the time I was five, I was a little diva. I was out of control, so my parents decided to have another child. I hated Chris, my brother,” she contiuned. “I would pull his hair and kick him, until one day my father gave him permission to fight back. I’ll be apologizing to him for the rest of my life.”

Despite their rocky start as children, Stevie and Christopher grew much closer over the years. When she wasn’t on the road, Stevie said she would spend time with Christopher, Lori and their daughter at the Phoenix home she had owned since 1980.

“My parents live five minutes away,” she told the outlet. “At Christmas I’ll be home for six weeks. That’s when I bond with my family. My mom collects my cuttings; Chris does my merchandizing and Lori is one of my backing singers.”

Following news of Christopher’s death, fans have been sharing messages of sympathy for Stevie and her family on a Stevie Nicks fanpage. 

“Sending you my deepest sympathy and warm thoughts as you navigate this loss,” one user wrote. Another shared, “Sorry To Hear  The Sad News. My Condolences To Miss Nicks & Friends” 

“So sorry for your loss Stevie. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family,” a third added. 

Other fans also expressed their condolences, with one writing, “Sending my deepest condolences!! Rest in peace Chris,” while another shared, “This is devastating news, Rest In Peace Chris, sending lots of love and prayers to Stevie and her family.”