Parade

Christopher Schwarzenegger, the son of Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger, is looking very svelte on the beach in a new photo for National Sons Day.

Christopher, 29, is looking fit as a fiddle in new photos shared by his mother as the two soak up the sun on the beach alongside his White Lotus star brother, Patrick Schwarzenegger. After kicking off his weight loss journey in 2019, the youngest son of Arnold and Maria is looking happy and healthy.

Check out the photos below, in which Shriver honors her boys as they stand in the surf on a tropical getaway.

“We can’t celebrate the girls without celebrating the boys! On this National Sons Day, I am so lucky to have two amazing sons who are kind, caring, loving, tender, and strong. They are smart and silly, and they always make me laugh. They always go the extra mile. They always make me feel truly honored to be their mother!” Shriver captioned the photo, noting that she “gives thanks every day I get to be your mother and have a front-row seat to your amazing lives. I celebrate you both today and every day — who you are and how you make others feel. What a gift to be your mom! #nationalsonsday.”

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Getty Images

A big wake-up call for Schwarzenegger was when he discovered he was too big to go skydiving. His friends made it clear he probably wouldn’t meet the cutoff weight to be approved, and he was deeply disappointed.

“I was like, ‘I want to go skydiving.’ And my friends were like, ‘Yeah, no shot.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I can’t skydive,’ ” Christopher told PEOPLE.

Schwarzenegger is the Director of Development at Indus Valley Media, a Los Angeles-based production company servicing the global film and television marketplace, according to his page on the Special Olympics website. (The Special Olympics were founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who was Maria’s mother.) A graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in psychology, Schwarzenegger also has a long history of working on some of the most popular sports podcasts in the world, according to the page. That’s not too surprising, considering his father’s bodybuilding history!

Related: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver Reunite Years After Divorce—and They Look Happier Than Ever

Christy Carlson Romano is looking back at her Even Stevens days and sharing the reality with fans.

The former Disney Channel star shared an old photo of herself with costar Shia LaBeouf and his father, Jeffrey LaBeouf, on Instagram on Tuesday, September 29. In the throwback, Romano wears a Snow White costume while Shia poses in a white tank top and jeans. His father stands beside him in a blue shirt, hat and sunglasses.

Romano’s caption shed some light on what was really going on during that time. “Shia and I spent 3 years of our lives right next to each other in adjoining trailers, both of us enduring painful childhoods,” she wrote. “If only we could have been there for each other, but we were each going through our own battles and could barely take care of ourselves.”

Fans were quick to comment on the post, letting the actress know how much of an important role Even Stevens played in their childhoods.

“I still watch Even Stevens now at 38 years old and will always be one of my comfort shows,” one shared.

“you guys took on a lot just to entertain us…but you were entertaining kids that were going through similar things at home ✨ thank you for laughs when there should have been tears,” another replied.

READ MORE: Shia LaBeouf Flees Courthouse Media After $100K Bond Set

A third said, “sometimes one does not know, because we do not walk in their shoes but to fully understand we should check on the ones with the worn out pair.”

“Your show helped distract me from a very painful childhood. It will always be my favorite🥺🙏,” a fourth commented.

Romano, who played Ren Stevens opposite LaBeouf’s Louis from 2000 to 2003, is preparing to tell more of her story in her memoir, Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Fall and Rise of a Child Star, which will be out Oct. 6.

The book explores what growing up in show business cost Romano, who was only 16 while simultaneously starring in Even Stevens, voicing Kim Possible and becoming one of Disney Channel’s most recognizable faces. “It might anger some people, but I don’t care anymore,” Romano wrote of the memoir in her caption. “If my story can help just one person, it will have been worth it.”

LaBeouf has also spoken publicly about his difficult childhood and complicated relationship with his father, experiences he later explored in the 2019 film Honey Boy.

But more recently, the actor has faced legal trouble. LaBeouf pleaded guilty in June to three misdemeanor counts of simple battery stemming from a February altercation in New Orleans. He received two years of probation and was ordered to complete alcohol-abuse rehabilitation, sensitivity training and anger-management classes.

Related: Shia LaBeouf Seen in Heated PDA Moment Following Recent Arrest

Taylor Swift’s new music video for “Patient Zero” is packed with surprises, including an unexpected appearance from one of the NFL’s biggest stars.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford made a surprise cameo in the pop superstar’s latest video, and he’s now opening up about what it was like stepping onto the set for the star-studded production.

🚨 | LA Rams Quarterback Matthew Stafford makes a cameo in the Patient Zero music video. pic.twitter.com/RzivHcRN7b

The 38-year-old athlete discussed the experience during the Monday, September 28, episode of SiriusXM’s “Let’s Go!” podcast, revealing that getting involved in Swift’s project was “a cool experience.”

The quarterback also shared that his connection to Swift helped make the unexpected collaboration possible. The singer has developed a relationship with Stafford’s wife, Kelly, and their four daughters, Sawyer, Chandler, Hunter and Tyler, who he admitted are big Swifties.

“She’s been amazing to get to know, and obviously amazing to my wife and my girls,” Stafford said on the podcast. “It was kind of that connection that got me involved and some of my buddies. So, it was a really cool experience.”

The dad of four said he was able to bring his daughters on set.

“I know my girls will never forget being there, seeing all that on set, which was cool,” he said.

The NFL star was particularly impressed by the many roles the Grammy winner took on behind the scenes, describing how she was involved in nearly every aspect of the production.

“My girls were there on the set, got to see how all that was done and how she kind of carries herself, which is unbelievable,” he shared. “She was directing, producing, editing, running the show, obviously the lead singer. It’s a pretty impressive thing, and I was really happy to be a part of it.”

Related: Matthew and Kelly Stafford Surprised One Young Fan. What Her Teacher Said Next Is Going Viral

Since 2001, Delaware has been sinking retired New York City subway cars into the Atlantic Ocean on purpose. It’s turned into one of the state’s most successful reef-building projects ever.

The subway cars in question were retired “Redbird” cars, a fleet the MTA had been running since the 1960s and needed to get rid of as newer trains came online. Rather than scrap them, the transit agency struck a deal to hand them over to states willing to sink them offshore as artificial reef material, according to a Scientific American report on the program. The MTA reportedly saved somewhere between $11 million and $13 million in disposal costs by going this route instead of scrapping the cars conventionally.

Before any car went into the water, crews stripped out anything that could pose a hazard or float away, including seats, light fixtures, ad banners, lead paint, doors and windows — that last part specifically so divers wouldn’t get trapped inside a sunken car.

Delaware took to the idea more than most. Some 714 of the stripped-down cars were deployed off Slaughter Beach, about 16 miles offshore, forming what’s now known as Redbird Reef. The state kept the program going for years afterward, eventually placing more than 1,300 cars total across several of its reef sites before the supply of old subway cars finally ran out, according to Delaware public radio station WHYY.

Jeff Tinsman, the artificial reef program manager at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, was the one who tracked just how well it worked. Within about seven years, he found that the reef supported dramatically more marine life than the surrounding seafloor. “When you compare the amount of food available on this reef to the natural amount, there is 400 times as much food per square foot as the sand bottom,” Tinsman said, in comments carried by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The reason, according to Tinsman, comes down to structure. “They are still three dimensional, and provide thousands and thousands of square feet of hard surface for invertebrates to live on,” he said. Mussels, oysters and other filter feeders latch onto the steel car frames, and the fish that eat them follow. “Fish such as black seabass are not fast swimmers, so need structure to provide both food and shelter,” Tinsman added.

The program wasn’t without controversy elsewhere. When New Jersey initially signed on to take hundreds of the same subway cars, it later backed out after learning the cars contained asbestos, with environmental group Clean Ocean Action warning about the health risks of inhaling stray fibers. An EPA regional oceanographer at the time pushed back on the concern, saying any exposure risk in the water would be far too small to meaningfully affect marine life. Delaware’s program continued regardless.

More than two decades later, the steel car frames are still down there, doing a job they were never built for. However, that’s not always how these stories go. When Florida fishermen tried something similar with old tires back in 1972, the results went the opposite direction, scattering across the seafloor and damaging real reefs instead of building new ones. Subway cars, it turns out, make far better neighbors for marine life than loose tires ever did.

Molly Shannon is wishing a happy birthday to her stunning redheaded daughter, Stella Chesnut, who is following in her mom’s footsteps.

Shannon, 62, currently stars with Will Ferrell in Netflix’s The Hawk. However, her comedy skills go back decades. She first found fame on Saturday Night Live and parlayed her sketch comedy skills into a film career with projects like A Night at the Roxbury and Superstar, in which she played her legendary character, Catholic schoolgirl Mary Katherine Gallagher. In recent years, Shannon has continued her reign, leaving her mark on HBO’s The White Lotus. Now, her beautiful daughter Stella, 23, is rising to stardom, and she is taking everything her mom taught her with her.

In a new photo set posted to Instagram, Shannon wished Stella a happy birthday with a stunning shot of the redheaded beauty smiling for the camera. In the second photo, a throwback pic shows Stella as a little girl under the umbrella. No matter what age she is, her long, red curls are as stylish as can be.

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 

Shannon recently shared with E! News‘ Will Marfuggi that Chesnut is already working as an actress.

“My daughter Stella just graduated from NYU drama school,” Molly shared in July. “She got her BFA in acting, so she’s already working.” 

 Chesnut recently appeared in a season two episode of Goosebumps: The Vanishing.

With her father, Fritz Chesnut, Stella celebrated her mom this past summer as she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She may be a redhead, but we can see a bit of Molly in her!

Emma McIntyre / Getty Images

Stella may be gunning for a career in the spotlight, but Shannon’s son, Nolan Shannon Chesnut, isn’t interested in pursuing his mother’s career.

“My son doesn’t want to be an actor, but he’s an amazing surfer. He is so talented,” Molly continued in the E! News interview. “So he doesn’t want to go into show business, but Stella does.”

Related: Molly Shannon Shares a Heartwarming Memory of Chris Farley’s ‘SNL’ Pre-Show Tradition

There are three things guaranteed in the world today: Death, taxes, and Jeopardy! being on. Believe it or not, the iconic game show has been on the air for over 60 years (though the modern incarnation we know and love technically debuted in 1984). Under the watchful eye of Ken Jennings (who himself was a record-breaking champion), Jeopardy! puts three people’s trivia skills and reflexes to the ultimate test. And so many of the greats to grace those podiums started by simply watching the show as it aired on weekdays, as millions have done for over half a century.

Here’s a spoiler-filled recap of who won Jeopardy! today, plus the answer to Final Jeopardy.

🎬SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 

Justin Robbins won his second consecutive game, earning $18,801 and pushing his 2-day running total to $38,802.

Dominic Lloyd is a finance consultant from New Orleans, Louisiana.

Jareesa Tucker McClure is an entrepreneur and program manager from Atlanta, Georgia.

Justin Robbins is a graduate student from Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.

Related: Sam Heughan Surprises ‘Jeopardy!’ Fans With an ‘Outlander’ Category – Can You Answer the Clues?

Final Jeopardy today was in the category “PRE-CIVIL WAR AMERICA“

The clue: “In charge of the U.S. Capitol’s construction, in 1856 this Secretary of War vetoed an emancipation symbol atop the dome.”

The answer: “Who is Jefferson Davis?”

Robbins was in the lead at the end of the DJ round with $14,000, as Lloyd came in second with $9,400 and McClure followed with $5,000.

Only Robbins answered the FJ question correctly, adding a wager of $4,801 for a daily total of $38,802 as a 2-day champ. Lloyd wagered everything, dropping to $0 and a third-place spot, while McClure wagered $3,000, got it wrong, and ended in second place with $2,000. 

Robbins will be back on Wednesday for attempt number 3.

Did you get the answer? Sound off in the comments!

Jeopardy! will come back on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, with a new episode. Check your local listings to find out when to watch.

Jeopardy! is available on both Hulu and Peacock. Subscribers can enjoy watching new episodes the next day, as well as access a vault of many classic episodes to enjoy at a moment’s notice.

Related: Ken Jennings Reveals If ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ Questions Are Easier

Elizabeth Taylor remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons, celebrated not only for her unmistakable beauty and dramatic screen presence, but also for the remarkable life she led away from the camera. Born in London to American parents, Taylor relocated to California with her family as World War II began and soon entered the film industry as a child performer. Her role in National Velvet helped make her a star, and she later became one of the highest-paid and most recognizable actresses of the 1950s and 1960s. Over her career, she earned two Academy Awards and built a legacy that extended far beyond movies through her pioneering advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Despite her glamorous reputation, Taylor also enjoyed approachable, everyday foods. One recipe associated with her is a refreshing chicken salad that takes a more unexpected direction than the classic deli version you may be used to. In Taylor’s version, tender chicken is mixed with crisp apple and celery, then coated in a creamy curry mayonnaise brightened with citrus and a touch of apricot jam. Optional ripe mango brings even more sweetness to the dish.

😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter🍳🍔

It’s simple enough for a quick lunch, yet the mix of savory, sweet, tangy and gently spiced flavors makes it feel distinctive. For anyone looking to try a vintage-inspired recipe with personality, this chicken salad is a delicious place to start. Here’s what I thought when I made Elizabeth Taylor’s curried chicken salad recipe myself, plus the simple way I’d improve it.

Courtesy Choya Johnson

For this light, curry-spiced chicken salad recipe, you’ll need 8 ounces of mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons of curry powder, 1 teaspoon of apricot jam, and the juice from half a lemon or lime to make the creamy dressing. Additionally, you’ll need 6 ounces of chicken breast, half a green apple and 2 ribs of celery.

Courtesy Choya Johnson

Start by making the curried mayonnaise: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, curry powder, apricot jam, and lemon or lime juice. Stir until the mixture is smooth and the seasonings are evenly incorporated.

Next, broil the chicken breast until it’s fully cooked, then let it cool slightly before cutting it into thin strips or bite-size pieces. Add the chicken to a medium bowl along with the chunked green apple and chopped celery. Spoon in about 1½ tablespoons of the curried mayonnaise, or enough to lightly coat the mixture without making the salad overly creamy. Toss everything together until well combined.

Serve immediately, or chill before serving, and top the chicken salad with sliced mango if you want a fruity garnish.

Related: Desi Arnaz’s Paprika Steak Recipe Is the Epitome of Old-School Comfort Food

Courtesy Choya Johnson

I’ll admit, I was a little hesitant to try this recipe at first because curry powder, apricot jam and apple are not ingredients I typically associate with chicken salad. I was especially curious to find out whether the sweet, tangy and savory elements would work well together, or if they would make the dish taste too unusual.

After giving it a try with a few classic Ritz crackers, though, I was pleasantly surprised. The flavors came together much better than I expected, creating a creamy chicken salad with a subtle sweetness, gentle curry flavor, and satisfying crunch from the apple and celery. The texture was well balanced, and each ingredient added something different without overpowering the others.

I also did not season the chicken separately, yet the curried mayonnaise mixture provided enough flavor that the chicken didn’t taste bland. Between the mayonnaise, citrus, apricot jam and curry powder, the dressing did most of the work and gave the entire salad a flavorful finish.

Courtesy Choya Johnson

In my opinion, searing the chicken breast added extra flavor and a more satisfying texture to the salad. The golden-brown exterior also made the finished dish look more visually appealing.

Courtesy Choya Johnson

I would definitely make this dish again, although I would make a few small adjustments to the ingredients and how I prepare the chicken. I went into it feeling a little unsure because the flavor combination sounded different from a typical chicken salad, but I wasn’t disappointed.

In reality, it turned out to be one of those recipes that exceeds your expectations. The ingredients may seem unusual at first, but they come together in a surprisingly delicious way.

Related: This Sleek Kitchen Essential Will Make Everyday Meal Prep Feel Like a Gourmet Meal

Typically, one-hit wonders are pop songs repeatedly blasted on the Top 40 Radio for a year or so before becoming culturally irrelevant and largely forgotten. However, some one-hit wonders are released by rock bands, as evidenced by Collider‘s recent ranking of “The 10 Best Classic Rock One-Hit Wonders.”

The list, published on September 29, included classic rock songs like 1972’s “Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest, “Come On Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners from 1982, and “Because the Night” by Patti Smith Group, released in 1978. Collider named the Jim Gordon and Eric Clapton-penned track “Layla,” off Derek and the Dominos‘ record Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, the “best classic rock one-hit wonder.”

According to Collider, while “Layla” is a beloved classic rock tune, Derek and the Dominos didn’t put out another record after Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, their first and only album. As fans are aware, Derek and the Dominos split in 1971, just a year after the band was formed.

The romantic track, released in 1970, was inspired by Clapton’s eventual wife, model Pattie Boyd. However, Boyd was married to Clapton’s friend, George Harrison, for 11 years until 1977. Songfacts reported that Boyd, who wed Clapton in 1979, revealed her opinion about “Layla” while penning her memoir, Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me, published in 2007.

Boyd wrote that Clapton had her listen to the track during a secret meeting “at a flat in South Kensington.”

“He switched on the tape machine, turned up the volume and played me the most powerful, moving song I had ever heard. It was ‘Layla,’ about a man who falls hopelessly in love with a woman who loves him but is unavailable. He played it to me two or three times, all the while watching my face intently for my reaction. My first thought was: ‘Oh God, everyone’s going to know this is about me,'” stated Boyd in Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me, as reported by Songfacts.

She went on to say that while she “was married to Eric’s close friend, George Harrison,” Clapton “had been making his desire for [her] clear for months.”

“I felt uncomfortable that he was pushing me in a direction in which I wasn’t certain I wanted to go. But with the realization that I had inspired such passion and creativity, the song got the better of me. I could resist no longer,” wrote Boyd, who finalized her divorce from Clapton in 1989.

Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Now’s a great time to get into the fall spirit, and adding a little seasonal decor is one of the easiest ways to make your space feel festive. You don’t need to spend a fortune to find pieces that feel charming and unique, either. A few well-placed accents can bring in the warm colors and cozy character of the season without making your home feel overly decorated.

The Winemana Handmade Owl Wreath is a particularly fun option, and it’s currently available for just $21 on Amazon. It’s an affordable way to add a little whimsy to a front door, mantel, wall, or window, whether you’re decorating for the entire fall season or getting your home ready for Thanksgiving.

Courtesy of Amazon

The wreath is handwoven from white and linen-toned ropes, then decorated with autumn leaves, twigs, pinecones, and red berries. The combination gives it a rustic, handcrafted appearance that fits naturally with boho, farmhouse, harvest, and traditional fall decor. At about 14 inches tall and 9 inches wide, it’s compact enough to work in smaller spaces while still standing out as a seasonal accent.

There’s no complicated setup involved, either. The lightweight wreath is ready to hang, so you can place it on a door, fence, wall, or other surface without requiring tools or assembly. Use it as an entryway accent to greet guests, hang it above a mantel for a cozy focal point, or add it to a kitchen wall or window for a subtle seasonal touch.

Its smaller size also makes it easy to work into an existing fall display. Pair it with mini pumpkins, candles, rustic ornaments, or a harvest-inspired table centerpiece for a coordinated look. You can even move it around the house as the season goes on, giving different rooms a little dose of fall charm without having to commit to a major decor change.

Related: Walmart’s ‘Sturdy’ Rocking Camp Chair Set Is a ‘Super Comfy’ Addition to Your Next Trip or Tailgate

One shopper said it’s “warm, seasonal, and delightfully one of a kind,” noting that it “instantly makes you smile.” They added, “It’s beautifully built from sticks, leaves, and other dried natural elements, giving it a rustic, handcrafted feel that’s perfect for fall.” 

Another reviewer said it’s “whimsical and festive,” writing, “The owl wreath is such a charming fall decoration and it immediately stands out as something unique. It’s lightweight, easy to hang, and makes a warm statement on the front door.”

• Yangrass Lantern Flower Harvest Wreath, $19 (was $30) at Amazon
• Idyllic Wooden Farmhouse Welcome Sign, $15 (was $22) at Amazon
• Mdstbn Fall Tulip Wreath, From $33 (was $50) at Amazon

If you want to give your home a little more personality this fall, the Winemana Handmade Owl Wreath is an easy way to do it. And at just $21 on Amazon, it’s a budget-friendly find you can grab in time for fall.

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.

Two years after his death, Days of Our Lives fans remember and celebrate the life of the late, beloved fan-favorite Drake Hogestyn on what would have been the actor’s 73rd birthday.

Hogestyn is best known for his role of John Black on the Peacock streaming soap opera Days of Our Lives. A role he began portraying back in 1986, when he was believed to be taking over the role of Roman Brady following his predecessor Wayne Northrop’s departure two years prior.

NBC / Getty Images

In 1991, when Northrop returned to the soap opera, it was revealed that Hogestyn was not playing Roman, but rather that his character, John, had been implanted with Roman’s memories and experiences by the evil Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo) to manipulate the Brady family.

Despite this revelation, Hogestyn’s chemistry with his co-stars, specifically his romantic leading lady, Deidre Hall, who plays Dr. Marlena Evans Black on the soap opera, proved electric, and fans could not get enough of their relationship. Affectionately known as “Jarlena,” the couple dominated the airwaves in the ‘90s, from their jaw-dropping affair, which resulted in the conception of their daughter, Belle (Martha Madison), to their 1999 wedding. John’s love for Marlena surpassed every trial and tribulation thrown at them, including a battle with the Devil himself.

NBC / Getty Images

Over the years, Hogestyn remained a vital part of the Days of Our Lives puzzle, but the actor was let go from the show twice. First in October of 2007 when his character was killed off, only to be later revealed to be alive in January of 2008, and then on January 23, 2009, after being described as “spokes on a wheel,” the actor, along with Hall, was let go with John being paralyzed and leaving Salem for treatment.

In 2011, John and Marlena made their triumphant return as part of the then-latest Plan to Save Days of Our Lives, with what was described as a “Days 2.0” storyline that reintroduced fan favorites. Hogestyn would remain with the show until his final appearance on September 9, 2024.

NBC / Getty Images

Hogestyn died at his home in Malibu, California, on September 28, 2024, one day before his 71st birthday, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The show had previously reached out to Hogestyn, gotten his blessing, and killed off John Black, which aired on June 2, 2025, as John sacrificed himself to save his brother Bo Brady (Peter Reckell).

As Hogestyn’s birthday has passed, fans have taken to social media to reflect on and remember him and his impact.

The official Days of Our Lives Instagram account paid tribute to the actor and asked for fans to share their memories. One user shared, “He was a true asset to the Days cast. I remember watching his last day on the show on my Peacock phone app while I was sitting in my hotel room in Scottsdale, Arizona. I didn’t know at that time that it was his last performance. Taken too soon for sure. ❤️,” while a second fan added, “He was such a strong presence on DOOL. I love how they keep his memory alive. So hard to believe he’s gone and gone so long already.”

Over on X (formerly Twitter), fans paid tribute to the actor as well. One fan posted, “✨Happy Heavenly Birthday, Drake Hogestyn 🎂💜 Thank you for portraying John Black with such strength, heroism, and charm. You will forever be a treasured part of #Days & you became family to generations of viewers. We miss you terribly every single day…and that’s a fact 🕊️🙏✨.”

With a second fan adding, “I wanted to take a moment to wish the late and beloved Drake Hogestyn a very Happy Heavenly Birthday. Your incredible talent, kindness, and unforgettable legacy will forever live on in the hearts of those who loved and admired you.”

Hogestyn’s impact on the daytime landscape will forever be cemented in history with his iconic storylines and catchphrase “that’s a fact,” continuing to entertain audiences around the world, with Sony recently opening the vault, allowing viewers to experience classic episodes from Days of Our Lives past with its Soap Daily YouTube channel.

New episodes of Days of Our Lives continue to air weekdays exclusively on Peacock.

Foodies, get in here—Yelp’s Best New Restaurants of 2026 are here. For those who can’t deny a tasty meal, this is the roundup you’ll want to check out to plan your upcoming travels around good eats. The online platform and app, known for connecting people with local businesses, conveniently compiled a list of the 25 top-rated spots among the many new restaurants that have opened across the country over the past year.

And in the No. 1 spot? A place reportedly offering the best of “creative American dishes with smoky depth and global flair.” Located in Tempe, Ariz., Filthy Animal is the brainchild of restaurateur Teddy Myers’ Pretty Decent Concepts, also behind Phoenix favorites Wren & Wolf, Carry On, and Cleaverman. The jungle-themed hotspot, featuring safari-themed decor like animal prints, moody lighting, faux foliage, and stuffed exotic animals, has proven itself a “thrilling culinary experience” since opening.

“There are Asian, Mexican, and tropical influences, but it’s all focused around the wood fire pit,” Myers told Yelp. “It’s a primal style of cooking.”

Visitors can find a variety of menu items appealing to a wide range of palates, including everything from Tuna Pineapple Ceviche with plantain chips and Lemongrass Half Chicken with jalapeno jam, to Lobster Mac and Cheese with thick noodles and roasted oysters topped with gochujang butter and Chihuahua queso.

One featured reviewer raved over the dining option’s hors d’oeuvres, meat, and bread, calling the full meal a “phenomenal dining experience.”

“We tried multiple appetizers, and the grilled oysters were the best-tasting we have ever had (so good that we had to order another round). For my main course I opted for the ribeye, and it was nicely seasoned and cooked a perfect medium-rare. The milk bread was shockingly [good]… this was the first time I’ve ever had tomato butter, but definitely won’t be my last,” they wrote.

Providing insight on how the list was compiled, the entity promised that fan reviews took precedence. “We identified full-service businesses in the restaurant category, which opened after January 1, 2025, then ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews, between January 1, 2025, and June 11, 2026. When available, all businesses on the list have a passing health score as of June 1, 2026. Finally, we consulted with Yelp Trend Expert Tara Lewis to zero in on what spots Yelpers were loving,” it noted of the published guide.

In addition to Yelp’s picks of the top-rated eateries to check out, it also identified the biggest food trends taking over and holding strong, revealing that steakhouses, Indian cuisine, and brunch reign supreme.

Check out the full list of 25 restaurants here.

Next, ‘The King of Stir Fry,’ With More Than 200 Locations Worldwide, Opens First U.S. Restaurant 

Justin Verlander’s MLB career may be over, but Kate Upton is making sure his retirement gets the sendoff it deserves—with a little humor. After more than a decade together, Upton has been by the baseball star’s side through World Series celebrations, career highs, motherhood and now the end of his time on the mound. The couple, who married in 2017 and are parents to two young children, have grown up together in many ways, making Verlander’s retirement feel like the end of one chapter for their entire family—not just his baseball career.

“It was tears of joy for me!” 😂 Kate Upton jokingly reacts to husband Justin Verlander’s retirement.

In a recent visit to the Today show following Verlander’s final appearance on the mound this weekend, when the Detroit Tigers faced the Pittsburgh Pirates, the World Series champion shared his reaction to retirement and what he looks forward to in his next act.

But things took a hilarious turn when host Savannah Guthrie asked the star pitcher’s wife, supermodel Kate Upton, how she’s feeling about retirement.

“I’m so excited,” Upton quickly interjected. “I am never watching another baseball game again.”

Fans responded quickly to Upton’s authenticity and candor, with one writing, “She’s a real one for this.”

Realness is exactly what makes Kate Upton’s response so refreshing.

Related: Figure Skating Legend, Known as ‘Fred Astaire on Skates,’ Has Fans Saying Thank You for Bringing Back His Iconic Performances

A journey for these two 👏 #kateupton #justinverlander #mlb #baseball #tigers

Upton has been a staunch supporter of her athlete husband through team changes, injuries, World Series championships and disappointing seasons. Her reaction to his retirement after 21 seasons in MLB isn’t just a funny morning talk show soundbite. It’s also representative of the sacrifice a professional athlete’s entire family makes.

Kate Upton and Justin Verlander married in 2017 and share two young children. Their seven-year-old daughter, Genevieve Upton Verlander, was on hand as her dad pitched his final game this weekend, running to hug him and walk him off the field after his last pitch had been thrown.

While partners of professional athletes like Kate Upton, Kelly Stafford and Alexis Ohanian are avid supporters on the sidelines, being married to a professional athlete can often require a lot of sacrifice—for the athlete’s partner and their children.

Upton’s response may be quippy, but it also points to what it’s like to be a professional athlete’s spouse.

There’s no question that Kate Upton is a believer in her husband’s talent, but she is likely looking forward to having a schedule that isn’t dictated by Opening Day and the final game of the World Series.

Sports spouses like Gisele Bündchen, Tom Brady’s ex-wife, Olivia Culpo, who is married to Christian McCaffrey, and Taylor Swift, who is married to Travis Kelce, can make partnering with a professional athlete look easy. But Upton’s candid response is a reminder that it takes a village to support a professional athlete, often at the expense of their own hopes, plans and routines.

Kate Upton may be looking forward to having her husband home more often, but fans can’t wait to see what Justin Verlander does next—and what his superstar wife has to say about it.

🎬SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬

In 1972, a group of Florida fishermen had what seemed like a clever idea: dump old tires into the ocean and let a new reef grow around them. More than 50 years later, most of those tires are still down there, and they’ve done more harm than good.

The project was organized by Broward Artificial Reef Inc., a nonprofit group of fishermen and boaters, according to a Broward County government media kit on the cleanup effort. The plan was to bundle old tires together with steel clips and nylon rope, then sink them off Fort Lauderdale to create habitat for fish and coral, all while giving old tires a second life instead of piling up in landfills.

Roughly 2 million tires went into the water, spread across about 34 acres of ocean floor a little over a mile offshore, in waters 60 to 70 feet deep.

It didn’t work. Saltwater corroded the steel clips holding the tire bundles together, and the nylon rope gave out, too. Once the bundles broke apart, ocean currents and storms scattered loose tires across the seafloor, where they scraped against and damaged the natural reefs nearby instead of growing new ones. Some tires reportedly drifted as far away as North Carolina.

Cleanup efforts didn’t start in earnest until decades later. Between 2001 and 2009, military divers and other removal efforts pulled roughly 72,000 tires out of the water, according to a 2023 Florida House staff analysis of a bill addressing the reef. That left the vast majority of the original 2 million still scattered across the ocean floor.

Removal picked up again years later. A commercial contractor removed about 250,000 more tires between 2016 and 2019, at a cost of roughly $4.3 million, per that same House analysis. Even so, a November 2019 report found that somewhere between 500,000 and 1 million tires still needed to come out. The same analysis notes that early cost estimates ran around $17 per tire, which is part of why full removal has been called cost prohibitive.

State officials have kept pushing for a fix. “Those reefs are critical, certainly,” Florida state Sen. Bryan Ávila said, according to Florida Politics. “When you have a storm come, those reefs provide a barrier for the municipalities and the residents in that area.” State Rep. Anna Eskamani, meanwhile, framed the situation as a lesson learned, saying it’s better to “reduce waste, versus trying to recycle in ways that are not sustainable.”

Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection has since put state funding toward the cleanup and has been working with the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Broward County to keep pulling tires out. A 2023 state law now requires the department to report on how many tires remain and to “develop a comprehensive restoration plan for Osborne Reef by July 1, 2024, upon completion of the cleanup and tire removal project.”

Half a century after the original dumping, in other words, the mess it created is still being cleaned up. If you’re curious how to keep old materials out of the ocean in the first place, there’s a running list of ways to recycle just about anything that you may want to check out.

On Sept. 5, 2001, television changed when The Amazing Race arrived on our screens. Less than a week later, the world would forever change with the events of 9/11. But coincidentally, the new travel reality show came at the perfect time for Americans. While people sat glued to their screens, fearful of the danger that lay outside our borders, The Amazing Race showed the wonders the world had to offer, taking everyday people out of their comfort zones to showcase a wide variety of cultures. Across 25 years, the show has aired 38 seasons, gone to 98 countries, and traveled millions of miles, raking up not only Emmy accolades, but a reputation as one of the most venerated reality shows around.

In honor of the milestone, as well as Season 39 kicking off on Wednesday, Sept. 30, CBS is airing The Amazing Race: 25 Years Around the World. Hosted by Entertainment Tonight‘s Nischelle Turner, the hour-long special will include iconic moments and never-before-seen footage from a quarter-century of the show. It will also feature talking heads with host Phil Keoghan, co-creator and executive producer Elisa Doganieri and a slew of former racers.

Here’s what to know about the Amazing Race 25th anniversary special, including when it comes on and how to watch.

🎬SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 

The Amazing Race: 25 Years Around the World airs at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

The Amazing Race: 25 Years Around the World will air from 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

The people announced to appear in The Amazing Race‘s 25th anniversary special so far are:

• Phil Keoghan: Host
• Elise Doganieri: Co-creator and executive producer
• Uchenna Agu and Joyce Robinson: Season 7 winners
• Will Jardell and James Wallington: Season 32 winners
• Claire Champlin and Brook Roberts: Season 17 runners-up
• Jet McCoy and Cord McCoy: Seasons 16, 18 and 24
• Flight Time and Big Easy: Seasons 15, 18 and 24

We shall see if other racers show up in surprise appearances!

Related: ‘The Amazing Race’s Phil Keoghan Teases Historic Trip and Heartbreaking Homecoming in Season 39 (Exclusive)

The Amazing Race is available to watch on CBS.

Several streaming services come with CBS, including DirecTV, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV. Additionally, fans can watch live on Paramount+ with the Paramount+ Premium plan, or watch the episodes on-demand the next day on Paramount+.

Related: Meet ‘The Amazing Race 39’ Cast—And Find Out the First Game-Changing Twist

Of course, the best way to watch The Amazing Race for free is to simply watch it on CBS on broadcast TV! However, for those who cut the cord, YouTube TV is currently offering a 5-day free trial to eligible new users, and its main plan includes local channels such as CBS where available. Fubo is also currently offering a free trial and carries CBS in supported local markets. DIRECTV currently offers a 5-day free trial for its streaming plans, with local channels included where available.

The Amazing Race 39 kicks off with a two-night premiere event starting Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Related: Phil Keoghan Breaks Down ‘The Amazing Race 39’s Newest Twist — And What’s Returning Next (Exclusive)

119 years ago today, Sept. 29, the crooning cowboy Orvon Grover Autry, better known as Gene Autry, was born.

The actor-slash-musician became the first entertainment act to ever sell out the illustrious Madison Square Garden in New York City, setting the stage for acts like Elvis Presley, who was the first to sell out four consecutive shows, Elton John, who was the first solo act to sell out the venue in 24 hours, and Billy Joel, who played 104 sold-out shows on his historic monthly residency.

The multihyphenate was born in Tioga, Texas, on Sept. 29, 1907, and grew up performing in the church choir before learning to play the guitar, at which point he began performing locally. At 19, he moved to New York, hoping to secure a record deal, and eventually landed a role as a member of a cowboy quartet in the film In Old Santa Fe, dabbling in more filmwork until he landed the lead role in The Phantom Empire, a 12-part sci-fi/Western series. He made dozens of films performing as a singing cowboy, which boosted his own music—which he released regularly alongside his film work—on the charts.

CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images

Autry had plenty of No. 1 hits over the years and countless Top 10s, though today, you may better recognize his Christmas tunes, with popular recordings of “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman,” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”—not to mention his beloved original, “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane),” which was composed with Oakley Haldeman.

In addition to becoming the first musician to ever sell out the Garden, he was also the first Western star to even perform there, according to his biography. To this day, he’s also the only person to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in all five categories: Radio, Recording, Motion Pictures, Television, and Live Theatre/performance. 

He died at home in Studio City, Calif., on Oct. 2, 1998, at the age of 91.

Related: ‘The Doors’ Singer Jim Morrison Was the First Rocker To Ever Be Arrested Mid-Performance

The late, great David Lynch continues to breathe life into Hollywood following his 2025 passing, partly in thanks to the stars of his groundbreaking films who continue to speak out about their work.

Lynch-regular Kyle MacLachlan, for example, has been making the rounds of late to promote his new memoir Fictional Selves and took time during a recent interview to reflect one of his collabs with the late auteur: Blue Velvet.

The neo-noir mystery thriller, which earned Lynch a Best Director nomination at the 1987 Academy Awards, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. In his chat with AARP The Magazine, the 67-year-old star of Blue Velvet made at least one surprising comment about it.

“When I watch an early film of mine like Blue Velvet, I look at the performance and cringe,” MacLachlan told the publication. “But if I could give that younger me advice — though he certainly wouldn’t have listened to me — it would be: Put more trust in yourself. Know that you can’t do everything and be OK with that. You’re not going to be right for everything, but you’re going to be really right for some things.”

The Fallout star also made some heartwarming comments tied to Blue Velvet, particularly about his big-name co-stars.

“I still keep in touch with Isabella Rossellini and Laura Dern,” he told AARP. “I visited Isabella at her farm out on Long Island — she is a remarkable, resilient entrepreneur. And Laura is one of my favorite actors. You can’t take your eyes off of her, because you don’t know what she’s thinking or where she’s going to go. At the same time, she allows you to see everything. She’s translucent.”

Before Blue Velvet, MacLachlan played the role of Paul Atreides in Lynch‘s adaptation of Dune. The actor reveals that some “moments of struggle” due to bathroom issues.

In MacLachlan’s new memoir, he admits that filming the movie wasn’t as pleasant as it may seem. It was largely due to the “grim” plumbing and being shot entirely in Mexico. Find out more here.

Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Fall has officially arrived, and few motifs better symbolize the season than the sunflower. If you love sunflowers but don’t have the time or ability to grow them yourself, Walmart is currently selling a pack of stake lights that not only capture the look of sunflowers, but also bring an ambient glow to your yard at night.

Normally priced at $21, the Keyohome Sunflower Solar Garden Lights are down to $14. This set comes with two vibrant stake lights, which each sport a single solar sunflower head. Shoppers can also snag sets of stake lights with six sunflower heads or three heads on sale for $18. You could pick up a single set to use as thoughtful accents, or stock up on multiple bundles to create your own mini faux sunflower field in your yard.

Courtesy of Walmart

These sunflower lights come with warm-white LEDs that “brighten up” any patio and a built-in rechargeable battery that charges in direct sunlight. Expect around eight to twelve hours of runtime after four to six hours of charging, with automatic on at dusk and off at dawn settings (there’s also a manual switch). The build mixes silk petals with a stainless steel stem and a plastic base, finished with an IP65 waterproof rating for protection. 

One helpful reviewer said that these sunflower lights “add beauty” and “look great with our landscaping during the day and light up at night.” This same shopper also said that many of their neighbors stop by to compliment them on the lights, too. A second reviewer said that the lights are “so cute,” and another wrote, “I was afraid these would look cheesy, but took a chance and I love them!”

The fact that these are solar powered makes them super convenient, and you don’t have to mess around with cables or plugs: “No cords or electricity needed. All solar.” While they look great during the day, they really come to life at night, and one shopper said, “These are so pretty and beautiful at night when they light up.”

Related: Clear Up Closet Clutter With Walmart’s ‘Sturdy’ 7-Tier Rotating Shoe Rack

If you don’t want to wait for flowers to bloom, the Keyohome Sunflower Solar Garden Lights can be yours for just $18. They may move fast at under $20, so if you want to lock down these savings, now’s the time to grab them. 

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.

John Ratzenberger was on his way out the door. He’d come in to audition for Norm Peterson on a new NBC show about a Boston bar, and it wasn’t going his way. Before he left, he turned around and asked the producers one question: did they have a bar know-it-all? One of them — Glen Charles — said: “What are you talking about?” Ratzenberger explained. Where he grew up, there was a man at his dad’s local bar named Sarge. You could ask Sarge the length of a whale’s intestine, and he’d look at you and say, “baleen or blue?” Ratzenberger pitched the whole character right there in the room. A postal worker. Sits at the end of the bar. Delivers trivia nobody asked for with complete confidence. The producers said yes. John Ratzenberger walked out of that room with a job he’d invented for himself.

The show was Cheers. Brothers Glen and Les Charles wrote it, and James Burrows directed it — they’d all come from Taxi and figured the same thing that made Taxi work would make this work too. A group of people stuck together in the same place who were funnier as a group than any of them were alone. They set it in a Boston bar and cast Ted Danson as Sam Malone, a former Red Sox pitcher who owned the place. Shelley Long as Diane. Rhea Perlman as Carla. Nicholas Colasanto as Coach. George Wendt got the Norm Peterson role — the one Ratzenberger hadn’t gotten. Wendt would appear in 275 episodes over 11 years, while Ratzenberger appeared in 273. Just at different ends of the bar. The show premiered September 30, 1982, and ranked 74th out of 77 in its first week. NBC nearly canceled it. The bar was Cheers. Nobody knew their name yet.

The birth of Cliff Clavin on “Cheers”. #JohnRatzenberger #stillherehollywood @Steve Kmetko #cheers #cliffclavin #audition

Cliff Clavin was only supposed to be in the first seven episodes. A background character. Not a regular. But Ratzenberger found something in the role — playing a man who was wrong about everything and had no idea — that made the writers keep writing for him. The seven episodes became a season. The season became 11 years. Ratzenberger appeared in 273 of the show’s 275 episodes. Cliff Clavin’s postal uniform is now in the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.

Related: In 1997 Chris Farley Was 5 Days From Finishing ‘Shrek’ When He Suddenly Died; DreamWorks Gave the Role to Mike Myers Without Explanation

Cheers took years to find its audience. By 1985, it was one of the most-watched shows in the country. It ran until May 20, 1993, and earned 117 Emmy nominations and 28 wins. The spinoff Frasier ran for another 11 seasons. After Cheers ended, Ratzenberger went to Pixar. He voiced Hamm in Toy Story in 1995 and didn’t stop. He showed up in 22 consecutive Pixar films over two decades — Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, WALL-E, and Coco. The man who invented Cliff Clavin on his way out of a failed audition ended up in every Pixar story ever made.

The real bar that inspired Cheers was the Bull and Finch Pub at 84 Beacon Street in Boston. It’s still open. I’ve been there. The actual Cheers set — the physical bar where 275 episodes were filmed — was acquired by the Museum of Television before being sold at auction.

Cliff Clavin’s postal uniform is in the Smithsonian too. The show that ranked 74th out of 77 in its first week became one of the most celebrated comedies in American history. John Ratzenberger walked in to audition for Norm Peterson and walked out with Cliff Clavin. The character was supposed to be gone after seven episodes. September 30th is the 44th anniversary of the premiere. The bar is still open.

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬

In 1976, Warren Zevon released “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” which served as a standout track early in his career and later found a new audience through Linda Ronstadt’s popular cover, which was released as a single in 1978.

Written by Zevon himself, who was known for his darkly humorous and deeply literate lyrics, the song appeared on his self-titled album, which also featured the beloved track “Desperados Under the Eaves,” one of the album’s most notable songs and a composition that has received considerable critical attention.

However, despite being a notable release, “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” wasn’t recognized as a commercial hit for the singer-songwriter, as it did not enter the major music charts.

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

The song gained renewed popularity after Ronstadt released her reimagined version.

The Grammy winner’s cover offered an upbeat yet polished country-rock sound, while the original song had a grittier rock sound.

Moreover, Ronstadt’s version took a different approach to the lyrics.

While the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee originally presented the song from a man’s perspective, complaining about how women treated him with the line, “These young girls won’t let me be,” Ronstadt reimagined the lyrics from a female perspective, changing the line to “Oh, these boys won’t let me be.”

According to her, she felt that the original lyrics weren’t a reflection of her as an artist, prompting her to leave out the original verse and rework the song from her own perspective.

Ed Perlstein/Redferns/Getty Images

“The verse in ‘Poor Pitiful Me’ was ‘Met a girl on the Sunset Strip,’ I think,” Ronstadt explained, as cited by American Songwriter. “She asked me if I’d beat her / She took me up to her hotel room / And wrecked my mojo heater.’ It was really funny, and I’m saying to Jackson, ‘I can’t sing those words, man! That’s not who I am. . . . I have to leave that part out. To me that song seemed like the purest expression of male vanity. Step on you, be insensitive, be unkind and give you a hard time, saying, ‘Can’t you take it? Can’t you take it?’ Then if you tease men in the slightest bit, they’ll just walk off with their feelings hurt, stomp off in a corner, and pout. I mean, that’s the way men are, I swear. I thought the verse turned around to a female point of view was just perfect. The gender change works perfectly.”​

“Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” which appeared on her studio album, Simple Dreams, was released as a single in 1978 and peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached No. 27 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart and No. 46 on its Hot Country Singles chart.

Decades after Ronstadt released her version, the song continued to find an audience among listeners and fellow musicians, including Canadian country star Terri Clark.

In 1996, she released a country-rock version that became a major chart success, with “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” peaking at No. 1 on the Canadian country chart and No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in the U.S.

Related: 1968 Rock Song, Recorded on Abbey Road, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Songs of All Time’

In March 1987, a barge left Long Island carrying more than 3,100 tons of garbage. It spent the next two months getting turned away by six states, Mexico, and Belize before anyone would let it come home.

The trash belonged to the town of Islip, New York, which was running out of room in its landfill. An entrepreneur named Lowell Harrelson arranged to ship a load of it to Morehead City, North Carolina, where it was supposed to be buried and used to generate methane gas, according to a Vice retrospective on the incident. The garbage itself was purchased from the Islip landfill by Salvatore Avellino, described in that same report as a reputed Long Island trash-hauling boss looking to profit off the deal.

The barge, called the Mobro 4000, departed on March 22, 1987, towed by a tugboat, according to a Newsday piece on the barge’s 30th anniversary. Rumors that the load contained hazardous or medical waste followed it almost immediately, even though nothing of the sort was ever confirmed. North Carolina refused it. So did Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and New Jersey. Mexico reportedly threatened to fire on the barge if it got closer, and Belize turned it away too.

By the time it returned to New York waters in mid-June 1987, it had logged roughly 6,000 miles without finding a single place willing to take its cargo. “By that time, we had so much bad publicity, they were saying Jimmy Hoffa was buried in the barge,” the tug’s captain, Duffy St. Pierre, told Vice years later.

The saga became a full-blown media event. Dan Rather reportedly called it “the most watched load of garbage in the memory of man.”

Even after the Mobro made it back to New York, officials spent weeks arguing over what to do with it. The trash was finally incinerated in Brooklyn in August 1987, and the resulting ash was buried in the Islip landfill on September 1, 1987.

The spectacle left a mark well beyond Long Island. R. Lawrence Swanson, a Stony Brook University marine sciences professor, put it plainly in the Newsday retrospective: “I think the garbage barge is an excellent reminder of what can happen when we put the environment sort of off to the side.”

Part of what made the Mobro so effective as a wake-up call was simply how long people had to watch it. A barge full of trash wandering the coastline for weeks, unable to find a home, turned an abstract question into a very visible one: once your garbage leaves the curb, where does it actually go?

Brendan Sexton, who was New York City’s sanitation commissioner in the years after the incident, later credited the barge with forcing that question into the open. “I think that the whole experience was extremely useful in getting people to say, ‘Oh, I actually have to worry about what happens to the trash after I put it out the back door?'” he said, in comments featured in a Retro Report documentary on the barge’s legacy.

It wasn’t actually a genuine nationwide shortage of landfill space driving the shift that followed. It was the sheer, sustained media coverage that pushed communities to act, with many turning to pay-by-the-bag trash programs and curbside recycling almost overnight.

The numbers back that up. According to a retrospective from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, fewer than 1,000 U.S. communities had curbside recycling programs in 1988. By 2000, that number had climbed to roughly 9,700, with at least half the country’s population able to recycle from their own curb. The national recycling rate more than doubled over that same stretch, from about 10 percent in 1980 to 22 percent by 1999.

The Mobro itself never sailed again. But the questions it raised about where garbage actually goes stuck around, and they’re still worth asking. If you’re looking for ways to keep your own trash out of a barge’s fate, here is a running list of ways to recycle just about anything.