If you’re tired of visiting places trod by millions of tourists previously, perhaps you should consider looking in less likely spots this year.
A cheat sheet for that can be found in Afar’s primer, “Where To Go in 2026: Places That Are on the Rise and off the Beaten Path.” The travel-media brand has collected two dozen destinations that serve as a “better way to travel the world: responsibly, creatively and with eyes on places long overlooked.”
Think of Buffalo, N.Y., whose Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor is getting a resurrected jazz club and a pioneering Black radio museum in 2026. Or West Cork, Ireland, a wild and enchanting side of the island that visitors don’t often patronize, or Rabat, Morocco, which is rising as a cultural hub with new museums and a rockin’ summer music festival.
Residents of Northern California might perk up their ears at the inclusion of the Columbia River Gorge, a rugged and waterfall-blessed region in Oregon and Washington that’s within striking range. Here are the first 10 on the list in alphabetical order; for more check the full guide.
Afar’s places on the rise and off the beaten path
1 Adelaide, Australia
2 Albuquerque, N.M.
3 Birmingham, Ala.
4 Bucharest, Romania
5 Buffalo, N.Y.
A view from the family beach at Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, on Saturday, June 8, 2024, of the Disney Magic docked at the bridge that leads to Disney’s newest destination on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel)
Two upscale, see-and-be-seen Il Fornaio restaurants are ending their tenure, including the Palo Alto location — a prime spot for years for Silicon Valley power breakfasts and deal-making dinners.
After 36 years, that Cowper Street restaurant will shut its doors Sunday night. The Beverly Hills Il Fornaio closed a week ago after a 43-year run.
“Both locations were fixtures in their communities for the last four decades but unfortunately are closing as their leases conclude,” the company said in an announcement. The news was first reported by Palo Alto Online.
For the Palo Alto restaurant, the era from the 1990s through Dot-com 1.0 was a heady time, with tech titans huddled over tables and whispered talk of deals and the next new thing. David Packard. Steve Jobs (sometimes on in-line skates). John Doerr. Jim Barksdale. John Sculley. David Kelley. Guy Kawasaki.
A 1997 Mercury News squib called Reality Check summed up the scene that played out on early weekday mornings: “Price of buying a venture capitalist a power breakfast of juice, eggs and coffee at Il Fornaio in Palo Alto: $10. (Price does not include tax, tip or the VC gaining control of your company.)”
That Il Fornaio long ago stopped serving breakfast. The restaurant’s final hours of service will be noon to 9 p.m. today and Sunday at 520 Cowper St., Palo Alto.
“We are saddened that we will be saying goodbye to many of our wonderful employees, many of whom have been with us for decades, while some will be moving to our other locations in California,” the company statement read.
Founded as a baking school and retail bakery in Italy in the early 1970s, Il Fornaio launched its dining concept — chef-driven, white-tablecloth restaurants with a regional Italian focus — in the 1980s. The original, which opened in 1986, is still operating in Corte Madera, where the restaurant group is headquartered.
Il Fornaio still owns restaurants in more than a dozen California cities plus Las Vegas. Besides Corte Madera, the company’s other Northern and Central California locations are in San Jose, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Burlingame, Walnut Creek, Carmel, Sacramento and Roseville.
Very few people embody the spirit of the West quite like George Eidsness.
From his upbringing in northeastern North Dakota to building Transwest automotive group into a diverse group of businesses, Eidsness hasn’t forgotten the simple rules that make the Western way of life so special.
And after more than 70 years of unrelenting hard work and a “fix-anything-with-a-pocket-knife” type of resilience, Eidsness has earned the honor of being named the 2026 Citizen of the West from the National Western Stock Show.
George Eidsness, who has been honored with The Citizen of the West award by the National Western Stock Show, poses for a portrait on his ranch, the Flying E Ranch in Fort Lupton on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)
The award “recognizes those who embody the spirit and determination of the Western pioneer — a true representative of the Western lifestyle, ideals, agricultural heritage and traditions,” according to the stock show’s website.
“It’s pretty humbling,” Eidsness said. “Like a friend of mine said, ‘You’re walking in pretty tall cotton.’ A lot of great people before me have received it, and to be put in a class with them is a real honor.”
Raised on a wheat farm near Brocket, N.D., that spirit was instilled in him at a young age. He took it with him to the University of North Dakota, where he earned a degree in business, then to Fargo, N.D., where he spent 17 years wearing a number of different hats at a local dealership.
In 1990, he and his wife, Barbara, bought Transwest Trucks, a Commerce City dealership that had been in business for just 18 months at the time. In the 35 years since, Transwest has grown exponentially, now with 25 locations across the western United States and Canada. Its dealerships specialize in service, sales and parts for the heavy-duty truck, trailer, automotive and recreational vehicle industries.
As Transwest began to quickly expand, Eidsness and his wife decided they needed a little room to stretch their legs as well — both professionally and personally.
In 1996, Eidsness acquired Steamboat Lake Outfitters and the Flying E Ranch.
“We were going to build a new house in town (Westminster), but decided that city life wasn’t really what we wanted,” Eidsness said. “We wanted to be out in the country and had an opportunity to buy an 80-acre parcel of land near Fort Lupton.”
Since buying that 80-acre parcel, Eidsness added another 65 acres, completing the property he has called home for nearly three decades.
The Flying E has an indoor rodeo arena on the property that the former owner would lease out for team penning events. When the transaction went down, one was already on the books, scheduled for after Eidsness closed on the property.
Team penning is a timed event in which a team of three sort three numbered cattle out of a head of 30 and place them in a pen on the opposite end of the arena.
“I stood around for most of the day watching the sport,” Eidsness said. “I finally saddled up a horse and tried it out and I was kind of hooked on it after that.”
A third-place finish that day launched the next chapter of Eidsness’s life: nearly 20 years traveling across the West competing in various team penning events. He also produced countless events at the Flying E and helped produce shows at National Western.
“I met a lot of great people,” Eidsness said. “Many of them are still friends today.”
The Code of the West sits in a window in George Eidsness’ office, who has been honored with The Citizen of the West award by the National Western Stock Show, at his Transwest dealership in Brighton on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)
In 2023, Eidsness was inducted into the U.S. Team Penning Hall of Fame.
Eidness credits that spirit of the West for getting him where he is today. It wouldn’t have been possible without a lot of hard work and a strong moral compass, he said. The guiding light for that moral compass: the Code of the West. While technically a set of unwritten rules, the code is agreed upon as:
Live each day with courage.
Take pride in your work.
Always finish what you started.
Do what has to be done.
Be tough, but fair.
When you make a promise, keep it.
Ride for the brand.
Talk less and say more.
Remember that some things aren’t for sale.
Know where to draw the line.
“It’s unique, I think, the Western culture,” Eidsness said. “The way people have learned to be responsible, to take care of their peers, to do the jobs that they’re supposed to do, and the lifestyle that’s expected. It is very important to try and keep that culture going. If we were to lose that part, the country we live in would not be the same.”
Eidsness has also incorporated the code into running Transwest, displaying it in his company’s buildings to remind employees of what Transwest represents.
“How they conduct themselves, how they treat others. It’s something that we adhere to,” Eidsness said. … “It’s important to maintain that culture of who we are and how we want to run our business.”
Even more important to Eidsness than embodying that spirit himself is passing it forward to the younger generations.
“We need more people embodying that spirit,” Eidsness said. “We can find more. And probably more importantly, we can make more.”
When asked how to make more, his answer was direct and confident.
“Education and leadership,” he said.
That’s why he’s long supported groups that introduce children to agriculture and educate them on it, such as 4H and Future Farmers of America.
“It’s certainly something that you don’t have to be born into,” Eidsness said. “You can be introduced to it at a later age and you can learn it. A lot of people who came from a different culture went to work on farms and ranches and businesses and learned the lifestyle and the work involved with it and eventually became part of that culture.”
That’s also why he has been a longtime supporter and sponsor of the National Western Stock Show. And the stock show will be returning the favor, celebrating Eidsness as the 47th Citizen of the West at the stock show’s annual award dinner on Jan. 12. Proceeds from the event support the National Western Scholarship Trust, which awards 100 scholarships to students attending colleges and universities in Colorado and Wyoming for studies in agricultural science, rural medicine or veterinary medicine.
For tickets, contact Rachel Melia at 303-299-5560 or RMelia@NationalWestern.com.
“Walking in tall cotton”
As the 47th honoree, Eidsness joins a long list of distinguished Westerners who came before him, including a former vice president of the United States (Dick Cheney), a former Supreme Court yustice (Byron White) and a founder of major league soccer (Philip Anschutz).
2025: Sharon Magness Blake
2024: Gen. Ralph E. “Ed” Eberhart
2023: Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead
2022: Ron Williams
2020: Marcy & Bruce Benson
2019: Robert “Bob” Tointon
2018: Tony Frank, DVM, PhD
2017: John Malone, PhD
2016: Michael J. Sullivan
2015: Philip F. Anschutz
AP Photo/William J. Smith
Associate Supreme Court Justice Byron “Whizzer” White in his office in Washington, DC, Apr. 17, 1963.
It is the gastronomic equivalent of a Taylor Swift residency at the Forum — exclusive, impossibly expensive and the most sought-after ticket in town.
Copenhagen’s renowned Noma, a restaurant that has claimed the title of “Best in the World” five times over along with three Michelin sparklers to boot, is officially landing in Los Angeles this March for a 16-week residency in Silver Lake. But as the countdown to the Jan. 26 booking release begins, a different kind of conversation simmers beneath the surface of the hype.
The price tag? A stratospheric $1,500 per guest.
While that figure includes beverage pairings, service and tax, it remains an eye-popping entry fee even for a city accustomed to paying $400 for omakase. Yet the demand at such a seemingly unreal price is undeniably real: More than 20,000 people have already reportedly chucked their hats in the ring (subscribing to newsletters and setting notifications) all hoping to secure one of the 42 nightly seats from March 11 through June 26, with midday seatings on Wednesday and Fridays.
Is this pop-up the ultimate celebration of California’s famed fruitful bounty, or is it a clumsy arrival at the worst possible time?
The ‘creative playground’
Rene Redzepi, chef and co-owner of the acclaimed Danish restaurant Noma, is coming to Los Angeles for a residency in Silver Lake that will charge diners $1,500 each for dinner. (Photo by Thibault Savary/AFP via Getty Images)
For Rene Redzepi, Noma’s visionary chef, the move to Los Angeles has been years in the making. In a statement explaining his choice, the Danish chef painted a romantic picture of California’s biggest city:
“There are melting pots, and then there is LA. It’s an epicenter of culture, art, and entertainment, with one of the most interesting and dynamic food scenes in the world. In one place, we can learn about ingredients from communities all over the world … Coming to LA as a team means we get to enter a new creative playground. There is a sense of possibility, of going into the unknown, with the hope of experiencing the power and creativity that come from collaboration across crafts, perspectives, and disciplines in even deeper ways than we have before. We’re going to LA to cook, to create and to see what’s possible.”
The California iteration of Noma will be “exploring everything within a 300 miles radius of LA” and build its test kitchen pantry “completely from scratch with hundreds of flavors developed on the ground.”
Jenn Tanaka, a food and travel writer who met Redzepi during a previous visit to the culinary bookstore Now Serving in Chinatown, recalled how the chef’s executive team was enchanted by the local landscape.
“He was so impressed that Southern California had all of these diverse communities,” said Tanaka, a contributor to Eater LA and Southern California News Group publications. “There’s a Chinatown, there’s a Koreatown, there’s a Little Tokyo. There’s amazing Armenian food in Glendale, and the Persian food he found on the Westside. Just the ingredients of California-grown produce blew them away.”
The price of a memory
From a chef’s perspective, the $1,500, while high, isn’t only about the food on the plate. Zach Scherer, co-chef and co-founder of Darkroom in Santa Ana, views the residency through the lens of artistry.
“It’s a tricky one for me because Rene is a hero of the industry and has done so much to really spotlight locality,” said Scherer, wondering, “The price is insane, don’t get me wrong, but it may be worth it?”
The noted chef, whose own eatery has earnedplauditsgalore over the last two years, compares the experience to a high-stakes concert. “Think of it this way: If you could see your favorite band in a small-capacity venue, play a show you thought they’d never play, how much would you pay? The $1,500 isn’t for food on the plate; it’s for a memory you may never get to have again.”
Similarly lauded spots, for example, like the French Laundry in Yountville, cost roughly anywhere from $900 to over $1,200 per person with beverage pairings.
Noma has attempted to bridge the accessibility gap by offering an “Industry Table” (i.e., free reservations for young hospitality professionals under 25) and pledging 1% of revenue to school lunch programs via the nonprofit MAD and Brigaid.
But for some, the math still doesn’t add up. Anne Marie Panoringan, Culture OC food writer, notes that even for seasoned gastronomes, the value proposition feels off. “We got the update to register, but decided at the last minute that it’s wasted on us,” said Panoringan. “[My husband] and I don’t drink enough wine. And it’s roughly the same price per guest as 21 Royal,” an $18,000 multi-course feast high above Disneyland’s New Orleans Square that comes with a park hopper, valet and a stone’s throw from Pirates of the Caribbean.
A city with PTSD
Not everyone is ready to give the Danish team a standing ovation. For Mona Holmes, James Beard Award-nominated editor of Eater LA, the optics of a 16-week, $1,500-per-head pop-up feels jarringly out of step with reality on the ground.
“The response is fairly negative,” said Holmes, when asked about the reaction to Noma’s residency, pointing to the feedback on social media. “I haven’t seen a single person be enthusiastic about Noma. The response, and I happen to agree with this, is that it’s remarkably tone-deaf.”
Indeed, the bulk of comments on Eater’s social media aren’t overwhelmingly positive on the upcoming pop-up, ranging from “Ugh” to “If you book Vespertine, Providence, N/naka and Kato all in the same night, it still comes out less expensive.”
Holmes points to a city still reeling from a series of body blows: the aftermath of horrific and fatal wildfires, the strikes that decimated the local economy, a restaurant industry struggling to survive post-pandemic malaise and skyrocketing costs, and ICE raids creating rampant fear and chaos.
“To come in and charge $1,500 feels remarkably tone-deaf and not particularly a part of Rene Redzepi’s principles around sustainability,” she said. “What are you contributing? I don’t really see what that is yet, and I think a lot of people are really [ticked] off. The majority of people here cannot afford it. So, why the hell are you coming?”
Holmes also questions the choice of Silver Lake, a Los Angeles neighborhood she suggests is in a state of flux. “Silver Lake … certainly doesn’t have the same status that it used to, especially on the main drag. A lot of restaurants have closed and haven’t reopened. Bar Moruno, which was a really great restaurant I loved, closed more than two years ago.” (For now, the exact Silver Lake location remains under wraps; the address and directions will be sent to guests once bookings are confirmed.)
For Holmes and many Angelenos, the arrival of Noma feels like an outsider misreading the room. “Right now, I’m sitting in my car looking at the mountains above Altadena and Pasadena, and they are still scorched from the Eaton fire,” she said. “You can see the burn scars. For someone to come in and try to make an impression on a population that is very much in a state of PTSD, I can’t imagine that this is going to go well. I really believe there will be protesters.”
Tanaka shares the same sentiment, noting the disconnect between city denizens and Redzepi’s ostensible ideology. “It’s frustrating because the communities here that he’s celebrating, like Koreatown or Little Ethiopia, might not be the type of diners that are going to be able to afford Noma.”
With the approach of Jan. 26 — the day when the Noma-fied lucky few learn their fate — the tens of thousands of names on the waitlist prove there’s no shortage of people willing to pay for a rarified memory. But as the literal smoke clears from the torched hillsides, the question remains whether Los Angeles really needs a $1,500 “creative playground” or a visitor who sees the scars beneath its fertile surface.
Yes, Mr. Worldwide himself has announced plans to bring the I’m Back Tour to Toyota Amphitheatre at Wheatland on June 6 and Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View on June 7.
And he’s bringing Lil Jon along for the ride.
Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Jan. 30, livenation.com.
There is also an artist presale, but fans need to register in advance — by 10 p.m. Jan. 26 at livemu.sc/pitbull — in order to participate
PITBULL I’M BACK TOUR NORTH AMERICA DATES:
Thu May 14 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Sat May 16 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun May 17 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
Tue May 19 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park
Wed May 20 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater
Fri May 22 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sat May 23 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Wed May 27 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Fri May 29 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sat May 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Wed June 3 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sat June 6 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
Sun June 7 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Wed Aug 19 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Fri Aug 21 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
Sat Aug 22 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
Tue Aug 25 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Wed Aug 26 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater
Fri Aug 28 – Hartford, CT – The Meadows Music Theatre
Sat Aug 29 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Mon Aug 31 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
Wed Sep 2 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Thu Sep 3 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Sat Sep 5 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
Wed Sep 9 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Thu Sep 10 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater
Sat Sep 12 – East Troy, WI – Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Sun Sep 13 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Tue Sep 15 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Wed Sep 16 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Fri Sep 18 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
Sat Sep 19 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Tue Sep 22 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
Fri Sep 25 – Kansas City, MO – MORTON Amphitheater
Sat Sep 26 – Shakopee, MN – Mystic Lake Amphitheater
*with Special Guest Lil Jon
PITBULL I’M BACK TOUR EUROPE / UK DATES (on sale now):
Tue Jun 23 – Stockholm, SE – 3Arena
Sat Jun 27 – Werchter, BE – Werchter Boutique*
Tue Jun 30 – Belfast, UK – Ormeau Park (Belsonic)
Wed Jul 01 – Glasgow, UK – Glasgow Summer Sessions, Bellahouston Park
Fri Jul 03 – Leeds, UK – American Express Presents Roundhay Park *
Tue Jul 07 – Dublin, IE- Marlay Park
Wed Jul 08 – Limerick, IE- Thomond Park Stadium
Fri Jul 10 – London, UK – American Express Presents BST Hyde Park London*
Sat Jul 12 – Nice, FR – Allianz Arena
Wed Jul 15 – Arnhem, NL – GelreDome
Sun Jul 19 – Dusseldorf, DE – Arena Im Open Air Park
Tue Jul 21 – Budapest, HU – Puskas Arena
Thu Jul 23 – Warsaw, PL – PG Narodowy
Sun Jul 26 – Prague, CZ – Airport LetnanyWed
Jul 29 – Riga, LV – Mezaparks Great Bandstand
Fri Jul 31 – Kaunas, LT – Darius and Girenas Stadium
Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in SAGITTARIUS.
Happy Birthday for Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026:
You are idealistic, public-spirited and empathetic. You aspire to perfection and intuitively sense what is right and wrong. This year you will reap the benefits of all your hard work. Expect power, leadership and recognition for your accomplishments. You might get a promotion or an award.
ARIES
(March 21-April 19) ★★★★ A parent, boss or someone in authority might do a favour for you today or give you a gift of some kind. Be open to this possibility. Whatever happens could evolve into making you feel more secure about what you’re doing and how you’re living. It’s a good day to learn something new! Tonight: Explore!
TAURUS
(April 20-May 20) ★★★★ Surprise opportunities might fall in your lap today. This is also a very romantic day! You might strike up a flirtation with someone “different,” or even fall in love with someone of an age difference (or they might be more settled and established). Tonight: Check your finances.
GEMINI
(May 21-June 20) ★★★ Keep an eye on your banking and financial transactions because something unexpected could impact them. Very likely, it will be to your benefit. This could be a gift or something you’re happy to see. It also might give you some long-term benefit. Meanwhile, romance is passionate! Tonight: Listen and cooperate.
CANCER
(June 21-July 22) ★★★★ There’s a surprising aspect to your relationships or friendships today, so be on your toes. Something unusual might happen that pleases you. You also might sit down and have a serious discussion about the division of labor or shared expenses. An exciting new contact might occur. Tonight: Get organized.
LEO
(July 23-Aug. 22) ★★★★ This is a playful, fun-loving day, which is why you want to socialize or do something different. You’re also ready to accept responsibilities that are related to any task that you’re doing or at your job. However, something unexpected might occur. Perhaps a flirtation. Tonight: Socialize!
VIRGO
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ★★★★★ Something surprising or exciting might happen today. You might get an invitation to socialize. You might meet someone new and different who is unusual. New romance might percolate. Parents should be vigilant because it’s a mildly accident-prone day for your kids. Tonight: Relax at home.
LIBRA
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ★★★★ Something unexpected might please your family. You might buy something high-tech or attractive. Someone unexpected might knock at your door. You’re also ready to do something to solidify your home base and secure your future – something sensible. Tonight: Important conversations.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ★★★★ This is a pleasant day. New places, new faces and new ideas might give your day an unexpected lift! Serious discussions might help you to solidify social plans, vacations or ways of educating and dealing with your kids. Money is on your mind. Tonight: Check your possessions.
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) ★★★★ Today the Moon is in your sign, which gives you a slight edge over everyone else. Why not ask the universe for a favor and see what happens? Meanwhile, keep an eye on your money and possessions because something unexpected could occur. On the upside, you might get a gift. Tonight: You win!
CAPRICORN
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ★★★★ Find some quiet time today to take a breather. Nevertheless, social occasions might make sudden demands on your time, especially if you feel you must respond out of a sense of courtesy or social obligation. Spontaneous shopping for wardrobe items will delight you. Tonight: Seek privacy.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18) ★★★★ A secret love affair or a flirtation might happen today. A discussion with a female friend or a member of a group could impact your future plans. Perhaps this is because something going on behind the scenes can now stabilize your finances in some way. Tonight: Talk to a friend.
PISCES
(Feb. 19-March 20) ★★★★ It’s a popular day! Unexpected flirtations and encounters with others will make this a pleasant, fun-loving day for you. Stay light on your feet so that you can be flexible and ready to jump in any direction. You might hang out with someone older or take time to fill social responsibilities or show respect to someone. Tonight: You’re noticed.
BORN TODAY
Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. (1929), actress, director Regina King (1971), actress Andrea Martin (1947)
TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — The annual Treasure Island Kite Festival will return to the beach on Friday for the first time since a pair of hurricanes devastated the area in 2024.
What You Need To Know
The 29th annual Treasure Island Kite Festival begins on Friday and runs through Sunday
The event was canceled last year as the area recovered from Hurricanes Helene and Milton
The public can expect to see hundreds, maybe even thousands of colorful kites flying
The family friendly event is free to attend
“It feels fantastic,” said organizer Torrey Lindemann. “Kite flying is all about community and bringing people together and having fun.”
The organizer said the public can expect to see hundreds, maybe even thousands of colorful kites flying over the beach at the same time. Lindemann said he has 30 years of experience and enjoys flying a sports kite.
“There’s also going to be a lot of giant inflatable kites,” he said. “We’ve got a kite flying team from Texas that just rolled in, and they have a 90-foot octopus.”
The massive sea creature kites will be lit up with LED lights for the night fly on Friday and Saturday. The return of the kite festival is another sign that much of the area has recovered from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The iconic Thunderbird Beach Hotel, which was the lead sponsor of the event, has been temporarily closed since being flooded by Helene. Instead, the Bilmar Beach Resort next door has taken over the sponsorship.
“We’re so glad that we’re able to do that,” said Clyde Smith, Bilmar general manager. “We’re happy to pick up the ball and run with them.”
Smith said dozens of rooms have been booked for the festival, which will be the first big event of the year in Treasure Island.
“It’s definitely the best weekend in a little while,” he said. “It was a little soft this holiday period.”
Lindemann said players from all over the country have been arriving for the festival. The pro flyers will participate in stunt shows, battle in competitions and choreographed ballets set to music.
“There’s over 10,000 people who said that they are interested in coming,” he said. “So we hope that that we get a lot of people to show up and help boost the economy here and get to learn about kite flying because it’s so much fun.”
The 29th annual Treasure Island Kite Festival begins on Friday and runs through Sunday. The family-friendly event is free to attend, and the public can bring their own kites to fly.
The SoCal Indie Bestsellers List for the sales week ended Jan. 11 is based on reporting from the independent booksellers of Southern California, the California Independent Booksellers Alliance and IndieBound. For an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound.org.
HARDCOVER FICTION
1. What We Can Know: Ian McEwan
2. Heart the Lover: Lily King
3. The Correspondent: Virginia Evans
4. James: Percival Everett
5. The First Time I Saw Him: Laura Dave
6. Wild Dark Shore: Charlotte McConaghy
7. Flesh: David Szalay
8. Buckeye: Patrick Ryan
9. Audition: Katie Kitamura
10. Mona’s Eyes: Thomas Schlesser
HARDCOVER NONFICTION
1. A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck: Sophie Elmhirst
2. Bread of Angels: A Memoir: Patti Smith
3. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This: Omar El Akkad
4. Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America’s New Age of Disaster: Jacob Soboroff
5. The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About: Mel Robbins, Sawyer Robbins
6. Hush: How to Radiate Power and Confidence Without Saying a Word: Linda Clemons
7. The Creative Act: A Way of Being: Rick Rubin
8. Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love: Samin Nosrat
9. Mother Mary Comes to Me: Arundhati Roy
10. The Little Frog’s Guide to Life: Love, Advice and Inspiration for Every Day from the Internet’s Beloved Mushroom Frog: Maybell Eequay
TRADE PAPERBACK FICTION
1. Heated Rivalry: Rachel Reid
2. Dungeon Crawler Carl: Matt Dinniman
3. Hamnet: Maggie O’Farrell
4. Project Hail Mary: Andy Weir
5. Game Changer: Rachel Reid
6. The Long Game: Rachel Reid
7. Remarkably Bright Creatures: Shelby Van Pelt
8. Martyr!: Kaveh Akbar
9. The Frozen River: Ariel Lawhon
10. I Who Have Never Known Men: Jacqueline Harpman
TRADE PAPERBACK NONFICTION
1. The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality: Amanda Montell
2. I’m Glad My Mom Died: Jennette McCurdy
3. Fight Oligarchy: Senator Bernie Sanders
4. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century: Timothy Snyder
5. How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen: David Brooks
6. Reimagining Government: Achieving the Promise of AI: Faisal Hoque, Erik Nelson, Thomas H. Davenport
7. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants: Robin Wall Kimmerer
8. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder: David Grann
9. Just Kids: Patti Smith
10. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma: Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
The second BottleRock Napa headliner that really has us excited is the Backstreet Boys, the legendary “boy band” known for such glistening pop hits as “I Want It That Way,” “Bye Bye Bye” and — ranking in as one of the finest ballads of the ’90s — “Quit Playing Games (with My Heart).”
Other top names on the bill include Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters — which is making its third appearance at BottleRock, following headlining slots in 2017 and 2021 — as well as Teddy Swims, LCD Soundsystem and SOMBR.
Further down the bill, you’ll find plenty of other cool acts — Lil Wayne, Chaka Khan, Rilo Kiley, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, etc. — which combine to make this one of the strongest BottleRock bills in years.
The complete lineup is listed below.
Tickets for this three-day music (and so much more) festival — which runs May 22-24 at the Napa Valley Expo in downtown Napa — start at $475 per person and go on sale at 10 a.m. Jan. 14, BottleRockNapaValley.com.
No word on when, or if, single-day tickets will be released. Individual daily lineups will be announced in the weeks to come.
The lineup for the festival’s popular Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage — hosted by the amazing Liam “Foodie Chap” Mayclem — will be announced at a later date.
CLEVELAND — While it may not be brand new, visitors thought the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s $150 million renovation made it feel like new, according to USA Today Readers Choice awards.
What You Need To Know
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History was voted No. 4 on the list
“The Cleveland Museum of Natural History now tells Earth’s story through a visitor-centered lens,” USA Today said
These museums were nominated by a panel of experts and voted by readers as the best new or newly transformed venues on the scene, representing the top openings of the past two years.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History was voted No. 4 on the list for its renovation and expansion.
“The Cleveland Museum of Natural History now tells Earth’s story through a visitor-centered lens,” USA Today said in its rankings. “The reimagined galleries place you inside prehistoric Ohio, where you can handle real fossils and gape at ‘Happy,’ the 72-foot-long Haplocanthosaurus, in a setting that matches the gentle giant’s magnitude.”
The full list of museums includes:
National Medal of Honor Museum: Arlington, Texas
Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University: Mantua, New Jersey
National Public Housing Museum: Chicago, Illinois
Cleveland Museum of Natural History: Cleveland, Ohio
Museum of Art + Light: Manhattan, Kansas
Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream: Washington D.C.
The Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium: Paterson, New Jersey
Door County Granary: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College: Lakeland, Florida
Moon Alert: Avoid shopping (except for food and gas) or major decisions from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST today (2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. PST). After that, the Moon moves from SCORPIO into SAGITTARIUS.
Happy Birthday for Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026:
You’re focused, motivated and direct. You want to bring about improvements in the world around you. This year is about service, probably service to family. Therefore, take care of yourself because you will be a resource for others, especially those who look to you for guidance, courage, comfort and solace.
ARIES
(March 21-April 19) ★★★ This is a passionate day. Your attraction to someone older or in a position of power might be compelling. Why not seek the advice of someone who is more experienced? Double-check things related to shared property, debt and inheritances, because something unexpected could happen. Stay on your toes. Tonight: Explore and learn!
TAURUS
(April 20-May 20) ★★★ Today you’ll have to go more than halfway when dealing with others, which is not a problem. Travel plans look exciting. You might have opportunities to pursue further education or coursework. Romance with someone “different” might begin. It’s a restless day. Tonight: Check your finances.
GEMINI
(May 21-June 20) ★★★ Today is a bit of a mixed bag. Romance will be passionate. You will also be very productive because you’re levelheaded and focused. Having said that, something will interrupt your work routine, your health or even your dealings with a pet. Be ready for anything. Tonight: Cooperate.
CANCER
(June 21-July 22) ★★★★ This is a passionate, romantic day, and some will make a commitment. Or you might commit to a school or a major trip. Unexpected social invitations could appear, or some might be cancelled. Parents should be vigilant because this is an accident-prone day for your kids. Tonight: Get organized.
LEO
(July 23-Aug. 22) ★★★ Your home routine will be interrupted today. Small appliances might break down or a minor breakage could occur. Perhaps someone unexpected will be at the door. A work-related romance or a flirtation might take place for some of you. Financial discussions will be reassuring. Tonight: Socialize!
VIRGO
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ★★★★ Give yourself extra time today so you have wiggle room to deal with the unexpected. A serious discussion with a partner or close friend might take place. This is also a great day to socialize. Enjoy fun activities with kids and romantic outings. Tonight: Relax.
LIBRA
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ★★★ Keep an eye on your money and belongings today. Something unexpected might incur damage or loss. However, financial discussions or special purchases might improve your home in a lovely way. Look for opportunities right now to make your home more attractive. Tonight: A warm discussion.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ★★★★ This is a restless, excitable day, which is why you might seek stimulating outlets or be attracted to someone who is “different.” Your impulsive actions might disrupt something. This is because you’re eager to have a good time and share entertaining diversions with someone. Tonight: Check your belongings.
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) ★★★ This is a restless day for you; however, it’s also a positive, sensible day. A discussion with someone older, perhaps a parent or a family member, will yield practical results. You might be nursing some ideas about buying something beautiful for yourself or someone else, or financial speculation. Tonight: You win!
CAPRICORN
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ★★★★ It’s a great day to schmooze with friends and groups. However, someone might surprise you or catch you off guard, or you might meet a real character. Listen to the advice of someone older or more experienced. A romantic attraction is in the picture! Tonight: Enjoy privacy.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18) ★★★ You impress bosses, parents and authority figures today. They see you as someone who is reliable, conscientious and capable of putting up with adversity. You have patience and strength, which is admirable. Privately, you might feel rebellious. Tonight: Be friendly.
PISCES
(Feb. 19-March 20) ★★★★ Do something different today. You have a need for adventure and excitement. In fact, pay attention to everything you say and do to avoid an accident. Meanwhile, social interactions with friends and groups, especially artistic people, will be meaningful for you. Something casual might heat up into a romantic connection. Tonight: You’re noticed.
BORN TODAY
Actress Julia Louis Dreyfus (1961), actress Natalia Dyer (1995), actor Orlando Bloom (1977)
Moon Alert: Avoid shopping (except for food or gas) or important decisions from 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. EST today (12:01 a.m. to 3 a.m. PST). After that, we have the all-clear. The Moon is in SCORPIO.
Happy Birthday for Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026:
You’re perceptive, astute and excellent at decision-making. You have intellectual clarity and logical thought. This is a good year to work and build structures both externally and internally. Take charge of your health. Physical exercise will play an important role. Stay grounded and levelheaded.
ARIES
(March 21-April 19) ★★ People are a bit touchy today, so be patient with yourself as well as others. Discussions about shared property, shared responsibilities, inheritances and financial matters might turn into power struggles today. Be wise and postpone these for another day. Tonight: Keep the peace.
TAURUS
(April 20-May 20) ★★★ Be patient when talking to partners, spouses or close friends today, because people are uneasy and quick to take offense. Feelings of jealousy can arise out of nowhere. You’ll enjoy doing something different. Tonight: Check your finances.
GEMINI
(May 21-June 20) ★★ Don’t make a big issue about anything at work, or related to health care workers or even your pet, because ego battles might arise. People feel emotionally invested in whatever they’re doing today. Tread carefully! Tonight: Patience.
CANCER
(June 21-July 22) ★★★ Parents need to be patient with their kids today to avoid meltdowns and hissy fits. Constructive criticism can help, but encouragement does more. (You’re the adult.) Tiptoe through the tulips. Tonight: Relax.
LEO
(July 23-Aug. 22) ★★ Avoid disagreements at home by going out, keeping silent or getting involved in your own project, because power struggles are classic today. It’s not just you, the vibes are everywhere. Don’t make a big deal about anything. Tonight: Cocoon.
VIRGO
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ★★★ Use today’s energy to enjoy creative projects, social outings or any kind of escape activity. Meanwhile, discussions with siblings, relatives and neighbors might be irritating or worse. Tonight: Conversations.
LIBRA
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ★★ Money squabbles might arise today. These could pertain to earnings and cash flow. Or they might be about a purchase, whether it’s recent or in the future. Table this discussion for another day. You need harmony in your everyday environment. Be your own best friend. Tonight: Check your belongings.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ★★★ Today the Moon in your sign is at odds with your ruler Pluto, which can trigger compulsive behaviors, sudden urges and impulses. On the upside, it’s a good day for emotional self-analysis, because you’re willing to be honest. (“I did it! In the library with the candlestick!”) Tonight: You’re strong.
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) ★★ You might be nursing feelings of guilt, jealousy or a general feeling of restlessness today. Everyone feels this in varying degrees because it’s a disconcerting day. Focus on financial matters to distract your mind. Get outside and take a walk. Tonight: Privacy.
CAPRICORN
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ★★★ Emotional power struggles with friends or members of groups are likely today. You might even encounter someone who is manipulating your feelings to get their way. People are disgruntled and very passionate today. If something looks dicey, go the other direction. Tonight: Friendships.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18) ★★ Don’t be the victim of a public argument where others look askance at you and make you feel chagrined. Be aware that you’re high-viz today, which means people notice you more than usual. (Everyone is touchy.) Be aware. Tonight: Show respect.
PISCES
(Feb. 19-March 20) ★★★ Controversial subjects like politics and racial issues will bring power struggles today, no question. Steer clear of these for your own peace of mind. After all, you want to have a happy day; you don’t want angst. Well, nobody does. Tonight: Escape.
BORN TODAY
Singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige (1971), actress Amanda Peet (1972), automotive designer, racing driver Carroll Shelby (1923)
Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in LIBRA.
Happy Birthday for Friday, Jan. 9, 2026:
You have sharp, analytical skills and keen powers of perception. You’re determined and committed to whatever you choose. This is a slower paced year. It’s OK to rest. Take time to rejuvenate your energy. Mingle with people who are kind, helpful and have your back. Focus on relationships.
ARIES
(March 21-April 19) ★★★★ Today you’re restless to do something that’s ambitious or noteworthy. You would love to impress bosses, parents and people in authority with your ideas and abilities. It’s an excellent day to start new ventures because you have the energy to be bold and daring! Tonight: Cooperate.
TAURUS
(April 20-May 20) ★★★★ Sometimes we have heroic Walter Mitty daydreams about exploring exciting adventures. Today this is actually possible for you. Plans and ideas that you might have felt were beyond your reach might today be actually doable. The reason for this is you’re determined and confident! Tonight: Get organized.
GEMINI
(May 21-June 20) ★★★ Disputes about shared property, inheritances, taxes and insurance issues might arise today. If they do, they’ll be intense and in-your-face. If you feel accused or dismissed, you will defend yourself, and eloquently so. “Don’t mess with the kid.” Tonight: Socialize!
CANCER
(June 21-July 22) ★★★ You might encounter someone today who inspires you with their energy. They might arouse your ambition, stimulate your confidence and make you want to do something. Conversely, you might be upset with someone because you don’t agree with them. Tonight: Relax.
LEO
(July 23-Aug. 22) ★★★★ You’ll be productive today because the Sun is lined up with Mars in the part of your chart that makes you want to get things done! This productivity will be exemplified at work, in your job or in any task that you choose for yourself today. (The secret is you identify with what you’re doing.) Tonight: Interesting discussion.
VIRGO
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ★★★★ You have an amazing burst of energy today that you can use for creative expression and anything to do with the performing arts, writing, music, you name it. Others might be surprised at your sudden enthusiasm to initiate something new. Tonight: Take care of what you own.
LIBRA
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ★★★ You are affected by your immediate environment, and you want your home to look attractive. Sometimes it’s messy and out of control, but you wish it looked nice. Today you have the energy to move furniture and accomplish what you want at home. Just do it. (You’ll love yourself for it later.) Tonight: You’re strong!
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ★★★★ Your communication skills are amazing today, which is good news for those of you in sales, marketing, teaching, acting or writing. You have energy, resolve and a determined focus, which will help you to be persuasive. Travel will please you. Tonight: Enjoy solitude.
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) ★★★ This is a tricky day because in one way, you’re willing to bust your buns to boost your income, especially if it’s a new idea or you want to initiate a new project. However, you are just as likely to blow your money big-time because you’re enthusiastic about something. Tonight: Be friendly.
CAPRICORN
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ★★★★★ Today the Sun is lined up with fiery Mars in your sign, making you feel vigorous! Because of this high level of energy, you need to be physically active. Don’t sit at home getting dusty. Get out and do something. Start a new project. Tonight: You’re admired.
PISCES
(Feb. 19-March 20) ★★★★ Today you might express a burst of energy in a creative way in the arts or the entertainment world or the hospitality industry. You’re excited about an idea. It’s something that you identify with, perhaps a pet project. Finally, today you have the motivation to act! Tonight: Check your finances.
BORN TODAY
Actor J.K. Simmons (1955), actress Nina Dobrev (1989), singer-songwriter Joan Baez (1941)
DELAND, Fla. — A DeLand operation is quietly doing life-saving work one venomous bite at a time.
What You Need To Know
The Reptile Discovery Center and Medtoxin Venom Laboratory in DeLand houses some of the most dangerous snakes on Earth, extracting venom used for antivenom, pharmaceuticals, and global research
Director Carl Barden says venom from “about 25 or 30 different species” is processed and shipped worldwide, turning deadly toxins into lifesaving treatments
The work comes with real risk—Barden has survived 11 snakebites, including a cobra bite that nearly killed him—but he says the danger is comparable to other high-risk jobs
The center is also open to the public, offering live venom extractions, educational exhibits, and up-close views of snakes responsible for bite problems around the world
The Reptile Discovery Center and Medtoxin Laboratory is home to some of the most dangerous snakes on the planet, where venom is carefully extracted, studied, and transformed into life-saving treatments around the world.
When you visit this laboratory, it’s a good idea to keep a safe distance.
Here, some of the world’s most deadly snakes are laid out, and venom is methodically extracted from one dangerous snake at a time.
“Venoms are produced here from about 25 or 30 different species, and they are processed and shipped all around the world,” said Carl Barden, director of Medtoxin Laboratories at the Reptile Discovery Center.
Barden and his wife, Mara Barden, work as a team, safely guiding the reptiles to naturally bite down so venom can be collected.
“We’re passionate about the work that we do here. It has a real-world impact—antivenom and a lifesaving drug,” Carl Barden said.
That venom is used for antivenoms, pharmaceuticals, and research, with refrigerators full of compounds ready to be shipped.
“This is the antivenom refrigerator,” Carl Barden said. “And this is where we store snakebite serums — antivenom from all over the world.”
Some of that serum is kept solely in case Barden himself is bitten, and antivenom he would take with him to a nearby hospital to save his life, and it’s happened before.
“I’ve had 11 snakebites in the last 35 years of collecting snake venom,” he said. “One of those was a cobra bite. That particular bite almost killed me, put me on a ventilator for 14 hours.”
Despite the danger, Carl Barden believes the risk is no different from other professions.
“If you look at the deaths from snake bites and snake handlers, the numbers are actually fairly low,” he said.
Medtoxin is more than just a snake lab.
Visitors are welcome to learn about reptiles and their role around the world, watch venom extractions from a front-row seat, and explore an outdoor walking trail home to various creatures.
“So, things like king cobras and black mambas, kaboom vipers, puff adders,” Carl Barden said. “All of those snakes are on display at the Discovery Center, so people can come and see animals that are responsible for snake bite problems around the world.”
Snakebites are a fascinating paradox: Snake venom, while deadly, holds the key to its own lifesaving treatments.
OHIO — Bruno Mars slides into the Buckeye State this spring as he launches his first global tour in nearly a decade.
What You Need To Know
“The Romantic Tour” will follow the launch of Mars’ fourth solo album, “The Romantic” which debuts on Feb. 27
Mars will be joined by Anderson .Paak as DJ Pee .Wee as a special guest, along with Leon Thomas, Raye and Victoria Monet
Tickets start being available on Jan. 14 with artist presale, while general sales start at noon on Jan. 15
“The Romantic Tour” will follow the launch of Mars’ fourth solo album, “The Romantic,” which debuts on Feb. 27. The tour marks Mars’ first global stadium outing.
Mars will be joined by Anderson .Paak as DJ Pee .Wee as a special guest, along with Leon Thomas, Raye and Victoria Monet on select shows.
Tickets start being available on Jan. 14 with artist presale, while general sales start at noon on Jan. 15 at BrunoMars.com.
The 2026 tour will span nearly 40 shows across North America, Europe and the UK, starting April 10 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
On May 20, Mars will perform at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio show will also feature Anderson .Paak as DJ Pee .Wee and Leon Thomas.
New year, new me? I’m not really one for New Year’s resolutions or Dry January routines, though I do lightly aspire to go to bed earlier, drink less wine and eat more vegetables in 2026. I very much want to just stay home and cook a lot this month, incidentally a great way to be healthier and more present in your daily life.
If you need recipes for healthy meals — breakfast, lunch, dinner, anything — you’re in the right place. I’ve got five dinners for you below.
1. One-Pan Spicy Chicken Thighs and Mushrooms
A fried pepper condiment of puréed bell peppers and onions known in Yorùbá as ọbẹ ata dín dín is common across West Africa as a base for stewed greens and meat. This sauce is an expression of balance in a pot, often packed with fresh, dried, fermented and hot ingredients, each rich and distinct in flavor. Here, mushrooms and chicken thighs are the lucky recipients of this mother sauce. The pivot is to simply chop jarred roasted peppers instead of crushing fresh vegetables with a grinding stone, which is a traditional yet lengthy process. Oil-packed anchovies and miso deliver exactly as expected, adding savoriness to the depth of mushrooms. A squeeze of lime lends a tart zing to the sauce; a scatter of chopped basil adds a piquant burst.
By Yewande Komolafe
Yield: 4 servings
Total time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Salt and black pepper
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 small red onion, peeled and chopped
6 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed with the side of a large knife
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 Scotch bonnet or habanero chile, minced (without seeds for mild)
8 to 10 oil-packed anchovies
2 tablespoons white or red miso
12 ounces mixed mushrooms (any kind), wiped clean and sliced
1 (16-ounce) jar roasted red bell peppers, drained and chopped (2 cups)
1 cup chicken broth or water
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus leaves for garnish (optional)
1 lime, cut in wedges, for serving
Preparation
1. Pat the chicken dry and season lightly with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over high and add 1 tablespoon oil. Place the chicken smooth side down and cook without moving until dark golden brown, 7 to 9 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional minute. Move the chicken to a plate, browned side up.
3. Reduce the heat to medium, heat the remaining 2 tablespoon oil in the skillet and add the onion, garlic, cumin, chile, anchovies and miso. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is softened, the miso is broken up and the anchovies have completely broken down, about 4 minutes.
4. Increase the heat to high and stir in the mushrooms and red peppers. Cook, stirring frequently to allow the mushrooms to soften and release their liquid. Add the broth and continue to cook until the liquid collects toward the center of the pan, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. Use a wooden spoon to create divots in the sauce. Nestle the chicken in the divots, browned side up.
6. Cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 3 minutes, adding an additional 1/4 cup water if the sauce begins to dry out. The mushrooms and peppers should be soft. Top with chopped basil if using.
7. Serve immediately over rice with lime wedges and top with basil leaves if using.
Cilantro lime rice and salmon. Spicy chicken thighs and mushrooms, seared tofu with kimchi and turkey chili start the year with flavor and ease. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne. (Julia Gartland, The New York Times)
2. Cilantro-Lime Salmon and Rice
Bright and vibrant cilantro and lime liven up this weeknight-friendly, one-pot meal. Start by toasting rice in butter in a skillet to create a flavorful base, then, when the rice is almost finished cooking, add green beans and briefly marinated salmon to steam. Like many one-pot meals, this one is carefully calibrated so that each of the ingredients finishes cooking at the same time. Give the beans a head start to ensure they tenderize in the short time it takes the delicate salmon to cook through. To serve, garnish the finished dish with more cilantro and lime juice.
By Yossy Arefi
Yield: 4 servings
Total time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
4 limes
1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
Salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
2 3/4 cups water or low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
8 ounces green beans, trimmed
1 pound salmon, skin removed, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems
Black pepper, to taste
Preparation
1. Zest and juice 3 of the limes into a medium bowl until you get about 1/4 cup lime juice. Stir in the sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Reserve half of the juice and zest mixture in a small bowl. Cut the remaining lime into wedges.
2. In a large skillet with a lid, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the rice and stir until the rice is opaque and light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Add the water or stock and bring to a simmer. Cover with the lid and cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until the water is mostly absorbed and the rice is al dente.
3. When the rice is al dente, turn the heat to low, add the green beans to the pan in an even layer on top of the rice (if the pan seems dry, add a couple of tablespoons of stock or water). Cover and cook the beans for 5 minutes.
4. While the beans are cooking, add the salmon to the medium bowl with the lime mixture and toss to combine.
5. Uncover the skillet and shift the green beans to one side of the pan, then add the salmon to the other side, drizzling any remaining liquid from its bowl on top. Put the lid back on and steam until the salmon and beans are just cooked through, 10 to 15 more minutes.
6. Remove the salmon and green beans to a platter, then add the reserved lime mixture in the small bowl to the rice, along with all but 2 tablespoons of the cilantro. Stir gently to combine, then season the rice with salt and pepper.
7. Sprinkle the remaining cilantro over the top. Serve rice, salmon and green beans with more lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the top.
Ras el Hanout chickpea and spinach stew. Spicy chicken thighs and mushrooms, seared tofu with kimchi and turkey chili start the year with flavor and ease. Food Stylist: Spencer Richards. (Christopher Testani, The New York Times)
3. Ras el Hanout Chickpea and Spinach Stew
This warming one-pot stew delivers the depth and comfort of a long-simmered meal in a fraction of the time. Chickpeas and spinach braise in a richly spiced tomato base, creating layers of warmth and complexity. Ras el hanout, a fragrant Moroccan spice blend, gives the dish its signature aromatic depth; gently toasted tomato paste intensifies its flavor even further. A splash of soy sauce provides an unexpected but welcome hit of umami, rounding out the dish with a richness that mimics a stew that’s been bubbling away for hours. Served with a generous spoonful of yogurt (or a squeeze of lemon) and a drizzle of harissa oil to cut through the richness, it’s perfect with crusty bread or spooned over grains like rice, barley, bulgur or quinoa.
By Nargisse Benkabbou
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Total time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
For the Stew:
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more to serve
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/4 teaspoons ras el hanout (see Tip)
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup vegetable stock, plus more if needed
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Fine sea salt
3 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed
5 cups/5 ounces packed spinach leaves (stemmed and roughly torn if large)
1/2 cup Greek yogurt or lemon wedges (optional), for serving
Crusty bread, couscous, bulgur or rice, for serving
For the Harissa Oil (optional):
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon harissa paste
Preparation
1. Prepare the stew: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium. Add the garlic and ras el hanout and stir until fragrant, about a minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly until the tomato paste darkens slightly in color, about 2 minutes.
2. Add the stock, soy sauce and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 10 minutes, until the sauce slightly darkens in color and its flavors have melded.
3. Add the chickpeas and simmer until they are warm and soft, about 10 minutes. Add the spinach and stir until wilted and fully incorporated into the stew, about 3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt if needed. If the stew starts getting too thick, feel free to add a few more spoonfuls of stock or water.
4. If using, make the harissa oil: In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil and harissa until well incorporated.
5. Serve the stew warm, with a dollop of Greek yogurt or lemon wedges on the side, and a drizzle of olive oil (or harissa oil), if desired. Enjoy with crusty bread or over grains like couscous, bulgur or rice.
Tip
Ras el hanout is widely available online and in larger grocery stores. If you’d like to make your own, stir together the following ingredients: 1 teaspoon each ground turmeric, ground coriander, ground ginger, ground cumin, ground cardamom and ground nutmeg, plus 1/2 teaspoon each ground aniseed, ground caraway seeds, ground fennel, ground cloves and ground black pepper. (This blend makes about 3 tablespoons ras el hanout.)
Seared tofu with kimchi. Spicy chicken thighs and mushrooms, seared tofu with kimchi and turkey chili start the year with flavor and ease. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne. (Bryan Gardner, The New York Times)
4. Seared Tofu With Kimchi
A simple, meatless weeknight recipe, this tofu and kimchi braise has deep flavors but comes together in just 30 minutes. The two main ingredients are tofu and kimchi. Equally delicious warm or at room temperature, this tofu braise makes a fun addition to meal prep. Serve it with rice, to soak up the delicious kimchi sauce, or tuck the tofu and kimchi into a sandwich. Store-bought kimchi vary in flavor and salt level and the more fermented kimchi will be softer, juicer, and a bit more sour. The recipe can take all levels of fermentation, but adjust seasoning as you see fit, sweetening with sugar or salting with extra soy sauce.
By Sue Li
Yield: 4 servings
Total time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
1 (14-ounce) block firm tofu, drained and cut crosswise into 8 equal slices
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 scallions, root ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
2/3 cup store-bought or homemade napa cabbage kimchi, coarsely chopped, plus 2 tablespoons kimchi juice
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
Cooked rice (optional), for serving
Preparation
1. Pat tofu pieces dry between sheets of paper towel.
2. Heat the sesame oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium. When the oil is shimmering, add the tofu in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until lightly golden on one side, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook another 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Add the scallions and kimchi to the same pan with the tofu and gently move the tofu pieces around to incorporate them into the kimchi mixture. Cook until the kimchi wilts a little, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the kimchi juice, soy sauce, sugar and 1/2 cup water.
4. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then adjust heat to medium and simmer until the tofu has absorbed some of the flavors but the mixture remains saucy, 5 to 6 minutes.
5. Serve with rice or on its own.
Turkey chili. Spicy chicken thighs and mushrooms, seared tofu with kimchi and turkey chili start the year with flavor and ease. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks. (Armando Rafael, The New York Times)
5. Turkey Chili
You might not think of chili as an easy weeknight dish, but this turkey version from Pierre Franey will change your mind. It’s fabulous, it’s healthy and it can be cooked in about a half hour. A combination of dark and white meat really adds depth and richness of flavor, so try to find a mix, but all white meat (or a mixture of ground beef and turkey) will yield a stellar batch, too.
By Pierre Franey
Yield: About 6 servings
Total time: 50 minutes
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 pounds ground turkey, white and dark meat combined
2 cups coarsely chopped onions
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1 large sweet red pepper, cored, deveined and coarsely chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 jalapeño, cored, deveined and finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped, or 1 tablespoon dried
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
3 cups canned diced tomatoes
2 cups chicken broth, fresh or canned
Salt and black pepper
2 (15-ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained
2 cups shredded cheddar
1 cup sour cream (optional)
Sliced lime, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
1. Heat the oil over high in a large heavy pot and add the turkey meat. Cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes, chopping down and stirring with the side of a heavy kitchen spoon to break up any lumps.
2. Add the onions, garlic, sweet pepper, celery, jalapeño, oregano, bay leaves, chili powder and cumin. Stir to blend well. Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Add the tomatoes, chicken broth, salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
4. Add the drained beans and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes longer. Serve in bowls with cheddar, and sour cream and lime wedges, if desired.
No one can say Tony Dokoupil is slipping into his new job as “CBS Evening News” anchor unnoticed.
In a week, he’s issued a veritable manifesto for how he intends to fulfill the role, cast subtle shade on saintly predecessor Walter Cronkite, had an unexpected debut dominated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and posted a cringeworthy video of people mispronouncing his name.
If attention is currency in trying to revive a television institution fallen on hard times, Dokoupil has earned some. The jury is out on whether it’s the kind he needs.
The 45-year-old Dokoupil, a “CBS Mornings” host since 2019, inherited the chair once occupied by Cronkite, Dan Rather, Katie Couric, Scott Pelley and Norah O’Donnell. He was supposed to have started Monday with a two-week tour around the country, but his first broadcast instead came Saturday after the U.S. military action in Venezuela.
An estimated 27 million to 29 million people watched the “CBS Evening News” each night in Cronkite’s last full year as anchor in 1980, the most popular of the three broadcast evening newscasts. The show is now entrenched at No. 3. And with news habits far different now, its nightly audience of 4.04 million people last year was a little more than half of what David Muir gets at ABC.
‘The press missed the story’
In video and printed messages posted last week, Dokoupil said he hoped to earn back the trust that many people have lost in legacy media institutions.
“On too many stories, the press missed the story,” he said. “Because we’ve taken into account the perspective of advocates, and not the average American, or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you.”
He said his promise to viewers is that “you come first. Not advertisers. Not politicians. Not corporate interests. And, yes, that does include the corporate owners of CBS. I report for you.”
It was unclear where Dokoupil felt the analysis by “elites” led the country astray. He broadcast from Miami on Tuesday, beginning his nationwide tour a day late, and wasn’t available for comment, CBS said.
He also posted five “simple values” that the broadcast will follow. Four are fairly innocuous — “we work for you,” “we report on the world as it is,” “we respect you” and “we respect tradition, but we also believe in the future.”
The fifth might also seem simple: “We love America.” But it attracted plenty of online commentary, much from people suspicious that it reflected concern that Dokoupil’s boss, Free Press founder and CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, was intent upon moving the news division’s focus more to the political right. The Daily Beast referred to Dokoupil as CBS’ “MAGA-coded anchor.”
No apologies are necessary for loving America, wrote press critic Margaret Sullivan in her Substack column American Crisis — depending on how that’s defined.
“Then again, I think we may have a different definition of how journalists can show their patriotism,” Sullivan said. “No American flag pins on lapels are necessary. No jingoistic headlines about illegal raids are welcome. And, please, no fawning interviews of people in powerful positions.”
Should news really be a daily conversation?
Half of Dokoupil’s premiere broadcast over the weekend was devoted to his interview with Hegseth, who stayed through two commercial breaks. That kind of time spent speaking with one person is itself unusual for a format designed to give a rundown on big stories, particularly on a busy day, and the anchor drew mixed reviews from critics who thought he could have pressed the defense secretary harder.
CBS’ access to President Donald Trump’s administration was on display in Tuesday’s newscast from Miami, which included an interview with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The show also ended with a feature on Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“For Rubio’s hometown fans, which are many around here in Miami, it is a sign of how Florida, once an American punchline, has become a leader on the world stage,” Dokoupil said at the end of the newscast. “Marco Rubio, we salute you. You’re the ultimate Florida man.”
A Columbia University journalism professor, Bill Grueskin, doesn’t like Dokoupil’s statement that one way to think about his show is as a daily conversation about “where we are as a country and where we are going.”
Grueskin wrote on X: “News is not a ‘daily conversation.’ News is news. If you want a daily conversation, go to your local coffee shop.”
Dokoupil’s statements seem to echo a message Weiss sent when she was appointed to her job last fall: “On the one hand, an America-loathing far left. On the other, a history-erasing far right. These extremes do not represent the majority of the country, but they have increasing power in our politics, our culture and our media ecosystem.”
Tim Graham, director of media analysis for the conservative Media Research Center, told The Associated Press he sees hopeful signs Dokoupil will hold politicians from both major parties accountable. His group has long contended CBS News is biased toward the left.
Sean Spicer, Trump’s first White House press secretary, is more skeptical. He sees Dokoupil’s rollout as part of a marketing campaign meant to make people forget the newsman spent the last several years sitting next to Gayle King on the morning show set.
“It’s an attempt to gaslight people into thinking that he wasn’t already a part of this institution,” said Spicer, who is debuting his own political news show, “The Huddle,” on streaming services this week.
Dokoupil’s comment about Cronkite came when answering a viewer who wrote on Instagram that “I grew up on Cronkite. Too bad CBS has lost its Tiffany shine. But good luck to you anyway.”
The new anchor answered: “I can promise you that we’ll be more accountable and more transparent than Cronkite or anyone else of that era.”
The remark angered fans of the newsman once cited in opinion polls as “the most trusted man in America.”
“I knew Walter Cronkite. I was his producer,” said Tom Bettag, a University of Maryland journalism professor and longtime news executive who worked with Cronkite during his final two years as anchor. “Walter Cronkite would have never said something so self-serving.”
The second signal of Dokoupil’s reference to Cronkite
Planned or not, Dokoupil had sent another signal. Cronkite was no hero to many conservatives with long memories who saw him as the preeminent symbol of a news establishment that leaned left.
One other promotional video, in which CBS sent Dokoupil into New York’s Grand Central Terminal holding up a sign with his name and asking people to pronounce it (it’s do-KOO’-pil), only provided evidence that strikingly few people knew CBS News’ chief anchor. You can bet they would have recognized Cronkite on the highly unlikely chance he would have tried such a stunt.
From his long perspective in TV news, Bettag urged patience.
“I definitely think it’s way too early to make a judgment on how he’s going to be, and I wish him all the luck in the world,” he said. “CBS needs him to succeed. It was a lousy start and some missed opportunities, but that should not be the final judgment.”
Long-running Denver lunch spot Mr. Lucky’s Sandwiches, which closed in December after Denver’s Department of Finance seized its two locations, owes more than $40,000 in unpaid taxes, according to the city agency. Galen Juracek, who owns the shops in Capitol Hill and the Highland neighborhood, specifically owes $40,556.11.
Multiple notices posted to the door of Mr. Lucky’s Capitol Hill location showed that the city demanded payment for the back taxes starting in July. But the city’s “distraint warrant” — a legal notice that a business owner owes a specific amount, and that the business could be seized if they don’t pay it — notes the shops, at 711 E. 6th Ave. and 3326 Tejon St., were forced to close on Tuesday, Dec. 23.
Mr. Lucky’s had already decided it would close its two locations by the end of 2025, said Laura Swartz, communications director for the Department of Finance. But the city’s seizure of the business shows that it had not been keeping up on basic requirements, with a $39,956 bill for unpaid sales taxes and $600.11 in “occupational privilege” taxes, which fund local services and allow a business to operate within a specific area.
“When businesses charge customers sales tax but then do not submit that sales tax to the city, the city is responsible for becoming involved,” she said in an email to The Denver Post
Juracek did not respond to multiple phone calls from The Denver Post requesting comment. His business, which is described on its website as a “go-to spot for handcrafted sandwiches since 1999, roasting our meats in-house and making every bite unforgettable,” is listed on the documents as G&J Concepts.
Westword last month reported that Mr. Lucky’s was closing because Juracek decided to move on from the food industry for personal reasons. “Life is about timing,” he told the publication, saying the leases on his spaces were ending.
City documents show that his unpaid taxes go back at least to this summer. He purchased the business, which opened in 1999, in 2017 and opened the second location in 2019.
“We’re not a chain, but we also work very hard to avoid the $20 sandwich and becoming the place people think twice about because of the price point,” Juracek told The Denver Post in 2023. “We can fulfill your basic needs for $6. And if money is no object, we can sell you a $17 sandwich.”
A note written on a brown paper bag, and posted to the Capitol Hill location’s door last month, reads: “We are closed for the day! Sorry.”
CINCINNATI — Great Parks visitors is expanding access by not requiring Motor Vehicle Permits on select Community Days throughout 2026.
What You Need To Know
These days only apply to motor vehicles, as admission to Great Parks is always free for anyone entering the park without a motor vehicle
Great Parks said the fees for Motor Vehicle Permits go toward safety and conservation efforts in Great Parks and cost $10 for Hamilton County residents and $16 for non-residents
Otto Armleder Memorial Park and Pernbank Park do not require permits
These days only apply to motor vehicles, as admission to Great Parks is always free for walkers, joggers, bikers and anyone entering the park without a motor vehicle.
Permits will not need to be displayed on the following Community Days:
Jan. 19 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb. 17 – Random Acts of Kindness Day
April 22 – Earth Day
May 16 – Kids to Parks Day
June 6 – National Trails Day
June 19 – Juneteenth
July 17 – Great Parks’ Birthday
Sept. 26 – National Public Lands Day
Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
Nov. 27 – Opt Outside Day
Great Parks said the fees for Motor Vehicle Permits go toward safety and conservation efforts in Great Parks and cost $10 for Hamilton County residents and $16 for non-residents. Permits can be purchased by clicking here or at a Great Parks location.
Permits can also be made available to certain visitors, such as active military and some armed forces veterans, participants in the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library’s Discovery Pass program, and Hamilton County residents with a valid food assistance card (Ohio Direction Card or Ohio EBT card). Students at a Hamilton County college or university can also receive a discount.
Otto Armleder Memorial Park and Pernbank Park do not require permits.
