Must Reads

• Good grief! "Peanuts" debuted 75 years ago this week — and the beloved comic strip's lessons remain as timely (and touching) as ever
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• Which baby names were the most popular in your state last year?

Culture

The "Brady Bunch" House Is Opening to the Public for the First Time (and for a Good Cause)

Brady Bunch fans, here's the story: Next month, the iconic house that served as Mike and Carol's family home exterior will open its doors to the public for the first time — stirring up all the nostalgia for the show that gave us "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" and one of TV's catchiest theme songs.
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From Nov. 7-9, "The Brady Experience" will invite superfans to step inside every room of the mid-century home, which was renovated by HGTV in 2018 to match the colorful set design audiences saw (and loved) onscreen. No detail was left behind — down to the horse statue by the stairs, the orange kitchen, and the doghouse in the backyard.
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"It is unlike any other museum," Alison Martino, a pop culture historian leading the event, told Los Angeles Magazine. "Nothing is roped off. Guests can wander around every room and look at everything in detail up close."
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More than just a trip down memory lane, the event is doubling as a fundraiser, with all proceeds benefiting the dog rescue nonprofit Wags and Walks. Although tickets are sadly sold out, you can still sneak a peek inside the home here.

Together With Gundry MD

Don't Make This Breakfast Mistake

Fruit can be one of the healthiest things you put into your body, but many people are guilty of making this single breakfast mistake that may counteract fruit's health benefits. Some fruits can help with occasional constipation and reduce bloating, but others can wreak havoc on your digestive system and energy levels.
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In the viral presentation linked below, world-renowned heart surgeon Dr. Steven Gundry showcases the three fruits to be aware of. Eliminating these could help increase energy levels, decrease brain fog, and support digestion.

Environment

"Mysterious" Bird of Prey Wins New Zealand's Bird of the Year Contest

While North America was captivated with Alaska's Fat Bear Week (Chunk won, ICYMI), another playful animal competition was going down in New Zealand: The annual Bird of the Year contest, which aims to raise awareness for the country's native bird species and the threats they face. Voting ran from Sept. 15-28, and this past Monday, the winner was announced.
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The 2025 victor is the Kārearea, a fierce bird of prey that can fly nearly 125 miles per hour and is capable of catching animals larger than itself. Its name comes from the Indigenous Māori language and the bird is the nation's only falcon, classified on the contest's website as "in serious trouble."
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This year marked the 20th anniversary of the first contest, organized by conservation organization Forest & Bird. A total of 73 species were included in what the Associated Press called a "fiercely fought election," and though all in good fun, campaigning included meme battles, trash-talking posters, and people dressed up as birds doing dances on social media.
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Other contenders included multiple types of penguins, robins, a parakeet, a kingfisher, a robin, and a colorful pigeon called a Kererū, which won the 2018 contest and sometimes "gorge[s] so heavily on fermented fruit that they've been known to fall out of trees," per the competition description. Also in the running? Two-time winner the kākāpō, aka, the world's fattest parrot. Learn how to listen to the call of each bird on the contest's website.​

Humanity

Coney Island's Wonder Wheel Park Spins Into Historic Business Preservation Registry

A Ferris wheel, roller coaster, carousel, bumper cars … Deno's Wonder Wheel Park has it all. And now, this Coney Island institution has been added to the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry in recognition of its impact on the city's history, heritage, and community.
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"It's a labor of love, but it's not a labor," Deno's co-owner D.J. Vourderis told CBS News. "It's a privilege to have a piece of history and to be able to continue a piece of history." The park now joins five other Brooklyn businesses on the registry, which, if new legislation takes effect, could make them eligible for financial benefits like property tax relief.
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A family-owned staple of Coney Island for decades, Deno's crown jewel is its eponymous wheel that was built in 1920 and restored by the Vourderis family in 1983 to ensure the beloved cultural landmark keeps spinning. To date, it has provided over 35 million rides — with a perfect safety record, no less.
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While the wheel may be the park's main attraction, the true magic lies in the people it brings together, Vourderis said: "What makes Coney Island great is that it's a place where … people who half a world away are at war. But here they stand next to each other in line, their children smiling at each other with mutual excitement."

Global Good

🇾🇪 Solar energy is bringing light to Yemen, the Middle East's least electrified country (read more)
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🇫🇷 Paris is opening the "first open-air museum" dedicated to Picasso, and visitors will be able to touch his work (read more)
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🇺🇬 Good news for gorillas: Uganda's tourism boom is having a positive ripple effect on the endangered primates (read more)
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🇨🇦 Rare wampum beads were unearthed at the 17th-century colony of Avalon in Newfoundland, Canada (read more)
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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 To raise funds for the U.K.'s unhoused veterans, hundreds will forgo their beds to sleep outside at Stonehenge (read more)

Inspiring Story

For good

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When word got out that Brielle Bird, a 9-year-old fighting Stage 4 cancer, was a Wicked superfan, the team at Universal Pictures went above and beyond: giving her an exclusive early screening of the film's upcoming Part 2 — with a few extra surprises. See Brielle all dressed up for the special day.​

Photo of the Day

The Eiffel Tower is a sight to behold any day of the year — but annually on the eve of Oct. 1, the sparkly Paris landmark lights up in pink in solidarity with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In the spirit of raising awareness, here are some ideas to honor the cause this month (or any time).

Fall Back Into Fitness With Muscle Booster

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Up This Weekend

1. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta: The New Mexico tradition, running since 1972, is considered the most photographed event in the world — this year's first "mass ascension" will take place tomorrow morning
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2. Mid-Autumn Festival: The Chinese harvest celebration, also referred to as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is on Monday, but you can start making your mooncakes now
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3. Life of a Showgirl: You've probably heard that Taylor Swift has a new album out today, but the superstar also released a movie (in theaters this weekend only) celebrating the release
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The Nice News merch collaboration with Because Weekend is all about celebrating optimism and making every day feel like the weekend. To help us spread that ethos beyond the inbox, shop our collection of T-shirts and sweatshirts here.

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Odds & Ends

🏀 Time to get decked out in Caitlin Clark gear
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🦕 Dinos for sale!
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🦔 A hedgehog highway is the best kind of highway
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🪙 Real-life treasure hunters found a bounty​

Quote of the Day

"The world is a museum of passion projects."

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– JOHN COLLISON