Origin of National Pinot Noir Day

Like many internet “holidays” today, there’s no defined person or group that officially began National Pinot Noir Day, though it began to catch on in the early-to-mid 2000s. That’s also when the movie Sideways came out, in 2004. However, the holiday is celebrated annually on August 18, while the movie Sideways wasn’t released until October of that year, so it’s unlikely the movie was the spur for the holiday. Still, the Alexander Payne movie, which starred Paul Giamatti, Virginia Madsen, Thomas Haden Church, & Sandra Oh, lifted up Pinot Noir as a better wine, while denouncing other kinds of wines like Merlot, and is often attributed with opening up wine culture to more Americans in the mid 2000s.

History of Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir wine gets its name from the grape species from which it’s made, & is derived from the French words meaning ‘pine’ and ‘black.’ Records of Pinot Noir grapes, and their consumption as wine have been found in the region of Burgundy, France as far back as the First Century CE. Today, while the grape species can be found all over the world, its roots in French history are an important part of the history of Europe and the culture of wine.

When invading Romans arrived in Gaul they were impressed by the rich quality, texture, and unique flavors made from the wine that tasted of ripe red fruit, cherries, toast, and spices. The Pinot Noir grape, native to the Burgundy region of France, became a coveted item to the Romans for more than 300 years for just that reason. When the Romans established vineyards and began to farm the grape commercially, Pinot Noir wine quickly became the wine of choice among the nobility, and was soon the grape of choice grown by the Catholic Church.

The favored grape species and wine, Pinot Noir, became a mainstay wine for the Catholic Church for centuries to come. Pinot Noir vineyards owned by the Catholic Church remained under the control of the Catholic Church, in France, until the French Revolution in 1789, which brought an end to the aristocratic-only access to the wine. Since then, the grape has been exported far and wide, however, it is an extremely difficult grape to cultivate successfully. Climate & weather conditions have to be perfect, and while there is a population of Pinot Noir grapes grown on every continent in the world, the French variant seems to attract the most prestige and admiration, though since the early 2000s, California-grown Pinot has also gained great favor.

National Pinot Noir Day Hero

André Tchelistcheff

Known as the ‘Dean of American Winemaking,’ André Tchelistcheff (1901–1994) was a Russian-born oenologist (an expert in the study of wine & winemaking) who profoundly influenced California’s wine industry. His expertise in viticulture and winemaking techniques, particularly with varietals like Pinot Noir, helped establish California as a premier wine region and brought a new level of sophistication to American wines.

National Pinot Noir Day FAQs

How popular is Pinot Noir?

Pinot Noir consistently ranks among the top ten most popular red wines globally, celebrated for its versatility and food-friendliness. Its delicate flavor profile appeals to a broad range of palates.

Where is Pinot Noir primarily grown?

Pinot Noir’s ancestral home is Burgundy, France, where it produces some of the world’s most expensive wines. However, it thrives in cooler climates globally, including Oregon, California (Sonoma Coast), New Zealand, and Germany.

What makes Pinot Noir unique among red wines?

Pinot Noir is unique due to its thin skin, which contributes to its lighter color, lower tannin, and delicate, nuanced flavors of red fruit, earth, and spice. It’s often described as the ‘heartbreak grape’ because it’s notoriously difficult to grow.

National Pinot Noir Day Activities

Have a glass of Pinot Noir

Pour yourself a healthy glass, this is the way to start. Sit back, savor and relax.

Host a wine tasting

A great way to have friends over, we suggest that each person brings a different bottle of their favorite wine, and that way, you can “taste” all night long. Pinot Noir pairs well with grilled salmon or tuna.

Give a bottle as a gift

Remind someone special that they are important to you. Let them celebrate today however they choose to, but make sure you buy a great bottle of Pinot Noir for them.

Five Things About Pinot Noir That You Might Not Know

There are many variants

Today, over 40 variants of Pinot Noir exist, globally.

One Pope wouldn’t return home to Italy without it

Pope Urban V refused to return to Rome in the Middle Ages, where you just couldn’t get the wine of the same quality as that found in Burgundy.

It can’t take the heat

Pinot Noir grows comfortably in cooler climates — the grape is “overcooked” when its thin skin is exposed to too much heat and sun.

France grows the most

Throughout the entire world, France has the most hectares of Pinot Noir Vineyards — 29,738 hectares.

It’s known as the “heartbreak grape”

Yes, it has been popularly referred to as such, but not for the reason that you may think. Sure many people have turned to a good pinot during a breakup, but it’s actually because of how difficult it is to harvest a successful crop, leaving many vintners heartbroken because of a failed yield.

Reasons To Love National Pinot Noir Day

It’s a great reason to absorb antioxidants

Antioxidants are great for you, and Pinot Noir is jam-packed with them. A single glass has been proven to provide you with a much-needed supply of antioxidants.

It’s a chance to bring history & culture into people’s lives

Wine culture, like poetry, often seems strange and peculiar when looked at by outsiders. Today gives everyone a chance to enjoy a good bottle of wine, regardless of how astute they may be in the world of fine wine, as Pinot Noir is one of the most accessible wines. And as famed poet Robert Louis Stevenson wrote in his 1883 book The Silverado Squatters, which details his honeymoon experience in California’s Napa Valley, “Wine is bottled poetry.”

Pinot Noir can also be part of a great cocktail

As Pinot Noir is accessible, as a wine, it mixes well with other types of spirits, like in today’s Drink Of The Day, a Velvet Revolver cocktail.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’re going to need for this drink:

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Who Was Mae West?

Mae West hit her Hollywood stride in her late 30s when she might have been considered in her “advanced years” for playing sexy harlots, but her persona and physical beauty overcame any doubt. The blunt sexuality of her films aroused the wrath and moral indignation of several groups, but this sexuality is what she’s remembered for today.

Mae West’s Early Life

Born Mary Jane West on August 17, 1893, in Brooklyn, New York, to Matilda and John West, family members called her Mae (spelled May at the time) from an early age. Her mother Matilda, also known as “Tillie,” was a German immigrant & aspiring actress. But Tillie’s parents’ disapproval in her career choices brought her dreams down to a more realistic profession as a garment worker - at first. Later, Tillie clandestinely abandoned her seamstress work for less respectable & far more glamorous work as a fashion model, and she never totally gave up the prospect of having some career in show business.

West’s father was a prizefighter known around the Brooklyn area as “Battlin’ Jack” West, known not so much for this success in the ring as for his reputation for street brawling. When he wasn’t fighting in authorized boxing matches, he was fighting in underground street fights or exhibiting his boxing prowess in pick up fights at Coney Island Amusement Park. Later, after he met Tillie, he worked as a “special policeman” (most likely as muscle for local business and crime bosses), and then later as a private detective.

Mae was the oldest of three children, but she was her mother’s favorite from the beginning. With Mae, Tillie’s childrearing was out of step with more the traditional Victorian methods of “children should be seen and not heard.” Instead, she preferred to humor and coax Mae, rather than harshly discipline her. Mae quickly obliged with precocious and, at times, obstinate behavior.

Mae started to show signs of talent at the age of 3, mimicking family members and friends, much to the delight of her father and mother. While she was too young to understand the art of impersonation, she learned quickly about the power of commanding an audience. Tillie soon took Mae to plays and vaudeville performances where she was enthralled with the make-believe world of characters, dance, and musical acts. Throughout West’s life, she would reminisce about the many legendary performers she saw in her youth, but one artist always stood out for her: African American entertainer Bert Williams, whom she credits as her earliest influence. It was from Williams’ performances that she learned the art of innuendo and double entendre, which he used in his act to mask his satire on race relations.

Mae made her first stage appearance at the age of 5 at a church social. While her home performances made her father proud, he wasn’t too keen on her performing for the public. Tillie blithely ignored his concerns and enrolled her in dance school at the age of 7. Soon she was appearing at amateur night at the local burlesque theaters under the stage name “Baby May.” After winning First Place and a $10 prize, her father became an ardent supporter, dragging her costume case to performances and sitting in the audience as her No. 1 fan.

Mae West’s Professional Vaudeville Career

In 1907, 14-year-old Mae began performing professionally in Vaudeville in the Hal Claredon Stock Company. Her mother made all her costumes, drilled her on rehearsals, and managed her bookings and contracts. Tillie was finally in show business, albeit as her daughter’s manager. Mae’s act was a subtle spoof on Victorian innocence and sentimentality. She portrayed a young girl dressed in a pink and green satin dress, a large white hat and pink satin ribbons. But she impersonated adult Vaudeville and burlesque performers, and danced and sang popular songs inflecting sexual overtones.

West spent the next few years on the vaudeville circuit with William Hogan, a small time performer and family friend. Mae played Hogan’s young girlfriend in a takeoff of a Tom Sawyer theme. But it’s likely that the strong-willed West had a hand in revising her soft spoken Becky Thatcher character into a more assertive and spunky foil for Hogan. When work was slow, which it often was for many performers in Vaudeville, she would go on the burlesque circuit playing before a predominantly male working-class audience. Social conventions did not allow such a young girl to be even present in such surroundings, let alone performing, but Mae West thrived and honed her performance skills.

Sometime between 1909 and 1910, Mae West met Frank Wallace, an up-and-coming vaudeville song-and-dance man. The story goes that Wallace was introduced to West by her mother, Tillie, who saw an opportunity to have her team up with a performer who was going places. After a few weeks of intense rehearsal, they formed an act and went out on the burlesque circuit. The tour went deep into the Midwest, far from the protective supervision of West’s mother. According to her biographers, Wallace proposed marriage to her several times, but she refused, instead having affairs with several other male cast members. She was counseled by an older cast member, Etta Wood, about her “wicked ways” and stressed that marriage would offer her protection against being alone and pregnant.

From this, West seemed to have a change of heart and on April 11, 1911, she and Frank Wallace were married by a justice of the peace in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Only 17, she lied about her age on her marriage certificate (18 was the legal age for marriage in Wisconsin at the time) and both newlyweds promised to keep the marriage a secret from the public and her parents. The union remained a secret until 1935, when West was well into her movie career and a publicity staff person found the marriage certificate in some old papers. For many years, Mae claimed she and Wallace had never lived as husband and wife, and in fact, she broke up the act soon after they arrived back in New York in the summer of 1911.

Later that year, West auditioned for and got a part in her first Broadway show, A La Broadway, a comedy review. The show folded after only eight performances, but West was a hit. In the audience on opening night were two successful Broadway impresarios, Lee and J.J. Shubert, and they cast her in the production of Vera Violetta, also featuring Al Jolson. She was with the show only a short time due to conflicts with the show’s female star, Gaby Deslys, but the experience paid off. She continued to perform in Vaudeville and off-Broadway in New York. It was during this time that she met Guido Deiro, another Vaudeville headliner. A passionate relationship resulted, and the two tried to be together as much as possible, often arranging for joint bookings. They both expressed their love, lust, and jealously openly, and were known for their outward displays of love, as well as their raging arguments.

For a short time, the couple contemplated marriage, and Deiro even asked West’s parents for her hand in marriage (they still didn’t know about her earlier marriage to Frank Wallace, of which she finally obtained a divorce in 1920). Mae’s mother Tillie strongly refused, reminding her daughter of the pitfalls of married couples in show business. West complied with her mother’s wishes, but continued to see Deiro, while her mother continued to undermine their relationship. Finally, Tillie directly expressed disapproval in Deiro, telling West that he wasn’t good enough for her. Reluctantly, she complied, and over a brief period of time ended the relationship with Deiro.

West got her big professional break in 1918 in the Shubert Brothers revue Sometime, playing opposite Ed Wynn. Her character, Mayme, danced the shimmy, a brazen dance move that involved shaking the shoulders back and forth and pushing the chest out. As more parts came her way, West began to shape her characters, often rewriting dialogue or character descriptions to better suit her persona. She eventually began writing her own plays, initially using the pen name Jane Mast.

Mae West’s Playwriting and Controversy

In 1926, West got her first starring role in a Broadway play entitled Sex, which she wrote, produced, and directed. Though the play was a hit at the box office, the “more respectable” Broadway critics panned it for its explicit sexual content. The production also did not go over well with city officials, who raided the show and arrested West along with much of the cast. She was prosecuted on morals charges and on April 19, 1927, sentenced to 10 days in jail on Welfare Island (now known as Roosevelt Island) in New York. The incarceration was cordial, as West reportedly dined with the warden and his wife on a few occasions. She served eight days, with two off for good behavior. The media attention of the entire affair did nothing but enhance her career.

Undaunted by any impression of impropriety, West wrote and directed her next play, Drag, which dealt with homosexuality. The play did well in Connecticut and was a smash hit in Paterson, New Jersey. But when West announced the play would open on Broadway, the Society for the Prevention of Vice intervened and vowed to ban it. The Society was a state-chartered organization, originally started by supporters of the YMCA in 1873. The group was dedicated to supervising the morality of the public, and monitoring compliance with state laws. West decided not to tempt fate again, and kept the play out of New York.

West continued to write plays over the next several years, including The Wicked Age, Pleasure Man, and The Constant Sinner. In some, she was given credit as writer and/or producer, but did not play a part. The plays dealt with what today would be called “adult subject matter” with tryst plots and sexual innuendos. Her productions were not easy ones to bring to the stage for a myriad of reasons, primarily the constant changes needed to bring the dialogue and plot lines more in line with the moral codes of the day. On several occasions the actors learned two scripts, one for the general audience and a “more refined” version for the times when they were tipped off that vice agents might be in the audience. Of course, all this only brought more publicity to her productions, and resulted in packed performances.

By 1932, Hollywood began to take notice of West’s performances and talent. That year, she was offered a motion picture contract by Paramount Pictures. At 38 years old, she might have been considered in her “advanced years” for playing sexy harlots, but her persona and physical beauty seemed to overcome any doubt. The first film she appeared in was Night after Night, starring George Raft. At first, she balked at her small role, but was appeased when allowed to rewrite her scenes in order to conform more to her performance style.

In the 1933 film She Done Him Wrong, West was able to bring her “Diamond Lil” character to the silver screen in her first starring film role. The “Lil” character was renamed “Lady Lou,” and contained the famous West line, “Why don’t you come up and see me?” The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, and also starred new comer Cary Grant in one of his first major roles. The film did tremendously well at the box office, and is attributed to saving Paramount Pictures from bankruptcy. In her next movie, I’m No Angel, she was again paired with Grant. This film, too, was a financial blockbuster giving West the honor of being the eighth-largest box office draw in the United States. By 1935, West was the second-highest paid person in the United States, behind publisher William Randolph Hearst.

However, the blunt sexuality and steamy settings of her films aroused the wrath and moral indignation of several groups. One of these was the Motion Picture Production Code, also known as the Hays Code for its creator, William H. Hays. The organization had the power to pre-approve films’ productions and change scripts. On July 1, 1934, the organization began to seriously and meticulously enforce the code on West’s screenplays, and heavily edited them. West responded in her typical fashion by increasing the number of innuendos and double entendres, fully expecting to confuse the censors, which she did for the most part.

In 1936, West starred in the film Klondike Annie, which concerned itself with religion and hypocrisy. Hearst disagreed so vehemently with the film’s context, and West’s portrayal of a Salvation Army worker, that he personally forbade any stories or advertisements of the film to be published in any of his publications. The film did well at the box office anyway, and is considered the high-point of Mae West’s film career.

As the decade wound down, West’s film career seemed to wane somewhat. The few other films she did for Paramount — Go West, Young Man and Everyday’s a Holiday — did not do well at the box office, and she found censorship was severely limiting her creativity. On December 12, 1937, she appeared as herself on ventriloquist Edgar Bergen’s radio show The Chase and Sanborn Hour in two comedy sketches. The dialogue between West and the show’s hosts, Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy, was her usual brand of wit and risqué humor. But days after the broadcast, NBC received letters calling the show “immoral” and “obscene.” Moral groups went after sponsor Chase and Sanborn Coffee Company for allowing such “impurity” on their show. Even the FCC weighed in, calling the broadcast “vulgar and indecent” and far below the minimum standard for broadcast programs. NBC personally blamed West for the debacle, and banned her from appearing on any of their other broadcasts.

A Handful Of Famous Mae West Quotes

• It is better to be looked over than overlooked.

• Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.

• There are no good girls gone wrong—just bad girls found out.

• “Good sex is like good bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand.”

• “When I'm good, I'm very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better. ”

• “Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.”

• “Those who are easily shocked should be shocked more often.”

• “I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it.”

In 1939, Universal Pictures approached West to star in a film opposite comedian W.C. Fields. The studio wanted to duplicate the success they had with another film, Destry Rides Again, a Western morality tale starring Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart. West, looking for a vehicle to make a comeback in films, accepted the part, demanding creative control over the film. Using the same Western genre, My Little Chickedee‘s screenplay was written by West. Despite tension on the set between West and Fields (she was a teetotaler and he drank), the film was a box-office success, out-grossing Fields’ previous two films.

By 1943, West was 50 years old and considering retiring from films to concentrate on her Broadway stage career. Columbia Pictures’ director Gregory Ratoff, a friend of hers, needed to have a successful film to avoid bankruptcy, and pleaded with West to help him avoid financial ruin. She agreed. But the film lacked her double-entendre lines and sly delivery, not to mention its weak plot and lack of a top-rated romantic lead for West to play off. The film opened to bad reviews and suffered at the box office. West would not return to films until 1970.

Late Career

In 1954, Mae West formed a nightclub act which revived some of her earlier stage work, featuring her in song-and-dance numbers and surrounded by musclemen fawning over her for attention. The show ran for three years and was a great success. With this victory, she felt it was a good time to retire. In 1959, West released her bestselling autobiography, Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It, recounting her life in show business. She made a few guest appearances on the 1960s television comedy/variety shows like The Red Skelton Show and some situation comedies like Mister Ed. She also recorded a few albums in different genres including rock ‘n’ roll and a Christmas album which, of course, was more parody and innuendo than religious celebration.

In the 1970s she appeared in her two last films, Gore Vidal’s Myra Breckenridge, in which she had a small part, and her own Sextette (1978). Though Myra Breckenridge was a box office and critical failure, it did find an audience on the cult film circuit and served to revitalize many of her other movies at film festivals. In 1976, West began work on her final film, Sextette. The picture was adapted from a script she wrote for the stage, but the production suffered from several problems including daily script revisions, creative disagreements, and West’s difficulty remembering her lines and following set direction. Yet, being the professional she was, she persevered and the film was completed. The critics were devastating in their reviews but, like Myra Breckenridge, the movie has endured as a cult-film classic.

Mae West’s Death

In August 1980, West had a severe fall while getting out of bed. She was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California, where tests confirmed she had suffered a stroke. The rehabilitation was complicated, with a diabetic reaction to the formula in her feeding tube. On September 18, 1980, she suffered a second stroke that left much of her right side paralyzed. She then developed pneumonia. Her condition showed some signs of stabilizing, but the overall prognosis was good, and she was released to her home for her convalescence. On November 22, 1980, West died at the age of 88. She was entombed in Brooklyn, New York.

Clearly, Mae West was ahead of her time in many ways. Yet today’s Drink Of The Day still has a classic style with a bit of a kick, the aptly named Mae West Cocktail.

Ingredients

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Honoring dead ancestors is a tradition found across cultures—think Mexico’s Día de los Muertos or Japan’s Obon festival. But few observances are as vivid as the Hungry Ghost Festival, which originated in China but has spread widely to Chinese-speaking communities across much of Asia and the wider global Chinese diaspora.

During the Hungry Ghost Festival, it’s believed that the gates of the underworld swing open for a month, letting restless spirits wander among the living. Families and communities pull out the stops to welcome, feed, and comfort the spirits. Equal parts reverent and eerie, the festival offers a striking glimpse into how Taoist and Buddhist communities throughout Asia view death, the afterlife, and how best to honor and commemorate the departed.

What Is The Hungry Ghost Festival?

The Hungry Ghost Festival is one of Asia’s most dramatic ways of honoring the dead. For those who celebrate, it’s a time when hungry—and sometimes angry—spirits return to the earthly realm in search of solace. To appease them, the living perform rituals meant to show respect and provide comfort. People leave offerings of food and incense and burnt paper effigies of money, cars, TVs and other valuables. Neighborhoods come alive with a wide range of performances and events that turn remembrance into a shared spectacle.

The festival peaks on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, usually falling in August or September on the western calendar. But the entire seventh lunar month—often called “Ghost Month”— is believed to be a time when spirits roam freely, with rituals and gatherings happening all month.

Widely celebrated in China and other Chinese-speaking countries like Singapore and Taiwan, the Hungry Ghost Festival is also observed in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, where there are significant Chinese populations. Related festivals happen in Vietnam—where it’s known as the Vu Lan festival—and Thailand, where it is called Phi Ta Khon and held earlier in the year. The tradition has also traveled around the world through the Chinese diaspora. In San Francisco for example, the Chinese Culture Center notes that such festivals once offered “a sense of peace” to early immigrants “grappling with grief, generational traumas and the ache of familial separation” amid migrations, wrongful deaths and exclusions.

Where Did The Hungry Ghost Festival Originate?

The festival has roots in China, in both Taoism and Buddhism—with each faith offering its own interpretation—often mixed with Chinese folklore. Taoist beliefs center on appeasing spirits and honoring the three deities said to govern human fate: the rulers of heaven, earth and water. During Ghost Month, Taoist priests perform rituals and offer food to the ghosts, while worshippers flock to temples to repent and pray for happiness and freedom from misfortune.

Buddhist tradition emphasizes filial piety—the duty to honor and care for elders and ancestors. A well-known Buddhist legend explains the origin of the holiday, from the Buddhist perspective. The legend tells of a monk named Mu Lian, who ventured into the underworld to save his suffering mother, who had been sent to hell for consuming meat as a vegetarian. Only through prayers and food offerings was he able to help ease her torment. The story helped enshrine the practice of feeding hungry ghosts as an act of compassion and devotion.

How To Honor & Celebrate The Hungry Ghost Festival

To honor the Hungry Ghosts, people set up food feasts on outdoor altars, light incense, float water lanterns, and burn spirit money - a type of ceremonial paper burned in traditional Chinese and East Asian spiritual practices to send wealth and material goods to deceased ancestors & deities in the afterlife. It’s also recommended to follow protective taboos to respect wandering spirits. Those taboos include refraining from starting major life events like moving houses, changing jobs, or marrying. It’s also recommended not to swim in deep water, or step on food offerings left on the ground.

Thankfully, the spirits say nothing about refraining from a good cocktail. So we’re going to make today’s Drink Of The Day, a Chinese Whisper Cocktail, to celebrate.

Ingredients

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He was big time. But to Don, it “ain’t no big thing.”

Whether a lifelong friend, an aspiring performer looking for a break, a grandmother from Peoria, or a member of the military, you mattered to Don Ho. In a one-on-one encounter or an appearance before hundreds on his stage, he made you feel special in his genuine “local boy” style.

There was so much more to Don Ho than “Tiny Bubbles” and “Pearly Shells.”

Career milestones:

• Five decades (1960-2007) of entertaining audiences, starting with a homegrown band at his parents’ club Honey’s in Kaneohe, to headlining Waikiki’s most popular and longest running show.

• Guest appearances on every major TV talk and variety show during that time, including the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Laugh-In, The Andy Williams Show, The Johnny Cash Show, Kraft Music Hall (seven appearances), Grand Ole Opry, and more.

• Star of his own ABC-TV show (1976-77), many TV specials, and numerous Las Vegas headlining appearances.

• Over 15 best-selling recordings, featuring songs by local composers such as Kui Lee (”I’ll Remember You,” and “Days of My Youth”).

• Provided a showcase for young, local Hawaiian talent in his shows and inspired them to reach for greatness.

That’s the legacy of Don Ho, whose indelible memories and contributions during his lifetime provide an inspired foundation for the future.

Don’s music is the cornerstone on which he built his extraordinary entertainment career and that he used so effectively to communicate with people on all levels. It is the language through which he spoke from his heart to the world.

And, as he expressed in song, “If I had to do it all over again, every scene and every dream I’d relive. For this masquerading soul has played out every role. And I’d do it all over again.’

Don Ho had ten kids, and several of them followed in his footsteps in the music and entertainment industry, though none achieved his specific level of lifelong, global fame. throughout his years performing & recording, he actively raised his kids in the family business, frequently bringing them onstage, backstage, or involving them in his production management.

His most publicly recognized musical successor, Hōkū Ho performed in her father’s Waikiki shows during her youth. In 2000, she launched a successful mainstream pop music career, charting nationally with hits like “Another Dumb Blonde” (from Snow Day) and “Perfect Day” (the theme song for Legally Blonde).

Kea Ho, his eighth child, grew up singing and dancing on stage with her father. She carried on the entertainment tradition by pursuing a multi-faceted career as an actress, singer, model, and designer.

Don Ho’s eldest son, Donald “Donnie” Ho Jr., chose to carry on the family tradition on the technical side of showbiz. He spent nearly his entire career working as a vital light and sound technician for Don Ho Enterprises and the Magic of Polynesia show, dedicating his life to making his father and other local acts look and sound great on stage.

Whether you’re a Hawaii kamaaina (oldtimer) or malihini (newcomer), may you find that special connection with the Islands that was the essence of Don Ho, with today’s Drink Of The Day, a Luau Cocktail.

Ingredients

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History of National Milkman Day

National Milkman Day, observed annually on August 12, doesn’t have a single documented creator or official origin. It emerged as an informal commemorative day in the 1990s, celebrating the cultural nostalgia and historical legacy of door-to-door milk & dairy food delivery before widespread refrigeration. Other products historically supplied by milkmen have often included cheese, butter, cream, eggs, meat, and vegetables. Yes - you could say milkmen were the first home grocery delivery people, because they were.

Door-to-door milk distribution in America dates back informally to the late 1700s, in Vermont, when early dairy vendors would deliver large barrels of fresh milk to customers within a half-day’s ride of the dairy. With the rise of local dairies in the late 1800s, and as transportation improved, with trains, and later motor vehicles and urbanization, the milkman became a ubiquitous feature in communities around North America.

Before modern refrigeration technology became common & widely available in homes, daily or weekly milk drops were essential for millions of Americans. Fresh milk, & other dairy foods, along with other fresh & cold food products would arrive in reusable glass bottles, metal tins, and waxed paper, left inside insulated porch boxes. Some homes even had “milk doors” that gave access from outside the home to the icebox that was inside the home.

Milkmen would deliver the food to the boxes, and in many cases, also deliver a small amount of ice. These porchside ice boxes offered limited space, though many indoor kitchen ice boxes weren’t too much larger. In short, before modern refrigeration, keeping large amounts of perishable food at home was difficult.

Reliable home refrigerators became common in U.S. homes during the 1930s and 1940s, with adoption jumping from about 8% of households in 1930 to 44% by 1940. Still, millions of Americans relied on milkmen because the age of automobiles and convenience hadn’t quiet arrived.

The milkman profession peaked during this time, beginning in the late 1930s, through the post-World War II era, and into the late 1950s and 1960s. That’s when when local milkmen ran dependable morning routes delivering fresh glass bottles directly to household porch ice boxes, and families could bring those bottles inside and place them in their refrigerators.

By the 1970s however, widespread high-quality home refrigeration, combined with the dominance of supermarkets selling quality pasteurized milk in cheap paper cartons and plastic jugs caused the traditional milkman’s role to fade in much of the United States.

Last Big Milkman Standing

While larger regional milk & dairy delivery companies closed through the 1970s and 80s, one company ended up gathering virtually all the remaining market share: Schwann’s Home Delivery. They continued through the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and even early 2000s, and they even grew, purchasing well known grocery retail brands like Red Baron, Freschetta, Tony’s Pizza, and Mrs. Smith’s pies.

However, with the growth of home delivery services like Instacart, Amazon Fresh, Shipt, Walmart, Uber Eats, and others, competition became severe for Schwann’s.

The death knell of their company was the COVID pandemic, when everyone got everything delivered, and virtually every company began some kind of delivery service.

Schwann’s owners sold off the retail brands, and tried to rebrand their delivery service as Yelloh. But with competition from all the above delivery services, combined with delivery from almost every grocery store chain, in the end, the business model for a nationwide milk & dairy delivery service was no longer viable.

Is milk delivery making a comeback?

Yes, milk delivery is experiencing a notable resurgence post=pandemic, particularly in local and regional markets. Consumers are increasingly seeking fresh, often organic, dairy products and appreciate the convenience and environmental benefits (like reusable glass bottles) offered by direct-to-home services, often offered by local and regional dairies. The demand for local food systems also plays a significant role.

National Milkman Day Activities

Get milk (& your other groceries) delivered

You can take part in the holiday by having your milk delivered to your home. It’s a convenient way to get your groceries.

Drink some milk

Include milk in your diet today. You can drink it straight from a glass, use it to eat cereal, or add it to your coffee.

Thank a milkman (or any food delivery person)

Say thank you to the milk delivery person, or any food delivery person who comes to your door. It’s always great to show appreciation to the people who provide the services we enjoy.

Of course, if you know your food delivery person well enough, and you’re the last stop on their route for the day? Invite ‘em to have a Drink Of The Day with you, which today is a Brandy Milk Punch Cocktail Or Mocktail.

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Federal prisoners land on Alcatraz

On this date in 1934, a group of federal prisoners classified as “most dangerous” arrived for the first time at Alcatraz Island, a 22-acre rocky outcropping situated 1.5 miles offshore, in San Francisco Bay. The convicts—the first civilian prisoners to be housed in the then-new high-security penitentiary—joined a few dozen military prisoners left over from the island’s days as a U.S. military prison.

Alcatraz was an uninhabited seabird haven when it was first explored by Spanish Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775. He named it Isla de los Alcatraces, or “Island of the Pelicans.” Fortified by the Spanish, Alcatraz was sold to the United States in 1849. In 1854, it had the distinction of housing the first lighthouse on the coast of California. Beginning in 1859, a U.S. Army detachment was garrisoned there, and starting in 1868, Alcatraz was used to house military criminals. In addition to recalcitrant U.S. soldiers, prisoners included rebellious Indian scouts, American soldiers fighting in the Philippines who had deserted to the Filipino cause, and Chinese civilians who resisted the U.S. Army during the Boxer Rebellion. In 1907, Alcatraz was designated the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison.

In 1934, Alcatraz was fortified into a high-security federal penitentiary designed to hold the most dangerous prisoners in the U.S. penal system, especially those with a penchant for escape attempts. The first shipment of civilian prisoners arrived on August 11, 1934. Later that month, more prisoners arrived, featuring, among other convicts, infamous mobster Al Capone. In September, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, another luminary of organized crime, also landed at Alcatraz.

In the 1940s, another famous Alcatraz prisoner was Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” A convicted murderer, Stroud wrote an important study on birds while being held in solitary confinement in Leavenworth Prison in Kansas. Regarded as extremely dangerous because of his 1916 murder of a guard at Leavenworth, he was transferred to Alcatraz in 1942. Stroud was not allowed to continue his avian research at Alcatraz.

Although some three dozen people attempted, no prisoner was known to have successfully escaped “The Rock.” However, the bodies of several escapees believed drowned in the treacherous waters of San Francisco Bay were never found. The story of the 1962 escape of three of these men, Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin, inspired the 1979 film Escape from Alcatraz. We even covered it here at The Politics Bar in another DOTD in June of 2026.

Another prisoner, John Giles, caught a boat ride to the shore in 1945 dressed in an army uniform he had stolen piece by piece, but he was questioned by a suspicious officer after disembarking and sent back to Alcatraz. Only one man, John Paul Scott, was recorded to have reached the mainland by swimming, but he came ashore exhausted and hypothermic at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. Police found him lying unconscious and in a state of shock.

In 1963, U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy ordered Alcatraz closed, citing the high expense of its maintenance. In its 29-year run, Alcatraz housed more than 1,500 convicts.

In March 1964, a group of people from the Sioux tribe briefly occupied the island, citing an 1868 treaty with the Sioux Nation allowing them to claim any “unoccupied government land.” In November 1969, a group of nearly 100 Native American students and activists began a more prolonged occupation of the island, remaining there until they were forced off the island by federal marshals in June 1971.

In 1972, Alcatraz was opened to the public as part of the newly created Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is maintained by the National Park Service. More than one million tourists visit Alcatraz Island and the former prison annually.

Today’s Drink Of The Day is the kind of drink one might need if they were told they’d be going to be set to prison at Alcatraz back in the day - or if they were contemplating escaping. It’s got Añejo Tequila, Mezcal, Sherry, and Gentian liqueur. The Alcatraz Cocktail is no joke - and it’s today’s Drink Of The Day.

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National Spoil Your Dog Day rolls around every August 10, reminding us to go above and beyond for our beloved canine companions. This is the perfect opportunity to indulge your dog with their favorite treats, a new squeaky toy, or an extra-long walk. Show your appreciation for their unconditional love and loyalty with a day dedicated entirely to their happiness.

History of National Spoil Your Dog Day

The precise origin of National Spoil Your Dog Day is not definitively recorded. The day is believed to have begun in the United States in the early 2000s, among early internet culture, growing organically as dog ownership and the pet industry expanded rapidly. By the mid-2010s, it had become a well-recognized date in the dog-lover community, celebrated across the United States and Canada.

Its rise coincides with a broader cultural shift in attitudes towards pets. Dogs have increasingly been treated as full members of the family, with the pet industry growing to reflect this: premium foods, specialist groomers, doggy day care, and a vast array of toys and accessories are now commonplace. National Spoil Your Dog Day sits naturally within this context, reflecting how much dogs are valued and cherished.

Dog Related FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

How many dogs are there in the U.S.?

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are approximately 89.7 million dogs living in U.S. households. This makes dogs one of the most popular pets, cherished by millions of families nationwide.

How much do Americans spend on their dogs?

Americans spend a significant amount on their dogs, with the average annual cost for basic care (food, vet visits, toys) estimated to be between $1,000 and $2,000. This figure can rise considerably with additional services or health issues.

What are some ways to spoil your dog?

Spoiling your dog can involve a variety of activities, from a special long walk in their favorite park to a new, exciting toy. Consider baking homemade dog-friendly treats, taking them for a car ride with the windows down, or maybe getting a “pup-cup” - a small, complimentary sample-sized cup filled with dog-friendly whipped cream (or sometimes vanilla soft-serve) given to pet dogs at coffee shops and fast-food drive-thrus across the U.S. & Canada.

National Spoil Your Dog Day Activities

Dole out the treats

What dog doesn’t love treats? But good dog parents know that too many treats can be a bad thing. On this special day, break the rules and spoil your dog with some extra treats. You can keep it healthy by using some natural treats they like, including carrots, salmon skin, or coconut oil.

Do some doggy activities

All dogs love walks, but that’s just one of the many activities you can do on National Spoil Your Dog Day. Instead of walking around the block, you could take your dog to the dog park to socialize with other dogs while you walk. Some parks host dog-related events, especially on dog holidays, or you can organize your own dog party to get together with your dog-spoiling friends. Not your scene? Take your dog to a pet spa and let the spoiling really begin!

Love your dog

In all honesty, dogs don’t really care what you do with them, as long as you’re spending time together. Nobody knows your dog like you do, so take a moment to consider the things your dog loves best. Give your dog a great belly rub and snuggle up on the couch for a movie marathon if that’s what your pooch enjoys. Go down to the waterfront or fill up a backyard kiddie pool if your dog loves to splash around. Whatever your dog’s favorite together-time, you can deliver it with a little thought and some heartfelt appreciation for what your dog adds to your life.

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The Curse of the Scottish Play

The Scottish Play. The Bard’s Play. Macbeth is surrounded by superstition and fear of the ‘curse’ – uttering the play’s name aloud in a theatre causes bad luck. But where did this superstition come from?

Macbeth, Act 4 Scene 1

‘Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble…’

Sixteenth century Scotland was notorious for its witch-hunts, mainly due to King James VI of Scotland’s obsession with witchcraft. The violent death of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots by execution in 1587 was said to have inspired James’ dark fascination with magic.

Later, in 1589 when James was sailing back to Scotland from Denmark with his new wife, Anne, their ship encountered violent storms at sea, and they were nearly drowned. The Scottish King blamed the evil spells of witches for conjuring the storm, and following his return to Scotland ordered a witch-hunt in the coastal town of North Berwick. He later wrote Daemonologie, a treatise on witchcraft to further inspire persecution against witches.

Witchcraft To Please The King

James became King James I of England in 1603, and his new subjects were keen to appease him and his views on demons & witches. Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus was published in 1604, and its shocking portrayal of witchcraft and association with the devil intensified England’s fear of sorcery.

Shakespeare’s Macbeth followed in 1606 with direct references to James’ earlier misfortune at sea tucked into the play, with lines like this: ‘Though his bark cannot be lost, Yet it shall be tempest-tost’. Shakespeare was also said to have researched the weird sisters in depth; their chants in Macbeth, and ingredients of fenny snake, eye of newt and toe of frog, are supposedly real spells.

Accidents, Injuries & Deaths - The Curse of Macbeth

According to folklore, the play Macbeth was cursed from the beginning. Supposedly, a coven of witches objected to Shakespeare using real incantations, so they put a curse on the play.

Legend has it the play’s first performance (around 1606) was riddled with disaster. The actor playing Lady Macbeth died suddenly, so Shakespeare himself had to take on the part. Other rumored mishaps included real daggers being used in place of stage props for the murder of King Duncan (resulting in the actor’s death).

The play hasn’t had much luck since. The famous Astor Place Riot in New York in 1849, caused by a rivalry between American actor Edwin Forrest and English actor William Charles Macready, resulted in at least 20 deaths and over 100 injuries. Both Forrest and Macready were playing Macbeth in opposing productions at the time.

Other productions have been plagued with accidents, including actors falling off the stage, mysterious deaths, and even narrow misses by falling stage weights, which happened to legendary actor Laurence Olivier when he performed this show at the Old Vic theatre in 1937.

The Cause Of The Curse?

Macbeth has also been seen historically as unlucky by theatre companies, for the reasons already mentioned and more. For example, Macbeth was (and still is) a popular play, popular enough that it’s almost always guaranteed an income. So if a venue suddenly announces they’re performing this play, some believe it means the theatre is in financial trouble. Further, the high production costs to stage the play have also risked bankrupting many theatres, as noted in Martin Harrison’s 1998 book, The Language of Theatre.

Breaking The Curse

So how can you avoid catastrophe if you utter the name of the play that shall not be named? Exit the theatre, spin around three times, spit, curse, and then knock on the theatre door to be allowed back in. This superstitious solution is so well-known, it’s become a joke, as it did in Season 4, episode 7 of The West Wing, as shown above.

Thankfully, we’re not in a theatre here at the bar, so we can mention the name of the play - though we recommend you don’t say it too much. After all, no need to tempt the wrath from high atop the thing.

Instead, we recommend you make yourself today’s Drink Of The Day, a Scottish Play Cocktail, a very serious drink. No, really - this one’s no laughing matter.

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The Story Of Jamaican Independence

The road to independence was long and hard, and began roughly 532 years ago, after Spanish colonizers conquered the island nation in 1494. That conquest was proceeded by roughly 900 years of independence by the first Jamaicans, the Taino Indians who had migrated to Jamaica from the northern coast of South America around 600 AD.

Unfortunately, the brutal occupation & conquest by the Spanish forces in 1494 included heavy exploitation by the Spanish settlers, starvation, and a lack of resistance to European diseases that effectively wiped out that Tainos within 50 years of the Spanish conquest.

[Sidenote: The Arawak language spoken by the Taino people survives in many words such as ‘hammock’, ‘hurricane’, ‘tobacco’, ‘barbeque’ and ‘canoe’. The word Jamaica actually derives from the Arawak word Xaymaca, meaning “Land of wood and water.”]

As the genocide against the Jamaican people grew, the Spanish began importing slaves from West Africa to do the work. Jamaica was, however, never heavily populated by the Spanish, as they found no gold on the island. Instead, Spanish plantations were established to supply food for the Spanish ships that sailed between Europe and the Americas. Spain remained in control of Jamaica for more than 150 years, until they lost the island to the British in 1655.

The British retained control of the island for more than 300 years, through the era of the buccaneers, the Maroon Wars, the abolition and emancipation from slavery, the economic depression following the collapse of the plantation system, the Great Depression, and both World War I & World War II.

Especially after the collapse of the plantation system, a growing demand for self-determination by Jamaicans became apparent, building significantly by the end of World War II. Political agitation by Jamaican activists and trade union leaders led to the granting of a new constitution by the British in 1944, providing for a two-party House of Representatives, the appointment of Ministers, and the right to vote by all adult Jamaicans. Further constitutional advances took place in 1953 and 1957, and full internal self-government was obtained in 1959.

As Jamaican leaders like Sir Alexander Bustamante and Norman Manley pushed for self rule for Jamaica, they also reached out to other world leaders, like U.S. President John F. Kennedy to put pressure on the United Kingdom to grant Jamaica their independence. Their efforts bore fruit, and on July 19, 1962, the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the Jamaican Independence Act, allowing them to remain a part the Great British Commonwealth, with The Queen (or King) remaining as “Head of State,” while also granting full independence to the island nation as of August 6th, 1962.

That’s when the island not only gained its first real independence in almost 500 years, but also when the official ceremonies transferring control of Jamaica to its people from the British government happened. That’s also when the national motto of Jamaica became, “Out of Many, One People.”

Several events were organized to celebrate the jubilee, spanning from July 30 to August 12, 1962, but the most important happened at the National Stadium.

On Sunday August 5, 1962 at 11:59 pm, the National Stadium went dark for one minute with only the flag staff highlighted. The Union Jack (British Flag) was lowered symbolizing the end of the British rule over Jamaica, and then Jamaica’s new flag, bearing the brilliant black, green, and gold colors was hoisted to the sound of jubilant cheers and fireworks signaling the birth of a new nation.

Joining in the celebrations was Her Royal Highness, Princess Margaret, who represented Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Princess Margaret, on her diplomatic mission, officiated the ceremonies which made Jamaica the first independent state in the Western Hemisphere during the 20th century. She was accompanied by her husband the Earl of Snowdon and the Royal Party.

Since that day, Jamaican independence is celebrated every year on August 6, and continues to be a well-anticipated & well-celebrated holiday which both reminds Jamaicans of the significance of political freedom, and signals the possibilities of a brighter future.

With that in mind, we raise our glasses with today’s Drink Of The Day, a Rum Punch Cocktail or Mocktail!

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National Oyster Day

Some say it was a brave man who first ate an oyster. Others say humans have been eating oysters for thousands of years. Regardless of your opinion of them, oysters today are considered by many to be a delicious delicacy, evoking the taste of the sea and the open salt air. While overfishing and pollution have both reduced the supplies of oysters by a considerable degree, nevertheless, they still remain a delicacy that is highly popular today. You probably already know that they are considered an aphrodisiac in some cultures. They’re also rich in vitamin B12, vitamin A, selenium, iron, calcium, and zinc.

Origins Of National Oyster Day

While humans have been eating oysters for over 160,000 years, according to anthropologists, we’ve only really begun celebrating that fact relatively recently. In the U.S., St. Mary’s County, Maryland, began hosting local annual oyster celebrations as early as 1917, usually in early August. Then, in 1983, Maryland Governor Harry Hughes officially proclaimed August 5 as National Oyster Day.

National Oyster Day is a celebration of this most versatile mollusk - though “oyster” is technically the common name for a number of different groups of bivalve mollusks.

Some species of oysters are commonly eaten, either cooked or raw, as a delicacy. While other types of oysters, such as pearl oysters, are not normally consumed by humans, but are instead harvested for their pearls.

How to Celebrate National Oyster Day

The best way to celebrate National Oyster Day is to dine on this delicious treat. Oysters need to be cooked alive or consumed alive. They cannot be eaten safely when they are dead. You can tell whether an oyster is alive or not because a live oyster is able to close its shell. Make sure you keep this in mind so that you consume oysters safely. The last thing you want to do is celebrate National Oyster Day with food poisoning.

If you want to eat oysters in their most nutritious form, you should eat them raw. Raw oysters tend to be served with a cocktail sauce, vinegar, or lemon.

Salt and butter are also sometimes added. You can also boil oysters, as well as streaming, broiling, roasting, pickling, baking, smoking, and frying them. As you can see, they are a more versatile ingredient than a lot of people realize!

So, to celebrate National Oyster Day, you could attempt to prepare and serve them yourself.

Or, if you don’t want to go to this effort, treat yourself by going to a local seafood restaurant. You never know, there may even be some special oyster recipes on the menu especially for National Oyster Day.

If you’re feeling brave and you’re going to attempt to cook or prepare raw oysters yourself, why not invite some friends around and make an occasion of it?

In terms of choosing the best oysters, just-shucked, live oysters tend to have the best flavor. Just-shucked simply means that they have just been opened.

Native oysters are believed to taste much better than rock oysters, despite the fact that they’re smaller. They have a more complex flavor, with a very faint metallic note.

Oysters are graded based on their size. The smallest being 5 and the biggest being 1. They also tend to grow very slowly. In fact, did you know that it can take as long as three years for oysters to reach their full size?

Moreover, native oysters tend to cost more than rock oysters, and the key here is to eat them as simply as possible. Don’t add lots of flavor and mask the true taste of the oyster. Instead, enjoy the pure taste of the native oyster.

What can you expect from rock oysters? Well, they tend to have a more unctuous flavor. They are salty and sweeter. You can eat them raw and they are good for cooking as well. A lot of people tend to go for these oysters purely because they’re bigger and cheaper as well.

National Oyster Day FAQs

• In ancient Rome, oysters were a prized delicacy among the elite. Romans developed early aquaculture techniques, cultivating oysters in artificial ponds to ensure a steady supply. They even imported oysters from distant regions, showcasing their high demand and value in Roman society.

• The belief that oysters are aphrodisiacs dates back to ancient mythology, notably the tale of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, emerging from the sea on an oyster shell. While this romantic notion persists, scientific evidence supporting oysters’ aphrodisiac properties remains inconclusive.

• Oysters play a vital role in maintaining marine ecosystems. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water daily, removing pollutants and improving water clarity. Their reefs also provide habitats for various marine species, enhancing biodiversity.

• Yes, oysters possess the remarkable ability to change their sex. They often start life as males and can become females as they mature. This gender flexibility increases their reproductive success within their colonies.

  

• Around the world, many different communities celebrate oysters with vibrant festivals. For instance, the Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival in Ireland, established in 1954, is one of the oldest oyster festivals, featuring shucking competitions and culinary events. Such festivals highlight oysters’ cultural significance and culinary versatility.

• Not all oysters produce pearls. Edible oysters belong to a different family than pearl oysters. While both can create pearls, those from edible oysters are typically less lustrous and not as commercially valuable as those from pearl oysters.

• In the 19th century, New York Harbor was abundant with oysters, making them a staple food. Discarded oyster shells accumulated in such large quantities that they were repurposed to pave Pearl Street in Manhattan, reflecting the city’s rich oyster history.

• The world oyster-eating record stands at consuming 233 oysters in just three minutes. This feat showcases the enthusiasm and competitive spirit surrounding oyster consumption in certain cultures.

• An old myth advises against eating oysters in months without the letter ‘R,’ typically the warmer months, due to higher bacteria levels. However, modern refrigeration and food safety practices have made oysters safe to consume year-round.

• Oysters’ flavors are influenced by their environment, a concept known as “merroir.” Factors like water salinity, temperature, and mineral content impart distinct taste profiles, making each region’s oysters unique. For example, East Coast oysters are often saltier, while West Coast varieties may taste sweeter.

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National White Wine Day arrives every August 4, offering the perfect excuse to uncork and enjoy this versatile drink. Whether you prefer a zesty Sauvignon Blanc or a rich Chardonnay, white wines are celebrated globally for their refreshing qualities and diverse food pairings. Gather friends, explore new varietals, and raise a glass to this delightful beverage. There are even high-quality non-alcoholic white wines these days, for those who love the taste, but want a clear head in the morning.

History of National White Wine Day

National White Wine Day, celebrated annually on August 4th, was created in 2014 by freelance writer and unofficial holiday creator Jace Shoemaker-Galloway. It was established as a social media and digital calendar observance to encourage wine lovers to explore the diversity and qualities of white wine varieties.

The history of wine spans over 8,000 years, beginning in the South Caucasus region, in modern-day Armenia and Georgia (the Eastern European nation, not the U.S. state) around 7000 BCE. Through Phoenician, Persian, and Greek traders, wine culture, and the knowledge about how to cultivate grapes into wine spread across the region over the next few thousand years. By 460 BCE, wine was being consumed in Europe, and the Greek physician Hippocrates was already prescribing it as a remedy to some of his patients.

During Roman times, wine featured heavily at expensive banquets and was considered a sign of prestige. It was the Romans, in fact, who began to produce less sweet versions of white wine as they conquered new territories in the North and cultivated grapes on new land. It was also the Romans who introduced the concept of drinking cool wine in the summer and warm wine in the winter, a practice which many still follow today.

White wine eventually became popular throughout all of Europe, which led to more vineyards throughout the continent. By the 16th century, that popularity had also spread to the Americas, with vines being planted in Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.

Champagne was created in the 18th century and by the 19th century, it was the drink of choice for the elite. Champagne is technically only produced in the Champagne province of France, an area that has unique soil due to its sloping landscapes. However, there are also plenty of other similar sparkling white wines created around the world that match or even beat champagne for taste & price.

The 20th century has seen vines introduced to many new places, and technological developments that have changed the process of winemaking throughout the world. One thing, though, hasn’t changed, and that’s people’s love for a glass of white wine.

5 Facts About White Wine That May Surprise You

The Phobia & The -File

Some people suffer from a phobia of wine, it’s called oenophobia.
Similarly, some people who are wine connoisseurs proudly say they are oenophiles. [We’re looking at you, Carolyn Fiddler!]

How Many Grapes Does It Take?

It takes approximately 75 grapes to make a glass of white wine. Which means you need 300 grapes for a bottle.

How Big Is A Nebuchadnezzar?

Nebuchadnezzar is the name given to the largest bottle of white wine or champaign that you can buy. A Nebuchadnezzar wine and champagne bottle holds 15 liters, which equals 20 standard 750 ml bottles, or about 100 to 120 glasses. For the record, 12% of Americans say they have finished an entire bottle of wine by themselves - size undetermined.

Would You Like Some Cheese With That Wine?

15% of Americans love wine and cheese together, while 12% like to pair wine with their meal, cheese or no cheese.

For White Wine, Temperature Is Key

For their best flavor, sommeliers say white wines should be served at a temperature of 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

The temperature outside is also a big deal across most of the U.S. and really the entire northern hemisphere right now. So if you’re hot and thirsty, today’s Drink Of The Day, a Spritzer Cocktail or Mocktail should definitely help you cool off.

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History of National Watermelon Day

Millions of people love the juicy, refreshing watermelon, but not everyone is aware that this is the time of year that’s the peak of the summer fruit season. That’s why the National Watermelon Association (then known as the Melon Distributors Association), created this holiday back in the early 1980s - to capitalize on getting the news out that now is the best time to buy watermelons.

Cultivation of watermelons date back to 2000 BCE, with the first watermelon harvest on record occurring approximately 5,000 years ago in Egypt. Traces of watermelons and its seeds have been discovered on sites of the 12th Egyptian Dynasty, including in the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Paintings of different types of watermelon have also been found in ancient Egyptian inscriptions.

The sweet fruit we enjoy today is the result of genetic mutations over the course of a thousand years of cultivation. Yes - that’s part of what civilized farming is, genetic manipulation through cultivation. In the ancient world, watermelon seeds were sold to traders passing to the north through the trade routes in the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa. From there, the cultivation of the watermelon spread across Africa. After that, it spread into Mediterranean countries and other parts of Europe. By the end of the ninth century, watermelon cultivation became common as far away as China and throughout Asia.

According to “The Dictionary of American Food and Drink” by John Mariani, the word ‘watermelon’ first appeared in the English dictionary in 1615. The watermelon is commonly known as a type of melon, but it is not in the genus Cucumis. The outer rind of a watermelon is dark green with yellow stripes or spots. Over 300 varieties of watermelon are available in the U.S., ranging from red to white, and come in different shapes and sizes.

Yes, watermelons may help to fight cancer. They’re a great source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been proven to reduce the risk of some types of cancers like lung-, stomach-, and prostate cancer.

Ans if you’re on a diet? Don’t worry = watermelons are 92% water, so you can not only dig in without feeling guilty—you can also stay hydrated on a hot summer day.

Traditions of National Watermelon Day

Watermelons are enjoyed in all shapes, sizes, and colors on National Watermelon Day. Delightfully sweet and tasty, they are the go-to fruit for summer. No picnic is complete without watermelons. Best enjoyed outdoors, watermelon-eating contests and seed-spitting contests are a tradition. As they consist of 90% water, smoothies, sherbets, cocktails, and other beverages are often concocted from watermelons today, and desserts featuring watermelon as the main ingredient are also prepared.

How To Pick A Ripe Watermelon

It’s not nearly as hard to pick a great ripe watermelon as some folks may have told you. No knocking of melons here, we’ve got five real tips that will help you pick a great watermelon.

What’s the Shape

To pick a ripe watermelon, start with its shape. [Yes, there are square watermelons. No, that’s not natural like wombat poop.] Different varieties of watermelons have different shapes - oval or round - but the key is that the shape of a good watermelon should be uniform. Also, the shorter and closer to round, the sweeter and less watery its likely to be.

Check The Spot

Next, check the ground spot, the splotch on the bottom where the watermelon rested on the dirt. A ripe melon has a deep, creamy yellow or orange-yellow spot. Avoid ones with white or pale green spots, which mean it was picked too early.

Check The Webbing

“Webbing” refers to the coarse, web-like brown scuffs on the rind (green outer skin) of the watermelon. Despite the scab-like look of webbing, webbing on a watermelon is actually a good thing. These brown spots are scars from pollination, so the more webbing there is, the more times a bee pollinated the watermelon flower. And, in turn, the more pollination, the sweeter the fruit!

Check The Skin Finish

It’s best to choose a watermelon with a dull, matte finish. Shiny skin means the watermelon is still young and not yet ripe. Also, there’s no benefit to choosing solid-colored versus striped—this just has to do with the different watermelon varieties. If it is a striped watermelon, give it the finger - the two finger test, that is. Place two adult fingers together lengthwise along a dark green stripe on your watermelon. If the stripe is as wide as your two fingers, the melon should be ripe.

Check Your Stem

If it still has one, check the little tail where the watermelon hung from the vine. A dry, brown stem means it ripened fully, while a green stem means it was picked too soon.

National Watermelon Day By The Numbers

92% – the percentage of a watermelon that is water.
1,200 – the estimated number of varieties of watermelon available.
85% – the percentage of watermelons sold today that are seedless.
350.5 – the weight in pounds of the world’s heaviest watermelon grown in 2013.
$100 – the starting price of square watermelons in Japan.
2007 – the year when the Oklahoma State Senate made watermelon its official state vegetable.
85–100 – the number of days it takes for most watermelons to mature.
300 – the number of types of watermelons grown in the U.S.
9–10 – the sweetness measurement of most watermelons on the Brix scale.
75 feet – the record distance for spitting watermelon seeds held by Jason Schayot, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

National Watermelon Day Activities

Play A Game Of Suikawari (Watermelon Splitting)

The Japanese have watermelon splitting down to an art. In the game of Suikawari (similar to a pinata, but without the candy and paper mache), players are blindfolded, spun around three times and given the chance to crack open a watermelon with a wooden stick. But instead of candy, you get watermelon guts in your face.

Create A Watermelon Sculpture

It’s no surprise watermelons are in the same family as the pumpkin — you can carve them, too! Unleash your creativity by carving a watermelon rose, a watermelon shark or a watermelon basket. The options are endless.

Make A Vodka Watermelon

Watermelons are mostly made of water. But what if you replaced some of that water with... vodka? Organize a boozy celebration with your friends by cutting a hole in a watermelon, inserting a funnel and pouring in some vodka. The rest is... well, you probably won’t remember the rest.

Make Today’s Drink Of The Day!

Maybe you’d rather keep your memory and be a bit more sensible with your drinking today? We’ve got you covered with today’s Drink Of The Day, a Waterloo Watermelon Cocktail or Mocktail.

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Born in Lyon, France in 1900, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was the scion of an aristocratic family, and grew up in relative comfort, He did experience some pain, as his beloved younger brother François died of rheumatic fever at just 15 years old. Antoine was a student during World War I, and he joined the French military in 1921. His first posting was to the cavalry, but after taking his first airplane flight in 1912, Saint-Exupéry wanted to become a pilot. Securing transfer to the French Air Force, Saint-Exupéry soloed for the first time in a Sopwith triplane, and in doing so, earned his pilot’s wings. Thus began a love affair, amounting to an obsession with flying that would last for the remainder of his life.

After a short posting to Morocco in North Africa, Saint-Exupéry left the French Air Force, but he did not stop flying. Early in 1923, he crashed his airplane and suffered a skull fracture. Undeterred, he began a career as a mail pilot, flying all over western Europe and North Africa. His love for the desert and the people who lived there led Saint-Exupéry to become director of an airfield in the western Sahara. From there he flew throughout the region, among other things rescuing pilots whose aircraft had gone down in the harsh and forbidding region. The skills he learned in this work would come in handy later in his life.

In 1929, Saint-Exupéry moved to Argentina where he became director of an airmail line. He also began writing & publishing his first two novels, Southern Mail and Night Flight, based on his own adventures. His greatest adventure though came in 1935, when he attempted a flight from Paris to Saigon over French-ruled Indochina in a bid to beat the airspeed record for that distance. His aircraft, a Caudron Simoun touring monoplane, crashed in the Sahara after 20 hours of flight. Saint-Exupéry and his navigator had nothing but a little wine, a thermos of coffee, a couple of oranges, grapes, and a bit of chocolate with a few crackers. After four days they were nearly dead, until a desert tribesman rescued them. The experience would become the central event in Saint-Exupéry’s 1939 memoir Wind, Sand, and Stars.

When World War II began in 1939, Saint-Exupéry was in the process of recovering from severe injuries he had received in yet another aircraft crash in Guatemala during the previous year. He nevertheless applied for and was accepted as a reconnaissance flier in the French Air Force, using a two-engine Bloch 174 aircraft. After the collapse of the legitimate French government, he fled to the United States, spending the next couple of years there and in Canada advocating for the liberation of his country from German occupation and also denouncing the Vichy French rump state that collaborated with the Nazis. It was during his time in the United States that Saint-Exupéry wrote & illustrated The Little Prince, which was published in the U.S. in 1943.

Meanwhile, Saint-Exupéry was desperate not just to return to the air, but to rejoin the fight for his homeland. Yet he was 43 years old, with a bevy of injuries that left him unable to turn his head to the left or even to dress without assistance. Saint-Exupéry was a figure of international renown, however, whose participation in Free French military efforts would have tremendous publicity value; and so it was inevitable that his repeated applications to return to service would be granted. He therefore returned to service in North Africa as a reconnaissance pilot in April 1943, flying an F-5B variant of the P-38 Lightning. A crash on his second flight boded ill for Saint-Exupéry’s future, but he was nevertheless ushered back into service after recuperating.

On July 31, 1944, in preparation for the impending Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France, Saint-Exupéry took off from an airfield on the island of Corsica to take reconnaissance photographs in the area of Grenoble, France. He never returned. Eight days later Saint-Exupéry was officially declared missing in action, presumed shot down by the enemy. Exactly what happened remains a mystery.

In 1998, a French fisherman found Saint-Exupéry’s identity bracelet in the ocean off Marseille, and two years later divers found the remains of his aircraft in the same area. This led to the rediscovery of reports from August 1944, of the discovery of a body that could not be identified but was in a French Air Force uniform washing ashore nearby at that time. While speculation led some to believe it could have been him, this location was far off Saint-Exupéry’s flight path. Although there were reports, never confirmed, that a German pilot had shot down an aircraft like a P-38 in the area on July 31, 1944, underwater archaeologists were unable to find any evidence of damage from enemy action in the remains of the aircraft.

While Mr. Saint-Exupéry may have disappeared, much like the Little Prince in his story, the story itself only grew over the years. The story, about a young alien prince, who appears like a child to human eyes, & visits various planets, including Earth, deals with themes of love and loss, loneliness, friendship, and wonder. The story became Saint-Exupéry’s most successful work, selling an estimated 140 million copies worldwide, which makes it one of the best-selling books in history. It also became the second most translated work ever published, trailing only the Christian Bible.

The wide appeal of Saint-Exupéry’s novella has led to it being adapted into numerous forms over the decades. From audio versions on vinyl record, cassette, CD, and digital download, to live radio plays in the U.S. & UK, to many films, including an animated 2015 version, staring the voices of Jeff Bridges & Rachel McAdams. And of course, there was the seminal and celebrated live-action movie version in 1974, staring Richard Kiley & Steven Warner, with appearances by Gene Wilder as The Fox, and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse as The Snake, a character that singer Michael Jackson later said inspired many of his dance moves.

Jody’s mom even had the star of the Little Prince, Steven Warner, on her show on December 7, 1974, during Season 8, Episode 11.. Jody may have told her mom she thought he was cute, and then Jody’s mom told him! This photo is proof that he knew!

In 2010, a three-season-long animated series was also made that expanded upon the book, and in 2023, another animated spin-off series The Little Prince & Friends was released. There was even once a pop-up version of the book made, using the original text and Saint-Exupéry’s original drawings as the basis for its elaborate 3D pop-up illustrations.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s dedicated service flying for his country during World War II offered a fitting capstone to his literary work, which continues to lift up & delight the minds of young and old to this day.

In honor of his story of The Little Prince, and his love of flying, we give you today’s Drink Of The Day, an Elder Aviator cocktail!

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A new edition of Scientific American landed on newsstands on this day in 1898, and within its pages one could find the very first magazine advertisement for an automobile. Cleveland, Ohio, based Winton Motor Carriage Company ran the ad, which asked readers to “Dispense with a horse and save the expense, care and anxiety of keeping it. To run a motor carriage costs about ½ cent a mile.”

1898 Winton

Alexander Winton, like many bicycle makers at the time, began experimenting with single-cylinder engines in 1896. He was soon manufacturing motors suitable for powering horseless carriages, leading him to incorporate his new car company the following year on March 15. The first Winton vehicles were hand assembled and included padded seating, a leather roof, gas lamps, hand painted sides, and B.F. Goodrich tires. Despite the fine details of the Winton, sales were sluggish at best.

By May of 1897 Winton was producing a 10 horsepower car that could travel as fast as 33 miles per hour, a breakneck speed for the time. While impressive, many potential buyers were skeptical of the new contraptions, believing them to be toys of the rich. To woo consumers, Winton organized an 800 mile endurance test from Cleveland to New York City. While successful, the young car company was not earning any profit.

With customers few and far between, Winton took to print to reach new buyers, and finally found success. Following the run of the first advertisement in Scientific American, Winton began taking numerous orders for Winton Carriage Company vehicles, selling 21 by the end of the year. One of those orders was placed by a gentleman named James Packard. The buyer was dissatisfied with his Winton and upon taking it up with Alexander Winton himself, he was given no remorse. Winton simply told Packard to build his own car if he didn’t like the one he purchased. Packard took him up on the challenge, and the first Packard automobiles hit the market in 1899.

1910 Winton 6

Despite no guarantee of customer satisfaction, Winton would be operating the largest automotive manufacturing facility in the United States by 1898. The next year Winton sold more than 100 vehicles within 12 months for the first time. The company remained successful with upscale consumers until the end of the 1910s, when sales began to slip. The decline is often attributed to the company’s lack of development in both style and engineering. The final Winton automobile left the assembly line on February 11, 1924.

The company’s engine division would continue to manufacture engines for rail cars and other marine and rail applications. The Winton Engine Company ended up as a General Motors company in 1930.

Following the move, Winton began producing engines for diesel passenger locomotives, Navy submarines, and other large vehicles. In 1938, GM reorganized Winton as the General Motors Cleveland Diesel Engine Division. In 1962, GM’s Electro-Motive Division absorbed the company, where it remained until being sold in 2005. Today, Electro-Motive Diesel remains a a top maker of diesel-electric locomotives, train parts, and large diesel engines, and today operates as a subsidiary of Progress Rail, a subsidiary of the Caterpillar Corporation.

Today’s Drink Of The Day is automotive related, a Gennaro’s Sidecar. This drink is a modern Italian twist on the classic 1920s Sidecar cocktail, which we first shared with you in November of 2025. The Gennaro’s Sidecar was created by renowned chef Gennaro Contaldo, mentor and close friend to British chef, television host, cookbook author, & restauranteur Jamie Oliver, for his restaurant group “Jamie’s Italian.” It uniquely adds a bright punch of limoncello to the standard mix of flavors in a Sidecar, to take the flavor to a slightly different place.

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68 Years Ago: The National Aeronautics & Space Act of 1958 Creates NASA

The launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, by the Soviet Union in October 1957, and the implied Soviet superiority in missile technology, galvanized the United States. Congress began hearings in November 1957 to develop a long-term space plan. In April 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower asked Congress to pass legislation to create a civilian space agency to oversee the nation’s space activities. Bipartisan agreement between a Republican President and a Democratic-controlled Congress led to the drafting of legislation to create a civilian agency to oversee America’s non-military space activities. President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 into law on July 29, creating NASA. The agency opened for business on Oct. 1, 1958.

In July 1955, both the United States and the Soviet Union pledged to orbit an artificial scientific satellite as part of the International Geophysical Year (IGY), a multinational scientific endeavor to study the Earth and its environment, initially planned to run from July 1, 1957, to Dec. 31, 1958. The two countries approached their pledges very differently. The Soviet Union operated in secrecy, formally approving a single program on Jan. 30, 1956. Preferring a civilian-led effort, the Eisenhower Administration gave priority to the Vanguard project for its IGY satellite while the military services continued their independent projects.

With American plans and progress public, the secretive Soviets had an edge in upstaging U.S. efforts. Sergei P. Korolev, the chief designer of the Soviet Union’s early space program whose identity the Soviets kept secret until after his death in 1966, envisioned a large scientific satellite code named Object D as his country’s contribution to the IGY. When the project ran behind schedule, the Soviet government directed him to launch a much simpler satellite to beat the Americans into space. On Oct. 4, 1957, following a crash program to develop the simple satellite and several test flights of its R-7 booster rocket, the Soviet Union announced that it had placed Sputnik into orbit around the Earth. Although it carried no scientific instruments, the 184-pound Sputnik had a large impact on the United States’ space program. Buoyed by the success of Sputnik, and its political impact, the Soviet government directed Korolev to develop a second satellite, this one carrying a living animal. On Nov. 3, the Soviets launched the 1,120-pound Sputnik 2, carrying a dog named Laika.

On Nov. 21, Eisenhower established the President’s Scientific Advisory Committee (PSAC), charged with advising him on a response to the Soviet launches. The committee’s report in February 1958 recommended the establishment of a new civilian space agency built around the existing National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), established in 1915, to promote peaceful research in space.

On Nov. 25, the Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson – a Democrat from Texas – began six weeks of hearings on the perceived “missile gap” between the two superpowers. By the time the hearings ended in January 1958, 73 expert witnesses including scientists and engineers provided more than 1,300 pages of testimony, and changed Johnson’s view of space as a battlefield to one with scientific and commercial potential. He could also foresee that space could be used to benefit rural and agricultural communities like those in his home state. Legislative Reference Service analyst Eilene Galloway summarized the results of the hearings: “We changed the perception of the problem from one that was originally only national defense to one that also had beneficial uses from space and meant that we could hope for peace.”

The American Vanguard project, led by the National Academy of Sciences, used a three-stage rocket developed by the Naval Research Laboratory to place a 3-pound scientific satellite into orbit. Following the Sputnik launches, the United States accelerated the Vanguard project and readied a test vehicle for launch on Dec. 6, 1957. Unlike the Soviet launches that took place in secrecy, the American launch took place in front of the world press. The Vanguard Test Vehicle 3 (TV3) rose about 4 feet into the air, but the main engine lost thrust and the rocket fell back onto the pad, exploding in a huge fireball.

The force of the explosion threw the tiny satellite clear, and engineers recovered it, slightly battered by the experience. The very public nature of the failure fueled the urgency of the situation and lent support to the need for a single agency to manage the American civilian space effort.

Following the Vanguard failure, the United States resurrected the Army Ballistic Missile Agency’s (ABMA) Jupiter-C rocket program, developed by Wernher von Braun’s team. The California Institute of Technology’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) designed and built the Explorer satellite. The ABMA and JPL completed the job of modifying the Jupiter-C to the Juno rocket and building Explorer 1 in 84 days.

The Juno rocket traced its ancestry back to the German V-2 rocket, which von Braun had also designed. Working in the U.S. after World War II, he used the V-2 to develop the Redstone intermediate range ballistic missile, from which he developed the Jupiter-C as a high-performance three-stage rocket. The addition of a fourth stage created the Juno rocket, capable of launching a satellite into orbit. Explorer 1, weighing 30 pounds, including 18 pounds of scientific instruments, successfully launched from Cape Canaveral’s Pad 26 on Jan. 31, 1958. A team of women mathematicians at JPL computed Explorer’s trajectory and confirmed that it had reached orbit around the Earth, although it achieved a somewhat higher orbit than planned.

On April 2, 1958, in a letter to Congress, President Eisenhower called for the creation of a civilian National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA), based on the existing NACA, to oversee the U.S. space program. Although a former military commander, Eisenhower believed a civilian agency would be more effective than assigning space to the military, where inter-service rivalries had already demonstrated a lack of results in launching a satellite. As Congress drafted the legislation, Galloway successfully lobbied to designate the new organization an administration instead of an agency to give it broader authority to coordinate with other government entities. Twelve days later both the Senate and the House introduced versions of the NASA bill, with hearings starting the next day. The Soviet launch in May of the nearly 3,000-pound Sputnik 3 (Korolev’s original Object-D scientific satellite) provided strong incentive for the bills’ approvals.

The House bill passed on June 2 and the Senate version on June 16. Sen. Johnson chaired a bipartisan panel to produce a joint version of the bill and met with the President following the July 4th holiday to resolve any remaining issues. Congress passed the final version of the bill, the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, on July 16 and President Eisenhower signed it into law July 29.

On Aug. 8, President Eisenhower nominated T. Keith Glennan, president of Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio, and Hugh L. Dryden, director of NACA, to be administrator and deputy administrator, respectively. The Senate confirmed them a week later and they were sworn in at the White House on Aug. 19.

NASA officially opened for business Oct. 1, 1958, with its Headquarters at first occupying temporary office space at the Dolley Madison House in Washington, D.C., that boarders Lafayette Square Park, across from the White House.

For the record, astronaut ice cream is 52 years old this year, and may not have ever flown on a real space mission. That part may be a bummer, but today’s Drink Of The Day, an Ice Cream for Astronauts Cocktail or Mocktail, is definitely no bummer.

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Peruvian Independence Day: Everything To Know About Las Fiestas Patrias

People visiting the nation of Peru during July will have the opportunity to experience the national holiday of Fiestas Patrias, or Peruvian Independence Day. Fiestas Patrias is perhaps the biggest national holiday of Peru; during this time, the whole nation is in celebration. Colorful parades march down main streets, accompanied by loud brass bands, while men and women dance in traditional costumes.

By the early 1800s, the inhabitants of Spain’s Latin American colonies were dissatisfied with the lack of freedom and high taxation imposed upon them by Spain. All of South America was ripe for revolt or independence. For Peru, the change came from two directions. José de San Martín liberated Argentina and Chile, and in 1821 entered Lima. Meanwhile, Simon Bolivar had freed Venezuela and Colombia. In 1822, Bolivar liberated Ecuador from Spanish rule; however, it wasn’t until 1830 that Ecuador became fully independent. San Martín soon left Latin America to live in France, and Bolivar continued with the liberation of Peru. Peru became essentially an independent state in 1824.

Simon Bolivar is celebrated throughout South America as a national hero. However, his political philosophy was problematic. Thus, his reputation today finds him characterized as both a heroic liberator and a tyrannical despot. Bolivar believed that the best way to organize the struggling republics would be through a strongly centralized, even dictatorial government. Ideally, a ruler would preside with limitless power that would labor for the greatest good instead of abusing his power. He died without his dream of Gran Colombia, the unification of all South America, being realized. One can still see evidence today of Bolivar’s importance throughout Ecuador and Peru. Not only is his birthday a national holiday, but many streets and schools bear his name.

What does Peru’s Independence Day celebrate?

Peruvian Independence Day, known locally as Fiestas Patrias Peru, is one of the most important national holidays. It marks the country’s independence from Spanish colonial rule in 1821. The phrase Fiestas Patrias refers to the patriotic celebrations held each year on July 28 and 29. It is celebrated nationwide with civic and cultural events, from official government ceremonies to lively parades and family gatherings. For Peruvians, this holiday represents freedom, unity, and national pride, making it one of the best times for travelers to experience the country.

The History of Peruvian Independence

The history behind this holiday begins with the brutal Spanish conquest of the Incas. What would later become the Inca Empire originated near the shores of Lake Titicaca, between Peru and Bolivia, in the 1200s CE. The empire began to expand from its capital in Cuzco, Peru, and by 1500 CE, the region now known as Ecuador was also under Inca rule. The Inca Empire was a developed and complex nation. Agriculture was collectivized. Records of populations, seasons, and food supplies were kept. An impressive masonry building style - blocks weighing tons that fit together so perfectly that a piece of paper can’t fit between them even today - remains as evidence of the success of the empire. Perhaps the Incas’ most impressive achievement was their network of roads. Eight meters wide and paved with stone, teams of runners traveled from Cuzco, Peru, to Quito, Ecuador, along the Inca Highway, crossing suspension bridges over at least 100 rivers and resting in roadhouses along the way.

The Spanish Invasion reached the West Coast of South America in 1526. Francisco Pizarro was the central conqueror in both Ecuador and Peru. In 1528, Pizarro explored as far as the Rio Santa in Peru, noting the richness of the Inca Empire. On his third expedition, Pizarro landed on the Ecuadorian coast and began to march overland towards Peru, marching directly into the heart of the Empire. In November 1532, he reached Cajamarca, captured the Inca emperor, Atahualpa, and effectively put an end to the Inca Empire. The next thirty years were a period of turmoil, with the Incas still fighting against their conquerors and the conquistadors fighting among themselves for control of the rich colony. The rulers of the colony were the Spanish-born viceroys appointed by the Spanish crown. The social stratification of the society placed immigrants from Spain in the most prestigious positions. The native Inca occupied the lowest rung in the class system; they were exploited and treated as expendable laborers. Unfortunately, shades of this social hierarchy are still visible in modern Ecuador and Peru.

One Unfortunate Sour Note

Today, as part of Peru’s Independence Day, their new right-wing president Keiko Fujimori, the nepo-baby of one of Peru’s legendary scandal-plagued leaders Alberto Fujimori, takes office. That’s the real sour note in today’s celebrations.

Role of José de San Martín and the Proclamation of Independence

By the early 1800s, revolutionary movements were spreading throughout South America. José de San Martín, one of the region’s great liberators, took the lead in Peru. After campaigns in Argentina and Chile, he entered Lima and declared Peru’s independence on July 28, 1821, in the Plaza Mayor. His famous words announced that “Peru is from this moment free and independent by the general will of its people!”

Though battles with royalist forces continued until 1824, San Martín’s proclamation marked the birth of a free Peru. This is why Peruvian Independence Day remains one of the most significant holidays in the nation.

When is Peru’s Independence Day Celebrated?

Fiestas Patrias Peru takes place every year on July 28 and July 29.

• July 28 focuses on political and civic ceremonies, including the President’s speech and national flag-raising.

• July 29 is dedicated to military parades and cultural events that highlight Peru’s traditions.

Peru’s two-day event reflects both its struggle for freedom and its national identity. Understanding the history behind Las Fiestas Patrias enriches visitor’s appreciation and participation in this fun-filled and festive event.

How Peru Celebrates Las Fiestas Patrias

Peru comes alive with a mix of civic rituals and colorful festivities during Fiestas Patrias.

Flag-Raising Ceremonies

From Lima to the smallest rural towns, the Peruvian flag is proudly raised. Every home, school, and government building displays the red-and-white banner. Parades in Lima and Other Cities. Lima, Cusco, and Arequipa organize large civic parades, with students, community groups, and organizations marching in traditional costumes.

Traditional Dances and Music

Music and dance are central to the holiday. Performances of marinera, huayno, and Afro-Peruvian rhythms fill plazas and streets, giving visitors a taste of Peru’s cultural richness.
Fireworks and Public Concert Evenings are marked with fireworks and concerts. Public squares transform into open-air stages where locals and travelers celebrate together.

The Military and Civic Parades

The highlight of the second day, July 29, is the Grand Military Parade in Lima.

• The event displays the strength of Peru’s armed forces and honors the defense of independence.

• The President and government officials attend, reinforcing its civic importance.

• For Peruvians, the parade symbolizes national unity, pride, and resilience.

Travel to Peru During Fiestas Patrias

On Independence Day, travelers can expect to find the entire country celebrating through food, music, and costumes. From school events to big military parades, Ecuadorians and Peruvians demonstrate their national pride. Even in a small rural village, the national flag flies on the roofs of most homes. Wherever the holiday finds one, tourists should join in the local festivities and remember the long history behind the present celebration. Just keep in mind that banks, offices, and other services are closed; hotels are crowded, so book in advance!

Why It’s a Popular Time to Visit

Tourists love visiting Peru during this time because the atmosphere is electric. The celebrations provide an opportunity to experience authentic traditions while participating in nationwide festivities.
Cities with the Best Celebrations

• Lima – Home to official ceremonies and the grand parade.

• Cusco – Celebrates with Andean traditions and a rich Inca backdrop.

• Arequipa – Fuses colonial heritage with vibrant street events.

• Trujillo – Hosts concerts and folkloric shows in its coastal setting.

Why Fiestas Patrias is Worth Experiencing

Peruvian Independence Day is more than just a historical anniversary—it’s a living expression of culture and national identity. Whether you’re in Lima watching the grand parade or in a small town sharing traditional food with locals, the experience offers travelers a deeper appreciation of Peruvian pride and history.

With all that in mind, let’s raise a glass of today’s Drink Of The Day, a Pisco Sour, the official national drink of Peru!

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National Sleepyhead Day arrives every July 27, known traditionally in Finland as Unikeonpäivä. Rooted in medieval folklore and the legend of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, it’s a day that involves playfully drenching the last person to get out of bed, or even throwing the last person in a household to wake up into the nearest lake, river, ocean, or sea.

Yes, it’s a real holiday of sorts in Finland, though here in The States, you may prefer celebrating by NOT setting your alarm, and enjoying a refreshing morning instead. Then you can wake up at your leisure, read about the unusual history of this day, and join in the lighthearted spirit of this unique observance!

History of National Sleepyhead Day

Finnish folklore, dating back to 250 A.D., holds the supposed origin of this holiday. The folk tale goes like this: During the rule of King Decius, seven people escaped to the outskirts of the city of Ephesus while running away from impending persecution. There they hid inside a cave. When King Decius discovered this, he ordered the mouth of the cave to be sealed, and the seven men inside fell asleep in the cave. People forgot about the men, yet when the cave was opened 200 years later, they discovered the seven men still sleeping in the cave. This legend is called the ‘Seven Sleepers of Ephesus.’

Historically, the Finnish people believed that whoever slept late on this specific day would remain lazy and unproductive for the entire rest of the year. Clearly, the Finnish people have never met Republican members of Congress, who do this every day of their lives. Still, the Finnish people believed the last one to wake up on this day of the year was the laziest person in the house. So, to get them moving, they were usually woken up drenching them in water, or by grabbing the person, and tossing them into the nearest large body of water. The holiday evolved into a custom to symbolically wash away the ‘evil of laziness’ by ensuring everyone wakes up early.

Every July 27 in Naantali, a city in Finland, an informal celebration occurs every year on National Sleepy Head Day. The city celebrates the day by throwing a local celebrity off the docks. The identity of the chosen “sleeper” is kept a secret until the last moment. Also, this ‘honored sleeper’ is chosen from those who’ve contributed to the welfare of the city.

Many artists, actors, writers, and politicians have taken the plunge. Every mayor of the city has made it to the docks at least once. From a political perspective, it aims to symbolize the washing away of corruption and inactivity. People of all ages celebrate until evening with traditional Finnish activities, and at the end of the day, they are indeed, Finnished.

National Sleepy Head Day FAQs

Are there any benefits to waking up early?

Waking up early can offer numerous benefits, including increased productivity, better mental focus, and more time for exercise or personal pursuits. It can also help establish a consistent sleep schedule, which is crucial for overall health.

Does waking up early help us politically?

While threatening politicians with being thrown in a river to “sleep with the fishes” was made famous in modern times by the movie The Godfather, characters in stories have been threatening their enemies with that phrase since Homer’s Illiad about 2000 years ago. And while we don’t recommend threatening politicians, we do recommend being and staying involved in your local, state, and federal government, and keeping a watch on everything they do - and to do that, it helps if you’re getting good sleep, and yes, waking up early. As the state capitol of Nebraska has carved above its main entrance, “The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness in the Citizen.”

National Sleepy Head Day Activities

Leave bed early!

Unless you want an unexpected shower, try not to be the last one in bed today. Come on! Up and at ‘em!

Be productive!

Chug coffee and get to work. The idea behind this day is to get rid of laziness. So, be as active as possible today (or maybe on every possible day).

Get active!

The older generation often calls Millennials and Gen-Z lazy. This is primarily because many of them are lazy. [We’re kidding!] However, daily movement for many has become limited to our fingertips more than anything - and that is kinda lazy. So today, maybe get in some extra activity that doesn’t involve doom scrolling and clicking your phone. Walk to the grocery store rather than ordering it home, meet with a friend or colleague in person rather than video calling, or take the stairs rather than the elevator.

Whatever you do, make sure to start your day out right with today’s Drink Of The Day, a Breakfast Martini! Because it may be morning where you are, but it’s always after 5PM somewhere.

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National Tell An Old Joke Day, celebrated every July 24, is a great reminder to dust off your favorite classic jokes, and take ‘em out for a spin. Old jokes often tap into universal human experiences, simple wordplay, or familiar scenarios, making them relatable across generations. Their simplicity and predictability offer a comforting form of humor that never goes out of style.

Tell An Old Joke Day Hero

Milton Berle

Milton Berle (1908-2002), also known as ‘Uncle Miltie,’ was an American actor, comedian, and television pioneer. Known for hosting ‘Texaco Star Theater’ he became one of America’s first major comedic TV stars. Berle was famous for his vast collection of jokes, often borrowing and adapting old gags, making him a fitting figure for a day celebrating timeless humor.

A Brief History Of Humor, Jokes, & Jokebooks

Scientists believe that millions of years ago, before the punchlines and dad jokes, humor evolved as a social survival mechanism. In the wild, survival often depended not just on physical strength, but on the ability to form alliances, defuse tension, and communicate quickly.

Anthropologists also note that laughter, shared among a group of people, is a bonding mechanism, much like grooming is among primates. An environment where people can laugh openly & fully allows people to bond more easily with one another, communicates safety and friendliness, engenders trust, and helps groups grow larger without falling apart. The scientists also believed as societies became more complex, so did their sense of humor.

Of course, scientists have been wrong before, and they’re somewhat wrong on this one too.

After all, the world’s oldest joke, from Sumeria, around 1900 BCE, is a fart joke - seriously. Here it is:

“Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap.”

Not much complexity to that, though humans have gained complexity in how we’ve kept track of our jokes over the millennia.

The Greek writer and archivist Athenaeus of Naucratis wrote around 200 CE (AD) that King Philip II of Macedon commissioned a joke book around 350 BCE from a social club of witty men in Athens, often referred to as the “Group of Sixty, to write down their jokes and quips for him. While that book did not survive, it’s one of the first known joke books in Western history.

The oldest surviving joke book in Western history, also from Greece, is titled “The Philogelos” or “Laughter-Lover.” While initially attributed to two otherwise unknown authors, Hierocles and Philagrius, modern scholars consider that attribution highly questionable, rendering the compilation effectively anonymous. The book contains 265 jokes & riddles, clearly gathered from other sources, and includes multiple postings of some jokes, some of which appear in slightly different versions. Likely compiled in the 4th or 5th century CE, the text is organized according to the stereotypical characters who serve as the target of the punchlines in the jokes.

One of these jokes involves a king and his barber…

Asked by the court barber how he wanted his hair cut, the king replied dryly, “In silence.”

The Ancient Romans also had their ‘jestbooks.’ The playwright Titus Maccius Plautus often referenced these in his plays, while the Roman historian Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus mentions a professor of the Emperor Augustus, who compiled more than 150 joke anthologies.

The early Renaissance brought about another major joke book in history, compiled by the Italian Renaissance scholar Poggio Bracciolini. Secretary to eight Popes, Bracciolini was an Italian humanist and a passionate bibliophile, traveling throughout Europe in search of lost books & other historically important written works. His contribution to the history of joke books is The Facetiae, a famous 15th-century collection of 273 jokes, jests, puns, and humorous anecdotes. First printed around 1470, it’s historically recognized as the first printed joke book in Western history.

Tell An Old Joke Day timeline

How To Celebrate Tell An Old Joke Day

Tell everyone your favorite old jokes

The one about the chicken crossing the road. Any knock-knock joke ever made. ‘Your mom’ jokes. There are plenty of memorable old jokes that any person would know. If you can’t remember some hilarious ones, the internet can help you. There are plenty of free websites with loads of old jokes for you to try out. You can also go old school, in keeping with our ‘old jokes’ theme, and pick up an old joke book at the library.

Watch someone else tell funny old jokes

If you have some free time, why not spend it watching your favorite comedians tell their old jokes? You could even plan a family TV night with a special marathon of your favorite comedians telling old jokes. Whatever you choose, take a break, and enjoy some old jokes today.

Read about the history of old jokes

You could start by looking up the historical joke books we mentioned above. or you could try the book “Stop Me If You’ve Heard This: A History and Philosophy of Jokes.” In this book, author Jim Holt deep-dives into the history of jokes. You could even read some of the oldest jokes in history, as Business Insider published in 2023. You could even ask for more recommendations from your favorite local librarian.

Of course, after all those jokes, you’ll likely be thirsty. So let’s make today’s Drink Of The Day, a Joker Cocktail.

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Raymond Chandler was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 23, 1888, the only child of an Irish-born mother and a Pennsylvanian father. He spent many of his early years in Nebraska, but after his father, who had always struggled with alcoholism, left the family, Chandler and his mother moved to Ireland in 1895, then on to England. After receiving an education at Dulwich College, Chandler took civil service exams, placing first in classics and third overall. His reward, a clerkship in the British Admiralty, did not agree with him and he left it to freelance as a journalist.

In 1912, Chandler returned alone to the United States, eventually settling in southern California. His mother would soon join him there and he would care for her for years to come. It was in this period, during a string of dull, poorly paid odd jobs, that Chandler met his future wife, Cissy, who was at the time married to West Indian pianist Julian Pascal. She would eventually leave her husband for Chandler, but they would not marry for over a decade.

With World War I underway, the 29-year-old Chandler journeyed north to enlist in the Canadian army in 1917. Wrote Chandler’s biographer Frank MacShane, “Only the 20th century could produce the scenario of an American-born Anglo-Irishman traveling to Canada in order to join a Scottish regiment to fight Germans in France.” Chandler saw dramatic action in France, where a German artillery barrage killed everyone in his unit except Chandler, who received only a concussion.

Discharged in 1919, Chandler returned to Los Angeles and unsuccessfully tried his hand at poetry. He eventually took work as an accountant for Dabney Oil Syndicate. His interest in the now-divorced Cissy Pascal was rekindled, but they did not marry until after his mother’s death in 1924. Perhaps unbeknownst to Chandler, Cissy was nearly 18 years his senior. Rising quickly at Dabney Oil, Chandler soon became an oil executive, earning about $1,000 a month (about $19,600 a month in 2026 dollars). He even was allowed use of two company cars, despite widespread economic hardships during the Depression. Initially quite respected for his work at Dabney, Chandler began neglecting his work, womanizing and drinking excessively, and was fired in 1932 at the age of 44.

The shock of being fired forced Chandler to consider his behavior and find a new means of earning a living. With his marriage on the mend, Chandler gave up drinking and turned his attention once again to writing. Perhaps taking into account the potential to earn money writing for popular pulp fiction magazines (yes, kids - those were real things), and admiring the work of author Dashiell Hammett who had started publishing stories in Black Mask magazine in 1920, Chandler now tried his hand at crime stories. His first story, “Blackmailers Don’t Shoot,” published by Black Mask in December 1933, earned him $180, or about $4600 in 2026 dollars.

Chandler continued to perfect his craft and with each story, he added depth to his central hero, a private detective character variously named Mallory, Dalmas, Carmad, or Gage, among other names. Having become a struggling and unprolific writer from his previous perch as an oil corporation executive, Chandler found that he was no longer immune to the economic difficulties of the Depression. In 1938 his work earned him a mere $1,275 - roughly $30k for the whole year. Chandler and Cissy moved frequently during this time (they moved roughly 35 times during their 30-year marriage) and as Chandler’s income grew smaller so did their rental homes. Things would soon change, however, when Chandler turned his focus to his first novel, The Big Sleep, published by Alfred A. Knopf Publishing in February 1939. The novel sold 10,000 copies in the United States, one sign that paperback novels were rising in popularity. During this rise, Chandler’s character of Philip Marlowe continued to haunt the streets of a gritty Los Angeles in his novels Farewell, My Lovely (1940), The High Window (1942) and The Lady in the Lake (1943).

It was at this time, during World War II, that Hollywood looked more at the hardboiled detective genre for material for films. In 1943, Paramount hired Chandler to work on scripts. His first was a collaboration with Billy Wilder on the adaptation of fellow novelist James Cain’s Double Indemnity. He received an Oscar nomination for the screenplay and continued successful work in the film industry for the next four years, including his screenplay for The Blue Dahlia (1946).

Once his work in films faded, he and Cissy retreated even further into their very private life together. Chandler was a shy, lonely man, and had difficulty fitting in with his chosen California environment, in particular with Hollywood. The one abiding relationship Chandler had was with his wife, to whom he was, in his own fashion, strongly devoted. In 1946 the Chandlers moved to La Jolla, outside San Diego. There he dedicated himself to caring for Cissy, who had grown quite ill from fibrosis of the lungs. Despite medical problems of his own, including shingles and an eczema so severe that he had to wear gloves to type, Chandler continued to write, and published another Marlowe novel, The Little Sister (1949).

In 1950 and 1951 Chandler worked on a new book, but the old Philip Marlowe bored him. When his own agents rejected the manuscript, Chandler broke his relationship with them, intent on adding depth to his hero. The Long Goodbye (1953) was a landmark. It introduced a flawed Marlowe, lonely and weakened by time, and brought social commentary to the hardboiled detective genre.

Sadly, Chandler’s story ended like one of the many dark tales he’d written over the years. After Cissy died in 1954, Chandler grew depressed, resumed drinking, and began traveling restlessly between England and L.A. In 1955 he made a feeble attempt at suicide and in 1958 he published his last novel, Playback, which is still shrugged off by Chandler readers as better off forgotten. He died in La Jolla on March 26, 1959 of pneumonia.

Raymond Chandler, widely accepted as a master stylist who transformed 20th century detective fiction, is our inspiration for today’s Drink Of The Day, Gimlet Cocktail.

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History of World Brain Day

The World Federation of Neurology was the first to establish World Brain Day as a worldwide commemoration day in 2014, to coincide with the anniversary of their founding in 1957. The holiday’s date, July 22, honors not only the World Federation of Neurology’s foundation in 1957 but also the crafting of the organization’s first constitution. The World Federation of Neurology established World Brain Day to address the rising global burden of neurological diseases, which are currently recognized as the leading cause of disability worldwide.

Every year, the campaign highlights a specific theme to drive international collaboration among healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public to reduce stigma, improve access to care, and promote early intervention. This year, the theme is “Brain Health: Access for All,” to highlight the urgent need to reduce global disparities in neurological care, and bring critical brain health services and resources to under-served communities everywhere around the world.

Today, the World Federation of Neurology is one of the strongest professional associations in the world, with an ever-increasing outreach. It includes more than 100 member organizations, as well as several specialized groups within the organization. It has effectively fostered training, education, and neurology research, and it is one of the most important aspects of making neurology more accessible to the general public. The group has taken on numerous initiatives to raise awareness of brain health, including the establishment of this annual international day of awareness.

World Brain Day FAQs

How many people are affected by neurological disorders?

Globally, neurological disorders affect an estimated one billion people, encompassing conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy, and migraine. These conditions are a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide.

What is brain health?

Brain health refers to the ability to perform all mental processes of cognition, including learning, memory, judgment, and emotional regulation. It encompasses not just the absence of disease but also the optimization of brain function throughout life.

How to Observe World Brain Day

Get A Brain Check-up

Visit any clinic or, better yet, a neurologist’s practice with a neurology specialist. Patients who are prepared to go above and beyond to help prevent problems from occurring are always welcomed by neurologists.

Read About Neurology

Understanding basic brain health and safety could be lifesaving information someday. Most hospitals and clinics will gladly give you some brochures and reading guides. These can prove helpful and give you information to point you to other resources so that you can keep learning.

Appreciate Neurology

Reading about neurology and the history of neurosciences may be both enjoyable and educational, as well as providing you with a deeper understanding of the field. Learning about it could also potentially help you identify your own neurological disorders, so that you can handle them better.

Do Something Good For Your Brain

Humor is highly beneficial for brain health. It triggers the release of feel-good chemicals like dopamine and endorphins, while lowering the stress hormone cortisol. Processing jokes also acts as a mental workout that enhances cognitive flexibility, encourages emotional resilience, and improves blood flow to the brain. So enjoy a brain-related clip from the 1974 classic “Young Frankenstein!”

Five Intriguing Facts About The Brain

Four Inputs Do Most Of The Work

The human brain contains roughly 86 billion neurons. More than half of these - about 50 to 60 billion - are a specific type of neuron called granule cells. While many complex neurons in the brain, like pyramidal cells in the cortex, receive thousands of incoming signals, granule cells are highly streamlined. They feature only four short dendrites - effectively, antennas - through which all the signals in our brains travel. Despite their simplicity—having only four dendrites apiece—these granule cells play a massive role in motor control, balance, and fine-tuning movement. Because there are tens of billions of them acting as a massive processing filter, they allow the brain to process highly complex sensory and motor information with extreme precision..

Neurons Can Repair Themselves

Historically, scientists did not think damaged neurons could grow back. For decades, the established dogma was that the adult central nervous system had no capacity for regeneration.

However, modern neuroscience has entirely overturned this idea. Biologists now understand that damaged central nervous system (CNS) cells can be stimulated to regrow under the right conditions.

Born This Way

According to many studies, the neurons that a person is born with are most likely the same ones they will keep throughout their lives.

The Animal With The Largest Brain

The sperm whale has the largest brain of all animals on Earth, weighing 20 pounds.

Humans Have Been Performing Brain Surgery For Millenia

The earliest successful brain surgeries can be traced back to the Stone Age, when they used an ancient surgical practice known as trepanation, which involves scraping or drilling a hole directly into a living person’s skull. Archaeologists have uncovered over 1,500 trepanned prehistoric skulls globally, spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas. We know these primitive operations were successful because many of the skulls show clear signs of advanced bone regrowth and healing around the edges of the holes. Because bone can only regenerate while a patient is alive, this physical evidence proves that a remarkable number of individuals survived the harrowing procedures and lived for years afterward.

With all of that brain info in mind, we give you today’s Drink Of The Day, a Brain Hemorrhage Shot!

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