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So you’ve got a hankering for fried green tomatoes. As a Southerner the craving is practically inherited. Indeed, many fried green tomato enthusiasts have made the pilgrimage to the Whistle Stop Café in Juliette, Georgia, featured in the 1991 film Fried Green Tomatoes. Fun fact: When the eatery was featured in the movie as part of the fictional Whistle Stop community, it was simply part of a film set—only after the movie was it converted into an actual restaurant for green tomato aficionados to gather at and enjoy....

There’s a new art exhibit in Fort Smith, Arkansas, that’s guaranteed to make you smile: “The Rainbow Embassy” by Spanish artist Okuda San Miguel, in partnership with Justkids, a public art initiative. The multi-hued home will be on display indefinitely for all to enjoy as they walk or drive through downtown Fort Smith, adding a burst of color and certainly an equal burst of joy to those who pass by. This marks San Miguel’s second project in Fort Smith, following the 2016 creation of the similarly colorful Universal Chapel, also in collaboration with Justkids....

If you could capture the flavor of Southern summer in a jar, what would it taste like? If you live in Savannah, you may say that summer tastes like a double-scoop of Leopold’s butter pecan ice cream. Or if you’re from Memphis, maybe summer tastes like Rendezvous’ charcoal-grilled ribs and tangy-sweet coleslaw. But no matter where in the South you are, you can probably agree that summer tastes like fresh peaches....

Many people remember to water their houseplants but don’t consider fertilizing them. It is important to fertilize your houseplants for two reasons: 1) plants need certain mineral nutrients for overall health; and 2) watering leaches away any nutrients in the potting mix. Remember that the plant has been or will live in its container for years and has no way to receive nutrients, like a plant would if it were living outside....

To kick off the first episode of Southern Living’s new podcast, I spoke with Jake Owen, who brings a little Florida sunshine to the world of country music, along with some great stories about making it big in Nashville. Owen is known for his high-energy performances and feel-good country songs like “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” his first number one hit. But after an extended period of sheltering in place at his farm outside Nashville—his longest stretch off the road in at least a decade—Owen has been in a more reflective mood....

This Sunday will give us the much anticipated second installment of the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries adaptation of the Martha’s Vineyard Mystery series. In Riddled with Deceit, Jesse Metcalfe not only reprises the role of retired detective Jeff Jackson, but he takes on an additional role off camera as well. Metcalfe also serves as an executive producer for the project, helping bring the beloved book series by Philip R. Craig to life on screen....

During these challenging times, we’re all trying to stay grounded. Sometimes, that means tending to our windowsill garden and taking a virtual knitting lesson. Sometimes, that means embracing our inner kid and trusting the sage wisdom of our lifestyle guru, Joanna Gaines. Curious to learn her counsel? Grab your pen and get ready to take notes. Earlier this week, Gaines took to Instagram to share her thoughts on the value of harkening back to our inner child alongside photos of a beautiful field of flowers....

Southerners are no strangers to family traditions, but traditions take on a whole new meaning in the Shaw house—especially when it comes to whipping up sweet treats in the kitchen. Growing up, making a day of perfecting Grandmommy’s secret sugar cookie recipe was truly a family affair. Flour-covered counters and sticky fingers staged the scene of my childhood, while lessons of patience came in the form of waiting for time to lick the batter off of the spatula (also incentivizing a little competition between myself and my sister)....

More than a month after a deadly EF4 tornado tore through Mayfield, Kentucky, and destroyed Rodney and Bessie Burgess’ cars, the family is finally back on the road. The Mayfield Community Foundation received enough donations to buy 10 cars to give to residents who lost their vehicles to the storm. On January 10, 2022, the foundation presented Bessie and two other people with new wheels. “At first, I didn’t think it was real,” Bessie told KFVS....

For one Florida children’s hospital, the newest “therapeutic tool” has four paws, a wet nose, and is met with smiles everywhere he goes. Parks, a two-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, started working at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in February and has already left quite an impression. As the hospital’s first facility dog, Parks works with the child life team to help bring healing, comfort, and fun to young patients, their families, and staff....

I’ll never forget the day my sister tried to coax a curl out of my waves by using her proven curl regimen—the very product routine that produced perfectly silky ringlets that bounced all over her head like a bunch of blonde slinkies. The result for moi was a bad hair day so egregious that not even a ponytail would fix it. Lesson learned: Not all curl types are the same. Since then, I wouldn’t say I’ve fully embraced my loose waves, but I have learned to round brush my hair like a pro, while also finding a lightweight leave-in product for those days when I’m ready to let my natural wave do its thing....

Shaquille O’Neal is a man of his word. The NBA legend finally made good on his promise to eat a frog if TCU lost to UGA in the national championship. O’Neal initially made the bet with his NBA On TNT co-host Ernie Johnson last week, pledging to eat a frog if the Bulldogs beat the Horned Frogs in Monday night’s showdown. UGA’s 65-7 walloping of TCU meant that O’Neal would be chowing down on amphibian....

How would you like to travel the great outdoors in a one-of-a-kind, 16-foot, Airstream camper with a fully stocked beer fridge? Family-owned Charlotte brewery Sycamore Brewing is celebrating its cult-favorite Mountain Candy IPA by giving one lucky fan the incredible opportunity to do all that and more. The winner of their latest giveaway contest can go wherever, whenever, in their very own branded Airstream trailer, which comes complete with a hammock, surfboard, string lights, and party games....

In 1971, a cozy brick storefront on South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas—now the city’s most popular shopping and restaurant district—housed a small sandwich shop called Schlotzsky’s, owned by couple Don and Delores Dissman. Touting just one menu item—a giant 8-inch muffuletta stuffed with three meats, cheeses, lettuce, tomato, olives, and dressing served on hot freshly-made sourdough bread—it quickly became a town classic. The Original sandwich cost only $2.95 and was modeled after similar subs the couple had tasted in New Orleans’ French Quarter....

There’s one more thing that experts are urging people to add to their nighttime routine—and no, it’s not flossing. According to a recent survey by the safety science organization Underwriters Laboratories, nearly 60% of people sleep with their bedroom door open. It may seem silly, but as Good Housekeeping points out, the simple act of closing your bedroom door could mean the difference between life or death in the event of a house fire....

Trainer Eric Reed pulled off one of the greatest upsets in the history of the Kentucky Derby on Sunday, and he did it with help from his daughter. His horse, Rich Strike, wasn’t even entered in the race on Friday morning. It was thanks to a last-minute scratch that the team even made it to the Churchill Downs paddock. As the gun sounded on Sunday, they had 80-1 odds. When Rich Strike and jockey Sonny Leon crossed the finish line just a few minutes later, they became the second-longest shot to win the 148-year-old race....

Hate to be the one to tell you, but Christmas is quickly approaching. After you’ve made your list, checked it twice, and decided that everyone on it needs Blackberry Farm biscuits this year, you’ll need to get those packages in the mail ASAP if you want to make sure they arrive before the holiday. Luckily for those among us who plan and those of us who procrastinate, the clever folks at the various shipping companies have put together lists of deadlines to make sure your Christmas gifts don’t accidentally become Easter presents....

If there’s one thing I truly can’t stand, it’s cold food. I’m the girl posted up by the microwave at family gatherings because the spread is never hot enough, and I wouldn’t be caught dead settling for tepid green bean casserole. Cold pizza is not for me. And unless my soup is scalding, I’d rather not partake. (I will however make an exception for cold Publix fried chicken, but that’s a story for a different day....

Back in the day, when Southerners embarked on family road trips down to the beach or over to visit distant relatives, they’d do so five-deep in a station wagon and without all of the distractions we’ve become accustomed to today—things like podcasts, Spotify playlists, and movies on a tablet. Instead, they’d look forward to the point midway through the drive that the car would pull off the highway with the promise of the ultimate entertainment: a visit to the roadside store....

Captain Kirk has spent a lot of time exploring the darker corners of space, but William Shatner the actor who famously played him on Star Trek has not. The film, television, and music star who spent so much of his career pretending to fly through the stars has been unable to reach that final frontier in real life. That is all about to change, though. On October 12, Shatner is going to boldly go to space aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin spacecraft....