Like that impossible-to-buy-for person on your holiday gift list, it’s hard to know how to keep a QAnon cultist happy. When a bunch of them flocked to Dallas in November to witness the resurrection of John F. Kennedy, Jr. (and possibly his dad and mom) and he didn’t show up, they didn’t bitch and moan—they simply decided that the former George publisher, who died in 1999, had instead decided to reemerge at a Rolling Stones concert. When—gasp!—that didn’t happen either, they opted to hang around Dallas a little bit longer, sing “We Are the World,” and drink from a communal bowl of disinfectants to keep from getting COVID. Meanwhile, they haven’t been willing to give the same sort of leeway to another one of their heroes, former President Donald Trump.

As Newsweek reports, followers of Q are really pissed that the former president has not only been vaccinated against COVID, but gotten a booster shot as well. Trump made this now-controversial admission on Sunday while chatting with former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly on the final stop of their ill-fated “History Tour” at Dallas’ American Airlines Center. Upon hearing this seemingly devastating news, some members of the audience began booing the former president. While he played it off in true Trump style, noting that it was “a very tiny group” that was jeering him, O’Reilly apparently had to later console him.

Still, as Newsweek writes, the message boards of conspiracy theory-heavy social media site Telegram were flooded with reactions to Trump’s admission. As Anders Anglesey wrote:

Newsweek found several comments on Telegram from QAnon followers who had turned on Trump and were left frustrated by his comments while others who claimed to be unvaccinated proudly called themselves “pureblood.”

One major QAnon influencer with 58,800 followers attempted to reassure their followers and explain Trump’s comments to them.

In a Monday Telegram post: “We don’t always understand everything. I love President Trump. I disagree here. I think we may find out something about this soon imo [in my opinion] either way, think for yourself. You are in the right spot here. Just don’t cuss up a storm, we have so many twists and turns already.”

The influencer continued: “I believe the end will explain the middle. But, we are all to think for ourselves and most of you guys are still with me on this vax crap. If we are confused by Pres Trump’s comments, I’m sure Deep State is. Maybe he would be a danger to society arrested otherwise idk [I don’t know] but I’m gonna continue locally and here doing what we all must every day.”

Still, it doesn’t seem as if Trump’s willingness to get a booster has influenced others to act as he did. Newsweek shared the results of a Telegram poll of more than 18,000 people who answered the question: “Now that President Trump had a booster, are you comfortable taking the vax and boosters?” A whopping 97 percent of respondents answered with an outright no, while one percent said yes and two percent weren’t sure.

Cultists gonna cult.

(Via Newsweek)

Walking into the supermarket these days is more anxiety-inducing than it has been for decades. Shoppers are now taking second looks at the prices of everyday items before dropping them into their carts to make sure they haven’t skyrocketed since their last trip to the store.

The meat and dairy aisles have been especially daunting. Over the past year in the United States, the average price of eggs has gone up 11.6% and chicken is up nearly 9%.

A recent national survey for Bankrate found that 71% of Americans say they’ve had to pay more at the grocery store.

The cause is a perfect storm of events: the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and rising food prices.

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While we’re all feeling the impact in one way or another, the situation has been overwhelming for people facing food insecurity. The good news is that the Feeding America network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies have continued to serve people experiencing hunger, even though there’s a huge strain on the system.

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First, the increase in demand at food banks has risen so much over the past fiscal year they have had to purchase 58% more food.

Second, snags in the supply chain have led to higher transportation costs, increasing overhead and further reducing the amount of food that food banks can afford.

Freight costs to move donated food are up 20% over this time last year. As a result, Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, has subsidized millions in transportation-related costs to food banks since April 2020.

When the price of food and transportation goes up, the amount that food banks can supply goes down.

How We Work 2021 – Feeding America

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According to the USDA 38 million people, including nearly 12 million children experience food insecurity in the U.S.

It’s hard for many to grasp the enormity of the hunger issue because it’s an invisible problem that’s hiding in plain sight.

It’s when a co-worker calls in sick because they haven’t eaten enough nutritious food to have the energy to come to work. You see it when an eighth-grader can’t focus in algebra class because they haven’t had enough to eat.

New challenges may arise around winter when free meal programs at schools are closed, and many people with low incomes must choose between paying for heat or buying meals.

By visiting FeedingAmerica.org/TakeAction you can learn how to help ease the strain on the network of food banks that help provide food to millions of people facing hunger.

Jennifer Coolidge came roaring back into our consciousness this year with a boozy, career-best turn in The White Lotus, which you really should watch if you haven’t already because, among other spectacles, the show features the most disgusting yet gratifying own of a truly loathsome character. That scene doesn’t involve Coolidge, who’s so hot right now that Netflix’s new Single All The Way might find a place in your queue.

As it turns out, Netflix also pulled her aside to give a fabulous reading of The Night Before Christmas. No liquor is involved here, at least, not on camera, but she drinks her milk straight out of a wine glass, so you get the point.

The reading itself is full of gusto and punctuated with Coolidge-esque revelations about wearing a cap and throwing back a sash. Each line arrives as though she’s discovered it for the very first time, which makes it new for anyone who’s watching. Somehow as well, this feels both G-rated and R-rated at the same time, which is a difficult vibe to pull off and one that eclipses any other reading, including from the likes of Sam Jackson.

Jennifer Coolidge is bringing back Christmas, y’all. The pandemic tried to take it away (again), but she will keep us safe, and tuck us in with a nice cocktail.

There’s probably no figure more ubiquitous this holiday season than Santa Claus himself (sorry, Jesus.) You know that Christmas is around the corner when every store in town puts its mannequin of the big red guy in the window, or when every TV channel starts showing its regular rotation of festive movie classics. Everyone has their favorite film, the viewing of which is an annual tradition. For those who aren’t fans of Elf or A Christmas Carol or the PG coziness of the Hallmark Channel cinematic universe, there are plenty of alternative Christmas movies: Die Hard, American Psycho, and Tangerine, to name but three. But maybe you want some of those well-worn chipper tropes put through the wood-chipper for a bloodier, more frenzied Christmas. Enter the serial killer Santa.

Holiday-themed horror movies are par for the course for the genre. The merriest season has its fair share of terror, thanks to the likes of Black Christmas. So, it’s no surprise that there are a plethora of movies featuring either the real Jolly Old St. Nick on a murder spree or the killer of the week dressed in bloody red with snow-white trim. It’s one of the simplest yet most effective ways to flip the merriment and childlike optimism of the season on its head.

While it wasn’t the first film to make Santa a killer, 1984’s Silent Night, Deadly Night is undoubtedly the primary influence of this curious genre. Directed by Charles E. Sellier, Jr., making his feature debut, the grimy horror centers on a disturbed man who witnessed his parents being brutally murdered by a criminal dressed as Santa. As an adult, he struggles with disturbing thoughts and a deeply skewed sense of good and evil, which leads him to don the red costume and go on a vengeful murder spree. It’s a pretty bland film, clearly cut from the same cloth as the cheaply-made slasher titles that had oversaturated horror cinema in the ’80s. Yet Silent Night, Deadly Night became the most controversial film of the year because of that image of a killer Santa wielding an ax.

Swaths of concerned parents’ groups across America protested the movie, largely inspired by ad campaigns that ran in-between family-friendly TV series such as Little House on the Prairie. Protestors picketed theaters in The Bronx that screened the film, loudly singing Christmas carols in protest. These groups had some big names on their side too, including the legendary film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Siskel went as far as to read names of the film’s production crew on-air, telling them, “Shame on you”, as he accused the filmmakers of profiting from “blood money.” Eventually, the distributor, TriStar Pictures, withdrew the film from cinemas. It would eventually be re-released by an independent distributor, Aquarius Films, in May 1985, and that early controversy didn’t hurt its initial sales.

An editorial in Variety described the controversy: “Most protests were generated by the feeling that the depiction of a killer in a Santa Claus suit would traumatize children and undermine their traditional trust in Santa Claus.” As the movie’s producer, Ira Barmak, noted, Santa isn’t real and this R-rated film certainly wouldn’t ruin any kid’s Christmas unless their parents took them to see it. It didn’t seem to dawn on many critics or protestors that this bastardizing of an intrinsically good thing was basically the entire point of Silent Night, Deadly Night.

Silent Night, Deadly Night managed to milk an additional four sequels out of its concept, and by then, the genie was well and truly out of the bottle. Films in this sub-genre share a lot of tropes, particularly in the focus on children as targets or the utilizing of familial abuse and related trauma as an impetus for the violence. The French film 3615 code Père Noël features a precocious young boy being terrorized by a murderous vagrant dressed as Santa while fending him off with booby-traps. Christmas Evil, a seriously nihilistic thriller that predates Silent Night, Deadly Night by four years (it received none of the backlash of that movie), follows a deranged man obsessed with Santa Claus in part thanks to seeing his mother be groped by Santa, not knowing that he was just his dad in a costume. He, of course, also dresses in red and starts killing people. O’Hellige Jul!, a Norwegian slasher, features a Santa-disguised killer who engages in full-on torture porn and rape. The twist here is that, rather than being a mentally ill vagrant or the like, the killer is a happy family man who decides to target a group of friends out of a demented need to rectify their terrible futures.

And then there are the murderous St. Nicks who have their roots in well-worn mythology and the twisting of it. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale comes to us courtesy of Finland, the actual home of Santa. This revisionist history sees the figure as a foreboding figure with horns and violent tendencies (he’s also introduced naked, which is a very blunt way of stripping away the familiar mythos of Santa!) Futurama’s year 3000 take on Santa is a robot whose standards for naughty and nice are so misbalanced that everyone is likely to face his wrath on Christmas Eve, usually with a missile launcher of some kind. In the Netherlands, where the festive icon is Sinterklaas, a figure inspired by the real Saint Nicholas, the 2010 film Sint portrays him as a ghost on a full moon rampage. His bishop’s staff is a blade, his gang is looters, and the black Petes (Niklas’s companions who are typically portrayed by white people in blackface) were actually blackened by an act of murderous arson. Much like Silent Night, Deadly Night 26 years prior, Sint’s advertising led to concerned parents’ groups’ protests. The more things change…

The subversion of childhood innocence is at the heart of many a great horror story. Stephen King is legendary for his unnerving depictions of the not-so-secret darkness of youth, especially the all-too-familiar notion of growing up in a bleak world where your pain and fears are either ignored by adults or outright exploited. As many creators have shown, it doesn’t take much to turn the most seemingly innocuous parts of our childhood into something haunting. Consider how the Chucky franchise got so much mileage out of proving adults correct over those weird-looking dolls that had no business being marketed to kids, or how little effort it took to turn clowns into everyone’s worst nightmare. So, of course, there’s terror to be mined from the notion of a strange man breaking into your house every year to exchange milk and cookies for gifts on the basis of a binary notion of naughty versus nice. Honestly, it’s kind of a surprise that kids aren’t scared of Santa from birth.

Nowadays, Santa is big money. Coca-Cola’s annual holiday marketing campaign is a multi-million-dollar branding exercise that the company started in the 1920s. They hired artist Fred Mizen in 1930 to paint a Santa drinking a bottle of Coke for a campaign and that image of the festively plump and jolly rosy-cheeked Father Christmas helped to shape the iconography for decades to come. This Santa is so ubiquitous that some people think Coca-Cola wholly invented him. Couple that with continuing bad-faith right-wing culture war campaigns over the so-called war on Christmas and fake outrage over men of color playing the character and it’s no wonder that some of us crave that lump of coal in our stockings.

With a reboot of Silent Night, Deadly Night reportedly in the works, it seems that we won’t be short of killer Santa movies in the future. For whenever there is cheer and a societal requirement to be happy, there will be a need for someone to provide a bloody alternative.

After making its debut as a Spider-Man: No Way Home end-credits scene, the first teaser trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is officially online, and it has some surprising reveals pulled from the past year of Disney+ series. More importantly, if you haven’t seen No Way Home, don’t worry. The new trailer does not spoil anything from that movie, so it’s safe to watch.

Picking up after the events of No Way Home (again, without spoiling anything), Doctor Strange’s tampering with the Multiverse is clearly not without consequence, which puts him at odds with Chiwetel Ejiofor‘s Baron Mordo, who has determined that Strange is the greatest threat to the universe — and he might not be wrong.

In desperate need of help, Strange turns to the Scarlet Witch, who appears to be hiding out in some sort of mystical sanctuary following the events of WandaVision. She also seems to be well-versed in the Multiverse, which jibes with the ending of that show were Wanda is seen studying the Darkhold.

There are also brief glimpses of America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) who will make her Marvel debut in the film. But perhaps the biggest reveal is the presence of an Evil Doctor Strange who bears a striking resemblance to the one seen in Marvel’s What If. It could very easily be the same character, which raises some huge questions like how much of that animated series is canon, and might we already be seeing a live-action Captain Carter when the Doctor Strange sequel arrives next year?

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 6, 2022.

A couple of weeks ago, Dua Lipa teased a new collaboration with Puma on Instagram. “DUA X @PUMA FLUTUR CAPSULE COLLECTION OUT DEC 18TH. our first drop to tease what’s coming in 2022 shot by @danielsannwald,” the pop star wrote, punctuating her sentences with the butterfly emoji, a symbol that dominates her new line. Since “Flutur” dropped this weekend, a piece from the line just might be the perfect gift for that Dua fan on your Christmas list. Named for the Albanian word for butterfly, fans got a sneak peek at the capsule a few weeks ago:

Dua joined the brand late last year as one of their ambassadors, and the collection has been in the making since. It most prominently features cropped tees, an oversized hoodie, and a sneaker. In some of the promo shots, Dua is wearing a cropped hoodie that doesn’t show up in this capsule, so that piece is likely dropping next year as part of her full collection with Puma.

This isn’t the only clothing Dua has been working on lately either, she also dropped a line of holiday merch back in November that featured Christmas themes and comfy clothes like sweatsuits. Check out the Flutur collection right here, and maybe knock some last minute gifts off your list. Or get something new for yourself?

The Dallas Mavericks played host to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night and picked up a 114-102 win despite three starters — Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Kristaps Porzingis — and a handful of other rotation players all being sidelined for one reason or another. The team was powered by a 28-point night from Jalen Brunson and, we presume, the presence of the greatest player in franchise history just a few feet away from the court.

In something you got to witness if you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth media market or if you have League Pass, Dirk Nowtizki joined the Mavs’ broadcast on Bally’s Sports Southwest alongside Mark Followill and Jeff “Skin” Wade. Because he is Dirk Nowitzki and he tends to be pretty good at stuff, the big fella seemed like he had an excellent time calling the game, in large part because he got to openly root for the Mavericks and make jokes and stuff.

The whole thing is great — my personal favorite moment was when Nowitzki said, “It’s always hide me on D, find me on O, that was my motto for 21 years.” He also got to sarcastically respond to a comment Karl-Anthony Towns made last week when he declared himself “the greatest big man shooter of all time,” which, well, it seems like Nowitzki isn’t totally on board. Anyway, please have Dirk do this more often, Mavericks.

California‘s biggest signifiers are maybe the biggest stereotypes in the travel world — beaches, sunshine, movie stars. It’s a state known for its summer climate, but as a lifetime resident of the state, I can say that the best time to travel is often when the tourism starts to wane and the weather cools down. The fall-winter and winter-spring “shoulder seasons” might not be the best times to work on your tan in California, but they’re my favorite pockets to hit the road and experience some of the gems of the Golden State.

A few weeks back, I traveled by car from Los Angeles to San Francisco, spending a week visiting three of the most special offerings of the state: Monterey/Carmel-By-The-Sea, Santa Cruz, and The Bay Area. I discovered destinations that were a little quieter than during the height of summer, but the crisp air and the bevy of cold(er) weather activities made for a special experience without some of the crowds that you have to contend with between Memorial and Labor Day.

Check out the best places to eat, drink, visit, and stay on an epic shoulder season Cali road trip below.

Carmel-By-The-Sea/Monterey

Where To Stay

The Getaway

Located right in the edge of the adorable downtown of Carmel, The Getaway‘s boutique hotel is a cozy and intimate spot that puts you close to everything you’d want to do in the area. Some of the highlights include nightly wine and cheese offerings, wood fireplaces in the room, and light breakfasts delivered right to your room. Walk across the street to shops and restaurants, or simply grab a bike and explore the greater area.

Where To Eat

Dutch Door Donuts

We’ve all had a doughnut, but you’ve probably never had a doughnut like this. Instead of frying a batch at 4 am and letting them slowly deteriorate over the course of the day, all the doughnuts at Dutch Door Donuts are made to order, for a warm, comforting, and flavorful experience. They offer both regular varieties as well as seasonal, but we recommend the classic-feeling “vanilla bean glaze.”

Pair with a latte to start your day right.

Rise + Roam Bakery

Of course, there is more than one great day-starting spot in Carmel and this quaint bakery is stocked with a display case of mouth-watering offerings. Using organic ingredients and naturally-fermented sourdough, Rise + Roam Bakery is a place you can sit down for a meal and a chat, or grab something quick on the go.

We highly recommend the brioche with egg and cheese stuffed inside, a low-key decadent choice that turns the concept of breakfast sandwiches on its head.

Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro

You’ll hear a lot of praise about what Alvarado Street is doing in the beer game, but their restaurant in Carmel-By-The-Sea expands that spotlight to cuisine, as well. Sure, you can enjoy yourself plenty by tasting from the variety of beers they offer, but the crispy cauliflower in a Chinese master sauce was legit one of the best bites of food I had all week.

With indoor and outdoor seating options, this proved to be an essential spot that can impress in all weather conditions.

El Cantaro

Big reveal: I’m a vegetarian. And like most places in California, Monterey and the surrounding area are full of options without meat. Still, I’m often a bit suspicious of restaurants built around vegan and vegetarian concepts. El Cantaro does it right. Located walking distance from Cannery Row and featuring options with both fake meat and dishes using potatoes and rice/bean combos as their protein, this spot shines.

The tacos here were the stars, with the potato ones satisfying enough to not miss a more traditional meat filling.

Julia’s Vegetarian Restaurant

Another solely veggie restaurant that isn’t going to make you miss meat. Julia’s is a lovely spot that knows what it does well: tamales, pizza, and mushrooms. Sure, those might not sound completely related, but Julia’s is possibly the most fully realized concept I tasted on this trip. Opt for the exotic mushroom suggestions on virtually everything (and particularly the pizza), and definitely get at least one tamale with jackfruit filling for the table to try. You can’t leave here without sampling both of those signature offerings, but they also impress with the three most beautiful words in the English language: breakfast all day.

Where To Drink

Hula’s

Carmel and Monterey aren’t exactly known for nightlife, but there are still plenty of places to get a great drink in a fun atmosphere. Maybe tops is Hula’s, with its island theme informing a cocktail menu that definitely qualifies as robust. Opt for a traditional Mai Tai, or go wild with a Pink Bikini Martini, which infuses vodka with pineapple and watermelon.

Sly McFlys

If you want something of a traditional beach town bar experience, look no further than Sly McFlys. With live music every night of the week, this is the kind of spot that draws in young people, tourists, and locals in coastal communities across the state. If you’re looking to let out some legitimate steam, this is the spot.

Barmel

Even less of a nightlife town is Carmel, but Barmel is the spot for strong drink and people watching. In such an idiosyncratic community, this is the location to sit among the locals and have conversations while learning a bit about the real Carmel.

This is the kind of local spot that is essential to look out for as a traveler, where you actually get to know the place you are visiting. Catch live music on the weekends.

What To Do

17 Mile Drive

What’s advertised as one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the world does not disappoint. Set against the backdrop of the famed Pebble Beach Golf Course and the rugged Central Calfornia coast, don’t let the short distance of 17 Mile Drive fool you: this is absolutely something you want to allow several hours for, to stop at the numerous sightseeing markers and really enjoy everything it has to offer.

Big Sur

Hey 17 Mile Drive, hold my beer. The stretch of Highway 1 through Big Sur is also one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in the world, with tons of hikes and views to take in along the way. A couple of personal favorites are the iconic Bixby Bridge, whose renown is even greater than the Death Cab For Cutie song that shares its name, and the Henry Miller Library, with its wonderful bookstore and artwork curiosities.

Go on the right day, and you’ll see a great band perform.

Earthbound Farms Farmstand

Heirloom pumpkins? Count us in! The Central Valley and Coast is known for its farming and this scenic stop at Earthbound Farms Farmstand celebrates all the seasonal goodness the fall has to offer. Shop for fresh, seasonal produce to cook at a BnB or enjoy as snacks on the drive.

The grounds offer much to explore, from flowers and berries to a full slate of events and activities.

Santa Cruz

Where To Stay

The Dream Inn

Located directly between the Santa Cruz wharf and lighthouse, there isn’t a better location to stay in SC than The Dream Inn. Every room features an ocean view, and through the magic of being located on the tip of a bay, you can see sunrise and sunset over the water during the fall. Lounge at the pool or be on the beach in just a couple of minutes, and be sure to grab a Verve coffee from the shop in the lobby.

If it’s good enough for Patti Smith, it’s good enough for us.

Where To Eat

Zachary’s

A breakfast legacy loved by locals and students alike, Zachary’s is a Santa Cruz institution located in the heart of downtown, featuring the must-try Mike’s Mess, which is basically as all-encompassing as it sounds. Think about the best hash you’ve ever had, multiply it by ten, and you are getting close.

Soif

Soif is both a wine shop and a restaurant but thrives in both capacities. But for the latter, a focused menu with options for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike belies the restaurant’s focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients. We happened to visit during Restaurant Week, so the menu will likely be different, but can speak highly of everything from the steak frites to the seasonal delight that was the mushroom and squash risotto.

Pizza My Heart

This local chain has more than 20 locations now in the area, stretching to the Silicon Valley and Bay Area, but its roots are in Capitola and Santa Cruz. Pizza My Heart exemplifies that idea of a nostalgia-inducing college town pie. The surf theme adds to the local appeal, and its late hours make it a prime destination before, during, or after a bar crawl.

The Parish Publick House

With two locations — Santa Cruz and just south in Aptos — this local favorite finds the sweet spot between great food and great drink. An extensive beer list and creative cocktail menu balance the elevated pub fare — raning from wings (with five varieties) to burgers (traditional meat or less traditional Impossible). They also have a menu for your pup, so bring that furry bad boy with you.

Where To Drink

Brady’s Yacht Club/The Jury Room/The Rush Inn

Santa Cruz has a variety of nightlife on offer, but it’s in the neighborhood bar scene that the town’s culture really thrives. In an area full of tourism and transient students, it’s easy to forget that the local culture still thrives, and you’d be surprised at how welcoming and diverse these places really are. Bring your thirst with you, because you are gonna want more than one beverage at these spots.

The Redroom

This local legend packs the best of college town energy with a neighborhood feel. It’s dark, it gets crowded, and it’s a load of fun on a swinging weekend night. Or you can stop by on a weekday and enjoy the atmosphere of local service industry professionals blowing off some steam. If you want to get fancy, the more upscale incarnation resides upstairs, but we like to keep it real with the original.

The Catalyst

The best live music venue in Santa Cruz is also a great local spot for a late-night drink. This isn’t about a cocktail program, this is about strong drink and billiards. But if something happens to be playing on either their main stage or their smaller atrium room, this is an iconic location to catch great bands — either local faves or major touring groups.

What To Do

The Santa Cruz Farmers Market

https://www.instagram.com/flowersatthesea/?hl=en

Held in Downtown Santa Cruz on Wednesdays, there’s no better place to experience the fall bounty of the Central Valley and Coast than here. Apples, squash, and tomatoes are all plentiful, and some favorites that need to be experienced include the dry-farmed Early Girl tomatoes of Groundswell Farms and the custom flower bouquets of Flowers At The Sea. There’s also a dedicated food court of sorts that features a wealth of booths offering cuisine from around the world, so be sure to bring your appetite.

Walking West Cliff

It’s not quite 17 Mile Drive, but this stretch from the Santa Cruz wharf to Natural Bridges is a wonderful walk to take in the natural beauty of the Santa Cruz shore. My personal favorite highlights are the wharf, where a hot cup of chowder can keep you warm as you catch majestic views of the shoreline to the north and the boardwalk to the south, and Lighthouse Point, where you can watch surfers catch waves at the world-renowned Steamers Lane surf break.

Oh, plus there are the monarch butterflies of Natural Bridges State Beach And Park, who end their migration and hibernate in the park’s eucalyptus groves during the fall.

Pezzini Farms

We’ve talked about apples, tomatoes, and pumpkins, but let’s not forget one of the region’s most iconic crops, the artichoke. In nearby Castroville, Pezzini Farms is a glorious spot to celebrate all things ‘choke. Sure, you can check out the variety of heirloom artichokes they offer, but if you really want to be adventurous, seek out the artichoke cupcakes or visit the adjacent food truck for some artichoke tacos. The farm stand exudes love for the crops that are grown on the premise, and you can even trot into town for a picture with the world’s largest artichoke.

The Bay Area

Where To Stay

Palihotel San Francisco

San Francisco has no shortage of hotels, but this little slice of heaven located near Union Square feels like the intersection between the boutique hotels of the city and the continental offerings of Paris. Featuring a cozy bar/lounge area, along with Fisher Loft restaurant, you don’t need to leave the premises for a nice drink and meal, but the location also puts visitors at the doorstep of much of what San Francisco has to offer.

A few other little things I loved: the hypoallergenic bedding was maybe the best I’ve experienced at a hotel (and so welcoming to chronic allergy sufferers like myself!), the adorable SMEG fridge in the room, and the little bucket of umbrellas for usage on the many rainy days in SF. At hotels, it is very much the little things that matter, and Palihotel gets those details perfectly right.

Where To Eat

BAIA

As I mentioned earlier, I have a healthy amount of skepticism for completely plant-based concepts, but BAIA near Union Square puts the vast majority of restaurants in this lane to shame. Featuring upscale, comforting Italian fare, the two-story space will wow with Impossible meatballs and delectable garlic knots, but let me tell you about their absolute all-star: the Milanese. This only happens occasionally, but it is one of those experiences for a vegetarian where a dish that you haven’t had in a decade brings you back to the times before you stopped eating meat, where you remember how satisfying and perfect a well-executed dish can be.

That’s how BAIA treats their Milanese, and I’ll be going back as soon as I’m in SF again.

Brenda’s Meat And Three

I’m a sucker for great Southern cuisine, but admit I’m largely unfamiliar with the “meat and three” concept, which sounds like exactly what it is, a meat and three sides. This comes more into play at Brenda’s Divisadero location for dinner, but I’m here to advocate for Brenda‘s terrific brunch options. Cheesy grits, beignets, and a pulled pork hash are just some of the Southern faves that make appearances, making for a down-home experience in a city that couldn’t be further from that atmosphere.

Vegan Mob

What happens when you combine the first two entries in this food list? You get something like Vegan Mob, the Oakland-based vegan soul food spot that also has a food truck that runs in the city. The gumbo is out of this world, while their take on fake meat is often worth the plunge. And of course, there are the sides, with the coleslaw and BBQ beans both hiding their vegan lineage well.

An impressive take on the vegan concept that I’m praying comes to Southern California in the future.

Where To Drink

Latin American Club

If you want to hear someone talk at you for several hours, ask a local how the tech boom has affected their city. The Mission is an area that has maybe been most changed by the skyrocketing rents, but some old-school favorites still survive. I’ve always loved the humble vibe of the Latin American Club, where reasonable prices and strong margs give a glimpse into the past, when SF was full of places like this.

500 Club

I guess I just like clubs! This is also a place for a strong drink with reasonable prices, while the 500 Club thrives as an ideal spot to watch a local Niners or Warriors game. Just remember to root for the right team when you come here, as this local spot won’t take too kindly to antagonism.

Blackthorn

Live music. Karaoke. Sports. Billiards. Pinball. And, oh yeah, plenty of beer. Blackthorn in the Inner Sunset isn’t just a good spot for after a local music festival (shouts to Outside Lands) but is also the paradigm of a little bit of everything bar. It’s a nice reminder that bars are meant to be fun, and with an unpretentious spot like this, how could you ever forget?

What To Do

Live Music

Whether it’s a music festival like Outside Lands or a show at a local venue, San Francisco is one of the best live music cities in the world. The Fillmore is an essential stop whose history is featured on concert posters throughout the venue, while The Independent and Great American Music Hall are ideal spots for a smaller touring band. And if early enough in the fall, the Greek in Berkeley is a lovely outdoor spot to catch a larger act in the cool fall air.

The Marin Headlands

The area surrounding the city is full of natural beauty, and the Marin Headlands is probably the quickest and easiest to visit. If you’re looking for a stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge without the insane crowds, this is the spot, and then explore the local beaches when you are done.

Dolores Park

As San Francisco changes rapidly thanks to the tech boom, travelers might look for the things that remain the same. For me, that’s Dolores Park in the Mission, a place to gather with friends, take a nap in the grass, or for some light physical activity. Anyone who’s ever lived in the city knows how special this park is, less about any majestic beauty (though it has a stunning view of downtown that looks great on IG) and more about the community it draws. If anything, that’s maybe the thing that strikes me about California in the shoulder season… or any time of year. Each of these places evokes so much pride from the locals because of the community they’ve cultivated. These aren’t just places to visit, they are places to experience and places to live. Remembering to explore traveling like a local is crucial, and will make a California fall road trip a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

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This trip was partially hosted by Visit California. You can learn more about the Uproxx press trip policy here.

Donald Trump and COVID-19 have a pretty contentious history—first by ignoring it outright, then by downplaying its seriousness, suggesting that drinking bleach might help ward it off, and later being felled by it. By most accounts, the former president’s handling of the virus and the pandemic it created was downright disastrous, but there’s at least one positive thing that did happen on his watch (beyond his own COVID test ahead of his 2020 debate with Joe Biden): Operation Warp Speed.

Whereas developing a vaccine, testing its efficacy and safety, and bringing it to market might normally take years, Operation Warp Speed expedited that process so that frontline workers and at-risk individuals were getting vaccinated less than a year after we first heard about the novel coronavirus. All of this happened during Trump’s final year in office, which Biden freely acknowledged—and that was pretty darn surprising to Trump!

On Tuesday, according to Raw Story, Fox News’ Brooke Singman reported on Biden’s plan to increase access to COVID testing and vaccines across the country in response to the highly contagious omicron variant, which now accounts for nearly 75 percent of new COVID infections nationwide. While discussing the plan, Biden said that “Thanks to the prior administration and our scientific community, America is one of the first countries to get the vaccine. Thanks to my administration, the hard work of Americans, we let, our roll-out, made America among the world leaders in getting shots in arms.”

Trump, who has previously begged for someone—anyone—to give him some sort of credit for the speed with which our COVID vaccines were authorized, seemed shocked that Biden actually did just that.

“I’m very appreciative of that—I was surprised to hear it,” Trump, who has possibly never once thought to give credit where it is due, told Fox News. “I think it was a terrific thing, and I think it makes a lot of people happy.”

Biden has never not acknowledged the role the Trump administration played in getting the vaccine rollout started, though, as Raw Story noted, the former president didn’t do himself—or his supporters—any favors by refusing to say whether he himself had been vaccinated.

On Sunday, Trump publicly acknowledged that he had received a COVID booster at one of his “History Tour” engagements with Bill O’Reilly… and was booed by the crowd.

(Via Raw Story)

It’s Chloe x Halle‘s world, we’re just living in it. And that “we” includes Radiohead, apparently. In a refreshing crossover moment, Halle Bailey, who is mostly known for her work in the R&B genre — oh, and for starring in the soon-to-be-released live action remake of The Little Mermaid — delivered a great indie cover on TikTok recently, revealing her love for Thom Yorke and co.’s best-known song, “Creep.”

Sitting alone with an electric guitar, Halle delivered a stripped down version of the song that showcases her excellent voice with flourishes and trills that most artists who take on this cover could never pull off. But the best part is when she launches into the wordless vocals that Yorke employs to accompany the song’s breakdown, and though her version is decidedly different from his, it’s definitely on par! “My version of creepppp this song was in my head all day I had to sing it to get it out !” she captioned the clip.

Kudos to Halle for showcasing her ability to pull off songs in all different kinds of genres, and maybe we’ll get a few more indie covers during the rest of the holiday season? I wouldn’t mind hearing her take on some Killers — whose melodies go great with female vocalists, as that recent Phoebe Bridgers mashup revealed — or maybe something by The Strokes?

Then again, she did go a bit indie earlier, with a take on Coldplay’s “Fix You,” check that out below as well.