North America

Egg Harbor Township, N.J. – September 15, 2026 -- Spirit Halloween and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company have released the first officially licensed Goodyear Blimp Costume, giving fans a chance to wear one of the most recognizable sights in the sky.

The costume inflates at the flip of a switch

Priced at $79.99, the limited-edition costume is built from lightweight materials and includes a battery-powered fan for instant inflation. The design mimics the shape of the classic Goodyear airship that has flown over American skies for generations.

The collaboration taps into a fan tradition

Julianne Roberts, Senior Director of Marketing at Goodyear, said the company has noticed loyal customers making their own Goodyear Blimp costumes for years. The partnership with Spirit Halloween extends that homemade tradition to shoppers nationwide.

San Francisco – September 14, 2026 -- The California Highway Patrol, working with Caltrans and the Bay Area Toll Authority, is stepping up enforcement this month on the westbound bus/carpool lane bypassing the toll plaza on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

The lane is restricted to specific hours and vehicle types

Accessible from Interstate 80, Interstate 880 or West Grand Avenue, the lane may be used by buses, motorcycles, or carpools carrying three or more people only during weekday commute windows of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Outside those hours -- including all day on weekends -- only buses are permitted.

Cognac – September 13, 2026 -- LOUIS XIII Cognac has launched BLACK PEARL: TRIBUTE TO THE BIRTHPLACE OF LOUIS XIII, a new limited-edition expression priced at $28,000 per decanter and capped at just 398 bottles worldwide.

The release is inspired by Le Grollet, the historic cellar where the LOUIS XIII story began. Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau selected an extraordinary eau-de-vie from the House's collection of demijohns -- the only one identified as carrying the distinct signature of Le Grollet, a trait passed down from his predecessor, Pierrette Trichet. Loiseau infused it into a single, hand-selected tierçon to create the blend.

Boston – September 13, 2026 -- Boston Children's Museum will host Gabby's Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days from September 18 through September 20, 2026, offering families a free costume character Meet & Greet included with paid museum admission.

Three days of Gabby-themed activities run 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The event, presented in collaboration with DreamWorks Animation and the Association of Children's Museums (ACM), returns for a second year at the Boston location. Programming includes a Storytime session, a Gabby Cats scavenger hunt, a dance party with DJ Catnip, and a craft activity making Hamster Kitty Fairies.

Advance reservations are required due to limited capacity.

Families can register through the museum's website ahead of the event. Regular museum admission applies -- $24 for adults, children ages 1-15, and seniors -- while children under 12 months and museum members enter free.

Tucson, Arizona – September 13, 2026 -- JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa has completed a full renovation of its 524 guestrooms and 51 suites, adding 16 suites to meet demand from luxury travelers.

New suite categories target families and stargazers

The resort introduced Family Bunk Bed Suites, pairing a king bed with twin bunks, alongside a new JW Camper Experience that includes a child-sized play camper, a campfire prop, sleeping bag, cookies, and an activity book. Four new Sonoran Starr Suites offer 1,275 square feet of living space plus an 868-square-foot private terrace, complete with a premium telescope for viewing Tucson's dark skies. Junior Suites grew by 13, and Executive Suites expanded from 15 to 20, each with separate living areas and private balconies.

North Charleston – September 12, 2026 -- Federal health officials are warning consumers about concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products sold as tablets, gummies, powders, drink mixes, shots and dissolvable strips, saying they are potent opioids that have not been proven safe or effective for any use.

The FDA has logged reports of addiction and seizures tied to 7-OH

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has received adverse event reports linked to 7-OH products, including addiction, anxiety, depression, gastrointestinal distress, insomnia, seizures and withdrawal symptoms. No FDA-approved drugs currently contain 7-OH.

While 7-OH occurs naturally in trace amounts in the kratom plant, the concentrated and synthetic versions sold commercially can contain significantly elevated levels, according to the agency.

New York – September 12, 2026 -- The Algonquin Hotel, Autograph Collection, has completed a full renovation of all 181 guestrooms, elevators, and corridors at its Midtown Manhattan property, unveiling a redesigned interior anchored by exclusive artwork from legendary caricaturist Al Hirschfeld. The multi-year, phased project was carried out while the hotel remained fully operational.

Brooklyn-based CRÈME led the design without altering the hotel's historic footprint

Interior design firm CRÈME / Jun Aizaki Architecture & Design worked with LUCID, the design arm of Highgate Hotels, to reshape the guestrooms around their original scale and proportions. Willis Loughhead, General Manager of The Algonquin for six years, said the team aimed to honor the hotel's past "without being beholden to it," building timeless rooms meant to spark creativity.

Seattle – September 12, 2026 -- Seabourn has announced a new 30-day "Amazon Explorer: Rivers & Rainforests" voyage aboard the Seabourn Quest, sailing roundtrip from Miami from Nov. 18 to Dec. 18, 2028.

The itinerary covers 15 destinations across seven countries

The route blends Caribbean island stops with scenic cruising along the Amazon River, including calls at Santarém, Boca da Valeria and Parintins in Brazil. The ship will also visit Devil's Island in French Guiana and Gustavia in Saint Barthelemy, along with stops in Trinidad and Grenada.

Guests get an overnight stay in Manaus

The extended stop in Manaus, a historic city surrounded by rainforest, gives travelers additional time to explore its architecture, markets and waterfront. Santarém offers views of the Amazon and Tapajós rivers meeting, while Boca da Valeria provides a look at daily life in a small riverside community.

New York – September 11, 2026 -- Suunto has launched the Run 2, a running watch weighing 35 grams that starts at $349, with pre-orders opening today and global availability the same day.

The watch adds a brighter screen and longer battery life than its predecessor

The Run 2 features a 1.32-inch AMOLED display reaching 2,000 nits, three times brighter than the original Suunto Run, designed to stay readable in direct sunlight. Battery capacity increases by 29 percent over the prior model, giving roughly 10 days of everyday use or up to 24 hours with dual-band GNSS tracking active. At 11.7mm thick, the watch body includes a stainless steel bezel, Gorilla Glass and 5 ATM water resistance.

Charlotte, N.C. – September 11, 2026 -- Husqvarna has launched three new residential chainsaws -- the 445S, 450S Rancher, and 450X Rancher -- now available for homeowners and landowners.

The 450X Rancher becomes the first 400-series saw with AutoTune technology

AutoTune automatically adjusts engine settings based on fuel quality, altitude, temperature, and humidity. Combined with a simplified starting procedure, the 450X Rancher is up to 40% easier to start compared to the Husqvarna 450 Rancher, according to the company. It also cuts up to 30% faster than that predecessor model, thanks to a durable hybrid crankcase and an upgraded X-Torq engine.