The Great Retail Revolution
Rick Newman

A facade of calm may be returning to the consumer landscape as a thrashing recession finally subsides. But behind the cheerful window displays are deeply worried retail executives who fear that shopping may never be the same again.

Missing the Point About the Alpha Wife
Ana Veciana-Suarez

The media is aflutter about a new study showing a growing number of women out-earning their husbands, a situation that has become more common in a recession in which men are losing jobs at a faster clip. There's even a catchy label to accompany the movement: alpha wives. To which I say: Oh, boy, here we go again.

Cleaning Naturally Improves Indoor Air Quality
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer

From bleach to grease-busters to deodorizers, there are plenty of chemical cleaners out there to tackle your dirtiest, grimiest, bacteria-laden situations. However, many of those cleaning products contribute to indoor air pollution and poor health. Fortunately, there are plenty of natural cleaning solutions that will keep you and your family healthy and squeaky-clean ...

Unique Ways to Go Green if You're Living in a Dorm
Zach Miners

College is often termed the best years of your life. Now, recent trends suggest that it is also becoming pretty green. A growing number of colleges and universities are seeking ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, many with energy-efficient facilities and construction projects. And there are many things individuals can do to reduce their impact on the environment.

Whatever Happened to Manners
Ana Veciana-Suarez

Yes, indeedy, 'manners.' What an old-fashioned concept, no? Maybe, she muses, people are too busy to be polite. To which my mother would've said: It takes the same amount of energy to be polite as to be rude.

5 Tips for Returning Holiday Gifts
Rebecca Kern

Shoppers are in luck, as most retailers' return, refund, and exchange policies tend to be more lenient right after Christmas. Just in case, however, here are some hassle-free tips on how to go about returning your unloved holiday gifts

Join a Book Club - Best New Year's Resolution You'll Ever Make
Robyn Blumner

I have a humble suggestion for a New Year's resolution: Join a book club. With this one step, your annual book-reading tally could shoot up. It helps make room for pleasure-reading in busy lives. Here's why plus tips for joining a book club or starting your own book club

Gift Cards: Not Always the Easiest Holiday Present
Matthew Bandyk

For busy Americans who don't have the time or inclination to find the perfect gift for each person on their shopping list, a gift card is the next best thing. But while it might be popular to buy gift cards ...

Caring for Christmas Trees

Caring for Freshly Cut Christmas Trees
Sean Conway

There is nothing more exciting for my children than the day we bring our Christmas tree home. After I string the lights, they decorate it and it is ready to preside over our holiday festivities. There is nothing, however, less exciting than a newly decorated tree that showers needles. So before you head out to choose that tree, here are a few things you should know.

 

Can't-Miss Holiday Gifts For the Traveler in Your Life
Christopher Elliott

Shopping for someone who's on the go isn't easy. Travelers -- especially frequent travelers -- can be particular about their likes and dislikes. They wouldn't be caught dead with a certain headset, phone, or piece of luggage. Here are options the traveler in your life might like ...

iCandy: Tech Gifts Beautiful Inside and Out
David LaGesse

Despite tough times, electronics makers appear to be determined to deliver a touch of luxury this holiday season. They're bucking a history of dreary beige-and-black boxes with devices that look stylish -- even beautiful. Here are 10 of the best-looking devices for holiday gift-giving ...

Give A Gift From the Heart This Year - To A Charity That Benefits Pets
Steve Dale

Let's face it, lots of people don't need a thing this holiday season. They have plenty of bottles of wine, more pairs of pajamas than they can wear and all the latest electronic gadgets. So, what can you do?

How to Avoid Weight Gain During the Holidays
Lisa Tsakos

'Tis the season of decadent foods, overeating and weight gain. Many folks will put on anywhere from three to seven pounds in December alone. Why is it the holidays always seem to interfere with our best eating intentions? Rather than allowing food to ruin the festivities, these simple tips can help you maintain control of your diet and health

Stop Stress in its Tracks This Holiday Season
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer

Between the end-of-year deadlines, holiday shopping budgets, crowded stores, long lines, and the odd family dust-up, stress is pretty much a given this time of year. And this year in particular, more of us are under more stress, thanks in part to the economy. But even if it feels like your stress is insurmountable, managing it is possible

That's Not Clutter, It's Patriotism
Ana Veciana-Suarez

I have fallen victim to the malaise that eventually leads to packratitis: chronic consumerism. On the one hand, we're enticed by advertisers -- economists, even -- to buy the latest and greatest. On the other, we're inundated by TV shows, magazine articles and books advising us how to rid ourselves of the clutter we've charged on our credit cards

10 Tips to Save on Holiday Gifts
Ana Veciana-Suarez

Given the shaky job market, holiday budgets are tighter this year. According to a survey by PriceGrabber.com, 53 percent of consumers are planning to spend less on gifts. Retailers are anticipating greater demands during the holiday season. So to avoid the winding lines and sold-out merchandise, here are 10 tips to save you time and money as you kick off your holiday shopping

Baby Boomers Hit a New Low By Getting High
Ana Veciana-Suarez

We were dubbed the baby boomers, but after decades of influencing everything from music to public policy, the Peter Pan Generation might be more like it. Some of us simply refuse to grow up. That forever-young attitude was underscored in two recent studies that show, doggone it, we refuse to act our age. We're engaging in the type of behavior we warn college kids about

Discourse on the Golf Course
Dave Barry

You have surely noticed that a big golf craze is sweeping the nation, as aging Baby Boomers discover the benefits of participating in a sport where the most physically demanding activity is ordering putters by mail

Airplanes Duct-Tape Daredevils
Dave Barry

These days, we take flying for granted. We walk aboard commercial airplanes, and although we don't understand how they work, we're confident that, thanks to the sophisticated technology embodied in these complex machines, some teeny part, possibly in the toilet, will malfunction and we will be delayed. But sometimes planes actually fly. And when they do ...

So, It's 2010!
Andy Rooney

I don't know whether it's me or life, but the year 2010 is just around the corner and I was thinking how little I care. One year has gotten to feel just like the last one. We've made a big mistake making January 1 New Year's Day. It doesn't feel like anywhere near the first of the year for me. I'd like to a new New Year's Day ...

Christmas and Money
Andy Rooney

I love Christmas and I hate Christmas. I don't like to see it end but I'm glad it's over. I'm embarrassed to say how much I like Christmas and Christmas presents. I can still remember some of the presents I got as a child. Uncle Bill always gave me a $20 gold coin. ...

Just Say No to Big Moo
Dave Barry

While wandering around the supermarket, I eventually get to the Fatal Snacks aisle, and I realize that my wife has forgotten, for the 5,000th consecutive time, to put Cheez-Its on my list. So I buy a box. I always buy a big box, a box that could be used for helicopter storage. My thinking is: This should be enough Cheez-Its for several weeks

The Idiot's Guide to Art
Dave Barry

Whenever I write about art, I get mail from the Serious Art Community informing me that I am a clueless idiot. So let me begin by stipulating that I am a clueless idiot. This is probably why I was unable to appreciate a work of art I viewed recently

Why Men Can't Help It
Dave Barry

There comes a time when a person must toot his own personal horn, and for me, that time is now. A new book has confirmed a theory that I first proposed in 1987, in a column explaining why men are physically unqualified to do housework

New Gift Idea: Vintage Worms
Dave Barry

According to an Associated Press story sent in by alert reader Donald O'Brien, biologists at Harvard University have "manipulated hundreds of genes to create roundworms that are sleek and trim." This is wonderful news for the literally millions of roundworms who suffer from obesity.

Get a Guillotine, Orkin
Dave Barry

Almost the first thing to happen to me when I moved to South Florida was that I got attacked by a fire ant. This was my own stupid fault: I sat on my lawn. I thought this was safe because I was from Pennsylvania, where lawns are harmless ecosystems.

World Series: The Pajama Game
Dave Barry

This is the time of year when Americans make a sincere effort to care about the World Series, which determines which baseball team will be the champion of the entire world, except for the part of the world located outside the United States and southeastern Canada.

The Army: Eat All That You Can Eat
Dave Barry

The U.S. Army is developing a new Combat Sandwich. Really. Army food technicians say this sandwich can remain edible, without refrigeration, for three years. Granted, that's nowhere near the staying power of those hot dogs they sell at airports, some of which have been rotating on their grills since the Lindbergh flight. But it's still impressive. I recently had an opportunity to field-test the new Combat Sandwich

A Fun-Free Halloween
Dave Barry

Uncle Dave was just having a flashback to the Halloweens of his boyhood, an innocent time when parents were far more relaxed and clueless about what their kids were up to. It turns out that we were violating many Halloween safety rules. In those days, we did not know about the importance of Halloween safety

Water: The Drink of Choice
Andy Rooney

If I had to limit myself to drinking just one thing for the rest of my life, there's no doubt my choice would be water. A glass of cool, clear water is unquestionably the best drink, although I start every day with a cup of coffee. One of the great things about life on earth is that we've devised ways to bring clear, cool water to the people who live almost anywhere. It's one good sign for our civilization

My Good Friend Walter Cronkite
Andy Rooney

I attended Walter Cronkite's memorial service at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, and I thought you'd like to read what I said about my good friend

Could You Name This Place or Person?
Andy Rooney

I don't know how many people are as dumb -- or as smart -- as I am, but when I look at the newspaper every day I seldom recognize many of the people whose pictures are in it. There's usually someone I know, but most of the people are strangers.

I Love Reading the Newspapers
Andy Rooney

I read a lot of newspapers every day -- or at least I look at a lot of newspapers. It would take all day if you read everything in just one newspaper and we get eight newspapers in my office: the New York Times, the New York Daily News, The New York Post, Newsday, The Washington Post, USA Today, The New York Observer and The Wall Street Journal.

What's To Drink?
Andy Rooney

There was a drugstore on the corner two blocks from where I lived growing up and friends Alfie, Bobby and I often went in after school and bought an ice-cream cone or a Coke. They were each a nickel and we had to decide which one to buy. We couldn't afford both.

When It Pays to Go Green
Kimberly Palmer

Going green sometimes comes with a price: Organic vegetables can cost twice as much as their mainstream counterparts. So when is going green really worth it? We asked some top environmental experts to weigh in -- and their answers might surprise you. They say that while spending extra is often justified, you can almost always find a cheaper alternative.

 

For more Automobile Reviews & Car Care Articles, please visit our Auto Section
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10 Pricey Cities That Pay Off
by Matthew Bandyk

When you pay a lot of money for something, you hope to get a lot of value in return. So why are people willing to pay a fortune to live in certain places. According to a recent working paper from University of Michigan economist David Albouy, there's a great deal of value to be found in those high prices -- in other words, "amenity value," which measures the amount of satisfaction the asset brings to its owner.

 

Recipes

 

More Recipes

Diet Plays an Important Role in the Quality of Sleep
Lisa Tsakos

While numerous medical issues such as chronic pain or sleep apnea can interfere with a restful slumber, stress and an overactive nervous system is the culprit for most of us. We may not have much control over work schedules or stress levels, but sleep can be positively or negatively influenced by diet.

Soup-Making Season

White Bean Soup with Pancetta and Swiss Chard
Wolfgang Puck

There comes a time every year when the urge to make soup grows stronger. Maybe it's that the days are noticeably growing shorter, and there's an occasional hint of crispness in the air. Whatever the reason, now is the time when big soup pots migrate to the stovetop, just begging to be filled with robust soups such as this White Bean Soup with Pancetta and Swiss Chard recipe.

Mississippi Apple Pie

Mississippi Apple Pie
Wolfgang Puck

Once you have the right apples, it's time to start cooking them into a great fall dessert. And that doesn't mean you suddenly have to become a strudel-making expert -- or even make a traditional two-crust pie. In fact, I came up with a great, easy way to make an apple dessert in a matter of minutes improvising a recipe I playfully called Mississippi Apple Pie

Quiche Lorraine the ultimate comfort food

Quiche Lorraine
Wolfgang Puck

Quiches are easier to prepare than omelets or just about any other egg dish that goes beyond boiling, frying, or scrambling -- especially when you skip making pastry for its shell and start instead with the good-quality store-bought pie pastry. Add a simple salad and a glass of good dry white wine and you have a perfect, satisfying meal

Steamed Fish Filets with Tarragon Butter

Steamed Fish Filets with Tarragon Butter
Wolfgang Puck

Steaming is an ideal way to cook delicate fish filets that might otherwise fall apart or dry out if you try to saute, grill, or roast them. And it has one big advantage: instead of having flavor leave the fish and enter the cooking water, steam allows all of the flavor to stay inside the fish.

Fettuccine with Roasted Red Peppers

Fettuccine with Roasted Red Peppers
Wolfgang Puck

My recipe for Fettuccine with Roasted Red Peppers will show you just how easy it can be to serve pasta whenever you like -- even at every meal! It's a very simple recipe, true to the way so many Italians like their pasta. And it's quick.

Roasted Red Pepper, Wine and Red Lentil Soup
John La Puma, M.D.

Could eating good, flavor-rich, home-cooked food lower Ellen's health care costs -- and still taste like dinner? Yes, it can. My patient Ellen still takes prescription medicine, by the way. But she's now looking at food as tasty, affordable, culinary medicine, too, including this Roasted Red Pepper, Wine and Red Lentil Soup.

The Beauty of Brown Butter
Kathy Hunt

Brown butter sauce is popular with cooks not only for its versatility but also because it is so simple to prepare. All you need is a pan, a burner and unsalted butter. Once the sauce is finished, it can be used immediately or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Whether added to a dessert or dressing up an entree or side, brown butter bestows a dash of nuttiness and color to a wealth of foods including the following three recipes

Thai Coconut Sticky Rice with Mango

Thai Coconut Sticky Rice with Mango
Nick Malgieri

In Thailand, a ripe mango accompanied by steamed sticky rice enriched with coconut cream is a doubly festive dessert. The dessert is simplicity itself: a mango half, sliced or not, occupies a dessert plate next to a small mound of steamed sticky rice that has been seasoned with coconut cream, sugar and salt

Eggplant Recipes

Eggplant Recipes, King of Middle Eastern Vegetables
Faye Levy

Once a stranger on the American culinary scene, eggplant has made great inroads on these shores in the past few decades. Eggplant moussaka has become well known from Greek eateries, eggplant bharta from Indian ones, and ratatouille from French bistros and Baba ghanoush, Middle Eastern roasted eggplant dip with sesame paste. Here's some other recipes for eggplant.

Portobello and Goat Cheese

Portobello and Goat Cheese Vegetarian Sandwich
Diane Rossen Worthington

The portabella mushroom has a meaty texture, and when combined with creamy goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil leaves become a substantial sandwich. Think of it as a great alternative to the hamburger for your vegetarian friends.

Grilled Chicken & Onion

Chicken and Onion Grilled Sandwiches
Bev Bennett

To transform the typical sandwich into a robust meal, layer on flavors and textures. Every additional step you take makes a sandwich more satisfying. In the following delicious example, a fresh chicken breast half takes the place of deli meat. An average chicken breast half will serve two if you slice the breast in half to create two fillets

Emily's Tomato Risotto

Emily's Tomato Risotto
Betty Rosbottom

When a talented assistant of mine returned from a walking tour through the English countryside, she couldn't wait to tell me about a luncheon dish -- a tomato risotto -- she had devoured at a small inn. Not expecting to find an Italian specialty on the British menu, she was stunned by the delectable creativity of this entree and was anxious to try duplicating it at home.

Pear and Almond Pie

Perfect Pear Dessert Recipes
Margaret M. Johnson

Crisp, crunchy, and sweet, pears are harvested from the middle of August through the end of November. They're great for snacking, as an addition to a salad, or partnered with a smooth blue cheese with a glass of wine. But they can also be used for the following dessert recipes -- Pear and Almond Tart, Poached Pears in Spiced Honey Wine.

Whipped Ricotta Dip

Whipped Ricotta Dip with Garlic-Rubbed Toasts
Betty Rosbottom

What's more popular as an appetizer than a dip? The dip featured here is uncomplicated and quick to assemble. In fact it calls for only four ingredients: good quality ricotta, grated Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh-chopped thyme, and a touch of salt! The toasted baguette slices that accompany it are just as effortless. They are brushed with olive oil, toasted in the oven, and then rubbed with a cut garlic clove.

Maque Choux and Skillet Pork Chops

Maque Choux and Skillet Pork Chops
Bev Bennett

A recipe you can dress up or down, that's comfortable in a breakfast, lunch or dinner menu, and that always makes you look good as a cook. It's called maque choux (pronounced "mock shoe"), and unless you're from Louisiana chances are you haven't heard of it. Think of the best of the harvest -- sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers and onions -- coming together with butter and seasonings, and you've got maque choux.

Beignets

Doughnut Delight - 3 Doughnut Recipes
Kathy Hunt

The doughnut has become an American favorite, no doubt in large part because of how easy it is to make, carry and eat. It isn't that hard to whip up a good batch of doughnuts: Mix together flour, eggs, milk and a leavening agent such as yeast or baking powder. After the ingredients are combined, roll and cut the resultant dough. Give it a try with these three delightful recipes for Churros, Beignets and Chocolate Sour Cream Doughnuts

Farmer's Market Cobb Salad

Modern and Lighter Farmer's Market Cobb Salad
Diane Rossen Worthington

Growing up in Los Angeles, I had the opportunity to enjoy just about every version of the famous Brown Derby Cobb salad that was offered. You can still find the original Cobb salad, named after Bob Cobb, the owner of the Brown Derby, at any number of California restaurants. In fact this salad has become a national favorite in restaurants across the country. I've reinterpreted this salad wth the following recipe ...

Pear, Ginger and Pecan Muffins

Pear, Ginger and Pecan Muffins
Bev Bennett

Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Beat together egg, milk and melted butter in a small bowl; pour over flour mixture. Stir just to mix ingredients. Stir in pear, ginger and pecans and walla your well on your way to making Pear, Ginger and Pecan Muffins.

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Roquefort Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Pears
Betty Rosbottom

In the recipe that follows, tenderloins are split, filled with a Roquefort and herb stuffing, then roasted along with quartered pears. When the tenderloins are roasted and cut, this stuffing, prepared with crumbled Roquefort, fresh breadcrumbs, and generous seasonings of rosemary and thyme, appears as a nugget in the center of each slice, an assertive accent

Caramelized Apple Crepes

Caramelized Apples: One Recipe with Many Variations
Emma Christensen

Fresh apples are so good that they barely need any help to become a fabulous dessert. Just a few minutes in a hot skillet with a little melted butter and some spices is all that's needed to caramelize the apples and coat them in delicious syrup. From there, we can use these caramelized apples to make caramelized apple crepes, caramelized apple turnovers or use the caramelized apples to pour over pancakes or ice-cream.

Veal Ragu on Papparadelle

Pappardelle Topped with Veal Ragout
Diane Rossen Worthington

Pappardelle is a funny name for a wide noodle. The word comes from an Italian verb that means 'to gobble up,' which may be exactly what you want to do after you make this veal dish. In Italy the noodle is often paired with wild boar or hare sauces. This recipe, a lighter take on that Italian classic, is robust and satisfying yet lighter than game-based sauces

Warm Apple & Plum Crisp

Warm Apple and Plum Crisp with Ginger Snap Crust
Betty Rosbottom

Easier than a pie, but requiring more effort than simply putting out a bowl of fruit, crisps and crumbles are the darlings of home and professional chefs alike. My friends are all avid fans, and the restaurants always list 'a crisp of the season' on their menus. Simple, plain and homey, this Apple and Plum Crisp with a Ginger Snap Crust is a little taste of heaven, especially when served warm with scoops of ice cream.

Sausages and Peppers in Beer
Bev Bennett

The following Sausages and Peppers in Beer recipe calls for chicken- or turkey-based sausage. Both deliver the taste and texture you enjoy in sausage, but with less fat and fewer calories than the red-meat counterparts.

Home Decor, Home Design, Gardening & Home Renovations

 

Food Friendly City: Portland, Oregon
World's Fare By Marguerite Thomas

On the western edge of Oregon where the Willamette and Columbia rivers meet, lies Portland, Oregon, one of North America's finest epicurean destinations.

I'm not just talking about expensive gourmet restaurants, although there is no lack of these here too.

What I am referring to is the kind of genuine food culture that may be a way of life in other countries (France & Italy come to mind), but is less common in the US.

 

Walking A Step in the Right Direction

Walking is one of the easiest ways to be physically active. A brisk-paced walk can help you feel better, increase energy, and pick up your spirits.

Walking is a simple and flexible way to improve your health, and it’s practically free. You can walk alone or with friends, indoors or outdoors, on a city sidewalk or a country trail, any time of the year. Brisk walking can help control your weight, lower cholesterol, strengthen your heart, and reduce the likelihood of serious health problems in the future.

 

JUKARI Fit to Fly Workout
Reebok & Cirque du Soleil Partnership Creates Innovative Gym Workout

In 1989, Reebok revolutionized women's fitness with the creation of Step Reebok.

Today, the company revealed its new launch of an innovative gym workout - JUKARI Fit to Fly.

JUKARI Fit to Fly makes fitness fun again by introducing a new way to move in a gym workout and is accessible to all women, regardless of fitness levels.

 

Duracell Announces Kids' Picks of the 'Top 10 Toys' for this Holiday Season

Bona fide toy experts - children themselves - have completed their toy test drive and voted the Air Rebound the number one toy this holiday season in the 15^th Annual DURACELL® Kids' Choice Toy Survey ^TM. This radio-controlled vehicle drove its way to the top spot, thanks to its unique design that allows it to speed, jump and flip over, maneuvering around the trickiest roadblocks, even if the vehicle is upside-down.

THQ and Nickelodeon Ship Spongebob Squarepants^TM: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman for Playstation®2

THQ® Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and Nickelodeon today announced the release of SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the ^TM: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman for the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system. This underwater adventure is based on Nickelodeon's pop culture phenomenon, SpongeBob SquarePants -- the highest rated program on kids' TV, which draws 61.5 million viewers per month, more than 21 million of them aged 18-49. SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman is now available at retailers nationwide.

New Canon PowerShot S45 Digital Camera Advances Performance and Versatility for Greater Satisfaction in Digital Photography

4.0 Megapixels, Exclusive DIGIC Imaging Processor, Enhanced Movie Mode and Direct Print Capabilities with a Variety of Canon Printers Make the PowerShot S45 a Highly Versatile Digital Camera

Think Outside The Box - The Wheaties® Box, That Is!

Wrap up your holiday shopping with a picture-perfect gift idea and have a photograph of your favorite champion placed on an authentic Wheaties® box.

Who's on Your Holiday Gift List?

United Mileage Plus Visa® Card Shopping Index Indicates That 40% of Americans are Buying for 15 People or More This Season

Architectural Digest's January 2002 Special Collector's Edition Announces The New "AD 100" Top Interior Designers and Architects

The January 2002 issue of Architectural Digest announces the new AD 100, Architectural Digest's selection of the top international interior designers and architects.

That's a Wrap: How to Plow Through That Pile of Presents With Ease and Creativity

A recent survey found that one in four Americans wrap their holiday gifts in the 24 hours prior to the gift-giving occasion. So how can you plow through that pile of presents at the eleventh hour, yet still have them look as if they were wrapped by a pro? 3M has more

Beating The Holiday Blues

The holidays are here - and people are taking the time to celebrate. According to a recent survey by CIGNA HealthCare, nearly half of Americans say they expect this holiday season to be more stressful than the last. But experts say there are things you can do to make it easier this season

Tech Toys

If there's a gadget guru on your holiday shopping list, a high-tech toy may be just the ticket. But high-tech doesn't have to mean high priced. From wireless devices to digital cameras, there's a gift in every price range. Motorola has more.

Ringing In the Holidays for Under $35

Have a long holiday shopping list but feeling short on cash? Impress friends and family with creative, high-tech presents this season with gifts for under $35

Home for the Holidays Takes on a Whole New Meaning This Year

This holiday season, travel experts estimate that 87 percent of travelers will be hitting the highways.

Kohl's Shoppers Can Help Local Children's Hospitals By Purchasing Special Holiday-Themed Merchandise

Kohl's shoppers can help 41 children's hospitals throughout the country by purchasing a special holiday CD, cuddly plush bear, a classic book or a festive holiday decoration for their home or office. Starting now through the holiday season, all Kohl's department stores are offering four unique seasonal items with all net profits benefiting local children's hospitals as a part of the Kohl's Cares for Kids program.

Gourmet's October Restaurant Issue Showcases America's 50 Best Restaurants from Gourmet's Critics

Gourmet's October 2001 Restaurant Issue features the first guide to "America's Best 50 Restaurants" (pages 81-104) from the magazine's restaurant reviewers. Ruth Reichl, editor in chief of Gourmet and former restaurant critic of The New York Times, and a team of Gourmet's critics ate thousands of meals and traveled millions of miles, visiting restaurants across the country anonymously to create the list of the Best 50 Restaurants in the United States

Sam Goody Teen Survey Indicates Gift Cards are Hot Holiday Gifts

It used to be that shopping for teens was one of the most difficult tasks for the holidays. But the days of trying to guess what's hot and what's not may be over. More and more parents are opting to give gift cards for the holidays, and the teens that are receiving these cards couldn't be happier.

Joan Lunden Encourages Families to Cook up Some Conversation at Dinner Time

A nationwide survey conducted confirms the family dinner is alive and well - in fact, 80 percent of families surveyed reported eating dinner together at least five times each week. However, for three out of four American families, the focus is likely to be on the television rather than on talking to each other. As many Americans would likely agree, it's important now more than ever to enjoy meals as a family while reconnecting through conversation at the table.

100 Best Companies for Working Mothers Cited by Working Mother Magazine

Amid the fears and economic cutbacks facing corporate America comes a glimmer of good news. Working Mother magazine on October 9 released its 16th annual list of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers," a compilation of corporations that best recognize the value and needs of working families.

Spoetzl Brewery Wins at the Great American Beer Festival

Representatives from the brewery came home victorious from the Great American Beer Festival® with a silver medal in the American-Style Wheat Ale category for Shiner Winter Ale and a bronze medal in the American-Style Dark Lager category for number-one selling Shiner Bock®.

Duracell Announces Kids' Picks for the 10 Hottest New Toys of the Holiday Season

The experts have spoken, and they want action ... action-packed play, that is! Kids across the country have voted the high-speed, versatile Gearhead Street Savage Remote Control Vehicle as number one in the 14th Annual DURACELL® Kids' Choice Toy SurveyTM.