Hanukkah celebrations have changed dramatically − but the same is true of Christmas

Candles on a large Hanukkah menorah shine in front of a Christmas tree at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, in 2015. Gregor Fischer/picture alliance via Getty Images Hanukkah is not the Jewish …
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
As the city prepares to tear down the old Kmart building, it considers how to reconnect Nicollet Ave. Over 500 residents attended an open house on Oct. 10, and 1,200 people responded to a survey by Oct. 12.
What do people think?
The long process of reopening Nicollet Ave. at Lake St. took another step forward this month. City planners released design concepts for the public areas planned for the 10-acre site where a surface …
Lyndale Ave South reconstruction
Hennepin County is working to build a Lyndale Avenue for today and tomorrow. The county is partnering with the city of Minneapolis, Metro Transit and others to continue improving safety for all users …
Motorists can’t cross Lyndale at 25th anymore, but pedestrians and bicyclists can use the median to pause while crossing. Last summer, the two lanes in either direction were changed to one lane in either direction with a center turning lane. The pilot project was deemed successful as crashes and injuries have been reduced.
Lyndale safer since 4-to-3 conversion
The reduction of traffic lanes on Lyndale Ave from 31st St. to Franklin Ave. has improved safety and will remain in place.   Called the “4-3 Lane Pilot Project,” Hennepin …
The Wilson’s back porch was opened up through careful deconstruction by a Better Futures crew. (Photo submitted)
Why throw away a house when parts can be reused?
From early 20th Century thrift to building cabins from contractor cast-offs, building materials reuse had long been an informal norm. But in a more recent world, entire houses have been thrown in the …
Twin Cities ranks 24th nationally for EV-friendliness
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metropolitan area ranks 24th nationally for EV-friendliness, mainly prompted by a strong EV ownership mindset, the overall favorable infrastructure, the growing …
Holiday ideas
Most Americans plan to spend wisely during the holidays and save in the new year.
How Americans Plan to Spend and Save this Holiday Season
(NAPSI)—The holidays can bring the pressure to overspend—but you can resist it and still be merry and bright.   What The Gens Are Doing With festivities fast approaching, Rocket Money …
10 different foods used in New Year's Eve traditions and the stories behind them
Stacker compiled a list of 10 foods used in New Year's Eve traditions and their origins, using sources like CNN, TheGrio, and more.
Arizona families celebrate Aflac Holiday Duck each year with neighborhood tradition
(BPT) - Sales of popular plush provide support for pediatric cancer and blood disorders research and treatment. It was December 2005 and Julie Goodhue of Scottsdale, Arizona, was in the middle of an …
How to Have a Happy & Gut-Healthy Holiday Season
(BPT) - The holiday season is filled with sugar and spice and everything nice — like parties, beloved traditions, festive foods and time with loved ones. And while all of these are things to be …
Yule – a celebration of the return of light and warmth
People gather for Pagan sunrise celebrations in Ireland, on the morning of the winter solstice. Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images Yule will be celebrated by Wiccans and many other Pagans in …
Registered Dietitian Shares Holiday Entertaining Tips
(BPT) - Ready or not, the holiday countdown is on! That means it’s time to haul out the holly and break out the entertaining gear. From tried-and-true recipe ideas, delicious gifts, must-haves …
Walmart+ Hits a High Note with Members Looking to Sleigh the Season
(BPT) - It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but dashing through the snow for parties, plays and presents may have you longing for a silent night. Now a Walmart+ membership is bringing joy …
Brett Eldredge’s Top 10 Holiday Decor Picks
(BPT) - This is it, folks. Platinum-selling recording artist Brett “Mr. Christmas” Eldredge has unwrapped his décor picks for the 2023 holiday season, and it might just be the …
50 coldest cities in America on Christmas
Stacker consulted data from the Climate at a Glance database to uncover which U.S. cities have endured some of the chilliest Christmases.
25 over-the-top Christmas displays from across America
Stacker compiled a list of some of the most over-the-top Christmas displays across America to help get you in the holiday spirit.  
Live your life with style

States where sports betting will be legalized soon

ATS.io mapped sports betting legislation across the country using November 2023 data from the American Gaming Association.

How I identified a probable pen name of Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott took part in a 19th-century literary culture of anonymity and guessing games. Universal Images Group/Getty Images Before Louisa May Alcott published the bestselling “ Little …

Why Franklin, Washington and Lincoln considered American democracy an 'experiment' -- and were unsure if it would survive

Voters in a county election, 1854. Etching by John Sartain after painting by George Caleb Bingham; National Gallery of Art From the time of the founding era to the present day, one of the more common …

Hate crimes are on the rise − but the narrow legal definition makes it hard to charge and convict

A Hasidic man walks past a police patrol car in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images With hate crimes, context is everything, and events outside …

Score Big with This Year’s Top Stocking Stuffers

Score Big with This Year’s Top Stocking Stuffers

(NewsUSA) - The holidays are right around the corner, and it’s time to think about stuffing those stockings. Check out this guide for details on this years can’t miss gifts from Spin …

New England stone walls lie at the intersection of history, archaeology, ecology and geoscience, and deserve a science of their own

A typical New England stone wall in Hebron, Conn. Robert M. Thorson, CC BY-ND The abandoned fieldstone walls of New England are every bit as iconic to the region as lobster pots, town greens, sap …

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Patricia Neal works with children to tend their neighborhood sponsored garden.
Local model for an urban CSA
“Four years ago, I realized we needed a model for an urban CSA,” says Craig Neal, founder and chief gardener of the Neighborhood Sponsored Garden (NSG) located in a backyard on Beard Ave. …
Christy Johnson of United Goods does minimalistic, graphic prints in small sizes. (Photos submitted)
Inside the head of minimalist State icon artist
Christy Johnson, founder & CEO of United Goods started working as a graphic designer and artist in 2003 in Minneapolis. A life-long creative, she’s loved to draw since she was a kid. Over …
These small lightboxes made by Longfellow artist Chris Miller can brighten tables and shelves. Other larger ones function as furniture. (Photo submitted)
How to add art to your home
Longfellow mosaic artist Chris Miller believes that art is like jewelry for your home. “I made this piece in glass a few years ago and I display it each September during LoLa Art Crawl. It says …
A series of 50 native plant gardens along Nicollet Avenue provide food sources and nesting space for pollinators.
Nicollet Pollinator Pathway for Rusty Patched Bumble Bee
There’s a new pathway in southwest Minneapolis, but it’s not for people.  The Nicollet Avenue Pollinator Pathway is a series of 50 native plant gardens along and around Nicollet …
April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers bring in the bees. This bee is feasting on creeping Charlie. (Photo submitted)
No mow May helps pollinators
Stumbling over bicycles and skateboards in the back of the garage, your fall is broken by the lawn mower handle. Wrestling your new turf terrorizer out of its winter hold, a vague memory forms of the …
Holocaust comparisons are over-used -- but in the case of Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel they may reflect more than just the emotional response of a traumatized people
On Oct. 12, a sign in Tel Aviv says in Hebrew, 'No more words,' near candles lit both in memory of those killed in the Hamas massacres and for the hostages taken to the Gaza Strip. Amir Levy/Getty …
How new reports reveal Israeli intelligence underestimated Hamas and other key weaknesses
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, meets with his security cabinet on Oct. 7, 2023, the day of the Hamas attack. Haim Zach (GPO) / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images After the …
Here's how to support transgender youth, according to trans teens
Using resources from The Trevor Project and interviews with trans teens, Stacker explored how adults can best support trans children in their lives.
New vehicle costs are tempering but remain high relative to income
The General used data from Cox Automotive and Moody's Analytics to examine new vehicle affordability over the last decade for American consumers.
These are the people most likely to be burdened by medical debt in the US
Care Better analyzed data from the Kaiser Family Foundation to visualize which groups of Americans are most likely to hold medical debt.
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Why isn't there any sound in space? An astronomer explains why in space no one can hear you scream

Matter in deep space is very spread out, which makes it impossible for any sound waves to travel. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI Curious Kids is a series for children of all …

How Christmas is celebrated around the world

Stacker dove into some of the ways people celebrate Christmas across the globe. Read on to learn more and gain inspiration for new family traditions.

20 celebrations this holiday season besides Christmas

Stacker compiled a list of fall and winter holidays celebrated all over the world, including religious festivals, ceremonies honoring the change of seasons, and secular events.

The science of procrastination and how to beat it

Wysa researched the psychology behind procrastination, what makes people do it, and how they can work to overcome it.

Tips to Make Holiday Giving Stress-Free

(BPT) - It’s the most wonderful time of the year. This means good cheer, festive gatherings, and a fair amount of stress. But there are ways to shop, prepare and get great gifts with ease. …

Unique baby names from the year you were born

Stacker highlighted one of the least-used baby names from each year between 1950 and 2022, using data from the Social Security Administration.

The promise of Suboxone depends on erasing stigma in opioid use disorder treatment

Ophelia analyzed data and studies from the National Institutes of Health to break down the stigmatization of medication-assisted treatment.

Health care inflation remains low as other services continue to spike

Vivian Health used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to examine year-over-year inflation for health care services compared to other services.

10 of the most downloaded mobile games of all time

Gamesville has compiled the 10 most downloaded games for Android devices using data from AppBrain.

The midcentury architecture of the Space Age in 5 essential Googie buildings
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The most unique baby name in your state last year
Stacker found unique baby names from 2022 in the Social Security Administration's baby names database and highlighted one from each state.
Pregnant & Protected: The Importance of COVID-19 Vaccination for Those Who Are Pregnant
(BPT) - COVID-19 is still here this fall and presents a higher risk of severe illness and complications that can affect you and your developing baby. Severe illness can result in admission to an …
Where to find women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ owned businesses to support this holiday season
Flowcode compiled a list of five resources to help discover women-, BIPOC-, and LGBTQ+-owned businesses this holiday season.
The bestselling video game consoles of all time—and dramas behind them
Video game consoles are at the heart of the industry, but which has the all-time best sales? Casino Bonus CA analyzed VGChartz to find out.