Celebrate Every Day

This Collectable Car May Be The Most Expensive In The World!

Welcome to July 9th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a classic sugar rush and cars that make our hearts beat faster. 

It’s believed that sugar cookies originated in the mid 1700s in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. German Protestant settlers created a round, crumbly butter cookie that came to be known as the Nazareth Cookie. During the Victorian era people thought that spices would overly excite children and thus tea cookies were made purposefully plain.  They evolved into the perfect medium for shaping elaborate Christmas ornaments. But starting in the 1930s, baking soda and vanilla were added and sugar cookies disappeared before they could be hung.   Today both young and old enjoy a good sugar rush, and the more ornate the better! On National Sugar Cookie Day, bake up a batch of the treats that make any day a holiday.

Jay Leno is best known as a TV host, appearing on Late Night for nearly 20 years. What some folks may not know is that Leno is also a car collector. One of the biggest in the world in fact! He owns around 180 classic cars and 160 motorcycles. The collection includes everything from a Model T to  race cars to Rolls Royce Phantoms. He even owns a few fire engines from the early 1900s. All in all, the collection is estimated to be worth over $52 million. But one car in the bunch accounts for over a quarter of that value: his McLaren F1, which is worth about $15 million! On Collector Car Appreciation Day, celebrate the lifestyles of the rich and famous or your own pride and joy that’s still worth tinkering with.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

If You Come From The Land Down Under You Probably Know This Treat As A Zooper Dooper.

Welcome to July 8th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate staying frosty and mighty fruits. 

Flavored sugar water in a plastic tube hardly sounds like a crowd pleaser. But on a hot summer day, there are few things better than a freezer pop. These frozen treats have been around since the 1960s and are a staple for kids around the world who wanna stay cool. Fla-Vor-Ice, the most popular brand sold over 1.5 million pops in 2019.  But you may also know them as Otter Pops, Freezies, or even Zooper Doopers. And if you happen to live down under you probably don’t celebrate your Zooper Doopers till December, when it’s Summertime in Australia.  In fact you might even leave a few out for Santa.  The rest of us are keeping it cool by celebrating National Freezer Pop Day in July! 

They say that good things come in small packages and this is especially true of blueberries.  Not only are they a popular fruit, blueberries are one of the healthiest things you can eat.  This superfood provides more antioxidants than almost any other fruit or vegetable, and has been linked to reducing cholesterol.  And while you could go on and on about all the health benefits of blueberries, the fact is they are just plain delicious. There’s a reason why these juicy berries get a whole month of celebration. You don’t hear people getting excited about broccoli season.   During National Blueberry Month check your local farmer’s market for this super snack or better yet, find a patch and pick your own. 

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

This U.S. President Introduced Us To Macaroni And Cheese.

Welcome to July 7th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the old watering hole and a Founding Father’s favorite. 

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, dive bars got their name because of their location. Rather than their upscale cousins, these bars were set in the cellars and basements below restaurants. They gave drinkers a place to “dive” below street level and avoid the world for a bit. Since then, the term “dive bar” has evolved to mean any local bar that doesn’t put too much effort into the ambience. They’re just places to stop, relax, have a drink and chat with friends. On National Dive Bar Day celebrate your favorite watering hole, which might be in your own basement. Kitschy posters and retro furniture optional. 

Thomas Jefferson was a true renaissance man.  The third United States President completed the Louisiana Purchase, founded the University of Virginia, and even invented the swivel chair.  But one thing you may not know is that Jefferson introduced us to macaroni and cheese.  He first tasted the dish while visiting France.  Once Jefferson got home, he experimented with the recipe to get it just right.  Unfortunately, not everyone gave his mac and cheese a thumbs up. Perhaps it was not the best dish to serve at a State dinner, but today folks give him credit for the popularity of the dish.   On National Macaroni Day we celebrate this favorite comfort food and the Founding Father who stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni.  

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Did You Know That Fried Chicken Caused Quite A Ruckus In The 1930s? Find Out Why The Colonel Nearly Lost His Head Over Wings And Thighs!

Welcome to July 6th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate losing your head over wings and thighs and rolling out the good stuff. 

People are often passionate about their favorite foods, but it’s safe to say never quite like this. Colonel Sanders was making a name for himself in the early 1930s in Kentucky. He owned a Shell gas station and set up a cafe nearby to serve his now-famous fried chicken to drivers who passed through town. Everyone seemed to love it, except for Matt Stewart, the owner of a Standard Oil gas station in the area. Stewart began painting over advertisements for the restaurant and Sanders went to confront him, which led to a gunfight. All over fried chicken. On National Fried Chicken Day, there’s no need to lose your head over this American favorite, though you might want to pick up some extra of the parts that people fight over. 

Before it was a delicacy, sushi was a staple food in the diets of poor fishermen.  In the days before refrigeration, people discovered that they could preserve the fish by packing it in fermented rice.  But unlike modern sushi, the rice was not eaten, as it was only meant to keep the fish from spoiling. Eventually, rice vinegar replaced the fermented rice. Since then, sushi has transformed into a delicacy, with many variations. But none has the unique flair of the hand roll.  It uses the same ingredients as other rolls but hand rolls are not cut into pieces and they are meant to be eaten as soon as they are served.  On National Hand Roll Day, try something new at your favorite sushi place and be sure to say, kanpai!

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Did You Know That Reverend Graham Made His Crackers Plain On Purpose? Looks Like That Plan Backfired!

Welcome to July 5th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate making a splash and plain and simple treats. 

In July of 1946, the United States tested a nuclear device at the Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific. The military operation caused quite a stir around the world. However, the truly explosive event from that week occurred a few days later when fashion designer Louis Réard debuted his newest creation, named after the tests—the bikini. To say that this two-piece women’s bathing suit caused a stir is a massive understatement. Several U.S. states banned women from wearing bikinis in public. The pope declared the swimsuit to be sinful and immoral. Eventually, the outrage died down and today, you can find bikinis wherever there’s a beach or a pool. On National Bikini Day, chill out and go as bare as you dare.

You may find it ironic that the guy who made graham crackers plain on purpose also preached against decadent desserts.  Reverend Graham imagined the slightly sweetened cracker as a health food with whole wheat graham flour and added bran.  The Presbyterian minister developed his cracker as part of the Graham Diet to curb sinful cravings. Little did he know that he had built the very foundation for cheesecakes and s’mores and other wicked good desserts.  On National Graham Cracker Day give in to some guilty pleasures or celebrate responsibly with a simple glass of milk.  

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

This Town Holds The Record For Longest Running July 4th Parade.

Welcome to July 4th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate slow cooking by day and lighting up the night. 

Fireworks may own this particular evening, but the day is all about barbecue, though technically what most of us do is grilling, that is cooking meat over a fire. Barbecue is cooking meat slowly over indirect heat or in a smoker. This tradition started in the American South, where farmers would try to use every bit of meat they could from the pigs they had raised. Some of the meat, such as between the ribs, was pretty tough to eat. But they found that cooking ribs slowly over indirect heat made the meat tender and succulent. The tastiest of these come from the belly, and are called spareribs. Today while we celebrate our Nation’s birthday we also enjoy a food that is uniquely American on National Barbecued Spareribs Day.

While Independence Day is celebrated across the country today, one town holds the record for the longest running parade.  Since 1785, Bristol, Rhode Island has boasted this unbroken tradition, with nearly 200,000 attendees from all over the world.   The festivities begin on Flag Day or June 14th with soapbox races and outdoor concerts that continue throughout the month of June. This culminates on July 4th with the parade that commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. From just about anywhere today you can see spectacular displays of fireworks and attend festivals and parades in your own neighborhood. No matter how you celebrate, Independence Day is a time to cherish freedom and to honor those who sacrificed to build our great Nation.  

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Brian Reinbold.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Sometimes Success Is Right Under Your Nose!

Welcome to July 3rd, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate slaying superstition and having the last laugh. 

The Greek philosopher Pythagorus is the father of geometry. What’s less well-known is that he was also a strict vegetarian. However, he refused to eat beans, a staple of most vegetable-based diets. The reason was based on superstition. He believed that beans, fava beans in particular, contained the souls of the dead. He was so freaked out by beans that he wouldn’t touch them or walk through gardens where they were growing. And this was ultimately his downfall. Legend has it that Pythagorus was fleeing from soldiers when he came across a field full of fava bean plants. Rather than run across to escape, he stopped in his tracks and was killed. On National Eat Your Beans Day, don’t fear the magical fruit that could be the key to longevity!

Sometimes a wisecrack can pay off big.  For Chubby and Bessie Woodman it all started on July 3, 1916 in Essex, Massachusetts. The Woodmans sold groceries, fresh clams and potato chips from a small roadside stand.  On this particular day, business was slow and a wise cracking fisherman suggested they fry up some clams.  What started as a joke got the Woodmans thinking. Their homemade chips were already good, so they shucked a few clams, tried out different batters and the very next day they enjoyed the last laugh.  The fried clams were an instant hit.  And six generations later you can still visit Woodmans for this New England favorite. On National Fried Clam Day celebrate a bright idea worth more than a few clams.  

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

If You Want To Beat The Record Holder For Hot Dog Eating You Might Have To Resort To This Insider Tip!

Welcome to July 2nd, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a special sip and doggone good bite.  More after the break.

If you enjoy the taste of licorice, then you’re in for a treat. The anise plant is part of the carrot family and is primarily used in licorice-flavored sweets and baking. But it’s also used to make a drink very popular in the Mediterranean—anisette. This liqueur is known by different names depending where you are. In Spain, it’s anís. In France, they have pastis. And the Greeks call it ouzo. The version most people know is the Italian one, which is sold as Sambuca. Italians consider it a digestive aid and will often drink a small amount after dinner, sometimes adding a few drops to espresso. On National Anisette Day, take a tour or the exotic with a drop or two that makes any meal go down smoother.

If you happen to be in Coney Island, New York this week, be sure to visit Nathans for the International Hot Dog eating contest.  You will want to get there early as this event draws a crowd from around the globe.  The contestants are announced by an old time carnival barker as if they are prize fighters. And the champion to beat is Joey Chestnut.  This man from Kentucky, holds the record for eating 74 hotdogs in just 10 minutes.  You still have two days left to train for this event, though you might not like this insider tip.  Most winners have to dip them in water first in order to gobble them faster.  Why not celebrate National Hotdog Month one dog at a time, with some good old mustard and onions? 

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Brian Reinbold.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Back In The Day, Folks Found A Way To Mail The Oddest Things!

Welcome to July 1st, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate special deliveries come rain or shine. 

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Everyone knows this is the motto for the United States Postal Service. Except…it isn’t. The Postal Service doesn’t actually have a motto. So where did this well-known phrase come from? It was written by Herodotus around 500 BCE to describe the postal carriers of his time. When the New York City Post Office opened in 1914, one of the designers liked the quote and had it engraved into the cornerstone. Today is National Postal Worker Day, when we celebrate the men and women who make sure all our letters and packages find their way to us. Except for the bills. We don’t mind if those get lost. 

The United States issued its first postage stamps on July 1, 1847.  They were not, however, the first of their kind.  In the United Kingdom, the Penny Black stamp attempted to fix a broken system.  Before then, mail recipients were good at dodging payment for this service.  Here in America, a letter could be mailed without prepayment until 1855. Despite new regulations, people continued to take advantage of a system that charged only 15 cents for an 11 pound package.  The strangest of these was a small baby that was delivered to his grandmother who lived a few miles away.  Even the stork couldn’t compete with those prices!  On National US Postage Stamp Day celebrate a valuable service that still delivers come rain or shine.  

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Brian Reinbold.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Look, Up In The Sky! It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's...The Greatest Show Off Earth!

Welcome to June 30th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the best show “off earth” and staying positively social. 

The Comet Swift-Tuttle is one of the largest extra-planetary objects in the solar system. Each year, this giant ball of ice and rock gives the people of Earth quite a show. Debris from the comet’s long tail plunges into our atmosphere at 37 miles per second and burns up. This creates spectacular meteor showers known as the Perseids, which are visible from late July through August. On nights when the moon isn’t as bright, skywatchers can see anywhere from 25-100 meteors per hour. But the Perseids aren’t the only show in town. On National Meteor Watch Day, peel yourself away from your phone or TV and look to the skies for some out of this world entertainment.

Imagine a time when you couldn’t simply log into a website or app to see what your loved ones were doing. Remember when it was near impossible to stay in touch with those friends who moved away?  Since the birth of social media these days are long behind us.  And while you may not be a fan of everyone watching your every move, you must admit, social media has its place in keeping us connected.  Sites like Facebook and LinkedIn have become a staple in our lives that most people can’t imagine living without.  We all know the negative side it presents, and yet snail mail and phone calls are all the more special by comparison. On Social Media Day, take a moment to celebrate the positive side of this medium, and try ditching all of the rest. 

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Brian Reinbold.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.