Blood drives

• Red Cross Blood Drive is 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 27, at Milford United Methodist Church, 1200 Atlantic St. next to the Milford Post Office. Donors can sign up through the Red Cross donor app, online at redcrossblood.org, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The drive code is: MUMC. Those who sign up and give blood at the drive will receive an e-gift card of $15.

• City of Troy Red Cross Blood Drive is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 27, at the Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois, Troy. Donation appointments can be scheduled by calling 313-300-9617 or visiting www.redcrossblood.org and entering zip code 48083. Photo ID or Red Cross Donor Card will be required. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh more than 110 pounds, and be in good general health.

Community events

• The Village of Rochester Hills hosts summer activities with most events taking place outside in Festival Park, northeast corner of Adams and Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills. Music & Me events are 10-10:45 a.m. June 16 and June 18; and Summer Solstice Yoga Event is 7 p.m. June 20, TheVORH.com.

• Food Truck Wednesdays are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays June 18-Aug. 20, BCTV Studio Parking Lot,  4190 Dublin Drive, Bloomfield Twp., www.bloomfieldtwp.org/foodtruck.

• Food Truck Mondays are 4:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays, May -August, Beverly Park, 18801 Beverly Road, Beverly Hills, www.villagebeverlyhills.com/department/beverly_park_events.php.

Educational workshops

• Oxford Bank is hosting a virtual client event, “Unlocking AI’s Real Potential: Advanced Techniques for Business Productivity with Proactive Technology Management” from 8-9:15 a.m. June 17, online, open to the public, register at https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/48f1ae89-6e41-49ce-9754-8002dc4c8f74@85f0a38c-8c5f-43cd-850e-7b9abd1e98ad/registration.

• Michigan State University MSU Extension Michigan Cottage Food Law Zoom webinar is 6-8 p.m. June 17. The Michigan Cottage Food Law, Food safety practices related to producing cottage foods and how to start a cottage food business, free, register at www.canr.msu.edu/events/michigan-cottage-food-law-may-2026.

Farmers markets/Garden walks

• Clarkston Area Farmers Market is 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays, June 14 to Oct. 11, in the front parking lot at the Clarkston Community Education Center, 6558 Waldon Road, Clarkston, features live music, clarkstonareafarmersmarket@gmail.com, clarkstonareafarmersmarket.com.

• Highland Farmers Market is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, June 14 to Oct. 4, at Highland Township Complex, 205 N. John St., Highland, www.facebook.com/HighlandFarmersMarketMichigan, www.highlandfarmmarket.com. John Street will be closed to vehicle traffic during market hours.

• Ortonville Farmers Market is 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., Saturdays, June 14 to Sept. 27, downtown Ortonville. Vegucation Station Adventure Club for youth with weekly activities is at Crossman Park, SNAP/EBT/Bridge cards at the Market Info Booth, 476 Mill St., facebook.com/ortonvillefarmersmarket.

• Rochester Garden Walk is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 19, to tour a selection of private gardens, event is co-sponsored by the Rochester Garden Club and The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills. In addition, guests can visit the grounds at Van Hoosen Farm, and the Rochester Garden Club will host a Native Plant Sale on the museum grounds from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Customers do not need to purchase tickets to the Garden Walk to purchase plants. At 10:30 a.m. Angela Nelson, owner of East Michigan Native Plants, will give a presentation on incorporating natives into a landscape, at the Calf Barn. Garden Walk advance purchase tickets are available at www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms and from Auburn Oaks Garden Center, Bordine’s Nursery (Rochester location only), Foglers Greenhouse, and Piechnik’s Garden Gate. The cost is $16 in advance or $20 on the day of the event. Ticket exchange (and purchase of) guides with the garden locations will be available at the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1-4 p.m. June 16-18, and on the day of the Garden Walk, RochesterGardenClub.org, 248-656-4663.

Festivals/Shows

• Lions Club Jubilee is June 19-22, carnival, Lions Club Beer Tent with live music is 6 p.m.-midnight, June 20 and June 21, the corner of Flint and Broadway, 37 E Flint St. Lake Orion, https://skerbeck.com/events/219.

• Novi Fine Art Fair is June 20-22, outdoor juried event, music, children’s activities, food trucks, at Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk, admission to the art fair is $5 for adults, free for ages 12 and under, www.NoviFineArtFair.com, parking is free.

• Opa!Fest Greek Festival is June 20-22, (4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday), St. Nicholas Church, 760 West Wattles Road, Troy, www.opafest.org. Greek cooking demonstrations, Greek cuisine, dance and music performances, children’s activities, market, and tours of the church. Admission is $3 Adults, (ages 12 and under are free) and canned goods to donate to Gleaners Community Food Bank, free parking and shuttle from Boulan Park on Crooks Road.

• Downtown Rochester Makers’ Market is 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 21, at W. Fourth Street in downtown Rochester, artisan vendors, downtownrochestermi.com.

• Summer Solstice Celebration is 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 21, Cranbrook Art Museum & Cranbrook Institute of Science is 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 21, at Cranbrook Art Museum & Cranbrook Institute of Science, https://cranbrookartmuseum.org/events/summer-solstice-celebration-2025. Tickets in advance are $12 for general admission and $10 for members, with on-site tickets available for $15.

Fundraisers

• Face Addiction Now’s 17th Annual Run Drugs Out of Town 5K Run/Walk is June 21, at 10 a.m. after-race community gathering, at Macomb Community College’s Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. Register at faceaddictionnow.org/run-drugs-out-of-town, or call 586-438-8500.

• Pickleball Tournament for all skill levels is 9 a.m.-noon June 22, at LifeTime Rochester Hills, 200 W. Avon Road, Rochester Hills, fundraiser for Sky Foundation, a nonprofit to fund early detection research for pancreatic cancer. To register, visit www.classy.org/event/2025-pickleball-tournament/e683963, ticket prices vary.

• Kroger customers are invited to donate any dollar amount at checkout to the Great Michigan Milk Drive through June 30, during National Dairy Month. Every dollar raised goes toward purchasing milk for six of the Feeding America-affiliated local food banks in Michigan, partnership with the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.

Golf outings

• The Waterford Foundation for Public Education Annual Golf Outing is June 17, with an 8 a.m. shotgun start, at Fountains Golf and Banquet Center in Clarkston. Derrick Fries, Ph.D. will be honored as an educator, author, triathlon national and sailing world title holder, www.wsdmi.org/wfpe, $150 per golfer, banquet only-$40.

• Turning Point’s 9th Annual Survivors’ Golf Outing is June 20, at Cracklewood Golf Club, 18215 24 Mile Rd, Macomb Twp. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. and Shotgun Start at 10 a.m., pre-register at https://cbo.io/tickets/golfouting/TurningPoint, $175/golfer, $600/foursome.

Juneteenth celebrations

• Oakland County Juneteenth Celebration is 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. June 18, at 1200 North Telegraph, Circuit Court Courtyard, Pontiac, event will feature inspirational speakers, food trucks, live entertainment, flag raising ceremony, meet-and-greet tables with local organizations and vendors, inflatables and yard games for all ages. Winners of the student Oakland County Juneteenth Art & Essay Contest will be recognized, www.oakgov.com/community/diversity-equity-inclusion/programs-events/juneteenth.

• The city of Royal Oak is hosting a Juneteenth celebration, 3-7 p.m. June 19, at Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E 11 Mile Road, in downtown Royal Oak, family-friendly activities, including music, games, performances, food trucks and vendors, free admission. Freedom Strive Walk is at 4 p.m., register for the walk at https://romi.gov/1570/Juneteenth.

• Oak Park Annual Juneteenth Celebration is 4-9 p.m. June 19, at Oak Park High School, 13701 Oak Park Blvd., Oak Park, speakers, music, art and dance, and student essay contest winners to be announced. Juneteenth One Mile Walk is at 8 a.m., on-site registration begins at 7 p.m., at the Oak Park High School Track, register for the walk at www.oakparkmi.gov/resident/juneteenth/index.php.

• Pearls of Service Foundation Juneteenth Celebration is 6-10 p.m. June 19, at the Southfield Regency Banquet Center, 25228 W 12 Mile Road, Southfield, featuring scholarship awards to local students, presentation by jazz artist Daryl Beebe, $75, tickets at www.pearlsofservicefoundation.org/juneteenth.

Parks/Outdoor activities

• Archery Adventure Camp Sessions are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 16-20, July 14-18 and Aug. 4-8 at Independence Oaks County Park. Camp participants ages 8-15 will receive a week-long archery experience where they learn archery fundamentals and safety tips as well as enjoy non-archery activities. All equipment is provided, but participants must bring their own snacks and lunches, weather permitting, $175/person/session, www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks/parks-trails/independence-oaks.

• Night Hikes on the Farm-The Science of Twilight is 8-9:30 p.m. June 20, at Tollgate Farm and Education Center, 28115 Meadowbrook Road, Novi, $14 per person, 3+, www.canr.msu.edu/tollgate.

• Oakland County Parks and Recreation offers free admission. General park entry fees and vehicle permits have been eliminated for all parks operated by Oakland County Parks, www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks.

• The Metroparks Trail Challenge is open through Oct. 31. Registration is $35, includes a custom tumbler and trail passport. Visit designated Challenge Trails across all 13 Metroparks. Take a selfie at each trail’s Challenge Kiosk and upload it to the leaderboard to collect your badge, and you’ll get a 2026 Annual Vehicle Pass. Register your dog for $10 and receive a custom Trail Challenge dog tag. www.metroparks.com/trailchallenge.

• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.

Support resources

• For access to local community services, dial 211 (844-875-9211) or text zip code to 898211, for information and referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions, United Way, https://unitedwaysem.org/get-help.

• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 confidential support for people who are suicidal or in emotional distress, or who know someone who is. Calls and text messages to 988 route to a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center, www.fcc.gov/988Lifeline.

• National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233, available 24/7.

• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 – call or text 800-231-1127.

• Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 and then press 1 to connect to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.

To submit a community event, email the information to Kathy Blake at kblake@medianewsgroup.com.

By Barrett Dolata, The Detroit News

After a 20-year hiatus, the Detroit Zoo has brought back its Zoo Keys, sponsored by Fifth Third Bank. These rhinoceros and gorilla-shaped keys can be purchased for $4 and used at 11 different audio boxes located around the zoo to unlock poems about the nearest animal.

The poems are intended to foster both learning and a deeper appreciation for animals, which were written and recited by local youth from the zoo’s education and volunteer programs, including InsideOut Literary Arts and additional afterschool programs.

“They were able to come spend time at the zoo, observing the animals,” said Emily O’Hara, senior director of guest experience at Detroit Zoological Society. “And then work with our team on writing and working through the poetic process.”

O’Hara said with the newly developed audio boxes, the zoo is able to reprogram the messages and poems from each box as needed, offering both messages in English and Spanish. After purchasing a Zoo Key, guests can reuse the key at every box and with every visit.

When guests used their Zoo Keys back in the 1960s-’70s, and again in the early 2000s, the audio boxes were programmed with storybook animal tales — still as a way to engage zoo guests with the animals creatively. While the messages have switched to poetry, guests can use their old Zoo Keys from their early days to prompt the audio boxes.

“You can bring them back if you pull them out of a drawer or an old box that maybe a parent or grandparent or someone else in your life has,” O’Hara said.

The keys that date back to the ‘60s were red and shaped like an elephant, and adapted to a flat shape in the early 2000s. The iconic Zoo Keys were also used at other zoos like the San Francisco Zoo and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and are now selling on Ebay for upwards of $30-$50 or more.

“For anyone who grew up with Zoo Keys, we have heard for years guests asking, ‘Are they ever going to come back?’,” O’Hara said. “So we’re really excited to offer this up to guests who come to the Detroit Zoo to be able to come back and live some of that nostalgia.”

With the reintroduction of the Zoo Keys, the zoo also added a limited-time Dragon Forest trail for guests to explore and new penny press machines, featuring eight designs to collect this summer.

They also plan to add a few more audio boxes in the near future, and eventually expand even more down the line. Zoo Keys are available for purchase at the Detroit Zoo Shop, main gate ticket booths and other attractions.

bdolata@detroitnews.com

©2025 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Counting Crows have been in flight for since 1991 and have logged 20 years with its present lineup, which still includes three original members..

And the San Francisco Bay Area-formed group has no plans for nesting any time soon.

The sextet started with a band by performing in honor of Van Morrison at the 1993 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, eight months before the release of its seven-times platinum debut album “August and Everything After.” Since then Counting Crows has released seven more full-lengths and an EP, scoring hits such as “Mr. Jones,” “Round Here,” “A Long December,” “Hanginaround” and “Accidentally in Love” from the “Shrek 2” film soundtrack.

Frontman Adam Duritz and company have also logged a ton of time on the road — which is where it is right now to support its latest release, “Butter Miracle: The Complete Sweets!” Its show this week at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre will be its 26th in the metro area, dating back to a September 1993 debut at Saint Andrew’s Hall…

* “Butter Miracle: The Complete Sweets!” features four songs from the 2021 EP “Butter Miracle: Suite One” plus five additional tracks Counting Crows recorded subsequently. “It’s definitely thematically tied together,” says Duritz, ??. “I wasn’t trying to write a specific story, but (the songs) just sort of fit together for me. I just felt like this was a little world I was creating, and it felt very fertile. I wanted the connection to be there, ’cause I was vibing on that”

* Duritz adds that he had planned to have a follow-up to the EP out sooner but encountered songwriting issues after contributing vocals to Gang of Youth’s 2022 album “Angle in Realtime.” I really thought I’d finished the (new songs)…(but) I was suddenly thinking these songs I just finished aren’t good enough, They were missing some stuff. I kind of had lost confidence in them, and I sat on them for a good two years. Then I wrote ‘With Love, From A-Z’ here (in New York) and thought, ‘That’s great — now I have to figure out what to do with this, ’cause it needs to go on a record right away!’ I’ve got to s*** or get off the pot on these songs.”

* He ultimately came up with satisfactory renditions of the songs by inviting some of his bandmates — multi-instrumentalist David Immergluck, bassist Millard Powers and drummer Jim Bogios — to New York to work on the material. “The problem was that my sort of ambition for what they should sound like outstripped my ability to actually play them on the piano. I’m great at being in a band, but I’m not the player some of other guys are, or that a lot of other songwriters are. So the guys came to the house and we went through them one by one and we loved them. They became great…and then we went into the studio only a few weeks later and knocked the record out in 11, 12 days — It’s by far the fastest we’ve ever recorded (an album) — but it took forever to do it!”

* The finished product, Duritz adds, has infused and refreshed Counting Crows once again. “We’re on our way again. Things feel good. Everyone seems in a really good place. It’s a happy time. There were points where I was having more trouble with myself emotionally, and the band’s stress was just too much. But our manager’s great now. Our lawyer’s great. I totally trust everybody. All that stress is gone. The band is so stable and great, and we’re still killing it.”

* Counting Crows is also happy to be marking 20 years for the current lineup, since “new guy” Powers joined in 2005. “I always wanted to be in a band and stay together,” says Duritz. “I`m not tired of it at all. I never wanted to be a solo artist. I have no interest in that. It’s a hard thing to stay together as a band, and it’s not surprising to me we’ve lost a couple people over 30 years, but right now it feels like we can go on forever — except I know that nothing works that way, y’know?”

Counting Crows and Gaslight Anthem perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 17 at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre, 14900 Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.

By Edward Russell
Special to The Washington Post

Travel writer Harriet Baskas faced a dilemma for her 20th wedding anniversary.

An assignment to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport would see her miss the milestone with her husband and, while they had no standing traditions at home, a couples weekend package at the new Grand Hyatt DFW was enticing.

What if, she thought, he joined her for the trip to spend time together in an unconventional date spot?

That’s exactly what they did, taking a gourmet cooking class, enjoying the restaurants and soaking in the views of one of the world’s busiest airports.

That stay kicked off a tradition that has taken Baskas and her husband to an airport hotel roughly every five years, in places including Denver, Nashville and Vancouver.

Her favorite? The Westin Denver International Airport, where they watched “Top Gun” on the plaza.

“That was just a big treat to watch an aviation-themed movie at the airport outside our hotel,” she said.

Airport hotels are no longer dominated by the staid, cheap, bed-for-a-night abodes that were standard for so many decades. New accommodations hark back to the luxury of early aviation, featuring top-notch amenities that are enjoyable for weary vacationers, road warriors and even locals.

The TWA Hotel at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport features a high-end bar where aviation-themed drinks are a must. The rooftop pool at the Grand Hyatt DFW features sweeping views of the surrounding airport. And workouts in the high-floor gym at the Denver airport Westin come with a view of the Rocky Mountains.

From early practicality to modern amenities

The idea of an airport hotel dates to the origins of air travel itself, when those who could afford to fly faced long, multi-stop trips. A New York-to-Los Angeles flight on TWA in 1936 took more than 15 hours, according to a schedule from the time. Weather and other delays were common and often could require an overnight stay en route.

The Dearborn Inn was one of those early abodes, said Ted Ryan, an archivist at Ford Motor Co. Others included the Aerodrome Hotel at Britain’s Croydon Airport and the Oakland Airport Inn in California.

The Dearborn Inn opened adjacent to the former Ford Airport in Michigan in July 1931. The stately Georgian-style building designed by Albert Kahn served as an overnight respite for fliers and crews until the airport closed in 1947.

The hotel is still operating, though, and a recently completed multimillion-dollar, two-year renovation highlighted its aviation heritage.

Julie Mendola, who oversees real estate projects for Ford and worked on the renovation, said one feature reimagines a tradition from the company’s founder.

“Previously, when individuals traveled, Henry Ford would give them a boarding pass,” Mendola said. “We took the original phone booth (that) sits just off the lobby. When you step in you can actually print, email or text yourself a digital boarding pass.”

The “boarding pass” features your photo and a vintage aviation-themed background, Mendola said.

Between the Dearborn Inn’s “Americana” luxury, as a 1937 brochure put it, and today’s posh Hyatts and Westins was a long period of basic airport accommodations that served a need and not much else.

Henry Harteveldt, a travel-industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group, noted the introduction of jumbo jets, such as Boeing’s 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10, as a turning point for airport hotels. A lot more people could afford to fly on these new planes that seated hundreds of passengers.

“That really led to a growth in the number of (hotel) properties near an airport and a variety of properties near an airport,” he said.

One important cohort was business travelers. While earlier work trips involved a stay downtown or near a factory, the advent of mass air travel meant corporate fliers could go somewhere just for a meeting at the airport. And they needed a place to stay.

The Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel catered to these road warriors. It opened in 1973 as one of the first hotels connected to an airport terminal, and it featured rooms that Architecture Plus magazine described at the time as “a good cut above standard practice.”

The growing demand for airport hotels attracted global brands — Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott — that brought a standard look and feel to properties, Harteveldt said, contributing to the sector’s staid reputation.

Pricey convenience

Stacey Stegman, a spokesperson for Denver International Airport, said feedback on the Westin is generally positive, but it does get one frequent complaint.

“People love the convenience; they love the quality,” she said. “The only negative thing I typically hear is that it can be pricey at times.”

Travelers do have the option of cheaper hotels near the Denver airport. There are more than a dozen accommodations a little more than five miles from the terminal, with rates as low as $100 a night, Google Maps shows. But none of these offer the convenience and ease of the Westin that is steps from baggage claim.

Newer, more sophisticated airport hotels are relatively expensive and popular.

The Grand Hyatt at SFO, which opened in 2019, is full more than 80% of the time, the San Francisco International Airport spokesman Doug Yakel said. The cheapest room for a one-night stay on a recent Friday was $340, according to the hotel’s website.

And a top amenity for aviation enthusiasts? The views.

Harteveldt said the views of Los Angeles International Airport from the Hyatt Regency LAX, his favorite airport hotel, are excellent. That includes the one from the gym at the top of the hotel.

“That makes a workout more fun for an AV geek like me,” he said.

Michelle Goth

Fifteen percent of dads say they want a change of pace this year; no gifts at all. Racks of novelty ties and socks, last-minute gift cards and grilling tools often mark Father’s Day. But in 2025, American dads hope for something a little different.

Most dads don’t desire anything extravagant. What they want most this Father’s Day is to spend time with their children, nearly 60% of them, in fact. Others rank a special meal, a practical gift or a day of relaxation high on their list.

The data suggests a shift in what Father’s Day looks like, and who the modern dad really is. Today’s celebrations go beyond golf and gadgets to reflect a broader, more personal definition of fatherhood. Now, families honor dads in meaningful new ways.

Dads are more involved than ever

Dads are spending more time than ever on child care and interactive activities with their children. Dr. Will Courtney, psychiatrist and founding editor of the International Journal of Men’s Health, agrees. “Today’s dads are definitely more involved with parenting. In fact, the time fathers spend with their kids has increased by over 250% since the 1960s. This is good for both kids and dads, as kids with involved fathers do better in just about every way that we can measure.”

Dads’ increased involvement in parenting looks different for each family but is often focused on play. Ashlyn Ayres Ellington, an Atlanta-based licensed therapist, adds, “I like to say that moms are often the CEOs of family logistics, while dads are the VPs of adventure and play.” As the role of fathers expands and evolves, so do the ways modern dads prefer to celebrate Father’s Day, a shift in emphasis to connection, presence and ease.

Quality time is the favored gift

Nearly 1 quarter of survey respondents over 65 indicated that they would prefer not to receive a gift for Father’s Day. For those who did want a gift, 28% said they would prefer a simple, heartfelt gift such as a greeting card or something handmade.

Paul Zalenski, a father of two and co-founder of the parenting initiative Fathercraft, says, “Last year, my daughters surprised me with what they called a ‘Dadventure Passport.’ It was a simple, handmade booklet with 12 envelopes. Each envelope was labeled with a different mini-adventure. For instance, the first envelope was ‘Pancake Picnic in the Backyard,’ another was ‘Build a Fort and Watch a Movie’ and so on.”

Regarding the ideal gift for Father’s Day, Ellington says, “The essential truth about dads is they never want additional ties. They want to feel seen. Most fathers express their concerns to me about performing well in their duties, and they desire their children to remember shared time together.”

For the fathers who do prefer a physical gift, almost 20% would appreciate a gift card to a store of their choosing, which shows a desire for flexibility and personal choice in their gift. Other commonly requested gifts include their favorite alcohol or beer, tools or gadgets.

More than a meal

If food is the way to a man’s heart, it might also be the way to his ideal Father’s Day. It’s found that 44% of fathers prefer their primary activity for Father’s Day to be a homemade meal, and 36% want to visit a restaurant on their special day. Good food is definitely on the menu for a successful Father’s Day celebration.

Kyle Sobko, an Ontario-based father and CEO of SonderCare, says, “Meaningful gifts or experiences to me revolve around time together. I prefer things that create connection, like time outdoors or a calm early morning with a thoughtful breakfast.”

The good news? You don’t need a five-course meal to impress your dad; consider a homemade breakfast, lunch at his favorite restaurant or a meal at home. Grilling is a Father’s Day tradition, and some recipes will surely satisfy.

For a budget-friendly dinner at home, marinate a cut of lean steak for kabobs. A savory marinade can make affordable cuts of steak like sirloin tender, juicy and flavorful. Layer the marinated steak with bell peppers and onions for a tasty grilled meal. If budget isn’t a consideration, grill a tomahawk steak for Father’s Day. This impressive, bone-in ribeye steak is known for its rich flavor, making it a favorite for grilling enthusiasts.

Grill the side dishes for your meal to add flavor and char to basic vegetables. Add your dad’s favorite vegetables to an aluminum pan with olive oil and seasonings, or make grilled corn on the cob. Even bread is more delicious on the grill. Baste slices of bread with butter and garlic, then grill until lightly charred.

Focus on emotional connection for Father’s Day

If the data is any indication, the modern American dad isn’t looking for fanfare. Licensed Clinical Psychologist Ehab Youssef suggests, “I know that what people often crave most is to feel seen and appreciated, and that’s especially true for dads, who often don’t express that need directly. From both my roles as a father and a son, I believe a truly meaningful Father’s Day gift centers around emotional connection.”

With the role of fathers evolving, it seems that modern dads value experiences, a good meal and meaningful time with loved ones over conventional gifts for Father’s Day. From hands-on parenting to new preferences in celebration, today’s fathers are embracing a more intentional, involved role in family life. However you choose to honor the dads in your life this year, the most important gift may simply be to recognize who they are and all they do.

Michelle Goth is a professionally trained cook and cookbook author dedicated to celebrating Midwestern cooking traditions. She shares easy recipes for family dinners and holidays at Blackberry Babe.

By KIM COOK, Associated Press

Home decor’s got a split personality this year: Call it “city glow” and “cottage flow.”

At the two international design fairs that I attended — Maison et Objet in France, Ambiente in Germany — acres of exhibition booths were full of Art Deco furnishings, island-vibe rattan seating and lighting, and lots of emphasis on sustainably produced materials.

But a couple of aesthetics drawing crowds were especially interesting.

Capturing the ‘city glow’

One was an exuberant urban vibe I’m nicknaming “city glow.” It’s full of highlighter-hued throw pillows, edgy surrealism, street art and hefty, Brutalist-style furniture — lots of sharp-cornered steel or concrete consoles and lamps that loomed over rooms — as well as rugs and wallcoverings covered in graffiti-style motifs or swaths of vibrant color.

Gretchen Rivera, an interior designer in Washington, D.C., sees it as a look that resonates especially with “younger generations who grew up with digital influences. There’s surrealist art, energetic colors and playful, almost toy-like design.”

Interior designer Anton Liakhov in Nice, France, agrees: “For a generation clamoring for creativity and self-expression, it’s loud and in-your-face.”

For surface colors, look at Benjamin Moore’s spicy orange Bryce Canyon or the bubblegum-pink Springtime Bloom. Daydream Apothecary has a whole collection of neon wall paints for intrepid decorators.

Sisters Ana and Lola Sánchez use art as a bold form of self-expression at their luxe brand Oliver Gal, in South Florida. It’s known for its handcrafted, statement-making pieces — including large acrylic gummy bears, graphic surfboards and wall art inspired by fashion, pop culture and modern surrealism. The result is a vibrant, edgy aesthetic.

A new collection, Rococo Pop, introduces rococo-inspired frames in high-gloss acrylics paired with playful graphic imagery. “We wanted to take the opulence of 18th century rococo,” notes Ana Sánchez, “and give it a cheeky, pop-art punch.”

“These frames are like little rebels in ballgowns — elegant, over-the-top and totally unexpected,” adds Lola Sánchez.

The style, her sister says, “celebrates contrast. Old World charm meets modern mischief.”

Following the ‘cottage flow’

The other impressive decor style at the design fairs was very different from the urban look. I’m calling this one “cottage flow,” and Liakhov describes it as evoking a “peaceful sanctuary, where you can play around with textures that are anchored in, and in tune with, nature.”

Think nubby woolen throws in mossy hues. Softly burnished wooden tables. Vintage quilts, and dishware. Gingham and garden florals. Landscape prints. Imagery of birds and woodland animals on textiles and wallcoverings.

Etsy’s 2025 spring/summer trend report showed that searches for “French cottage decor” were up over 26,000% compared to 2024.

“I see people embracing a slower pace to life where they can,” says New York-based interior and decor designer Kathy Kuo about the country cottage style.

“The past two decades or so were dominated by a glorification of fast-paced ‘hustle culture’ — trends like cottagecore and coastal grandmother are evidence that the pendulum’s swinging toward taking pleasure in simpler, more nature-adjacent things in life, whether or not you actually live in a country cottage,” she says.

Paint colors are also reflecting the trend. A calming sage green called Quietude is HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ color of the year. Little-Greene’s collection has names like Rolling Fog, Tea with Florence and Hammock.

Mixing the styles

Watching design show visitors excitedly discovering new finds among the aisles, I thought THIS is what’s fun about home decorating: You can think as creatively as you like when it comes to your own home.

You’re all about high-octane city nightlife? Come this way.

Scottish crofts, Scandi cabins and cozy porches more your thing? Right over here.

And if you want to mix these two aesthetics? Go for it. There’s space to blend elements of both, says Kuo.

“Design trends are so fluid. I absolutely see the potential to merge these into each other,” she says. “Many city dwellers love time in nature and have an affinity for a more rustic look, while still feeling called to honor their urban environment in their home. I see plenty of modern interior design motifs that are sleek and urban on the surface, but in the details, they’re infused with organic textures and biophilic elements.”

“Really, the best designs are the ones that are personal, rather than perfect,” she adds.

You could display an array of contemporary glass bowls on a curvy walnut credenza. Mix botanical patterns in vibrant, unexpected colors. Soften room elements like a sleek table and industrial-style lamp with boucle or velvet cushions and a fluffy rug. Pair polished concrete floors with vintage-inspired wallcovering.

If you don’t want to mix elements in one space, consider using sliding partitions from one room to another. You’ll create a little style “journey.”

If the recent international design fairs are any indication, you’re going to find loads of fun home decor in stores over the coming months. Get ready to flow

New York-based writer Kim Cook covers design and decor topics regularly for The Associated Press. Follow her on Instagram at @kimcookhome.

By JESSICA DAMIANO

In the garden, the start of the growing season means the return of dirt under our fingernails, the scent of freshly spread mulch and the first blooming roses. In my neighborhood, and perhaps yours, it also means an audible onslaught of lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other tools of the landscaper’s trade.

From 8 a.m. through at least early afternoon — five or six days every week — the hum of power tools and other machines disrupts my peace. But even more concerning is that my peace pales in importance to that of my property’s other residents.

Birds, squirrels, rabbits, frogs, insects and other wildlife are critically affected by human-made noise. They’re outdoors right in the middle of what must seem to them a war zone — with no escape. And the battleground noises that surround them aren’t merely nuisances; they disrupt the basic instincts the animals’ lives depend on.

Instincts such as those that alert them to the presence of predators become masked under the gas-powered cacophony prevalent throughout most of suburbia.

The unnatural sounds can also force birds, bats and insects into changing their feeding, nesting and mating habits, says Kevin Munroe, Long Island Preserve Director for The Nature Conservancy, based in Cold Spring Harbor, New York.

“Quite a few animals communicate primarily through song, and their songs are how they find each other,” Munroe said. Those with soft and quiet songs, like warblers, small species of owls, bats and some species of crickets, for instance, can be so badly drowned out by noise pollution that “they literally cannot build families or reproduce,” he said.

To illustrate the point, Munroe likens the animals’ songs to navigation systems.

“Imagine these songs are the birds’ roadmaps to each other, and imagine you’re using your GPS to get somewhere and all of a sudden it turns off, and that’s the only way you can find your family. Now, with it turned off, there’s no way you’ll find your family. That’s what song is like for these animals,” he said.

Artificial noises from power equipment, traffic, construction and industrial sources, can also cause stress and hearing loss in animals. A University of Georgia study even found that highway noises can elevate heart rates in monarch caterpillars.

Thoughtful planning can reduce the noise

This may seem like a losing battle in modern society, but there are steps we can take to help.

The Nature Conservancy recommends changes to industrial practices that include accounting for sensitive areas when siting noise-producing facilities, such as access roads and compressor stations, and designing them to include sound barriers such as walls, vegetative screening and noise-absorbing equipment.

Altering the timing and duration of noisy activities during breeding and hibernation periods could also reduce adverse effects on wildlife, the organization said.

What you can do at home

On our own properties, small changes can make a big impact. Because birds do their “most important talking to each other” between dawn and 9 a.m., Munroe recommends shifting noisy yardwork later. Another critical time for many species of wildlife is after dark, he said.

“You can play music and have fun, but try not to make any loud noises,” he said.

In addition, creating sound buffers by planting dense native trees, evergreens or deciduous shrubs, and switching from gas- to battery-powered tools, including leaf blowers, string trimmers and chainsaws, are simple things homeowners can do to avoid causing harm.

Educating and introducing change to local communities is important, too. Munroe suggests working with your homeowners association, schools, businesses and churches to limit loud, destructive activity on their properties.

“Talk to local municipalities about their noise ordinances and (encourage them to) create a sound sanctuary in the neighborhood (to protect) wood thrushes, katydids” and other wildlife, he said.

And always observe noise ordinances at home and in public places, like parks.

Wild animals serve as “pollinators, affect pest control and have a positive effect on our agriculture and our economy,” Munroe said. “We want them in our neighborhoods.”

Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.

For more AP gardening stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/gardening.

By Joshua Coleman
Special to The Washington Post

I recently learned from my mother that my father cheated on her when I was younger. She assured me she forgave him long ago, and they worked through it in couples therapy. She said they have a good marriage and have grown a lot since then, but ever since she told me, I haven’t been able to move past it. I haven’t wanted to see him since she told me, and I feel like something has been broken inside me toward him, even though we were always close. Not sure what to do, if anything. Any advice?

This question from a patient touches on the deep disappointment we can feel when a loved one’s actions conflict with our values — even when we are not directly involved. Such revelations can be particularly difficult when they involve a parent, making it hard to move past feelings of hurt or betrayal.

When we are growing up, our parents can seem infallible, incapable of making decisions that go against our most deeply held beliefs. We take pride in their successes and feel a sense of shame when they fail. To that extent, our identities are intertwined with who they are, the decisions they make and the lives they lead.

For my patient, her father’s actions shattered the image she had of him. She had never done what he did, nor could she imagine doing so. He betrayed not only her mother, but also my patient’s beliefs about who he is.

This kind of disillusionment can be painful, but there are ways to manage the feelings of betrayal and anguish. The following steps may help, especially in cases where the act isn’t outright unforgivable but still deeply conflicts with personal values.

Consider the person in full

People are not defined by a single act as either good or bad. When we feel let down by someone we love, it can help to take a broader view — recognizing their imperfections but also their worth. My patient was very close to her father, which may suggest he has many qualities she admired. Those attributes may also have helped her mother forgive him and feel motivated to preserve the marriage.

Examine your own motivations

Disappointment often stems from a core value being shaken. Culturally, we often view affairs as an unforgivable offense — cross the line and you’re out. Most of us value fidelity in marriage, and infidelity typically causes the other party enormous pain and disruption. My patient probably believes forgiving her father would mean excusing something that could have broken up her parents’ marriage and the home.

By identifying which value has been disrupted, we can reflect on whether it is an absolute boundary or if we are willing to balance it with others such as forgiveness, understanding or maintaining family ties.

Have an honest conversation

If possible, speaking directly to the person who disappointed you can be therapeutic. Expressing how their actions affected you may provide clarity, resolution or even a sense of closure. However, be prepared for the possibility that they may not want to discuss it or that their answers may not bring the resolution you seek.

If an open conversation does not provide closure, then acceptance may be the answer. You may have to recognize that the behavior wasn’t about you, but was about them and their struggles.

See them as doing the best they can

It can feel empowering to end or limit relationships with family or friends whose values conflict with ours. However, sometimes the more empowered position is to see them as doing the best they can given their own upbringing, social class, genetic predispositions or marriages. While we may define ourselves, when we are children, through our parents’ values, we get to choose those we embrace and those we put aside when we become adults.

One person’s actions don’t define love or relationships

A parent’s mistakes can feel deeply personal, shaping how you see yourself and the world. If your father betrayed your mother, you might feel tempted to believe that all men — or all relationships — are untrustworthy. But that’s not true. One person’s actions don’t define the nature of love or the integrity of others.

Rebuilding trust takes time

When someone we love disappoints us, healing doesn’t happen overnight. Allow yourself time to process your emotions and come to your own conclusions. However, try not to avoid the situation indefinitely — unresolved feelings can deepen over time, making them harder to confront later.

People are complex, capable of both mistakes and growth. In time, you may find that acceptance, rather than self-protection or judgment, is the path that brings you the most peace.

Joshua Coleman is a clinical psychologist and senior fellow with the Council on Contemporary Families. His newest book is “Rules of Estrangement: Why Adult Children Cut Ties and How to Heal the Conflict.”

Millions watched on television in horror on April 15, 2019, as plumes of fire shot up from the Notre-Dame de Paris, one of the world’s oldest and most celebrated cathedrals. At first, the devastation seemed nearly total, with much of the roof and the iconic spire lost to flames. But, today, more than five years later, visitors once more pour into its sanctuary, eager to see how the $1 billion restoration work has progressed.

I was lucky enough to visit on Easter Sunday 2025, a day filled with masses and special events. Thousands of families — tourists and locals alike — stood patiently in hours-long lines to get inside, to attend a mass or just have a chance to see the remarkable restoration.

The interior of the cathedral reopened to the public on Dec.8, although much restoration work still remains to be done. Giant cranes still hang over the building, but thousands of people a day line up to see the rebuilt interior.

Larger than a football field, the inside of the cathedral now glows with oatmeal-colored walls and cavernous vaulted ceilings, after the controversial decision to wash them with a latex solution, obscuring the old soot and candle smoke of the centuries. If you’re used to seeing gray, grimey walls in ancient buildings, you may be startled to walk in and see the light-filled interior.

The French government, which owns Notre-Dame, made the decision in 2019 to rebuild the cathedral as it was before the fire, and vowed to do it within five years — a deadline that was only exceeded by a few months. There have been some changes, including a modern bronze main altar, baptismal font and lectern. Some people would have preferred a more traditional style, but the new style is not jarring.

Fortunately for posterity, the cathedral’s three magnificent medieval rose windows, created in the 13th century, were saved from the inferno. The sanctuary is covered with stained glass, thanks to an architectural innovation of the time. The so-called flying buttresses pulled the weight of the roof outside the structure, meaning that the interior walls could be opened up for spectacular displays of leaded and stained glass. The ancient 8,000-pipe organ was also saved and restored, removing toxic dust that had settled there from the collapsed lead roof.

You could spend hours looking around at all the details, but I like to attend a service when I visit remarkable churches. That’s when they show their true selves, including the faith of the worshippers. If you can go to a high mass, also known as a Gregorian mass, you’ll see the worship at its finest.

No ancient European cathedral is complete without its holy relics, which are venerated by the faithful as sacred artifacts from various saints and the life of Jesus.

Notre-Dame offers its believers the following: The remnants of the “holy crown of thorns,” which Biblical accounts say was placed mockingly on Jesus’ head by Roman soldiers while he was being crucified.  Also, a piece of the cross used for the crucifixion, and a nail from the cross.

The relics were rescued from the 2019 fire in dramatic fashion, involving a chain of police and firefighters, and moved temporarily to the Louvre. They were recently returned to Notre- Dame with pomp and ceremony, to be displayed in a newly built reliquary. At this writing, the public can see them on the first Friday of every month.

One thing that surprised me on my visit: Even though the cathedral was absolutely jammed with people, it was relatively quiet.

Visitors couldn’t help gasping when they entered and got their first looks, but otherwise seemed more solemn and respectful than is often the case.

Hopefully, they appreciated the five years of slavishly devoted work by some 2,000 sculptors, engineers, art restorers, stonemasons, carpenters, roofers, iron workers to bring this church back to life. And it still continues today.

Timeline of Notre-Dame de Paris:

• 1163: The cathedral was built between 1163 and 1260, in French Gothic style.
• 1789: During the French Revolution, many statues and decorative elements of the cathedral were destroyed and it was at one time used as a warehouse. The 28 statues of saints were beheaded, mistaken for French kings, and some of the bells were removed and melted down.
• 1804: Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself emperor of France with the pope in attendance in Notre-Dame, and portions of the cathedral were restored. But the property continued to decay, and there was talk of demolishing it.
• 1831: “ The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Victor Hugo is published and becomes a massive best-seller, sparking a campaign to restore the cathedral.
• 1844: King Luis Phillippe orders that the cathedral be restored. A grander spire than the one destroyed during the French Revolution is constructed.
• 1991: For the 800th anniversary of the cathedral, a 10-year-long restoration project repaired decorative elements that had fallen off, gargoyles, turrets, and sculptures. The stone exterior was also cleaned of centuries of pollution.
• 2019: On April 15, a fire broke out in the attic and spread across the roof and spire before firefighters were alerted. They prioritized saving the two towers, because their heavy bells could have destroyed the interior if they fell. But 750 tons of debris. including toxic lead dust, fell into the sanctuary from the roof and spire.
• 2021: Two years of cleaning up from the fire and shoring up the structure meant that reconstruction could finally begin. Because the church is owned by the French government, the decision was to rebuild it as it was before.
• 2024: The new roof is completed in March. In September, eight massive tower bells returned after cleaning, with three new bells added later. In December the church’s doors were symbolically reopened and the pipe organ’s 8,000 pipes could be heard for the first time since being covered with toxic dust, as the public ws allowed inside for the first ceremonies and masses.
• 2025: Construction continues on the massive project, hoped to be completed by 2027.

• 

Things to know:

• English language website: notredamedeparis.fr/en/
• Address: Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris, 6 Parvis Notre-Dame, Place Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris
• The cathedral is open and free to visit, 7:50 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays (until 10 p.m. on Thursdays); 8:15 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays.
• The famous “crown of thorns” is only on display intermittently, check the website.
• Due to gruelingly long lines, it’s highly advisable to make an advance timed reservation at the above website. They can be made two days to several hours in advance. You don’t need to reserve to attend a mass; arrive 20 minutes early and find the special line. Here’s the mass schedule: notredamedeparis.fr/en/pray/services-masses/
• If you’re disabled, talk directly to the staff at the far left of the cathedral for special entry.
• Here’s the schedule of sacred music concerts (must buy tickets) billetterie-musiquesacree.mapado.com/en

Will Nicole Scherzinger, sizzling in “Sunset Blvd.,” beat out Audra McDonald, who made Rose a metaphor for the tragic human condition? Could Jonathan Groff, a knockout Bobby Darin, win back-to-back kudos?  Might Sadie Sink of “John Proctor Is the Villain” be sunk by the wild-eyed Laura Donnelly of “The Hills of California” or the ever-savvy Mia Farrow of “The Roommate,” even though all three women played equally terrifying characters?

These and many other questions will be answered on Sunday at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, where host Cynthia Erivo will present the 78th annual Tony Awards (beginning at 7 p.m. June 8 and broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+). The ceremony will be the climax of the 2024-25 Broadway season and the reason that several struggling musicals (“Real Women Have Curves,” “Boop! The Musical”) are hanging in there, hoping for a life-saving boost.

Tony Award voters are casting their ballots. Let’s look at who should be ascending to the dais in the traditional ebullient panic, holding back tears and staring into the camera to tell all the envious theater kids at home how you, too, can have all this if you only fight off the naysayers and follow your dreams!

Right. Down to it.

Best musical

This one will be, and rightly should be, a runaway victory for “Maybe Happy Ending,” a delightfully unnerving musical that most everyone on Broadway underestimated because it was an original love story between two retired South Korean “helperbots.” To my mind, Will Aronson and Hue Park’s quirky, charming little tuner succeeds mostly because of one small but pivotal idea: the notion that a robot’s battery life can be a proxy for human mortality. Oliver and Claire fall in love as their percentages drop. Thus, the show manages to simultaneously tap into the fear we all have of an imminent robotic takeover (oh, it’s coming) while avoiding the problem of making a dystopian musical. By making the robots as vulnerable as us, they forged a charming romantic comedy performed by Helen J. Shen (robbed of an acting nomination) and Darren Criss (who dove deep into robotland).

The competition? Nothing credible. “Buena Vista Social Club” is a very good time, musically speaking, but has a predictably formulaic book. The inventive “Death Becomes Her” works just fine as a campy frolic but it relies much on its source movie. And “Operation Mincemeat” is the most jolly of pastiches, rib-tickling fun all the way. Only “Dead Outlaw” represents truly credible competition and deserves to siphon off some votes. But at the end of the day, it’s a musical about a corpse.

Should win: “Maybe Happy Ending”

Will win: “Maybe Happy Ending”

Best play

There were two excellent, Tony-worthy new plays in this Broadway season: Jez Butterworth’s “The Hills of California,” set in the British working-class resort of Blackpool, and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ “Purpose,” both a high-style dissection of the dysfunctional family of the civil rights icon Jesse Jackson and a moving exploration of what it’s like to be an introverted kid in a high-pressure family.

“Purpose,” which is still running and more relevant to most Tony voters, is likely to win. But Butterworth’s play forged a complex dramaturgical structure and explored deeply empathetic characters. Its central point? To explore how and why childhood trauma impacts our adulthoods.  Butterworth has been writing plays a lot longer than Jacobs-Jenkins and his experience shows; I wanted the perfectly crafted “Hills” to never end.

Writer Kimberly Belflower’s very lively “John Proctor Is the Villain” might sneak in there, but I think that audiences at this drama about high schoolers studying “The Crucible” are responding more to a brilliant production than to the play itself, which is at the end of the day a melodrama that relies on someone else’s intellectual property. No shame there, but not the equal of the competition and, with much respect, nor is the very smart and potent “English,” a show about ESL students that also leads to an inexorable conclusion matching the playwright’s point of view.

Should win: Either “The Hills of California” or “Purpose”

Will win: “Purpose”

Best musical revival

This category will hinge on how many voters embrace Jamie Lloyd’s cleverly branded deconstruction of “Sunset Blvd.” over George C. Wolfe’s more nuanced approach to “Gypsy.” In many ways, the two leading candidates represent a kind of yin and yang of musical revival.  “Sunset Blvd.” is showy and radical and replaced the gilded excess of the original production with an excess of concept, deceptively minimalist but only on the surface. Wolfe’s “Gypsy” aimed to excise the show of Patti LuPone-like drama. McDonald, who brought her classically trained voice to Rose, saw her antiheroine more as an everywoman and the production responded accordingly, as if Wolfe were trying to say that “Gypsy” was the American tragic musical that few previously understood.

I see the arguments against “Sunset Blvd.” but in the end, Lloyd’s staging was just so audaciously thrilling that it overcame them for me. As a director, he’s obsessed with film, but then this is a musical about a movie star, so if ever there was a show that could stand such a metaphoric obsession, then here it was.  And although this may seem counterintuitive, I thought “Gypsy” missed the chance to stage this title with far more Black actors, allowing it to serve as a metaphor for the condition of Black entertainers in early 20th century America. It almost went there, but not quite.

Should win: “Sunset Blvd.”

Will win: “Gypsy”

Best play revival

This was not a stellar season for play revivals. “Romeo + Juliet,” a pretentious and wildly uneven misfire, did not even remotely deserve its Tony nomination and, bracing moments notwithstanding, “Our Town” was uneven and derivative of David Cromer’s prior revival. “Eureka Day,” a piece about pretentious pre-school parents and teachers, was an effective satire but hardly surprising. That leaves David Henry Hwang’s “Yellow Face,” an autobiographical piece about Hwang himself and a “Miss Saigon” casting scandal. “Yellow Face” has knocked around the American regions for years. But this was a truly excellent piece of new direction from Leigh Silverman and for the first time, the play transcended its inside-baseball orientation and had much to say about America and race.

Should win: “Yellow Face”

Will win: “Yellow Face”

Best leading actress in a musical

Team Nicole Scherzinger or Team Audra McDonald?

Both deconstructed iconic characters (Norma Desmond and Madam Rose) using every ounce of their mutually formidable craft. With all due respect to McDonald, I’m Team Nicole because her work was the more radical of the two performances in rescuing Norma from bathetic senility and giving her back her sexuality, and because McDonald’s tragic approach to Rose inevitably de-emphasized her chutzpah and self-aware vivacity which is much of why “Gypsy” is “Gypsy.”  Still, no shame in being on the other team.

It would feel strange for either Megan Hilty or Jennifer Simard to win for “Death Becomes Her” at the expense of the other and I suspect Tony voters will feel the same way. But let’s add some props for Jasmine Amy Rogers, truly a perfect Betty Boop who managed to turn a vampish cartoon figure into a complex and vulnerable heroine.

Should win: Nicole Scherzinger

Will win: Nicole Scherzinger

Best leading actor in a musical

If you judge a performance by pizzazz, charm and growing star power, Jonathan Groff is your winner for his dazzling take on Bobby Darin in “Just in Time.”  If immersion inside a character is your choice, you are choosing between Darren Criss for “Maybe Happy Ending” and Andrew Durand in “Dead Outlaw.” I thought Durand was just astonishing as the titular outlaw, whose corpse takes on an all-American trajectory of its own. Aside from the technical demands of playing a dead dude, Durand also nailed a guy with zero access to his own feelings. In other words, what he didn’t do was probably as important as what he did. I preferred that to Jeremy Jordan in “Floyd Collins”, but I may be in a minority. And Tom Francis, who sings his way through Midtown eight times a week in “Sunset Blvd.,” will have deserved support.

Should win: Jonathan Groff, “Just in Time”

Will win: Jeremy Jordan, “Floyd Collins”

Best leading actress in a play

Mia Farrow has acted only rarely in the past decade but her empathetic performance as a vegan, pot-growing Iowan in “The Roommate” was a reminder of her astonishing ability to fuse what actors think of as externals and internals — her work felt deeply authentic but savvy observers also noted the sophistication of her comic technique and dramatic timing.

Alas for Farrow, this is an extraordinary category and by far the most competitive at this year’s Tony Awards. Take Sarah Snook, whose work in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” had not a single syllable out of place on the night I saw the show, notwithstanding the huge technical demands of a video-filled production that co-starred numerous versions of her recorded self. She’s one of the world’s great performers.

Then there was the less-famous Laura Donnelly, who played a mother and (later) her adult daughter in “The Hills of California,” all in service of the writer’s point that we all eventually have to live the way we were raised. So distinct were these two characters that some punters in my row clearly did not know they were watching the same actress they’d seen in a different role just a few minutes before. Donnelly was at once empathetic and Medea-like in her intensity. We were supposed to be scared of both of Donnelly’s characters and I swear I could not tell you which terrified me the most.

Sadie Sink also has a lot of fans and that was indeed a savvy turn in “John Proctor.” But this competition is between Snook and Donnelly and it was a hard choice for me. Donnelly haunts me the most.

Should win: Laura Donnelly, “The Hills of California”

Will win: Sarah Snook, “The Picture of Dorian Gray”

Best leading actor in play

George Clooney is on the list of nominees and I hardly need to recount his formidable talents, but he was fundamentally filmic in “Good Night, and Good Luck,” rather than truly translating his subtle version of Edward R. Murrow to a stage the size of the Winter Garden Theatre.

So, with an additional nod of admiration to the delightfully quirky Louis McCartney, who managed to survive all of the crashes and bangs of “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” I preferred Jon Michael Hill, playing a young man born into a famous and famously dysfunctional Black political family even though he just wanted to take photographs and stay as far away as possible from his father and his actions. Hill was the most rooted actor in a stellar Steppenwolf Theatre production of “Purpose.”

But I suspect Cole Escola, the star of “Oh, Mary!,” a silly but strikingly effective satire of Mary Todd Lincoln and her bearded spouse, who will take the prize. No complaints here. Escola hardly was subtle with a guileless, all-in performance that has been packing the house. It’s a one of a kind show and that’s its greatest selling point. But Escola also offers a clever commentary on present-day America, fueled by fun, freedom and frustration.

Should win: Cole Escola, “Oh, Mary!”

Will win: Cole Escola, “Oh, Mary!”

What the Tony nominations got right — and wrong

Best direction of a musical

David Cromer’s work on “Dead Outlaw” was typically detailed and worthy and Christopher Gattelli wrangled “Death Becomes Her” with witty aplomb, but “Maybe Happy Ending” was an eye popping career-high for Michael Arden, who created the most romantic of dreamscapes and yet also insisted that the audience look precisely and only where the director wanted its eyes to be.

Should win: Michael Arden, “Maybe Happy Ending”

Will win: Michael Arden, “Maybe Happy Ending”

Best direction of a play

Speaking of career highs, Danya Taymor convinced her youthful cast in “John Proctor Is the Villain” that the stakes in this high school English class were a matter of life and death. Taymor has to compete with Kip Williams, who employed multiple screens and videographers in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” for what was more conceptual authorship than direction, and with Sam Mendes, whose mastery of the exquisite ensemble cast of “The Hills of California” was formidable. Mendes has won many kudos; most Tony voters will want to reward Taymor, a rising talent. Fair enough.

Should win: Sam Mendes, “The Hills of California”

Will win: Danya Taymor, “John Proctor Is the Villain”

Last, here are my picks for the remaining acting categories.

Best featured actress in a play

Should win: Jessica Hecht, “Eureka Day”

Will win: Jessica Hecht, “Eureka Day”

Best featured actor in a play

Should win: Glenn Davis, “Purpose”

Will win: Francis Jue, “Yellow Face”

Best featured actress in a musical

Should win: Julia Knitel, “Dead Outlaw”

Will win: Joy Woods, “Gypsy”

Best featured actor in musical

Should win: Danny Burstein, “Gypsy”

Will win: Brooks Ashmanskas, “Smash”

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

When Yuvi Agarwal began playing keyboard for a room full of dogs at the Denver Animal Shelter on Thursday, the music was hard to distinguish between the barks and yelps of his audience.

But as the seconds turned into minutes and the 12-year-old from Houston continued to play, the canine cacophony began to calm as the dogs settled down.

“It’s very satisfying when the dogs calm down, and it is also really heartwarming,” Yuvi said, grinning.

It’s been more than two years since Yuvi started the nonprofit Wild Tunes to connect volunteer musicians and animal shelters. After establishing programs at seven shelters in Texas and one in New Jersey, Yuvi and his mom, executive director Priyanka Agarwal, are celebrating the launch of a new program starting in Denver in June.

Yuvi came up with the idea in December 2022 when he participated in a program to read books to animals, and he thought about how his golden doodle, Bozo, would lay down and listen whenever Yuvi started playing music at home.

“I realized that music would have a much stronger effect on the shelter animals than reading,” he said.

His realization was confirmed by studies that show classical music reduces stress in shelter dogs, and Yuvi thinks it also helps them rebuild bridges with humans and get adopted faster, he said.

The idea to bring Wild Tunes to Denver began when one of the group’s Houston volunteers moved to the city and wanted to continue playing music for pups. The group reached out to Denver Animal Shelter staff with an introduction from the director of the Houston Animal Shelter, and it was a clear fit.

“We thought it was such a fun and different way to engage our community and a great opportunity for people and animals,” said Lauren Rolfe, volunteer program administrator at the shelter. “It just gives you chills and brings a smile to your face.”

The first time shelter staff sent out a teaser about the new program, they heard from 65 people who wanted to get involved, Rolfe said. Volunteers will be playing music for the shelter’s dogs and cats seven days a week.

It’s not clear where Yuvi’s deep love for animals came from, Priyanka Agarwal said. The family liked animals before Yuvi was born, but it grew exponentially as their son rescued baby birds and refused to let them use pest control on uninvited animal guests.

“He’s really a change maker,” she said. “He’s always teaching people how to be kind, how to be compassionate, and it’s an overwhelming feeling to be his mom.”

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By JESSICA DAMIANO

What’s the deal with the Chelsea Chop? Are you gardeners familiar with it?

After hearing about it recently, I did a bit of research. The earliest reference I could find dates back to the early 2000s, so it might appear I’m late to the party, but I’m not — and you might not be, either.

After all, the pruning method, named for the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show, which is held every May in the U.K., is one I’ve been practicing and advocating for all along, without the garden show tie-in. But things with catchy names tend to take on a life of their own, as the Chelsea Chop has on social media.

And that’s a good thing because it popularizes a useful technique.

What’s involved in the chop

The method involves pruning certain perennials — those with clumping roots, like coneflower (Echinacea), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), goldenrod (Solidago), sneezeweed (Helenium), Salvia and yarrow (Achillea) — by cutting each stem back by one-third to one-half its height in spring. Cuts should be made on the diagonal, just above a leaf node.

The “chop” forces plants to produce bushier growth, resulting in sturdier, tighter and fuller plants that aren’t as likely to grow leggy, require staking or flop over by the end of the season. It also delays blooming, which can benefit the late-summer garden.

You might get creative and prune only alternate stems so that some bloom earlier and others later — or prune only half of your plants — to extend the blooming season.

Do not attempt this with one-time bloomers, single-stemmed plants or those with woody stems; the amputations would be homicidal to the current season’s flowers.

When should you chop?

Gardeners should consider their climate and prune when their plants have grown to half their expected seasonal height, whenever that may be. (The Chelsea Chop is done at different times in different places, depending on plant emergence and growth.)

A variation for late-summer and fall bloomers

To take things a step further, some late-summer and fall bloomers, like Joe Pye weed, chrysanthemum and aster, would benefit from three annual chops.

In my zone 7, suburban New York garden, that means cutting them back by one-third each in the beginning of June, middle of June and middle of July. Customize the schedule for your garden by shifting one or two weeks earlier per warmer zone and later per cooler zone, taking the season’s growth and size of your plants into account. Make the first cuts when plants reach half their expected size, the second two weeks later and the third about a month after that.

I’d like this fall-plant pruning tip to catch on as well as the Chelsea Chop has. Maybe I should call it the Damiano Downsize and see what happens.

Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.

For more AP gardening stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/gardening.

By TERRY TANG

Chef Phila Lorn was not necessarily aiming for “quote-unquote authentic” Cambodian food when he opened Mawn in his native Philadelphia two years ago. So when he approached some Cambodian teen patrons, he braced himself for questioning.

“Someone’s going to say something like, ‘That’s not how my mom makes her oxtail soup,’” Lorn said. “So I walk up to the table. I’m like, ‘How is everything?’ And the kid looks up to me and he goes, ‘It doesn’t even matter, dude. So glad you’re here.’”

It was at that moment that Lorn realized Mawn — the phonetic spelling of the Khmer word for “chicken” — was more than a noodle shop. It meant representation.

In June, he will be representing his dual cultures — Cambodian and Philly — at his first James Beard Awards, as a nominee for Best Emerging Chef. In the food world, it’s akin to getting nominated for the Academy Awards.

Cambodian restaurants may not be as commonplace in the U.S. as Chinese takeout or sushi spots. And Cambodian food is often lazily lumped in with the food of its Southeast Asian neighbors, despite its own distinctness. But in recent years, enterprising Cambodian American chefs have come into their own, introducing traditional dishes or putting their own twist on them.

Many of them were raised in families who fled the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror, which began 50 years ago and killed about 1.7 million people. Since then, the Cambodian community in the U.S. has grown and set down roots.

Through food, these chefs are putting the attention back on Cambodian heritage and culture, rather than that traumatic history.

Dr. Leakhena Nou, a sociology professor at California State University, Long Beach who has studied social anxiety among post-Khmer Rouge generations, says the Cambodian diaspora is often seen by others too narrowly through the lens of victimhood. In 2022, she publicly opposed California legislation that focused only on genocide for a K-12 curriculum on Cambodian culture.

“It’s a part of their history so they shouldn’t run away from it but at the same time they should force others to understand that that’s not the only part of their heritage, their historical identity,” she said.

What is Cambodian cuisine?

Cambodian food has sometimes been hastily labeled as a mild mix of Thai and Vietnamese with some Chinese and Indian influence. But, it has its own native spices and flavors that have been used throughout Southeast Asia. Khmer food emphasizes seafood and meats, vegetables, noodles, rice and fermentation. Salty and sour are prevalent tastes, Nou says.

“It’s actually a very healthy diet for the most part in terms of fresh vegetables. Cambodians love to eat fresh vegetables dipped with some sauce,” Nou said.

Signature dishes include amok, a fish curry; lok lak, stir-fried marinated beef; and samlar koko, a soup made using seasonal produce. Nou recalls her father making it with pork bone broth, fish, fresh coconut milk, lemongrass, vegetables and even wildflowers.

Cambodian migration to the U.S.

It was a half-century ago, on April 15, 1975, that the communist Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia. For the next four years, an estimated one-quarter of the population was wiped out due to starvation, execution and illness.

Refugees came in waves to the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s. Most took on low-level entry jobs with few language barriers, Nou said. These included manufacturing, meatpacking and agricultural labor. Many worked in Chinese restaurants and doughnut shops.

The U.S. Cambodian population has jumped 50% in the last 20 years to an estimated 360,000 people, according to the Census 2023 American Community Survey.

Cooking Cambodian American

Lorn’s family settled in Philadelphia in 1985. The only child born in the U.S., he was named after the city (but pronounced pee-LAH’). Like a lot of Asian American kids, Lorn was “the smelly kid” teased for not-American food in his lunch. But, he said, defending his lunchbox made him stronger. And he got the last laugh.

“It’s cool now to be 38 and have that same lunchbox (food) but on plates and we’re selling it for $50 a plate,” said Lorn, who opened Mawn with wife Rachel after they both had worked at other restaurants.

Indeed, besides popular noodle soups, Mawn has plates like the $60 steak and prohok, a 20-ounce ribeye with Cambodian chimichurri. Prohok is Cambodian fermented fish paste. Lorn’s version has lime juice, kulantro, Thai eggplants and roasted mudfish.

It sounds unappetizing, Lorn admits, “but everyone who takes a piece of rare steak, dips and eats it is just like, ‘OK, so let me know more about this food.’”

May, which is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and when Cambodia conducts a Day of Remembrance, is also when Long Beach has Cambodian Restaurant Week. The city is home to the largest concentration of Cambodians outside of Cambodia.

Chad Phuong, operator of Battambong BBQ pop-up, was a participant.

Phuong came to Long Beach as a child after fleeing the Khmer Rouge, which murdered his father. After high school, he worked at a Texas slaughterhouse and learned about cutting meats and barbecue. In 2020, he pivoted from working in the medical field to grilling.

Known as “Cambodian Cowboy,” he has been profiled locally and nationally for brisket, ribs and other meats using a dry rub with Cambodian Kampot pepper, “one of the most expensive black peppers in the world.” There’s also sausage with fermented rice and sides like coconut corn.

The pitmaster recently started mentoring younger vendors. Contributing to the community feels like building a legacy.

“It just gives me a lot of courage to present my food,” Phuong said. “We don’t need to talk about the past or the trauma. Yes, it happened, but we’re moving on. We want something better.”

More Cambodian-run establishments have flourished. In 2023, Lowell, Massachusetts, mayor Sokhary Chau, the country’s first Cambodian American mayor, awarded a citation to Red Rose restaurant for being a Beard semifinalist. This year, Koffeteria bakery in Houston, Sophon restaurant in Seattle and chef Nite Yun of San Francisco’s Lunette Cambodia earned semifinalist nods.

Lorn, an admirer of San Francisco’s Yun, says he still feels imposter syndrome.

“I feel like I’m more Ray Liotta than Nite Yun,” said Lorn. “Whether we win or not, to me, honestly, I won already.”

Meanwhile, he is preparing to open a Southeast Asian oyster bar called Sao. It’s not intended to be Cambodian, just a reflection of him.

“I don’t want to be pigeonholed,” Lorn said. “And it’s not me turning from my people. It’s just me keeping it real for my people.”

By Sheila Yasmin Marikar, Bloomberg News

At Nashik International Airport, there are so many posters advertising vineyards and wine tastings, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve landed in California’s wine country rather than India’s west, 100 miles north of Mumbai.

Yet in the past two decades, Indian wine production has, in fact, become a thing, and Nashik is its epicenter. The greater wine industry is taking notice: Sula Vineyards, India’s leading winemaker, won the gold medal for cabernet sauvignon from the Global Wine Masters last May, the highest honor an Indian bottling has received at that annual competition. A viognier from Grover Zampa, which has vineyards in Nashik as well as Bangalore, in India’s south, was named best of show at January’s Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America competition.

Beyond winning awards, Nashik is fueling a thirst for wine in a country where alcohol consumption is restrained and mostly limited to whiskey. Its recent successes are not only resonating with locals but also generating renewed interest in international travel to India and bringing a new audience to the region. Ten years after Chandon, part of the LVMH-owned Moët Hennessy portfolio, opened its first winery in Nashik, the brand’s president, Arnaud de Saignes, touts the region’s “potential to produce premium grape varieties” and calls India a “dynamic market,” “with a growing appreciation for high-quality wines.”

Why travelers should go

“The concept of wine in India doesn’t make sense, initially,” says Lisa Alam Shah, the director of Micato Safaris India, a luxury tour operator that’s arranged subcontinental adventures for the likes of Hillary Clinton and the Ambani family. Part of that, she says, is because India heavily taxes alcoholic beverages, which makes it difficult for residents to access quality wines and spirits made abroad.

But her clients are increasingly “looking for something new beyond the Taj Mahal and the palaces of Rajasthan.” So Shah has helped develop Micato’s new tour to Nashik, on offer since last year. “The word ‘authentic’ is overused, but that is what people want, whether they completely understand it or not,” she says. “Nashik, right now, feels quite authentic.”

The highway that leads from Mumbai to the vineyards is modern, but sections of it involve winding dirt roads and wayward cows. (It’s a good idea to hire a driver, as Micato does for its guests.) And while wine is central to the experience, it’s hardly the full extent of what to do there. This is a place to sample brut rosé and cabernet-shiraz and then take a sunset boat ride on the reservoir of Gangapur Dam, one of Asia’s largest. The region also houses Trimbakeshwar, a revered and architecturally significant shrine to Shiva that dates to 1755 and contains a special three-faced representation of the Hindu god, and the 2,000-year-old Pandav Leni Caves, once frequented by Buddhist monks.

The game changer

Chandon may be a name known around the world, but Sula Vineyards has put Nashik on the map for international wine lovers. Founded in 1999 by Rajeev Samant, a former Oracle engineer who returned home after quitting his Silicon Valley job, it produces more than 50% of the wine consumed in India.

Sula’s production is encyclopedic: It makes more than 70 labels, from a pineapple-y sparkling rosé to an oaky chardonnay to a tannin-thick cabernet sauvignon that could pass for something out of Napa. Sula’s Nashik tasting room— billed as India’s first when it opened in 2005 — features a bar that can easily accommodate 100, a gift shop filled with kitschy T-shirts (think: “Partners in Wine”) and a theater that plays a short movie about Sula’s rise.

Since 2010 it’s also operated a vineyard resort, the Source, which looks like a cross between a Spanish hacienda and a Tuscan villa — albeit with an intricately painted elephant sculpture in the lobby. Suites look out onto vineyards of chenin blanc and groves of queen of the night, intoxicatingly redolent when they blossom after dark. Instead of mimosas at breakfast, there’s a “build your own chai” bar and an accompanying “chaiwala,” which is essentially a mixologist but for tea. The rates start at about $100 per night.

“My dad was born in Nashik,” says Samant of his connection to the land. While attending Stanford University in the 1980s, he visited Napa Valley. A decade later, his father showed him a parcel of land he was thinking of selling. “It reminded me of California,” Samant says of the area’s verdant rolling hills and dirt roads. “I said, ‘I don’t think you should sell this. I‘m going to try to do something here.’”

Now more than 350,000 visitors pass through the tasting room each year — as of April, more than 331,774 have come through in 2025 alone. “The notable spike reflects the growing popularity of wine tourism in India,” says Sula representative Kinjal Mehta, as well as the fact that the cooler months are the most popular time to visit Nashik.

While the majority of visitors are domestic, Sula says that the share of international visitors is growing. On a recent Thursday evening, the tasting room was packed with swillers of all stripes, from sari-clad grandmothers to polo-shirt-wearing bros broadcasting big bachelor party energy. A sign hung near the cellar door bears a believable, albeit unverifiable claim to fame: “More people taste their first wine here than any other place in the world.”

A caveat of selling wine experiences to a new-to-wine market, however, is that the 30-minute tastings feel very Wine 101. “Don’t drink it like a shot,” one employee admonishes during my visit, dispensing sparkling rosé into proffered glasses, then clarifying that it’s not in fact made from roses. Around a horseshoe-shaped bar, heads reverently nod. Afterward, many guests head to an on-site pizzeria bustling with parents and kids, washing down slices of paneer-topped pies with jammy zinfandel. Instagram opportunities abound.

A wild west for world-class wines

Sula is not the only game in town. About a half-hour drive from the Source is Vallonné, a humble winery producing some of the best wines in the region, owned and operated by Sanket Gawand. A Nashik native, Gawand cut his teeth at wineries in Bordeaux, France, and Bologna, Italy, before opening his own outfit. He also serves as Vallonné’s winemaker and runs its tastings, which take place in the cellar amid stainless steel tanks. He manages a team of 10 that harvests nine lakefront vineyards by hand. Vallonné’s viognier and Anokhee cabernet sauvignon stand up to their French inspirations more so than any other wines sampled in Nashik this fall — in my opinion — but Gawand admittedly lacks the public-relations prowess of more popular neighbors like Sula.

“We’re not good at marketing,” he says, with an amiable shrug.

Maybe he doesn’t need to be. The four rooms at Vallonné’s upstairs inn — quaint furnishings, vineyard views, priced at about $70 per night — are consistently booked, and its restaurant serves what might be the best food in the region. The all-day menu, which is also available to walk-in guests, includes succulent lamb kebabs and toothsome Hakka noodles made all the better with a glass of Vallonné’s crisp chenin blanc.

Diamonds in the rough such as Vallonné are best reached with the help of a local guide like Manoj Jagtap, a Nashik native who began conducting tours 10 years ago under the moniker “The Wine Friend.”

“I’ve got a group of eight Aussies coming tomorrow,” Jagtap tells his charges — me, my mother and a family friend — midway through a recent day trip that included Vallonné, Chandon and Grover Zampa. “During the winter harvest season, it’s nonstop.”

When to go

Fall and winter are prime time for the region, and the success of the past season signals that planning for next year will be more essential than ever. Since 2008, Sulafest, a wine and music festival akin to Coachella, has brought about 20,000 visitors to Nashik every February. Hotels drive up their rates; locals sell yard space to day trippers in need of parking. It’s the marquee event for Sula Vineyards and Nashik as a whole.

“There is potential for India to produce far, far better wines,” says Gawand, who believes that he and his peers are just getting started. “Many Indians are traveling abroad,” tasting quality wines and returning home with an elevated thirst. “Once consumers start understanding quality, the winemakers here will be forced to level up.”

A sip of Vallonné’s 2016 cabernet sauvignon — rich, smooth and redolent of sun-ripened red fruit — suggests that India’s winemakers are well on their way. To his competitors, Gawand raises the proverbial glass.

“We are a dense population,” he says. “Even if there are another 1,000 wineries, everyone will be well. There is more than enough business to go around.”

©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Someone was recently telling me about a vacation they took with their partner, and when they mentioned some moments of friction that came up, my mind immediately went to “Couples Therapy.” Everyone experiences conflict in life, even with those closest to you, and it can be tricky to work through that. But the show’s psychoanalyst Orna Guralnik is wonderfully perceptive when it comes to helping people talk about what’s really going on.

The unscripted series returns on Showtime for the second half of Season 4, which premiered last year. Featuring all new couples, it’s functionally a new season. (I’m unclear why Showtime makes this confusing distinction, but if I were to guess, it’s related to money and maybe results in a cheaper deal on the network’s end.)

Sometimes people just aren’t compatible. But in many cases, the bickering and fights in these relationships are about something deeper. Picking at one another endlessly or obsessing over something that doesn’t really matter is a way to fill the space between two people who are trying to make some kind of connection, Guralnik says. But it’s all noise and you’re “nowhere real.” The reason analysts might be able to help is that they are trained to “listen for that and to find a way to move from noise to signal.”

Four couples are featured. Rod and Alison have been married for nearly 20 years and they have a dynamic we’ve seen on the series before: She comes across as a harpy, whereas he is passive-aggressive and then retreats into himself. At one point, the energy feels so contentious that Guralnik stops to ask: Are you fighting right now? No, you’ll know when that happens, Alison tells her. To which Guralnik says: “I’m just curious about the tone.” Alison doesn’t deny it: “Oh, I have a tone.” I couldn’t help but laugh because Alison is brusque and abrasive — at least she’s self-aware! “This is how it’s always been,” she says of her marriage. “We have no patience for each other.”

Another couple, Boris and Jessica, have been together about half as long, but the tension between them is just as intense. They’ve recently relocated to New York City. She is thriving, but he hates everything about their new life, even though they’ve finally achieved some stability. “We are just aliens to each other,” he tells Guralnik.

(Boris is the novelist Boris Fishman, and this raises some questions about when the season was filmed; according to his Wikipedia page, in 2024 he began teaching at the University of Austin “where he lives with his wife and daughter.” Presumably they moved. Presumably they are still together. This is important, considering where they live is a primary source of discord between them.)

Kyle and Mondo have been together for six years. The former is deaf and immigrated to the U.S. from Poland as a child. Sometimes he feels smothered by his partner. At other times, because of his disability, he feels left out of things or prefers to spend time with his deaf friends. Kyle also wants an open relationship and Mondo is unenthusiastic about this, while also dealing with other issues, including grief for a mother who died from COVID. Despite their problems, they come across as the couple who seem to have most retained the feelings of affection that first drew them together.

Finally, there’s Nick and Katherine. “We’re on our own islands,” one of them says. “We take care of things, the bills are paid. But there isn’t love.” He’s still working through a difficult experience he had in college that he is initially reluctant to reveal. She has some lingering issues with disordered eating. Both avoid talking about the feelings of insecurity they feel individually, lest those emotions explode beyond their control.

I generally find “Couples Therapy” to be free of the usual gimmicks and tricks that are used to juice most reality TV. But at least one moment gave me pause. A couple is sniping at each other in the waiting area outside Guralnik’s office and she can hear them — or so we’re led to believe. Whether that’s actually the case or a trick of editing, I don’t know. We see Guralnik gently stroking her sweet dog Nico, an Alaskan Klee Kai who often accompanies her to work, and it’s almost as if she’s trying to calm herself before opening the door and inviting them in. But again, this was a rare moment when I questioned if there was some manipulation happening in how that moment is portrayed. Also, the female half of one couple consistently wears an assortment of sweatshirts that have sleeves covered in sequins. It’s a distinctive look, so much so that my cynical side wondered if she had a line of sweatshirts she was covertly promoting by wearing them to each and every session.

I’ve always wondered why people agree to bare their lives and messy relationships on the show. It’s a question that probably applies to all reality TV, but this one especially requires a vulnerability about one’s sexual behaviors, embarrassing flaws and personal history (and what can feel like shameful remnants of long-ago trauma) in ways that seem unique. The participants are not just revealing this to strangers who make up the bulk of the show’s viewership, but also, by default, to potentially gossipy friends, neighbors, colleagues and professional acquaintances. Even if your relationship is hanging on by a thread, this feels like a deterrent. Then again, there is no fee paid by the couples here. Guralnik typically charges $700 per session. And she’s really good. Maybe, if you’re feeling desperate enough — and also exhibitionist enough — it’s worth the tradeoff.

Whatever the factors compelling people to take part, I’m grateful they’re willing to let us see inside the most private moments of their relationships, because with Guralnik’s guidance, I always feel smarter and more compassionate about humans in general. The idea that conflict doesn’t have to be intractable is so profound as to be easily overlooked.

“I think it’s very frightening for people to have a raw, honest experience — in real time — with their partner,” Guralnik says, and as a result, “there are many ways people avoid real communication.”

“Couples Therapy” is a look at what it means to break down those walls and see what’s really behind them.

“Couples Therapy” — 4 stars (out of 4)

Where to watch: 8 p.m. Fridays on Showtime (streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime)

Nina Metz is a Tribune critic.

Ditalini, that petite tube-shaped pasta (sometimes referred to as “macaroni salad pasta”), is a welcome addition to simple soups. I like to team it with peas, onion, and celery. Diced pancetta comes to the party too, adding an appealing meaty flavor profile with a hint of sweetness. Fresh mint and parsley, added just before serving, add a delightful brightness to the mix.

Pasta and Pea Soup

Yield: 4 to 5 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 stalks of celery, chopped

4 ounces diced pancetta

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

4 cups (32 ounces) chicken broth

1 1/2 cups water

1 1/2 cups ditalini

1 1/2 cups frozen peas

1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese, plus extra for passing at the table

Optional: Hot sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot sauce, to taste; see cook’s notes

1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

3 tablespoons minced fresh mint

Cook’s notes: I like to add a few drops of Frank’s RedHot sauce to the mix. It provides both needed acidity and subtle heat. Add a few drops and taste the broth. Add more if needed.

DIRECTIONS

1. In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, heat oil on medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, pancetta, salt, and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and pancetta is just starting to very slightly brown, about 6 to 8 minutes.

2. Add broth and water and bring to a boil on high heat. Add pasta, stir, and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil gently, stirring frequently, until pasta is al dente (tender but with a little bite), about 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in peas (you don’t have to thaw them). Stir in cheese. Remove from heat.  If using, stir in hot sauce such as Frank’s RedHot. Taste and add more salt and/or pepper if needed. Stir in parsley and mint.

3. Ladle into bowls and provide more cheese at the table for optional garnishing.

Award-winning food writer Cathy Thomas has written three cookbooks, including “50 Best Plants on the Planet.” Follow her at CathyThomasCooks.com.

First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Rochester is hosting a concert by a local mountain dulcimer group, the River Strings of St. Clair County.

The 7 p.m. Friday, May 30 concert will take place at the church, 1315 N. Pine Street, Rochester.

The event is free, but donations will be collected during intermission and after the concert to support the church’s music program.

The River Strings of St. Clair County group was established in 2007 in Algonac. Initially formed as a mountain dulcimer group, members soon began to add other instruments such as guitar, banjo and fiddles, and now perform with a variety of instruments including penny whistle, conga drum, ukulele, wooden spoons, washboard, harmonica and marimbula, an African bass thumb drum. The group enjoys performing various genres of music including folk, gospel, pop, rock, Celtic, calypso, Cajun, Tin Pan Alley, rags, waltzes and classical.

“We’re thrilled to have the River Strings of St. Clair County back again,” the Rev. Scott Cunningham said. “Their concerts are joyful and fun for all ages.”

The last time The Weeknd was in town, during July of 2022 at Ford Field, he promised that the end of the night, “I’m gonna come back soon, Detroit. Next time we’ll do Ford Field two nights, back to back!”

And on Saturday, May 24 at the stadium, the multi-hyphenate Canadian entertainer made sure to acknowledge that the promise had been kept. “I said that, right?” The Weeknd crowed before performing his 2022 hit “Out of Time.”

That was, of course, just fine with the 45,000 or so fans — quite a few of whom had come from out of town and even out of the country to catch the nearly two-hour and 15-minute concert, ostensibly a continuation of The Weeknd’s After House Before Dawn Tour but with enough new elements to make it a fresh experience. (He performs again on Sunday, May 25.)

Much has happened, and not all good, since the Toronto native also known as Abel Tesfaye’s last appearance at Ford Field. His HBO series “The Idol,” was critically panned, while his feature film “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” which opened two weeks ago, has been a box office bomb (though trailers were shown between acts to remind the OOXO faithful that it’s still in some theaters). But the album companion to the latter, released at the end of January, was his fifth straight to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, giving him plenty of familiar fresh material to play on Saturday.

And he added plenty of new fare to the visual extravaganza, a dizzying and action-packed presentation on par with other groundbreaking stadium performances by the likes of Pink Floyd, U2, Madonna and, yes, even Taylor Swift and Beyonce.

Saturday’s show was even more stadium-filling (not to mention a half-hour longer) than its predecessor. The stage still stretched nearly the entire length of the Ford Field floor, with three distinct performance spaces as well as catwalks. To that The Weeknd added another section that crossed the stage in the middle, allowing him to get closer to fans on what would be the sidelines as he sang, often directly to the camera, through a series of large gold hoops. During “Out of Time” he came down to floor level, singing into fans’ phones and even letting a couple of them sing some of the song’s lines.

The backdrop of a post-apocalyptic Toronto on one side has crumbled since The Weeknd’s last stop, opening up more space for the huge video screen behind it and making his four-piece band — including artist-producer Mike Dean, who opened the evening with his own half-hour set — more readily visible. A rotating gold Sorayama statue with lighted eyes sat in the center of all this, and The Weeknd deployed lasers and fire effects — the latter prodigiously during “The Hills” and “Sao Paulo” — throughout the night.

Also back was an enlarged corps of masked, red-cloaked extras — 32, up from 24 three years ago — that walked and posed in formation during about a third of the more than three-dozen songs, occasionally breaking into poses and dance moves. And glittering hand-out bracelets The Weeknd used last time, as well, kept Ford Fields sparkling throughout the show.

Amidst all this, however, The Weeknd was still the star of the night, in good voice and even better mood as he continually teased the crowd — “Detroit, are you warmed up yet?” he asked several times — but also sang his gratitude for its support, also on several occasions. He offered up 11 songs from “Hurry Up Tomorrow” — including the opening dramatic couplet of “The Abyss” and “After Hours” and the live debut of “Reflections Laughing.” The show also brought “The Morning” back into the set after a two-year absence, while Playboi Carti — whose 40-minute opening set had enough energy to power the Movement festival down at Hart Plaza — joined for romps through The Weeknd’s “Timeless” and his own “Rather Lie.”

And there were plenty of hits, ranging from shortened versions of “After Hours,” “Starboy” and “Kiss Land” to full-length and even extended stadium-banging renditions of “Can’t Feel My Face,” “Call out My Name,” “Less Than Zero” and “Blinding Lights.” “Sacrifice” and the show-closing “Moth to a Flame,” meanwhile, were delivered ala the remixes done by Swedish House Mafia.

The latter was also accompanied by a barrage of grand finale visual effects to send fans home dancing, singing and perhaps a little (temporarily) hearing empaired. The Weeknd — who has talked about dumping that stage name in the near future — said nothing about coming back for three nights at Ford Field, but it’s likely that anyone at Saturday’s show, even the world travelers, would be happy to return and see what new he could cook up for that.

Tickets still remain for The Weeknd’s concert at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 25 2000 Brush St., Detroit. 313-262-2008 or fordfield.com.

Each year on the final Monday in May, the country commemorates military personnel who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. Those individuals made the ultimate sacrifice, and Memorial Day is a way to honor them and thank their families for their selfless acts.

This Memorial Day, families can embrace various measures to honor fallen veterans.

• Visit a local veterans cemetery. The United Service Organization (USO) notes that most states have national veterans cemeteries. Though some veterans cemeteries are open only to family members of service personnel, others are open to the general public. Visiting a veterans cemetery is a great way to honor fallen military members and ensure the memory of their service and sacrifice is not forgotten on Memorial Day. There are two in Michigan — Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly and Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta.

• Celebrate veterans. Memorial Day weekend is synonymous with getaways and backyard barbecues. By taking time out during the weekend to honor fallen veterans, families can ensure the meaning behind the holiday is not lost in the midst of celebrations with family and friends. Take time out during a family barbecue to discuss a family member who served or, if traveling, make an effort to visit a veterans memorial along your travel route.

• Help raise funds for veterans organizations. Fun runs or community Memorial Day walks may benefit local veterans organizations that help service members in need. Many service members may need help dealing with the deaths of friends or family members who died while serving in the armed forces, and veterans organizations may provide such help or direct funds to groups that do. That makes participation in events that benefit veterans organizations a great way to honor current military personnel and those who have served in the past, including those who died in service of their country.

• Teach youngsters about the role of the armed forces. There’s a lot competing for the attention of today’s young people, and that can make it easy to overlook the very freedoms that make the United States such a unique country. Parents and guardians can emphasize the role the armed forces play in procuring and protecting freedoms in the United States and emphasize the significance of the sacrifices of those who gave their lives to ensure a higher quality of life for all U.S. residents.

Did you know?

• Though Memorial Day traces its origins to the years following the American Civil War in the mid-19th century, it did not become an official federal holiday until 1971.

• Memorial Day began as something of a grassroots movement. According to History.com, by the late 1860s, individuals in towns across the war-ravaged United States began holding springtime tributes to soldiers who lost their lives during the American Civil War.

• Among the more notable postwar commemorations was one organized by former slaves in Charleston, South Carolina. That commemoration occurred less than a month after the Confederate forces surrendered in 1865. Despite that, History.com notes that in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the birthplace of Memorial Day.

• Postwar commemorations also were organized by northern veterans of the Civil War. Gen. John A. Logan, who led an organization of Union veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance in May 1868. Logan referred to the holiday as Declaration Day and chose May 30 because it was not the anniversary of any specific battle and therefore unlikely to be viewed by some as controversial.

• Early commemorations of Decoration Day, which gradually came to be known as Memorial Day, initially honored only those soldiers who died during the American Civil War. However, that changed over time as American servicemen fought in various wars, including both World Wars, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and other conflicts.

• The red poppy has become a symbol of Memorial Day. That red poppy can be traced to a poem by Canadian John McCrae, who served as a lieutenant colonel in World War I. “In Flanders Field” notes the red poppies that grew in fields where countless soldiers had been buried in modern-day Belgium. The poem was published in 1915, three years before the war ended. Sadly, McCrae himself was a casualty of the war, succumbing to pneumonia in France in 1918 while still in the service.