Scott and Mark Hoying Announce Kids Christmas Book — and Share Some of Their Holiday Traditions and Mishaps (Exclusive)

Scott and Mark Hoying are spreading holiday cheer in a new book.The Pentatonix singer and his husband will release a new children’s book, Fa La La Family, next fall. The book, featuring illustrations by Steph Lew, will be published by Henry Holt and Co books for young readers, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers.The picture book, which includes sheet music and lyrics for an exclusive new song, highlights how the Christmas season celebrates families of all kinds. In an email interview with PEOPLE, the couple says that their love for their own family — immediate and extended — inspired the book.“As we grow up, we realize more than ever the importance of relationships and we want to cherish and celebrate them as much as possible!” the couple says. “We have met and know so many different people with all kinds of families, and thought it would be beautiful to highlight each and every type of family there is!”

‘Fa La La Family’ by Scott Hoying and Mark Hoying.
Art by Steph Lew / Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group

The Hoyings published their children’s book, How Lucky Am I?, in May, and told PEOPLE that the book was “a gift to our future children.” Fa La La Family holds a similar meaning.

“We got married in the summer of 2023, and there’s nothing we’ve been looking forward to more than being dads,” they say. “We can’t wait to read Fa La La Family to our kids one day — it’s going to be the best feeling in the world!”The book has also inspired the couple to look back on their own childhood holiday traditions.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!“I come from a big Filipino family, and I always loved our big family gatherings during the holidays, where everyone cooks and brings their favorite Filipino meals!” says Mark. “My parents and my aunts and uncles are the best cooks! There’s even some illustrations in the book of these festive family parties that we’re excited for our family to see!”

Mark Hoying and Scott Hoying.
 Ian Shiff

“There’s a specific, unique feeling of being a kid cuddled up on the couch on Christmas Eve,” Scott adds. “The house is so cozy and quiet, and everyone’s in such a joyous mood. I remember having butterflies waiting for Santa to come. I didn’t even realize how special those moments were until later in life. I treasure those memories and can’t WAIT to make Christmas as magical, cozy and perfect as possible for our future kiddos!”

The couple now have their own holiday traditions together, including celebrating their dog Mozart’s birthday on Christmas Eve, as well as touring with Pentatonix — but they also remember some of their biggest holiday mishaps too.“We love seeing movies over the holidays, and one night, we were on our way to see Spider-Man: No Way Home at the theater and our car broke down!” they say. “We pulled over and were stranded! Funny enough, it ended up being a hilarious, amazing experience. To pass the time, we blasted music, acted out the movie ourselves, danced, laughed, made silly videos and Scott even referenced it in his wedding vows as a night we fell even deeper in love and that we will remember forever!”

Mark Hoying and Scott Hoying in May 2024.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty 

Fa La La Family, the Hoyings say, is also an important way to spread “inclusivity and love” around the holidays and beyond.“A message we really wanted to showcase is that all types of families are beautiful and should be represented!” they share. “Whether it’s a mom and you, a dad or two, your grandparents, your pets, your chosen family — love is love and family can be anything!”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Fa La La Family will be published on Sept. 2, 2025 and is now available for preorder, wherever books are sold.

National Book Critics Circle Awards Announces First-Ever Longlist for Autobiography

The National Books Critics Circle Awards has shared its first-ever longlist for Autobiography.On Dec. 17, the NBCC announced its longlist for the genre. In honor of their 50th anniversary, the organization is announcing longlists for six genres, including fiction, nonfiction, biography, autobiography, poetry and criticism, from Dec. 16 to Dec. 19.“The NBCC is proud to release our longlists for the first time in our 50-year history,” said Heather Scott Partington, NBCC President, in the organization’s initial announcement on Dec. 16. “Revealing them allows us to honor more writers, translators and books than we ever have in a single year. The best books of 2024 were narratives of resilience, interrogation and imagination. They asked us to question power, art and genre.””At a time when the freedom to read is under attack, we’re thrilled to shout these authors’ names from the rooftops,” Partington added. “We celebrate their fearlessness and artistic vision. These are vital words.”

‘Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir’ by Tessa Hulls.
Amazon

The Autobiography longlist includes:

Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa HullsThe Last Fire Season: A Personal and Pyronatural History by Manjula MartinLike a Sky Inside by Jakuta Alikavazovic, translated from the French by Daniel Levin BeckerLittle Seed by Wei TchouThe Minotaur at Calle Lanza by Zito MaduManboobs: A Memoir of Musicals, Visas, Hope, and Cake by Komail AijazuddinMother Archive: A Dominican Family Memoir by Erika MorilloMy Good Bright Wolf: A Memoir by Sarah MossPatriot: A Memoir by Alexei Navalny, translated from the Russian by Arch Tait with Stephen DalzielWomen Surrounded by Water: A Memoir by Patricia Coral

The National Book Critics Circle Award is the only national literary award chosen solely by book critics. The award “honors outstanding writing and fosters a national conversation about reading, criticism and literature,” per its website.

‘Mother Archive: A Dominican Family Memoir’ by Erika Morillo.
Amazon

In addition to the NBCC awards in each genre, the panel also awards the John Leonard Prize, for the best debut book in any genre, and the Gregg Barrios Book in Translation Prize.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Winners of the 2023 National Book Critics Circle Award included Lorrie Moore (Fiction), Roxanna Asgarian (Nonfiction), Jonny Steinberg (Biography), Safiya Sinclair (Autobiography), Kim Hyesoon and translator Don Mee Choi (Poetry) and Tina Post (Criticism). Tahir Hamut Izgil and translator Joshua L. Freeman won the John Leonard Prize and Tezer Özlü and translator Maureen Freely won the Gregg Barrios Prize.The 2024 NBCC finalists will be announced on Jan. 23, 2025, and awards will be presented on March 20, 2024.

Holiday Gift Guide 2024: The Best Luxury Gastronomic Vacations For Travelers

Share to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to LinkedinGifting a foodie or oenophile with luxury tastes can present a basic challenge: where to begin? A luxury gastronomic gift can begin anywhere. If the world is your oyster, where is the best place on the planet to find, say, the best oyster? Options for luxury food tourism abound: Here are 11 of the best options for luxury gastronomic vacations for travelers in 2025.

Explora Journeys Chef Invite SeriesThe new Chef Invite Series with Explora Journeys introduces guests to some of the world’s most celebrated chefs from around the world with one-off gastronomic journeys.Explora Journeys
Guests aboard Explora Journeys can dive deep into gastronomy with local market experiences, private dinners, culinary workshops and meaningful discussions with world-renowned leaders of the culinary universe. The first Chef Invite Journey is with multi-Michelin-starred Chef Thierry Marx onboard Explora II in the Caribbean from Jan. 24 to Feb. 4, 2025.

In Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, guests explore local markets on guided tours and Chef Tjoerru Marx demonstrates how to select the finest local ingredients. In Antigua, guests enjoy a private visit to a local herb and vegetable producer for a hands-on experience, including tastings. Then, learn about the island’s fresh catches of lobster and fish with a visit to a renowned fisherman’s dock.

Black Tomato Tasting Notes: SloveniaBlack Tomato’s Tasting Notes: Slovenia is a 10-day gastronomic journey through Slovenia with acclaimed Chef Janez BratovžTOMO JESENICNIK

Surprise a serious culinary foodie with a little-known journey into the tastings of Slovenia with Tasting Notes: Slovenia through Black Tomato. The tour is done in collaboration with Chef Janez Bratovž. For $6,710 for a group of two for up to nine nights, the incredible journey will include coveted reservations and VIP experiences alongside Chef Bratovž. Wine, cheese and oil tastings, along with serious truffle hunting, are among the menu items for guests of this tour.

New Les Bateaux Belmond Culinary Itineraries, FranceAft deck of the Amaryllis, a Belmond boat for privileged experiences to vineyards and private cellars from St-Léger-sur-Dheune to DijonCopyright © Richard James Taylor.
Ultra-luxury brand Belmond recently introduced new culinary itineraries with Belmond Boats. “La Semaine Des Grands Crus” aboard the Amaryllis and Fleur de Lys give wine connoisseurs a rich journey into Burgundy’s wine heritage. The weeklong journey on the Amaryllis departs on May 4 and on the Fleur De Lys on July 13. Rates for either start at $145,945 for a private charter of up to six guests. Guests on either boat sample all 33 Grands Crus wines with access to vineyards and private cellars. The new curated menus from Chef Dominque Crenn will also be introduced.
Gastronomic Delights With Le Meurice And Chateau Latour – Ponant Cruise LinePONANT’s Gastronomic Delights With Le Meurice And Chateau Latour introduces guests to a 10-day journey along the coasts of Portugal, Spain and France.LAURENCE_FISCHER
At $6,080 per person, the 10-day immersive gastronomy itinerary of Ponant’s Gastronomic Delights is the result of the partnership between luxury hotels Le Meurice and Château Latour, with special appearances of Amaury Bouhours, Executive Chef at Le Meurice and Michelin-starred Chef Jérôme Lacressonnière, head of executive chefs at Ducasse Conseil. Traveling the coasts of Portugal, Spain and France, guests will experience nothing less than the most extraordinary dinners, wine tastings and demonstrations from these celebrated chefs.
Taste Your Birthyear – Seppeltsfield – South AustraliaSeppeltsfield is Australia’s iconic wine estate dates back to 1851. Seppeltsfield is famed for the Centennial Collection – an irreplaceable and unbroken lineage of Tawny of every vintage from 1878 to current year.Australia Tourism
Can you imagine what the year of your birth tastes like? The Imagineer-style vintners with Seppeltsfield in South Australia can help you do just that. The $149 experience offers guests a unique opportunity to sample a Tawny from their birth year, straight from the barrel in the Centennial Cellar. The experience includes an exploration of the world’s longest lineage of single-vintage wines dating to 1878. Guests booking for 2025 can stay at The Oscar Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley’s first six-star luxury resort. More than just a funky obelisk in Barossa Valley, the twisted, roller coaster-like 12-story hotel will feature 71 rooms surrounded by century-old bush vines.
Heli-Foraging – Northern Territory, AustraliaHeli-foraging with Darwin Distilling Co. in Northern Territory, Australia combines the art of distilling with the thrill of exploration.Australia Tourism
Gin lovers explore remote, untouched locations that can only be reached by helicopter on this unique heli-foraging adventure from Darwin Distilling Co. You’ll forage for unique botanicals in Top End, Australia’s northernmost section of the Northern Territory. From the gathered ingredients, guests make gin to enjoy alongside selections from the gourmet menu at Charlie’s of Darwin. As a bonus, you’ll take home a 16-oz bottle of gin.
Sapphire Freycinet Marine Farm – Tasmania, AustraliaAn unforgettable experience at the Saffire Freycinet Marine Farm in Tasmania, Australia where guests have a hands-on experience while learning about oyster farming.Tourism Australia
A stay at Saffire Freycinet, Australia’s luxury lodge on Tasmania’s East Coast overlooking the Freycinet Peninsula, includes experiences like an afternoon learning how to harvest oysters. The Saffire Freycinet Marine Farm in Coles Bay is a working oyster farm with stunning vistas where guests immerse themselves in how to produce the world’s finest oysters and enjoy them at the same time. Guests don a pair of waders and step into the heart of the oyster farm to learn about the relationship between oysters and their environment. The unique ecosystem is best appreciated by those who covet the truest farm-to-table experience, as the oysters are shucked before you and eaten immediately. According to the lodge website, suites start at $3,100 per night, all-inclusive. There’s also a beekeeping experience and personal tour and pairing at the Craigie Knowe Vineyard.
Cooking Class At Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons – Oxfordshire, EnglandCooking Class at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel, OxfordshireTourism Australia
At Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel in Oxfordshire, England, Michelin-star chef Raymond Blanc OBE, curated an intense fine dining experience. The sustainable cooking and garden-to-plate experience can be best experienced through a class at The Raymond Blanc Cookery School. Cuisine draws from the 11 gardens, including a two-acre vegetable garden that produces more than 90 types of vegetables. There’s also a heritage orchard of 2,500 apples, pear trees and a Japanese tea garden with ponds. Among the delightful classes is a vegan masterclass that hones in on zero-waste and fresh, seasonal produce. Other lessons available include Advanced Bread, Patisserie, Kitchen Secrets and Chocolate Heaven. The most intensive culinary retreat is a five-night residential course for aspiring chefs. Cooking classes start at roughly $250 and up for a weekday three-hour course.
Etereo Auberge Resorts Collection – Riviera MayaEtéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection is located on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, within the luxury Kanai development just 30 miles from Cancun International Airport and set amongst a protected mangrove forest along a pristine stretch of the Caribbean Sea.Auberge Resorts Collection
Located in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection is set in a mangrove forest along a stretch of the Caribbean sea. The immersive culinary experiences include the Comal Cooking Classes, led by Executive Chef Carlos Seguara. Guests discover the secrets of Mexican cuisine in these dynamic classes, learning about the ancient xamach, the hot cooking vessel commonly known as comal. In Chili Journey, guests are introduced to the flavors of Mexican chilis with earthy, sweet and smoky flavors. The bright flavors and textures come to life while extreme heat levels are introduced among the cooking and tasting.
Kensington Tours Food and Wine Wonders of SpainTypical spanish tapas concept. Concept include slices jamon, bowls with olives, anchovies, spicy potatoes, mashed chickpeas, shrimp, calamari, manchego with quince marmalade, pans with tortilla, paella, mussels on a wooden table.Getty Images/iStockphoto
In Food and Wine Wonders of Spain through Kensington Tours uncovers Spain’s culinary secrets where guests savor Basque cooking, learn the difference between Pintxos and tapas and taste the crisp Txakoli wine at a charming family winery in an intimate setting. The journey includes Barcelona, San Sebastian, Bilbao and Madrid. The 12-day journey starts at $10,166 through Kensington Tours.
Sazón Cooking School – San Miguel de Allende – MexicoPrices for Sazón Cooking School at Casa de Sierra Nevada, A Belmond Hotel start at $165 per person and up to $330 for a one-on-one class.Richard James Taylor
Casa de Sierra Nevada, A Belmond Hotel offers the unforgettable holiday gift of cooking school in the heart of San Miguel de Allende. The Sazón Cooking School immerses guests in the flavors and culture of Mexico. Guests will source fresh local ingredients and nearby markets to prepare regional dishes. They learn how to cook and source sustainable produce. The experience is enhanced by the world-class Belmond service, inside a stunning 16th-century colonial mansion that has garnered two Michelin keys and is one of only 21 hotels in Mexico to achieve that honor, according to the brand.
Guy Ritchie’s WildKitchen – The Lodge At Blue Sky – Park City, UtahGuests experience a luxury gastronomic vacation at The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection in Park City, Utah.Auberge Resorts Collection
Producer, director and screenwriter Guy Ritchie introduced the U.S. to Guy Ritchie’s WildKitchen in 2023 and now brings WildKitchen, WildTent and WildTable to The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection in Park City, Utah. The world’s first completely retractable canvas WildTent is a physical frame where top chefs cook on the WildTable. The table is an intricate, highly technical, communal experience that provides a participatory dining journey like no other. The one table has a smoke pit, multi-level barbeque grill, oven, smokeless firepit and teppanyaki hot plate. All the tools are placed above your head for easy cooking. Guests are kept warm under the table in all four seasons with a built-in heater. Located on Gracie’s Farm, within the 3,500-acre ranch in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, guests can arrive by house car, ATV or wildlife tracking adventure. Nearby, guests can sample bourbon, double rye and craft cocktails at High West Distillery & Tasting Room, Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870.

National Archives Rebuffs Democratic Efforts To Get Biden To Ratify Equal Rights Amendment Before He Leaves Office

The National Archives will not publish the Equal Rights Amendment as part of the Constitution — as some Democratic activists had hoped before the end of President Biden’s term — because the amendment reached the support threshold from state legislatures long after the original deadline for ratification, officials at the National Archive said Tuesday.  The…

‘Ferry 1’ Movie Recap: Everything To Know Before Watching The Sequel

Netflix’s 2021 film, Ferry, follows the early years of Dutchman Ferry Bouman’s criminal life when he used to work as a driver and hired gun for an Amsterdam-based crime lord, Brink. In short, it tells Ferry’s origin story and serves as a prequel to Netflix’s Undercover series, where we had seen Dutchman Ferry as the head of one of the world’s largest XTC networks, running his operation across Europe. The opening scene of the film established that Ferry grew up around an alcoholic and abusive father, Jack, because of which he left home at an early age and ran away to Amsterdam, where he started working for Brink, learning the nitty-gritty of the drug trade from scratch.

Spoiler Alert

Mattijs Gets Shot

One ordinary afternoon, two masked men barged into Brink’s House X and pointed guns at everyone present inside the cash depot. While the robbers were filling their bags with cash, Brink, seated on a chair, spotted a gun under the table and tried to pull it out to shoot the robbers. However, before he could do so, Brink’s son, Mattijs, saw his father going for the gun and tried to stop him from putting his life in danger. As soon as Mattijs stood up, one of the masked men pulled the trigger reflexively and shot Mattijs in the chest. The robbers quickly left the place and escaped in a car, while Brink took his son to the hospital.

In the hospital, Brink, who had recognized the robbers’ Southern accent, ordered Ferry to hunt these three men down and give them a brutal death. Following his boss’s orders, Ferry started searching for any clues in the CCTV footage and came across a young man who had been keeping an eye on the cash depot for quite some time. Ferry took the photograph and traveled south to meet his brother-in-law, John Zwart, who knew these Southern campers quite well. Ferry told John about the robbery and showed him the photograph of the man on the CCTV camera, whom John recognized quickly. His name was Jason, John Kant’s son, who had fled to a campsite called Zonnedauw in Belgium a year ago. So, Ferry knew what his next decision was. Before leaving, John Zwart also told Ferry about his sister Claudia’s condition, who had been diagnosed with a tumor in her head and only had a couple of months to live.

Ferry Kills The Robbers But Not The Driver

As soon as Ferry arrived at Zonnedauw campsite, he figured that Jason hadn’t visited his caravan for the past few days. Ferry rented a trailer and started waiting for Jason to come home. In the meantime, he befriended a candy stall owner, Danielle van Marken, who used to look after Jason’s cat. Ferry believed that the caretaker might have Jason’s phone number, and therefore staged a robbery inside Jason’s trailer, forcing Danielle to call Jason and bring him out of his hiding. Jason took the bait and fell into the trap. And as soon as he arrived home, Ferry pointed a gun at him and asked him to drive to Winterswijk Quarry, where Ferry finally killed him. From his pocket, Ferry recovered a cell phone that gave him the name of the second robber, Davy. With John’s help, Ferry located Davy and broke into his house, pointing a gun at him. After a bit of a scuffle, Davy told Ferry that they were hired by none other than Brink’s son, Mattijs, who wanted to pay his debts but was too afraid to ask his own father. Ferry wanted to tell Brink the truth, but as soon as he called him, Brink informed him about Mattijs, which was why Ferry decided to bury the truth as he didn’t want to hurt a grieving father more. 

Before shooting Davy to death, Ferry had asked him about the third and last person involved in the robbery, who turned out to be Danielle’s brother, Lars. Ferry had developed feelings for Danielle, but he didn’t want to hurt the woman who had been so nice to him since he had arrived at the campsite. Ferry confronted Lars in the woods but didn’t shoot him. Lars was just the driver and had nothing to do with Mattijs’ death. Under normal conditions, Ferry wouldn’t have minded shooting Lars, but right now, he had two big reasons not to. First of all, he was his lover’s brother, and secondly, Ferry knew that it was Mattijs who had planned the robbery and therefore deserved what he got. In the end, Ferry asked Lars to disappear from the face of the earth so that Brink or his men would never be able to find him. After sparing Lars’ life, Ferry broke all ties with Danielle in order to protect her and her brother. He knew those harsh words broke Danielle’s heart, but he had no other means to keep her safe. Soon after, Ferry left the campsite and lied to Brink that he had killed all three robbers.

Rico Finds Out About Lars

Things weren’t the same after Ferry came to Amsterdam, leaving Danielle behind. He started drinking to ease his pain, but nothing helped. Even Brink could see that Ferry was grieving more than him and therefore asked him to take a vacation if he wanted to, because his condition was now affecting the business. Rico, who’d started to look after Brink’s business in Ferry and Mattijs’ absence, suspected that something was off, and he soon found the reason why Ferry had been acting so strange for the past two months. Danielle had come to Amsterdam for a friend’s marriage when she bumped into Ferry while he was waiting for Rico to pick him up. Ferry and Danielle were just talking when Rico arrived and found out Danielle’s last name, “van Marken,” which finally rang a bell. Rico quickly informed Brink that Ferry had lied to him about the third robber.

Ferry Kills Brink

Brink brought Ferry to his house and asked him the reason why he lied to his face. At first, Ferry didn’t want to tell him the truth, but when Brink decided to hurt Danielle to get to the bottom of the truth, he told him how his son was the mastermind of the entire robbery. He told Brink that he had failed as a father because his own son was afraid to share his concerns with him, but as usual, Brink didn’t want to believe that his son could have done something like that. He didn’t want to discuss the matter anymore and just asked Ferry to kill Lars or tell him where he was. Ferry refused to give him Lars, which was when Brink sent a man to hurt Danielle while he ordered Rico and his men to kill Ferry. It was at this moment that Dutchman Ferry Bouman lost his mind and showed Brink what he was really capable of. He shot everyone at the house and later followed the man driving to Danielle’s hotel and shot him at the traffic stop. The next morning, Ferry made a surprise visit to Danielle and told her that he wasn’t fond of Amsterdam anymore, implying that he wanted to settle down with her in Zonnedauw.

Ferry Starts A New Business

With the police looking into the brutal killings, I guess Ferry made a safe decision to relocate himself to the campsite to avoid any arrests. He later introduced Danielle to his sister, who was doing much better than before. During the conversation, Ferry told Claudia about the ecstasy pills that Danielle had given to him. He asked Danielle if she had more when she told Ferry that her brother, Lars, made them. Well, you see, it seemed like a blessing in disguise that Ferry didn’t shoot Lars in the woods, because now this very same man was going to cook for him and help him lay the foundation of the XTC empire. In the mid-credits scene, which most likely took place a few months later, Ferry entered an abandoned warehouse, where Lars had been making the pills for him, implying that he’s already in the business.

Ferry Will Try To Save Jez In Sequel Film

The trailer for Ferry 2 suggests that it takes place sometime after the events of Undercover. In 2023, Netflix had released a series based on the titular character, which depicted the rise of Dutchman Ferry Bouman, while Undercover showcased his downfall and how his XTC empire turned to ruin. Now in the sequel film, Ferry’s second cousin, Jezebel Van Kamp, or Jez, paid a visit to him in Spain seeking help. It turned out Jez owed some money to the wrong crowd, and now a crazy guy named Lex Van Dun was looking for her. Ferry wanted to help a member of the Bouman family even though everyone around asked him to stay away. The official synopsis of the film even suggested that Ferry had a hand in the death of Jez’s father, Jurgen, and Ferry, under a guilty conscience, wanted to protect Jez at all costs in order to redeem himself. So the question here is: Will Ferry be able to save Jez? I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

Related

Map Shows Cities Expected to Have Tough Christmas Travel Because of Storm

What’s NewA winter storm set to hit several major metropolitan cities in the Northeast and Great Lakes region will bring snow that could disrupt travel this week, AccuWeather reported.Why It MattersMillions of Americans will travel for the holiday this year. A report from AAA predicts that more than 119 million Americans have at least 50 miles to travel for year-end holidays.Thanksgiving also brought record-breaking travel this year, with millions of Americans facing hazardous weather on their journey home after the holiday. That was particularly true in the Northeast, where lake-effect snow prompted officials in parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York to urge people to delay travel until the worst of the snow had passed.Given that Christmas is on a Wednesday this year and is just eight days away, Americans could set out early, meaning the forecast for this week and the coming weekend could have the biggest impact on travel.What to Know Meteorologists are warning of a coastal storm that could bring snow to several states, from Pittsburgh northeast through Maine and south through West Virginia, on Friday night, contributing to “slippery” travel.

A coastal storm will bring snow to several states this weekend, potentially disrupting travel in major metropolitan cities like Pittsburgh and New York City. The forecast comes as Christmas travel begins this week.
A coastal storm will bring snow to several states this weekend, potentially disrupting travel in major metropolitan cities like Pittsburgh and New York City. The forecast comes as Christmas travel begins this week.
AccuWeather
A map created by AccuWeather shows that inclement weather is also expected on Wednesday night, affecting such major cities as Indianapolis, Cleveland, Detroit and New York’s Buffalo and Syracuse.AccuWeather warned that up to 3 inches of snow could fall near the Pennsylvania/New York border, with pockets of as much as 6 inches in higher elevations of the Adirondack, Green and White mountains.The greatest risk for snow is in northeast New York, much of Vermont and much of New Hampshire, as well as south-central Maine.What People Are Saying AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines told Newsweek there’s still uncertainty about how strong the storm will be this weekend. “Regardless of whether that storm hugs the coast or gets its act together, it is going to pull some cold air across the Northeast, Great Lakes and Midwest.”AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said in a report: “A roller-coaster ride of a forecast is in store across the Northeast this week, featuring a wintry mix, rain, a warmup and then the potential for an impactful storm late in the week into the weekend that can feature accumulating snow and very chilly air settling in.”The NWS office in Burlington, Vermont, said in a hazardous weather outlook: “Snow is expected to overspread the region late Wednesday evening into Thursday. Accumulations will…depend some on elevation. Parts of eastern Vermont and the Adirondacks are likely to receive 2 to 5 inches of snow. Slippery travel will be possible for parts of the region for the Wednesday evening and Thursday morning commute.”What’s NextTemperatures will likely plunge in the Northeast this weekend, with strong winds making it feel 10 to 20 degrees colder, Kines said.Meanwhile, on the other side of the nation, at least three atmospheric rivers are lined up to affect the West Coast before Christmas.

New book will take you ‘Home for the Holidays’: Launch happening Wednesday

Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.’s new indie lit publisher, Type A Media, is announcing the publication of its second book, an anthology of original poetry, stories, art and more. 

Home for the Holidays: Northern Ontario perspectives on coming, staying, and finding home is locally-published and bound, with proceeds going toward its contributors and the establishment of the new press, as well as 20 per cent of all book sales donated directly to Sault Ste. Marie’s Cafe 4 Good to assist them in delivering services and programs within the community.

“As the air begins to chill and we feel the pull to cozy up after what has been an incredible summer of arts and culture here in the North, we are setting out to bring some light and reflection this winter season to our communities through our second full-length compilation books featuring writing and art from 14 members of our local communities: Tova Arbus, Patrick Aura, Brenda Barefoot, Samantha Everett, J. L. Fizzell, Casey Gallant, Cynthia Goguen, Olga Grapsas, Emma L. R. Hogg, Riley Korschin, Tom Mills, Kitty Nielsen, A. A. Parr, and Katelyn Townsend,” a news release said. 

The news release is as follows: 

Home is a complicated theme. So many of us have returned home to the North, especially over the past several years as we navigated a global pandemic with far-reaching implications that altered the way we live, work, and relate with one another.

Others who live elsewhere, are reaching back to their hometowns, reliving memories and seeking to bridge lost or damaged connections. There are those of us within our communities who do not have the luxury of a safe, reliable, or accessible home. Many of us have found that home is simply not a place, it is intrinsic to who we are, what we have lived. How do we find home? How do we come home? What is home? This book offers us the opportunity to share space in exploring themes of seeking, remembering, questioning, being, or reflecting on home in Northern Ontario over the winter holidays.

Home for the Holidays is a response to the critical questions we must all ask ourselves aloud. It is an anthology of lived experiences, of anecdotes and insight, of exploration and accountability, of acknowledgement and affirmation. It is an opportunity for us to share our stories of contemporary winter life in Northern Ontario – in prose, poetry, and visual art or any combination thereof.

“With this work,” explains managing director and publisher A. A. Parr, “we’re setting out to document a time in a place in history, but we’re also looking to widen the lens through which we view our own communities – we are hoping to connect as much as to discern, to relate as much as to respond, and to extend compassion as much as to express our individual and collective joys and trials.”

“The holidays are widely viewed as a time of required celebration. Of connection and compassion and community. Our book certainly is brimming with stories celebrating the magic, wonder, and beauty of the season. But what of those who struggle during the holidays? What of those who feel alone, who face hardships, who need support? There is space for us to talk openly of that, too. There is value in coming together over the holidays with people who need to hear a voice similar to their own, with people who need to know they are not alone in their experiences, in exploring whatever home is to them.”

Home for the Holidays will be published in-house in print and digital formats, with an official launch on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at Cafe 4 Good located at 326 Queen Street East in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., from 4-7 p.m.

The launch is a free event, and will feature readings and book signings by several talented contributors.

For more about books, visit the Reading space on SPACES, Sault Ste. Marie’s own social media site hosted by community champions.  

Australian children’s television sensation Bluey to be turned into movie

Children’s TV show Bluey will be turned into a film to be shown in movie theatres around the world.The Australian-made animated series features a family of dogs, including blue heeler puppy Bluey, her sister Bingo and their parents Bandit and Chilli.The animated feature film will be released in cinemas in 2027, BBC Studios and The Walt Disney Company said overnight.“I’ve always thought Bluey deserved a theatrical movie,” Bluey’s creator, Joe Brumm, said in a statement. “I want this to be an experiential event for the whole family to enjoy together”.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email
Brumm will write and direct the film, which is a Ludo Studio production in collaboration with BBC Studios, and Disney will release it in cinemas to a global audience.After its run in movie theatres, it will be streamed on Disney+ and ABC iview and ABC Kids in Australia.The film will include the voices of Melanie Zanetti and David McCormack as Bluey’s mum and dad.As a children’s TV show developed in Queensland and commissioned by the ABC and BBC, Bluey is funded by Australian taxpayers – though the BBC reportedly hold exclusive commercial rights.The federal and Queensland governments are also supporting the Bluey film via the producer offset and Screen Queensland’s post, digital and visual effects incentive.Bluey has taken the world by storm, ranking amongst the most streamed programs in the United States.In April, Australia House in London – home to the Australian high commission – hosted a celebratory event organised by BBC Studios in which the embassy was adorned with Bluey flags.

Chaos in Belgium as Foreign Office issues new travel warning

British holidaymakers visiting a popular holiday destination known for its spectacular Christmas markets have been warned to protect their belongings when visiting.An urgent travel warning has been issued by the Foreign Office for all those travelling to Belgium, as tourists’ Christmas travel plans could be plunged intro chaos.The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has recently updated its “Safety and Security” advice regarding travelling in busy parts of the country.The office stressed that pickpocketing is very common and holidaymakers should be mindful of their belongings.It said: “Theft and pickpocketing is common in crowded areas. Take care of your baggage and passports and beware of any attempts to distract you.“Take extra care in major railway stations and on public transport, particularly late at night.“Thieves, pickpockets and muggers operate in busy areas, and there have been cases of violent robbery. Be aware of your surroundings.”The Government body said to be particularly mindful at Brussels Gare du Midi/Zuidstation (Eurostar terminal) and Brussels Nord, on international trains, mainly Paris-Brussels and Amsterdam-Brussels and in busy areas of central Brussels, including Schuman (the EU quarter). Urging Britons to take care of their luggage all the time, the FCDO warned: “Never leave luggage unattended.“Luggage has been stolen from the racks at the end of carriages in high-speed trains (TGV and Thalys), usually just before the doors close.”The warning continued: “Thieves, usually on motorbikes, can break a car window and snatch valuables from the front or back passenger seat when a vehicle is stationary at traffic lights. If you see anything suspicious, report it to local police authorities.”The warning come as many British tourists in Italy have been advised of key “crimes” as Rome prepares to welcome millions of visitors.The Italian city is gearing up for the Jubilee, also known as the Holy Year, running from December 24, 2024 to January 6, 2026.