Follow These 5 Tips To Pick The Perfect Watermelon Every Time

Meh. You expected a sweet, juicy bite of watermelon, but it tasted like air. Here are five tips on choosing the perfect melon every time.

Fireworks Etiquette To Keep The Neighborhood Happy: Block Talk

Consumer fireworks laws have made backyard 4th of July displays common. But not everyone loves the DIY shows — or even tolerates them.

Following These Safety Tips Can Make Summer 2025 More Fun

Summer offers endless opportunities for fun, but dangers lurk — some well-known, but others less obvious. Follow these tips to stay safe.

Summer Solstice 2025: What To Know About The Longest Day Of The Year

Astronomical summer runs until the autumnal equinox on Sept. 22. Meteorological summer is a fixed period in June, July and August.

Trump’s ‘Beautiful’ Tax Bill Comes With A Catch For Parents And The Poor

Tucked inside Trump’s revised tax bill are sweeping changes that would affect swaths of low-income families.

4th Of July Home Fireworks Etiquette: Block Talk Survey

Independence Day is America’s birthday, and that’s worth a star-spangled salute. But how do you keep things cool in the neighborhood?

Quirky ‘Dad-Isms’ And Timeless Advice From Real People: Father’s Day Survey

Whether it was offered in chats around the kitchen table or on horseback rides in the mountains, readers share their favorite “dad-isms.”

DEI Bans Leave ​Juneteenth Organizers Scrambling To Make Up For Lost Corporate Funding

Trump hasn’t canceled Juneteenth — only Congress can do that — but his executive orders have had a chilling effect on corporate sponsors.

Tell Us Your Favorite ‘Dad-Ism’ Or His Sage Advice For Father’s Day 2025: Patch Survey

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 15. We’re asking Patch readers to share the best advice their dads ever gave them and other memories.

Don’t Make These Mistakes When Flying The Flag On Memorial Day

Special protocols apply when flying the U.S. flag on Memorial Day to honor military personnel who lost their lives serving their country.

Readers Share Their Moms’ Best Advice For Mother’s Day 2025

Moms advise their kids to believe in themselves, to have fun, to pay themselves so they can retire early, and how to deal with gaslighting.

5 Takes On This Cinco De Mayo Classic

Breathe some new life into your margarita this Cinco De Mayo.

What’s The Best Advice Mom Ever Gave You? Patch Mother's Day Survey

Moms seem to intuitively know what their children need. We want to hear from readers about the best advice and wisdom their mothers shared.

Record-High Egg Prices Are Changing How Americans Celebrate Easter

People plan to hide wooden and plastic eggs, dye marshmallows and even potatoes — but those aren’t the only changing Easter traditions.

How Long Will Expensive Boiled Easter Eggs Last Before They Go Bad?

What’s the point of no return for boiled eggs? Plus a bonus video on how to peel a hard-boiled egg without damaging the whites.

Are High Prices Scrambling Your Easter Egg Dyeing Traditions? [Survey]

Egg prices are coming down, but they’re still expensive. Some people are dyeing marshmallows and potatoes for Easter.

Spring Is Coming. Here's Your Long-Term Forecast

Some parts of the country will see shorts and t-shirt weather as spring begins, while winter coats will be needed elsewhere.

Everything You Need To Know About Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday And Easter

For Catholics and some other Christians Tuesday is a last chance to cut loose before the beginning of Lent and the holy season of Easter.

These ‘How We Met’ Love Stories Are An Early Valentine’s Day Gift

Trust, honesty and recognizing each other’s need for space were common themes in Patch readers’ advice for long and healthy relationships.

George Washington Had 2 Birthdays, More To Know About Presidents Day

George Washington shares Monday’s holiday with all other presidents, though Presidents Day has evolved into a major shopping holiday.

Valentine’s Day Love Stories: How’d You Meet? How Do You Make It Last?

We’re asking Patch readers how they met, the secrets to healthy relationships and anything else they want to say about their sweetheart.

On MLK Day Of Service 2025, These Places Are Closed

King is the only non-president to have a national holiday in his honor and the only non-president with a memorial on the National Mall.

Yes, You Will Keep That New Year's Resolution. Here's How [Survey]

Readers answering Patch’s informal survey say we may have a better chance of keeping promises to ourselves if don’t make them on New Year’s.

Tips To Make New Year's Resolutions Stick

Start small, think positvely, focus on goals, enlist your friends for support, set your own calendar and be kind to yourself, experts advise

Drop Everything: 11 Quirky New Year’s Eve Celebrations To Start 2025

Wacky plays on the Times Square Ball Drop feature descending muskrats, opossums, fish, cheese and a drag queen in a red high-heeled shoe.

What Grocery Stores Are Open On Christmas And New Year’s?

Many grocery stores are open as usual on Christmas Eve, but others will close early and remain closed until the day after Christmas.

Chrismukkah 2024: 5 Things To Know About Christmas And Hanukkah Hybrid

An episode of the teen drama “The O.C.” popularized the term, but it has been around since 19th century Germany.

Santa Tracker 2024: When St. Nick Arrives On Christmas Eve

Watching Santa make his annual trek around the world is a tried-and-true way to bring an extra spark of cheer to kids this holiday season.

2024 Was The Year Of The Sun, From Total Eclipse To Northern Lights

The sun reached solar maximum in 2024, gloriously so. Will the aurora displays that dazzled Americans be back in 2025?

A Surprise Proposal Is A Box Office Hit, More Good News Stories

Santas line streets in tribute to St. Nick’s biggest fan; the most Clark Griswold thing ever; “The stones are singing” (not those Stones).

Winter Solstice Arrives Saturday, And You May See Ursid Meteors

There’s nothing to look up at when the winter solstice arrives, but if you do you may see Ursid meteors from 2024’s last shooting star show.

What Community Holiday Traditions Should Be Brought Back? [Block Talk]

No holiday tradition symbolizes the joy of season quite like caroling, and readers say they’d like to see it come back.

55 Chain Restaurants Open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day Or Both In 2024

From fine dining to fast casual to drive-thrus, multiple restaurants will be open during the holidays for people who don’t want to cook.

AAA Expects Record Travel To Close Out 2024: When To Get Out Of Town

A record 119.3 million Americans are expected to travel to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and other holidays this year, mostly in their cars.

What New Year’s Resolution Did You Keep? How Did You Do It? [Survey]

Millions of people make resolutions every year, but some research shows only about 1 in 5 keep them. What does it take to be successful?

The 10 Best Christmas Movies According To Patch Readers [Survey]

“It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street” are favorites; whether “Die Hard” is a holiday film remains unsettled.

What’s Your Favorite Holiday Tradition? [Block Talk Survey]

If you could bring back a once common neighborhood custom — such as caroling, cookie exchanges and drop-in open houses — what would it be?

The Pug Wins Best In Show: 2024 National Dog Show Photos

Vito the Pug wins Best In Show at the 2024 National Dog Show. See photos of the stiff competition Vito faced.

Turn Thanksgiving Leftovers Into Something New With These 35 Recipes

Reimagining the Thanksgiving feast with creative leftovers can be part of the fun. Even green bean casserole can be transformed.

How Long Does Turkey Stay Good And Other Food Safety Tips

A common type of food poisoning increases around Thanksgiving every year due to a very common mistake, federal health officials say.