Bellingham, Wash. – September 19, 2026 -- The Non-UPF Verified certification program has grown to 304 verified products across 23 brands since opening for enrollment on January 21, 2026, and shoppers can now check that status instantly through a new smartphone app.

Nashville, Tenn. – September 19, 2026 -- A Scottsboro, Alabama, woman who has eaten at Captain D's since her local restaurant opened in the late 1970s has won a seven-night Alaska cruise for her family through a national sweepstakes tied to the chain's Alaska-sourced fish.

West Hollywood – September 19, 2026 -- Dialog Café, the West Hollywood breakfast spot known for its pasture-raised egg burritos, will reopen October 3, 2026, inside The Sun Rose West Hollywood hotel on Sunset Blvd, offering its full menu to longtime customers whose original café has been closed since a water main incident in July.

LAS VEGAS – September 19, 2026 -- WAN AICHEF ULTRA, an AI-powered cooking system, has been named a Professional Category Finalist in the 2026 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), presented by the Industrial Designers Society of America.

Montepulciano – September 19, 2026 -- Avignonesi, an organic and biodynamic producer of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, is launching a three-wine project called 300% Sangiovese in the U.S. this September, built on more than 15 years of parcel-by-parcel vineyard research.

The collection brings back two wines that had been absent from the market for several years -- In Grandi Annate Toscana IGT 2021 and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Late Release 2016 -- alongside a newer release, Poggetto di Sopra Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2022.

Miami – September 19, 2026 -- Early-bird tickets are now on sale for Vinous Icons: Miami, presented by Capital One, returning for its third edition on November 12–14, 2026.

The three-day program brings together more than 100 leading estates from Argentina, Chile, France, Italy, South Africa, Spain and the United States for two walk-around tastings, five masterclasses and two collector's events.

Myrtle Beach, S.C. – September 18, 2026 -- The Grand Strand Chef's Table returns Friday, Oct. 16, at the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach, spotlighting the region's chefs as national accolades pile up for the local dining scene. Gullah Geechee chef BJ Dennis headlines the event, hosted by The Local Palate magazine in partnership with Visit Myrtle Beach, the James Beard Foundation and the Culinary Institute.

Beverly Hills, Calif. – September 18, 2026 -- Beverage entrepreneur Lance Collins has launched ZenWTR, a vapor-distilled alkaline water brand with a pH of 9.5, now sold at Whole Foods Market, Walmart, Amazon, QuikTrip, Kwik Trip, Bristol Farms and Erewhon, with H-E-B locations adding it starting October 5.

Collins, who previously founded FUZE, NOS, BODYARMOR and CORE Hydration, built ZenWTR through vapor distillation followed by ionization via electrolysis to hit the 9.5 pH mark. A proprietary blend of calcium, potassium and magnesium is added afterward for taste.

September 18, 2026 – Appleton, WI – -- Natural Grocers is opening a new store in Appleton, Wisconsin, on Sept. 30, giving the first 150 customers mystery gift cards worth $5 to $500 and the first 500 shoppers a free hand-crafted Ecuadorian drawstring backpack normally valued at $30.

The good4u Crew will kick off the day at 8:15 a.m. with a $2,500 donation to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, followed by a ribbon-cutting with the Fox City Chamber. Doors open at 8:27 a.m.

Miami – September 18, 2026 -- Protein bar brand TRUBAR and matcha café chain Cha Cha Matcha have launched a joint collaboration bringing a new limited-edition matcha protein bar, a custom café drink and a protein-boosted cold foam to stores and select café locations.