Latest news with #MisterSoftee
CNN
19-07-2025
- CNN
Summer fare from around the world to cool down in hot weather
In our latest roundup of travel news: the librarian who ran off with the yacht captain, what Disneyland used to look like, plus the best summer fare — from salads to ice cream to hot-weather drinks. If salad for you is just lettuce and tomatoes on a plate, you're doing it wrong. Take inspiration from around the world in our guide to 24 salads that deserve a place at every table. There's sweet and tangy 'prosperity toss' fish salad from Malaysia, Mexican chopped salad with jicama and pepitas, and pickled pressgurka from Sweden. Leave room too for the warm umami spice blend of Ethiopia's timatim, served with spongy injera flatbread. You've likely never heard of ayran, Turkey's much-loved mix of yogurt, salt and water, but it's been refreshing locals for at least 1,000 years. Its salty zest might not be to everyone's tastes, but it's ideal for restoring mineral balance lost through perspiration, and it's good for digestive health, too. Americans might be more familiar with cooling down with an ice cream from a Mister Softee truck, with childhood summers soundtracked by that comforting jingle. But the iconic brand is facing an uncertain future. This story from the 2024 archives explores the history of the summer staple, from its 1960s heyday to now. Following the news last week that US airplane passengers can now keep on their shoes at airport security checkpoints, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is now expanding checkpoint lanes for military members and families with children. The dedicated family lane will be introduced under a program called 'Families on the Fly.' Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, also hinted this week that there might be more changes to come. 'The liquids — I'm questioning,' said Noem at the Hill Nation Summit. 'So that may be the next big announcement is what size your liquids need to be.' The modern theme park industry was born on July 17, 1955, when Disneyland opened on 160 acres of former orange groves in Anaheim, California. The man behind it all — Walt Disney — is coming to (animatronic) life in a new show celebrating the park's 70th anniversary. And these fascinating archive photographs show how Disneyland looked when it launched 70 years ago. If that has you hankering for more fairytale castles, Portugal's red-and-yellow Pena Palace is a particularly playful example. Also in our roundup are Slovenia's Predjama Castle, built into the mouth of a cliffside cave, and Edinburgh Castle, Britain's most besieged fortress. It was Scotland's Perth Museum that was under attack this week, however, when a kilt-wearing man smashed a glass case holding the Stone of Destiny, an ancient symbol of Scottish nationhood. Here's what went down. The new season of CNN Travel's Chance Encounters podcast is more than halfway through, but there's still time to razzle-dazzle your summer with some beautiful tales of romance. American Vickie Moretz didn't know what 'standby' meant when she booked a cheap flight to London in 1982. Just before takeoff, she was rushed onboard and seated beside Graham Kidner — a 22-year-old Brit. That last-minute placement sparked a connection that's lasted over 40 years. Librarian Beverly Carriveau was 23 when she felt a 'thunderbolt' upon locking eyes with 30-year-old yacht captain Bob Parsons. It was the summer of 1968 and the two North Americans were in Mexico. Before long, Carriveau quit her job and moved to the country to be with him. To enjoy these podcasts to the maximum, you'll want to listen to them using some high-quality tech. Our partners at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have this guide to the best noise-canceling headphones, according to years of editor testing. After experiencing a devastating loss, Kema Ward-Hopper and her family were desperate for a change from their life in Houston. Now they are part of a growing American exodus seeking healing and a simpler life amid Costa Rica's natural beauty. The world's first national park isn't in the US. It's in a country with one of the world's lowest population densities. A frequent flyer needed a kidney transplant to live. This Delta worker donated one of hers. London has leaned into Jack the Ripper tourism. The locals don't like it. Japan is a model of cleanliness. So where are all the trash cans?
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Travel + Leisure
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Travel + Leisure
You Can Now Track Mister Softee Trucks With an App—Here's What to Know
There's no sound that sounds more like summer than hearing a Mister Softee ice cream truck's jingle, knowing that a cool, sweet treat is just steps away. For the greater part of the past six decades, the analog tradition has been a staple of East Coast summers. The family-owned company was founded in 1956 in Philadelphia, but is now headquartered in Runnemede, New Jersey, and is known for its nostalgic vibes. However, even this iconic company is adapting to the digital age—it now has an app that helps customers track down the location of its 625 trucks across 18 states. Available on both Apple's App Store and Google Play, the program provides a real-time map of truck locations. Once you open the app, there's no need to log in. Just hit 'Skip,' and it will show the live locations of all the trucks out and about at the moment. Click onto the little truck logo and you can find how long that particular truck has been operating, as well as a list of its menu items. When we pulled up the app on a Tuesday afternoon, we spotted 40 trucks in New York City's Manhattan, a dozen in the Philadelphia area, 10 in the California Bay Area, four in South Carolina's Myrtle Beach area, two each in the Orlando and Austin areas, as well as single trucks in Milwaukee and Memphis. Some were even in more unexpected areas, like three in Oxnard, California, and one each in Marietta, Georgia; Buda, Texas; and Mooresville, North Carolina. Of course, using the app does take away the throwback tradition of waiting to hear the jingle, an earworm that was written around 1960 by Philadelphia's Les Wass, who passed away in 2016. While he was told the tune would only be used on two or three trucks in South Jersey, it now rings from hundreds of vehicles, coast to coast. The app originally debuted in 2020, but it's gained much more popularity recently, after it relaunched this month. However, since the trucks are owned by 350 franchises, each owner has to opt into the app if they want their trucks' locations displayed. That means there's still a chance of happening upon a Mister Softee Truck that doesn't appear on the app's map. (Incidentally, while we were writing this story, we heard the truck in Hoboken, New Jersey, but didn't see it appear on the app's map.) One Apple Store user named 'Yasgurl' commented, 'We couldn't hear the ice cream truck anymore, so we decided we would chase it down … when we turned on the street, we found the truck. My dad even said, 'Yeah, I'll have to get that app too!' It was like magic, will definitely be using it again.'
CBS News
24-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Meet the Mister Softee driver helping South Jersey residents stay cool for 8 summers
For 8 summers, this Washington Township Mister Softee driver has helped people stay cool For 8 summers, this Washington Township Mister Softee driver has helped people stay cool For 8 summers, this Washington Township Mister Softee driver has helped people stay cool One way to beat the heat in Washington Township, New Jersey, is to jump in the pool at the Greenwood Park Bells Lake Community Club. Cairbre "Bre" Bishop is opting for another way to stay cool. "It's the perfect time for ice cream," Bishop said. Cue Mister Softee. Bishop has been behind the wheel of this truck for eight summers now. "It's the best time of the year! Everybody is looking for something: adults, kids, puppies, believe it or not," Bishop said. When it is hot like it was on Tuesday, his days are jammed with visiting different neighborhoods, pools and parks. Bishop clocks in before lunchtime and out after the sunset. In the parking lot, Bishop served up everything from shakes to twists in a cone. But where do Washington Township residents stand on the sprinkles vs. jimmies debate? "We always called them jimmies, and they were never known as sprinkles to us," Donna DiElmo, from Washington Township, said. "Sprinkles every time," Tricia Scappa, of Washington Township, said. "I was born and raised you call them jimmies. They're rainbow and chocolate jimmies, but when I'm at work, on the menu, it does say sprinkles," Bishop said. Whatever you call it, nothing quite beats a cold treat on a hot day. Now to make sure it doesn't melt, Bishop suggested: "You can always get a cone and get it flipped into a cup." He continued, "It's a little insurance policy!" Before long, "the very best" rolls on to another neighborhood.
Time Out
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Depop is throwing a giant free fashion block party in Soho this weekend
One perk of living in New York are the fabulous free events running all summer long, like bustling street fairs and epic outdoor concerts. But what's a NYC summer without a block party? On Saturday, sustainable shopping app Depop will celebrate our city of irreverent style and one-of-a-kind lewks with a blowout bash in Soho. From 1pm to 7pm, the Depop Block Party will fill the streets with top-notch second-hand fashion, live music, lots of food, and community vibes on June 14. Head to 126 Crosby Street to score second-hand gems from notable resellers, including '90s and Y2K attire by Soulful Threads, Pawneshoppe womenswear, men's collections at Fareri and ChrisFinds, as well as cool kids' apparel curated by Glo2Sick, and of course accessories with NikiAngel. Beyond the clothing racks, block party guests can groove to DJ sets, pop into a subway-themed photobooth, customize merch using a heat press, and visit a Depop Newsstand for surprises. There will even be a dedicated kids' activity space. We all know shopping works up your appetite, which is why plenty of NYC-style pizza, smash burgers, and classic Mister Softee cones will be on hand for purchase. But if you download the Depop app and flash it at the wristband station on Houston Street, you'll be able to snag free snacks from said food trucks. What's more, the trendy marketplace has partnered with Housing Works to build a Depop Souvenir Shop set inside the nonprofit's store on Crosby Street, in addition to making a donation towards its HIV/AIDS advocacy and charities. A week later, Cosmopolitan will drop its collaborative collection with the resale retailer, featuring hand-picked items from magazine editors as well as an exclusive Cosmo collection of merchandise. This one-of-a-kind shopping event on June 21 will be hosted by Cosmopolitan Editor-In-Chief Willa Bennett and include creative experiences like crafting and photography in addition to all the vintage hunting. 'Across June, we're making circular fashion more visible, accessible and engaging for New Yorkers through a mix of media, IRL experiences and digital shopping,' Depop's Interim CEO Peter Semple said in a press release. 'We'll be showing up where culture, communities, creativity and commerce intersect …. we're excited to celebrate and contribute to the many kinds of style and self-expression that have their home in New York.'
Time Out
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Union Pool's free Sunday concerts are back this summer—here's who's playing
There are certain harbingers of summer in New York City: the opening of local beaches like Rockaway; the sounds of the Mister Softee jingle faintly playing from blocks away; the concerning drips you feel from above while walking down the street, hoping to the subway gods that it's an air-conditioner unit and not pigeon poop. And one of our most tried-and-true signals that the warm-weather season has officially begun is when summer concerts return to Union Pool. Beginning on Sunday, June 29, the former pool supply store turned iconic Brooklyn venue—beloved for its tin-walled main room, saucy photobooth and spacious courtyard equipped with room for taco trucks and live bands—will bring back its annual "Summer Thunder" series, hosting a slew of free daytime concerts on site every weekend throughout the summer. The 13th annual iteration of the seasonal event will kick off with a show by indie songwriter and New York native Frankie Cosmos, with an opening set by Uruguay-born singer-guitarist Juan Wauters. Every Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., you can head to the bar's back patio to see the likes of genre-blurring experimentalist L'Rain (playing on July 13), folk artist Alex Amen (on July 27) or art-punk legend Ted Leo (on August 3), among many others. This year's lineup is packed with reliably excellent performers, but it still leaves room for surprises: the headliner of the closing show on August 24 has not yet been announced, with the venue simply posting "Watch This Space/Place." Sounds like a clue to us... As has become summer tradition, the Union Pool "Summer Thunder" shows are free and first-come, first served. They will go on through rain or shine but note that you do need to be aged 21 and over to attend. Check out the full 2025 lineup below:
