Crumbl really is closing stores, and some of those closures are permanent. But the pink boxes are not disappearing everywhere.

As of October 24, 2026, the reporting reviewed for this story does not establish that Crumbl is shutting down the entire chain. Its official website is still offering a weekly dessert lineup, and its press page describes a business with more than 1,000 stores.

There is plenty of reason to pay attention to the closures. There is also a big difference between a struggling franchise location and the end of a brand.

How many Crumbl stores have closed?

KUTV’s October 8 coverage of Restaurant Business’s October 1 investigation reported at least 57 closures in 2026 alongside 20 openings. KUTV also reported a net decline of 37 locations, comparing a year-end 2025 franchise disclosure document total of 1,101 with Restaurant Business’s tally of 1,064 stores on Crumbl’s website.

Those are figures from that reporting period, not a fresh October 24 count. They also describe stores that had already closed, rather than a new announcement that 57 more are about to shut their doors.

Another number making the rounds is at least 55 franchises listed for sale, also reported by Restaurant Business and covered by KUTV. A sale listing does not confirm that a store will close. Adding those listings to the closure total would give readers the wrong picture.

Where have Crumbl stores closed?

Here are two closures documented by local reporters:

• Montgomery, Alabama: The Montgomery Advertiser reported October 16 that the Zelda Road bakery had posted a handwritten permanent-closure notice earlier that week. Its report directed customers to the remaining Vaughn Road location. The company had not explained the reason for that closure to the newspaper.
• St. Matthews, Kentucky: The Louisville Courier Journal reported October 9 that the store at 291 N. Hubbards Lane was permanently closed. Its operator, Red Sheep St. Matthews LLC, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on October 1, according to the newspaper’s review of court records.

The Kentucky bankruptcy was filed by that store’s operator. It should not be described as a bankruptcy filing by the entire Crumbl chain.

Why is Crumbl having trouble?

The reported sales decline is substantial. KUTV, citing Restaurant Business’s reporting on an internal company document, said August 2026 sales were 70% below August 2024. KUTV also relayed a 32% year-over-year decline in August visits, attributed to Placer.ai. Those are different measures and different comparison periods.

KUTV explicitly said it had not independently reviewed that internal sales document. The 70% figure should be read as attributed reporting, not as a public earnings statement from Crumbl.

In that same KUTV report, Zions Bank senior economist Robert Spendlove pointed to households cutting small luxuries as essentials become more expensive. He also said Crumbl’s rapid expansion could be a factor. Those are explanations to consider, not proof of why every individual shop closed.

Crumbl is still promoting new stores and changing its menu

The Winnipeg Free Press reported on October 14 that Manitoba’s first Crumbl was scheduled to open October 23. The brand’s Crossroads Station page now lists ordering information for the Winnipeg shop.

Closer to the menu, Crumbl is currently advertising Cookie Thins and Dirty Sodas starting at 99 cents, with soda at select locations. We broke down what the new Crumbl value menu actually includes. It is a current offer, not evidence that the company’s business problems have been solved.

So, is this the end of Crumbl? The evidence supports a company losing stores and facing a difficult stretch. It does not support telling readers that the whole chain is going away.

If you are worried about your usual location, check its listing in Crumbl’s official store finder and confirm its hours before making the trip. A missing listing, a temporary ordering outage and a posted permanent-closure notice should not all be treated as the same thing.

The new color. The limited drop. The collection you apparently need to complete before you have even found somewhere to put the first one.

I would like a minute.

Welcome to Do We Actually Need This?, the corner of Totally The Bomb where we can enjoy cute stuff and still question the sales pitch.

Yes, on this website

We have an entire category called These Things Are Better Than Your Things. The irony has not escaped me.

A fun find can be fun. A useful product can solve an actual problem. And sometimes you just want the ridiculous little thing because it makes you happy. You do not need to present a defense of that purchase to a committee.

But I want room for the other conversation, too. Why this one? Why now? What does it actually cost? And why does opting out sometimes feel like failing to participate?

That is where this hub lives. The sales pressure deserves a closer look. The person enjoying their little treat does not need a lecture from me.

Before the checkout button gets ideas

Here are four questions worth asking when a perfectly ordinary purchase starts acting like an emergency:

• Would I still want it without the countdown? Imagine the exact same thing sitting quietly on a shelf next week. Still interested?
• What am I actually buying? A replacement, something genuinely useful, a bit of joy, or another version of something I already like? There is no prize for pretending those are all the same decision.
• What is the full total? Include shipping, required extras and any recurring charge. If the hypothetical choice is $5 shipping or $15 of stuff you did not want, the extra stuff costs more.
• Can I leave it? You can admire something without owning it. You can also decide you want it after all. The point is getting to make the decision yourself.

Start here

My “No Purchasing Extra Stuff” January
In this December 2019 essay, I called my planned break from buying extras NOPES. A personal reset from the archive, not a rulebook for everybody else’s budget.

Why I don’t give a fig about Valentine’s Day
An older rant about the pressure to buy another gift to prove you love somebody. The gas-station teddy bear did not escape unscathed.

Martha Stewart’s Kmart era will always have my heart
The other side of this conversation: people deserve lovely things at prices they can reach. Questioning consumption should not turn into sneering at somebody else’s taste or budget.

What gets the side-eye

Endless new versions. Collectible pressure. Deals that need a calculator. “Must-haves” that require buying three more things to use the first thing. The idea that every holiday needs a completely new set of stuff.

When we look at a specific offer, the price, terms and claims need receipts. The opinion can have a little attitude.

Sometimes the answer to “Do we actually need this?” will be no. Sometimes it will be, “No, but I want it.” Fair enough. Let’s at least get through the sales pitch before it gets through our wallets.

On the Holiday Hide Lola Original, $125 buys the 30-by-36-inch Baby size. The 50-by-60-inch Medium is $275. That is a fairly significant difference if the plan involves covering your own legs on the couch.

Holiday Hide sizes and prices

These are the U.S. list prices displayed on October 24, 2026, before any verified discount or checkout charges:

The page listed all four sizes in stock when checked. Choose the actual size before comparing prices, and recheck availability before ordering.

Checks, red, green and one very good animal print

The holiday collection includes Red Check, Green Check, Chocolate Check and Holiday Hide among its new Original prints. The new solid colors include Reykjavik Red, Nordic Pine, Firewood and Blue Lagoon.

Holiday Hide moves through white, taupe and dark brown. It gives you a seasonal blanket that can stay on the couch after the ornaments come down, without an obvious Christmas motif announcing that you forgot to put something away.

Lola also has weighted blankets and pillows in the holiday shop. Those are separate products; the size and price table above is for the Holiday Hide Original.

Read the wash instructions before gifting it

Holiday Hide is 95% polyester and 5% spandex. Lola directs shoppers to wash it separately in cold water with liquid detergent, skip fabric softener and hang it to dry. A brief tumble on the air setting is suggested for fluffing.

The return window deserves a look, too: items must be unused, unwashed and in their original packaging, and you must both request and ship the return within 14 days of receipt.

Processing is listed as three to five business days, with shipping time added separately. If this is going under someone’s tree, check the delivery estimate and return terms before ordering it weeks ahead.

That is the actual setup of Wicker, the new movie starring Colman and Alexander Skarsgård, who plays her very tall, very woven husband. Peter Dinklage is the basketmaker. This casting list is doing a lot for a story that begins with a custom order.

What is Wicker about?

Colman plays a fisherwoman who is mocked by the people in her seaside village. She commissions a husband made from wicker, and their romance quickly becomes everyone else’s business.

According to Black Bear’s official synopsis, the relationship sets off jealousy and outrage among her conservative neighbors. Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson wrote and directed the film, and Elizabeth Debicki also stars.

The premise sounds like a fairy tale, but this is an adult comedic fable. Jacob Burns Film Center lists it as rated R, with a 105-minute running time.

Yes, that’s Skarsgård under the wicker look

The woven face is part of a prosthetic costume. In an ABC News interview, Skarsgård discussed the transformation; the report credits Wētā Workshop’s team with the prosthetics, using digital sculpting and 3D printing.

That gives the movie’s unusual romance an actual face to react to. You don’t have to imagine what a basketmaker’s idea of a husband might look like.

Where can you watch Wicker?

Wicker opened in U.S. theaters October 23, 2026. Use the official movie website’s showtime and ticket search to check nearby screenings.

As of October 24, Black Bear is directing viewers to theaters. The official pages checked for this story do not announce a home-streaming release date or service. If you’re planning a couch watch, that date is still one to wait for; the current confirmed option is a theater ticket.

There are dirty sodas, too. Before you plan a cookie-and-drink stop, check your store: Crumbl says soda is available at select locations, and “starting at” leaves room for different prices.

Which cookie is on Crumbl’s value menu?

The official menu lists a Chocolate Chip Cookie Thin with semi-sweet chocolate chips. Crumbl describes caramelized edges and a chewy center. It is listed separately from the regular Chocolate Chip Cookie in the weekly lineup.

That is the distinction to keep in mind when you see the 99-cent headline. The new value menu features Cookie Thins and Dirty Sodas; it does not advertise every full-size weekly cookie for that price.

What about the dirty sodas?

Crumbl’s drink lineup includes Electric Storm, made with Sprite Zero, blue raspberry and coconut cream, and Dirty Dr. Pepper, made with Diet Dr Pepper, coconut cream and a fresh lime wedge.

There is also Butter Me Up: Barq’s root beer with butterscotch, vanilla and heavy cream. The name is doing a fairly accurate job of explaining the assignment.

The brand advertises more than 40 drink combinations, but that does not mean every drink, size or customization costs 99 cents. The price is a starting point. Check the total for your actual order.

Find a Crumbl that serves dirty sodas

Use Crumbl’s dirty soda store finder and search your city, state or ZIP code before heading out. Then select your store in the ordering menu to confirm the items and prices available there.

A nearby Crumbl and a nearby Crumbl serving dirty sodas may be two different errands.

The brand’s new Delights line takes things in a sweet direction, with Choc-O Crunch and Cinn-O Crunch. These are chocolate and cinnamon blends for desserts, breakfast and baking, packaged in the familiar shaker format.

Both launched October 23, 2026, in 5-ounce bottles, according to The Lane Report’s launch coverage.

What’s in the two flavors?

Choc-O Crunch combines chocolate, honey, brown sugar and Madagascar vanilla. The official ingredient list also includes cocoa powder and chocolate-and-carob pearl sugar.

Cinn-O Crunch goes the honey, cinnamon and brown-sugar route. Think of it as the cinnamon-side option when you’re choosing between the two shakers, rather than another savory seasoning for dinner.

These are sweet blends with sugar in their ingredient lists. If you’re buying for someone who avoids sugar, check the actual label before adding one to the cart.

Sprinkle it on, or bake it in

Dan-O’s suggests using the blends two ways: as a finishing topping or mixed into batter and dough. Its ideas include Choc-O Crunch in brownies, Cinn-O Crunch in cookies, and either one over pancakes, buttered toast, fruit or ice cream.

A scoop of vanilla ice cream seems like the simplest place to start: you can try a little topping without committing an entire batch of brownies to a new ingredient. That’s a serving idea, not a taste-test verdict.

Where to buy Dan-O’s Delights

As checked October 24, the official store lists a single Choc-O Crunch bottle for $8.96 and a mixed pair for $17.92. The pair includes one bottle of each flavor, so it’s the straightforward option if you want to compare chocolate with cinnamon.

Shipping and taxes are calculated at checkout. The site’s free standard shipping offer applies to orders over $50 in the lower 48 states; the two-bottle bundle alone doesn’t reach that threshold.

Apparently, that hairstyle still has plans.

The poof hairstyle, also spelled “pouf,” has been working its way back into beauty coverage for a few years. In 2026, it has red-carpet appearances to back it up, too. The part worth borrowing is the lifted front section. How high you take it is entirely your business.

The poof has been showing up on red carpets again

Anne Hathaway wore a voluminous half-up hairstyle to the March 2026 Oscars.

Then came Charli XCX’s textured half-up look at the Met Gala. Her hairstylist, Matt Benns, told NewBeauty that he wanted to keep her natural, lived-in style. He gathered the upper section at the crown for height, built up the texture and finished with teasing and styling sprays.

So the comeback has room for both a neat little front bump and a much bigger, curlier half-up look. You don’t have to commit to the tallest hair in the room.

What makes a poof a poof?

It’s that raised section of hair swept back from the front, with enough lift to make a visible bump instead of lying flat. Prose’s guide to the style explains that the volume can come from your natural texture or teasing, and you can wear it with loose hair, a ponytail, a bun or braids.

The fun is in the proportions. A small lift with the rest of your hair down looks very different from a tall, sculpted front section. Same basic idea; very different level of commitment.

How to try a smaller poof

For an approachable starting point, hairstylist Sophie Sugarman’s pinned-back styling method shared with GLAMOUR keeps the shape smooth and controlled. Here’s a simplified way to approach that look:

1. Start with dry, styled hair. If you’re blow-drying or using a hot tool first, apply an appropriate heat protectant.
2. Separate the front section. Gather the face-framing hair you want to pin back, leaving the rest loose.
3. Choose your height before you pin. Sweep that section back toward the crown, keeping a little lift at the front instead of pulling it completely flat.
4. Secure it and tidy the surface. Use pins or a small barrette, then a little hairspray to hold the shape and settle flyaways.

Start small so you can see whether you like the shape from the side as well as the front. You can always loosen and reposition the section before adding more hold.

You can keep your curls

A poof doesn’t require straightening every strand. The lifted section can sit above loose curls, or become the front of a ponytail or bun. If you want a softer look, keep some of that texture instead of brushing everything into a perfectly smooth shell.

Try the smallest version with the pins you already have. The Bumpit shopping can wait.

November 2026 restaurant deals at a glance

Last checked: October 24, 2026. These offers are announced for future dates, not available today.

November 1: Chipotle is waiving delivery fees

Chipotle announced that eligible digital delivery orders placed on Sunday, November 1, 2026 have a $0 delivery fee. The promotion has a $10 minimum order before taxes and fees at participating U.S. restaurants within Chipotle’s delivery areas. Other service fees and higher delivery-menu prices may still apply; $0 delivery fee does not mean the entire order is free. The promotion excludes catering and Burritos by the Box. Verify your total at checkout.

Source: Chipotle’s official October 20 announcement and terms.

November 11: Red Robin is treating military guests to a free burger and fries

On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, veterans and active-duty military members can receive a complimentary Red’s Big Tavern Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries at participating Red Robin restaurants. This is dine-in only and requires a valid military ID or proof of service. Substitutions, additions and premium sides cost extra.

Red Robin is also running its Buy a Veteran a Gift Card program throughout November; that program lets customers purchase cards donated to local veteran organizations and is not a general customer discount.

Source: Red Robin’s official October 22 announcement.

November 11: Chili’s has a free Veterans Day meal

Veterans and active-duty military members can select one free meal from Chili’s limited Veterans Day menu on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at participating restaurants. This offer is dine-in only, with no substitutions. Beverages and gratuity are not included, and the offer cannot be combined with other deals. Chili’s lists Chicken Crispers, Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas, an Oldtimer Burger with Cheese, and soup and house salad among the choices. Check the current choices with your participating restaurant.

Source: Chili’s official Veterans Day terms for 2026.

November 11: WaBa Grill has a $5 anniversary bowl and free cake for veterans

WaBa Grill is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a $5 Chicken & Veggie Bowl on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, according to its October 13 announcement. The brand also says veterans can receive a free slice of its vanilla crepe cake on Veterans Day at its locations, while supplies last. WaBa Grill operates in California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas, so this is a regional offer rather than a nationwide chain deal. Check participating store details and availability before ordering.

Source: WaBa Grill’s official October 13 announcement.

What about other November restaurant deals?

Many restaurants announce Veterans Day specials, app promotions, Black Friday offers and holiday-menu incentives closer to their start dates. We are not copying last year’s offers into the 2026 calendar as though they were confirmed. Watch for updates with specific dates, eligibility requirements, participating locations and official sources.

For offers happening before November, our October 2026 restaurant-deals guide has the current October promotions and expiration dates.

Spoilers ahead for Episodes 4 and 5.

Episode 4’s proposal: Taylor Swift, “Lover”

Noah plans for Joanne’s favorite Swift song to play when he proposes.

Episode 4’s closing: Miley Cyrus, “You”

It’s a stripped-down rendition of her 2023 song. On the soundtrack album, look for “You (Demo).”

Episode 5’s tarot-card moment: Megan Moroney, “Say When”

The song accompanies Sasha learning the romantic meaning of the Two of Cups card Morgan gives him. Moroney wrote it for the season.

The album is a separate list

Netflix lists 17 album tracks, including “You (Demo)” and “Say When,” but not “Lover.” The official guide has the listening link and identifies additional songs heard in the show.

All 10 episodes are now streaming on Netflix. For the characters and setup, see our Season 3 guide.

The 2026 UNO Championship Series Tournament takes place November 11 in Los Angeles, with Owen Thiele and Amita Rao hosting. The Adults co-stars will provide live commentary while the players battle for the title, according to Mattel’s announcement and TheWrap’s report.

So yes, the game that can turn a perfectly pleasant family night into a very personal Draw Four situation is getting the full tournament treatment.

How to watch the UNO Championship

You can watch the finals on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, on UNO’s Twitch channel. That’s the stream linked from the official championship website.

Thiele and Rao have already shared a video announcing their hosting duties. They’ll be there for the commentary and chaos; the prize goes to the player who wins the tournament.

Who’s playing for the $50,000?

The official rules outline a 48-player finals field: seven qualifying finalists and 41 invited players, including creators, international players and other brand fans.

Three qualifying spots were available through in-person events in Kissimmee, Chicago and El Segundo. Four more were available through the UNO! Mobile app competition. Those qualifying events and entry periods have already ended, so this is one to put on your watch calendar, not a new chance to sign up for the prize.

The top-scoring player in the finals takes the $50,000 grand prize and the title of 2026 UNO Champion. Bragging rights at the next game night should be fairly easy to establish.

Starbucks’ Black Cat Frappuccino launched October 22, 2026, alongside the Venti Black Night Cookie. According to Starbucks’ launch announcement, both are available at select U.S. coffeehouses through Halloween.

If this has been on your October treat list, here’s what to know before you go.

What’s in the Black Cat Frappuccino?

It’s a cocoa-flavored Crème Frappuccino topped with whipped cream and chocolatey cat ears. Starbucks describes the flavor as brownie-like. A Halloween drink wearing its own tiny costume feels entirely appropriate.

It comes in grande only

The Black Cat Frappuccino is available exclusively in grande. The announced window runs October 22–31 at participating U.S. coffeehouses, so check with your location before making a special trip.

This is an official menu item. You can ask for it by name instead of bringing a custom recipe from our Starbucks secret-menu collection. For your store’s price and availability, check its current menu.

There’s a matching cookie, too

The Venti Black Night Cookie has dark chocolate dough, caramel fudge pieces and caramelized white chocolate chunks. Starbucks describes it as a shareable cookie. Whether it actually gets shared is a separate conversation.

Wondering how it tastes? Our Black Cat Frappuccino review roundup compares published taste tests before you decide what to order.

And Salem is involved

Starbucks recruited Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch for the launch. Of course the sarcastic talking cat got a Halloween beverage campaign. Excellent casting.

Looking for the drinkware instead? Our Starbucks Black Cat Cup guide covers the separate merchandise collection. For this treat run, ask your store about the Frappuccino and cookie.

The published taste tests don’t all describe the same experience. Chocolate mousse, tart fruit and even licorice notes have entered the conversation. That is quite a lot happening underneath one little whipped-cream hat.

Here’s what reviewers who tried it are saying. These are their experiences, not our own taste test, and this small roundup isn’t a survey of everyone who ordered the drink.

For Delish, it was chocolate dessert in a cup

In her prelaunch review for Delish, Megan Schaltegger compared the drink to chocolate mousse or flourless cake. She found it decadent without being excessively sweet and was pleasantly surprised by how much she liked it.

If your ideal Halloween drink is basically dessert with a straw, that’s an encouraging place to start.

Elite Daily picked up a fruity twist

Elite Daily’s Rachel Chapman expected something closer to cookies and cream or mocha. Instead, she described a richer cocoa flavor with a tart, fruit-like undertone that reminded her of chocolate-covered raspberries.

She enjoyed it, but the flavor surprised her. That comparison is her tasting impression; it doesn’t mean Starbucks has announced raspberry as an ingredient.

That distinction matters when you’re deciding whether to swap out your usual order. “Chocolate” can mean a whole lot of different things to different people.

Tasting Table found more than straightforward chocolate

Tasting Table’s Hunter Wren Miele bought the drink on launch day and tried it without customizations. Their favorable review described buttery cream, dark chocolate and a licorice-like note. Mixing in the whipped cream softened the flavor.

Miele also liked the Venti Black Night Cookie, describing a lightly crisp outside and a chewy, brownie-like center. Their favorite combination was dipping the cookie into the drink and whipped cream.

Honestly, the cookie deserves a little attention of its own. You can be interested in a Halloween bakery treat without committing to a whole new drink order.

What to know before you order

These reviewers generally enjoyed the drink, but they picked up different flavors. That gives you a few useful comparisons, not a guarantee that you’ll love it.

Starbucks describes the drink as a cocoa-flavored Crème Frappuccino with brownie-like notes, whipped cream and chocolatey cat ears. It launched October 22, comes in grande only and is available at participating U.S. coffeehouses through Halloween.

The matching cookie has dark chocolate dough, caramel fudge pieces and caramelized white chocolate chunks. Our Black Cat Frappuccino launch guide has the ordering details. Check your store for its current price and availability.

My takeaway from these reviews: go in expecting a rich dessert drink, with room for the cocoa flavor to surprise you. And if you’ve already tried it, tell us what you tasted. Chocolate cake? Something fruity? Or are you going back for the cookie?

A fifth Halloweentown movie is in early development at Disney Channel and Disney+, TheWrap reported on October 22. Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn are developing the script.

Who would play Marnie?

That’s still an open question. TheWrap says it’s unclear whether Kimberly J. Brown or Sara Paxton will return.

Brown played Marnie in the first three films: Halloweentown, Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge and Halloweentown High. Paxton took over for Return to Halloweentown in 2006, so a fifth movie raises a casting question beyond simply getting the old gang back together.

Where the last movie left things

The original Halloweentown arrived in 1998. By the fourth movie, Marnie and her brother Dylan were enrolling at Witch University, according to Disney’s official synopsis.

That’s the existing story to catch up on. TheWrap’s new report doesn’t include a plot or release date for the potential fifth film.

One Piece: Grand Gourmet is a new restaurant-management game from Kairosoft. You join the crew at Baratie Number Two, where collecting ingredients, cooking dishes, and decorating the dining room are all part of the job.

Bandai Namco announced the game’s U.S. launch on October 23, 2026. It is available on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PC through Steam, iOS, and Android.

Sanji cooks. You get to fuss over the restaurant.

You work with Sanji to create dishes, put together meal sets, and find more recipes. The announced menu includes Water-Water Meat BBQ and Sea King Penne Gorgonzola, so this restaurant is very much operating in the One Piece universe.

There is plenty to decorate, too. Bandai Namco lists more than 200 furniture, building, and decoration items, including Whole Cake Island and Egghead designs. Characters who like the place can become regulars.

More than 400 characters appear as staff and customers, all in pixel-art form. The official screenshots show a sprawling restaurant with wildly different little dining areas. Choosing one matching set of chairs does not appear to be the assignment.

How much does Grand Gourmet cost?

The U.S. iPhone and iPad listing is $12.99. Nintendo’s U.S. store lists the Switch 2 edition at $19.99. Those are the listed prices checked October 23.

The iPhone version requires iOS 13 or later, and the iPad version requires iPadOS 13 or later. For PC or Android, follow the store links from the official game page for that platform’s current price.

Is it multiplayer?

No. Bandai Namco identifies Grand Gourmet as a single-player game, and Nintendo lists one player on a single system. The hundreds of familiar faces are characters in your restaurant, not hundreds of other people joining your game.

Brick Night costs $129 and uses Bluetooth to block the apps you choose while you’re inside a designated space during your chosen hours. Leave that space, or reach the end of the time window, and the apps unblock.

That location rule is the important difference from the original $59 Brick. You’re paying an extra $70 for the room to become part of the trigger, rather than relying only on a tap or a schedule.

How Brick Night works

Setup happens in the Brick app: choose the apps you want blocked, define your space, and set the hours when the rule should apply. The device then activates your selected blocking mode automatically when your phone enters that space during those hours.

Brick says you can set a space up to 25 by 25 feet. It estimates your phone’s proximity using Bluetooth signal strength, and the range can extend through walls.

That last detail matters. Think adjustable zone, not a magical line across your bedroom doorway. Check the range you set so the nearby room where you still want your apps isn’t accidentally part of it.

Brick Night vs. the original Brick

The original Brick is $59. Brick’s comparison page says it can block apps when you tap it or follow a schedule. Brick Night is $129 and adds Bluetooth-based location blocking during the time window you choose.

Both use the same Brick app. If scheduled blocking already does what you want, the original device already covers that approach. Night’s specific appeal is having the rule depend on where your phone is, too.

Sharing a bedroom doesn’t mean sharing one person’s settings. According to Brick, multiple users can connect to the same Brick Night and independently choose their apps, time windows, spaces, and modes.

Compatibility, batteries, and app fees

Brick’s compatibility FAQ lists iPhones running iOS 17 or later and Android phones running Android 12 or later. Check your phone’s software version before buying. Brick Night works through the Brick app and Bluetooth, so this is more than simply setting a box on the nightstand.

The Midnight Blue device measures 73 by 73 by 45 millimeters. It comes with two CR2477 batteries, needs no Wi-Fi, and doesn’t require charging, according to its product page.

As for a subscription, Brick’s current payment terms say the app and associated cloud services are included with the hardware purchase, with no recurring subscription fee under the current model. Those terms also allow future optional subscription offerings, so “no monthly fee now” is more accurate than promising every future feature will be free forever.

Where to buy it and what to know about returns

Brick announced Brick Night’s October 22 launch at $129 through its own website. The product page currently has an Add to Cart option and advertises free shipping. Brick’s published U.S. free-standard-shipping threshold is $75 after discounts and before taxes, which the $129 device clears.

The current return instructions say to submit a request within 30 days of delivery, then ship the items back within 14 days of submitting the return. An approved request comes with a prepaid label, and the items must be in their original condition for a full item refund. Keep the packaging and follow the instructions supplied with your return.

The deciding question is pretty simple: do you want an app-blocking schedule, or do you want your chosen room to be part of the rule? That is what separates the $59 Brick from the $129 Brick Night.

Halloween History Detectives is happening Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon at the museum downtown. Admission is free, and the museum asks families to register online.

Pick up a passport and follow the clues

Families start at the front desk with a History Detectives passport, then explore the museum and collect six stamps. Bring the completed passport back to the desk for a prize.

The official event listing also includes animals, artifacts and hands-on activities from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, plus creepy-crawly crafts. Costumes are encouraged.

The zoo activities take place at the museum, so head downtown for this one.

Register for the free Halloween event

Use the museum’s Halloween History Detectives registration page to reserve your family’s spots and check current availability.

Where to go and how to get inside

The museum is at 215 S. Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs, inside the historic 1903 El Paso County Courthouse. The clock tower in the photo above belongs to that building; it is an archival museum photo.

For parking, the museum lists the garage at 130 S. Nevada Avenue and downtown meters.

Its visitor information notes a ramp entrance on the south side, with a doorbell for staff assistance, and elevator access to every floor.

The 2026 Member’s Mark Thanksgiving meal arrives October 28. The complete assortment costs about $160 before tax and is designed to feed up to 16 people. Sam’s Club estimates about two hours to prepare it.

What comes in the Sam’s Club Thanksgiving meal?

There are 11 Member’s Mark items, with double quantities of a few favorites:

• Hickory-smoked turkey
• Boneless carver ham
• Yukon Gold mashed potatoes
• Turkey gravy
• Green beans with dried cranberries and almonds, two portions
• Macaroni and cheese, two portions
• Sweet corn with garlic butter
• Cranberry crunch salad
• Yeast dinner rolls
• Charcuterie entertainment tray
• Two 12-inch pumpkin pies

That charcuterie tray gives the kitchen lurkers somewhere else to hover. A useful contribution to Thanksgiving peace.

How the $10-per-person price works

The advertised figure divides the estimated price of the entire assortment by 16. Individual dishes are priced separately, and some are sold by weight. Your total and portions can vary by club, product weight and substitutions.

For a smaller gathering, compare the full cart with the dishes you actually want. The lowest per-person number assumes a full table of 16.

When and how to order

Beginning October 28, members can add the full assortment to their online cart with one click, then add or remove items. Shopping in-club, curbside pickup and delivery are also options.

Sam’s Club’s two-hour estimate is for preparation, and individual oven times vary. Delivery fees and availability depend on your membership, order and location. The official meal announcement and its footnotes have the full details.

The Raspberry Spread Plush Squeaker copies the look of the brand’s signature spread jar, right down to the raspberry-red body. The label says raspberry spread, but this one is a stuffed squeaky toy, not something to put on toast.

What you get for $20

According to As ever’s product listing, the toy measures 4.9 inches tall, 4 inches wide and 4 inches deep. The listed materials are canvas, fleece and cotton stuffing, with a squeaker inside.

Where to get the jam-jar squeaker

The toy was listed at $20 with an add-to-basket option when we checked on October 22. As ever labels it limited edition, but the listing doesn’t give a quantity or an end date.

The brand ships to all 50 U.S. states and offers ground and expedited shipping. Free ground shipping applies only to orders over $50, so one $20 toy does not qualify. The product page doesn’t give a flat shipping price for a smaller order; check the total before paying.

The product page also says returns aren’t accepted.

For the people on the gift list, we’ve also covered As ever’s separate Compartés chocolate Advent calendar. This little jam jar is for the toy basket.

POP MART’s THE MONSTERS Cat Mode On vinyl plush pendants put the little toothy characters in kitten outfits with bows under their chins. The calico has orange, white, and dark patches, green eyes, and the expression of a creature that has absolutely knocked something off a counter.

Cat people, this feels targeted.

The calico has some very cute competition

There are nine regular designs: Calico, Persian, Ragdoll, Cow, Strawberry, Matcha, Midnight, Leopard, and Siamese Kitty. A secret Maine Coon rounds out the lineup.

Strawberry Kitty is pink. Matcha Kitty goes green. So you can admire the ones that look a little like actual cats, then immediately get distracted by the pastel nonsense.

Yes, these are blind boxes

The U.S. price is $29.99 for a single blind box. That means spotting the calico in an ad is not the same as ordering that exact cat.

POP MART’s FAQ says you cannot choose a particular figure from a blind-box series. The design stays a surprise until the box is opened, and a secret edition is not guaranteed.

POP NOW adds an online reveal after purchase. It is still a blind-box purchase, not a menu where you select your favorite kitty.

How big are they, and where can you get one?

POP MART lists the pendants at about 7.5 inches without the tail, or 10.2 inches including it. These are fairly substantial little bag companions. The brand marks them for ages 15 and up.

When checked on October 22, POP MART’s U.S. Deliver To Home option showed single boxes and whole sets out of stock. The separate POP NOW option displayed an estimated shipping date of November 15, 2026, so that is not an immediate-delivery promise.

You can see the current options on POP MART’s official Cat Mode On vinyl plush pendant page.

The brand’s Thin & Crispy launch is headed exclusively to select Whole Foods Market stores in October 2026. It’s pre-portioned dough you bake at home, not a bag of finished cookies from the snack aisle.

Chocolate Chunk or Double Chocolate?

Chocolate Chunk is the classic-looking option, with chocolate pieces in a lighter-colored cookie. Double Chocolate goes darker: the brand describes it as brownie-inspired flavor in a crisp cookie. Brownie people have been given a cookie option.

Look for “Thin & Crispy” on the bright pink bags. That wording matters if you’re specifically shopping for this new texture rather than another Sweet Loren’s dough.

The baking directions are worth checking

Both product pages give the same instructions, so you don’t need two different oven plans if you buy both flavors:

• Heat a conventional oven to 350°F, or a toaster oven to 300°F.
• Leave 2 inches between the dough portions on the baking sheet.
• Bake for 16–18 minutes, starting at the shorter time and checking for golden edges and a crisp cookie.
• Let the cookies rest on the sheet until they’re cool to the touch. The brand says they continue baking as they sit.

Follow the directions on your actual package if they differ. The dough is already portioned, and the launch announcement says you can bake one cookie or a whole tray. You do not have to turn a cookie craving into a mixing-bowl situation.

Where to look before making a special trip

The October rollout is at select Whole Foods Market stores, with timing and availability varying by location. Start with Sweet Loren’s store locator, then call your store about the specific Thin & Crispy flavor. The brand recommends checking stock before heading over.

When checked October 22, 2026, both online product pages showed a “Notify me when available” option. A product page existing is not the same thing as being able to order it, so don’t count on online checkout as your backup plan.

Both flavors are listed as gluten-free and dairy-free. The product pages also disclose shared manufacturing equipment with products containing egg and soy, so check the current package for your household’s ingredient and allergen needs.

If you were thinking of the Sweet Loren’s and Baked by Melissa cookie cupcakes, those are a separate treat. This one needs a baking sheet. And, for the crispy-cookie crowd, a little patience while that sheet cools.