Do you know the Muffin Man? At Nice News, we can proudly say that yes, indeed we do. His name is Jacob Kaufman and he and the Muffin Lady, aka Julia Levy, are the founders of the philanthropic National Muffin Day. Their holiday-slash-movement rallies volunteers to bake muffins for people experiencing homelessnessand is celebrated annually in mid-February. Since its inception in 2015, more than 25,000 of the tasty treats have been distributed by nearly 3,000 "Muffinteers" in over 50 cities. "The muffin is a metaphor for kindness," Levy tells us. If you'd like to become a Muffinteer, you have until March 2 to join in on the festivities. Read our interview with the pair to learn how to get involved(andtest out their tried-and-true muffin recipe). — the Nice News team
Featured Story
How a Community Saved a 100-Year-Old Hotel, a Safe Haven for Black Americans
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Stained walls and boarded-up windows mark a dilapidated building wedged between developments in Sarasota, Florida's Rosemary District. Looking at the Colson Hotel in its current state, you'd never know it was once a symbol of resilience for Black Americans, but that's about to change. After over a year of negotiations spurred by a coalition of community members, the century-old landmark was spared from potential demolition in December — and now, plans are in the works for preserving its legacy. "It's proof that when a community unites around a meaningful cause, real change happens," Anand Pallegar, founder of the registered benefit corporation that purchased the property, tells Nice News. Click below to learn the hotel's history and get a glimpse of what it may look like in the future.
If you've been thinking about upgrading your mattress, now's the time to finally do it. Beautyrest's Presidents Day sale is going on through Tuesday, meaning you can save up to $900 with the purchase of select Beautyrest Black mattress and adjustable base sets. Beautyrest Black is where luxury meets innovation: It's the company's most advanced collection yet, with patented T3 Pocketed Coil® Technology, state-of-the-art cooling, premium support, and motion isolation. Click below to explore the options — your back will thank you.
Historic George Washington Portrait Is Being Restored in France
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An 18th-century portrait of George Washington is going under the knife, so to speak. The painting of the president by artist Charles Willson Peale is one of four presented as gifts to European leaders. It was recently moved from its place in the U.S. embassy in France to be restored by conservators at the Center for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France in Versailles. Experts are looking to return the historic artwork to its former glory, per Smithsonian Magazine. It was formerly not believed to be a real Peale piece due to previous, botched restoration attempts that left it looking much different than the other paintings in the series, one of which is pictured here. These alterations, not authorized by the original artist, came to light during the authentication process. "This painting has lived this incredibly dramatic life; it was essentially lost to history," conservator Lauren Hall said in a documentary released by the Office of Cultural Heritage last year. "We've not only relocated this picture but we've also contributed significantly to the greater understanding of this artist and his work."
Tech
Just Landed: Texas Airport Harnesses Jet Wind as Renewable Energy
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Dallas Love Field Airport may be a place of comings and goings — but it's also the destination of a major sustainability milestone. The Texas hub is officially home to the first Energy Capturing Pods from the JetWind Power Corporation. The tech works exactly as the name suggests, capturing aircraft-generated wind and transforming it into renewable energy. "The main goal of our project is to harness the consistent wind created by jets and convert it into an eco-friendly energy source," JetWind founder and president T.O. Souryal told Interesting Engineering. "What was once considered wasted energy can now benefit energy grids, ultimately promoting smarter and more sustainable infrastructure across the globe." After a testing period between 2021 and 2024, the city of Dallas agreed to install 13 pods over three years. So far, five are operational, and they're already easing pressures on Texas' power grid. The eventual plan is to go far beyond Dallas Love Field, though, as the pods have been designed to be used everywhere from heliports to trains and railways.
Sports
Gold-Winning Lovebirds Tara Davis and Hunter Woodhall Will Compete at the Same Meet
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We introduced you to the rom-com-worthy love story of long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall and sprinter Hunter Woodhall in our Paris Olympics and Paralympics coverage last year. The two track and field gold medalists are known for being each other's cheerleader on the sidelines — but soon they'll get to take part in the same competition. The USA Track & Field Para National Championships will be combined with the Outdoor Championships this summer — a change that willput both athletes at the same meet for the first timesince their college days. "We have never had the same Team USA trials because able body and para have always been separated," the couple wrote in a joint Instagram post about the rule change, adding: "So grateful to see equality for everyone." The combined competition will be a first, and a rare moment to see athletes of all kinds do what they do best on the same stage. "This meet will be momentous for the sport because we don't often get the opportunity to showcase able-bodied and para sport side by side," Sherrice Fox, the director of Paralympics Track & Field, said in a statement.
When a Eurasian eagle-owl at New York City's Central Park Zoo flew the coop in 2023, the world took notice. Concerned for his safety and captivated by his charisma, scores of admirers began tracking the bird's whereabouts. Photographers Jacqueline Emery and David Lei were two of those fans. The duo observed Flaco over 150 times, from the night of his escape up until a week before his untimely death a year ago today. In this book, they share beautiful photos of those encounters, along with details of how Flaco learned to adapt to life as a wild owl.
Who better than "America's dad" to narrate a documentary about the sister continents' natural wonders? Tom Hanks takes viewers all over North and South America in this "epic" 10-part series, which premieres tonight at 7 p.m. ET and will be available to stream on Peacock tomorrow. It's scored by Hans Zimmer and from the look of the trailer — featuring wild horses galloping against a lightning storm backdrop, lizards battling it out up-close, a snow-covered buffalo facing down the camera, and more — we're in for a truly cinematic experience.
This Week in History
Hattie McDaniel Becomes First Black Person to Win an Oscar
February 29, 1940
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When the film Gone With the Wind came out in 1939, it was an instant commercial and critical success, earning 13 Oscar nominations. One of those was a best supporting actress nod for Hattie McDaniel, who portrayed Mammy, an enslaved woman. McDaniel was the first Black person to be nominated for an Academy Award in the event's 11-year history, and at the 1940 ceremony, she also became the first Black person to win. In at least one way, though, that triumph was bittersweet,as the Los Angeles hotel where the ceremony took place was "whites only." By special request, McDaniel was allowed to enter, but she had to sit at a small table against a far wall rather than with her costars. It would be another 19 years before the hotel was officially integrated. Nevertheless, McDaniel strode to the stage and accepted her accolades with pride, calling it "one of the happiest moments" of her life. Watch her speech.
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