Lauren BairWelcome to the Bright Side, a weekly roundup of all the good news and ideas you might have missed from the past week.
This week: what it means to go full Halloween mode, you totally got that costume idea from Japan, a newborn baby with more chill than a day off, a polar bear’s idea of pumpkin spice, elevated thinking, and meat that really sticks to your ribs.
Going Full “Halloween Mode”
Tesla debuted the “flying” Roadster last week, but as impressive as anti-gravity maneuvers might be (definitely a contender for Car and Driver’s Best In Class for motion sickness), I was most impressed by a Cybertruck parked on the street. With no other humans in sight, it cackled and flickered its lights as I walked by, treating me to a cartoonishly creepy serenade that even got my dog’s attention.
Loving Halloween 🎃 mode thanks @tesla https://t.co/IeltsNCGQy
— AAA TSLA (@AAAtesla) October 16, 2026
I drive an 18-year-old Honda Fit that offers the option to play CDs and roll down three out of four windows. But bless everyone out there in their Teslas and Rivians (cool “Ghostbusters” theme, guys), adding vibes to these streets with their Halloween updates. As for the ghosts this tech allegedly detects in graveyards? I’ll be over here keeping my high beams on.
One Creative Costume Contest
If you’re feeling extra inspired ahead of the office costume contest this year, you can thank the Japanese variety show “Kasou Taishou” for kicking off the DIY trend back in the ’70s.
These are all so creative https://t.co/vIAzjYZ0kT
— Daily Memes (@thedailymemes_) October 22, 2026
Once again making the rounds on the internet, the concept comes straight out of the low-tech performance art archives. Teams created precise costumed simulations of off-road vehicles, billiards, table tennis matches, and more. I just need to rope in a few friends so I can dress up as those genius french fries falling out of the box.
This Baby’s Got Chill
A baby born in Egypt this week blew up the internet for looking completely unbothered, just minutes after entering the world. Under the watchful care of pediatrician and neonatologist Dr. Islam Eldeh, he relaxed with one foot resting on the other knee, and his head on his hands like he’s got it from here.
Baby goes viral for his extreme relaxation minutes after being born. https://t.co/NcwPOCGN2B
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) October 17, 2026
He won over hearts on X with commenters posting: “When he realizes he doesn’t have to pay taxes, bills, or student loans for at least another 18 years,” “Guy needs whiskey and a cigar,” and “He just needs a La-Z-Boy.” Pass this kid a bottle — shaken, not stirred.
Pumpkins For Polar Bears
Leave it to a fat pumpkin to remind us that it ain’t over till it’s over. After judges disqualified it in a Canadian harvest contest for having a deal-breaking soft spot, the 1,711-pound pumpkin grown by farmer Jeff Warner made a name for itself by going to the bears.
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Weighing almost as much as the pumpkin, Ganuk the polar bear got to sink his teeth into it first. They may be apex predators in the wild, but at the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat, the bears love these pumpkins as a sensory treat to push, roll around, stomp, and smash. Which describes exactly how I carve a pumpkin too.
The View From The Top
I love-hate a luxury house tour, and this week when actor Julianne Moore took Architectural Digest into her sky-high New York City home, I ate it up like popcorn. She collects one-of-a-kind art from famous friends and stays relevant-adjacent with a budget IKEA find. But what stuck with me most was her perspective on life above the clouds.
“This is the first time in my life that I’ve lived up high,” she said, after spending 25 years in a townhouse. Looking over a foliage-filled terrace toward a stunning horizon (and a neighbor enjoying his own balcony), she added, “You can see the city all around you. There’s so much life … It’s a wonderful way to experience the life of a city.” I mean, of course it’s a killer view atop a prewar building in the West Village. But higher altitude actually shifts our outlook on an emotional level, allowing us physically to rise above the stress. Sometimes all we need is a little perspective on the bigger picture.
The Most Popular Recipe Of All Time
I’m never giving up my mom’s spaghetti sauce recipe, the one for my grandma’s sand tart cookies, and my other grandmother’s beef stroganoff that reminds me of family Christmas. But one dish that tastes like the good old days, whether you ate it back then or not, is beef stew. It’s just another one of the most-reviewed recipes on NYT Cooking.
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However you zhuzh it up (readers suggest upgrading with short ribs, herbes de Provence, tomato paste, Worcestershire, and crusty bread), this one-pot dish turns humble stew beef, carrots, and baking potatoes into a hug in a bowl.
Ingredients:
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 pound beef stewing meat, trimmed and cubed
5 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 cup red wine
3 ½ cups low-sodium beef broth
2 bay leaves
1 medium onion, chopped
5 medium carrots, peeled and cut into rounds
2 large baking potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
2 teaspoons salt
Method:
Toss beef in flour and pepper, then sear in a Dutch oven with oil until brown on all sides. Remove the beef, and deglaze the pot with vinegar and wine over medium heat. Add the beef, broth, and bay leaves, and bring to a boil. Then, reduce to a simmer and cook for 1 ½ hours. Add onions and carrots and cook for 10 minutes. Add potatoes and cook for 30 minutes. Season to taste, and serve.
Long live the Metallica Appreciation Society in last week’s comments section. I now know all the best tracks from the band that released nearly 200 songs and should have played the Super Bowl halftime show. But this comment about music bolstered my spirits: “Everyone, regardless of beliefs, should be able to hang together and share something in common with each other.” Amen. Feel free to email me or leave a comment about what fast food tastes best in a flying car. Have a wonderful weekend! — Lauren
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