Lia Tabackman
Photo: Jesse Bauer.
It's 8:30 on a Tuesday morning at JFK's Terminal 4, and Amanda Batula is between coasts — again. The Summer House star, Loverboy creative, and founder of Amanda Batula Swim is about to catch a flight to L.A., her second of three cross-country trips in less than a month. 'I've been doing an insane amount of traveling,' she says, settling into a couch at the Marshalls Upgrade Lounge, a free pop-up space offering travelers snacks, a beauty bar, and a chic break from airport chaos through Memorial Day weekend. 'I'm actually really surprised with how well I've handled it. Normally I crash after a trip, but I've just been on the move lately.'
That momentum is something Batula doesn't take for granted. Not long ago, even routine parts of travel — packing a bag, getting out the door, and making it to the airport — felt paralyzing. 'I'd back out of things, or just lie in bed telling Kyle [Cooke] I couldn't even start packing because I was so overwhelmed.' After being diagnosed with depression and anxiety in 2023, Batula began working with a psychiatrist and taking antidepressant medication. Now, tasks that once felt insurmountable have become manageable, which means Amanda is saying yes to events, trips, and work opportunities that she would have previously passed on. 'I don't get overwhelmed, it doesn't take me a full day to pack. I can throw together a bag. It's just so much easier,' Batula says.
Between destination weddings, business opportunities, and influencer engagements, Amanda is a certified frequent flier — which makes her partnership with Marshalls feel especially well-timed. "The most stressful thing about traveling is getting to the airport, getting through security, and then rushing to your gate,' she says. 'It's nice to have a place where you can just come and feel zen, especially if you're like me and don't have access to other [paid] lounges.' In addition to the Upgrade Lounge pop-up, the retailer offers an online shopping hub that features a collection of travel-friendly fashion and lifestyle finds curated by Batula to make packing and on-the-go style feel a little less stressful.
The reality star, now in her eighth season of Summer House (Batula joined the cast full time in Season 2), is well-accustomed to splitting her summers between NYC and the Hamptons, and is starting to embrace being a bit more strategic about what she puts in her suitcase. 'Kyle and I are notorious for bringing our whole closet, especially back when I was working corporate,' she says. 'Now I try to stick to a few staples and plan according to the weekend. We'll get a heads up about what the events are and then do a little shopping.'
As for sharing clothes with her castmates while filming? 'I'm always willing to share. Paige [DeSorbo] will only pack for the weekend, so she doesn't really have any other options to share, and Ciara [Miller] will always order clothes to the house and if you need an option she'll give it to you.'
Batula and I are meeting the day before the Summer House Season 9 finale aired, and naturally I ask about what's next for the series, which typically films from July through August. Bravo fans and cast members alike have been speculating about the show's future, including potential cast shakeups, but Batula doesn't have much to offer in terms of clues.
'There's no news yet… but no news is usually good news,' she says. 'We typically hear from production the week before filming starts, and half the time we get the address to the house the day of. You don't even know what house we're driving out to.'
If past seasons are any indication, fans will have to wait until after the reunion episodes, which begin airing next week, for any concrete answers about Season 10. For those in-the-know, the reunion seating chart — and who sits next to host Andy Cohen — can be a subtle signal of who played a central role that season. Batula didn't think much of it going into this year's reunion, which filmed on April 24, until she showed up on set and saw where she'd been placed.
"I was told by one of the crew members, 'Oh, Amanda, you're going to like your seat,' thinking that like I was on the end, because that would be somewhere that I'd like to be sat,' Batula laughs. "And when I walked out, like being right next to [Cohen], I was like, I'm either in big trouble and I did something really wrong or I'm being rewarded. I think I was more shocked than everyone else that saw the leak of the seating arrangement. It was crazy. I was not expecting to sit there… but it was great for me. I had a great time."
The Upgrade Lounge by Marshalls is open May 21 through May 28 in JFK's Terminal 4. Exclusive amenity kits will be available for visitors while supplies last.
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7 hours ago
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Bark with a Bite: Ride with us as we sample some of Coastal Georgia's best barbecue joints
May 16 may have marked National Barbecue Day, but Memorial Day weekend heralds the return of grilling season and summer vacation. We took our 'cue—so to speak—from the confluence of the two and took a road trip to some of coastal Georgia's best smokehouses, on the hunt for caramelized barks with peppery bites, perfectly pink smoke rings, succulent meats, savory sides, and tangy sauces with the right balance of sweet and heat. We met some characters and debated techniques as we sampled tender ribs, buttery slices of brisket, spicy sausages and strapping chicken legs. One of our crew hails from Texas and holds definite opinions on rubs and that sauces should come on the side. Another, from Eastern North Carolina, proved a harsh judge of both vinegar and mustard-based sauces. Others were delightfully along for the ride, except when it came to the consistency of mac 'n' cheese—and then the, ahem, knives came out. There were surprises—smoked turkey year-round, lamb, seafood—capturing the complexity of the influences along the coast and the fact that both Savannah and Brunswick are port cities. Herein is the beginning of our journey. We started with these essential seven joints listed and plan to expand our map and palates over the next several weeks as summer unfolds. Let's go >> Sweet Spring: Vidalia onions take center plate in Savannah as part of weeklong promotion to end hunger Viral Sensation: The nutty, gooey Dubai Chocolate Bar craze arrives in Savannah Griffin Bufkin is a rarity—a third-generation St. Simons islander and a proselytizer of both Southern foodways and slow foods who does not cook. In fact, he calls himself the 'sandwich maker' when it comes to Southern Soul Barbecue, giving flowers to his business partner Harrison Sapp, the genius behind the 24-hour smokers where slabs of spice-rubbed ribs, juicy Boston butts and bark-encrusted brisket perfume the air around the island's roundabout like a scent trail for meatheads. Together, they turned a shuttered gas station at the heart of St. Simons Island into a mecca that Guy Fieri, Garden and Gun and Southern Living helped put on the map. As Southern Soul comes up on its twentieth anniversary next year—a milestone that almost didn't happen after a 2010 fire—it has expanded its footprint to include a courtyard bar and a gift shop, where you can stock up on their unique sauces and spice mixes. The ribs and pulled pork remain their bestsellers, for good reason, but the team handles the sides with the same heart and soul they do the proteins. They serve arguably the best Brunswick Stew of all the places we tried, and their Hoppin' John, collard greens, brisket chili, pimento cheese and potato salad pay homage to some lost recipes. Bufkin described how they wanted to resurrect bogs and other dishes 'you don't see anymore. Just pulled out the old Junior League cookbooks, go through them and pick out the fun stuff…y'know, tradition with a twist.' And on Sundays, they serve God's favorite yard bird, Southern fried chicken. Southern Soul Barbecue, 2020 Demere Road, St. Simon's Island, Ga., 31522; 912-638-7685; Two huge trees flank both sides of the parking lot to Twin Oaks BBQ on Norwich Drive near downtown Brunswick. They were a lot smaller when this red-brick drive-in opened in 1943, back when Linda Barber's mother worked here. Barber's mother quit after the owner at the time asked her to buy a pair of fishnet stockings and put them on for him while he watched. He was dead by the time Linda turned 16 in 1973 and hired on as a server. She's never worked anywhere else. Most folks call her 'Granny' now, as she's fed generations of Glynn County's bellies. 'I love the people. They mean more to me than just customers,' she said. Granny and her husband Fred help manage the gathering spot, which was full of diners on a Wednesday afternoon, for Darlene Waters, who has owned Twin Oaks for 28 years. Their patty melts are famous, but nearly every person who sat down or took out a brown bag filled with pulled pork sandwiches asked for the battered fries as a side. They are good―thin cut and seasoned just so. Granny leaned in and said next time to get 'em smothered with barbecue (pulled pork) and cheese. Her all-time favorite, though, is the Philly Cheese Steak sandwich. 'I add bacon on it.' Twin Oaks BBQ, 2618 Norwich St., Brunswick, Ga., 31520; 912-265-3131; It is easy to drive past the Smokin Pig BBQ Joint's Richmond Hill location, even though you can smell the oak-tinged smoke a mile away. The sign is small but once you see Chuy's convenience store and gas station heading south on the Coastal Highway, just before you get to the I-95 interchange, you know you've arrived. Inside, the rustic confines evoke my granddaddy's den with its wood-paneled walls. A mounted largemouth bass remains in perpetual astonishment that he hit that lure, and a stuffed bobcat will be trying to snag that flapping mallard for eternity. Picnic tables give it a real casual backyard feel. A menu of all the standard fare is written on a blackboard in chalk and the friendly ladies in the window happily answer questions and address regulars by name. Even in the middle of a Friday afternoon, a steady stream of folks came in to pick up to-go orders, most of them just after filling up on a different kind of fuel next door. The smoked chicken sandwich on a hamburger bun was a standout, and it paired well with any of the four sauces, presented in squeeze bottles with handwritten labels: Mild, Hot, Spicy Vinegar, and Sweet. Even the mild had a piquant quality, but the vinegar had some bite. The St. Louis-cut ribs held a lot of tender meat that sported a shiny caramelized coat. They were succulent with or without the sweet sauce. My dining partner loved the generous slather of butter on his Texas toast. Even if you're passing through, the Smokin Pig is worth savoring. The Smokin Pig BBQ Joint has two locations: 13711 E. Oglethorpe Hwy., Midway, Ga., 31320; 912-884-4495; and 3986 Highway 17, Richmond Hill, Ga., 31324; 912-756-7850; A Fun Guy: Fighting against global and local currents, a mushroom farm sprouts in Garden City Sip and Smile: The oysters and fried chicken are great but, oh, those cocktails at Brochu's Family Tradition You can't pin down Sandfly Bar-B-Q to any specific region, which is why the restaurant in the strip mall storefront on the corner of Ferguson and Skidaway roads has such universal appeal. (It, too, is near a gas station, so we're sensing a theme emerging here.) Once again, voters in Connect Savannah's Best of poll put Sandfly on top. There's a bit of Memphis, Texas Hill Country, and a quick spin through the Carolinas among the offerings, which is why we gravitate toward the Hog Wild Platter ($32), which has a something to suit everyone's tastes. The smoked sausage sends my heart aflutter, drawing me back to the German and Czech towns scattered across central Texas, roadside spots I used to frequent on trips between Fort Worth and Austin or San Antonio. Sandfly's brisket is no slouch in comparison, either. The generous chunks of pulled pork are just fine without sauce and even better with the mustard base. But the smoked chicken is a marvel, with a delicate hint of pecan and tender, juicy meat. It holds up well to the North Carolina-style vinegar sauce. The mac 'n' cheese and green beans are still our favorite sides as are the tart hamburger sliced pickles. And just like those pesky critters for which the town and the joint are named, we will keep coming back. Sandfly Bar-B-Q, 9413 Ferguson Ave., Savannah, Ga., 31406; 912-356-5463; The number of times we've tried to get an order of Randy's ribs and been thwarted by long lines or empty inventories are too numerous to count. But on one morning just before 10:30 a.m., we found a safe enough parking spot along Wheaton Street, just east of downtown Savannah, and sidled up to the little blue building—a former car wash—and stood in the line that had already formed. We were jonesing for the combo plate of ribs and chicken ($10) with a side of deviled crabs, but the man at the window said they were out of crabs that day. You could hear Antwan Middleton, who has worked with owner Randy Frazier since the place opened nearly 17 years ago, chopping ribs every time the door opened as loaves of white bread and boxes of canned sodas were loaded in. Frazier was moving between the cinderblock building, his car and the smokers on the side, making sure everything was ready for the 11 a.m. opening. Already the sun was beating down. Customers with cash in hand called out their orders to the server in the window, who started filling Styrofoam containers with chicken legs and smoking bones slathered in a tart mustard sauce that Frazier makes daily. (Note: You have to request your sauce on the side if you want to control the meat-to-sauce ratio.) We carried our combo to the car and ate off the hood, realizing we needed a whole lot more napkins. Randy's BBQ, 750 Wheaton St., Savannah, Ga., 31401; 912-412-2671 Full disclosure: I have a soft spot for Wiley McCrary. He was one of the first people I met when I moved to Savannah in 2009. I sat at the bar of his then-pocket of a barbecue restaurant on Whitemarsh Island (again in a strip mall just down from a convenience store/gas station) while my computer was being worked on at another store. He was sitting in a director's chair with 'The General' embroidered on its back at the end of the bar, smoking a cigar. He asked if I liked barbecue and thus began a long conversation that lasted for years as he and his recipes became the subject of my master's thesis and, ultimately, an award-winning cookbook. When McCrary passed away in 2018, he was buried with his family Bible and the first cookbook we unboxed. Wiley's widow and partner in all the championships he won, Janet, sold the restaurant to Nate Shaffer and his wife, Melinda, who have kept the spirit of Wiley alive. Pitmaster Marion Woodberry is the common denominator, still stoking the fires that deliver some of the best brisket east of the Mississippi and clever specials such as Smoked Meatloaf, Smoked Fried Chicken and Smoked Prime Rib. The Redneck Nachos with jalapeños (don't skimp) are always a favorite. No other barbecue restaurant we tried takes as much care with their sides as Wiley's. The potato salad, based on one of Janet's family recipes, is unique in its taste and creamy texture: No mustard and relish here. Same goes for the vinegar base for the coleslaw. The Best Beans on the Planet live up to their name, and the Dutch-crust Sweet Potato Casserole could double as dessert. The mac-and-cheese is elevated with a white cheese bechamel-style sauce over spiraled rigatoni. Wiley may be gone, but thankfully, he did not take his secrets to the grave. Wiley's Championship Barbecue, About a year ago, Tricks BBQ moved from its long-time location on Bull Street in the gentrifying Starland District to West Bay Street on the edge of Garden City. Folks lamented the loss, but with more space and a new food trailer, Tricks hasn't lost a single customer and has gained several more who clamor for the usual suspects—ribs and chicken—as well as beef and lamb. I first tried Tricks when it was a smoker in the parking lot of a car detailing business, just down from Back in the Day Bakery, where I worked as a 'Sugarnaut.' We would often trade goodies. And their ribs and chicken legs are just as flavorful as I remember from that first taste. So much so, that I often don't even use the sauce because the meat is so unctuous and well-seasoned. The baked beans are satisfying without being cloyingly sweet and the potato salad recalls some church picnic in distant memory. But the made-fresh-daily seafood salad is singular among the area's barbecue joints. Three Savannah-Chatham Public School bus drivers ahead of us in line were talking about it. They only had one more day of school to go and were getting a head start on celebrating. Two of them newbies to Tricks but now that they knew where it was and had tasted its bounty, they assured us they were coming back even during summer vacation. Tricks BBQ, 1901 W. Bay St., Savannah, Ga., 31415; 912-643-2182; Friends Joey GIFfrom Friends GIFs Full confession: We started with these essential seven barbecue joints because eating that much barbecue over the last several weeks has given us the 'meat sweats.' There are so many more we are going to hit over the summer: Bowtie Barbecue, No Sauce Barbecue, Slow Fire Barbecue, Babe's Smokehouse, The Rusty Pig ... until we have the quintessential coastal Georgia BBQ Road Trip Guide. If you would like to nominate a barbecue joint for us to visit between Glynn County, Georgia and Jasper and Beaufort counties in South Carolina, please submit your recommendations to Amy Paige Condon at ACondon@ Amy Paige Condon is a content coach, editor and culture writer for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at ACondon@ Richard Burkhart is the visual journalist for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at RBBurkhart@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: savannah morning news takes a barbecue road trip through coastal Georgia
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These are the most stunning views near the Shore. Take in our favorite picks
Everyone has their own interpretation of what they'd consider to be a beautiful view. But there are just some places that are so breathtaking that they seem to catch the eye of everyone they visit. New Jersey is filled with scenic destinations like this, and so much so that these locations were named among USA Today's Most Treasured Views in America, a new USA TODAY network project showcasing breathtaking — and perhaps, under-appreciated — views throughout the United States. These are some of the most beautiful landmarks, scenic vistas and hidden gems you can truly treasure in your area. And these sites highlight the diverse range of scenery New Jersey has to offer, ranging from rich historical sites to impressive natural spots. Here are some of the Most Treasured Views near the Shore — and one worth a drive — with tips for getting the best experience at each site. More: Discover America's best hidden natural wonders: 12 breathtaking views to explore More: From waterfalls to lighthouses, here are the 11 best scenic spots in the Northeast First lit in 1859, the historic Barnegat Lighthouse — known locally as Old Barney — has been a pillar of Long Beach Island for more than a century. It's situated on the northern tip of the island, which was once regarded as one of the most important navigational points for ships traveling to and from New York Harbor. The site's most stunning view comes from climbing the 217 spiral steps of the lighthouse, where you can get a panoramic view of Island Beach State Park, Barnegat Bay and Long Beach Island. But if you can't make the trip up the lighthouse, you can stop by the adjacent Interpretive Center to see the view from four live cameras. Parking is free for Barnegat Lighthouse visitors, but there is a $3 fee per person to climb the lighthouse from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Go: 208 Broadway, Barnegat Light; 609-494-2016, The Red Mill Museum Village, located on the South Branch of the Raritan River in Clinton, is an iconic piece of New Jersey history that combines cultural heritage with scenic views. It is home to 12 buildings on its 10 acres. At the heart of this complex is the circa-1810 Red Mill, which appropriately sports its signature bright red color. The historic site has lived many lives, serving as a grist mill, wool processing plant, a peach basket factory and a textile mill before it was restored into a museum in the 1960s. You can get the most picturesque view of the Red Mill by walking along the iron bridge on Main Street, overlooking the waterfall that powered the Red Mill for more than 200 years. Many recommend visiting the site during the fall, when it's set to a backdrop of bright fall foliage, or during the winter when there's a blanket of snow. General admission to Red Mill Museum Village is $12, or $10 for seniors and children ages six to 12. For parking, there is a limited amount of spots available in front of the museum for visitors, but there are parking lots or on-street parking available nearby. Go: 56 Main St., Clinton; 908-735-4101, Why travel to Washington D.C. when you can get a better view of dazzling cherry blossoms right here in New Jersey? Branch Brook Park, which spans 360 acres and was the nation's first county park, is known for having among the largest and most varied collection of cherry blossom trees in the country. During peak blooming season, typically within the second and third week of April each year, the park has 5,300 cherry blossom trees with 18 different varieties bursting with color. These trees are located all throughout Branch Brook Park, but most are concentrated in the northernmost part of the park. You can also find the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center here, which features galleries and exhibits that highlight the history of cherry blossoms in Newark. As for parking, there is a free lot at the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center and several others around the park. You can also find free street park throughout the area. Go: Lake Street and Park Avenue, Newark; 973-268-3500, Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@ This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Best scenic views near the Shore: Our top picks
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18 hours ago
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Breaking Barriers: Virginia Beach implements bilingual signs for beachgoers
The video above is from a May 2025 WAVY report on beach safety. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – As summer officially approaches, the City of Virginia Beach wants visitors to the beach to stay safe. Virginia Beach has implemented a new safety measure to reach a broader audience of residents and tourists. Virginia Beach EMS has partnered with Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service and the U.S. Coast Guard to install over 60 bilingual signs, in both English and Spanish, on lifeguard stands across the Oceanfront and Sandbridge beaches. The signs were installed in time for the busy Memorial Day weekend. Virginia Beach safety reminders ahead of summer season The Virginia Beach Oceanfront attracts local residents and visitors from outside the state, for its waves and tourist amenities. The new signs include a QR Code, which links to the City's . The page has a link to the oceanfront safety map that shows water hazards or advisories in real time which give citizens information that could potentially be lifesaving. Each sign includes details about red flag warnings, rip currents, and general beach safety precautions. 'The signs allow better language access along the Oceanfront and an ability to get the same safety information if some beachgoers don't read or speak English,' said Rob Gramkowski, EMS assistant chief – special operations. 'The signs ensure we are keeping everyone as safe as we can.' 'By adding a second language, it's inclusive and allows more people to pay attention to a warning,' said Drew Reibel, Sandbridge lifeguard supervisor. 'It also allows us to effectively communicate and give information to our visitors and residents from different backgrounds.' For more information, check out for beachgoers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
