NFL Free Agency opens up on Wednesday, with the legal tampering period beginning on Monday. The top free agents usually all commit to a team during that period, so be ready to rock and roll to start next week.
West
Travel hotspots include 5 quirky museums celebrating barbershops, mustards, spuds, Spam and superheroes
Everything has a history, no matter how niche, quirky or mundane the topic may seem.
Which means almost everything has a museum to preserve its history.
The main streets and back roads of the United States offer plenty of evidence, including one heartland museum devoted to superhero worship.
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“Comic books date back 80 years, and we have 80 years of comic-book history packed in here along with decades of movie memorabilia,” said John Osborne of the Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum in Indiana.
Here’s a look at five of the quirkiest museums in America, preserving the past of everything and anything.
1. Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum, Elkhart, Indiana
This mecca of Marvel Comics, marvelous pop culture and Hollywood hits is highlighted by memorabilia that starred in some of the most popular movies and programs of the superhero genre.
Chris Evans stars as Captain America in Marvel’s “Avengers.” (Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo)
Among them: the shield wielded by Chris Evans in “Captain America: The First Avenger”; the custom-built chopper that Nicolas Cage rode as Johnny Blaze in “Ghost Rider”; and the “Batman” suit worn by Adam West, star of the 1960s TV series about the DC Comics caped crusader, during publicity appearances.
The Superhero Museum (hallofheroesmuseum.com) includes a kid-friendly arcade, free with admission, and about 75,000 comic books.
Treasures in the collection include “Wonder Woman” No. 1 from 1942.
2. National Mustard Museum, Middleton, Wisconsin
Slather your 2024 travel buffet with “the world’s largest collection of mustard” in the land of Cheeseheads.
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The National Museum of Mustard (mustardmuseum.com) offers “an ever-growing display of mustard and memorabilia, over 6,000 jars, bottles, and tins from all 50 states and more than 70 countries.”
At the National Mustard Museum in Wisconsin, visitors can find information, domestic and imported dijons, and historical items from yesteryear. (Alamy)
The Middleton monastery of mustard also hosts the World-Wide Mustard Competition and the National Mustard Day Festival. (National Mustard Day this year is Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. “We paint the town yellow” that day, says the museum on its website.)
Also, admission to the museum is always “absolutely free.”
3. New York City Barber Shop Museum, New York, New York
This quirky chronicle of coiffure culture offers extensive exhibits on the art and craft of barbering on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
It’s also a working barbershop where guests can experience the classic tricks of the truss trade in real-time today.
A vintage barbershop and pole in New York City. Date unknown. (Getty Images)
“The history of the barber is a very rich but forgotten one,” founder Arthur Rubinoff, a fourth-generation master barber, says on the museum website.
“My goal was to give respect to all barbers and our history, as well as educate. Barbering is true art with a fascinating legacy.”
4. The Idaho Potato Museum, Blackfoot, Idaho
America’s passion for the potato is displayed, naturally, in Idaho — easily the nation’s largest source of spuds.
Entrance to the Idaho Potato Museum is seen here in Blackfoot, Idaho. (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Located in an early 20th-century railroad station, the palace of tuber trivia is deeply rooted in the lore and allure of America’s most widely grown vegetable.
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The Idaho Potato Museum also serves as a delicious diversion while exploring Idaho’s natural beauty, including the nearby Craters of the Moon National Monument.
The museum, among other highlights, has the world’s largest potato chip. Produced by Pringles in 1990, it measures 23 inches in length and 14.5 inches in width.
Here’s a little-known legend: Anyone who eats the world’s largest potato chip will still want another.
5. The Spam Museum, Austin, Minnesota
“Spample” the history of the world’s most beloved tinned meat in the city where it’s been made since 1937.
Spam fans wait in line to tour the Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota. (JOEY MCLEISTER/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
“Exhibit topics range from the ways Spam packaging has changed over the years, to its role in winning World War II, a colorful ‘Spam Around the World’ exhibit showcasing the far-reaching culinary and cultural influence Spam has throughout the globe,” says ExploreMinnesota.com, published by the state’s official tourism office.
Helpful “Spambassadors” guide guests through the museum, which includes interactive exhibits, especially for children.
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San Francisco, CA
5 teens, 3 adults arrested in San Francisco double stabbing at Dolores Park
Three adults and five juveniles were arrested after two people were stabbed on Wednesday at San Francisco’s Dolores Park, police said.
The San Francisco Police Department said officers responded at about 4:50 p.m. to a report of a group of people fighting at the park. On the way there, the officers were notified that there was a possible stabbing, police said.
When officers arrived, they found two men with stab wounds, and the officers began first aid before medics arrived. Both men were taken to the hospital, one with life-threatening injuries, police said.
Officers searched the area around the park and detained eight people; they were all arrested after investigators developed probable cause, police said. The adults were identified as 18-year-old Fernando Moreno Hernandez, 18-year-old David Paz, and 19-year-old Yeferson Mondragon-Ortiz. Each was booked into the San Francisco County Jail.
The five teenagers were taken and booked into the city’s Juvenile Justice Center.
All suspects were charged with attempted murder, conspiracy, assault likely to produce great bodily injury, and assault with a deadly weapon.
Police said the case was still under active investigation, and anyone with information was asked to contact the department at 415-575-4444, or send a text to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
Denver, CO
Ranking the Broncos free agent needs on offense
I figured now would be a good time to do a little discussion around the Denver Broncos and where we think their top priorities should be on offense when free agency kicks off.
Broncos top FA needs on offense
Tim Lynch: For free agency, I’d say running back and tight end are the highest on my wish list.
I’d say pay big for a top free agent running back and ensure you have a monster two-headed backfield next season. They need a superior run-blocking tight end and, if they move on from Evan Engram, a pass-catcher too.
Christopher Hart: I agree with Tim. Those are the biggest needs for the offense. Getting a top-notch running back and a tight end capable of playing inline to replace Adam Trautman is a must. The two players I advocated a few weeks ago were running back Travis Etienne and tight end Cade Otton. Both would be fantastic additions and help take Denver’s offense to the next level in 2026.
Scotty Payne: Playmaker is the top and biggest need. That includes a RB, TE, and/or WR in that order.
Need to improve the run game regardless, need some sort of production out of the TEs as well as improved blocking, and if they can get a true WR1, that would be great too.
Ross Allen: I think we’re all in agreement.
Getting someone who can be the dominant running back and have RJ Harvey serve that glamorous “joker” role would be huge for this offense. And given that they also don’t have a legitimate playmaker at the receiving position hurts them. A TE or WR can fill that role.
Sadaraine: The #1 need for the Broncos on offense is a top-notch running back. I will be blown away if the Broncos don’t sign a top-tier free agent running back to upgrade the offense (and no, J.K. Dobbins wouldn’t be that guy…not with his injury history).
There’s a significant gap in need after that until we start talking about tight ends and receivers. I think we’re more likely to see more money spent on a tight end than a receiver, but this offense could use both to be sure.
Ian St. Clair: Not to beat a dead horse, but running back is the biggest need and priority for this team when free agency starts. Having a consistent and effective running game will make Nix and the offense exponentially better. It will make the team better. After running back, the Broncos need to figure out their tight end.
Adam Malnati: Give Bo a weapon. I don’t care which position. Yes, RB is a need. Yes, TE is a need (thanks a lot Evan Engram). Still, a weapon would be nice.
Predictably, we’re all heavily keyed in on running back and tight end. That was a big part of our free agent profile coverage too and for good reason. There have been many rumors around Denver looking to target both positions next week and where there is smoke there is usually fire.
The question really becomes: go big or go affordable? With the championship window open, I’m leaning go big on premium play-maker positions this offseason.
Where do you stand on this discussion? Give us your top free agent needs on offense and how you hope the Broncos address them next week.
Seattle, WA
Seattle agencies map out transit plan for downtown World Cup 2026 matches
SEATTLE — Seattle is one of the only host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a stadium in the heart of downtown. While that gives soccer fans a wide range of options to get to a match or join a celebration, it also requires intensive planning to meet the varying transportation needs.
Sound Transit, King County Metro, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) laid out how each of their agencies is preparing for the upcoming competition during presentations on Thursday before the Seattle City Council’s Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee.
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The overarching goal is to create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming atmosphere for visitors while limiting traffic impacts to the shortest time period possible for those not participating in the FIFA events. Adding to the challenge is that the international match-ups are scheduled to take place on weekdays while people are trying to get to their jobs.
Extensive street closures will be in effect around the Stadium District on game days, beginning four hours before kick-off and extending two to three hours post-game. That will help accommodate the intense pedestrian traffic that is anticipated, as many as 750,000 visitors try to navigate downtown on foot.
King County Metro plans to add more service during the four weeks of the World Cup. On match days, an additional 60 buses will be in operation, scaling back to an extra 30 buses on non-match days. There will also be a Waterfront service available.
Sound Transit will add more trains and expects to transport up to 2,800 riders per hour. The added capacity will extend from three hours before a match begins and continue until three hours after the match. Service from the eastside will also be available when the Crosslake Connection opens on March 28th.
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Both systems will now allow payment to be made by tapping a debit or credit card, in addition to the standard ORCA cards that have been used to cover fares. Sound Transit will also introduce a three-day visitor pass available through an ORCA card.
WSDOT will tear down its Revive I-5 construction zone on the Ship Canal Bridge and alternate the express lanes between north- and southbound directions depending on the time of day.
To help in these transit efforts, just this week Congress allocated money $8.4 million for transit service, which is on top of $9 million already promised last year by the state.
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