Wednesday, July 23, 2026 — National Refreshment Day

One unexpected invention. One unforgettable comet. One music festival that became famous for all the wrong reasons.

Today we explore how a clever solution at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair helped make the ice cream cone a summertime tradition, discover why the appearance of Comet Hale-Bopp inspired millions of people to stop and look up, and revisit Woodstock ’99, where high hopes gave way to one of the most notorious weekends in music history.

Along the way, we celebrate the birthday of Woody Harrelson, whose remarkable career has taken him from the friendly neighborhood bartender on Cheers to one of Hollywood’s most respected and versatile actors.

History has a remarkable way of proving that our greatest expectations—and our biggest surprises—often go hand in hand.