Latest news with #FortheWin
Eater
10-07-2025
- Business
- Eater
One of LA's Best Burger Spots Smashes Into San Diego
is an editor of the Southern California/Southwest region, who covers the evolving landscape of LA's food scene. A new smash burger joint just shored up in San Diego. For the Win, a popular smash burger micro-chain based in Los Angeles, opened in early July in Pacific Beach. This is the first For the Win location outside of the greater Los Angeles area. For the Win's menu in San Diego mirrors its Los Angeles offerings with a simple lineup of mostly smash burgers, french fries, and accompaniments. The signature smash burger (available with or without American cheese) comes with a single three-ounce patty, smashed thin on the grill until crispy. Pickles and fries are layered on top of the patty before it's all sandwiched in a Martin's potato bun. The burger is available with two or three patties for just a few dollars more, and can be customized with tomato, lettuce, jalapeños, and bacon. Sides include thin-cut, crispy french fries, sweet potato fries, and Brussels sprouts deep-fried in beef tallow and dressed with balsamic vinegar. Like any great burger joint, For the Win serves thick, creamy milkshakes in three flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. For the Win lands in an already impressive burger scene in San Diego, with competition from restaurants like Michelin Guide-recognized Tanner's Prime Burgers and the Butchery. But with For the Win's low price point and consistent quality, it's sure to be a welcome addition to the Pacific Beach neighborhood. For the Win is located at 1037 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109, and is open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Eater San Diego All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
USA Today
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The FTW staff picks the best films of the 21st century in honor of the NYT poll
The New York Times recently polled numerous filmmakers, actors and movie watchers to determine the best 100 films of the 21st century. Bong Joon-ho's Parasite earned the top spot in the rankings, as 2019's Best Picture winner won the most support among those making ballots. With the publication allowing anybody to make their own "Reader's Choice" ballots, we polled the For the Win staff and got four takes on their favorite films from the past 25 years. Films like The Dark Knight, The Social Network, Spirited Away and Inception appeared on multiple ballots. Let's check out how all four ballots turned out! Cory Woodroof Blake Schuster Meghan L. Hall Robert Zeglinski Not a bad line up if you ask us!
Eater
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
4 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Los Angeles: May 23
Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: 'Where should I eat?' Here now are four places to check out this weekend in Los Angeles. And if you need some ideas on where to drink, here's our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town. For affordable Chinese takeout: Combo A As food prices continue to rise, getting an affordable but satiating meal is at the top of many people's minds. Cue Combo A, a longtime Echo Park Chinese restaurant that stuffs takeout containers to the brim with chow fun, orange chicken, and beef and broccoli. It's easy to walk out of here with enough food to spread over multiple meals for well under $20, and the quality is far beyond what would be found at a fast food chain. The orange chicken is tossed in a well-seasoned sauce and remains crispy even after cooling down, while the barbecue pork is tender and flavorful. You can even go half and half on combinations of fried rice, chow fun, steamed rice, and chow mein. Add in sides of cream cheese-stuffed wontons, egg rolls, fried chicken, or pot stickers, and wash it all down with boba. 1411 Echo Park Avenue, Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90026. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For a group gathering with fantastic bites and sips: BLVD MRKT Getting a group of friends together with varying tastes can be challenging, but not if you know where to go. To make sure there is something for everyone, head to BLVD MRKT, a Montebello food hall made out of shipping containers. BLVD's got a unique charm to it and an even more uncommon model that mentors and showcases new businesses next to more established ones. At the center of the dining courtyard are community picnic tables covered by umbrellas. Star by taking a lap to see what's appealing — in the complex you'll find pupusas from Vchos, a Oaxacan mocha from Cafe Santo, chilaquiles verdes via Los Taquero Mucho, or bites from Cold Pizza (it's served hot), For the Win, and a Mexican Lollipop cider that actually tastes like watermelon candy. Once everything is prepared, sit at a table and let the joy take over. BLVD has excellent programming happening every week, and on Memorial Day Bluey (the animated cartoon series) will be at a meet and greet that kids will adore, along with fruity and creamy paletas with face painting. It's an excellent plan on any weekday or weekend, so start inviting. 520 Whittier Boulevard, Montebello, CA, 90640. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For an elegant Memorial Day dinner in Chinatown: Firstborn For a few weeks after it opened in late March, Chinatown's Firstborn was the talk of the food world, drawing curiosity, excitement, and some eyebrow raises given its location and price. The latter point will probably continue to be in contention, but for now, expect some of the most innovative modern Chinese cuisine in Los Angeles right now. Chef Anthony Wang is treating this like his first feature film and creativity abounds from the plate to the space (FYI, his sister is filmmaker Lulu Wang). Some dishes are brilliant, like steak tartare over soft tofu and tofu gnudi with artichokes. Barbecue cabbage is a show-stopper, scorched like burnt marshmallows but exuding an unnatural sweetness. Combined with the heady leek vinaigrette, it's easily one of the most creative dishes I've had in awhile. Cumin lamb saddle carries traditional Sichuan flavors in a luxurious form with a woven bundle of shredded potato elegant enough for a Michelin-starred restaurant. It's like a reimagined Chinese steak frites with the tenderness and gentle gaminess of lamb that's frankly superior to beef (there, I said it). Order more dishes than you think, as portions are on the smaller side, and expect to pay over $120 per person with a drink or two. If Wang can continue to draw the artsy/well-heeled crowd, I expect Firstborn to gain some major eyeballs come awards season (consider this a culinary 'For Your Consideration'). 978 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For an underrated seafood gem in Melrose's 'Michelin Mile': Koast While Kevin Meehan's tasting menu restaurant Kali is under the knife, his new seafood spot down the street should be your Larchmont/Melrose dinner reservation of choice. Speaking to Meehan prior to opening, he considered Koast his ode to the East Coast seafood restaurant, with much nicer touches and some LA style. Raw bites are inventive and well-portioned, like local bluefin with vadouvan or sea bream sashimi with ponzu, shiso, and wasabi good enough to be served at Nobu. Grilled prawns in thyme butter offer the succulence of a backyard barbecue with the sweet, tender complexity of the best shellfish from New Caledonia. The lobster manicotti could be the most fun dish on the menu, properly spotted with finely chopped chives that wouldn't make sense at a red sauce joint. The cheesy, gooey mess studded with lobster chunks is the ideal counterpoint to the raw fish. A syrupy salted caramel brown butter cake topped with whipped cream awaits those who must get dessert. 6623 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Related The 38 Essential Restaurants in Los Angeles Sign up for our newsletter.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't the free throw merchant you think he is
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't the free throw merchant you think he is Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win's basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here's Prince J. Grimes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is slowly climbing up the list of the NBA's most polarizing players. The funny thing about it is he's doing it without ever really talking much. He's not a big personality or someone who draws a lot of attention off the court. He seems to just go to work, do his job and go home. Yet, it's what he does while at work that has NBA fans completely divided on the league's soon to be announced MVP. Tuesday night's Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals was a perfect example why. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 26-point win over the Minnesota Timberwolves by scoring a game-high 31 points to go with nine assists and three steals. But 11 of those points came from the free throw line where he had 14 attempts -- twice as many as the next-closest player, Anthony Edwards. Thus, the reason Gilgeous-Alexander is increasingly becoming known as a foul or free throw "merchant." Some fans really can't stand how crafty he is in drawing fouls and doing what they consider to be flopping to get to the line. Here's the thing, though, he might not be the free-throw merchant people think he is. While it's true Gilgeous-Alexander gets to the line a lot -- he has the second-most attempts behind Giannis Antetokounmpo each of the last two years -- his 9.2 attempts per game this postseason don't rank very high historically. According to research by Tom Haberstroh, Gilgeous-Alexander's 110 attempts over 12 playoff games actually ranks just 406th all-time. It's a point Amin El-Hassan made on the Dan Le Batard Show, with research that said SGA's absolute best season in terms of free throws attempted per 100 possessions ranked outside the all-time top 30. More research from FS1's Danny Parkins showed SGA has never been the NBA's leading free-throw shooter despite leading the NBA in drives per game in five straight years. Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to get to the line shouldn't be understated, but it isn't as extraordinary as people make it out to be. So, why are so many people turning on the 26-year-old's style of play? Even if Gilgeous-Alexander isn't historically great at drawing fouls, he does get to the line more than a lot of his peers -- and he's incredibly crafty in the ways he gets there. The way SGA forces the action puts referees in a tough spot where they feel they have to blow the whistle. Which is part of the problem. Sometimes they get it wrong. But that's not Gilgeous-Alexander's problem, and quite honestly, more players could take notes. The same people mad at SGA for actually getting into the lane and seeking contact should be more frustrated that one of the most athletically gifted players in the NBA, Edwards, attempted almost as many three-pointers as the entire OKC starting lineup Tuesday. As a team, Minnesota shot 51 threes (and only made 11). It's a page straight out of the Boston Celtics playbook, which so many teams are copying today. When teams are shooting that many threes, it's no wonder why it's so odd to see a player shooting as many free throws as Gilgeous-Alexander. We might not know what a foul looks like any more. Pacers vs. Knicks will be spicy The latest chapter in the rivalry between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks will be written in this year's Eastern Conference Finals, and the first page begins with tonight's Game 1. After last year's seven-game series in the second round, the rematch has a chance to go the distance again and either team could ultimately come out on top. FTW's Mike Sykes came up with three reasons why each team could ultimately win, and you'll absolutely want to check these out. One reason for the Pacers is that they have the best offensive rhythm in the NBA: "A whopping 68.9 percent of the Pacers' buckets are assisted on in these playoffs. A lot of that starts with Tyrese Haliburton, who is arguably the best passer in the NBA. But it isn't just Tyrese — each player at each position for Indiana can grab a rebound and push the pace after a miss on defense or bring the ball up quickly after a make before the defense is completely set. It's a team filled with advantage-creators, which is extremely hard to deal with." One reason for the Knicks is that Jalen Brunson is awesome: "Brunson has been generally awesome for the Knicks in this postseason as the straw that stirs the drink for the team. But where he's shone the most is in the fourth quarter, where his team has desperately needed him to come through the most. Brunson currently leads the playoffs in fourth quarter points and clutch points, according to Underdog Sports. It's not particularly close." I can't wait for this one. Shootaround
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The NBA Draft is broken and the only way to fix it is by destroying it
The NBA Draft is broken and the only way to fix it is by destroying it Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win's basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Here's Mike Sykes I'm still recovering from the NBA Draft Lottery. The system is broken. Or maybe it works as it's always been intended to? I don't really know anymore. The basketball gods are cruel in that way. Many conversations have manifested following the Dallas Mavericks' unexpected NBA Draft Lottery win. Will the Mavs draft Cooper Flagg, or will they potentially trade it? Is Giannis Antetokounmpo in play? I'm not sure, but we'll slowly get answers to those questions over the next month. I'm most interested in litigating whether the NBA Draft Lottery is operating properly. Is the system broken? As a Wizards fan, you know where I stand on this. The lottery sucks, and the basketball gods are evil. None of this should be happening right now. THE WINNERS: Here are the biggest winners from the NBA Draft Combine this week So the question becomes, how do you fix this system that is inherently broken in this way? As things currently stand with the lottery odds flattened, the worst teams in the NBA aren't getting any better. Since 2019, when the league first made the change to the odds, the worst team in the league has yet to receive the top pick. The natural solution, then, should be to shift the lottery odds back to where they were. As things stand, the worst three teams in the NBA have a 14 percent chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick and a 52 percent chance of landing in the top four. A shift back would mean weighting the odds heavily in those teams' favor again. But opponents of that would once again argue that it incentivizes teams to tank and lose games on purpose, which is why the odds shifted in the first place. So, what is the solution here? How do we fix it? Here's my fix: We break the system completely. Dismantle the lottery. Dismantle the NBA draft as a whole. Instead, have a rookie free agency period where the incoming freshman class of NBA players can choose where they play out the beginning of their careers the same way veterans do. I know, I know. You're calling me crazy right now. You're saying that the best rookies will only go to the league's biggest glamour markets. But you can build a system that de-incentivizes that. Here's how: Rookie scale exceptions: This is the big one. The same way each team gets a mid-level exception to spend in the offseason, each team would get a rookie scale exception in place of a draft pick. The worse you are, the more salary you get to spend on rookies. So, this year, the Jazz, Wizards and Hornets would have the most to spend and the amount would scale down as we climb the standings. Well-run organizations: This isn't really on the league — it's on individual teams. Like regular free agency, each team would be able to make a pitch to whatever rookie they wanted. Would, say, a Cooper Flagg regularly choose to play for the Lakers of the Hornets? Sure. Charlotte can't give Flagg a destination like LA. But if you give him a good coach, a competent front office and loads of playing time, who's to say he wouldn't choose that instead of playing behind Luka Doncic? A free agency special: This is crucial to the marketing of the league and the behind-the-scenes access we get to teams. If I were the NBA, I'd do this while also coupling it with a Drive to Survive-style docuseries following these teams as they scout ahead of the NBA's rookie free agency period. It documents what this process is like and gives fans (and future players!) an idea of how their favorite teams work behind the scenes. Providing the league's worst teams with more of a spotlight would make playing for them seem more desirable. Think of this in the same way you'd think about Hard Knocks with the NFL. This is a wild idea, yes. It's a bit out there. But I do think it does two crucial things the league really wants to accomplish: It discourages tanking because no one wants to play for a loser, so each team would have to put its best foot forward each year or suffer the consequences. It also would promote the league in a way that wouldn't leave the smaller markets feeling as small and left out as they do now. This would probably never happen. The powers-that-be are far too attached to the draft process and what it brings. But I'm telling you this now: "Fixing" the draft lottery is only a half-measure. Something like this would go all the way. If the league is serious about doing that, then this would be an idea it needs to consider. I know we're done reacting to the Luka trade, but... I'm sorry. The reaction from the Warriors in this video is too perfect not to share with y'all. Here's Bryan Kalbrosky with more on the reaction: "This is amazing footage, and showed just how skeptical everyone was when they read this report. That included a hilarious scream (and phone call) from Stephen Curry as he tried to process the information about his two Western Conference rivals." Steph Curry's scream is basically the same as the scream I let out that day. It's still so ridiculous that this happened. You know what's even more ridiculous? That this team won the draft lottery a few months later. Maybe Nico Harrison was a genius this entire time. Shootaround —Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic should duke it out for MVP in Game 7. That'd be so fun! Adam Silver, make it happen. — Bryan has the biggest winners from this week's NBA Draft Combine, ready to go for you here. — Here are 18 stay-or-go decisions for the draft that you should be following. — Kevin Durant is through with the hot takes. Can't say I blame him — especially not in this instance. That's a wrap. Thanks so much for reading. Peace. -Sykes ✌️
