Latest news with #SouthernCalifornian
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
This Is America's Favorite Burger Chain, According to 119,000 Yelp Reviews
Yelp released a list of the top 25 burger chains in the U.S. based on user reviews, factoring in quality, speed, customization, and consistency. The rankings highlight regional preferences, with different chains topping the list in the West, Midwest, South, and Northeast. Only burger chains with 100-plus locations in multiple states were considered, using data from Yelp's vast archive of customer road trips and all-American burgers seemingly go hand-in-hand. If you're planning a cross-country excursion this year, we've got a few suggestions for stops along the way. Yelp just released a list of the top 25 burger chains in the entire country — and one viral burger joint has emerged as an overwhelming favorite. The ranking, published today in celebration of National Burger Day, seeks to quantify diners' favorite spots based on Yelp's extensive archive of visitor reviews. In-N-Out Burger, which boasts more than 119,000 reviews for its 400-plus locations, secured the top spot in Yelp's report. Known for its saucy, 'animal-style' fries and Double-Double burger stacks, In-N-Out has amassed a devoted following on social media over the years. The California-based restaurant, which has been serving burgers since 1948, attracts diners for reasons beyond social media hype, as Yelp trend expert Tara Lewis tells Food & Wine. 'Based on the reviews we're seeing, it has to do with the ingredients, drive-thru experience, and the not-so-secret 'secret' menu,' Lewis says. 'Of course, customization and consistency are big factors when it comes to this list, and I think In-N-Out does it really well. In the No. 2 spot is The Habit Burger Grill, a casual chain with locations on the West and East Coasts. It is the go-to for many diners thanks to its consistently high-quality chargrilled burgers, according to the report. Close behind is Shake Shack in third place, followed by Midwestern staple Culver's and Southern Californian favorite Islands Restaurants rounding out the top five. Related: Our 11 Best Veggie Burger Recipes Further down the list, fast-food staples like McDonald's and Burger King still made the top 20. The Golden Arches were ranked in the 17th spot, while Burger King was ranked No. 19. The restaurant review platform, which has been active since 2004, considered various criteria for this ranking. Their research team focused exclusively on burger chains with more than 100 locations and restaurants across multiple states. Eligible chains are also categorized under the 'burger' section on Yelp, according to the methodology. The research team included insights on the volume of reviews and positive elements — such as speed of service, quality, and customizations — that customers mention in their glowing ratings. 'You want to be able to access a burger that you know you're going to love regardless,' Lewis tells Food & Wine. 'When you look at the regionality, a lot of that has to do with accessibility and consistency of service. You know you're going to get delicious food every time, which taps into your nostalgia and the comfort food [element] of eating at a burger place.' Regional tastes vary significantly across the United States, according to Yelp's rankings. In the Midwest and South, Culver's has emerged as the top-rated burger chain, while folks in the Northeast seemingly prefer Shake Shack. Out West, In-N-Out Burger reigns supreme. While availability and accessibility play a role in the regional favorites — as some chains, like In-N-Out Burger, aren't available nationally — this data point also suggests differing tastes among American diners. Ready to branch out and try something new this summer? This ranking might be a good roadmap on where to Burger The Habit Burger Grill Shake Shack Culver's Islands Restaurants Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Five Guys Burgers & Fries Wayback Burgers Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes Red Robin Jack in the Box Cook Out BurgerFi Whataburger Wahlburgers Smashburger McDonald's Sonic Drive-In Burger King White Castle Fatburger Wendy's Carl's Jr. Checkers / Rally's Steak 'n ShakeRead the original article on Food & Wine
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
At ‘magical' Dismal River, there's only one rule: Everyone must have fun
At 'magical' Dismal River, there's only one rule: Everyone must have fun Jim Sullivan, a Southern Californian, was visiting his daughter in Omaha, Neb., eight years ago when a friend tipped him off to Dismal River Club in Mullen, a five-hour drive from Omaha. 'I looked at it online and thought, 'Man, this place is incredible,'' Sullivan said. Sullivan called the club and was invited to visit, but when he learned how affordable the membership was, he sent a membership check to the club, sight unseen, the next day. That spur-of-the-moment decision was vindicated when he visited a few weeks later. 'I went out the first time and thought, 'Man, this is a blast,'' Sullivan recalled. It's been 30 years since Sand Hills Golf Club opened and set off a golf construction boom across the state, turning Nebraska into a must-visit destination for golf adventurers. Dismal River capitalized on that momentum, opening its Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course in 2006, followed by a Tom Doak design that opened six years later. Through it all, Dismal River, which is managed by KemperSports, has created a distinct culture that sets it apart from Sand Hills, located only eight miles away as the crow flies, but a 30-mile drive, thanks largely to the 17-mile single-lane entry road off Highway 97. That underscores the remoteness and sense of adventure that comes with a visit to the club. As Sullivan said, 'Dismal River is about a mile and a half past nowhere.' In this case, that's a good thing. Consider Sullivan, who visits the club three times each summer with his family and grandchildren. 'The kids just love going out there because it's just so much fun, and there's so much to do,' said Sullivan, who's building a 4,200-square-foot cabin near the clubhouse. That's a common theme at Dismal River. The club was formed as a golf club and is still best known for its Doak and Nicklaus courses, which are now known, respectively, as the Red and White courses. But the club has a rich menu of amenities to appeal to every family member. If you can think of an activity, there's a good chance you can do it at Dismal River, which sits on 3,200 acres but has access to up to 80,000 acres for various activities. The amenity menu includes a pool, spa, biking, fishing, shooting sports, upland bird hunting, UTV tours, kayaking, and canoeing. Every July 4th, there's live music and fireworks. Given its remoteness – the long entryway is sometimes known as golf's second most famous 17-mile drive – club officials have gone the extra mile to make it easy for members to visit. Dismal River has a PC12 airplane that meets guests in Omaha and lands on a grass airstrip 10 minutes from the clubhouse. There's also a luxury motorcoach that could serve as the tour bus for any top rock band. The golf season only lasts about five months in Mullen, but Dismal River has so many activities that members often visit during the offseason. 'There's so much else to do that you almost forget that there are two great golf courses,' said Rich Standing, a member from New Jersey, who visited the club with one of his sons last winter for a coyote hunt. Darrel Smith, who lives 75 miles away in North Platte, Neb., was there in April for a pheasant hunt. (Dismal River's golf season opened on May 15.) Smith said when he first became a member, he thought of it as more of a buddy trip or a chance to entertain clients. But that's changed. 'Over the years, because of some of the amenities and activities, they've certainly gone the direction of a more family atmosphere,' Smith said. 'You see a lot more women and a lot more families.' It's not just the breadth of activities but the relaxed, family-friendly environment the club has created. The only firm rule at Dismal River is that you're supposed to have fun. Standing attended last year's member-guest tournament, and his only regret was not bringing his wife because the club had so many activities lined up for spouses and family members. 'I have an 11-, 13-, 15- and 17-year-old, and I don't know that we've ever locked the doors of the cottage,' Standing said. 'My kids have met other kids there. They let kids be kids, which is pretty unique. They cater not just to the golfer but to families. It just seems like they've got everything figured out there. There's something for everyone to do. I knew as soon as I stepped on the property that my family would absolutely love this place, and they truly do.' As much as the amenities entertain members and guests, they wouldn't be there if not for the Nicklaus and Doak courses. The Nicklaus course, now known as the White Course, opened in 2006 and immediately developed a reputation as one of the most difficult tracks in the country. The club has softened the course over the years, including bringing in former Nicklaus staff architect Chris Cochran in recent years to open up the course. John O'Connor, Dismal River's general manager, said that has included paring back some of the native grasses that inevitably begin to intrude on the hole corridors over time and tightening the collar cuts to create more spin on the greens. 'We've started cross-cutting and rolling greens more often, not to make them fast, but to make them true,' O'Connor said. 'We're making it challenging but fun. We want people to come back.' Doak's Red Course perfectly fits the club's ethos, which is to have fun. There are no formal tee boxes, just teeing areas. There's plenty of width on hole corridors, creating more approach angles. And the finishing holes play through a valley, with one of the region's largest sandhills as a backdrop. It's everything you would want out of a Sandhills golf experience. 'With KemperSports, I've traveled all over and worked at wonderful clubs in great cities, and this is definitely the most unique experience I've ever been a part of,' O'Connor said. 'At this place, Mother Nature is the star, and she wins. We just have to be good stewards of this land to provide a great golf experience. I tell my team every day, 'Guys, look out the window. All we have to do is match that with our service and our amenities.' It's a special place, it's magical.'
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Time of India
Indian-origin man in California pleads guilty to scamming DoorDash of $2.5M
An Indian-origin man scammed DoorDash by creating fake food orders. 30-year-old Sayee Chaitanya Reddy Devagiri , a Southern Californian man of Indian-origin, has pleaded guilty for conspiring to steal around $2.5 million from food delivery company DoorDash. Devagiri and three others were indicted by a federal jury in August and were arrested in October, Federal prosecutors said, earlier this week, that Devagiri has pleaded guilty. Devagiri faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. He is scheduled to appear for a status hearing in the case on September 16. How did Devagiri scam DoorDash? Between 2020 and 2021, Devagiri and three others scammed the delivery company. Devagiri used to work as a DoorDash delivery driver. He devised this method, where he used customer accounts to place high-value orders on the app. Then he used an employee's credentials to access DoorDash software and manually reassign the orders to driver accounts that he and his co-conspirators controlled. Then, the fraudulent driver accounts that were in their control reported that the orders were delivered. In reality, those orders were not delivered because those orders were not even real. Then Devagiri used the software to pay the fraudulent drivers for those non-existent deliveries. Then Devagiri used the software to change the orders from "delivered" status to "in process". "This procedure usually took less than five minutes, and was repeated hundreds of times for many of the orders," the US Attorney's Office said in a statement. Co-defendant Manaswi Mandadapu pled guilty to the same charge on May 6. A third defendant, Tyler Thomas Bottenhorn of Solano County, pled guilty in 2023 after being separately charged in the case.
Fashion United
01-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Cindy Crawford and family invest in Vuori
Southern Californian performance lifestyle brand Vuori has announced a partnership with the Gerber-Crawford family, which will see supermodel Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber, alongside their model children Presley Gerber and Kaia Gerber become long-term collaborators of the brand. In a statement, Vuori said that the Gerber-Crawford family would become ambassadors for the performance brand, starring in its spring/summer 2025 campaign, as well as contributing to shaping Vuori as creative, strategic and financial partners. The move is described as a 'rare collaboration that just feels right'. Vuori spring/summer 2025 campaign starring the Gerber-Crawford family Credits: Vuori by Cass Bird Joe Kudla, founder and chief executive of Vuori, said: 'This official partnership with the Gerber family marks an exciting milestone for Vuori that's been years in the making. It began when Rande Gerber discovered Vuori in a small Malibu boutique and reached out, sharing our passion for what we're building. A genuine friendship followed, rooted in mutual respect and shared values, and now we're excited to take that connection even further. 'Kaia and Cindy are natural muses for Vuori's women's collection, embodying strength, style, and modern femininity. And the entire Gerber family reflects a timeless yet modern approach to fashion - effortlessly blending elevated style with an authentic, down-to-earth energy that aligns perfectly with Vuori's core values.' Vuori spring/summer 2025 campaign starring the Gerber-Crawford family Credits: Vuori by Cass Bird Gerber-Crawford family become creative, strategic and financial partners of Vuori Commenting on the partnership, entrepreneur and investor Rande Gerber, added: 'From the moment I met Joe, it was clear that he's focused and knows exactly what he wants, but above all, he's just a genuinely good person who shares the same values as our family. 'When we visited Vuori's headquarters, what stood out wasn't just the business, but the real, personal connections we all formed – it wasn't about deals, it was about shared stories and a mutual respect that made Joe say, 'We need to do something bigger together.' And that's what sets Vuori apart: no matter how fast they grow, they keep that intimate, ego-free community where people surf at lunch, celebrate each other's wins, and stay true to the soul of Southern California living.' Financial details of the partnership between Vuori and the Gerber-Crawford family were not disclosed. Vuori spring/summer 2025 campaign starring the Gerber-Crawford family Credits: Vuori by Cass Bird The news follows Vuori's recent retail expansion in the UK, opening its third store on London's King's Road. The two-level store spans over 3,412 square feet and features the brand's men's and women's collections organised in key categories across leisure, active and lifestyle. On the store opening, Andy Lawrence, vice president of international at Vuori, said: "We've been targeting a store on King's Road since we entered the UK market, and are thrilled we're finally here. 'Opening this store represents a key milestone in Vuori's expansion in the UK and across Europe, allowing us to deepen our connection with customers and the market. With each new store, we're focused on building lasting relationships with customers and laying the foundation for long-term success.' Vuori spring/summer 2025 campaign starring the Gerber-Crawford family Credits: Vuori by Cass Bird Vuori was founded in 2015 by Kudla in a humble garage office just two blocks from the ocean in the beachside town of Encinitas, California. It draws inspiration from the community, active lifestyle, and the natural playground that surrounds it and offers a fabric-first approach to create premium performance apparel and elevated everyday styles. Today, Vuori is available in more than 18 countries worldwide, with more than 70 stores in the US and 3 in the UK. It also has a global e-commerce platform and a curated wholesale business with stores, including luxury department stores Harrods, Selfridges and Nordstrom. Vuori spring/summer 2025 campaign starring the Gerber-Crawford family Credits: Vuori by Cass Bird
The Independent
02-04-2025
- The Independent
Teen girl attacked by sea lion in Long Beach thought she was encountering a shark
A 15-year-old girl was attacked by a sea lion on a Southern Californian beach but mistook it for a shark. Phoebe Beltran was due to take a swim test for Long Beach 's cadet lifeguard program on Sunday when the attack happened in front of an Ocean Boulevard lifeguard tower. 'Out of nowhere, I feel something biting my arm,' Beltran teen told KTLA. 'I saw a shadow of it, and all I'm thinking is, 'Please, don't be a shark. Please, don't take off my arm, and please, don't kill me.'' The teen was instead met with a hostile sea lion, a marine animal that can weigh up to 700 pounds and measure up to six feet. Phoebe was left with multiple bites, scratches on her arm and hand, swelling, and bruising, but did not suffer serious injuries. She was swiftly taken to the emergency room after lifeguards rescued the teen as fast as possible. The attack comes as toxic algae blooms are poisoning sea lions on the Southern Californian coast, according to marine scientists. This makes them more aggressive and potentially dangerous to humans. Changes in their behavior are thought to be caused by poisoning from domoic acid produced by the blooms, which contributes to seizures and health issues in sea lions. The teen's mother was also distraught as she thought there was a shark. 'I saw something come up, like a fin, and somebody yelled, 'Shark'... We all rushed to the water, and when I realized it was my daughter, that's when I broke down,' Bibi Beltran said. 'She could've been pulled under. I thought the worst,' she told KTLA. Despite the terrifying experience, Phoebe is looking forward to taking the lifeguard cadet test once she has recovered. 'I love the beach. I love the ocean. I love swimming,' she said. Beachgoers are advised to alert the closest lifeguard and call 1-800-39-WHALE to report a stranded or sick marine mammal. Anyone encountering a sea lion anywhere is advised to avoid eye contact and back away slowly.
