Latest news with #tailgate
The Independent
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Best portable grills for tailgating, beach days, camping trips, and more
There's something singularly satisfying about lighting a flame, hearing that first sizzle, and flipping a burger with a cold drink in hand — especially when your whole setup fits in the backseat. The best portable grills deliver all the smoky, seared-up goodness of a full-size barbecue in a smaller, more travel-friendly package, making it easy to take your grill-master skills just about anywhere, be it a beach picnic, sporting tailgate, trailhead pullout, RV campground, or even your neighbor's backyard. And just like their full-size cousins, today's compact grills come in a wide range of fuel types, formats, and personalities, from sleek propane models with precise flame control to charcoal classics that bring big flavor to small spaces. Some are made to toss in the trunk, others are built for style. All of them achieve the goal of turning any outdoor space into your own personal grilling oasis. From campsite cookouts (I've also found the best camping stoves) to patio grilling, the following portable grills deliver the best combination of portability, performance, and outdoor cooking joy. How I tested To evaluate the best portable grills, I gathered a team of testers and went on a series of camping trips, where we turned a grassy field into a pop-up cookout zone. We spent the afternoon firing up burgers, hot dogs, pizzas, and veggies on a lineup of different models, testing them side by side to compare performance. We cooked, took audio notes, rotated stations, and shared feedback over grilled snacks. I followed this up with three additional solo testing sessions at home, using each of the grills again in my backyard to get a better sense of long-term usability and convenience. Throughout the process, I judged each model based on the following criteria: Portability: I considered how easy each was to transport, carry, set up, and pack down. I assed the size of each grill, and whether it was large enough for various cooking needs. Stability: When cooking, I assessed whether the grills felt secure when placed on uneven or soft ground. Design and aesthetics: You want a grill that's well-built and feels durable, so I made sure to consider design. Similarly, I paid attention to how each one looked. Features and extras: Where applicable, I consdered the various add-ons or standout details that enhance the cooking experience. Performance: Arguably the most important testing criteria was the grill's cooking performance. I assessed how evenly the grills cooked meat and vegetables. Why you can trust IndyBest U.S. reviews As an outdoor gear tester with nearly a decade of experience, Rachel Cavanaugh has reviewed everything from the best tents for camping and chairs to the best coolers and camping stoves. Beyond her work, Rachel spends a lot of time camping, hiking, and simply enjoying the outdoors, so she has a personal interest in finding the portable grills that actually work — both for her own benefit and yours. The best portable grills are:
CBS News
08-08-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
For Philadelphia Eagles fans at preseason game, anticipation is building for regular-season action
South Philadelphia was buzzing for Thursday's Philadelphia Eagles game, despite it being the preseason. "It feels so good to be back," said Tom Gearhart, who has been season ticket holder for more than three decades and never misses a chance to bring his beloved van out to tailgate with his friends and on this day, his daughter. "The van was born in, I think, 2009. We decorated it, as you can see. It's got 40 years of posters in there, a lot of pictures, a lot of memories," Gearhart said. Fan Malik Johnson is eager to make new memories with his sons in this new season. "It's like Christmas … you can't wait, the anticipation, because we know we have a great team," Johnson said. But the award for who traveled the farthest might go to Wibe Blokland from the Netherlands, who was taking in his first Eagles game. "I met this amazing girl, Katie McGowan, and she is a big Eagles fan, and so that turned me into an Eagles fan immediately," Blokland said. And even in Dutch, hearing "Go Birds" once again sounds really really good. Many here are also already counting to the first official game on Sept. 4, four weeks from Thursday. The Eagles won the game, 34-27.
CNN
31-07-2025
- Business
- CNN
Take 34% off this portable Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Fan that you can take anyway
Shark's newest cooling fan is also one of its most useful ways to beat the heat through the end of summer. Its new FlexBreeze series includes a unique misting feature and portable design that can be used while plugged into the wall or taken just about anywhere for cooling relief in any room, while out on the patio or even at a tailgate. Now, several retailers have dropped the new HydroGo Fan to its best price ever. Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Fan If you're still searching for that ultimate cooling product to get yourself through the end of summer, look no further than this Shark misting and cooling fan. It's available at the best price ever, not just on Amazon, but also on several other retailers. We previously spotted a 20% off discount, and now it's selling for under $100 for the first time. The newest Shark fan offers cooling relief at home and on the go. It plugs into your wall like any other desktop fan, but has the added perk of a built-in battery that can offer as much as 12 hours of use, depending on the settings. Realistically, you're probably going to be blasting the FlexBreeze HydroGo by turning it up to its top fan speed setting, which offers around two hours of untethered use. But there are also four other modes to choose from as the summer weather begins to cool off next month. Portability aside, what allows this fan to stand out from other models we've tested is its integrated water tank. The HydroGo includes an evaporative mist feature that helps drop temperatures even more and provides additional cooling on those extra hot days. The east coast has been hammered by more 90-degree days than I can count over the past few weeks, and having suffered through them, I can easily attest that any extra bit of relief would have been so appreciated. Today's fan deal clocks in at $1 below the previous lowest price from back on Prime Day. Good things come to those who wait, and today's new all-time low price is certainly proof. Even though we're heading into August, the summer heat shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. This Amazon discount means you can cool off for less than ever before, and in more ways than a traditional fan can offer. CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors with many years of product testing knowledge as well as experience researching and recommending other buys, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when relevant to ensure we are using each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. Senior deals editor Rikka Altland has personally been reviewing all kinds of tech and home goods for over a decade. She uses one of the brand's fans, the Shark TurboBlade, and can speak to the company's overall reliability and quality.
CBC
02-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
'Fantastic' Bombers atmosphere inspires new CFL commissioner on league-wide tour
Social Sharing Stewart Johnston didn't even need to watch a down of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' game last week to be "blown away" by the experience. The CFL's new commissioner saw team billboards on his drive to Princess Auto Stadium, watched fans at the official tailgate party enjoy some barbecue and bevvies and spotted kids testing their football skills two hours before kickoff against the Edmonton Elks. "You started to feel the energy before you even got to the stadium, and then I was blown away by the tailgate. It is truly an event," Stewart said in a phone interview this week during a pit stop at his Toronto home before continuing visits to all CFL cities. Appointed in April as the league's 15th commissioner, the former TSN president made his seventh of nine stops in Winnipeg as part of what he calls his "100-day listening tour." The 54-year-old caps it off next weekend, stopping Thursday in Calgary, when the Stampeders host the Blue Bombers, then Sunday in Edmonton for a game between the Elks and Ottawa Redblacks. When he took the job, Johnston identified three things to focus on to ensure the league's success: entertainment, innovation and community. The Blue Bombers get check marks for all three. Walking around the stadium concourse, Johnston weaved through fans in their 20s and 30s socializing at one end near the Rum Hut, while some of the seventh consecutive sellout of 32,343 spectators took in the action from seats in a family section. "Throughout all of sport, particularly in North America, we've seen this transition to social areas that is incredibly important for young adults for their version of consuming a game, which is simply different," Johnston said. "To see them all having such a great time socializing with each other, occasionally glancing down and cheering for a play, and then continuing great conversation with food and drink, it was fantastic, and it brings such a great energy to the stadium." His tour includes speaking with club staff, players, fans and media. He's asking fans to name three things the league is doing "wonderfully" and two they believe need improvement. Responses have included some recurring themes. 'Fan for life' Fans appreciate the strong sense of Canadiana in the league and rising Canadian stars. There's positive feedback about "the refreshed look" of TSN broadcasts and optimism about improved ratings and game-day revenue. Through the first four weeks of the season, ratings were up 9.9 per cent from the same time last year. Many fans are excited about CFL players potentially competing at the 2028 Olympics in flag football, a sport Johnston believes can be linked to the league. His 14-year-old daughter, Vivian, took up flag football at school last fall and tells him how much fun it is. If participants become fans of that game, it could progress to watching the three-down game. "If you live in a market where there is a CFL team, maybe your whole team would want to go and attend a game," Johnston said. "And if you attend a game, maybe you buy a jersey or a hat and become a fan for life." When it comes to what the CFL can do better, fans have told him they want a more professional and modern look to the league's website. They're also curious about when there will be a 10th team, as well as how the league plans to attract younger fans. Blue Bombers president and chief executive officer Wade Miller said staff have worked hard to draw a range of fans during the past decade. There is a 55-45 split of male and female game-day fans, more than 60 per cent of a capacity crowd are season-ticket holders and the age of fans is trending down. "It's giving them what they want," Miller said of fans age 18-30. "It's the ability stand up, the ability to walk around and be social." Winnipeg and the Saskatchewan Roughriders were the only franchises to turn a profit last season. Miller said clubs' executives share ideas to help each other. "Off the field, the CFL teams work extremely well together, and we're all in this together," he said. There are opportunities to make games events, Johnston said. He pointed to the B.C. Lions holding concerts before season-opening games, with stars such as Snoop Dog and 50 Cent. 'Selling 1 ticket at a time' The Stampeders' game against the Bombers on Thursday is tied to the Calgary Stampede that kicks off the next day. The inaugural Stampede Bowl includes a trophy for the winner, and in a partnership with the Stampede, tickets to the game come with admission to some Stampede events. Country and rock artists will also play sets before the game, at halftime and post-game at Stamps House. "If there was one lesson I've learned from Wade Miller and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, it's we've got to focus on selling one ticket at a time," Johnston said.
CTV News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
CFL commissioner takes notes from ‘fantastic' Bombers atmosphere on league-wide tour
CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston, the former president of The Sports Network (TSN), is photographed at TSN's studios in Toronto, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston WINNIPEG — Stewart Johnston didn't even need to watch a down of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers game last week to be 'blown away' by the experience. The CFL's new commissioner saw team billboards on his drive to Princess Auto Stadium, watched fans at the official tailgate party enjoy some barbecue and bevvies and spotted kids testing their football skills two hours before kickoff against the Edmonton Elks. 'You started to feel the energy before you even got to the stadium, and then I was blown away by the tailgate. It is truly an event,' Stewart said in a phone interview this week during a pitstop at his Toronto home before continuing visits to all CFL cities. Appointed in April as the league's 15th commissioner, the former TSN president made his seventh of nine stops in Winnipeg as part of what he calls his '100-day listening tour.' The 54-year-old caps it off Thursday in Calgary when the Stampeders host the Blue Bombers, then Sunday's game in Edmonton between the Elks and Ottawa Redblacks. When he took the job, Johnston identified three components to focus on to ensure the league's success: entertainment, innovation and community. The Blue Bombers get check marks for all three. Walking around the stadium concourse, Johnston weaved through fans in their 20s and 30s socializing at one end near the Rum Hut, while some of the seventh-consecutive sellout of 32,343 spectators took in the action from their seats that included a family section. 'Throughout all of sport, particularly in North America, we've seen this transition to social areas that is incredibly important for young adults for their version of consuming a game, which is simply different,' Johnston said. 'To see them all having such a great time socializing with each other, occasionally glancing down and cheering for a play, and then continuing great conversation with food and drink, it was fantastic and it brings such a great energy to the stadium.' His tour includes speaking with club staff, players, fans and media. He's asking fans to name three things the league is doing 'wonderfully' and two they believe need improvement. Responses have included some recurring themes. Fans appreciate the strong sense of Canadiana in the league and rising Canadian stars. There's positive feedback about 'the refreshed look' of TSN broadcasts and optimism about improved ratings and game-day revenue. Through the first four weeks of the season, ratings were up 9.9 per cent from the same time last year. Many fans are excited about CFL players potentially competing at the 2028 Olympics in flag football, a sport Johnston believes can be linked to the league. His 14-year-old daughter, Vivian, took up flag football at school last fall and tells him how much fun it is. If participants become fans of that game, it could progress to watching the three-down game. 'If you live in a market where there is a CFL team, maybe your whole team would want to go and attend a game,' Johnston said. 'And if you attend a game, maybe you buy a jersey or a hat and become a fan for life.' When it comes to what the CFL can do better, fans have told him they want a more professional and modern look to the league's website. They're also curious about when there will be a 10th team, as well as how the league plans to attract younger fans. Blue Bombers president and chief executive officer Wade Miller said staff have worked hard to draw a range of fans during the past decade. There is a 55-45 split of male and female game-day fans, more than 60 per cent of a capacity crowd are season-ticket holders and the age of fans is trending down. 'It's giving them what they want,' Miller said of fans aged 18-30. 'It's the ability stand up, the ability to walk around and be social.' Winnipeg and the Saskatchewan Roughriders were the only franchises to turn a profit last season. Miller said clubs' executives share ideas to help each other. 'Off the field, the CFL teams work extremely well together and we're all in this together,' he said. There are opportunities to make games events, Johnston said. He pointed to the B.C. Lions holding concerts before season-opening games with stars such as Snoop Dog and 50 Cent. The Stampeders' game against the Bombers on Thursday is tied to the Calgary Stampede that kicks off the next day. The inaugural Stampede Bowl includes a trophy for the winner. And in a partnership with the Stampede, tickets to the game come with admission to some Stampede events. Country and rock artists will also play sets before the game, at halftime and post-game at Stamps House. 'If there was one lesson I've learned from Wade Miller and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, it's we've got to focus on selling one ticket at a time,' Johnston said. 'It's thinking about new ways to drive an engagement with our fans and then showing an incredible appreciation for our fans. Customer service needs to be incredible.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2025. Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
