Mike Lindell returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday night, but as always, this wasn’t your typical interview. On top of being his usual conspiratorial self, Lindell was only allowed to appear on the show if he agreed to be interviewed from inside an arcade claw machine from Dave & Buster’s. He readily accepted the offer and even boasted about it on Twitter. “I am willing to be humiliated to help save our country,” Lindell tweeted ahead of the taping.
However, the MyPillow CEO may have underestimated just how he was going to be roasted. Kimmel immediately started throwing jabs in his monologue and quipped that he put Lindell in the arcade game to help him get over his fear of machines.
“All the way from whatever planet he came from, Mr. My Pillow, Mike Lindell is here to finally answer the question, ‘What if Ted Lasso was on the FBI watchlist?’” Kimmel quipped before shooting down a wild theory that Lindell was spreading before the show. Via The Daily Beast:
And while Lindell has been telling anyone who will listen that Kimmel wants him in a glass cage because of his COVID-19 vaccination status, Kimmel clarified, “I did not insist that Mike be in a claw machine because he’s not vaccinated. I insisted he be in a claw machine because it’s hilarious,” adding, “This isn’t a political statement. This is just for fun.”
Kimmel also peppered Lindell with questions about his failed bid to become chair of the Republican National Convention, which ended with the MyPillow CEO getting a comically low number of votes. Surprisingly, Lindell accepted the results and said he didn’t think the RNC election was rigged because machines weren’t involved, which opened him up to more jokes from Kimmel.
“You distrust machines,” Kimmel noted. “Does that extend to sewing machines? What about ice machines?” But the questioning didn’t get very far as Kimmel brought out Lindell impersonator James Adomian who wanted to know what kind of “dark magic” was happening as he looked at the real Lindell inside the claw machine.
If you’ve been lingering around Twitter lately, and just so happen to come across Tablo’s Twitter, then you would know the new Epik High project is solely being marketed by memes posted by Tablo and fans. And it’s been entertaining.
After a week of editing memes, the Korean hip-hop trio’s newest EP, Strawberry, released today (February 1). The five-track EP carries two lead singles, both of which are collaborations with two famous acts within the K-pop community. ‘Magic Man’ Jackson Wang joins Epik High in their song “On My Way,” while HwaSa of MAMAMOO features on the group’s other lead single “Catch.”
“What we wanted to do at the beginning of our 20th anniversary together, that is 2023, is deliver music that’s sweet and fresh,” Tablo shared in an official press release. “People may expect music that’s reminiscing or that’s weighed down by the years, but we wanted to go against that expectation and create something that sounds like three guys who just created a group together.”
The new EP is available on all streaming platforms.
Miami Heat All-Star forward Jimmy Butler likes to have fun. That much is evident from the outset of our meeting. His display name on this Thursday afternoon Zoom call reads “ymmij reltub.” His camera is off and his silence stretches an awkwardly long period of time, even after I ask whether he’s on the line and good to begin our interview.
“Yeah, I was just gonna see if y’all’s was gonna check if I was here or not,” he finally responds in a whimsical tone. “I was gonna be silent and act like my thing froze. I saw that on Instagram. Obviously, it didn’t work.”
That inclination for fun has led him to a partnership with Michelob Ultra. This year, he’s back for another cameo in the company’s Super Bowl commercial after joining the likes of Serena Williams, Alex Morgan, Peyton Manning, and Brooks Koepka inside a dimly lit bowling alley in 2022’s version. Now, he’s hitting the links alongside fellow athletic luminaries such as Williams, Morgan, Nneka Ogwumike, and Tony Romo, as well as “Succession” star Brian Cox.
On behalf of Michelob, Dime caught up with Butler last week to discuss this year’s Super Bowl shoot, whether he has a nickname on the golf course, how the Heat’s season has progressed, and more.
What do you have going on this year with Michelob and why are you excited to work on this spot?
I’m gonna ask you first, though. Which spot did you like better? I’m just curious.
Oh, that’s tough. I’ve only seen the preview for this year’s one. And I don’t play golf. I do enjoy bowling, so I do have to go with last year, just based off those factors.
OK, OK, understandable. Man, this year was a lot of fun. I would like to say that I’m more of a golfer than I am a bowler, if you’re gonna go one. Obviously, I’m the best at both. But we have plenty of new faces in this new spot. We still got some old heads, and I don’t mean old as in Serena is old, because she’s not. She’s the GOAT. I meant like we’ve been in spots together before. That’s what I mean. She’s the greatest of all time, we get it. Nneka, Alex, Tony, Canelo [Alvarez]. Brian, I think what this spot has that’s vastly different is you got all the great athletes, excluding myself, and they’re all coming together, and they’re legitimately just having fun. It’s like, hey, we’re in this new age of golf. We’re dancing, we’re having a Michelob Ultra. We’re enjoying what we’re doing. And at the same time, if we take it to the soccer pitch, Alex is gonna be Alex. If we take it to the tennis court, Serena and myself, we’re probably going to be who we are. In the boxing ring, I don’t think anybody wants to see Canelo in any way, shape, or form. And it goes down the line.
So, with all of those great names that I just mentioned, think about us all on a golf course and just having a blast. Like, that’s what this one’s all about.
I remember in last year’s commercial, you had the little Jimmy Pins nickname on your bowling shirt. Do we have a golf nickname for you? We got Jimmy Buckets. We got Jimmy Pins. Do we have a golf one?
You know what? I wasn’t expecting that. I wasn’t expecting that. I need to think of one. Wowwww. Wow. I’m getting back to you on that one. I gotta think of one. Wow.
I thought you’d be ready for that! I thought that would be up your alley.
I know, I should’ve known. That’s my fault. Wow. I don’t have one yet, but I promise you we will get you one and it’s coming from me.
In general, since I know you’ve worked before with Michelob beyond these specific commercials, what appeals to you?
They’re real. They like to have fun, and they do so much. Even when you’re talking about the women that we have on this roster, when it comes to Serena, Alex, Nneka, bringing light to them and what they do. I don’t think too many people — men, women, boys, little girls — can do what they do. The fact that they made a $100 million commitment in 2021 to shed light on women in sports … not only are they making sure that we’re having a good time doing what we do, they’re making sure that, look, these women really, really do it and they do it at the highest level. We’re gonna make sure that not only are the guys taking notice, like everybody in the world is taking notice. So, I think that the main thing with Michelob Ultra that I love is the incredibly good people. They are so very real.
If we can switch to the hoops side of things, I’d love to know what’s gone well for you all as a team lately, going 17-8 since a 12-15 start. Where do you feel like you all have grown over the past month and a half, two months?
I would just say our amount of togetherness. When things weren’t going the way we wanted them to go, we didn’t go further away from each other. I think we got even closer as a unit, as a whole. And that’s how this thing is gonna be. It’s not gonna be all bad. And trust when I say it’s not going to be all good, either. But either way it goes, whether it’s on one end of the spectrum or right in the middle, we’re going to be there together. And I think that these last couple of weeks, we really embrace being together and we are one. So, moving forward, I think you’re going to be able to notice that and see that in these games.
How does having cohesion and prior experience making deep playoff runs together make it easier to weather some of those struggles?
I think there’s definitely a part of it. I can’t say that it doesn’t play a part. But I think more than anything, we all believe that we can win a championship. We all know where we stand in this league. We know where the ball has to go. We know everybody’s role, and I think that’s the most important thing. We know we’re expected to win. We know that we can win. To the best of my abilities and our abilities, we don’t pay too much attention to the outside noise and what everybody else is saying. I think that’s why we’re starting to pick up these Ws as of now. It’s always better late than never, but what a better time than now, You can’t find a better time than now.
A couple guys key to all this success are Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. What impresses you about the way that Bam and Tyler have made strides in their games since you joined the Heat?
Honestly, I see a lot of myself when you talk about the career path and trajectory of everything. They’ve figured it out. They realized that they belong in this league. They’re constantly proving that they belong in this league. Not only that, they’ve gotten better every single year, and they’re gonna continue to get better every single year. And before you know it, we’re all going to end up winning a championship together because I don’t plan on going anywhere. Tyler doesn’t plan on going anywhere. Bam doesn’t plan on going anywhere, so we’re gonna have to figure it out.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
February is keeping things chill(y) in the streaming TV realm. Although we won’t see the return of these much anticipated shows until March, this month isn’t doing so shabby, either. For one thing, everyone’s favorite triumphant DC supervillainess (Kaley Cuoco in Harley Quinn) will return for her version of romance. Last month’s new shows will keep cranking, as well, but expect the twisted-love theme to return with You, in which Penn Badgley’s Stalker Joe has encountered a turning of the tables in London.
If you aren’t down for anything resembling a love story, you’re also in luck. The Party Down revival will soon stumble into view while the Fresh Prince reboot takes a further swagger down a darker path. There’s much more, including Fae Folk, Kooks and Pogues, voyages into outer space, and a final, explosive chapter for the origin story of crack cocaine. Here are the must-see shows for February 2023.
Murder in Big Horn (Showtime series streaming 2/5)
Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon may be running far behind the original schedule, but this series adopts the same somber theme. This three-part docuseries charts the longstanding epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Big Horn County, Montana. Through in-depth interviews of Native families and local law enforcement, Native journalists persist in seeking enough information to secure a rare arrest in these cases. What emerges is a powerful and stirring portrait of communities that hopes to heal long-lasted wounds of grieving families, who have been attempting to seek the truth for centuries on end.
You: Season 4 Part 1 (Netflix series streaming 2/9)
Joe Goldberg has another new name, and he’s moved to London. More news: the stalker is the one being stalked. Joe also has a new beard, but someone’s still onto him, but most importantly for his purposes, he’s vowed to finally change his ways, but books are still there for him. He’s now Jonathan Moore, a fake professor, who’s staring into the souls of college students and the adults who can’t quit academia, either. Penn Badgley has admitted to to feeling “icky” about a Season 4 poster, which still fits with the theme of the show, but now, it’s also a mystery story.
Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special (HBO Max episode streaming 2/9)
Amid the ongoing content exodus at HBO Max, there’s a reason why this DC Comics-adapting series is still making the cut. If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of enjoying this show’s free-wheeling take on supervillains and henchmen, it’s time to get caught up. Even if you haven’t seen the preceding seasons, though, this free-standing Valentine’s episode should be enjoyable enough upon its own merits. Who could ever be upset to see Harley freaking out over enjoying this first Hallmark holiday with Ivy? Also, poor Bane must endure a romantic disaster.
Star Trek: Picard: Season 3 (Paramount+ series streaming 2/16)
Sir Patrick Stewart’s most iconic character (yes, including X-Men) heads into his final season in the 25th century. This show provides a bounty of happiness for Star Trek: The Next Generation viewers, given that many fan-favorite characters are all onboard, along with Seven of Nine from Star Trek: Voyager. This season will see Picard deal with the threat of Captain Vadic, and it’s something to behold that this particular era of the franchise has now carried on for over 25 years. The “final frontier” keeps on kicking.
Carnival Row: Season 2 (Amazon series streaming 2/17)
Fantasy fans have plenty of other options to choose from (including Amazon’s Lord of the Rings as well as Netflix’s The Sandman and HBO’s House of the Dragon) these days, but that hasn’t prevented disappointment that this steampunk-inspired vision won’t carry on much longer. This second and final season follows Orlando Bloom’s ex-inspector digging into a series of suspicious deaths. Cara Delevingne’s character wants some payback, and the revolution against the Fae Folk’s Human oppressors has been ignited while everyone must choose sides. Oh, and there’s some conspiracy stuff and a love aspect, not necessarily in that order.
Snowfall: Season 6 (FX series returning 2/22)
“When your empire is threatened, the gloves come off,” as FX reveals with the John Singleton-created series preparing to bring a familial civil war to a shattering conclusion. In other words, this is how rock cocaine (and the CIA) destroyed a community. The show picks up in 1986, and Franklin attempts to pick up the pieces after the CIA put him out of business. One family member has undercut another, and another empire shall rise. In the process, Franklin could fully lose his family, and that’s only if he survives outsmarting the LAPD’s militarized incarnation along with a couple of federal agencies. Whew.
Outer Banks: Season 3 (Netflix series streaming 2/23)
This soapy mystery thriller will keep the battle going between the Kooks and the Pogues. This season, the latter group aims to visit the Caribbean for new adventures, but of course, that leads to diversions into other locations while everyone searches for a lost city. This was perhaps an inevitable although thoroughly delicious development.
Bel-Air: Season 2 (Peacock series streaming 2/23)
Those roughed-up Philly streets haven’t left Will’s psyche as easy as with his 1990s counterpart, even as Will shifts into a different gear with a new role model. The show grew dark during the first season by diving deeper than a 30-minute sitcom could ever do, even while accounting for the differences in tone. Jabari Banks returns as Will with Adrian Holmes as Uncle Phil and Cassandra Freeman as Aunt Viv. Also, rapper Saweetie will will surface for a cameo, and Olly Sholotan returns as Carlton, who will not be doing dance popularized by Alfonso Ribeiro’s version.
The Consultant (Amazon series streaming 2/24)
Most Terrifying Man In The World Christoph Waltz helms this darkly comedic thriller as a (you guessed it) consultant whose business recommendations are anything but typical, not to mention anything but benevolent. He’s also got a strange habit, as revealed in the above teaser, of smelling people to size them up. Run, everyone!
Party Down: Season 3 (Starz series streaming 2/24)
Adam Scott returns to bartend up an unenthused storm alongside a ton of original series regulars including Jane Lynch, Ken Marino, Martin Starr, and Ryan Hansen. Together, they’ll tackle all the Bar Mitzvahs fit for shaking. Why are they still doing this? Well, that’s part of the mystery, but it’s a catering-team comeback with new additions including James Marsden, Quinta Brunson, Nick Offerman, Bobby Moynihan, and Jennifer Garner. Actually, the sole missing ingredient here appears to be Lizzy Caplan, who’s been busy in Fleishman Is In Trouble-land.
One way to get tickets is via the Citi Verified Fan Presale. To attempt to secure a ticket, buyers must first register for the pre-sale. Some registrants will then receive an access code the night before the presale goes live, which will grant access to shop for tickets. Then, they’ll be able to buy tickets with a valid Citi credit card of Citibank debit card.
Otherwise, links to register to get tickets for specific tour dates are available on Beyoncé’s website.
The trek starts in May with some European and UK dates before heading to North America in July. That part of the tour kicks off in Toronto and will later wrap up in New Orleans.
For the second time in as many years, Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL. This time, however, the soon-to-be Hall of Fame quarterback made it a point to say that his decision to step away from the game will be “for good.”
Brady announced the news in a video he posted to his social media channels, saying that he took a more subtle approach this time around because “you only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year.”
“Good morning, guys,” Brady said. “I’ll get to the point right away: I’m retiring. For good. I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record, let you guys know first.”
There were questions about what would come next for the 45-year-old signal caller, who was slated to become a free agent after a tough 2022 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While he could have potentially returned to Tampa or gone to another team — the Las Vegas Raiders were mentioned as a potential landing spot — Brady also had the opportunity to leave the playing field and head into the broadcast booth due to a contract for $375 million he reportedly signed with Fox.
Ozzy Osbourne turned 74 years old last December and in the years preceding that birthday, the legendary rocker has been open about his health struggles. Recently, he shared an update about a recent surgery he had, noting of the aftermath, “The thing is my head is all right, my creativity is OK, my singing OK, but I just can’t f*cking walk much now.” Now, he’s back with another update about his health and touring future.
Osbourne’s message shared today (February 1) starts, “This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans. As you may all know, four years ago, this month, I had a major accident, where I damaged my spine. My one and only purpose during this time has been to get back on stage. My singing voice is fine. However, after three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy sessions, and most recently groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) Treatment, my body is still physically weak.”
He then revealed he’s canceling his upcoming UK and European tour dates, adding, “Believe me when I say that the thought of disappointing my fans really F*CKS ME UP, more than you will ever know. Never would I have imagined that my touring days would have ended this way. My team is currently coming up with ideas for where I will be able to perform without having to travel from city to city and country to country.”
Find Osbourne’s full post below.
This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans… pic.twitter.com/aXGw3fjImo
“’This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans. As you may all know, four years ago, this month, I had a major accident, where I damaged my spine.
My one and only purpose during this time has been to get back on stage. My singing voice is fine. However, after three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy sessions, and most recently groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) Treatment, my body is still physically weak.
I am honestly humbled by the way you’ve all patiently held onto your tickets for all this time, but in all good conscience, I have now come to the realization that I’m not physically capable of doing my upcoming European/UK tour dates, as I know I couldn’t deal with the travel required. Believe me when I say that the thought of disappointing my fans really F*CKS ME UP, more than you will ever know.
Never would I have imagined that my touring days would have ended this way. My team is currently coming up with ideas for where I will be able to perform without having to travel from city to city and country to country.
I want to thank my family……my band…….my crew……my longtime friends, Judas Priest, and of course, my fans for their endless dedication, loyalty, and support, and for giving me the life that I never ever dreamed I would have.
I love you all…’
Ticket refunds are available at point of purchase.”
If you’re over the age of 23, having a stash of go-to “house” wines on hand is always a good idea. However, all that’s delicious and reliable needn’t be expensive. While we don’t generally condone going below the $15 price point, as the quality of fruit and winemaking gets a bit iffy (there are extremely rare exceptions), there are a plethora of gems to be found between the $15 and $20 mark.
However, finding excellent budget-friendly wines requires a bit of thought. We recommend seeking out producers that put farming and sustainability first. Nowadays, most brand websites generally list this information, though doing a quick Google search on the producer of their distributor will always provide some insight.
Today, you don’t have to worry about that—we’ve done the hard work for you. And as much as we condone supporting small retailers, we get that it’s often more convenient to grab your wine online. So we headed to Wine.com to find the ten best white wines under the $20 mark.
Check them out below!
10. Nortico Alvarinho 2021
Vivino
ABV: 12.5% Region: Minho, Portugal Price: $14.99
The Wine:
Nortico Alvarinho is a bright and refreshing white hailing from the Minho region of northwestern Portugal. Think of it like Vinho Verde, but even better. The wine is vinified entirely in stainless steel, so as to preserve its natural acidity, and the bottle’s stunning label pays homage to the family’s small tile atelier, which was produced for the cities of Porto and Lisbon during the 18th century.
Tasting Notes:
Bright and delicate on the palate, Nortico Alvarinho jumps with flavors of citrus, lime leaf, green apple skin, and explosive saline notes. Pair with oysters or fresh shellfish for an instant mental escape to coastal Iberia.
The Bottom Line:
Don’t sleep on Portuguese whites. They’re affordable, easy to drink, and generally overdeliver more than the majority of their other European counterparts.
9. Alois Lageder Terra Alpina Chardonnay Vigneti delle Dolomiti 2021
Alois Lageder’s family has been producing wines in Trentino-Alto Adige for six generations. The family’s roots date back to 1823 when Johann Lageder established himself as a wine merchant in Bolzano. Today, Alois farms the estate’s 50 hectares of vines—including those for this cool-climate Chardonnay—all biodynamically.
Tasting Notes:
Fruit for the Lageder family’s Terra Alpina line of wines hails from the foothills of the Dolomites, where rustic Alpine conditions are moderated by warming Mediterranean influences. Contrary to many sub-$20 Chardonnays, this cool-climate expression is vinified without the use of oak, so as to maintain the wine’s freshness. Expect flavors of lemongrass, quince, and white flowers to lead to a juicy finish.
The Bottom Line:
The majority of sub-$20 Chardonnay—especially from California—is big, oaky, and seriously does the grape a disservice. This cool-climate expression is a (literal) breath of fresh air.
8. Badenhorst Secateurs Chenin Blanc 2020
Vivino
ABV: 12.8% Region: Swartland, South Africa Price: $15.99
The Wine:
After working harvests at Château Angelus and Domaine Graillot, Andre Adriaan Badenhorst returned to South Africa and founded his eponymous estate back in 2008. Fruit for this Chenin Blanc hails from old (60+ years) bush vines and was aged for seven months in French oak casks prior to bottling. Fun fact: A dash of Palomino, the crown jewel grape of the wines of Spain’s Jerez region, often makes its way into this wine!
Tasting Notes:
Secateurs Chenin Blanc offers the perfect balance of weight and freshness. The wine jumps with flavors of honeyed stone fruit and citrus blossom marked by flinty, smoke-driven undertones on the finish. New World Chardonnay fans, we recommend giving this one a go.
The Bottom Line:
Although Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley tends to get all of the love, world-class bottles are being made in South Africa—it’s simply a matter of selecting the right producers (and historic ones like Badenhorst are a great place to start).
7. Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Lisa
ABV: 13.5% Region: Marlborough, New Zealand Price: $17.99
The Wine:
Nautilus has been making wine in New Zealand’s famous Marlborough region since 1985. Unlike the many generic Sauvignon Blancs from this region, their expression is textured, mouth-watering, and seriously delicious.
Tasting Notes:
This flavor-packed Sauvignon Blanc is loaded with flavors of tropical fruit, grapefruit rind, and flinty smoke. The combination of low-yielding vines, which provide smaller amounts of concentrated fruit, coupled with five months of lees aging (contact with the dead yeast cells during aging) gives this wine a pleasantly weighty palate and a long-lasting finish.
The Bottom Line:
We’ll be honest—a good amount of budget-friendly Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is grassy and green. This well-balanced expression from Nautilus flips the stereotypes on their head.
6. Domaine du Haut Bourg Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu Sur Lie 2020
Vivino
ABV: 12% Region: Loire Valley, France Price: $13.99
The Wine:
Domaine du Haut Bourg is now spearheaded by brothers Nicolas and Hervé Choblet, representing the family’s fourth generation of winemakers. Their unique proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, coupled with the region’s diversity of soils, create optimal conditions for producing flinty, high-acid wines that are undeniably Muscadet. Note: Although the wines are referred to as Muscadet, the grape here is Melon de Bourgogne.
Tasting Notes:
Salt, flint, and more salt. This sustainably-produced wine shows briny flavors of lemon, citrus peel, crushed stones, and ocean air, with a bit of creaminess added from lees aging. Expect a zesty, palate-quenching wine that pairs perfectly with seafood, salads, and a variety of fresh cheeses.
The Bottom Line:
When it comes to Muscadet, think salty, refreshing, and generally always affordable. These are your go-to wines for seafood towers, pool parties, and happy hours everywhere.
Elena Walch is redefining Italian Pinot Grigio’s place on the market. Although formerly synonymous with mass-produced wines, her meticulously crafted bottles show just how great this famous grape can be. This bottle was produced from sustainably-farmed fruit and vinified entirely in steel.
Tasting Notes:
Straw-yellow in color, this mouth-filling wine shows flavors of pear, green apple, white flowers, and hints of pepper. While perfect for sipping with pasta or grilled fish, this easy-drinking wine is also super pleasant on its own.
The Bottom Line:
Pinot Grigio is having a renaissance moment thanks to producers like Elena Walch. Leave the sub-$10, magnum-sized swill behind and dive into responsibly-farmed, well-made expressions like this one to truly see what the grape is all about.
Pratsch wines check all of our boxes. They’re organic, they’re super easy to find, and best of all, they offer a serious bang for your buck. This liter-size bottle was produced from Gruner Veltliner, the unofficial white grape of Austria. If you generally reach for Sauvignon Blanc, we can’t recommend this grape variety enough.
Tasting Notes:
Tangy and refreshing flavors of apple skin, white pepper, and white stone fruit dominate this easy-drinking wine, which was produced from organically-farmed grapes and is vegan-friendly. (Note: Some wines are clarified with animal byproducts, rendering them unfriendly to vegans, though this bottle is a safe bet.)
The Bottom Line:
Organic, liter-sized, and delicious? Say no more. Pratsch just… gets it. We love their red, too—check out our Top 10 Best Reds from Wine.com list and you’ll see why.
3. Domaine Saint-Romain Jacquere Blanc 2020
Wine-Searcher
ABV: 11.5% Region: Savoie, France Price: $19.99
The Wine:
To fulfill all of your French chalet-inspired dreams, look no further than the wines of Savoie. These crisp, high-acid whites are the go-to picks of ski resorts and fondue restaurants everywhere, thanks to their zippy, palate-cleansing nature. This bottling from Domaine Saint-Romain was produced from 100% organically-farmed Jacquère, one of the region’s signature white grape varieties.
Tasting Notes:
Savory and herbaceous, this Alpine-influenced wine is loaded with flavors of green apple, lemon skin, crushed rocks, and a hint of rosemary. Fruit for this wine comes from Jongieux, which is located on glacially-formed terraces between the Lac du Bourget and Rhône River. Best of all, the wine clocks in at just 11.5% ABV, rendering it perfect for those looking for a low-alcohol sipper.
The Bottom Line:
France does the classics great, but when looking for budget-friendly bottles, seek out the underdog. While lesser-known as a region, the high-acid whites of Savoie are some of the most food-friendly, delicious wines on the planet.
2. Chateau De La Roulerie Anjou Blanc 2019
Vivino
ABV: 13% Region: Loire Valley, France Price: $18.99
The Wine:
Roulerie is a long-standing pioneer of responsible farming, and their Chenins—which are produced from bone dry to sticky sweet—have been a benchmark for the variety for decades. The fact that this wine is still at this price point is kind of crazy. This bone-dry expression is a no-brainer for poultry, scallops, or fried appetizers.
Tasting Notes:
Chenin Blanc is known for its signature green apple and honey flavors, and Roulerie’s expression is no exception. Expect notes of tree fruits, honey, tangerine, and orange blossom from this rich-yet-refreshing wine.
The Bottom Line:
The wine industry is kind of losing their minds for Chenin right now, and it’s really no surprise why. It’s one of the most versatile and food-friendly grapes on the planet, and great expressions can still be found at relatively affordable prices.
1. Inama Soave Classico 2021
Call Me Wine
ABV: 12% Region: Veneto, Italy Price: $15.99
The Wine:
You might not have heard of the wines of Soave (Swah-vay) just yet, though after tasting this bottle from Inama, we guarantee you’ll be hooked. The wine is crafted from 100% Garganega, an indigenous variety to Italy’s Veneto region—and the backbone to all whites from the Soave appellation.
Tasting Notes:
Bone dry on the palate, Inama’s signature Soave shows flavors of stone fruit, chamomile, freshly cut flowers, and hints of bitter almond. The wine shows an unbelievable tension, as well as purity of fruit, plus a flinty, mineral-driven finish. Its well-made nature, use of organically-farmed fruit, and ridiculously low price tag (and of course, extremely delicious taste) render it our number-one pick!
The Bottom Line:
There’s a reason why sommeliers, retailers, and general wine lovers alike swoon over Inama Soave—it’s crisp, it’s well made, and it’s incredibly easy to drink. We still can’t believe that this bottle clocks in at just $15.99, but hey, we’ll take it.
Try a bottle at your next at-home happy hour or with a solid cheese plate and you’ll see why it topped our ranking!
Are the fast food chicken sandwich wars over? It’s been four years since Popeyes unveiled its chicken sandwich and single-handedly inspired an arms race, er, bird race, that saw every single fast food brand obsess over making better chicken sandwiches. So where do we stand today?
Well, for the most part, exactly in the same place.
Two of the three current best chicken sandwiches in fast food were always the best chicken sandwiches in fast food. The newcomer on the medal platform is Popeyes — which was still selling the Chicken Po’Boy sandwich before it became the GOAT. (That was an awful entry into the pantheon, but now they make the best, so the Po’Boy can be retroactively forgiven.) As hard as places like Burger King, Carl’s Jr, McDonald’s, and Jack in the Box have tried, they still can’t compete with the brands that have always been on top — Shake Shack and Chick-fil-A — or the new icon, Popeyes.
The popularity of Popeyes sandwich gave us all better fast food chicken offerings, to be sure, but is the GOAT still the GOAT? To check in on that, we’re running a blind taste test. We did this with our favorite burgers a couple of weeks ago and were shocked to find our number one totally dethroned. Will this method upend our chicken sandwich rankings too?
Methodology
Dane Rivera
For a blind taste test to be fair, the sandwiches all need to consist of identical builds. If a sandwich has cheese or bacon, I’m going to like it better and by process of elimination, I’ll know exactly where the sandwich is from (I’ve eaten a lot of fast food). That’s not a blind taste test, so to make this as fair as possible we decided to go with the simplest chicken sandwich build ever: chicken, pickles, and bun.
Our original 2021 best fast food chicken sandwich article ranked Popeyes at number one, and if you were to ask me randomly on the street (not sure why you would) what the best fast food chicken sandwich is, I’d point you in Popeyes’ direction. So to see if that reigns true, I put it up against the two other suggestions that come to mind when I hear “best chicken sandwich” — Shake Shack, and Chick-fil-A.
I tasted all three sandwiches under the cover of a blindfold, made note of how each tasted, and ranked them based on first impression.
Dane Rivera
It should be noted that two of these sandwiches are usually served with mayo, but to match with Chick-fil-A I ordered all of them sauceless. I don’t think sauce makes or breaks a chicken sandwich, it’s mostly there because chicken breast is too dry and fast food brands are terrified of using dark meat cuts even though that would result in a way better sandwich.
When a brand finally decides to go dark meat, it’ll reignite the chicken sandwich war, but for now, this is the best we got. Let’s taste!
Part 1: The Tasting
Taste 1
Dane Rivera
Wow, this is great chicken. It’s tender, flavorful, and juicy and hits the palate with a mix of garlic and onion powder, and salt with a sweet and buttery aftertaste.
There are a few problems here though. The batter is a little moist, it’s way too wet and it’s affecting the crunchy mouthfeel in a really negative way. The bread is also incredibly dry, it doesn’t have a lot of flavors and desperately needs sauce to not get stuck in your throat. I had to take a sip of water between bites of this one.
The pickles are average. They taste earthy and tangy. Generally like a pickle should taste but nothing special.
Taste 2
Dane Rivera
Very interesting. The breading on this chicken cutlet is light and crispy with a prominent onion and black pepper flavor. The chicken itself is criminally dry, there isn’t a lot of juiciness to the breast, and it becomes mealy in the mouth.
I’m loving the bread though, it’s soft, slightly sweet, and compliments the flavors of the chicken. The pickles also have a nice amount of snap to them, they taste a lot fresher than what was on the last sandwich.
Taste 3
Dane Rivera
Uh oh, this one is just as good as Taste 1, this is going to be a harder ranking than I expected. There is a lot of complexity here, the chicken isn’t quite as thick as either Taste 1 or Taste 2 but the flavor is amazing.
It’s tender, juicy, and has an earthy and rich flavor with a nice balance of salt, black pepper, garlic, and the slightest hint of paprika. As I chew into it more the complexity of the flavor deepens, there is some hidden element here that the other sandwiches don’t have.
The mouthfeel is also incredible, and I haven’t even gotten to the pickles and the bread. The bread is soft, slightly sweet, and spongey, it’s a good compliment to the chicken. The pickles are also good, not great like Taste 2, but good, they emphasize the complex and dark flavor of the breading with a perfect tangy finish.
I think this is the winner, but it’s close.
Part 2: The Ranking
3. Shake Shack — Chicken Shack
Dane Rivera
Shake Shack dropped the ball on this one. Now I’d like to mention that my current favorite chicken sandwich in fast food is the Shake Shack Hot One’s Chicken Sandwich, but that sandwich has a Hot Ones-inspired spicy sauce, applewood bacon, and Monterey Jack cheese, none of which this sandwich has.
And this chicken desperately needs those accouterments to make it palatable. To Shake Shack’s credit, they know this, that’s why the Chicken Shack is usually served with herb mayo which I had to drop for the parameters of this blind taste test.
But still, I expect more from Shake Shack. The quality of the bread and pickles is on point, but this chicken needs work.
The Bottom Line:
Shake Shack knows better, this chicken sandwich is dry and lacks the tender juiciness of the other sandwiches in this tasting. It’s good, but not great.
I know. I know, I know, I know, I know. I didn’t want it to be true either. Look, I love the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich (especially the spicy variety) and the flavor of this bird is amazing, but the sandwich as a whole, it needs work.
Popeyes has become complacent in having everyone’s favorite chicken sandwich, and a fried breast filet this delicious and flavorful deserves better pickles and bread. It’s like Popeyes didn’t even try to serve this on a good bun, this is bottom-of-the-barrel stuff.
Yes, the chicken is amazing, my particular filet was a little soggy and wet and I tried not to hold that against the sandwich but quality control is important and Popeyes doesn’t have that on lock.
The Bottom Line:
A truly great chicken breast filet, but a sandwich that could use a little more care and attention.
You hate to see it. I don’t want to give Chick-fil-A the number one spot, and I even tried to weigh in Popeyes’ favor before remembering why I did a blind taste test in the first place — I have to go with my original impression and this sandwich just delivered where Popeyes and Shake Shack didn’t. I even made my girlfriend and a friend don the blindfold and try each sandwich, and they came to the same conclusion.
I had no excuse to pretend Popeyes was the champ.
I have to admit, the flavor of the chicken is unparalleled. I love Popeyes but they marinate the chicken in buttermilk and Chick-fil-A uses pickle brine, pickle brine beats buttermilk, I’m sorry. There is just a depth of flavor and complexity here that is unmatched. They also have better bread and pickles than Popeyes, and that all matters — we’re talking about a chicken sandwich here, not just a filet.
I’ll offer this caveat — if you want a more filling sandwich, Popeyes is the play, but if you’re after the absolute best flavor, Chick-fil-A wins. I picked up the sandwiches in this order: Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, Shake Shack, and with the increased time in transit, the Chick-fil-A sandwich still tasted better than the other two. That speaks volumes.
The Bottom Line:
Ugh, Chick-fil-A wins this round. This chicken simply tastes better. It has a depth and complexity that is unmatched. Maybe with all the accouterments, one of these other sandwiches could’ve taken the crown but when we’re talking about who makes the best chicken, pickle, and bread sandwich, it’s hands down Chick-fil-A.
You can’t read aboutNational Parks without mention of their exploding popularity. Social media, the pandemic, and the increased popularity of hiking and domestic travel have all converged over the past few years to create a surge unlike anything many parks have ever seen.
To combat the possible overcrowding and degradation of resources and land in some of the most popular parks, reservation and timed entry systems have become the norm – but they can still be difficult to navigate. With each park having its own systems, dates, permits and policies – some that have changed dramatically since last season – it can be overwhelming to plan a trip that is meant to promote the opposite.
So here is our detailed guide and everything you need in one place to tackle the National Park reservation system this summer.
Emily Hart
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK — MAINE
Emily Hart
Acadia National Park is consistently one of the top ten most visited parks every year. The coastal utopia clocked over 4 million visitors in 2021, over just over 49,000 acres — making the visitors per acre number much higher than the most visited parks in the system.
What will I need a reservation for?
Despite its incredible popularity, you don’t need a reservation to simply enter the park. However, you will need one to drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain – which is a must. From October 7 to March 6 the summit of the Maine mountain sees the first sunrise in the United States – but anytime you visit is truly a bucket-list moment. Reservations follow a timed entry format – with sunrise and daytime reservations varying slightly. Sunrise reservations can enter within a 90 minute window while daytime entries have just a 30 minute entry window.
Once you’ve entered there is no designated departure time other than when the road closes at 10pm and no re-entry is allowed.
When will I need it?
Cadillac Summit Road doesn’t open until April 15 – although the park is open year round – and reservations are required between May 24 and October 22, 2023.
How can I get it?
Like all of the reservation and timed entries mentioned here, you’ll acquire the reservation on recreation.gov. Vehicle reservations are released there on a rolling basis, with 30% of reservations released 90 days ahead at 10a, ET and the remaining 70% just 2 days ahead at the same time.
What if I don’t get a reservation in advance?
You can also hike up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain! There are three different trails that will get you there, with the West Face Trail being the shortest – and steepest – at 3.1 miles round trip. The North Ridge Trail is the most popular where you’ll hike about 4.4 miles round trip. The South Ridge Trail is longer at 7 miles round trip, but has diverse views and is also a fan favorite.
Arches National Park, like Acadia, is a smaller park by land area. Coupled with its super accessible location just 5 miles north of booming Moab, Utah and Instagram-ready red rock arches – the crowds are inevitable. To combat this, Arches has just recently instituted a timed entry system.
What will I need a reservation for?
You’ll need a reservation to access any part of the park during the reservation season. Unlike many other major National Parks, there is one gated entrance to the park — so there’s no getting around this.
When will I need it?
Reservations will be required from 7am – 4pm from April 1 through October 31.
How can I get it?
Timed entries will be released on recreation.gov three months in advance. April entries were already released on January 10, with the next release – for May dates – occurring on February 1 at 8am MST. Each month thereafter follows the same pattern: June dates are released on March 1, July on April 1, August on May 1, September on June 1 and October on July 1 – all at 8am Mountain Time.
The park service says that a “limited” number of tickets will also be available each day prior at 6pm MDT.
What if I don’t get a reservation in advance?
You’re able to enter the park before 7am or after 4pm – which may be preferable on a hot summer day in Utah. There are also nearly endless outdoor opportunities in Moab outside of the park – from visiting nearby Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse State Park, or heading up into the La Sal Mountains.
I’ve visited Glacier National Park in Montana several times over the past decade, and each time the crowds have only increased. The park is large, with multiple entrance points, but the dramatic landscape, glaciers, lakes and world class hiking have started to create problems in the busy summer months. To combat the crowds, Glacier has instituted a reservation system for Going-To-The-Sun road since 2021.
This year the vehicle reservation system will require advance reservations for four areas of the park.
What will I need a reservation for?
In 2023 you will need separate vehicle reservations for four areas of Glacier National Park: Going-To-The-Sun Corridor, the North Fork, Two Medicine and Many Glacier.
When will I need it?
You will need a reservation to enter Going-To-The-Sun Corridor from the West from May 26 through September 10. If entering from St. Mary you will need the reservation from July 1 through September 10. A reservation for the road lasts for 3 days and is needed from 6am to 3pm.
Vehicle reservations for North Fork area are good for one day and are necessary from May 26 through September 10 from 6am to 3pm.
Two Medicine and Many Glacier each require separate vehicle reservations that are also good for one day only. They will be needed from July 1 through September 10 from 6am to 3pm.
How can I get it?
Reservations are available on recreation.gov with a slightly different system this year. Vehicle reservations will be released on a block release system with a portion released 120 days prior to entry. The first block will be released for Going-To-The-Sun Corridor and North Fork on February 1 at 8am Mountain Time for reservations from May 26 through June 30.
The second through last block will be released for all four separate areas on the same schedule: March 1 for reservations between July 1 – July 31, April 1 for reservations from August 1 – August 31, and May 1 for reservations from September 1 – September 10. All reservations will be available at exactly 8 am Mountain Time.
A portion of vehicle reservations will also be released on a rolling basis at 8am 24 hours in advance.
What if I don’t get a reservation in advance?
You can enter the park prior to 6am or after 3pm. With the longer Montana summer days, there is still plenty of daylight after 3pm. You can also bypass a reservation if you have a valid service reservation (boat tours, lodging etc.)
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK –NORTH CAROLINA/TENNESSEE
Emily Hart
Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited major National Park in the system – by far. With over 14 million visitors in 2021, it is incredible that there has not been a reservation system – or even a fee for admission – in this spectacular southern park. And there still isn’t – not really anyways. But I’ve added them here because there is one big change visitors should be aware of.
What will I need a reservation for?
You still won’t need a reservation to enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park – but you will need to pay for parking starting this year. This is a new system in an effort to bring more funding to the incredibly popular park that has historically been fee free.
When will I need it?
Parking fees will go into effect on March 1, 2023. If you are parking longer than 15 minutes you’ll need either a $5 day tag, a $15 week tag or pay $40 for an annual parking tag.
How can I get it?
You’ll be able to buy a parking tag on site at multiple visitors centers, in person at an automated fee machine, or in advance online and shipped via the Great Smoky Mountains Association or on trusty recreation.gov beginning February 1 and will need to be printed and displayed.
What if I don’t get a reservation in advance?
There are tons of options for parking tags on site at Great Smoky Mountains. You’re also able to drive through for no fee if you don’t plan on stopping anywhere for longer than 15 minutes.
Haleakalā National Park should be on everyone’s travel bucket list. On the gorgeous and lush island of Maui in Hawaii, the dormant Haleakalā volcano creates an otherworldly experience that you truly must see to believe.
What will I need a reservation for?
While the majority of reservation and timed entry systems have been instituted since the pandemic and surge in National Park visitors, Haleakalā has actually required reservations for sunrise at the summit since 2017. In order to create a better viewing experience as well as keep the winding road to the summit safer for everyone, a reservation has been necessary and highly sought after for years.
You only need a reservation for sunrise – so to enter the park between 3 am and 7 am – otherwise, you’re able to enter simply by paying the park fee.
When will I need it?
Sunrise reservations are required year-round at Haleakalā. The reservation is for anyone entering the park between 3am and 7am.
How can I get it?
Reservations are available up to 60 days in advance on recreation.gov. They are released at 7 am HST and are valid only for one day. A portion of reservations are also released 2 days prior and each visitor may only make one reservation per three day period.
What if I don’t get a reservation in advance?
Go back for sunset – that’s what I did. No reservations are necessary for sunset, so while it will be crowded (get there early) the views are just as spectacular, in my opinion.
Rocky Mountain National Park is legendary. The jutting peaks, the golden aspens and the incredible hiking trails to pristine and clear blue alpine lakes have long brought huge amounts of visitors to the Colorado park. But in the past few years, like other popular National Parks, the crowds have exploded to a degree where a timed entry system is necessary to protect the biodiversity and alpine tundra ecosystem that the park is known for.
What will I need a reservation for?
There are two separate types of timed entry tickets for Rocky Mountain National Park – and you’ll need one of them. The popular Bear Lake Corridor has its own timed entry ticket (that will also allow you to access the rest of the park) while the “rest of the park” also has a specific timed entry ticket that gains you access to all but the Bear Lake Corridor.
When will I need it?
Timed entry will be required from May 26 through October 22 of 2023. For the Bear Lake Corridor timed entry is necessary from 5am to 6pm, while the “rest of the park” is only required from 9am to 2pm.
How can I get it?
Of course, like most timed entries and reservations, they can be acquired on recreation.gov beginning May 1 at 8am Mountain Time. This release will include dates from May 26 through June 30. July dates will be released on June 1, August dates on July 1, September dates on August 1 and October dates on September 1 all at 8am Mountain Time.
If you don’t acquire a timed entry reservation in advance, 40% of permits will be available one day prior at 5pm Mountain Time on recreation.gov.
What if I don’t get a reservation in advance?
The “rest of the park” timed entry is only required from 9 am to 2 pm, so there is plenty of time to enjoy the park outside of those hours.
Yosemite is probably what most people envision when they think of a National Park. It is legendary for a reason – with towering granite cliffs, beautiful meadows, awe inspiring waterfalls and hiking that is hard to beat anywhere else. Despite its nearly unmatched beauty and incredible popularity, Yosemite has actually announced that unlike the previous recent years, there will be no reservations necessary to enter the park in the summer of 2023.
But along with that change came another that you need to know about.
What will I need a reservation for?
While you no longer need a summer reservation, you do need one for February firefall weekends. The natural phenomenon has grown exponentially in the past several years resulting in traffic jams, overcrowding and damage to the land. So whether you are viewing the firefall or not, there are several times you will need a reservation to enter Yosemite in February.
When will I need it?
You’ll need a reservation to enter Yosemite National Park on February 10-12, 17-19, and 24-26. The reservation period is 24 hours and will be necessary to enter any part of the park.
How can I get it?
You can reserve on recreation.gov with 50% already released on January 13. The remaining 50% will be released two days prior to each reservation date at 8 am Pacific Time.
What if I don’t get a reservation in advance?
You can visit between Monday and Thursday, or enter with a valid reservation with an authorized tour group or on Yosemite Area Regional Transportation Systems. You can also bypass a reservation if you have advanced reservations for camping, lodging or vacation rentals within the park.
Zion National Park is one of the most visited National Parks in the country, with over 5 million visitors in 2021 alone. As the most visited of Utah’s Mighty Five, it has been forced into reservation systems in the past. But this summer, like Yosemite, it is not requiring a reservation or timed entry simply to enter the park. But if you’re planning on hiking the most popular trail you’ll still need to plan in advance.
What will I need a reservation for?
This year you will only need a permit if you plan to hike the iconic and social media famous Angel’s Landing Trail. Due to overcrowding the permit system was put into place in 2022 and was successful – so it’s back this year.
When will I need it?
Everyone needs a permit to hike Angel’s Landing at any time of the year or time of day.
How can I get it?
Permits are issued two ways – through the seasonal lottery and a “day before” lottery.
The seasonal lottery allows you to pick seven ranked days and times you want to hike on recreation.gov. There are four lottery periods each lasting 20 days with the permits issued 5 days after. If you want to hike between June 1 and August 31 the lottery opens at 8am Mountain Time on April 1 and closes April 20. Permits are issued on April 25.
You can also apply for a permit the day before you plan to hike. This permit window opens at 12:01am and closes at 3pm Mountain Time. Permits are issued at 4 pm Mountain Time on the same day of application (and the day before your hike).
What if I don’t get a reservation in advance?
Try for the day before permit or enjoy the many other hikes in Zion that do not require a permit.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
