Posts Tagged ‘Oregon’
Wednesday, December 12th, 2012
 If you’re looking for that special restaurant in which to wine and dine a potential big ticket customer, woo a business partner, or just to have a great meal while at home or on the road, OpenTable (NASDAQ: OPEN), a provider of free, real-time online restaurant reservations for diners guest management solutions for restaurants, has named the 2012 Diners’ Choice Award winners for the Top 100 Best Restaurants in the United States.
These awards reflect the combined opinions of more than 5 million reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 15,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
All restaurants with a minimum number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration.
Qualifying restaurants were then sorted according to a score calculated from each restaurant’s average rating in the “overall” category along with that restaurant’s rating relative to others in the same metropolitan area and the average number of restaurants reviewed by diners who reviewed that restaurant.
Based on this methodology, the following restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, comprise the Top 100 Best Restaurants in the U.S. according to OpenTable diners.
2012 Diners’ Choice Award Winners for the Top 100 Best Restaurants in the U.S.
Acquerello – San Francisco, California
Addison at The Grand Del Mar – San Diego, California
Altura – Seattle, Washington
Andrea at Pelican Hill – Newport Coast, California
Annisa – New York, New York
Artisanal Restaurant – Banner Elk, North Carolina
The Ashby Inn – Paris, Virginia
Atelier Crenn – San Francisco, California
Auberge du Soleil – Rutherford, California
Bacchanalia – Atlanta, Georgia
The Belvedere – Beverly Hills, California
Bibou – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Binkley’s Restaurant – Cave Creek, Arizona
Bistro L’Hermitage – Woodbridge, Virginia
Blue Hill at Stone Barns – Pocantico Hills, New York
Bouchard Restaurant and Inn – Newport, Rhode Island
Bouley – New York, New York
Café Provence – Prairie Village, Kansas
Café Renaissance – Vienna, Virginia
Canlis – Seattle, Washington
Capital Grille – Kansas City, Missouri
Capital Grille – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Carpe Vino – Auburn, California
Castle Hill Inn – Newport, Rhode Island
Chachama Grill – East Patchogue, New York
Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse – Downers Grove, Illinois
Charleston – Baltimore, Maryland
Charleston Grill – Charleston, South Carolina
Chez Francois – Vermilion, Ohio
Chez Nous French Restaurant – Humble, Texas
CityZen – Washington, D.C.
Commis – Oakland, California
Cottage Place Restaurant – Flagstaff, Arizona
Daniel – New York, New York
Daniel-Lounge Seating – New York, New York
Del Posto – New York, New York
Eleven Madison Park – New York, New York
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant – Forestville, California
Fearrington House Restaurant – Pittsboro, North Carolina
Fountain Restaurant – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The French Laundry – Yountville, California
The French Room – Dallas, Texas
Geronimo – Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Goodstone Inn & Estate Restaurant – Middleburg, Virginia
Gracie’s – Providence, Rhode Island
Gramercy Tavern – New York, New York
Hannas Prime Steak – Rancho Santa Margarita, California
The Hobbit – Orange, California
Jean Georges – New York, New York
Joseph Tambellini – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
JUNGSIK – New York, New York
Kai – Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort – Chandler, Arizona
Keiko à Nob Hill – San Francisco, California
King Umberto – Elmont, New York
The Kitchen Restaurant – Sacramento, California
La Ciccia – San Francisco, California
La Folie – San Francisco, California
La Grenouille – New York, New York
L’Auberge Chez Francois – Great Falls, Virginia
Le Bernardin – New York, New York
Le Vallauris – Palm Springs, California
Le Yaca – Williamsburg, Virginia
L’Espalier – Boston, Massachusetts
The Loft at Montage Laguna Beach – Laguna Beach, California
Mama’s Fish House – Paia, Hawaii
Manresa – Los Gatos, California
Marcel’s – Washington, D.C.
Marinus-Bernadus Lodge – Carmel Valley, California
Menton – Boston, Massachusetts
Michael’s – South Point Casino – Las Vegas, Nevada
The Modern-Dining Room – New York, New York
n/naka – Los Angeles, California
NAOE – Miami, Florida
Nicholas – Red Bank, New Jersey
Norman’s at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando – Orlando, Florida
The North Fork Table & Inn – Southold, New York
o ya – Boston, Massachusetts
ON20 – Hartford, Connecticut
Orchids at Palm Court – Cincinnati, Ohio
The Painted Lady – Newberg, Oregon
Palace Arms at The Brown Palace – Denver, Colorado
Per Se – New York, New York
Perry Street Brasserie – Galena, Illinois
Providence – Los Angeles, California
Restaurant Alma – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Restaurant Iris – Memphis, Tennessee
Rover’s – Seattle, Washington
Rudy & Paco Restaurant & Bar – Galveston, Texas
Saint Jacques French Cuisine – Raleigh, North Carolina
Saison – San Francisco, California
Scalini Fedeli – New York, New York
ShinBay – Scottsdale, Arizona
Sonoma – Princeton, Massachusetts
Splendido – Beaver Creek, Colorado
Studio at Montage Laguna Beach – Laguna Beach, California
Tony’s – St. Louis, Missouri
Tosca Ristorante – Washington, D.C.
Vetri – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
VOLT – Frederick, Maryland
Woodfire Grill – Atlanta, Georgia
Diners can also read more about the Diners’ Choice Awards for the Top 100 Best Restaurants in the U.S. by visiting OpenTable Chief Dining Officer Caroline Potter’s “Dining Check” blog.
Tags: California, DC, Hawaii, Ill, Issouri, Kansas, MD, MN, NC, Nevada, New Mexico, NJ, Ohio, Open Table, Oregon, PA, RI, SC, Texas, TN, top 100 U.S. restaurants, Washington
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
 For the eighth year in a row, CEOs rate Texas as the #1 state in which to do business, according to Chief Executive magazine’s annual Best & Worst States Survey, released today.
Florida rose one spot to take the #2 rank, while North Carolina slipped to #3.
Tennessee remained at #4 while Indiana climbed a spot to capture the #5 rank. CEOs named the worst states to do business as California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts and Michigan.
The Best & Worst States Survey measures the sentiment of CEOs on business conditions around the nation.
For the 2012 survey, 650 CEOs from across the country evaluated the states on a broad range of issues, including regulations, tax policies, workforce quality, educational resources, quality of living and infrastructure. The survey was conducted from Jan. 24 to Feb. 26, 2012.
Louisiana biggest gainer
Louisiana was the biggest gainer in the survey, rising 14 spots to be the #13th most attractive state in the country to do business. The biggest loser was Oregon, which dropped nine spots to #42.
CEOs surveyed said California’s poor ranking is the result of its hostility to business, high state taxes and overly stringent regulations, which is driving investment, companies and jobs to other states.
According to Spectrum Locations Consultants, 254 California companies moved some or all of their work and jobs out of state in 2011, an increase of 26 percent over the previous year and five times as many as in 2009.
“CEOs tell us that California seems to be doing everything possible to drive business from the state. Texas, by contrast, has been welcoming companies and entrepreneurs, particularly in the high-tech arena,” said J.P. Donlon, Editor-in-Chief of Chief Executivemagazine and ChiefExecutive.net.
“Local economic development corporations, as well as the state Texas Enterprise Fund, are providing attractive incentives. This, along with the relaxed regulatory environment and supportive State Department of Commerce adds up to a favorable climate for business.”
Inhospitable business environments mean less jobs, as entrepreneurs and established corporations seek more cost-efficient and tax-friendly locales, said Marshall Cooper, CEO of Chief Executive magazine and ChiefExecutive.net. “This survey shows that states that create policies and incentives are rewarded with investment, jobs and greater overall economic activity.”
For complete results, including individual state rankings on multiple criteria, methodology and more, please visitChiefExecutive.net.
| Best 5 States for Business |
Rank 2012 |
Rank 2011 |
| Texas |
1st |
1st |
| Florida |
2nd |
3rd |
| North Carolina |
3rd |
2nd |
| Tennessee |
4th |
4th |
| Indiana |
5th |
6th |
Source: Chief Executive magazine (ChiefExecutive.net)
| Worst 5 States for Business |
Rank 2012 |
Rank 2011 |
| California |
50th |
50th |
| New York |
49th |
49th |
| Illinois |
48th |
48th |
| Massachusetts |
47th |
45th |
| Michigan |
46th |
46th |
Source: Chief Executive magazine (ChiefExecutive.net)
| 2012 Biggest Gainers |
Positions Gained |
| Louisiana |
+14 |
| Mississippi |
+8 |
| West Virginia |
+8 |
| Ohio |
+6 |
| North Dakota |
+6 |
Source: Chief Executive magazine (ChiefExecutive.net)
| 2012 Biggest Losers |
Positions Lost |
| Oregon |
-9 |
| Kentucky |
-8 |
| New Hampshire |
-8 |
| Nebraska |
-7 |
| Minnesota |
-7 |
Source: Chief Executive magazine (ChiefExecutive.net)
Tags: Californian, CEOs rank best states for business, Florida, Ill, Indiana, KY, Lousiana, M&A, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, NC, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, NY., Ohio, Oregon, Texas, TN, W. Virginia
Posted in Carolinas, Economic Development, Economy/Jobs, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Studies, surveys, reports, Tennessee, West Virginia | No Comments »
Friday, December 23rd, 2011
 Texting while driving in Utah could be costly. So how do you feel about the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendation for a national ban on talking or texting on a cell phone while driving? We know many tech execs, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs who are so attached to their smartphones – even while driving – they approach cyborg status.
But we have also seen way too many drivers weaving, traveling inappropriate speeds, cutting across lanes and running off the berm while trying to talk on a phone and drive. One study said that in terms of causing accidents, using a phone while driving ranked right up there with driving drunk.
Regardless of how you feel about the call for a national ban on cell phone use while driving, many states already have tough restrictions in place.
If you have an accident while texting and driving in Utah, for instance, it will cost you $10,000. Utah comes out on top ofInsuranceQuotes.com‘s list of the 10 toughest states for texting while driving.
InsuranceQuotes.com reviewed laws of the 35 states (along with the District of Columbia) that ban text messaging for all drivers. The review took into account fines and penalties for texting-while-driving offenders.
In Utah, the fine for texting while driving soars as high as $750, the second highest fine in the country. But it’s the rest of the state’s anti-texting law that earns Utah the distinction as the toughest state for texting.
If you get into an accident while texting and driving in Utah, you face serious jail time (up to 15 years) and up to a $10,000 fine. If there’s a fatality, you could be charged with a third-degree felony and face even more jail time and fines.
Here are the nine other states that make the InsuranceQuotes.com list of the toughest states for texting-while-driving offenders:
2. Illinois.
3. Wisconsin.
4. California.
5. New York.
6. Connecticut.
7. North Dakota.
8. Georgia.
9. Michigan.
10. Oregon.
To learn more about the 10 toughest states for texting while driving, see: www.insurancequotes.com/toughest_states-texting_while_driving.
Tags: California, Coinnecticut, Georgia, Illinoois, Michigan, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, state texting while driving laws, Ten states toughest on texting while driving, Utah, Wisconsin
Posted in Internet/New Media, Legal, Mobile, smartphones, Studies, surveys, reports, TechLife, Telecommunications | 1 Comment »
Thursday, November 24th, 2011
 This Thanksgiving, there will be an estimated 42.5 million people traveling across the United States. With a history of tumultuous weather ranging from tornados to snow and dust storms, MyWeather is reminding travelers to keep the weather top of mind when making their holiday plans this week.
MyWeather.com and its popular apps for the iPhone, iPad 2 and Android devices feature personalized weather forecasts that are six times more precise than the competition — accurate down to your block, not just your zip code. This means that whether your in-laws are in Manchester, New Hampshire or Manchester, England, MyWeather has you covered.
This Thanksgiving, travelers nationwide will be hoping for blue skies and clear roads during a season known for some of the worst weather — and traffic — in history.
Here are ten of the worst Thanksgiving storms on record:
- 2001 – A tornado outbreak occurred across the southeastern U.S. early on Thanksgiving morning in Mississippi,Alabama and Arkansas. Three of the twisters were classified F4 on the Fujita scale. Hundreds of homes and buildings were destroyed and 13 people lost their lives.
- 1993 – Texas experienced a Thanksgiving Day ”Blue Northerner,” the local name for a cold front that occurs during the winter, bringing a characteristic blue-black color to the sky. The Thanksgiving football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins was played in sleet and icy conditions that led to a slip of Leon Lett during the last seconds of the game, giving Miami the win.
- 1991 – Travelers heading home after the holiday were impacted by a dust storm in drought-stricken Coalinga, Californiaon Interstate 5. Winds gusting at nearly 40 mph swept dust over the highway limiting visibility and creating a mile-long chain reaction of collisions. 17 people were killed and 150 were injured in the storm.
- 1989 – New York City’s Thanksgiving Day parade took place in 4″ of snow leaving a few floats unable to withstand the weather.
- 1987 – Northern New England was hit with heavy snow as 18″ coated New Hampshire and up to 20″ fell in Maine.
- 1983 – Following two weeks of high winds in the Pacific Northwest, Thanksgiving Day saw peak gusts of 62 mph inSeattle, Washington and Astoria, Oregon. The storm downed trees and power lines throughout the region.
- 1983 – Also in 1983, Denver was hit with 20″ of snow. The system was one of the biggest storms to ever hit a major U.S. city on Thanksgiving.
- 1975 – Chicago had more than 8″ of snow at Midway Airport on Thanksgiving, severely impacting holiday travel. Despite its famously harsh winters, records show that Chicago has only had 11 white Thanksgivings since 1884.
- 1971 – New York State saw some of the heaviest November snowfalls on record as more than 22″ fell in Albany. Other areas across the Empire State saw up to 30″ of snow.
- 1950 – Also known as “The Great Thanksgiving Storm of 1950,” most of eastern Ohio had 20-30″ of snow and winds of over 40 mph. In the face of the storm, the Ohio State v. Michigan football game took place as scheduled on Saturday. The “Snow Bowl” was played in 5 degree weather with the Wolverines defeating the Buckeyes 9-3 in a game that saw 45 collective punts.
Tags: Astroia, Denver, historic Thanksgiving storms, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio State vs. Michigan 1950, Oregon, Thanksgiving travel, The Snow Bowl, Washington
Posted in Events, Internet/New Media | No Comments »
Friday, September 16th, 2011
 As T-Mobile USA, Inc. continues the rapid expansion of its 4G network, J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 Wireless Network Quality Performance Study, Volume 2, shows that customers in the Northeast, Southeast and West regions are satisfied with an improved network experience, including call quality and messaging and data performance.
In its study, which compares network performance among the largest U.S. wireless carriers, J.D. Power and Associates recently announced that T-Mobile earned the second highest ranking in these three regions covering 32 states, tied in the Northeast.
T-Mobile ranked second out of four in both the Southeast and West regions, and tied in the Northeast. The Northeast region covers the seven states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. The Southeast region covers nine states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The West region covers 16 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
“T-Mobile’s ongoing commitment to making reliable connections available to more Americans continues to pay off as shown by the results of this J.D. Power study,” said Neville Ray, Chief Technology Officer for T-Mobile USA. “In the past six months, we have continued to advance the performance of our 4G service while also driving improvements in call quality, reliability and the overall experience for our customers.”
The J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Wireless Network Quality Performance Study measures consumers’ wireless network experience, based on 10 criteria that impact a carrier’s performance. Wireless phone subscribers surveyed were asked about their experiences with dropped calls, static/interference, connection on first try, immediate voice mail notification, message transmission failures and mobile Web and e-mail connection errors. Call quality and data performance were examined in six regions: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, North Central, Southwest and West.
Results of the 2011 Wireless Network Quality Performance StudySM, Volume 2, are based on more than 22,000 Internet survey interviews conducted between January 2011 and June 2011.
Tags: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, J.D. Power Wirelss Network Quality Performance Study 2011, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northeast, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Southeast, T-Moblie, Utah, Washington, West
Posted in Internet/New Media, Mobile, Studies, surveys, reports, Telecommunications | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011
 Tracking downloads by 4 millions users across the country from January through June 2011, a Pando Networks’ study revealed that some states are averaging connectivity speeds as much as ten times faster than those in other cities (see interactive maps at bottom).
The most striking findings were the core differences between the average speeds on a state-by-state basis. The data indicates that the fastest state was Rhode Island at an average of 894 KBps, which was almost three times faster than the slowest, Idaho, which had a dismal 318KBps. Rhode Island and Idaho may stand out as the extremities, but the disparities they highlight reflect more expansive, regional trends. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region contained eight of the ten fastest states.
With California, Oregon, and Washington in the top 15, the West coast was also a remarkably a speedy region. On the other hand, the rural Midwest and Mountain-West states of which Idaho is a member comprise nine of the ten slowest states. Middle America’s slow connectivity could be representative of its more widespread populations and a lower demand for high-speed data infrastructure.
Generally, the slower downloading, rural states were also the least likely to complete a download once begun, with some notable exceptions. Users in Hawaii, dealing with a fairly sluggish average of 432KBps, still managed to complete 87% of their downloads. Colorado residents averaged a relatively slow 474KBps, but managed to complete 86% of their downloads.
Bucking the trend in the opposite direction, the District of Columbia enjoys an average of 759KBps but only completes 80% of downloads. Such findings suggest high-speed internet users may not necessarily hold the most stable connections (or be the most patient internet users). Culver City, CA, the headquarters of Pando Networks client Riot Games, had the highest average completion rate at 98%.
More interesting findings are visible when the data is broken down to the city level. The fastest download averages tend to be concentrated in fairly affluent, metropolitan suburbs. Topping the list is Andover, a suburb of Boston with a median income of $114,000 and average download speeds of 2,801KBps.
Other notable, high-average suburbs include Burke, VA (an average of 1,674 KBps) outside of DC and Santa Monica, CA outside of Los Angeles (1,428KBps, with an average completion rate of 96%).
Keeping with the statewide trends, the slowest downloading towns tend to be in rural areas with low incomes. Taking the bottom spot is Pocatello, a small community in Idaho with a median income of $34,000. Other notably slow communities include Yuma, AZ (290KBps) in the Mojave desert and Mission, TX (270KBps) near the Mexican border.
Also notable are the wide margins between the various major ISPs. Excluding business and private networks, the data puts Comcast Cable at the top spot, averaging download speeds of 890KBps. Other notables near the top of the list included Verizon (788KBps) and Cox (757KBps). At 673KBps, Road Runner was the slowest of the major broadband providers.
Such wide gaps also exist amongst the providers of wireless 3G and 4G data plans. Topping the list are AT&T with an average of 416KBps and Sprint with a respectable 391KBps. T-Mobile turned in an average of 364KBps, Verizon Wireless had an average of 216KBps and ALLTEL was the slowest with an average of 155KBps.
More specific city and ISP-related data can be requested from pando@triplepointpr.com.
Average Completion Rate by State (%)
Average Download Speed By State (Kilobytes Per Second)
Tags: CA, Culver City, DC, Hawaii, Idaho, Mid-Atlantic region, Northeast, Oregon, Rhode Island, State Internet connection speeds, Washington, wireless speeds
Posted in Internet/New Media, Mobile, Potomac, Studies, surveys, reports, Virginia, Washington, DC | No Comments »
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