Welcome to Do It Right, a new series where we cover essential skills that everyone should know. From staying fit to caring for your gear and beyond, each Do It Right post calls on expert advice to help you learn something new across a wide range of topics.
The Skill: How to Deadlift
Deadlifting is the simple act of standing up while holding a lot of weight. It’s a relatively simple exercise, but doing it correctly requires proper technique, and many people mess it up. The step-by-step guide below will ensure you’re on the right track. For clarity’s sake, we’re going to handle the conventional barbell deadlift—the most commonly used version of the lift—and not any of its counterpart movements.
The Expert
Lee Boyce, Toronto-based strength coach, speaker, owner of Lee Boyce Training Systems, college professor, and internationally published fitness writer. Despite having undergone reconstructive surgery to both knees just a few years ago, I can deadlift over 500 pounds, so I know a thing or two about how to get strong and avoid injuries—especially with this movement.
What You Need
A barbell, weight plates to load onto it, some empty floor space, and good old fashioned gusto.
Load the barbell to your desired weight. It’s best to start light, and make sure to take note of the size of the weight plates you’re using. You want the bar to rest about nine inches off the ground (by using standard plates about 18 inches in diameter). Olympic bumper plates are all this size, regardless of the weight of the plate. Iron plates, on the other hand, often get smaller as they get lighter. If you’re using smaller plates, the height of the bar will be closer to the ground, meaning you’ll have to bend over further to pick the weight up. That could be risky. Instead, mount the bar on a slightly elevated surface so the height matches the standard Olympic plate height.
Step right up. First, find your foot placement relative to the bar. Place your feet hip-width apart, and close enough that your shins almost touch the bar—an inch of space between shin and bar is ideal. When you look directly down at the bar, it should divide your foot roughly in half, right over your shoelaces.
Get a grip. The next step is to make fists on the bar. (Don’t worry about your back or the rest of your body just yet.) Keep your feet planted, reach down, and place your hands on the bar just outside your shins using a double overhand grip. Let your back round. You should feel a nice stretch in your hamstrings.
Get uncomfortable. This sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out. Squeeze your body into a flat-back position by sticking your butt out and pushing your chest up high, all while holding the bar while it rests on the floor. To help get into this position, pinch your armpits back and drive your knees out against your forearms as you try to raise your chest. If done correctly, you’ll have your upper chest positioned over the bar, and the top of your head, your back, and your butt will form a straight line. Remember to tuck your chin in; your eyes should stay focused on a spot just in front of the bar. All this tension you’ve created shouldn’t feel relaxed—and that’s a good thing.
Dig in and bend the bar. When deadlifting, you shouldn’t rely on your arms or lower back exclusively to move the weight. That’s why it’s important to squeeze every last ounce of flex out of the bar before lifting it. That’ll ensure you keep your elbows straight and lift with your body, not your hands. It also avoids any jerky, spastic motions that can throw off your technique. Before lifting, keep the bar close to your shins and try to pull it up with both hands, as if you wanted to bend the bar ends upward to the ceiling.
Stand up. Now’s the time to trust your technique. Stay tight, keep your core engaged, and lift. Make sure the bar stays no more than an inch away from your body. Drive with your legs, squeezing your glutes, until you’re standing up tall. You don’t have to lean back. As long as you squeeze the glutes the whole way up, you’ll know when you can’t get any taller. Once you’re up, hold still with a proud chest and tight butt for one full second.
The dismount. Now it’s time to reverse the steps to return the starting position. First, drop the hips back. Pretend you’re aiming for your butt to touch a wall behind you, and keep your back flat as you go down. While doing this, let the bar drag down your thighs in a smooth, controlled motion. Once the bar crosses knee level, it’s okay to emphasize a “sit down” pattern, and let the weight return to the floor. Once the bar passes your knees, it’s also okay to lower it a bit faster.
Repeat. Now that the weight is back on the floor, take a second before you grip and rip another repetition. Reset yourself, and repeat everything from step four onward. Don’t skip this step—it’s important to give yourself a chance to get tight before each rep. It may feel unimportant if you’re lifting an empty bar, but once you tack on more weight, every last bit of tightness becomes invaluable.
If you’re more of a learn-by-seeing kind of person, then check out the video tutorial below, which breaks down all the steps visually.
With practice, you’ll master deadlifting and get the most out of this incredibly important movement. The deadlift targets the entire posterior chain, or the muscles on the back side of the body (primarily the gutes, hamstrings, and lower back). It offers serious strength and muscle-building benefits, and when done correctly, it’s one of the most joint-friendly exercises you can do. Take the time to learn the proper form now, and you’ll reap the rewards for a lifetime.
Success. What does that word mean when you’re an elite 21-year-old athlete and neuroscience major? Long-track Team USA speed skater Conor McDermott-Mostowy has a few thoughts about personal goals, becoming a well-balanced man, and what it means to represent the United States in the 2022 Olympics. He also has his own definition of success—and it’s not what you’d think.
For those of us who remember Eric and Beth Heiden, they truly introduced the U.S. to the sport. The Wisconsin-born siblings excelled in speed skating, cross-country skiing, tennis, soccer, and cycling back in the day when athletes didn’t specialize in one sport from a young age. Beth was a speed skating bronze medalist at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics and Eric won five speed skating gold medals. Their Upper Midwest, All-American smiles were on Wheaties boxes, the cover of TIME, and in our living rooms.
Short-track speed skating only made its Olympic debut at the 1992 Winter Olympic Games. In South Korea, China, the Netherlands, and Norway, skating is extremely popular, but speed skating in the U.S. remains less so. In 2002, Nathaniel Mills, the three-time Olympian in long-track speed skating, helped start a beginner speed skating program at Fort Dupont Ice Arena in Washington, D.C.—a mecca for small skating clubs producing world-class speed skaters. Why The Beltway and not Salt Lake, Park City or Duluth? Coaching is the key. Years ago, Korean parents in the area started recruiting coaches directly from South Korea’s talent pool, organizing their visas and paying their salaries. That pipeline of talent has flowed and flourished. Now, three extremely competitive skating clubs stand out: Dominion, Potomac Speed skating and United Capital Blades.
McDermott-Mostowy discussed the rise of speed skating in the United States and why this sport gripped him so young.
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Men’s Journal: How is training going?
Conor McDermott-Mostowy: I’ve taken a year off from college and that has allowed me to train full time. I’ll be going into my junior year after The Games.
I’m eyeing the 1000m, 1500m, Mass Start, and Team Pursuit events.
What skaters or athletes did you look up to when you were a kid—and who was your biggest influence as an athlete, coach, and/or mentor?
I definitely looked up to Shani Davis from a young age, and as I got older I came to have great respect for Heather Richardson Bergsma and Brittney Bowe because of their poise and humility despite both being powerhouses in skating. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to train with Brittney now and call her my friend as well as teammate. I’m also extremely excited to watch Gus Kenworthy ski.
When I was transitioning from short-track to long-track, one of the best experiences I had as a kid was watching Shani Davis. He made short-track in 2002 and by 2006 he was skating long-track—winning silver and gold in 2006 and 2010. I met him once and he was just so incredible. Meeting him was an awesome, indelible experience for me. He’s a great example of focus, technical execution, and kindness off the ice.
A word about your coaches? For non-athletes, it can be difficult to understand the athlete-coach relationship at the highest levels of sport.
My first coach was Nathaniel Mills—a 3-time Olympian [‘92, ‘94, ‘98] for Team USA in long-track. My first coach in Utah was Mitchell Whitmore, who’s also a 3-time Olympian (‘10, ‘14, ‘18) for Team USA in long-track. My current coach is Ryan Shimabukuro, our long-track National Team USA Sprint Coach.
I worked with my short-track coach [Hyun Jung Lee, a standout Korean Olympian in 1988] for eight years and we had conversations about how our training together fundamentally changed the way she coaches. She grew up among the Washington, D.C., community of speed skaters that implemented a very strict method of training. At the end of our tenure together, Coach Hyun Jung Lee, said to me, “You are as strong as I can make you. There’s nothing more I can teach you.” It was time for me to transition away. We both knew it was time.
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Unlike some athletes, you weren’t a prodigy or a standout from the beginning. Can that pay dividends in the long run?
Yeah, thankfully my parents prevented me from burning out early. There’s a deep tradition of speed skating in D.C. because of the Korean community. They’re the technical gold standard of the sport. Coach Lee told me that when she was younger, skating was the singular focus and everything else was sacrificed. She expressed that she was interested in making me a less singularly focused athlete and more of a well-rounded person—taking what she herself had learned and imparting that cautionary wisdom on me. I have my parents to thank for my long-haul focus psychology. They don’t let me get singularly obsessed, and I’m grateful for that too. I’ve definitely had a lot more failure than I’ve had success in my life. I wasn’t a prodigy, so I accepted failure and moved on.
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What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from failure and success as an athlete?
A poor result is only a failure if you don’t learn from it. I lost a lot when I was younger, and I think all that losing contributed to my success now. I never got comfortable with where I was and learned from every race I lost.
Are you a perfectionist?
Yeah, I am. I’m very technically-focused. The best skaters are flawless in every move they make. Part of what I love about skating at this level is that you can’t hide behind anything.
We have a saying in skating: Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. I show up 100 percent every day to skate. When I made the first World Team two years ago, it was the most excited I’ve ever felt about skating. My coach instilled so much confidence in me, so going from short-track to long-track was a thrill.
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What the greatest benefits and challenges of being an elite athlete?
Being a professional athlete can be the best and worst job ever. It’s an incredible opportunity waking up every day and going into work to do what I love. I get to travel the world. I have access to amazing support staff that monitor my nutrition, give me massages, and just keep me in the best shape I can be both physically and mentally.
Where the fantastical illusion of being a professional athlete starts to crumble is when you look at the financial side of the sport and the lack of “job security.” Speed skating is not like basketball or football where professional athletes are all paid handsomely. The stories of Olympic athletes like Michael Phelps or Simone Biles who cash in from their athletic success are the exception, not the rule. How much I get paid, and even if I have access to healthcare, is dependent upon my results each year. I’m fortunate enough to have an amazing sponsor that helps pay for what I do and makes it all possible—but if I didn’t, I wouldn’t make half of what I need to survive.
In most of the countries we compete with, Olympic programs are government-funded. Their athletes are at least paid enough to live. That’s not the case with Team USA. I don’t think most people understand how prohibitively expensive training to be an Olympian is.
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How are you preparing mentally and physically?
The average training day consists of two workouts with a break in the middle for lunch. We usually skate in the morning, then have off-ice training, weights, or a bike ride in the afternoon. Recovery is almost as important as training. You need to be rested and recovered in order to perform your best every day. As a national team athlete, I have access to athletic trainers to treat acute injuries and perform recovery massages. I also have access to myriad recovery tools from hot/cold baths to compression sleeves for my legs that use pressurized air pockets to increase circulation and flush lactic acid.
How does diet factor in?
I don’t believe that you have to have a strict diet as an athlete as long as you’re conscious of what you’re putting in your body. At U.S. Speed Skating we have a great nutritionist who helps us navigate what we eat, and she agrees there isn’t a singular diet that fits all athletes. Simply cutting out all sugars and fats isn’t healthy or necessary, but I do try to just be mindful of what I eat.
In all athletics, there’s a huge mental game happening alongside the physical one. How do you view the mind/body connection?
I’ve spent a lot of time in the last few years thinking about that. If you’ve ever been through a rough breakup or had a loved one die, you know how powerful the mind is and how it can affect your physical wellbeing. The ability to overcome the messages your brain is sending is key to becoming a better athlete. I’m someone who used to not eat or not eat enough on race day because my nerves would make me so nauseous. It took a lot of work and experimentation to be able to overcome that urge not to eat, but being able to properly fuel your body, even when you don’t want to, is a skill all athletes must learn.
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How would you describe your mindset right now?
I get a little solitary before competition these days. When I was younger, and not as mentally strong, I’d become withdrawn, serious, and sort of scary. Honestly, I try not to think of goals like winning a medal. Instead, I focus on technical aspects of the sport.
What message would you send to young men out there who have a goal and dream—athletic or not?
I think the saying, “If you dream it, you can achieve it” is completely true. Achieving a dream is not as easy as that saying makes it seem, but I believe the spirit of the saying to be fundamentally true. Most lofty goals can be achieved if you are willing to put in the time and effort. Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea that to become an expert in something, you have to put at least 10,000 hours into it. While I don’t subscribe to any philosophy that sets hard rules, I’d agree with his assertion that natural talent really only separates people who have put in the same amount of time in the pursuit of a goal. If you’re willing to put in more time and effort than someone who appears to be more naturally gifted than you, you can surpass them.
Your take on the “Just shut up and dribble” era of asking athletes to remain apolitical in the public domain?
I find that extremely offensive, objectifying, and insulting. Who we are outside of the ring matters. Being vocal is not for everybody, but it’s something I feel strongly about. I use my platform and voice to support positive change.
How do you define success?
I was walking by some graffiti a while back that had the word “success” painted on the wall. Success is always a moving target. For me, I always first ask: Does my success come at a cost to others? It’s a great motto to live by so I had the word tattooed on my arm. My mother and grandmother were floored.
The tattoo is a reminder for me. It means that I know I’m here. It reminds me to be satisfied. If I don’t medal, I can do plenty of things after that. I need to take inventory often and be happy just working toward this goal. It’s an ongoing process. Plus I have other ambitions so speed skating will not be the zenith of my life. I plan to go for more Olympics in 2026, then move on to other life goals. I’ll walk away with my head up no matter what. That’s the thing about success: It’s not about the crowds, the competition, or the outcome. I know it’s there.
From boutique properties to luxury resorts, there’s no shortage of accommodations for travelers opening in 2022 across the United States. And after two years of limited travel, we’re thrilled to be checking out (or perhaps more appropriately, checking into) these new hotels in the coming months.
It’s impossible to categorize all of the new and recently opened hotels across the country, so we focused on some of the buzziest openings, and a few clear trends emerged. In the coming year, a greater number of properties will lean into making the hotel itself a destination, others will focus on giving a second life to much-loved historical buildings, and more still will put an emphasis on the outdoors.
While this is by no means an exhaustive list, these new and upcoming hotel openings stand out from the crowd—and have us excited to hit the road this year.
With these properties, the hotel is the destination.
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1. Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville
Greenville, SC
The focal point of Greenville is, without a doubt, Falls Park on the Reedy River. It’s a sprawling urban green space a stone’s throw from the city’s main thoroughfare, and it’s filled with local art, manicured flower displays, winding pathways, and the waterfall for which the park was named. When the 187-room Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville opens in May, many of the rooms will overlook this dazzling slice of open space. But the view isn’t the only perk: The luxury hotel will also feature an art gallery, wine room, spa, restaurant, and bourbon bar.
It seems like there’s always a new hotel going up in Los Angeles. The latest offering: A new Conrad property, part of a more luxurious portfolio of hotels within the Hilton brand. Although it’s part of a chain, this hotel differentiates itself because it’s integrated into a larger complex designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. The result? A hotel with a vast range of amenities, including shops, restaurants, gathering spaces, 305 guest rooms, a spa, an indoor-outdoor lobby, a public concert space, a 16,000-square-foot rooftop with a private pool, and more. It’s slated to open in June.
Tupelo doesn’t get enough love. The city has a thriving music scene (which makes sense—it was the birthplace of Elvis Presley), dynamic restaurants, grand green spaces, and great shopping. The opening of this sexy new 79-room boutique hotel (the first in town) might finally help the city get the attention it deserves. It’s located right on Tupelo’s main street, and it’ll be an ideal base for helping travelers discover this hidden gem in the South.
This new hotel in Orlando is a triple threat. It’s incredibly high-tech: Rooms feature View Glass smart windows and voice-automated controls. It’s also wellness-focused—it boasts a start-of-the-art wellness facility, a spa helmed by Dr. Deepak Chopra, and exercise classes with Limitless Minds, a company co-founded by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. And it’s art-forward, with more than 500 pieces of art on the property and a 50,000-square-foot sculpture garden. If that’s not enough, the rooms are visually stunning, too.
When the First National Bank was built in downtown Roanoke in 1910, it was considered ahead of its time, largely because it had a newly invented electric elevator. This spring, 111 years later, the building will reopen as The Liberty Trust, a swanky seven-story boutique hotel with 54 rooms. While there are plenty of nods to the building’s historic past, they’re paired with modern amenities like a FitnessOnDemand app for in-room workouts, high definition TVs, and Nespresso machines in every room.
2. Roost Apartment Hotels
Cleveland, OH and Detroit, MI
With the rise of remote work, more and more people are taking advantage of the ability to work from anywhere. Because of that, extended stay hotels (where guests stay for weeks or even months) are experiencing a bit of a renaissance. The Roost Apartment Hotels brand already has three stylish outposts in Philadelphia where each room (studio, one-, and two-bedroom units) is equipped with a kitchen and work space.
In 2022, Roost will open two more locations. One will be in the historic May Company Building (a former department store) in Cleveland. It’ll have 62 apartments and amenities like a rooftop terrace, a gym, a library, and complimentary e-bikes for exploring. The other will be in Detroit’s Book Tower (an iconic skyscraper) and will boast 118 units, two restaurants, a bar, a bakery, and a rooftop event space.
Space in Denver is at a premium—the city’s real estate market is scorching and has been for a while. Some clever designers, however, are getting more bang for their buck by reimagining existing buildings, and the soon-to-open Slate Hotel is a great example. The 251-room hotel will be housed in a former school building in Golden Triangle, one of the city’s most happening neighborhoods. The revamped building will also have meeting areas, an on-site restaurant, retail spaces, a library (aptly called “The Study Hall”), and an “activation alley” for displaying local artwork.
At these properties, communing with nature and unwinding in luxury go hand-in-hand.
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1. The Lodges at Knapp Ranch
Vail Valley, CO
One side effect of the pandemic has been a renewed interest in nature—travelers are increasingly seeking out destinations where they can enjoy the outdoors. The Lodges at Knapp Ranch, a retreat nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, will offer just that. The Ranch has four cabins (sleeping up to 16 people total), so it’s meant to be rented out by groups. Considering the property covers more than 300 acres, your squad will have plenty of room to hike, bike, fish, snowshoe, cross-country ski, and more, all right on the property.
If your ideal date with nature also includes wine, Stanly Ranch was made for you. The former ranch and current winery estate has 78 suites and standalone cottages with unique outdoor spaces and terraces that overlook the vineyards. The Ranch boasts a hilltop wellness center and spa, hiking trails, farm-to-table dinners at its on-site restaurants, and of course, plenty of wine.
After a two-hour drive from the frenzy of Manhattan, you’ll find an oasis of calm at Chatwal Lodge. The elegant boutique hotel is located on an 18,000-acre private game and wildlife reserve, and it’s an ideal location for exploring the beauty of the Catskills. Here, your days will be made up of boating on the Toronto Reservoir, learning to fly fish, horseback riding, and maybe even catching a concert at the nearby Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located on the site where Woodstock took place in 1969.
Even though Montage Big Sky just opened, it’s already getting a lot of buzz. Arguably the most luxurious hotel in Montana, the resort has 150 guestrooms and suites (plus 39 Montage Residences, which are apartments available for purchase), as well as amenities like an 18-hole golf course, bowling alley, indoor lap pool, fitness center, spa, various eateries, and more. It’s also well situated—guests have ski-in/ski-out access to Big Sky Resort, and you can drive to Bozeman or Yellowstone National Park in about an hour.
Scheduled to open in May, Ambient’s unique architecture—plus its location in one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the country—makes it particularly special. Each of the hotel’s 40 rooms is housed in a cube-shaped, glass-encased “atrium.” Basically, that means that each room has floor-to-ceiling windows for 360-degree views of the surrounding red rock mountains and cliffs. Bonus: It’s adults-only, and each room comes a self-serve wine dispenser.
Sharing my top picks for Valentine’s Day gifts for the gals in your life, or ideas for your own personal wish list! Please share any of your ideas in the comments!
Hey hey! Happy Monday! How was the weekend? We went to Phoenix for a fancypants event for the Pilot’s work, went on a family hike, I taught a virtual workout class, and trained a client. I hope you had a fun and relaxing weekend!
For today’s post, I’m sharing some Valentine’s Day gift ideas for her! Whether you’re shopping for someone special, or sharing this list with your partner, there are tons of great ideas here. Please share any gift ideas in the comments below or anything that’s on your personal wish list!
– A Carbon38 set! I’ve been ordering almost all of my athletic apparel from Carbon38 lately. GINAHAR gets you 15% off your first and second orders.
– A sauna blanket! My liiiiiiiiiiiife. I use this magical creation 2-3 times per week and it feels amazing. I sleep so well and it makes my skin glow. Use FITNESSISTA75 for $75off!
– A meal delivery from a service she loves. Another plug here for Sakara because it’s so amazing!
– An offer to come over and help her out with anything she might need (playing with older kids, holding the baby while she takes a shower or stares at the wall, help with errands or grocery pickup)… and actually do it ?
So tell me, friends: do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Anything on your list?
What are your plans?
We usually keep it low-key but my favorite traditions are writing something I love about the kids on hearts on their doors Feb 1- 14. I also make them little Valentine’s gift baskets.
Hi friends! ’Tis the season for resolutions and goal setting, and I LOVE the excitement of a bright, shiny, new year. I’ll be sharing my goals and reflections next week on the blog, but for today’s podcast episode, I wanted to share some of my top tips for setting goals this year. I hope you’ll give this short episode a listen and THANK YOU so much for all of your support with the podcast and wonderful reviews – I appreciate it so so mucho.
093: Tips for new years goals and resolutions
– Aim for SMART goals: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely.
– Ask yourself “why” over and over again until you realize your true motivation between your goals.
– Choose something that makes you feel excited, or something that will benefit you somehow.
– Create an action plan with specific benchmarks for your goal throughout the year.
– ACT as if you’ve already achieved this goal.
– Remind yourself of your top three goals each day and place these reminders in a visible spot.
– Don’t be afraid to pivot as priorities and circumstances change throughout the year. If something doesn’t work out, think of it as FEEDBACK, not FAILURE.
Resources from this episode:
Check out Lumen! This is the metabolism tracker I use and recommend. It customizes your nutrition plan based on whether you’re predominantly burning carbs or fat. The goal is to make your metabolism more flexible – you want to be able to switch between using carbs and fats as an energy source – and you can customize the track based on your personal goals. Check it out here and use FITNESSISTA for an extra 10% off.
If you don’t have the famous sauna blanket already, it’s one of my favorite things ever and feels SO good on chilly days. Check it out here and use the code FITNESSISTA75 for $75 off!
I love love love the meals from Sakara Life and am enjoying a shipment this week! Use this link and the code XOGINAH for 20% off their meal delivery and clean boutique items. They have so many great gifts (for others and yourself!) for holiday!!!
Get 15% off Organifi with the code FITNESSISTA. The green juice and gold powder are my favorites! I recently fell in love with Harmony and drink it like a hot cocoa in warm almond milk or add it to my smoothie.
Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support with the podcast! Please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode. If you leave a rating, head to this page and you’ll get a little “thank you” gift from me to you.
Cream liqueurs are a wintertime favorite for good reason. They’re a little indulgent, work well in coffees and hot chocolate, and give you the same warm and fuzzy feeling as your favorite sweater.
While Baileys Irish Cream is arguably the most well-known in the realm of cream-based beverages (it is the original, after all), it’s not the only one worth drinking. In fact, a growing number of distilleries are dabbling in cream liqueurs and pushing the boundaries of the style. Some call upon nontraditional spirits, like rum, while others use unusual additions like saffron, peanut butter, and mango to put their own spin on the liqueur and create new flavor profiles.
While there’s nothing wrong with your beloved Baileys—it’s popular for a reason—here are six other options to help you spice up your bar cart.
This single-batch Irish cream from County Cork, Ireland has the Goldilocks factor. It’s not too viscous, not too syrupy, and not too sweet. It has a well-rounded flavor with notes of butterscotch, vanilla, stroopwafel, and honey-tinged whiskey, and it’s perfect for drinking all on its own. We’re also fans of the swing-top bottle—it looks just like an old-fashioned milk container.
Unlike other distilleries, Somrus uses rum rather than whiskey in its trio of cream liqueurs: coffee, mango, and chai. While each is good in its own right, we’re partial to the chai for its prominent pistachio, cardamom, and saffron flavors that pair beautifully with (and help neutralize the spice of) Indian and Caribbean dishes.
Coquito, which means “little coconut” in Spanish, is a boozy Christmas drink typically found in Puerto Rico. It’s similar to eggnog but generally not as thick. Bacardi’s version is a 13-percent ABV liqueur that combines the brand’s white rum with cinnamon, coconut cream, and vanilla.
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4. Black Button Distilling Bespoke Bourbon Cream
If you drizzled bourbon over a butterscotch-infused crème brûlée, it would give you a pretty good idea of what Black Button Distilling’s Bespoke Bourbon Cream tastes like. It’s a delightfully smooth standalone sipper, but it also works well in dessert cocktails like a chocolate martini or a mudslide.
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5. Whisper Creek Tennessee Sipping Cream
If you’re looking for liquid dessert, this is it. Whisper Creek Tennessee Sipping Cream from Pennington Distilling Company in Nashville, TN makes very sweet concoctions. Each of the four offerings—original, mocha, peanut butter chocolate, and pumpkin spice—is made from the brand’s whiskey base with cream and more than 30 flavors added in. We’d recommend using them in coffee or a dessert recipe like bread pudding.
While not strictly a cream-based spirit (it’s a ready-to-drink canned cocktail made with Cutwater vodka and coffee cream liqueur), this White Russian is worth a mention for the convenience it provides. Creamy with bold vanilla, espresso, and chocolate notes, it’s like a boozy malted milkshake, except you can grab it off a shelf at your local liquor store. You can sip it from the can, but we’d recommend pouring it over ice.
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Canadian gamers have no shortage of casino sites to choose from, and whether they’re after slots, tables, or live dealer options, the list of choices seems almost endless.
While this variety is no doubt a blessing it can also be a curse.
Knowing which online casinos are worth your time, and which are not, can be a time consuming process – one that can cost you both time and money.
Because of this, we’ve taken the time to review and research the options available, using our findings to compile a list of the best online casinos for Canadian players.
PlayOJO nullifies the narrative of wagering requirements as a core tradition of online casinos, and was a clear choice for our ‘Best wagering requirements’ award.
Royal Panda is the most well-rounded Canada casino we tested. Hosting every type of casino game, from table games, to bingo, to baccarat, to sports betting. Making it a clear choice for our ‘Best variety’ award.
Spin casino is the highest scoring Canadian casino in our review. What really stands out as you explore the site is their impressive slot collection. You’ll find all the biggest slot software names and the newest releases with some really fun stories, easter eggs, and graphics.
Additionally, since Spin Casino is licenced by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission of Canada (KGC), you can be sure you’re playing at a safe and secure site that offers fair games.
What many players enjoy about the site is that they can play from their mobile devices. At Spin Casino, you can use the casino’s app or website to play games without issues. That said, you’ll have a great mobile gaming experience and have access to everything on the desktop version.
Whether you’re a new or existing player, you can find an offer where you can significantly pad your bankroll.
PlayOJO has hundreds of games in its catalogue, including table games, slots, and live dealer options. There are also numerous progressive jackpot slots titles, and with a little visit from Lady Luck you might just land a life changer.
This site gives players generous daily bonuses. The casino calls these offers ’Kickers,’ and every 24 hours, the offer is reset to give players another chance.
Another great thing about the site is the daily tournaments. The higher you rank on the leaderboard, the more prizes you’ll win. This casino allows players to use several different payment methods that have low minimums to manage their money.
That said, one thing that makes PlayOJO stand out is its wagering conditions. Unlike some other sites that resort to high playthroughs, PlayOJO doesn’t feature any.
As you work off the bonuses you can opt for withdrawals without doing anything extra – and unlike other sites they’ve even got no win cap if you happen to hit it big.
If you’re after large progressive jackpots then Royal Panda is the place to be. The site features many popular slot games like Gonzos Quest, Book of the Dead, and Age of Loki along with several live dealer options.
Bonus-wise, the online casino offers deposit options for both new and existing customers. What’s more, the wagering requirements attached to most promotions are very reasonable.
Royal Panda is also compatible with mobile devices and regardless of the medium you use to foster gameplay (mobile or desktop), you’ll find a sleek design that’s easy to navigate.
This Canadian casino also uses the Random Number Generator (RNG) software to ensure that all games are safe and fair. Along with its licence from the MGA this casino site is safe and secure.
4. Jackpot City – Best Canada Casino for High Rollers
An extensive catalogue of games
Seven-figure progressive jackpots
Regular promotions and bonuses
Licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority
Hard to meet bonus requirements
Players love this casino because of the enormous jackpots up for grabs. Jackpot City offers the chance for massive payouts with progressive jackpot slot titles whose payouts can potentially (but very rarely) rake in millions.
Also, there are several promotional offers available. For instance, you can claim a 100% match bonus of up to C$1,600 with the welcome offer.
However, do keep in mind you’ll need to meet a 70x minimum wagering requirement to withdraw – something we found quite high, so be prepared to put the gaming time in.
You can also find hundreds of games to play from the best software providers in the iGaming scene. Another significant aspect of this online Casino is its loyalty program, which will give you many perks and rewards.
Jackpot City’s mobile app and web-based version have features and games available on desktop. At Jackpot City, games are separated into sections for easy selection. In addition, there’s a good variety of banking options to aid CAD deposits and withdrawals.
5. Casumo – Best Welcome Bonus of Any Canadian Casino
• All games from top software providers
MGA-licensed
No transaction fees
Accepts multiple banking options
No phone customer support
Casumo offers many daily and weekly bonuses. These offers can land you free spins on slots, bonus funds to play with, alongside many other rewards.
Of course, the piece de resistance and the reason we named it best deposit bonus is for its high C$1800 ceiling on their 100% first deposit package. The 30x playthrough is manageable too – and the 183 day expiry is one of the industry’s best.
Overall, this is a grand casino with over 2,000 games in its library. Compared to some other gambling sites, Casumo has the game variety department sorted. With all the great things about this site, you can also play most of the site’s games directly on your mobile device.
When you’re ready to play, you can process site-related transactions through one of the many banking options. What’s great about these options is that there are no transaction fees on any of them.
With over 1700 titles in its collection, Genesis has one of the largest catalogs of slot games around. Along with popular titles like Fire Joker and Big Bass Bonanza, the site also hosts several lesser-known slot games, including Train Money and Moon Princess.
Genesis has a fairly extensive live dealer selection, one that includes several versions of baccarat and blackjack. Additionally, the live dealer section has many other, less common, games, including Monopoly Live and Deal Or No Deal.
Although Canadian players won’t be able to fund their account using cryptocurrency, Genesis does support several payment methods, the most convenient of which being Interac E-transfer.
E-transfers allow users to instantly send money from their bank account to their Genesis account. Interac e-transfer is also available for withdrawals, although we found the processing of up to 5 days to be a bit on the long side.
7. LeoVegas – Best for New Slot Releases in Canada
Over 2,000 games
Regular promotional offers
Has free play modes on some games
Compatible with mobile devices
Limited payment options
LeoVegas has a game library with over 2,000 titles, one of the most extensive catalogues from an online casino. As a fully licensed casino, games are powered by some of the best providers in the gambling industry.
LeoVegas also has some of the top progressive slots with payouts that can reach seven figures. Additionally, new bonuses crop up weekly, so there’s always an offer to claim.
A remarkable feature of this casino is that it allows users to play some games for free. This addition enables newbie gamblers to know more about the games they want to play before risking their hard-earned cash.
Once you feel comfortable, you can deposit in CAD using several safe and secure payment methods. However, there aren’t many options as you can only use InstaDebit, MuchBetter, Neteller, MasterCard, Skrill, Visa, and PaySafeCard.
That said, while we advocate for more alternatives, the available mediums are pretty efficient.
8. Ruby Fortune – Best Live Dealer Casino in Canada
Licensed by the KGC
Numerous games from top providers
Generous perks from the loyalty program
Slow withdrawal times
Ruby Fortune offers players access to numerous games. These offerings are powered by top developers who take pride in making immersive and innovative games.
At Ruby Fortune, all the features on the desktop site are available on the mobile app and the website. However, what’s disappointing about this Canadian casino is the few banking options it accepts.
That said, players with optical issues can deviate from the white background to a dark theme that’s much easier on the eyes. However, sign-up is required to activate this addition.
However, the rewards program at Ruby Fortune provides players with many generous perks like profitable leaderboards, premium support, and random draws. This program is quite generous especially since there aren’t many bonuses and promotions at this online casino.
Casinonic has over 3,500 games in its collection from the biggest names in the gambling industry. You can find titles from fair and immersive companies like Microgaming, NetEnt, BetSoft, and many others.
In addition, all the games in the Casinonic library use an RNG to help randomize outcomes, which adds another extra level of fairness.
That said, you can play gaming alternatives without hitches on the desktop and mobile versions of this Canadian casino. So, whether you like retro-styled games or those that are a tad bit modern, you can find an alternative tailored to suit your gambling aspirations.
There are frequent promotional offers available for both new and existing players. Additionally, when you’re ready to make a deposit or withdrawal, you can use one of the many accepted payment options.
However, the wagering requirements on the welcome package come in at 50x which is a tad high—though certainly not the worst—so a bit of sleeve rolling will be involved.
Bodog is the Canadian version of Bovada, one of the world’s largest and most popular sports betting and online casino sites.
The site offers a wide array of sports betting options including hockey, football, UFC, horses, and much more. Several e-sports options are also available.
Bodog is also popular amongst online poker enthusiasts as their catalog of tournaments and games is fairly robust. The site also features a players forum where gamers can log and discuss all things related to online gambling.
The forums also allow users to post complaints, suggestions, or comments. And while in Canada you don’t have as many sportsbook app options as American states like Pennsylvania do, you can still play via the mobile site to make bets on the go.
• Several 3D slots games
• C$45 minimum deposit on card payments
• Live chat available for members
SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES FROM OUR SPONSOR:
What to Look for When Choosing a Casino Site in Canada
Safety and fairness – The most critical thing we considered is the site’s licence. We made sure that the casinos we recommend aren’t only legal but safe for players. In addition, whatever game you choose to play must be provably fair by releasing randomized outcomes.
Game selection – When you’re at an online casino, the point is to play games. Therefore, there must be numerous alternatives on display. Consequently, we made sure that we looked at the casino’s lobby to determine if there were enough games to appeal to various players.
Bonuses and promotions – To draft this list of best Canadian online casinos, we looked at bonuses and promotions the site offers to its customers. We also checked to see if these offers are available to new players and if existing players could qualify. In addition, we consider the frequency of promotions, the size of the incentive, and the requirements you’ll have to meet.
User experience – The last thing we looked at is the user experience you’ll have at the casino. We considered the site’s layout to see if it’s easily navigable and whether moving through sections was intuitive. Additionally, our checks included the themes on display, currencies they accept, and the number of payment methods for transactions (deposits and withdrawals).
Beginner’s Guide to Online Casinos in Canada
Are Online Casinos Popular in Canada?
Yes, since gambling has become more accessible, more people have started to play at online casinos.
Gambling laws in Canada are also some of the most relaxed globally, which has earned the country a great deal of revenue in the past year alone. As more online casinos launch, it’s expected that this amount will continue to grow.
What Are the Most Popular Games in Canada?
Everyone has a favourite game. However, here are the most popular options amongst Canadian gamblers:
Slots – The most extensive section of games, by far, at Canadian online casinos is slots. There are many different types of slot games, as you can find multiple reels, progressive jackpots, and video slots, all with exciting themes.
Blackjack – Canadian gamblers love several variations of this game, including the classic and live versions. Blackjack is the most popular table game at online casinos due to its simplicity.
Roulette – As a popular table game, many people head to the roulette table to try their luck. Common roulette variations include French Roulette, American Roulette, and European Roulette in virtual & live formats.
Poker – Another fan favourite due to the incorporation of select strategies, you’re likely to find at least one poker variation at an online casino. Many sites also have a live dealer option for this game, attracting those who crave a real-world gaming experience.
Are Canadian Online Casinos Safe?
Yes, online casinos in Canada are 100% safe as long as they’re licenced and regulated. Casinos with a licence have to follow strict regulations to protect user data as they engage in gambling activities.
How Do I Know if a Casino Is Licensed?
All the casinos we listed in this article are fully licenced, and you’ll be safe playing at them. However, if you ever want to check who issued a casino’s licence, it should be displayed at the website’s footer.
Are Online Games Rigged?
No, casinos with a licence are fair due to strict regulations and testing from reputable gambling bodies. In addition, these sites use the RNG for an extra blanket of fairness.
How Do I Choose the Best Canadian Online Casino?
The first thing you should look for at an online casino is its licence, which tells you if the site is safe or not. After that, everything else is up to personal preference.
For example, if you want to bet on casino games and sporting events, look for a website that incorporates a casino, sportsbook, and racebook. If table games are more your style, look for a platform with different variations and tournaments.
Additionally, you can look at the site’s layout, customer support options, device compatibility, payment mediums, and the incentives offered.
Do Online Casinos Accept Canadian Dollars?
Yes, many casinos accept CAD and many other currencies, including cryptocurrency. However, it’s always a good idea to check before you sign up on your preferred casino site. Thus, consider looking for what payment methods are available and the currency they accept.
What Software Providers Do Online Casinos Have?
The best online casinos in Canada offer games from top providers such as Playtech, Evolution Gaming, Microgaming, NetEnt, and many more.
These companies are industry leaders who have developed immersive and innovative games for many years. Therefore, you can be sure to have a great gaming experience playing games from these reputable providers.
What Is Banking Like at Canadian Online Casinos?
At a legal Canadian online casino, you can be rest assured that your banking information will be kept safe. You’ll be able to use popular payment options to fund your play and receive funds when you make decent winning combinations.
Ensure to check the banking methods the casino accepts to see if they fit in your preferred choice. Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account should be an easy and safe process.
So What’s the Best Canada Casino Online?
Many excellent online casinos use software from the best providers to deliver immersive and exciting gameplay for Canadian players.
This article has gone over the top ten reliable, legal, and safe online casinos that accept Canadian players. These sites offer generous promotions, a large selection of fair games, and a pleasant experience for players.
With these criteria in play, Spin Casino ranked as the best online casino in Canada. It’s fully licensed, ensuring that safety and fairness are prioritized on every wagering-related activity. You can also expect to see frequent and generous promotions for both new and existing players.
That said, the other sites also meet our stringent requirements, albeit sporting a con or two. So, whichever casino you choose, ensure that you do your research and gamble responsibly regardless of how great your fortunes are turning out to be.
As a rule of thumb, we always emphasise the riskiness of gambling and why it should never be seen as an activity to solve nagging financial problems. The saying “the house always wins” isn’t just a catchphrase as it should help shape your wagering adventure.
Are you suffering from a gambling problem, or do you know someone that does? If so, it’s crucial to call the Gamblers Anonymous at 1-626-960-3500 to seek help from one of the numerous advisors on ground. Speaking to these professionals is instrumental in making gambling a safe venture for you and your loved one. You also have to be aware that gambling sites and other related products are for those aged 18 and above.
Several casino sites listed in our reviews might not be available in your region. To this end, you might want to go through your jurisdiction’s local laws and rules to have an idea of online gambling’s legality. Since our reviews are unbiased and geared towards regular players’ needs, we may receive a commission for casino site features. However, this doesn’t affect our online casino ranking as we always make concerted efforts to bring to you sites that deliver a wholesome casino experience at all times.
If you’d like some top-notch information that focuses on gambling and everything in-between, check out these organizations:
Dwayne Johnson has a reputation for being a very likable guy—he really goes out of his way to connect with fans on social media—but there’s one person he definitely does not get along with: Vin Diesel. The pair had a falling out during the filming of 2016’s The Fate of the Furious, in which Johnson played the role of Hobbs. That feud has been simmering ever since, but it returned to the spotlight this fall when Diesel posted on Instagram asking “little brother Dwayne” to return to the franchise. In a recent interview with CNN, Johnson made public his response to that request: Absolutely not.
“I was very surprised by Vin’s recent post,” Johnson told CNN. “This past June, when Vin and I actually connected not over social media, I told him directly—and privately—that I would not be returning to the franchise.”
That makes Diesel’s post, which came months after he and Johnson apparently spoke in person, even more bizarre. For Johnson, however, these kind of tactics are exactly why he and his Fast and Furious co-star didn’t get along in the first place.
“Vin’s recent public post was an example of his manipulation,” Johnson said. “We had spoken months ago about this and came to a clear understanding.”
Diesel, for his part, speculated to Men’s Health in June that Johnson didn’t appreciate his “tough love” approach on the set of The Fate of the Furious. Johnson disagreed with that view.
“I laughed and I laughed hard,” he toldThe Hollywood Reporter. “I think everyone had a laugh at that.”
Despite the conflict on the 2016 film, it wasn’t Johnson’s last appearance in the franchise: He went on to star in 2019’s The Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. In the CNN interview, he made it clear that he has no hard feelings toward the rest of the cast or the series in general—a sentiment he made clear to Diesel when they spoke earlier this year.
“I was firm yet cordial with my words and said that I would always be supportive of the cast and always root for the franchise to be successful,” Johnson said, “but that there was no chance I would return.”
Diesel will return for the final two installments of the Fast and Furious franchise, Fast 10 and Fast 11. The first of the two films is slated for a May 2023 release date, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Although he’s leaving Fast and Furious in the rear view mirror, Johnson has been staying busy with other projects. His latest film, Red Notice, has smashed Netflix streaming records and become the platform’s most-watched movie of all time. (Check out our interview with the film’s director, Rawson Marshall Thurber, here.) His upcoming superhero flick, Black Adam, is scheduled for a summer 2022 release.
We’re in a golden age for vintage vehicles. Aside from the usual Corvettes and Mustangs that have held collectible status for decades, a whole generation of Radwood-era rides is finally getting its due (see the skyrocketing prices on ’90s Hondas, for example), along with other cars and trucks that have suddenly become enthusiast icons. Browsing today’s lineup of online car auctions gives you a front-row seat to all the action—and a fun way to put one of these rides in your garage.
We scoured auction sites like Cars & Bids, Bring a Trailer, Hemmings, and more to put together a short list of some of the most intriguing vehicles up for grabs right now. See something you like? Bid on it. Not interested in our picks? Check back later—we’ll update this page with a fresh batch of car auctions every week.
The Best Car and Truck Auctions
1963 Chevrolet Corvair SpyderCourtesy Image
1. 1963 Chevrolet Corvair Spyder
When introduced, the Corvair was a radical car for Chevrolet (and for American automakers in general). It utilized an air-cooled engine mounted over the rear wheels, similar to the layout of a Volkswagen Beetle. The original Corvair made about 80 horsepower, but Chevy upped the ante in 1962 with the introduction of the Corvair Spyder, which featured a turbocharged motor good for 150 horsepower. This restored 1963 example shows a few dents and chips but is otherwise in fantastic shape—a great chance to own a unique and sporty mid-century classic.
This Tahoe offers a lot of features you won’t find on even the most adventurous crossovers today: a big V8 engine under the hood, real four-wheel drive, and a barn door tailgate. In other words, it’s an honest-to-goodness truck, and with just 73,000 miles on the odometer and a leather interior, it’s an especially nice one, too.
The performance wagon has long been the domain of European automakers, but when it was introduced in 2009, the Cadillac CTS-V challenged the status quo. Powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 paired with a limited-slip differential, this wagon could really haul, and its sharp, angular styling helped it stand out from the crowd. Optioned with a six-speed manual transmission, this well-kept example is even more special.
Looking for a backcountry escape vehicle? This Suburban might be just what you need. It checks all the boxes for off-road exploration (like a 4×4 drivetrain and a locking rear differential), and it offers a cavernous rear cargo area for hauling all your gear, especially with the seats folded down. But let’s be honest: With its bright Catalina Blue Metallic paint, it’ll put a smile on your face even when it’s parked in your driveway.
And now for something completely different: What you see here is an Alfa Romeo SZ, a rare (just over 1,000 units were built) sports car with head-turning styling. This two-seater features bold bodywork made from molded composite panels, and with its bizarre angles, six square headlights, and bright red paint, it’s enough to make a Ferrari seem boring. Better yet, it’s powered by a 210-horsepower Busso V6 with a five-speed manual transmission, so it has the performance to match its looks.
One of the greatest joys seasoned (and wannabe) home chefs can experience is unboxing a brand new knife and immediately cutting into a slab of meat or slicing vegetables razor thin. The effortlessness of plowing through prep work with a sharp knife tailormade for certain tasks is akin to reaching culinary nirvana. You see there’s no one knife that does it all. There are a number of knives every home cook needs in their kitchen.
So if you’ve planned on making a resolution this new year to maybe cook more or just whip up some healthier meals, there’s no better motivation than spending a little money on one of these high-quality kitchen knives. We’ve selected a range—from santokus to slicers—that’ll make your time in the kitchen more efficient and enjoyable. Here are the knives every home cook needs.
7 Knives Every Home Cook Needs in Their Kitchen
Courtesy Image
1. Kilne Chef’s Knife
Well-known and respected in Canada for bringing high-quality blades to consumers at affordable prices, Kilne just entered the U.S. market this fall—which is probably why you’ve never heard of them. Add this classic French-inspired chef’s knife to your roster. Crafted from German chromium-molybdenum-vanadium steel with a full tang—solid steel from tip to tail—makes this all-rounder strong and balanced. This knife does it all in the kitchen, from delicate cuts to heavy-duty chopping or slicing.
The Nakiri is a wonderful blend of a chef’s knife and cleaver. Supremely useful in the kitchen, it’s squared-off shape and straight blade (no rocker) makes it ideal for chopping and slicing veggies. Made in France by fifth-generation bladesmiths, it has an 11.5 inch total length and weighs only 7 ounces for awesome agility around your cutting board.
The Japanese santoku kitchen knife design has been popular in the West for decades now and it’s clear to see why: The multi-purpose blade configuration combines the best of traditional chef’s knives and a small cleaver to make it worthy of its name, which means “three virtue” of slicing, dicing, and chopping. This beautiful rendition, which is made in Idaho, has a blade crafted from high-performance S35VN steel that uses an etched rendition of the Teton mountain range in Wyoming in place of the traditional dimples, which help keep food from sticking to the blade while prepping. The super-tough handle is made from G10, a fiberglass epoxy composite that comes in multiple color combos.
This massive knife might not be one you use every day (unless you’re running a barbecue restaurant), but when you need it, it’ll turn any big slicing jobs into easy tasks. The intricate 66-layer Japanese Damascus blade is forged from high-carbon AUS-10 steel that’s honed to a wickedly sharp edge using the traditional Honbazuke method, which is a three-step process that ends with a fine polish. The G10 handle offers a comfortable and ergonomic grip that’ll pull you confidently through any tough kitchen task.
Not every knife in your block has to be some super-fancy, high-dollar purchase. You can still get great-quality knives at rock bottom prices, like this boning knife from legendary knife maker Case. A staple for thousands of butcher shops around the country, this classic blade is made from durable, long-lasting stainless steel that’s mated to a solid walnut handle. This simple-but-effective cutter will quickly debone everything from ham to venison and can even pitch in for some slicing duty.
Created by bladesmith Quintin Middleton, who makes bespoke blades for such culinary luminaries as Emeril Lagasse and Michael Antony, this light and nimble paring knife is a wonder to wield. It has a featherweight feel and an amazingly sharp blade crafted from a stainless steel called AEB-L, which is known for it’s toughness and corrosion resistance. The special steel also allows the blade to be forged to an extremely thin degree, giving it a delicate, deft feel when taking care of a multitude of small kitchen jobs.
Toss out your old steak knives that are, by now, dull and uninspiring. Because when you slap down a perfectly cooked ribeye that’s slightly charred on the outside and red-pink on the inside, you owe it to the cow to cut into that meat with a worthy knife. This four-piece set—which is customizable—is made from Benchmade’s special SelectEdge stainless steel and comes with a small serrated edge near the tip for separating tougher cuts of meat like game. This versatile blade is also at home helping out with prep as it’s sitting on the table next to your sizzling steak. Intrigued but don’t need the whole set? You can also pick up a single knife for $160.
