Labor Day: Americans Have 212 Million Hot Dogs To Eat By Tuesday

Labor Day. The annual celebration of workers and their achievements. And hot dogs.

Yes, Americans love their hot dogs, and Labor Day not only marks the unofficial end of summer, but also the unofficial end of hot dog season.

I don't know who does all the calculations, but Americans eat about 818 hot dogs every second, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. And 67% of Americans actually do a full on celebration for Labor Day.

If your "hot dog intake" has been underwhelming this summer, you better step it up this weekend. BIG TIME. Because we have a good 212 million hot dogs to eat by Tuesday. So fire up the grill!

1.  67% of Americans celebrate Labor Day. (wait - does that mean the other 33% have to work?)

2.  63% plan to barbeque sometime over the weekend. (eat the hot dogs!)

3.  Roughly 168 million Americans, 16 and older, are now in the labor force.

4.  The national unemployment rate was at 4.3% in July, which is down significantly from 9.5% 15 years ago.  The unemployment rate peaked at 14.7% during the pandemic in April of 2020.

5.  According to a recent poll, Washington, D.C. is the HARDEST working city, at an average of 8.1 hours of work per day. The national average isn't that far off - 7.9 hours. (but are they really working that hard in DC?)

6.  Burlington, Vermont, so sorry. You win for the LAZIEST city. People in beautiful Burlington only work an average of 6.6 hours per workday. That's out of the top 116 cities in America.

7.  78% of Americans left vacation days unused in 2023. (do better, America, do better. take your vacation)

8.  Nearly 2 in 3 Americans say inflation is affecting their Labor Day plans.

9.  67% of people believe they're working harder this year than last year.

Here's hoping YOU have a three day weekend, and enjoy every last minute of it. CHEERS!

Where are the best happy hours in Las Vegas?

It's always five o'clock somewhere, right? Especially in Las Vegas. But when it comes to happy hour, let's face - you want a bargain. You want to save a little money on that drink, and those nachos.

The Las Vegas Strip isn’t exactly known for its bargains these days. Gone are the days of cheap drinks, and 99 cent shrimp cocktails. So let's leave the Las Vegas Strip, and be a true local.

There are some great happy hours in Las Vegas, and you don't have to go anywhere near the strip. Some of your favorite restaurants offer a great happy hour, that you may not have even known about.

In Las Vegas, restaurants with some of the best happy hour menus are no where near the Las Vegas Strip. They are in neighborhoods, strip malls, or your favorite brewery. Yes, of course, many resort restaurants have happy hours. But as a local, we're not going to the strip, or even necessarily a casino -unless we have to. Or, those cousins are visiting from Milwaukee, and they have to get a yard of margarita, and see the KISS street performers, in ass-less chaps.

You can thank the US Navy for Happy Hour. In the 1920s, after World War I, happy hours were periods of time on naval ships where sailors could participate in relaxing activities, so they could remove themselves from the toll of life at sea. Those activities were supposed to be morale boosting - mostly boxing, and other athletics.

Of course the US was in the midst of prohibition. But Americans got around that (shhhhh) by going to speakeasies to get a drink before dinner. Happy hour as we know it today!

These are just 5 of the better happy hours in Las Vegas - at least some of my favorites. Remember though, happy hour deals change often, so be sure to check the restaurant’s website or social media for updates before popping in for a drink.

Great 'hoppy' hour specials include $5 LVBC drafts, $13 LVBC flights, $5 house wine, $6 well drinks. Sloppy Joe Sliders, fried pickles - that are AWESOME - and a really great "pubcuterie." I'm not the biggest beer drinker, but this place has some of the best beers in Las Vegas. Do a flight, and try a few!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/D3fbda77Y85kPssBA

The Spot has some GREAT food! And one of their favorites, and mine, is offered on their happy hour menu - their pork belly burnt ends. YUM!!!! Six chicken wings for $8. Happy hour is in the bar only, of course, and they do it from 3pm-6pm, AND again at 9pm-close.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/g4wUdypZ61HvMh9aA

Yes, the Cheesecake Factory. They have always had a great happy hour menu! Sliders, pot stickers, hot pretzel bites, spinach and cheese dip, fried zucchini, a happy hour burger, and tons more. Several delightful cocktails for $8.50, draft beers $4.95, bottled beer $3.95. Seriously - you can't go wrong! Try the fried zucchini - just like my grandma's!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zZCVFTo4LpRVKoGr7

Lazy Dog is just a fun place overall - and you can bring your dog! Happy hour lettuce wraps, crispy brussels sprouts, buffalo cauliflower. $4 wine, $1 off their draft beers. Woof!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2dYo9a83JBBtmvaF6

Echo & Rig is one of the best off strip steakhouses in Las Vegas, and in my opinion - still fairly reasonable. Their happy hour food menu is small, but mighty! A $3 Hotdog - the best hot dog ever! $4 Steak and egg, and Butcher fries with prime steak, homemade teriyaki, and scallions. Half off all draft & bottled beers, half off premium well liquor, $5 house wine, and always a $3 cocktail! It's great, but get there early, it gets busy!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/sjAGMT4w7XbXqzfm9