Would someone kindly explain why you would want to smash a hamburger? Crushing a burger and squeezing out the juicy flavors is the last thing I’d ever do while grilling a quarter-pound fatty. I’ll assume that at the new Smashburger, 3223 E. Louise Drive in Meridian, they suckerpunch the beef before they put it on the grill?

Why not just order late-night takeout at, say, Taco Bell, where half the time, it looks like someone curb-stomped your burrito, anyway? Tastes fine to me.

08/21/09 update:

Here's an e-mail explanation I received. I'm not sure I buy that smashing a burger is helpful at sealing in juices — why not just sear it without smashing it? - but I suppose I'll have to go try one myself. Or two.

Hey Michael!

I enjoyed yesterday's blog entry "Why would you smash a burger?" I'm happy to reply and I would have posted a comment, but for some reason I can't log in, the system won't recognize the computer generated password. Perhaps next time.

First of all, Smashburger uses 100 percent fresh Angus, never frozen beef. It is smashed on a 400 degree grill and held down for 10 to 12 seconds. This process actually sears the flavor in, it does not squeeze "out the juicy flavors."

Now there is a Smashburger just down the road, so we would love to have you try it out. Just let me know if you're interested, I would be happy to set something up. Oh, you might want to order the Smashfries too.

Sincerely,

Nathan Schwebach
For Smashburger
(801) xxx-xxxx (cell)
www.smashburger.com

If you’ve been slacking off on your Alive After Five attendance this summer, jump back on the horse next week. One of the season’s best bands — definitely one of the most proven — will take the stage for some California rockin’ in the Grove: The Mother Hips are a veteran San Francisco act that really should have been bigger when they peaked in the 1990s. Young ’uns may recognize the Hips from the video game “Rock Band”; the song “Time We Had” is a bonus track.

The upcoming Marilyn Manson concert at the Knitting Factory has sold out.

House of Hoi Polloi has added a second show this weekend at Garden City's Visual Arts Collective, so the reunited group will play Friday and Saturday nights.

Boise band Built To Spill is the main feature story on Pitchfork.

Last night's feature on Rick's Press Room on the Food Network hasn't been posted to YouTube yet. Let's go, Rick!

Set your TiVo: Rick's Press Room, 103 E. Idaho Ave., Meridian, will be the latest Treasure Valley restaurant spotlighted by "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."

Rick's is having a special bash to watch tonight's episode. You can make a reservation to watch it there, plus eat dishes that Guy Fieri cooked with Rick: all-you-can-eat red chili garlic wings with Rick’s "famous" celery slaw, Rick’s salmon and potato and the mammoth seared double cut pork chop with homemade polenta cakes. Dinner at 6 p.m., TV show at 8. Call 288-0558.

Here's the playlist:

—Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling"
—Cobra Starship, "Good Girls Go Bad"
—Pink, "Please Don't Leave Me"
—Michael Franti, "Say Hey (I Love You)"
—Daughtry, "No Surprise"
—Shakira, "She Wolf"
—Linkin Park, "New Divide"
—Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson, "Relator"

"The Other Studio" airs at 9 p.m. Sundays on 94.9 FM "The River."

The Arbitron ratings, which measure listener share for radio stations, are out. Here are the top 10 stations in spring 2009.

You'll notice that 96.1 KSRV Bob FM had a huge book, news that must be like fingernails on a chalkboard for any live body working in the radio biz.

I haven't seen the numbers breaking down morning shows. However, I'm told that 96.9 KKGL-FM The Eagle's "Bob and Tom" continued to dominate the market.

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Top finishers among listeners 12 and older from 6 a.m. to midnight:

KBOI-AM 6.9
KIZN-FM 5.7

Without Les Paul, so many things wouldn't be possible. Here's Eddie Van Halen, Tony Levin and Jan Hammer at a 1988 Les Paul Tribute concert.

Even as the Travel Channel's Adam Richman pigs out in Boise, Food Network chef Guy Fieri may be cooking up a return visit.

The popular tattooed chef — who filmed episodes of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" earlier this year in the Boise area — is in negotiations to do a live cooking performance Dec. 14 at the Morrison Center. Tickets would include a VIP section on stage with Fieri.

Watch this blog for confirmation of the "chef's tour"-style gig.

Three days after she performed on the Teen Choice Awards, Miley Cyrus is getting a bunch of grief — and publicity — over her "pole dance" on an ice cream cart.

Whaddaya think?
Is it too suggestive for a 16-year-old entertainer?
Or should people lighten up on the girl?