May is considered to be National Burger Month across America. We are a country that loves its burgers, and we enjoy grilling them outdoors when the weather allows. Each person in the country eats an average of three burgers per week, or around 150 burgers per year. This adds up to a hefty 40 billion burgers consumed per year in the country. Still, one thing we can all agree on, whether we are eating beef burgers, turkey burgers, or veggie burgers, is that not all burgers are created equal.

“There’s a wide range of burgers out there today, and achieving a great burger comes down to the steps you take to prepare and grill it,” explains Mark Bucher, founder of BGR The Burger Joint. “If you take the proper steps to create a great grilled burger, you will have one. If you don’t put much effort into it, then it will show.”

Here are 5 tips for grilling up the best burgers:

Acclaimed writer Joyce Carol Oates will discuss her new book Mudwoman, an exploration of success and self-identity.

On Wednesday, May 23, 2012, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Hay-Adams Author Series will welcome award-winning author Joyce Carol Oates, one of the most acclaimed writers in the world today, to discuss her latest novel, Mudwoman, while dining with guests at the Top of the Hay, the Hotel’s elegant rooftop spaces overlooking the White House.