I have no illusions. I realize that this is not the way to start trends. But just in case someone from PRG (Paragary Restaurant Group), HFE (Haines French-fry Empire), or FFF (Fat’s Friendly Foods) happens to stop by and read this here blog, I’d like to outline a few restaurant concepts that this town needs. (OK, maybe Sacramento doesn’t exactly need these restaurants, but they’d certainly broaden the dining landscape a little.)

These are all niche ideas at best, but who would’ve thought that Chuck E Cheese would still be around after all these years. In no particular order, here they are:

1. Japanese greasy spoon- A friend and I were walking through Japantown in LA and came upon this little Japanese diner. The place looked like the joint that all the cabbies hang out at in “Taxi Driver”–ripped vinyl booths, formica, and tired waitresses. They served beer, sake, soup, and lots and lots of fried stuff. They were open until 2am. And the best part, not a piece of sushi in sight. Yes, that’s right, a Japanese restaurant without sushi. It’s unthinkable, but try and tell me it wouldn’t work. Restaurateurs, lend me your ears: scoop up the old sushi joint on Cap Ave and insert this concept. You’ll have an immediate hit. Continue reading “Empty Stomachs for Empty Niches” »

Fox 40 reported this weekend on the Web site Vote for the Worst, which is arguably the #1 fan site there is for American Idol. Since 2004, Sacramento resident Sean Fromer has run this site which aims to embrace those deliciously bad contestants and keep them on the show as long as possible. For big AI fans, this is the place to go for the snarkiest commentary and breaking AI news.

View the report here

Mark your calendars for two awesome brew fests in May.

The West Coast Brew Fest is May 17 in Miller Park from 1-5pm. 60 brewers, cidermakers, and mead craftsmen will fill your cup. No tokens, unlimited tastes. Discounted tickets are available at both Sacramento Brewing Company locations, The Shack, Manderes, River City Brewing, Hoppy Brewing, and Brew-It-Up or at the Web site.

The Raley Field Brewfest is May 24 from 1-4:30pm. You can also purchase a VIP ticket that lets you in at Noon to enjoy the works of 30 brewers from across Northern California. Tickets available online.

I’ll just let this one speak for itself.

Much was made of the recent closing of California Fat’s this week, much more, in fact, than the closing of Brother Oliver’s earlier this year. Each establishment was just short of being iconic, but the suburban Oliver’s didn’t quite have the cultural cache that anything with the name Fat attached to it does.

It is, however, not just the locals who are having difficulties in our worsening economy. Within the last few months, we’ve seen the closing of Macaroni Grill on Alta Arden (now where am I going to get chicken parmagiana after seeing dissected bodies? Oh, that’s right, the bodies left town too. Alta Arden is like a ghost town now. Thank God for Chick Fil-A.), Wendy’s on Fair Oaks, and Pick Up Stix everywhere. I’m not saying that some of these national chains will be missed for their standout cuisine, but I’d rather have a chain or big box retailer than an empty storefront any day.

A prominent billboard on 16th Street featuring the smiling, trustworthy face of Preet Kalirai, your CalPERS certified mortgage agent has been replaced by an advertisement for Lucca Restaurant. And here I thought Preet, with her market savvy, finance acumen, and ethnically ambiguous good looks, was recession proof. None of us is immune.

Dinger will be an even cooler cat with the Rivercats’ acquisition of the Merlino’s Freeze empire.

Given this new business development, what new flavors do you propose for a frosty treat?

Most of Sacramento seems to be reacting to our upcoming local elections by complaining about the Mayor’s race, and how it is a choice among a group of wishy-washy do nothings, impossible longshots and plummeting superstars. I would like to cast your attention towards the one local race that is panning out to be truly exciting, although you wouldn’t know it from the lackluster media coverage.

The District 3 race for the County Board of Supervisors seems to be lost behind the monster dunks, travel-gate, shower-gate and cowboy hats of the mayoral campaign, yet is the one race with a clear contrast between the candidates. This was made particularly clear in the Election Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County. This was the most interesting of the forum’s debates because, well, there are actually two people running against each other for this seat. Shocking!

In one corner, in the red trunks, is the well funded, one-term incumbent Susan Peters. In the other corner, wearing blue, we find veteran county administrator and grassroots challenger Warren Harding.

Continue reading “District 3 Race for Supervisor - Exciting!” »

After working all weekend excavating about 10 tons of dirt and clay from my East Sac home, I kicked back with a bucket of chicken from our local KFC:

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This fact gives me my Sacramento tie-in to a delightful story that I just had to share with the rest of the ‘Raggers:

Those of you who have gmail know of the targeted ads posted on the sides of your inbox that “correspond” to the subject of your emails. After writing to one of my Nintendo contacts requesting some information, I noticed a target ad that stated “Like Super Mario Bros.? You’ll love this” with a hyperlink to a flash-based game for the PTEA-sponsored site Kentucky Fried Cruelty, adorably titled “Super Chick Sisters.”

From a quick perusal of Kentucky Fried Cruelty, it looks to be a celebrity-promoted, anti-delicious fried chicken, website spearheaded by the great philanthropist/philosopher Pamela Anderson. Thankfully Pammie also brought her think-tank of great minds to support her cause, including: Pink, Ryan Gosling, and Rev. Al Sharpton. Worthy of note is that the Dalai Lama is also one of those in Pam’s entourage who does not dig on the Colonel, which stunned me because I didn’t even realize that they had KFC’s in Dharamsala, India- go figure.

Continue reading “Finger Clickin’ Good” »

So if you’re a registered voter you’ve probably received your pamphlet for the upcoming June 3 primary election. First of all, they probably should have come up with a better name than “primary election,” it’s so played out, what with the other primary election we had less than 90 days ago. (Sure fine, one was a presidential primary and this one is statewide.) But more importantly, your pamphlet for this election contains 2 things: Propositions 98 and 99. Which — without boring you by actually doing any research into the props — are for all practical purposes opposing pieces of legislation. Both descriptions contain language to the effect that if this one passes the other one most likely won’t take effect. This is where things get interesting.

Continue reading “Whose eminent domain is it anyway?” »