Month: June 2008

Local Restaurateur Guy Fieri-Award Winner

Mouth full of goodnessThat’s right. Fieri, celebrity chef and questionably talented TV personality, was recently awarded the title of “Douchebag of the Month,” on the popular website Hot Chicks With Douchebags.

We might have to start a whole Fieri category here at the ‘Rag, what with his shameless whoring for the competition to his own local restaurant, his intentional assitude in inviting the whole nation to the Squeeze Inn, and his restaurant’s continued spotty food (except for those “Vegas Fries”–God, they’re good).

The Best of the Rest

Every now and then, your intrepid culinary guide (me) gets the offer of a few schillings to write restaurant reviews for other publications. Not wanting to overlap the online and printed-page worlds, I’ve held back from covering restaurants in both places. Nevertheless, I realize that many of you don’t like to get your hands dirty by picking up printed pages, or don’t live in the geographic area in which said printed-page publications are available. To remedy this gap in restaurant knowledge, I give you a quick rundown on some of the area’s newest, and in some cases best, eateries not yet mentioned on this here ‘Rag.

Maritime Seafood & Grill- ****
Owner/Chef Morgan Song has created a dining experience that immediately needs to be considered among the best in the region, joining such familiar names as Biba, The Kitchen, Waterboy, and Mulvaney’s B&L. High priced and high class, this place sticks out in an otherwise depressing Carmichael strip mall on the corner of Marconi and Fair Oaks. Go there, now.

Maritime Seafood & Grill
6440 Fair Oaks Blvd
Carmichael, CA 95608
http://www.maritimeseafoodsac.com
Continue reading “The Best of the Rest”

Fires/Smoke Cancel Local World-Class Athletic Event

The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run was to be held this coming weekend, and it has been cancelled for the first time in its 35 year history.  Some idiots have been calling radio shows saying that if the runners are stupid enough to go 100 miles, then what’s a little smoke?

Finisher's AwardThe bottom line is that hundreds of people have invested countless hours and few thousand dollars (at least, for the locals — even more so for people coming from every corner of the world) to train for this.  I was an entrant in the race in 2006, so I know how much of an emotional, financial, and physical investment this takes.  

Continue reading “Fires/Smoke Cancel Local World-Class Athletic Event”

Operation Cross Country

Today marked the 5th anniversary of the Innocence Lost National Initiative, which fights the sexual exploitation of children. To mark the occasion, the FBI conducted a five-day sting titled Operation Cross Country in 16 cities across the country that resulted in the arrests of 356 individuals engaged in sexual trafficking of minors and the recovery of 21 children.

In Sacramento, four children were recovered and two adults were arrested.

Congrats to the Sacramento FBI office and Sacramento Police Department for saving these four lives.

(I love scooping the Bee.)

You have to play in Sacramento, haw haw

I am by no means a competent NBA analyst, but I did want to point out one interesting tidbit about Chad Ford’s mock draft analysis of the Kings’ #12 pick: His pick is Lionel Mario Chalmers, and his alternate is Roy Hibbert. Not since the draft of 1997 which saw stars like Chris Wiggum and Ted Krustofsky have the Kings chances in the draft been so Simpsons-centric.

But seriously, what do we think of drafting a point guard at #12? FFT, writing on his new domain altsac.com, says don’t do it because Beno can start. Again I know nothing but for some reason my gut says drafting point guards is a tricky business, especially if you want a player to contribute right away or at least soon.

RunnerGirl’s Quick Tips for Outdoor Adventures, Summer ’08 Edition

With the heat wave ushering in the summer ’08 season, Sam McManis has a timely article on staying hydrated.*

Being an avid ultramarathoner on the trails, I have a lot of experience with two issues that can easily ruin a perfectly awesome day: blisters and poison oak. Here are some of my tips for making your outdoor adventures more comfortable, whether you’re a trail veteran or considering making your debut out on one of our region’s many recreational treasures.

Continue reading “RunnerGirl’s Quick Tips for Outdoor Adventures, Summer ’08 Edition”

From Hair to There

Ok Raggers, I am in the middle of an attempted hairstyle  renaissance.  The problem is that for years I’ve only gotten quick and easy chop-shop jobs in Sacramento.  I have no go-to stylist or barber and now need to find someone who’ll do a good job with men’s hair.

And at an affordable price- I can’t spend more than what my wife spends or else marital discourse will ensue.

So any suggestions of people/places to go who can do something fun and stylish? I don’t think my last haircutter understood anything but “Number 3 on the sides and back.”

Tonight at Shiny Object: “The 39 Steps” (1935)

Tonight at the “Movies on a Big Screen” at 4th and F Street in West Sacramento, the 1935 Hitchcock thriller “The 39 Steps.”

This 1935 UK Alfred Hitchcock film was the first to really attract US audiences to his work. The tightly-plotted screenplay was loosely based on the 1915 novel of the same name by Scottish author John Buchan.

I’ve actually never seen this one, though I remember it being my grandpa’s favorite film. Enjoy the trademark cameo by Hitchcock himself as Step #14.

For Sale – 1025 37th St – $350k!!

1025 37th StI know this is sort of an out of character post for this here blog, but occasionally when specific homes that I have always admired go on the market I think it warrants a posting. There are certain homes in town that I have just always wanted to live in. You know, while the people who own it are on vacation. Just kidding! I’m also hoping that merely being mentioned by CoolDMZ will help move some inventory and get the market back on track. 🙂

This house, 1025 37th Street is right behind the parking lot of the Subway on 37th and Jay streets. When I was a kid I always thought that porch was pretty gnarly (that’s what we said back then), and I loved the idea of living next door to Winchell’s (which formerly occupied the Subway space). It has always been on Mrs Cool’s and my short list of dream homes. I cannot believe it is on the market for $350k, that seems like a total steal, even though it is adjacent to the parking lot of a liquor store. Somebody snatch it up! And then have me over for a sittin’ party on that wraparound porch. Did I mention it is right near a Peet’s?