Acclaimed American author John Updike, author of the Rabbit series, the short story “A & P,” The Witches of Eastwick, and frequent contributor to the New Yorker, will appear Tuesday at the Crest Theater as part of the California Lectures series. Garrison Keillor, that old salt, was a recent lecturer too. And in February, Lemony Snicket! Though not in character.

Seems like a pretty unique opportunity to see and hear a legend like Updike. I doubt he uses the C-word as much in his lectures as he used to in his books. If you have never read Witches of Eastwick I really recommend it; it was the first Updike book I ever read (I have not seen the movie, I take my filmed witch entertainment in the form of Supernatural). There appears to be a sequel book out.

John Frickin’ Updike
Crest Theater
November 11, 2008 7:30 PM
$27, yowza

Penguins love ice-skating

…[Your holiday of choice here]! The Downtown Plaza Ice Rink opens tomorrow at noon with FREE skating all day. After tomorrow, regular admission is $6 plus $2 for skate rental. Plus $8 later on at Rite Aid for ankle braces and ice packs. The rink accepts cash only.

Mrs Cool reminds me that this weekend also brings 2nd Saturday and the Antique Faire. It was great planning to have the faire on Second Sunday, if you aske me.

Regional Transit has put together a little Flash game that tests your willingness to pay for certain elements of the Transit Master Plan. By selecting among various options you can see how much your version of the TMP would cost — in aggregate dollars and per-household costs. The game scores your suggestion by its effect on transportation choices, congestion relief, and environmental benefit.

• Transit Master Plan “Willingness to Pay” Game

If you’re still looking for something spooky to do Halloween night and you’re into artsy gore … then let’s face it, you’ve probably already seen the 1977 Italian horror flick “Suspiria.” I have not actually seen this film, but reading about it and seeing a few stills has always been as much contact with it as I desire. I do appreciate the allure of 70s film, but I don’t dig on horror as a genre because I am a big sissy baby. However, I am also the kind of person to recommend a movie that I know other people think is hip just so that I can seem hip by association. In conclusion and in summary, go see “Suspiria” on Halloween but don’t bring any babies, whether they are tall grown men acting like them or the actual kind.

“Suspiria”
10/31, 7:00 PM
600 4th St, West Sac
Admission: $5.00

I think my favorite view of the 56′ tall bright red rabbit sculpture, approved by the County Board of Supes last night for installation in the new airport terminal, is the following where you can just see his teeny immense feet:

Continue reading “Rabbit, Fly” »

My wife snapped this in East Sac today across from McKinley Park. Is this a custom sign by Realtor Mike Heede or are these popping up elsewhere these days?

For some reason it always rubs me the wrong way when people I don’t know command me to vote. I don’t think it is anything to do with the act of voting being a personal thing between me and my voting booth, I think it is just a personal aversion to Anybody telling me to Do Anything.

My daughter and I came upon the detached tail of some sort of rodent in a park near the American River this weekend. Follow the “Continue reading” link to help me identify the animal.

Continue reading “Name that horrifying animal part” »

Today the Host Airport Hotel is being demolished to make room for the new airport terminal. And I never got a chance to see the interior of this strange little building. Has anybody out there ever been inside?

Academy Scholar Julie Anne Miller

The Academy at All Hallows, the resident symphony orchestra of All Hallows Catholic Parish, will present Beethoven’s 9th Symphony tomorrow night at 8pm at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

More than 150 musicians and vocalists will perform together when the Academy Orchestra and Chorus join with Nevada County’s Music in the Mountains Chorus to mount this inspirational monument of western art and music. Beethoven, long deaf at the time of composition, rocked the musical world of 1824 Europe with this work of unprecedented scope and vision. The finale, with its setting of Schiller’s “Ode to Joy,” has become one of the most socially important musical works of all time, and is often performed to mark historically significant times–most notably the performance led by Leonard Bernstein to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Continue reading “Beethoven’s 9th at Cathedral tomorrow” »

Press release today from the Fargo campaign:

SACRAMENTO–Mayor Heather Fargo today released the following statement regarding the recent radio advertisements about Kevin Johnson having been investigated for misusing federal funds:

“Kevin Johnson was banned by the federal government from all access to federal grants and contracts after investigators said he misused AmeriCorps funds.

“My campaign material does not use this issue against Kevin Johnson; however, an independent committee has.

“In light of the Sacramento Bee story this morning, I hope the independent committee would stick to the facts in their advertising.

“Sacramentans can make their own judgment about federal authorities’ investigation into Kevin Johnson’s misuse of federal funds.”

You got the point, right? She definitely does NOT want to remind people twice in about 200 words about the federal authorities investigation into Kevin Johnson’s misuse of federal funds. Don’t you dare imply that she does.