Did I mention that The SacRag is going to give a pair of tickets away? No? How irresponsible of me! To win, e-mail me the name of the winning beer at the 2009 California Brewers Festival. Send your answer before Wednesday at midnight to stickie (at) sacrag (dot) com!

Negative Creeps

Nirvana: Live @ The Cattle Club Feb 12, 1990
The Crest Theater
Friday, August 20th
7:00 pm

Movies on a Big Screen welcomes Mr. Lobo and his weekly show Cinema Insomnia, which is syndicated throughout the US but (sadly) not broadcast locally. Mr. Lobo provides hilarious commentary and insight to misunderstood and under-appreciated gems from late night film vaults.

Tonight’s feature is The Undertaker and His Pals, a macabre tale of motorcycle riding psychopaths, groovy chicks turned into lunchmeat, and acid-fu. Be there and be square.

The latest viral video mystery.

The place: Sacramento

When? Last December

Join the SacRag’s investigative team as we crack the case and reveal….

WHICH SACRAMENTAN TOSSED SOMETHING AT JUSTIN BIEBER’S CABEZA?

While reports originally indicated that a water bottle was the projectile in question at 107.9 The END’s Jingle Ball, we now know that it was a bag of Sour Patch Kids wrapped up in a T-shirt. Sour Patch Kids, eh? A clue???

Stay tuned to The SacRag as we unravel this mystery. Intrepid readers who have information on this heinous crime are urged to come forward.

Meanwhile, enjoy a remixed and an auto-tuned version of the event.

The Wine Garden has changed things up this year. Instead of offering nothing but award winning wines, they have a smaller selection of award winners with a large selection of inexpensive bottles for you to enjoy while you see acts such as Foghat and Weird Al. If you are buying by the glass, spend the extra $8 to get a commemorative glass, giving you double pours for the same price.

For reds, my favorites include Runquist Barbara, Michael David 6th Sense Syrah, and Macchia Zinfandel. For whites, try McManis Viognier, Husch Chenin Blanc and Heron Chardonnay. Of the inexpensive choices, I love the Madria Sangria at only $15 a bottle. This is one of the best bottled sangria I have ever had.

On Saturday, don’t miss one of Sacramento’s best beer festivals. For $15, you can select from dozens of CA breweries and their award winning creations. Last year’s Brewfest was held at the track, which was a perfect location, IMO. This year, they are holding it at the Golden One Stage, insuring that everyone will know where the party is when they enter.

This year’s Golden Bear winner for best beer in California is the Sudwerk Marzen. The only part that confuses me is that this beer is not available for daily enjoyment at any of the locations selling craft beer. While enjoying the two dozen craft beers available on a daily basis, keep an eye out for the Sierra Nevada Crystal Wheat. This is a hard to find beer that is perfect for summer and should especially appeal to those who generally only order “light beer”.

Gator Joe shows off his delicious smoked alligator ribs

Hmmm, perhaps I should start at the beginning.

In keeping with the adventurous theme of this year’s fair, organizers invited Jungle George’s Exotic Meats to challenge your palate and allow you to taste something that I’ll wager you have not yet tried.

During the first few days, their offerings were sparse. Chef Joe McFaul aka Gator Joe, complained that their supplier was running low on bugs such as crickets, scorpions and mealworms, and all they had were some exotic kabobs. The alligator kabob was the best of the three, with great flavor and texture. The python was far too tough for me to enjoy, but jerky lovers should get a kick out of it. The frog legs were incredibly juicy and, as the old saying goes, tasted like chicken. For those of you who want to try these at home, the seasonings include Old Bay, lemon pepper and Joe’s secret marinade.

Gator, python and frog leg kabobs at the CA State Fair

Their menu is now huge. Burgers include ostrich, buffalo, alligator, llama, venison, kangaroo and lion. They added crocodile kabobs, gator sausage, BBQ gator leg and smoked gator ribs. They also have a huge selection of bugs for snacking. Flavors of “Crick-ettes” include bacon and cheese, salt and vinegar and sour cream and onion. “Larvets” are worms coated in BBQ, Mexican spice and cheddar cheese. If you prefer sweet critters over savory, there are candied ants and scorpions. They also have crawdads and rocky mountain oysters.

Jungle George's display case is full of culinary crawlies

Today, I went back to try the lion. Lion meat is rarely found in the US and has prompted complaints and even death threats to those brave enough to sell it, despite it being farm raised, not culled from wild populations. I also heard somewhere that it is illegal to sell pure lion, but was unable to substantiate this rumor. The burger sold was a combination of lion and antelope, one of the best burgers I have ever had. The meat was clearly low in fat but still had great moisture and an ever-so-slightly gamey flavor. I have had antelope before, which was similar, so I can’t be sure which flavors were accredited to which animal. All I know is that I ate the king of beasts and I felt great.

Before the end of The Fair, I plan to go back and get a few different bugs and maybe a kangaroo burger. This booth is one of the clear stars of the show as they a bringing something different that fits the theme and, most importantly, is delicious. Jungle George can be found across from Building D near the Original Soft Taco stand (another of my Fair favorites).

Runner up to Jungle George is A Bite of Alaska, found in the cluster of food stands near the Kids Park. In addition to damn good Alaskan halibut and salmon, they have a few reindeer treats, including reindeer corndogs. If you love corndogs but want better tasting and healthier meat inside, definitely give this a try.

Honorable mention goes to the chocolate covered bacon stands that are located throughout the fair. This frozen treat is dark chocolate with a slab of surprisingly high quality bacon inside. Two perfect foods, finally brought together by the magic of the State Fair. Poppy, is there anything you can’t do?

Poppy points the way to adventure!

The color guard makes sure they are ready to bring in Old Glory.

Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Pony Express, a rider delivers a letter from the mayor of St. Joseph, MO, to the mayor of Sacramento.

After reading his letter, Mayor Johnson offers the traditional corn dog toast.

The first guest to enter the 2010 California State Fair.

News 10 personalities hand out Passports for Adventure (aka, coupons for a free cup, sucker, Lotto scratcher, and Neverland ride). Hmmmm, could be something more adventurous, no?

Dampen me for dinosaur terror!

Dave served us as a member of the SMUD Board, KVIE Board, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, the California State Assembly and, at his death, the California State Senate.

I was hanging out with some other long term local politicos and public servants today who remember him as I do. Dave was above “politics” and the bullshit that frustrates the public and distracts our elected representatives. He understood his mission, which is to do the right thing, sometimes regardless of political pressure. He frequently found a middle ground to create the best community he could through compromise. He fought for what he believed in without fighting for the sake of battle.

His death is California’s loss. We remember him today.

Brew Ferment Distill — 3527 Broadway

Urban Flea Market
Saturday, June 19
1309 Del Paso Blvd
9am-3pm

Braaaiiiinssss

In celebration of Trash Film Orgy‘s 10th Anniversary, an attempt will be made to break the world record for the largest zombie walk (current official record = 4,026). More details will be coming to their website, but the parade will be Saturday, July 10 from 7-9pm starting at Sub-Q. To get prepared, there are plenty of sources for advice and inspiration on perfecting your undead look. One great spot uses the Socratic method to help you fill out your story (Were you buried underground? Have you eaten yet?) and eHow has a fifteen part video series that provides step-by-step instruction.

Could be worse...

While prepping for an interview on News 10 Good Morning today, Carly Fiorina made fun of Barbara Boxer’s hair. Apparently this is news. I find this odd, as I clearly remember reading a study that identified a gene that, when activated in females, significantly increases snarky exposition on women’s hairdos. When activated in males, it increases the likelihood that they will attempt self-fellatio during adolescence. Either way, we should accept it as part of nature and remember not to do it in a television studio while running for the US Senate. On his blog at KXTV, Dan Elliott points out that News 10 was classy and did not play the tape. He also declared the event “barely newsworthy” and that wannabe gotcha journalism that simply catches famous people off guard to embarrass them is an odd cultural trend. Cheers to News 10 to not jumping on the tired gotcha bandwagon.

The Raley Field Brewfest is hosted by the Northern California Brewers Guild and benefits the California Small Brewers Association. Almost 40 brewers from across Northern California will serve up their best beers in their annual celebration of California’s brewing history. I am particularly excited to see how an evening brewfest will do as the weather promises to be perfect. Music from Utz and the Shuttlecocks and Private Criminals. VIPs enter at 6pm, general public at 7pm. If you want to avoid the Ticketbastard charges for advance tickets, click here and enter code “RB”.

The West Coast Brew Fest is Sacramento’s largest annual brewfest, selling out year after year and always a packed party down by the river. 50+ breweries and beer companies from around the world will pour.

The Shriners Hospital Cyclebration will be a health and fitness fair during the day and a great party at night. Enjoy local breweries, wineries and restaurants and bid on a wide variety of prizes in a silent auction.

How did she do? Spoiler after the jump.

On her way to winning $50,000, James had to squirt a balloon into a trash can with a spray bottle, flip marshmallows into a cup with a broom, shake her booty in a manner vigorous enough to shake ping pong balls out a tissue box affixed to said booty, catapult spoons into a glass (which was a nail biter), and propel eggs across the floor using pizza box generated wind power. Her undoing was attempting to keep two feathers aloft using only her breath.

While writing this piece, I learned two things. 1) Searching the Internet for “Jessica James” results in some very, very dirty pictures for someone named “Jessica Jaymes”. 2) Kevin Jonas of The Jonas Brothers will be on Minute to Win It in two weeks. I am hoping that these two factoids will result in an unusually high number of hits for the SacRag.

Anyway, a huge congratulations to Sacramento’s Jessica James for winning $50,000!

Odonata's beautiful new saison

Odonata is a boutique brewery owned and operated by Peter Hoey and Rick Sellers. Peter is the former brewmaster at SacBrew, while Rick is a well known beer journalist. Their focus is European-style beers, many of which are aged in the wine barrels from Odonata Wines, made by Peter’s brother Denis. While their other beers have been bold and adventurous, the saison is food friendly and approachable yet with deeply nuanced malt flavors. A few years back, Hoey’s saison won the gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival, so expect the best from this beer.

The Odonata Saison will be released on Friday with a celebration at The Shack, which is quickly becoming known as one of the premiere spots in Sacramento to enjoy fine craft beer from around the world. Chef/owner Gary Sleppy will be preparing several dishes specifically paired with the Saison, including mussels and frites, Belgian beef pie, Wallonia style endive, and Sleppy’s handmade truffles. Hoey and Sellers will be there with the beautiful logo glass pictures above, T-shirts and lots of delicious beer. Several writers from the SacRag will be there, come by and say hi!!

Odonata Saison Release Party
5pm-10pm
The Shack
5201 Folsom Blvd

Rubicon hosts the 4th annual celebration of Women in Brewing all day Saturday, starting at 11AM. This year, they feature 13 beers from 7 breweries, all brewed by women. Selections will include a nitro choco-mint, a red IPA and a double IPA from Rubicon, Summerfest and a scotch ale from Sierra Nevada, Scarlet Harlot Red IPA from Auburn Alehouse, scotch ale from Lost Coast, Hell’s Export Lager from Moylan’s, a ginger/meyer lemon beer from Blue Frog, Witches Wit from Santa Cruz Mountain, Red Rocket from Bear Republic and two Belgian imports from Urthel, their Samaranth and Hop-It. Local businesses have donated prizes for a silent auction. This event benefits WEAVE.

Also on Saturday, the Country Club Saloon in Loomis hosts the Memory Pour Can Beer Festival. Benefiting the Sacramento Alzheimer’s Memory Walk, this event features seven breweries that are all putting high quality craft beer in cans. Participating breweries are Oskar Blues, Caldera, Anderson Valley, Maui, Buckbean, 21st Amendment and Big Sky with food donated by Rubio’s, Zorro’s and The Pizza Factory, raffle prizes donated by local businesses and live local music. 1-4 pm, $15 advance/$20 at the door.

Did you notice that we did not take advantage of the humorous potential in the coincidental scheduling of an event featuring women brewers and an event featuring beer in cans?

The SacRag – Keeping it classy in Sacramento since 2005

Tonight, The Davis Graduate hosts Sudwerk Brewery for the release of their Signature Series Imperial Pilsner. This is the second of several Sudwerk beers released to celebrate their 20th Anniversary. Their standard pilsner is one of the best on the market, so I am really looking forward to trying a mega version of it.

The Grad has been throwing great parties on almost a weekly basis (Last week was a giant tasting of Lost Abbey and Port Brewing), make sure you check them out if you are a craft beer fan.

This is why the good folks at the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance have decided to take their show on the road. 30 of the region’s best wineries are coming to visit us next week to hopefully seduce us into making the journey. I have visited this area several times and keep finding new hidden treasures tucked away in the rolling hills. One advantage to the remote location is that you truly feel like you are visiting a hidden paradise of wine. Unlike Napa Valley, you are not going to get caught in a traffic jam of limos and tour buses.

And the wine is damn good. While I am disappointed that my personal favorite from the region is not represented (God bless you, Denner Vineyards, and your silky silky syrah), a number of world class wineries will be pouring their liquid art at wine dinners on Monday and at the Grand Tasting of Paso Robles Wines on Tuesday.

Four restaurants will host wine dinners on Monday. Click on the links for details on offerings by The Grange, Lounge on 20, Mulvaney’s B&L and McCormick and Schmick’s and call for reservations.

If you would like a chance to win two free tickets to the Grand Tasting, you’ll have to do a little research. The first 10 people to answer the question correctly will be entered into a drawing for the tickets. Email your answer with your name and your telephone number to stickie@sacrag.com. I will notify the winner by Thursday.

What was the original name of the oldest commercial winery in the Paso Robles area?

PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY 2010 GRAND TASTING TOUR
TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2010
SACRAMENTO GRAND BALLROOM
629 J STREET, SACRAMENTO
TICKETS: visit pasowine.com or call 800-549-WINE (9463)
$45 advance/$55 door (cash only)

As The Bee reports, KYDS was fined $1500 for failing to file their FCC license on time. I suppose this is a hazard of having a radio station run entirely by students, as the FCC license renewal process was reportedly and understandably overwhelming for a kid. As a consequence, the forms were a few weeks late.

An attorney has agreed to represent them pro bono, but the fine needs to be payed faster than the issue is going to be resolved at the federal level. If everyone who reads The Rag donates only $1, the fine will be payed. Let’s give the kids at KYDS a helping hand!

UPDATE: Loyal reader Hecubus informed me that 107.9 The End will be generously paying their fine. Please still consider making a donation to KYDS to help them pay for their day-to-day operations.

Thursday, April 8, 2010
7-9 pm

The story takes an interesting turn in the comment section. A reader who goes by the name ilikepiee claims to be the boy who was arrested. He admits that he is guilty and discusses his plans to blow something up just for fun, not to hurt anyone or destroy anything. It is just me, or does this bring up all sorts of strange legal issues?

First of all, there is no way to determine if ilikepiee is really the kid who is now, presumably, in juvenile hall. That fact alone should be a red flag for the comments to be deleted.

Let’s say it really is him. Clearly, this kid does not understand his Miranda rights. Any comments he makes on the SacBee website can be used as evidence against him. He is a minor, so his parents are legally responsible for his actions. Can his parents sue the SacBee for allowing their child to publicly incriminate himself? If ilikepiee is not the kid, can his parents sue the SacBee for allowing someone to impersonate their child? Their terms of service place the responsibility on the commenter, but the Bee has to have some measure of responsibility for things people post on their website.

Other newspapers are able to manage their comment sections by requiring commenters to register in a way that makes them traceable and identifiable. They do not post comments from people with pseudonyms. They delete comments that are off topic or do not contribute to the discussion. This oversight results in comment sections that improve the experience by letting people discuss the issue, add additional facts and bring personal insight. When the Bee does not care what people post in stories, the website get cluttered with garbage. Stories like this make me wonder if there will come a time when newspapers will be forced to be accountable for the public forum they provide.