Month: September 2010

Sacramento, eat and drink locally today!

As today is 9-16, we at the SacRag would like to encourage you all to show your local pride by enjoying food and drink from the 916 area code. I already stopped by Old Soul for some locally roasted coffee. Later, I’ll be helping some friends shop for wedding booze by sampling various delights from Rubicon Brewing, Two Rivers Cider and Revolution Wines. I still haven’t decided where I’ll be stopping for a locally sourced sandwich, recommendations are welcome.

Localvores unite! Celebrate every day like it was 916 day!

PS – Local brewers are on their way to Denver today for the annual Great American Beer Festival. Wish them luck!

LL Cool B!

Ladies love cool beer! If you are one of these ladies, our friends at Brew It Up! are forming a club just for you. Currently named Sacramento Women Who Love Beer (but looking for a catchier name), they are planning several ladies only events, including brewery tours, brewing parties and lessons, philanthropy and good old fashioned drinking fun.

Their first event will be a basic tasting to get your toes wet if you are new to beer appreciation. For $10, you’ll get to try four beers paired with four appetizers. Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 7 from 6-8pm and come meet the girls!

Free Buffalo Wings Opportunity

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Creative Commons License photo credit: abbamouse

Speaking of openings, sacbee.com informs us that…

Buffalo Wild Wings, a sports bar chain that boasts more than a dozen signature sauces for its wings, is opening its first Sacramento-area location Monday. What’s more, the Citrus Heights restaurant, at 6301 Sunrise Blvd., is offering free wings for a year to the first 100 customers in line for its 11 a.m. opening, the company announced in a news release.

I’ve never heard of this place, but I enjoy me some wings. Has anyone been? This would be good opportunity for live blogging/tweeting if any of our readers find the time and motivation to battle this line for their chance at free wings for a year. Leave a comment with your blog or twitter address if you do.

When one door closes…

Interesting positioning of headlines recently on Google News…

William Glen Articles on Google

On sacbee.com and news10.net, we learn that William Glen is closing its doors at the end of the year. Then, over at sacramentopress.com (at sacbee.com, too), we find out that “the children of one of William Glen’s founders will soon open housewares and holiday stores in Old Sacramento.”

The stores are expected to open by early October or sooner. Late Thursday afternoon, Snyder and Guthrie were caught off guard by the news that the William Glen store will close after Christmas.

At any rate, it is always tough to see another Sacramento business shut own. At the same time, it’s great to hear that a business is opening in Sacramento. Remember when grand openings were an everyday occurrence? Sigh.

The commenters at sacbee.com, of course, are all over the place with this one. Lots of blaming of the President, which has become the norm for ANY article, and random shots at Sacramento.

Oh, and Sacramento’s second largest law firm called it quits last week.

Have a great weekend, y’all!

SF Mime Troupe this weekend

September brings us the annual visit from political provocateurs, the San Francisco Mime Troupe. Their shows are always poignant, professional, hilarious and free.

This year’s production is an original musical titled Posibilidad, or Death of the Worker. As a factory shuts down and robs the workers of their pay and pension to fulfill promised dividends, a pregnant worker accidentally instigates a strike. Bring a picnic, lowback chairs and a few bucks for when they pass the hat.
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Civic Slouch Becomes Civic Crusader/Pest

I’m addicted to calling 3-1-1. Ever since I first heard about the city’s catch-all public issue hotline, I’ve found a bushel of reasons to call. Broken sprinkler? Call 311. Overflowing public garbage can? Call 311. Wanna check the wait time for brunch at Tower Cafe? Call 311.

In all honesty, I’ve found the responsiveness, professionalism, and follow-through from my 311 interactions startlingly good. As a recent transplant to the actual confines of the city (formerly living the squire’s life in the county) I’ve be consistently impressed by many ofthe services the city offers. Whether it was picking up my (free) resident parking permit, chatting with folks that work at the park across the street, or having non-criminal interactions with city police I’ve found the city employees to be competent, accessible, and friendly. Continue reading “Civic Slouch Becomes Civic Crusader/Pest”

Midtown Community Festival

This Saturday from 2-7pm is Sacramento’s best beer festival for families, the 5th Annual Midtown Community Festival. Rubicon Brewing and the Northern California Brewers Guild shut down Capitol between 20th and 21st and fill it with a beer garden, BBQ, bands, and plenty of games, activities and fun for all ages. Proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Sacramento, which provides a safe and positive environment for all kids, but especially at-risk youth, to help them reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. Admission is FREE!!

I believe I ordered the *large* yogurt

Tutti Frutti Yogurt in West Sacramento, CA
Mmm, bloating

I visited the Tutti Frutti Yogurt shop today after lunch in West Sacramento. I’ve been to many of these places as they have popped up all over Sacramento, but this one really goes for the jugular in the portions department. The photo here is their smallest cup. I may use it as my dog’s water bowl.

I was given a coupon which informed me that by eating their yogurt I will strengthen my immune system, improve my mineral absorption, reduce my blood pressure & cholesterol, and, most importantly, will prevent me from having diarrhea and bloating! Man, eating healthy has never been so much fun.

Joking aside, the yogurt was pretty good, the toppings fresh, and the environment clean and inviting. I’ll go back.

Tutti Frutti West Sacramento
779 Ikea Ct. Ste 130
West Sacramento, CA 95605
(916) 376-0557

Crush!

Wine drinkers rejoice, as Fall is coming and the crush is drawing nigh.

This weekend, the six wineries of the Old Sugar Mill will be celebrating with their annual crush party. In addition to the usual tastings and such, they will feature barrel tastings, a grape stomping contest, live music, super discounts, local food vendors and the opportunity to bottle your own wine. Personally, I really dig the self-bottling as it it allows you to personalize bottles for gifts, create custom blends and have access to small batch wines. Last year, I bottled some tremendous Carvalho tempranillo for half the price of the standard bottle.

Tickets are $15 advance/$20 door.

California Brewers Festival 2010

This Saturday is the 16th annual California Brewers Festival hosted by the Point West Rotary Club. It is held every September to coincide with the beginning of school, as the beneficiaries of your $30 donation is Operation School Bell, a project of the Assistance League of Sacramento. Children in 34 schools throughout the Sacramento area will have new clothes for school thanks to this program and Sunday’s 4,000 swollen livers. Don’t miss Sacramento’s largest brewfest with more than 60 breweries, tons of food and entertainment by Utz and the Shuttlecocks and Velvet Tongue. I am especially looking forward to trying an Irish brewery called Strangford Lough and Manteca’s Fossil Fuels Brewing Company, which uses 40 million year old yeast.
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