Author: CoolDMZ

"X-ray vision to see in between / Where's my kimono and my time machine?"

New ownership for Mamma Susanna’s

Mama Susanna'sReader Eric emails some potential bad news:

Our much beloved Mamma Susanna’s Italian Ristorante in River Park is changing owners in mid Dec. New chef, new staff members, but apparently, the current owners are cross-training the new owners and “it won’t change too much.” I’ve got to be positive about this, but it’s my favorite restaurant, it’s in my neighborhood, and I’m resisting change!

Eric also reports the servers seemed “unenthusiastic” about the change. I think you should stay positive, Eric, it doesn’t seem like they would go through with cross-training if they weren’t serious about keeping things copacetic, but that could also be a clever ploy: “Sure sure, cross training, let’s do this.” And then they open an oyster bar. Is this helping, Eric? 🙂

Me, I haven’t been to that location since it it was Paradise Pizza. But it looks cute!

New film blog/community debuts

eraserhead
Andy Richter Jack Nance in “Eraserhead”

Film critic extraordinaire and die-hard zydeco apologist DB, launches a new site Monday (November 10), The E Street Film Society. DB writes:

Any of you who have followed my other blogs (The Barnesyard and Movie City USA) know what you are in for, but this blog will lean much heavier towards movie reviews, discussion, and interactivity. My goals are threefold:

Continue reading “New film blog/community debuts”

John Updike(!?) lecture next Tuesday UPDATE – RIP

UpdikeAcclaimed 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

Update 1/27/09: Mr. Updike passed away this morning at age 76.

It’s beginning to look a lot like…

ice skating
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.

What does transit mean to you?

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.

“Suspiria” @ Movies on a Big Screen

Suspiria

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

Sign of the times

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.