Author: RonTopofIt

RonTopofIt is a complex personality, as are most of the small breed of modern day renaissance millionaires. He wishes more people were like him and yet believes that it takes all kinds. You've met RonTopofIt many times, you just don't remember him.

Sac Ra’mento gets Flo Rida

As usual, I am 1 to 101 weeks late on the goings on in Sacramento, but I was reminded today that popular rapper Flo Rida will perform both during Fan Fest and at halftime when the Sacramento Mountain Lions (1-2) play host to the Las Vegas Locomotives (2-1) in a key game for both teams Friday at 8 p.m. Pacific at Hornet Stadium.

Flo Rida will perform on the “Coors Light Entertainment Stage” in Lot 8 of the Hornet Stadium parking lot during Fan Fest, which begins at 5 p.m. He then will perform a 12-minute set at halftime inside the stadium. “I’m excited to come to Sacramento and turn it out for the crowd at the Mountain Lions game,” Flo Rida said last week. “I’m going to bring the energy, get the fans out of their seats and have the players ready to go. The Locomotives won’t know what hit them.”

Is this a big score for Sacramento? I don’t follow popular music at all, but I would guess that for a fledgling professional football league like the UFL, this has to be good for business. Has anyone been to a game? Apparently, their first home game played to a sold out crowd at Sac State’s Hornet Stadium and lead to a traffic nightmare. This is being addressed for the October 15th game.

Also, a $40,000 scholarship will be awarded to a college student if he or she is able to kick a field goal. Students with proper identification will receive $5 off tickets to Friday’s game. And, tickets for Friday’s game are just $10 for California state employees.

Anyone that has ever tried to kick a field goal knows that it is extremely difficult to do. Even from 30 yards out. Any joker can get lucky with a half court shot at a Kings game, but knocking it through the uprights would be fun to see.

Man v. Food: Sacramento

Fans of the show “Man v. Food” on the Travel Channel will be treated to a Sacramento edition on Wednesday, September 29th at 9:00 p.m. E/P.

In the Golden State capital, Adam gets a true taste of Sactown when he visits the California State Fair. Adam experiences everything from rodeos, to roller coasters, to monster trucks at this annual gathering, but he’s really there for the main attraction: the food! At the fair, Adam tries the most delicious mobile meals Sacramento has to offer: he falls in serious soulful love with deep fried catfish on a stick, and stops by the Sweet Cheeks stand for everything he’s ever wanted for dessert–deep fried! Adam also has the best of two worlds with the Twister Dog at Tornado Potato.

After the fair, Adam visits Jim Denny’s, a Sac City institution known for having the best breakfast in town. With “The Works”, Adam tries a two pound omelet that combines everything on the menu. Finally, Adam takes on the Knucklehead Challenge at Parker’s Hot Dogs. In 100 attempts, only one person has completed this five pound platter in the twenty minute allotted time-slot. This challenge is made up of 5-half pound hot dogs on a 16 inch bun smothered in four pounds of chili, nacho cheese, veggies, tortilla strips, and fries.

Sacramento’s Hidden Gems

Old Sacramento Underground from www.historicoldsac.org
Old Sacramento Underground
My son came home recently with information about a tour of “Old Sacramento Underground” which “will provide visitors with a unique glimpse into the massive and dramatic undertaking that took place when the streets were painstakingly raised in the 1860s through the 1870s to protect the city from devastating flooding.”

How have I not done this yet? Perhaps I haven’t lived here long enough, but it sounds very interesting. Has anyone taken this tour? Your thoughts?

Underground tour visitors will have the opportunity to view disappearing windows and doors, dipping alleyways, exposed retaining walls, walk into underground hollow sidewalks and tour historic buildings all while being entertained and educated by tour guides and docents who portray characters true to the period.

Man, sign me up. I enjoy docents any way I can get them.

In addition to this tour, we were asked to come up with other “hidden Sacramento gems” as part of a local history project. Well, who better to answer this question than our very own Sac Rag readers? Comment with your suggestions and I’ll pass them along.

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!

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

Mayor Johnson leads by example

You civic-minded readers may be able to help me understand this story about Mayor Johnson’s new ride. Here are a few quotes that do not make sense to me…

To pay for it, the city of Sacramento used funding initially scheduled to replace two police vehicles; an aging Ford Expedition and a forklift used at the police department’s property division. “So it’s basically cost-neutral,” Johnson said.

You know, basically. More or less. About. As far as you know.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson’s got a new car — a jet-black sport utility vehicle with tinted windows, a hybrid engine and a satellite television dish on its roof.

Wow, that sounds like a sweet rig. How on earth did he find the money in these tough economic times to purchase such a luxury item?

The mayor’s office said no taxpayer dollars were used to purchase the onboard television system.

Ah, I see. Same goes for the CD holder and clip-on air freshener?

Continue reading “Mayor Johnson leads by example”

Looking for an amazing deal?

Weekly Special Ad at Ikea West SacramentoI was looking for an excuse to crowbar this photo (Runnergirl, are you out there?) I took at Ikea recently into a post, when I came across this advertisement on ikea.com.

Looking for an amazing deal? Then look no further than IKEA West Sacramento during the week! You’ll find specials on some great products. However, these specials have limited quantities, so hurry in to get them before they’re all gone! Here’s what we have in store for you next week:

Monday, August 30 – Sunday, September 5, 2010:
EKTORP sofa with BLEKINGE pink cover
Combo Regular Price: $499
Combo Sale Price: $399*

Limited quantities you say? Get out.

More on Tyreke’s suspension

Tyreke Evans learning he's been caught on tape.
Why did they not follow the other car?
I can’t decide where I stand on this (horribly old, I can’t believe I’m taking about it, wish I was cool like…) Tyreke Evans speeding/suspension story.

Kings guard Tyreke Evans was suspended for one game without pay for his reckless driving charge on May 31, the league announced today.

This made the news originally, but was quickly passed up by other sports stories. Then, the video was released and things started back up again. And now the NBA decides it wants to crack down on these misbehavin’ kids.

Also suspended by the NBA were Brandon Rush of the Indiana Pacers and Kenny Hasbrouck of the Miami Heat. Rush was suspended for five games for violating the league’s anti-drug program and Hasbrouck two games for driving while intoxicated.

I tend to lean on the side of “these kids need to learn their lesson” as it is frustrating to read one story after the other about professionals athletes making bad decisions. And, although no one was injured in the incident, there were some seriously close calls what with the bobbing and weaving going on between the two cars. On the other hand, is this suspension in response to the action or the publicity of the video and subsequent renewed media attention? That is, is this like rubbing your dog’s face in the mess he made in the living room twenty minutes after you’ve cleaned it up?

Sacramento in real time

I’ve been playing with Google’s Realtime feature today and it is not bad. A search for “sacramento” results in mostly Twitter updates using the #sacramento hash mark. You have the option to filter by updates with images, zip codes (like a search for folks using #sacramento in Rancho Cordova, CA), etc. I’m not sure how this is helpful to you or anyone right now, but I’m COMPLETELY aware that “15 injured in hard landing at Sacramento airport” (the RT function on Twitter really gets annoying using this tool).

I am tracking references to this here web log. No one seems to be tweeting about Turty Squip though.