..when the fair weather parkway users dust off their bikes and baby joggers to hit our region’s treasures out in nature.
The American River Parkway is the most popular place in the area for all ages and fitness levels to get the blood pumping. If you’re unfamiliar with the rules and customs, please check out Tony Bizjak’s column today.
Here are the basics:
My day just starts off wrong if my morning paper is not on the doorstep.
As someone who grew up in a multi-paper-reading family (Auburn Journal***, The Sacramento Bee***, The Wall Street Journal*, The San Francisco Chronicle**, The Sacramento Union*, and The Klam-Ity Kourier* — later known as just The Kourier*, which we received by mail long after leaving the reservation), not to mention the newspaper carrying dynasty my brother and I created along the greater Auburn Ravine Road corridor, I can’t not have my actual morning paper.
It’s no secret that readership and subscription rates of the hard-copy newspaper have plummeted. In my opinion, this is not just because people are getting their news online, but also because the concept of what is “news” has changed, so many people have tuned out. (Really? Your breaking story is about Britney Spears?)
In today’s Forum section, Bee editor Melanie Sill talks about the changes coming to the actual newspaper — different size paper will be used for easier handling by readers and also to reduce the amount of paper used. Continue reading “The Paper Chase”
A bevy of local organizations is convening a “Sanframento” conference to discuss issues that concern the blurry econotransport* line between our conveniently located and charming town with the bay area.
Along with UC Davis, this Thursday’s event will is being spearheaded by regional planning agencies and transportation authorities.
Note to sac-eats: Be sure to clear your schedule so you can weigh in with your SMEP! scheme. (As a former employee of a regional planning agency, I can say with great authority that yours would not be the most out-there idea presented in such a forum.)
*my own hybrid word of “economy” and “transportation”
A hearty RIGHT AWN! goes to Michael Morgan, the charismatic conductor of the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra.
Just after intermission last night, right before the orchestra began playing Elgar’s Enigma Variations, Maestro Morgan addressed the audience and said something to the effect of, “We are fortunate to have such an appreciative audience tonight. Because our next piece consists of ten or twelve different parts, we ask that you wait until the end to show your appreciation.”
Yes, my friends, he was politely telling folks “DON’T APPLAUD BETWEEN THE MOVEMENTS,” as that is precisely what was happening in the earlier part of the evening. There are mixed thoughts on whether the practice of not applauding is one of those social mores* that some say are antiquated.
Regardless of how you might feel about it, the Maestro got his point across and made the audience actually feel good for what may or may not be a faux pas.
*”Social mores” reminds me of one of my favorite Far Side cartoons, the one with eels at a cocktail party — with the caption that says, “social morays.”
Who else had the egg hunt at home growing up where the one special egg (usually with money in it) was one of the large L’eggs pantyhose eggs?
Who else gets mistaken for employees in retail establishments or is frequently asked by fellow patrons for assistance?
I know not to wear red garments when going to Target, and anyone who wore a blue chambray shirt and khakis in the ’90s* could have been mistaken for a Blockbuster employee.
Tonight at Longs, I helped a young girl pick out just the right microwave popcorn and a woman select a glittery hair clip for a friend’s 11-year-old daughter’s birthday. I was approached by each of these people — maybe they admired my taste in diet soda (all Coca Cola products are five 12-packs for $12, plus CRV; no coupon required) and laundry detergent, so they trusted my judgment to make consumer decisions for them. I truly felt like a Maven in Malcolm Gladwell’s eyes.
Does this happen to anyone else on a regular basis?
*Note the proper position of the apostrophe. The apostrophe indicates where I left off something that was already there, namely “19.” The incorrect way would have been to write it as “90’s.” For more information please refer to Grammar Girl’s guide to dates. As you were.
As noted in a previous post, there are certain locations throughout the region that seem to be jinxed. Even if the rest of the tenants in a shopping center thrive for years, there seems to be the one oddball space that is constantly changing.
Here is an update on two previously noted dead zone locations:
Fair Oaks Boulevard, just east of Watt, next to the Shell station
Previously a Baskin-Robbins, Double Rainbow, and a bevy of cell phone stores, this is now a Goodwill Xpress donation drop-off location. With the “Xpress” spelling, I’m waiting for the word on if they accept all kinds of donations or only cast-off Xtreme sports gear.
Free-standing building in the parking lot of the really run-down looking center on Fulton just north of Hurley
It’s being demolished. Â Consider it “dead” and not just part of the “dead zone.”
In my previous post, I noted “next” Sunday as the one that will fall on March 16.
To me, the Sunday that will fall on March 9 is “this coming Sunday.” The one that was on March 2 was “this past Sunday.”
The whole “this” vs. “next” thing was possibly the biggest argument between my parents when I was growing up (other than the whole exchange of “Hold the tree straight!” “I AM holding the tree straight” when trying to put the Christmas tree in its stand.)
What say you on the whole “next” vs. “this” when referencing upcoming dates or days gone by?
Bring your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or neighbors’ children to next Sunday’s presentation of “The Tale Spinner.”
This is a musical theatre production by the Junior League of Sacramento (JLS) — a women’s volunteer organization that performs hands-on work and trains its members to be leaders. The JLS has been staging its Children’s Theatre productions for more than 60 years, and the JLS has served the Sacramento community for just over 65 years.
What: “The Tale Spinner” — a musical theatre production for children, geared to Pre-K through 3rd grade, but even adults have a lot of fun.
When: Sunday 3/16 with the performance at 2pm — it lasts about 40 minutes, and there will be activities for children after the play
Where: Hiram Johnson High School Auditorium — take U.S. 50 to 65th Street, go south on 65th, turn left on 14th Ave
About 16,000 school children will be seeing this year’s play, which has been running for the past month during the week. Back when school districts had funds for extracurricular activities, upwards of 50,000 children would see it annually. The schools incur costs to bus the children to the production. In recent years, the JLS has received grants specifically for bus transportation from corporate sponsors.
Continue reading “FREE fun & educational event for children next Sunday (3/16)”
Today’s Bee reports that Haagen Dazs is donating $100,000 to UC Davis to help find out why honey bees are disappearing at alarming rates. (OK, so I grew up watching Leonard Nimoy’s In Search Of and being frightened about the impending killer bees, and now the nice bees are vanishing? What gives? I want to keep bees.)
What products or companies would you suggest as possible sponsors or tie-ins to other issues plaguing our region, and why can’t I think of how to work Mayor McCheese into any of this?
The Sac Rag 