Author: Stickie

Talkin’ Tomato!

This juice is made in…. Indiana!!?!??
Local tomatoes are at their best in late summer and are currently popping across town in gardens, farms and restaurants. The great thing about a good tomato is that it can practically stand alone. Toss some salt and pepper on it and work it into just about anything.

We aren’t known as “The Big Tomato” simply because the word can sorta be portmanteaued with Sacramento or because they grow so damn well here. We have been at the center of one of the nation’s largest tomato industries for decades.

If you are a fan of the love apple, as it used to be called, tonight’s discussion at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op is for you. Local historian William Burg is teaming up with local farmers to present a variety of views on the tomato, from its role in our local history and economy to new developments such as the square (!) tomato. Taste some delicious ones straight off the farm, too.

6:30-8:00 pm

IPA Day is Thursday!

Beautiful local hop vines, courtesy of Rick Sellers (Pacific Brew News)

The signature beer of the Western United States, the India Pale Ale (IPA) will be celebrated across the country tomorrow with the 2nd annual IPA Day.

The question is… how do you celebrate this? Do you simply crack one (or several) open, or are there more complicated ways to do it?

This is my confusion about this celebration.

I am all for celebrating one of the great American beer styles. Yes, I am aware of the history of the IPA, but it cannot be argued that Americans are at the forefront of pushing this style to the edge. I just wish that Sacramento knew about this event, and who is going to enable their hoppy celebrations.
Continue reading “IPA Day is Thursday!”

State Fair rock and roll

Dave Mason, Jim Messina and Joan Jett perform this week at the California State Fair.

American Idol Scotty McCreery performs to a packed house at the California State Fair
You know, the kind of music that soothes the soul? Lets you reminisce about the days of old?

Last week, the Golden1 Stage targeted the kids with celebs from American Idol, America’s Got Talent and Disney Channel. This week, the Big Fun includes Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dave Mason playing tonight, Jim Messina on Wednesday and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts on Friday. All shows are free, but you can also buy seats up front and close to the action.

If you are a fan, resolve to join in on some community goodness and dance to the summer songs of yesterday.

Murder most foul requested

If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. $30,000 of lighting and sound equipment has been stolen from the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival. I have trouble imagining the pigs that would commit this sin against art, but men are men, the best sometimes forget, and expectation is the root of all heartache.

Shows have been rescheduled to perform in daylight and reduced in price to attract patrons. What is past is prologue and what’s done can’t be undone, so let’s show some support to them, as an overflow of good converts to bad and pleasure and action make the hours seem short. Come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness. I would go on, but brevity is the soul of wit.

The Sacramento Shakespeare Festival performs at the William A. Carroll Amphitheatre in William Land Park behind Fairytale Town across from the Sacramento Zoo. Make donations here to help them out.

UPDATE: The case is breaking and some equipment has already been recovered, including the light board and a box of microphones!

Discount cats

Cats are on sale at the Sacramento Animal Shelter for only 99 cents.

Need a new cat?
Looking for something fuzzy to stroke? Want a new friend for you and your pets? Tired of referring to the mangy stray in the alley as “my cat?” The Sacramento Animal Shelter has annouced that all cats, young and old, adorable and terrifying, are only 99 cents. This price includes vaccinations, microchip, collar, tag and a bag of food.

Sale ends September 1st, so act today!

Sacramento BLT Week 2012

Sacramento Bacon Fest 2012 begins on Monday! Ride the bacon bike crawl!

Enjoy local bacon!
Sacramento Bacon Fest continues its culinary awesomeness by declaring Sacramento BLT Week to begin on Monday and run July 16-22.

All week, hit up The Golden Bear, Bacon & Butter, Mulvaney’s B&L, Magpie Cafe, Restaurant THIR13EN, Grange Restaurant, Blackbird Kitchen and Bar, Shady Lady, and Fat Face at Bows & Arrows to try their best bacon-lettuce-tomato creations. As Sacramento is a culinary town that loves sourcing local and fresh products, I am looking forward to not only the taste of deliciousness, but also of consciousness.

The week culminates on Saturday with a bike crawl that includes bite-sized BLTs at each location so you can vote on the best. Tickets here. That evening, get bacony at Fat Face at Bows & Arrows.

Next year, I recommend a contest for most delicious costumes with bonus points for using real bacon.

Summertime beer events

Beer festivals in Sacramento in July 2012 include the California State Fair Beerfest, Rubicon Firkin fest.

I am an action man, always a need to party.
The Village People’s Action Man ringtone on the StickiePhone means that Sacramento has several impending collisions with great craft beer. Fasten your goggles.

Extreme Pizza continues to prove that they are one of Sacramento’s leading proponents of extreme beer. Propietor Fred Munday frequently pours collections of the hoppiest and/or booziest beers from throughout NorCal. This Friday, Fred hosts Speakeasy Brewery, featuring Prohibition, Big Daddy IPA, Double Daddy Double IPA, and Vendetta (you guessed it, an IPA). Extreme Pizza will also have kegs of two locally made Triple IPAs: Auburn Alehouse ZZ Hop and Knee Deep Simtra. Next Friday, July 6th, he will feature several hop monsters from High Water Brewing Company as well as a few seasonal treats. Beer flows for both events at 4:30pm.

Also this Friday, Whole Foods in Folsom hosts Firestone Walker for a Total Tap Takeover, with tasting and pint specials from one of America’s most award winning breweries.

But wait, there’s more!
Continue reading “Summertime beer events”

Sac businesses compete for $250,000

The Facebook machine has been ablaze with local businesses trying to qualify for one of twelve grants for $250,000. Mission: Small Business is run through the US Chamber of Commerce and is sponsored by Living Social and Chase. Businesses must collect 250 votes on Facebook by June 30th to qualify for the next round.

More than 120 businesses in Sacramento have registered, but very few are close to meeting the required vote count. You can vote for as many businesses as you want, so help out the ones that are almost there.

Frontrunners:
Continue reading “Sac businesses compete for $250,000”

Hop on the bus, Gus. Get a new plan, Stan.

The Sactown Hopper provides safe rides to bars and nightlife in Downtown and Midtown Sacramento.

For the last few months, the Sactown Hopper has been exploring different markets in Sacramento to provide safe rides to local hotspots. Yesterday, they posted the schedule for their new Summer bus that concentrates on Downtown and Midtown. This makes two Hopper routes, this and the original bus that travels to Sac State.

It is only $10 for unlimited rides during peak party hours. The Hopper runs up J,K,L and Capitol between 10th (Mmmm, Blackbird) and 28th (Woo, Harlows!). Catch a ride starting next weekend, June 22nd and 23rd.