Dine Downtown Or Else Downtown Will Move to Seattle

With the Kings debacle fresh in our collective consciousness, let’s focus on something this town does well, food. We’re the fark to form capital of the world, and no one’s going to take that from us. Tonight marks the start of the annual Dine Downtown Week (Jan 9-18) which is so big that it can’t be contained by a mere 7-day week but must expand over to a metric 10-day week. Each restaurant puts together a 3-course/$30 meal and waits for the throngs to come pouring in.

If you, in fact, dine Downtown all ten nights, I admire your eating enthusiasm. But, if you, like me, are holding yourself to a few nights only, these are the spots I wouldn’t miss:

Biba- sure, it feels like you’re eating in 1989 in there, but who cares? The cooking is always expert and the flavors rarely miss. You’ll get salad, pasta, and entrée for $30, way below the usual Biba mark-up.

The Porch– Try the soft shell crab & waffle. Why? Because when else are you gonna try it. Continue reading “Dine Downtown Or Else Downtown Will Move to Seattle”

Giants World Championship trophies will be appearing in Sacramento

"The Beard & The Trophy" from flickr user Nick.Fisher
“The Beard & The Trophy” from flickr user Nick.Fisher

Nicknamed “The Twins,” the Giants 2010 and 2012 World Series trophies are making another tour of Northern California, and their first stop is none other than Sacramento.

This will be the second public trophy tour held in the past three years and will feature both the 2012 and 2010 trophies. The focus of the San Francisco World Championship Trophy Tour presented by Bank of America is to share the trophies with Giants fans in Junior Giants communities throughout northern California.

The trophies will be available for viewing (“The trophies will NOT BE ALLOWED to be touched by anyone”) in the lobby of City Hall from 2:30-5:00 PM on Tuesday. Viewing is free but fans will be given the opportunity to donate to the Junior Giants program, and have their donations matched by B of A.

Exploratorium officially out of Palace of Fine Arts

IMG_0563With a Facebook photo yesterday, the Exploratorium announced it is officially closed at the Palace of Fine Arts, which had been its home since 1969. KTVU has video of the closing ceremonies. The new location at Pier 15 will open April 17.

I’m pretty excited for the new location, though I have been visiting the PFA since I was a kid and will definitely miss it.

Interesting detail in Old Sac NYE shooting

I don’t mean to diminish in any way the tragedy that took place Monday night in Old Sac. I would just like to point out that apparently the shooting suspect was apprehended by Sac PD officers mounted on horseback. As the witness says in this morning’s Sac Bee article that must have been a pretty awesome sight.

About that Sac Bee headline, by the way… Why does it raise questions about an event that happens just once a year? The article even highlights Second Saturday, which happens way more than once a year (I’m just back to work after like 10 days off, don’t make me do math). If it raises questions at all they are about ever going outside ever, am I right?

Join the KQCA My58 Street Team

Join the my58 Street Team
You get to pose a lot when you’re on the team, Even break dance.

You wouldn’t know it from their website (three browsers and counting, nice color choices, guys), but KQCA My58 is “looking for outgoing, self-motivated, energetic individuals with big personalities and excellent people skills to join our promotional street team. You must be extremely reliable, demonstrate excellent work ethic.”

Yes, that’s a quote, the last sentence is really constructed like that (posted on 12/20/2012, mind you).

My58 Street Team Screen Grab
Nice choice in colors, guys.

I’ll continue the cut and paste for those of you with older eyes.

These part-time positions put you in the middle of the action at some of the year’s biggest events. You will be a complete marketing ambassador for My58, by representing My58 onsite at events, taking photos and videos at events and representing My58 online through our website and social media. You will even have the chance to be featured on-air. It’s an opportunity that’s fun, flexible and gives you great experience! On-air hosting skills a plus, but not required. Must be at least 21 years old, able to lift up to 40 lbs and able to work a flexible part-time schedule.

These are real jobs though, although nothing is listed after “Compensation” on the job listings.

I think I could nail that Lead Ambassador position. Going to start working on my “compelling cover letter” now.

Resulting panic not my fault, you feel me?

Louis Santiago, 18, spoke to KCRA 3 after he was released from Sacramento County Jail Thursday afternoon.
Louis Santiago, 18, spoke to KCRA 3 after he was released from Sacramento County Jail Thursday afternoon.

Interesting turn of events with this Arden Fair Mall fight on Wednesday.

Here’s what we have…

1) Dudes get into a fight.
2) Dudes knock down a sign.
3) Sign makes a loud noise.
4) Mall patrons hear loud noise and think it is a gun shot.
5) Mall patrons then turn to their smartphones and report said gun shot via social media.
6) Mall is then put on lock down until security and police could sort things out.
7) Suspect claims he was just punching a dude who walked past him like he had a problem.

Then we have one of the suspects speak on camera after being approached as he was released from jail (this did not please him, judging by the video).

“I feel bad,” Santiago said. “I send out all my apologies to all those families out there, you feel me? But it wasn’t my fault.”

Well, it sort of was, you feel me? Sure, people freaked out and assumed the worst, but it is understandable considering recent events. I do wonder if having such quick and easy access to information is a good thing.

Shoppers began texting family and friends and using social media to spread the word about what was happening, spreading incorrect information, Reed said. “It’s like the old kindergarten thing — when you tell one kindergartner and it goes around the room, by the time it gets to the other kindergartner it’s a totally different story than what it was,” he said.

I wonder if modern classrooms are not calling this game “Telephone” anymore. Maybe “Smartphone” or “Tweet this.” I could be on to something, but I digress.

What do you think? Would this have been a non-issue before smartphones and social media?

Jackie is a Crowe

It was the extra "e" that sealed the deal.
It was the extra “e” that sealed the deal.
Hiddentrack is reporting that Sacramento’s Jackie Greene is joining the reformed Black Crowes. The Crowes announced that their 2011 “at least a decade” long haitus would end after two years with a spring tour and a live album. West coast dates have not been scheduled, but we can probably expect their usual weeklong run at the Fillmore. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that Greene convinces the boys to perform a hometown show or two.

Center for Sacramento History is a treat

Snow in Sacramento, March 1942, looking down J Street toward 10th and City Plaza/Chavez Park.
Snow in Sacramento, March 1942, looking down J Street toward 10th and City Plaza/Chavez Park.

If you’re a Sacramento enthusiast, I hope you are following/liking/visiting the Center for Sacramento History.

For example, here’s a photo they shared on Facebook earlier this month showing snow in downtown Sacramento from 1942 from the Eugene Hepting Collection (1985/024/1731).

Love it.

They are now working on the Tower Records Project, an effort to “preserve the official archives of the ‘largest music store in the known universe.'”

Very cool. What a great series of videos, too. Takes you back.