More traffic problems for I-5 corridor in ’08

One of my favorite Bee columns, Back-Seat Driver, reports today on CalTrans’ new plan to shut down lanes and onramps on I-5 in downtown.

Beginning in February or March and lasting through October, Caltrans will close one or two freeway lanes in each direction from Richards Boulevard on the north to the I-5 junction with Highway 50 on the south.

That will leave three lanes open in each direction, Dinger said.

Key ramps, such as the commuter-heavy I and A street connections also will be closed at points during the year

Apparently there are drainage problems there and it leaks, and therefore flood danger in the long run. But holy smokes, that does not sound like a fun 2008 for commuters or people flying on airplanes. Bizjak says this is the busiest strectch of I-5 north of Los Angeles. (Yay Sacramento!) I’m sure RT and the city have some ideas to alleviate the problem though… Continue reading “More traffic problems for I-5 corridor in ’08”

Colin Quinn: A Geographically-Challenged Jerk

I spent today at the Metro Chamber’s annual Perspectives event, and this year’s theme was “Great Minds Don’t Always Think Alike,” so it was no surprise that someone as flagrantly conservative as Rush Limbaugh would be followed up by someone like Colin Quinn.

I’ve long been a Colin Quinn fan, going back to his Remote Control days; however, today cast him in an entirely different light.

While there were a reported 3,100 people at today’s event, like most happenings in Sacramento, lots of people know each other. Anyone who has lived here for any length of time know that the six degrees of separation is practically non-existent in the 916 (and parts of the 530.) So, these 3,100 people are more of a community, rather than a random grouping of strangers — and this made Colin’s comments especially cutting because they were pointed at one of our own.

What could he have said that was so bad?

Continue reading “Colin Quinn: A Geographically-Challenged Jerk”

Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que

When you think barbecue, you typically think, “Hey, how do you actually spell ‘barbecue’?”  Good question.   Traditionalists, including myself, (and really who would you listen to otherwise?  I mean c’mon, if a white kid from California doesn’t know BBQ, who does?) prefer to refer to the culinary art form as “barbecue”.  Why, you ask?  Because, it’s a real word, that’s why.  Not some abbreviation (BBQ), not some syntactical abbreviationary hybrid (Bar-B-Que), and not some cutesy shortening with punctiationary flair (‘cue).  (God, I hate people who shorten words and put apostrophes before them.  It’s so cliché.)  Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, a newish establishment in Rocklin, insists on spelling it “Bar-B-Que” on all of their literature and signage, so one strike against them already. Continue reading “Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que”

This is What Lame-Ass Editorials Look Like.

May I turn your attention to the latest anti-war protest coverage from SN&R. This is the kind of thing that makes me feel SN&R is often just a half-step up from a zine I got from some kid at the show my mom didn’t know I went to. Oh wait, it’s 2007 and I’m in my 30’s? Never mind. Anyway it’s kind of a non-story, but the only people who showed up at a recent anti-war protest were old hippies romanticizing the 60’s, and the effect was neither as far out nor as radical as hoped for. Some but not all obvious conclusions include a) lots of people who oppose the war recognize the issue is a lot more complex than a bumpersticker can address or b) lots of people support the U.S. action in Iraq or c) anti-war protest groups need some help in the organizational department.  I’d be interested in hearing a report about these or any other curious aspects of the paltry attendance at an anti-war rally held in state portrayed as being wildly opposed to the war.  Instead SN&R chose the approach of assuming that there exists a massive body of folks who believe violence has suddenly been popping up in the Middle East with no genesis but “U.S. Policy” but we don’t see them at protests because the great spirit of passionate outrage and protesting has been suppressed by evil oil companies and corporate-backed politicians or the Patriot Act or something like that. I’m bored of my own post just thinking about this type of cliched analysis of the political landscape.  The end.

Play Punkers Can’t Stop the Rock

Oooookay. There are a couple of angles from which I could begin this review and I don’t know where to start so let me puss out and just lay the my main points out right here. First, the Boardwalk is a less than desirable venue that’s far-the-fuck-away from downtown with security that doesn’t let you go back to your car to get the cell phone that you’ve forgotten unless you want to skip the show that you’ve already paid for, wristband and hand stamp notwithstanding. I have no idea why that is, but I will float the idea that the Boardwalk, being the 18 and over venue that it is, is afraid that the teenyboppers, mall punks, newly-pierced and tatted future hipsters that I’ll want to punch who can’t currently drink will be sneaking out to their cars to take shots of ten dollar vodka and come back to the show and cause a ruckus that security will not want to deal with. It was just my phone dammit. I can understand that dealing with the young’uns can an amazing pain in the ass, but I mean, c’mon.

Continue reading “Play Punkers Can’t Stop the Rock”

Infant murder makes national news

Sorry for the downer post on your Monday morning, but I think we need to talk about how the most despiccable crime ever happened over the weekend. It is now being reported on by Fox News, so we’re going to be in the national news for the wrong reasons yet again. I think I speak for many when I say I hope anybody who could assist the sheriff in finding these monsters will speak up.

My heart goes out to the family of Sean and his baby, and also to the detectives who are investigating this, who must be in hell right now. The witnesses, who were apparently the victims of a home invasion robbery, are reportedly coming off as sketchy and that is disturbing.

Tower Bridge To Be Changed To “Tower Roadblock” Today

The Tower Bridge is scheduled to be closed to all forms of traffic from 9/17/07 – 11/20/07.  This shutdown will allow a widening of the pedestrian and bicycle sidewalks that, according to the Bee, are like skinny calves on a body builder.  (Let’s all absorb that for a moment)  Alternatives to crossing the river are the Pioneer Bridge and the I Street Bridge.  To stay up-to-date on all things bridge related, click here.  Or, if you have questions about the status of the bridge, please call the Tower Bridge Pedestrian and Bikeway Improvements Project information line at (916) 492-6454.  I’m quite sure that they’d like to hear from you about your not using the bridge for two months.  By the way, this whole issue prompted the following conversation in the office today:

Person 1: Man, they’re closing the bridge for two months?  How am I going to get to West Sac?

Person 2: West Sac?  Where’s that?

Tastes from across Mexico

I had the good fortune to catch the last night of Presenting Mexico, a three-day tasting from Chef Ramiro Alarcon at El Patron Bar and Grill.

For $20, we had a brief culinary discussion and a hearty sampling of dishes from 8 different Mexican states. My favorite was the Michoacan Pescado Blanco de Pasquero, a white fish baked in egg, served with a smoky red pepper sauce with Sopa de Melon, cold melon soup. Everything that I tried, from the Guerrero inspired Chiles Campanos, marinated green chiles stuffed with queso fresco, to the Sinaloa Sopa Verde, a traditional green soup with fish and clam, was a reminder that Sacramento is sorely lacking for high quality, adventurous Mexican dining that offers atypical dishes and new flavors.

Tequila tastings were also provided by Trago tequila. Unfortunately, they ran out of the Reposado, but their Plata has a fruity aftertaste with little raw alcohol burn. Their Anejo is aged a year in bourbon barrels, imparting a deep, sweet carmel flavor on top of the fruit. Both were excellent and presented in tall rectangular bottles with great angles, sure to stand out at a bar and scream “Taste me and look classy, I’m expensive but worth it!.” The bar featured at least 30 other 100% agave tequilas, including great brands such as Chinaco, Don Julio (including the 1942 reserve!) and Centenario.

El Patron Bar and Grill
6601 Folsom Blvd
(916) 455-8945

“McClatchy Red” banned at… McClatchy

red Yankee hat
This photo provides an ironic
touchpoint to the article.

The Bee reported yesterday on a new rule at McClatchy High School banning students from wearing the color red. Problem is, the school’s colors are red and white.

Now I am not very educated when it comes to current gang problems, names of gangs, ways to identify bangers, which gangs are the coolest, etc. I’m sure that banning the color red is a great way to go, since I assume gangs usually wear solid color outfits to maximize their display of the gang-affiliated color. For example, gang members who are fans of the Yankees baseball club must have a tough time, since their team colors are blue and white. If their gang color is red, they are screwed. Likewise, a gang member itching to wear red is going to shy away from anything with something else on it like an M or a picture of a lion, right?

Continue reading ““McClatchy Red” banned at… McClatchy”