Library maintenance scandal goes deep

If you’re like me, then you’re probably closely following the library maintenance contract scandal, which concerns a contract between the Sac Library and Hagginwood Services Inc to provide buildings maintenance. The library is now investigating $1.3 million in fees paid to Hagginwood after the Bee filed a request to examine the money trail. At the heart of the investigation is several instances of possible overcharging, including “$410 to unplug a toilet, $411 to fix a leaking water fountain and $2,423 for repairing lights in one room” (personally, $410 to unplug a commercial toilet doesn’t sound like a stretch).

Well, if you’re still with me you should read on, because this thing goes much further down the proverbial rabbit hole… Continue reading “Library maintenance scandal goes deep”

Another Local Obsessive Fan

Sacramento’s Randy Jennings’ 15 minutes just got extended by a bit by noting on this here blog that he is featured in the June 22, 2007 issue of Entertainment Weekly.

Chosen as this issue’s “Obsessive Fan of the Week,” Randy collects Arnold Schwarzenegger memorabilia and runs an Arnold fan site.

Props to Entertainment Weekly for listing us as just “Sacramento” and not “Sacramento, CA.”

Father’s Day suggestions

Dear old Dad
Dear old Dad.

Father’s day is coming up this weekend and I’m wondering what the dads, kids and wives out there have in mind. Fortunately it looks like we’re not going to break triple-digits on Sunday,

There’s fancy brunch. The 4-star hotels are always nice and crowded, but maybe you’re lucky and Dad favors a greasy-spoon breakfast anyway. A certain circusy place comes to mind. Or maybe you have been enjoying the juicy cartons of blueberries at CostCo lately and could whip me up … I mean whip Dad up … some blueberry flapjacks.

Continue reading “Father’s Day suggestions”

Zoning Improvement Program Takes an Ugly Turn

It has come to my intention that the United States Postal Service plans to rip apart a normally happy and content zip code as of July 1.  Yes, it’s true, a new, unholy creation, the “95811,” will be created to take over some of the peaceable lands once inhabited by the loving peoples of the 95814.  Who is responsible for this, you ask?  I’m guessing that it’s evil developers, or chain stores or maybe even Michael Moore.  Also, I am not yet sure, where the boundary lines are for this abortion of a postal code, but when I do find out, I’ll let you know so that you can steer well clear of it.  Until then, stay vigilant, dear reader.

Google’s free SMS service is for real

I’m always about 6 months to 18 years late to the technology game. As such I am just now getting my cellular phone hooked up with SMS (Short Messaging Service), or “texting” as the kids like to call it. And while I am still fumbling about with my opposable thumbs and my text messaging shorthand (AAMOF, I’m a total NUB…or something), I have come across a free service from Google that is quite handy.

Google SMS allows you to text a search query to 466453(“GOOGLE” on most devices) and your results will be sent back to you in a matter of seconds. It’s really quite nifty. The site offers up a cheat sheet of search terms you can use (Local weather, restaurants, flight updates, movie times, calculator, and even conversions) and the whole thing is free (you know, you have to have the text messaging service from your cellular provider, of course).

So the next time you are out and about and need some quick directions or a movie time close to you, give it a shot. Now, if they just made cell phones that could take pictures I’d be all set!

Hide Your Lunch

Admittedly that title may be hitting slightly below the gigantic supposedly anti-capitalistic designer belt.  Michael Moore is coming to Sacramento today to lecture the legislature on how to handle health care.  Because the musings of a filmmaker who, by the way, couldn’t look less healthy, are relevant to such a complex problem.  I guess in a state where portraying yourself as a robot from the future counts as gubanatorial portraying yourself as an expert on government conspiracies makes you qualified to pontificate on health care.  Glad to know our legislature is spending its time so wisely.  Perhaps to beat summer doldrums they can get George Clooney or Bono to come talk about Africa.   

A Food Lover’s R.I.P.

There have been a few passings recently that I wish to note with great regret.  First, when driving to an art event this past Saturday, I noticed that The Plantation, the fantastic soul food restaurant on Del Paso Blvd. and Arden Way, was closed for business.  The Plantation was a gem on the culinary landscape.  It was true soul food, like green beans with ham hocks, smothered steak, red beans and rice, fried catfish and okra served with a smile and a “Come back real soon.”  I was greatly saddened to see it go.

Another passing I was not made aware of until after I published the local Foodie Roundtable, wherein I listed Everett & Jones BBQ as one of my favorite restaurants.  Turns out that E&J closed the doors on its Sacramento outlet for good recently.  No more hot links in medium sauce with a side of potato salad and “sock-it-to-me” cake for me.  Not unless I want to drive to their Oakland or Berkeley restaurants.  I was informed of this tragic and untimely passing by Melly over at the Sacramento Food Forums, which brings me to item #3.

I am sad to say that the Sacramento Food Forums are shutting down.   I have greatly enjoyed the Sac Food Forums as a place to share ideas, schedule meet-ups for culinary adventures and share opinions.  Melly and Dave did an exemplary job of piloting the forums and putting together events for the last few years.  What you may not realize is that it takes time, effort, and in some cases money to keep these websites up and running.  They don’t just run themselves.

So do what you can to keep the places you love around.  Whether they be “brick and mortar” or online locales, frequent the places you cherish, spread the word, extoll their virtues, get other people excited.  Don’t be the one who bemoans the closing of the “mom ‘n’ pop” shop  even though you haven’t shopped there for twelve years.  If you want places to stay in business, do more business there.

Of course, word of mouth and passionate fans didn’t save “Arrested Development,” the greatest TV comedy series of all time.  So who am I kidding?

Tips For Tipping

The Mrs. and I had a very nice dinner at the new Buckhorn Grill in Midtown recently.  If you haven’t been there, it’s a stripped down version of Buckhorn’s flagship steakhouse in Winters.  Like Pronto and Cafe Bernardo and a few other casual places, they offer sit-down quality food that you have to stand up and order at the counter.  The food was very good, but that’s not what this piece is about.  The issue here is whether or not one should tip at this type of establishment, and if so, how much? Continue reading “Tips For Tipping”

Personal upkeep for less

Most of us have things on which we’re OK spending a small fortune (running shoes & anti-aging skincare/sunscreen for me), but there are other items where we just don’t want to fork over any more money than possible.

Even though the Metro look for guys seems to be passe, guys, please feel free to chime in without feeling emasculated.

Here are a few places I’ve found where you can get quality services performed without breaking the bank: Continue reading “Personal upkeep for less”