Best Towing: Totally the Best

So, my car went kaput on me yesterday in an underground parking lot downtown.  Normally I’d just call AAA, but I knew it would have to be towed to the dealership due to alarm malfunction, so I called my warranty company.  The process took a while to navigate, but eventually my warranty company said that a truck was on the way.  I was pretty pessimistic about the ability of a tow truck to navigate the narrow aisles of the garage and still be able to clear the 8′ ceilings, but hope springs eternal.

To the rescue came a bright red tow truck from Best Towing.  At the helm of the truck was Viktor, a stolid, competent man in his mid thirties.  While Viktor was hooking me up I learned that he was not just an employee but the owner of Best Towing.  A Ukrainian immigrant who had been Sacramento for 11 years, Viktor had started a security company years ago, but could never find a reliable towing company to tow cars from the properties that he was guarding, so he started his own.  If that ain’t the American way I don’t know what is.  He adroitly maneuvered the truck through the maze of the parking lot without once scraping his lightbar on the ceiling or clipping an SUV parked in a “Compact” spot.  Also, as we drove down Arden way, he pointed at Tex Wasabi’s and said, “Have you been there?  The sushi is horrible, but the pulled pork is pretty good.”

I liked Viktor a lot.

Best Towing– 916-339-2378

KCRA, YouTube ink deal

My YouTube buddy just hooked me up with the news that Hearst-Argyle Television has reached a content agreement with Google to provide a new channel on YouTube. Finally, online video from KCRA.

KCRA’s YouTube Channel … will be populated with news, weather, and entertainment videos as well as with original, local television programming such as “Chronicle,” one of New England’s most honored television programs.

Where the news from back east comes first.

Interesting bit at the end there about a digital video initiative to cover “local amateur entertainment.” Wonder how that will take shape…

If you build it, who will come?

If you live in Elk Grove, you’ve very recently probably received a little mailer from the developers of the “Elk Grove Promenade” – the envisioned shopping mall off Highway 99 between Elk Grove Boulevard and Grant Line Road that has been rumored and innuendoed and planned and then gone back to the drawing board for the last couple of years. The developers are looking for some community support for the project, especially considering resistance from nearby Galt and others within Elk Grove who don’t believe a mall would be the best thing for the community.

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Jenkinson Lake, Sly Park


Grilling out

This weekend’s outing brought the CoolDMZs to Jenkinson Lake, in the Sly Park Recreation Area of El Dorado County. Longtime residents know Sly Park from the various youth camps located there, most notably the Sacramento Trad Jazz Camp and Sly Park Basketball School for grade-school hoopsters.

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Kru: Further Reflections

‘Twas a busy weekend in Northern California for the Eats.  One of the highlights was a group event at Kru on J st.  Now I’ve already signaled my appreciation for Kru’s sushi in a previous piece, but I really haven’t had a chance to try their non-sushi items.  This group dinner gave the perfect opportunity to sample away at some true delicacies.  So, consider this an addendum to last week’s sushi review.

If you find yourself at Kru, take a chance and try their small plate of ribs, a fantastic plate with pork and hamachi “ribs.”  The ribs are flavorful, tender and delicious.  Also, the lamb chops are fantastic (yes they serve lamb chops at a Japanese restaurant, are you going to make a big deal out of it?), tender and perfectly cooked.  The “poke trio,” a selection of three fishes served in the traditional Hawaiian style was my favorite of the evening.  It was like a Hawaiian party in my mouth, except without the annoying tourists.

Really, who knew that all these sushi restaurants actually serve things besides sushi?  And, here’s the kicker, the non-sushi dishes are sometimes better than the sushi.  It makes you think, really, go ahead, try it, try thinking, come on, you can do it.  Ok, fine, just look at it this way, Kru can be a great destination point for the sushi and non-sushi eating crowd as well.  Thank God, since it doesn’t appear that Tex Wasabi’s is really thrilling anyone on that tip.  Keep trying, Guy!

Kru-2516 J St, Saramento

Dead whale sighted off coast of S.F.

The Bee reports that a civilian boater reported seeing a dead 50-foot long whale floating near the Golden Gate Bridge early this morning. Since it’s been a while I’m going to go out on a limb and say it could be a hoax. Or it could be this guy:

But it could be a dead whale, not related to Delta and Dawn, that the Coast Guard has observed floating near Angel Island for several days.

Naah, it must be one of the 2 that we know by name…

More development strong-arming on K Street

I still do not understand the tactics that the City of Sacramento is employing to “revitalize” downtown, K Street in particular. Read today in the Bee that the city is suing developer Moe Mohanna to force him to trade property with Joe Zeiden. This would give Zeiden the 700 block and Mohanna the 800 block. I have ranted about this in the past, and you’ll be happy (or much more likely, unhappy) to know that I’m still up for more ranting.

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Spell it on

It’s go time for Josephine Kao, our favorite spelling bee champ!

The 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee is on as we speak. A look at the list of contestants will take you not just around the United States but also around the world.

With something to prove this year, Josephine, contestant #19, has made it into round 3 . More updates as they become available!

UPDATE 2: As mentioned in the comments, Josephine dropped out in round 6 on the word “tournure“. The contest went on another seven rounds, but the title was still brought back to NorCal when Evan O’Dorney from Walnut Creek knocked “serrefine” out of the park. Great job in representing NorCal, Josephine and Evan!

UPDATE: My sources tell me that Josephine is still standing after Round 4. Only 72 entrants out of 286 are still standing, putting her in the top 24.8 percent. Call in s-i-c-k tomorrow and catch the bee live on ESPN from 7 to 10 AM.

I’ll take “Awkward Photos” for $600…

Carlos and AlexDid anybody else catch Bee columnist Carlos Alcala on “Jeopardy” last night? His take on the appearance from Monday’s Bee is a fun little read.

Carlos, who’s visited the Rag a few times, was up against a 2-day champ, a young grad student from back East. He started the first round off slow but had a great run in double jeopardy that almost put him in the lead. During that run I thought it was notable that he got the champ to change categories a few times. Also I thought it was notable that he started the “Star Wars” category. He was down going into Final Jeopardy (“Who is Nancy Pelosi?”? Seriously, that’s your “final Jeopardy” notable woman?) and since that usually takes a really obscure category to force the leader into a low wager or an actual wrong answer by the leader, he bet big but finished second. Good work, Carlos!

Sushi Roundup: Part Ni (two)

mmmmm, sushiIt’s been a while since we took on the topic of sushi here on the ‘rag.  Our first round of reviews garnered more than their share of comments, and one particular standout was highlighted for its complete inadequacy.  Much like the oceans from where we find our tasty swimming friends, the tides of sushi consumption are changing.  Here’s your update:

Continue reading “Sushi Roundup: Part Ni (two)”