Go bald Monday at de Vere’s and help cure cancer!


Going bald at an event in Monrovia, CA

St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity dedicated to funding research on children’s cancer and providing support to families going through it. Groups across the country get together to raise money for this cause that’s near and dear to lots of people.

Monday, De Vere’s Pub is holding one such event. At 5:00 PM at the downtown bar, join other supporters by going bald in solidarity with someone you know who’s affected by cancer. Or sponsor someone else who’s shaving it off!

Continue reading “Go bald Monday at de Vere’s and help cure cancer!”

Final thoughts before tonight’s arena vote

Day 101
This was me all weekend
Creative Commons License photo credit: Alejandra Gamgeek from Gallifrey

I had the whole weekend to stew on the arena terms sheet, fueled by Cosmo Garvin’s great piece on the math of the thing on the SNOG Blog, and bolstered by Isaac Gonzalez’s excellent takedown of the “good, bad and the ugly” aspects of the proposal. I wanted to get my final thoughts out there before the proposal passes at tonight’s meeting.

I still can’t get over the inclusion of a provision giving the City a suite at the arena. Continue reading “Final thoughts before tonight’s arena vote”

Midtown Monthly ceasing publication

Tim “Old Man” Foster blogs today on MidownMonthly.net that the March issue of Midtown Monthly will be the last issue.

I’m sad, but I’m also proud. I’m proud of the work that our contributors have done. I’m proud of the contribution that Midtown Monthly has made to the public narrative of Sacramento. I’m proud that we spotlighted a side of Sacramento that is often ignored, or even maligned. I’m proud that in over five years I’ve never published anything I didn’t stand behind.

DEFINITELY not something I can say about this here web log. (Speaking only for things I have written, of course.)

Though I’m not a Midtown resident I’ve definitely always been a reader. Here’s hoping the Internet and possibly other alternative publications can take up the charge of spotlighting Midtown’s culture.

A Meeting of the Minds- In Fresno

It’s not often that you have a memorable evening in Fresno. Honestly, other than the joys of great Mexican food and the thrill of finding your car unmolested after leaving it overnight in a public parking lot, Fresno lacks a reputation for singular events. However, this past week, I experienced one of the most surprisingly rewarding evenings of my life.

The unlikely place: the lobby bar at the downtown Fresno Radisson. I found myself sipping pints of Tamarack pale ale, the flagship brew of the Sequoia Brewing Company (aka, the other reason to go to Fresno), and engaging in lively conversation with my fellow lobby bar patrons. The gentleman next to me, a middle-aged African-American gent with a penchant for arguing politics while taking very few sides, seemed familiar. It took me three pints to finally figure it out, but my bar mate was none other than Federal Judge Morrison England. Yes, that Morrison England.

Continue reading “A Meeting of the Minds- In Fresno”

What’s with Fox40 wanting to “Get It Done”?

I'll start using another photo when a deal is reached. from thinkbigsacramento.com

If you visit Fox 40 you’ll see banner advertising and a prominently featured page on the topic “Get It Done.” A visit to the web page tells you that the “It” is a new downtown arena, and that we citizens should get an arena done by contacting our local representatives and exhorting them to do an arena deal. The page indicates that, agree or disagree, now is the time to “be heard,” but it also touts an arena as “about Sacramento being a world class city” and that without a deal, there will be no Kings.

Is this all appropriate? Continue reading “What’s with Fox40 wanting to “Get It Done”?”

Blitzen Trapper @ Harlow’s, Monday 3/5

Awesome alt-country group Blitzen Trapper come to Harlow’s Monday night, in support of their recent Sub Pop release “American Goldwing.” Trapper use the tools of classic country, like pedal steel guitar and the imagery of Americana, with a flair for the poetic/psychedelic. A running theme, for example, seems to be man becoming animal, best expressed on their classic 2008 album “Furr.” Plus, apparently the lead singer is Richard Alpert. Should be a great time out!

I have only been to Harlow’s once, to see Grandaddy, so I make that more than 10 years ago. I remember some frat boy type hopped up on stage to sing along with the band.

(And why do the good shows always have to be on Monday? By the time I’m at the stage where Monday is not a school night, what bands will I even go out and see? Won’t you be able to consume the entirety of Western music via digital input right into your brain, making the creation of new music pretty much useless by then?)

Sacramento, at least we’re not Stockton (yet?)

Man, this Stockton bankruptcy thing is quite the mess.

The city of Stockton in California’s crop-abundant Central Valley has the second-highest foreclosure rate in the nation and one of the highest crime and unemployment rates. It was named America’s most miserable city in a national magazine — twice.

Of course, this is a loaded issue full of politics and rhetoric. One scan of the comments area of this particular article will give you an idea of what I mean.

California re-elected every single incumbent in 2010 ..the majority of voters of California are the dumbest on earth..Liberals have destroyed the state from the environmentalists to the sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants ..its also the highest taxed state in the nation ..Central California has 25% unemployment because the idiots cut the water to farmers because it endangered a fish…the people voted to raise the gas tax so now gas is at 4.30 a gallon ..they just made it illegal to throw a frisbee or football on the beach…

And the best reply to this I’ve read so far:

Ya got nice weather and…nice weather!

Ha! Zinger.

So, what can Sacramento do (or continue to do) to avoid finding itself in a similar situation? Build a new arena for a professional basketball team?

An evening of BevMo! fun

The folks at BevMo! (I think I am contractually obligated to use an exclamation point every time I write their name), have invited two of our loyal readers to attend a special event to celebrate their first 5 cent wine sale of 2012 at the Arden-Arcade location this Wednesday, February 29th.

The evening will include a VIP tour of the store and a tasting of some of BevMo!’s top wines available during their Spring 5 cent wine sale. The varietals will be selected from the 100+ wines with a rating of 90 points or above, and the tasting will be led by one of BevMo!’s wine experts. If you really love wine, you can even buy one case of wine and and get a second case for just 60 cents.

Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Date: February 29, 2011
Location: 3106 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 95825

If you can make it and can respond quickly (we need to let them know as soon as possible to add your name(s) to the guest list), send me an email at rontopofit@sacrag.com and mention why you like wine so much. You must be 21 years of age or older to attend and really love you some wine. You’ll also be representing this here web log, so please sip responsibly and don’t make a jackass of yourself.