Election deadlines coming Friday

The deadline to register as a candidate for the District 1, 3, 5 and 7 City Council offices is Friday, March 12. As of today there will be quite a field, with 17 candidates running, including 5 candidates in Districts 3 and 5. The deadline for District 5 is actually March 17, since the incumbent Lauren Hammond won’t be running (she’s a candidate in the sure-to-be-exciting 9th Assembly district race). March 12 is also the Secretary Of State’s deadline to register for statewide office.

I’m planning take a look at the candidates for the 5th district (my district) in more detail in the next few weeks, in a humorous but fair and balanced manner. So, you know, stay tuned for that.

Smashburger coming, seeks hungry rockers

Boring food calls for wacky PR stunts, like child shrinking
Citrus Heights is getting NorCal’s first Smashburger on March 31. My carnivorous friends scattered across the country generally agree that Smashburger is a decent burger, but I don’t really care. I won’t be eating there, as I generally avoid franchise restaurants like the plague, especially if they don’t serve draft beer. And do we really need another pre-programed burger joint in a city full of local businesses serving great, even famous, burgers? Hell no, says I.

I am, however, highly amused by the PR 101 tactics being employed to attract attention. Bands of Sacramento, are you ready for the big time? Are you ready to ROCK SMASHBURGER? (The caps indicate that you are supposed to mentally read that phrase in your most rocking DJ voice. I choose to hear Shadoe Stevens in my head at his most Fred Rated extreme.)

Continue reading “Smashburger coming, seeks hungry rockers”

On your left!

For those that may have missed this memo released on February 18th, new “Rules & Courtesy” signs are going up along the American River Parkway to “encourage visitors to follow the rules and share the bike trail.”

“Our old courtesy signs were several years old and were showing their age,” said Flannery. “Our old signs also had a lot more wording, and because we realized that most trail users reasonably wouldn’t take the time to read the entire sign, we cut the words by half.”

And people still won’t read/follow them. Anyone that has had to do anything that involves people of any kind should know by now that you can’t win no matter what you do. On the Parkway, at the grocery store, you name it. People just suck.

This is about the time of year where the Parkway etiquette debate heats up. The Parkway, like The Sac Rag, follows the “if you live here, you know” slogan.

Cool family events coming up at Central Library

And chances are, if you give a Pesci a gambling license... (read on, it makes sense)
Several interesting events are coming up at the Central Library downtown:

  • Sunday, March 7: Family Concert with the Camellia Symphony Orchestra. On Sunday the Camellia Symphony Orchestra holds a free concert in the Library Galleria at 2 pm. But the coolest part happens before the concert, when the orchestra will present an “instrument petting zoo” to allow the kiddies to get up close to different instruments. I’m not sure how much actually petting they will allow but there will definitely be a chance to get up close and personal and “see how the instruments are played.”

    • Continue reading “Cool family events coming up at Central Library”

Sacramento is the New L.A.

If you spent any time at all on the corner of 10th and O Streets today, you probably spotted someone famous. There was no shortage of celebrities at The California Museum, turning Sacramento citizens into quintessential paparazzi. Some Sacramentans even waited in line for an hour and a half to see it all.

And who could blame them? An all-star line-up of female celebrities turned out to support their pal and our First Lady, Maria Shriver for her big Day at the Museum, a free event sponsored by The Governor and First Lady’s Women’s Conference in honor of Women’s History Month. Everyone from Iron Chef Cat Cora and Lisa Ling to Erin Brockovich and Rita Moreno were on hand to celebrate the accomplishments of California’s women (including their own).

If the renowned company alone wasn’t enough to spark your enthusiasm, all the inspiration in the room surely did. Poems were recited. Meals were cooked. Books were read. Photos were displayed. Artists painted. Tears were shed. Proud voices were raised in praise. There were also men speedily taking notes, trying to soak up every wise word that was uttered. Short of singing “Kumbaya,” this was one emotional-filled day!

Does all this mean that Sacramento has become the new L.A.? Continue reading “Sacramento is the New L.A.”

Your ad here

Clever use of space to advertise
I am sure a billboard for Chili's is coming soon

When Sacramentans are faced with adversity (like the recent economic downturn) they often times know how to make the most of a bad situation. The would-be TGIF restaurant on Truxel Road has been an eye-sore for quite some time. The smart folks at Beach Hut Deli and Sport Clips saw this as an opportunity to promote their business in a high traffic area. Nice work.

I still can’t believe this location hasn’t been torched yet. Er, I mean, something horrible like an accidental fire.

Now playing: Radio 94.7


Kicking the music scene up a notch since 1979

A new player entered the crowded field of crappy music on the radio dial today as RADIO 94.7 launched at noon on the air and online.

RADIO 94.7 features music from artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, Green Day, U2, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Sublime, Nirvana, Linkin Park, Weezer and Stone Temple Pilots along with music from new bands like Muse, The Killers, Train, Kings of Leon and many, many others.

Many others, you say?

Radio947.net

It’s Tangy Time: Pinkberry Coming to Sac

The LA institution affectionately known as Crack-berry is coming to our small hamlet. Soon to open at Howe ’bout Arden, with additional locations in the usual suburban enclaves of Roseville, Folsom, and Elk Grove, the SoCal institution will bring its tangy yogurt and fresh fruit toppings and naive Japanese schoolgirl attitude and creepy trance music to town and nothing will be the same again. Mostly my waistline, which will expand exponentially with the consumption of original yogurt with kiwi.

All-Star Line-Up Celebrates California Women

This Thursday, March 4, First Lady Maria Shriver partners with The California Museum for a FREE “Day at the Museum,” a celebration of California’s leading ladies. Prepare to be inspired! The all-star line-up includes Iron Chef Cat Cora and Sacramento’s own Biba Caggiano (owner of Biba Restaurant), Sacramento-native Lisa Ling, the original founders of Sacramento nonprofit WEAVE, California’s top female elected officials, astronaut Sally Ride, environmental activist Erin Brockovich, and many more!

Festivities also include yoga, chef demonstrations, basket weaving, Indian drumming, exhibits, music, you name it! You’ll be kicking yourself if you miss this grand affair. And you’ve gotta admit the price is right. Here are the details: Continue reading “All-Star Line-Up Celebrates California Women”

Football in Sacramento?

Denny Green of the California Redwoods
It's worth watching again.

For those that are interested in showing lukewarm excitement for news stories like these, the United Football League is going to make a “special announcement” on Wednesday, March 3rd at 2:30 p.m. live on the Interwebs.

Of course, we all know that the announcement is that the San Francisco football Redwoods will be moving to Sacramento. I know, I know. Crazy, huh?

Coached by Dennis Green (of “…they are who we thought they were! And we let ’em off the hook!” fame) and owned by Paul Pelosi (yes, that name does sound familiar) the Redwoods are one of four teams mixing it up in the semi-almost-better-than-arena-football league entering its second season.

“To fulfill the needs of football fans in major markets currently under-served by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players. The UFL will serve its communities with pride, dedication and passion, and uphold a leadership role in the development of football worldwide. The UFL will provide every fan with an affordable, accessible, exciting and entertaining game experience.”

Hey, you never know, right? Will you go?