The Crumbling of America

The History Channel amuses me, as many of their shows seem to be fact checked by contestants on “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader” (the adults, not the kids), yet I still tune in to their shows. Today, I watched The Crumbling of America, which details the disasters that American cities face from our dilapidated infrastructure.

Of course, Sacramento’s levee system is highlighted. My favorite part is their computer simulation of a levee breach in Natomas, which consists of a picture of water superimposed over a picture of Arco Arena. Woo, high tech!

Continue reading “The Crumbling of America”

Simpsons 20th Anniversary DVD Release Tomorrow

Doh! Slather on some cologne and grab a Duff beer, because tomorrow’s gonna be a special day! It’s the DVD release of The Simpsons 20th season. Woo! Hoo!

If you missed the delightful 20th Anniversary documentary hosted by Morgan Spurlock last night, don’t have a cow, man. Rumor has it the feature is part of Disc 4 on the DVD.

Where can you buy the complete DVD set? Shop locally and head down to The Beat at 1700 J Street. It’ll cost you $49.98.

But that’s just a fact, and as we all know, the wise Homer once said, “Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that’s even remotely true!”

What’s your limit on the current economic turmoil?

boarded up
cc by takomabibelot

The impending closure of a Sam’s Club in Natomas is less heart breaking than Saturday’s closing of Wishing Well. (Though it should probably freak us out more, since Walmart (parent company of Sam’s Club) was cited as the reason Wishing Well can’t compete.) Only the coldest market capitalist robot isn’t sad to see his or her favorite local business go under. Wishing Well was one of my favorite local establishments and I’m actually saddened to see it go.

Continue reading “What’s your limit on the current economic turmoil?”

Sac Rag sponsors Sacramento Beer Week

The Sac Rag is happy to announce that we are one of the first sponsors to jump on board to support Sacramento Beer Week. Check out the official website and get on the mailing list to keep updated as more than 100 beer-themed events are added over the next month.

Sacramento Beer Week will not only feature Sacramento’s fantastic local breweries, but will present domestic and international breweries in beer tastings, beer dinners and more. What beer or brewery do you hope to see featured during Sacramento Beer Week?

Peet’s coupon gets technical

I came across this “buy one, get one free” coupon for Peet’s coffee today and was impressed with this redemption note:

You can print this coupon or show it on your mobile device in the store.

I won’t have a chance today, but please let me know if anyone is successful showing their mobile device to a Peet’s barista.

Oh, and check out the many exceptions/exclusions.

Anything below the stereo and on this side of the bicentennial glasses. Anything between the ashtrays and the thimble. Anything in this three inches right in here in this area. That includes the Chiclets, but not the erasers.

Enjoy.

No more Wishing Well!!!

Extremely sad news (to me, at least) in Bob Shallit’s column today: the last remaining Wishing Well stores will be closing forever on Saturday. This is really depressing news. There are probably other imminent closings in the area that will hit harder, but Wishing Well was just such an entertaining and essential spot for decorations and craft supplies.

Shallit also mentions the store’s former “no kids” policy. The way I remember it as a kid (mid ’80s) was that you could enter the store, but they had a way of making you feel like they were watching you. Of course this made it an even more attractive spot. It was as if they really did sell M-80s and butterfly knives instead of paper hats and wedding decor.

Advisory committee for Entertainment & Sports Complex issue

Councilman Steve Cohn announces today via e-mail:

The Sacramento FIRST Task Force is reviewing seven new proposals for an Entertainment & Sports Complex. The Task Force is also looking at the current Cal Expo proposal and the option of renovating Arco Arena.

The Task Force is forming an Advisory Committee of interested citizens that will supplement the task force. If you are interested in volunteering to serve on this advisory committee, please let me know by sending an email message to my District Director, Sue Brown, at sbrown@cityofsacramento.org by Friday, January 8, 2010. Our understanding is that the commitment of time is approximately one meeting per month for about 3 months.

I don’t think anyone would disagree that this city needs the Sac Rag readership’s input in this project…

Groundbreaking ideas from stimulus watchdog

the BobsLaura Chick, the state inspector general for stimulus spending, is busy solving problems that California is encountering with spending ARRA stimulus funds. Problem: A backlog of approvals at the Office of Historic Preservation, due to furloughs at that office, means ARRA funded projects are having trouble getting started. Her solution: No more furloughs for that department!

Obviously Chick is just a straight shooter with upper management written all over her. I’m sure it took Schwarzenegger a while to respond to this suggestion after he literally (not literally) picked his jaw up off the floor.

Continue reading “Groundbreaking ideas from stimulus watchdog”

Rockcomedyjazz Night at the Press

If there’s one thing the Press Club is not known for, it’s comedy; if there’s another, it’s jazz—yet both will be on display alongside one of Sacramento’s favorite bands, The Snobs, this Tuesday night at 9 p.m.

Comedian and host Noel Dewitt (who also happens to own one of Sacramento’s best salons,  Mirrors) will share the stage with an unlikely, but hard-not-to-like lineup of comedian John Ross, comedy jazz duo The Freebadge Serenaders (don’t be surprised if one of the members of the Serenaders looks surprisingly like me), and The Snobs.

The cover charge is a paltry $3, and drink specials will be flowing all night. Come on by for some toe-tappin’, belly-bustin’ good times.

Press Club, 9PM, $3- 2030 P St