Tag: Events

State Fair Drinking Guide

Your guide to the best beer and wine at the California State Fair!

The California State Fair's incredible wine garden
The California State Fair's incredible wine garden

The California State Fair was created by the legislature in 1854 to celebrate and promote California agriculture and industry. I choose to celebrate The Fair’s historical origins by seeking out the finest alcoholic beverages in the realm of Cal Expo. If you choose to join me on this quest, print up this handy guide to the best beer and wine offered at The Fair.

Since 1854, The Fair has honored California’s winemakers in what is now North America’s oldest wine competition. This year, almost 1200 wines were designated as bronze, silver, gold or double gold award winners. At the Save Mart Wine Garden, you can choose from more than 100 winning wines. 100! How can you decide? Before I get to the recommendations, I’ll give you tip #1. If you plan on enjoying more than a few wines, invest in the souvenir wine glass. For $5, your wine purchase will double from a 5 oz pour in a plastic cup to a 10 oz pour in a reusable, stylish glass.

Continue reading “State Fair Drinking Guide”

David Cook gives The Fair what it needs

David Cook, in a photo that has been approved by his corporate overlords
David Cook, in a photo that has been approved for publication by his corporate overlords
Friday’s opening of the State Fair was capped with an appearance from American Idol David Cook. This was, without question, one of the funnest musical moments I have witnessed at The Fair in years.

Why? RELEVANCE! Most bands that play The Fair are either blasts from the past or up and comers. Cook is NOW, baby. The vibe from the audience was amazing as Fairgoers had the rare privilege to see someone playing Cal Expo whom they are listening to, today. And, as icing on the cake, he and his band met expectations and rocked the house.
Continue reading “David Cook gives The Fair what it needs”

Your State Fair Dining Guide-Part 1

deepfriedwhitecastle1-225x300One of the best things about the state fair is the deep fried edible glory that accompanies it.  It’s like junk food Christmas. However, there are so many options throughout Cal Expo that you’re just as likely to waste those precious calories that you’ve been hoarding all summer on just average junk instead of on incredible junk.  Hopefully this little list will help you from stepping into a grease and candy filled pothole with your dining choices.

Best Meal: BBQ Beef sandwich at “Buns on the Run” – Still the best food seller at the fair, this little trailer on the east side of the park, just across from the petting zoo with the word “Sausage” emblazoned on it’s sign doles out the best meal on the grounds. The bbq beef is sweet and succulent, the roll is incredible, a deep fried masterpiece of dough science, and the homemade potato chips on the side are just awesome. Also, this place does a damn fine boneless rib sandwich.

Best Deep Fried Delicacy: Deep Fried Oreos at Chicken Charlie’s– Charlie’s has been setting the standard in deep fried audaciousness for years now. I was a huge fan of the fried Elvis — a battered and fried peanut butter and banana sandwich — but it was taken off the men after the piping hot pb sent 158 people to the local burn unit. Now, I go for the Oreos with chocolate sauce. The small cookies have a great filling to breading ratio and they manage to stay fairly crispy inside the batter shell. However, if you’re really daring and haven’t eaten this year , try the deep fried White Castle Hamburger.

Best Sweet Treat: Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls– Two stands, one located in the county exhibit building, the other on the east side of the consumer pavilion (aka crap hut) , dole out some of the best cinnamon rolls in the world. The syrupy white frosting and tender cinnamon ladened dough is on par with the finest Austrian pastry. It’s only improved by asking for extra “gunk,” which is the cinnamon, sugar and butter on the bottom of the pan scraped up and sprinkled on top of your roll. Continue reading “Your State Fair Dining Guide-Part 1”

CA State Fair -Open!!

Long time readers of The Rag know that we are big fans of the Big Fun. As you read this, the 2009 California State Fair is open for business! Check us out for tips and reviews over the next couple of weeks.

Why do we love the State Fair? It is difficult to succinctly say, but it has something to do with loving California. The fair is a great place to learn about the myriad reasons that make California the greatest place in the world to live. Check out the agriculture, the art, wine, the thrills, and the spirit of fun that permeates Cal Expo for the next few weeks. It is especially obvious if you have been a patron at other fairs around the country. Every fair has rides and shows, but we’ve got bits and pieces of California wrapped up in a microcosm.

This year’s theme is Weird, Wild and Wacky, which I hope the organizers have taken to heart. Amid a down economy, a dysfunctional government and a dry summer, we need some fun here in Sacramento. Let’s party.

This Friday, the fair features American Idol David Cook on the Golden One Stage. For those of you that scoff at the contest, you have not seen that Cook is a soulful rock musician with a good band, decent songwriting and a strong possibility at a (gasp) legitimate music career. I’ll be there to see how he does.

Free Michael Jackson Rides on Fridays!

MJ
…and the winner for “most awkward press release title” goes to the California State Fair with their announcement that their Magnificent Midway will feature 4 rides from Neverland. The first 5,000 fairgoers each Friday will receive a golden ticket for one free Michael Jackson ride.

Stay tuned for our annual coverage of all the Big Fun!

2009 Nor Cal Blues Fest Canceled

In an email today from organizer Matson Breakey, (yes that is his real name) it appears that the 2009 Nor Cal Blues Festival has been canceled. The event was to be held on Sep 12 at Southside Park. Refunds, of course, will be given to those that have already bought tickets.

The real question is how sustainable are America’s original musical styles. Jazz and blues are slowly draining out of middle market towns like Sacramento. While the clubs and shows and performers in towns like Chicago and New York and San Francisco are still thriving, smaller market towns are losing any vestige of their former prominence.

The Jubilee is on life support, NCBF has been canceled, and fewer and fewer national acts come anywhere near our reasonably sized city. For example, when’s the last time Keith Jarrett swung through town? You see my point exactly, I’m sure.

I’m not sure what the answer is, but I know some progress has been made in keeping a few venues in town going 3-5 nights a week on nothing but jazz and blues: clubs like Torch Club, and JB’s lounge. But more work needs to be done, especially in thinning the ranks of blues bands around here. If I see another “authentic” blues group fronted by a couple of bearded 50ish white guys wearing shirts with flames on them, I might never listen to the blues again. Clean up your house, blues musicians, and kick these guys to the curb. They’re giving you a bad name.

Meet the Master: Peet’s Tea Master Visiting Sacramento

Peets_Bottled_Iced_Tea_LineupIf you’re a loyal reader of this here ‘Rag, you know that we love Peet’s, and not just the coffee.  We love the stores, the employees, the posters, the immaculately clean restrooms, the not so subtle Bette Davis eyes that the fat guy at the Lyon’s Village store keeps giving me every time I go in – hell, we even love Peet’s teas, which is why we were excited to hear that Peet’s is launching a bottled tea line for retail sale and test marketing it in our fair city.  To help celebrate the launch, Peet’s “Tea Master” Eliot Jordan will be holding court at several Sacramento area locations over the next week, sharing his views, opinions, and — I’m quite sure — secrets about tea farming, harvesting, brewing, recycling, composting, and scrap-booking.  Here’s a schedule of Peet’s locations where you can find him in the next few weeks:

Wednesday, June 24- 9 to 10:30, 2oth & J, 1 to 2:30, Fountains at Roseville

Wednesday, July 1- 9 to 10:30 Alhambra and Folsom, 1 to 2:30, Pleasant Hill in Roseville

Wednesday, July 8- 9 to 11am, 20th & J

Family Gameshow Night Starts Tonight

Starting tonight at 7:00 is a great new event in Rancho Cordova, Family Gameshow Night. Win prizes, test your mettle at trivia, spelling bees and other great events.  As a sponsor, The Sac Rag is happy to guarantee your enjoyment of Family Gameshow Night.  If you don’t have a good time, your full admission price will be refunded by our writing staff.

Family Gameshow Night– 7:00

Village Green Amphiteater- Rancho Cordova- Admission is FREE

Your Sacramento Jazz Festival (Jubilee) Guide for 2009

Bill Dendle/Eddie Erickson
Bill Dendle/Eddie Erickson

It’s that time of year again: Memorial Day weekend. It’s a weekend of jazz, good weather, and a civic event that is older than time itself (or at least older than anyone in their mid-thirties) the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.

The big news this year for Jubilee fans is the renaming of the festival to the generic and absolutely non-descript name of “Sacramento Jazz Festival.” Despite the name change, it’s still a great event, maybe a little smaller this year, and maybe a little lacking in international or New Orleans talent, but still a blast. This year’s emperor is one of the best trombone players of the last 50 years, Bob Havens. A vet of the Lawrence Welk band, Havens could always swing the hell out of songs that should have been undeniably square. Check out this video for proof. For those of you who have never been to Jubilee before, I highly suggest you read last year’s Jubilee Primer to get tips on where to eat, where to park, and what to avoid. It’s also filled with really good jokes. I mean, really good.

For this year, use the following suggested schedule to get the most out of the festival whether you’re going one, two or all four days. Check here for ticket prices and info. Continue reading “Your Sacramento Jazz Festival (Jubilee) Guide for 2009”

Two Milestones in One Weekend, Both Meat-Related

Sacramento will see not one but two milestones achieved this weekend.

Jim Denny’s 75th Anniversary- Saturday May 16- 816 12th Street, Sacramento

Festivities start from 8 to 10 am there will a recession-proof $3.00 buffet style breakfast with a pancake eating contest at 11 am. At noon, there will be another hard-times priced $3.00 buffet style lunch. Come and enjoy local treats and suds. The afternoon will rock with live music provided by The Regulars, Ol’ Cotton Dreary, and Who & The What Now! Stay for the burger eating contest, activities for the kids, and a raffle with great prizes from area businesses. Proceeds from the raffle will go towards expanding the restaurant which is both desirable (if you’re hungry) or a bit of a bummer (if you’re a preservationist).

Sam’s Hof Brau 50th Anniversary- Monday May 18th– Watt and El Camino, Sacramento

Two things will make the 50th anniversary party at Sam’s exceptional. First, 50 cent pastrami sandwiches. Second, the recapturing of the “Sam’s” name. For too many years, the venerable Hof Brau has been languishing under the bland moniker of “Plaza Hof Brau.” But not anymore. With a little scratch and some fierce negotiations the wise new owners of the ‘Brau (same folks that own Mikuni, dontcha know) have reacquired the Sam’s name. From now on, saying “Sam’s Hof Brau” will not only conjure a sense of history, but speak of great things to come. Come on by, raisea pint to the new improved sign, eat some meat, and revel in a piece of Sacramento’s history and future.