Tag: Holidays

Office XMas party reviews: R15 and Melting Pot

R15
Young and old mix at R15, if by mix you mostly mean the old hitting on the young

We widget factory workers were “blessed” this year with two holiday parties, and as usual this gave me an opportunity to check out some local hot spots I normally wouldn’t frequent.

First up was Café Bernardo/R15, the latest venture in the Paragary empire. Our luncheon was served in an upstairs room, one of the areas set up with XBOX 360s with wireless remotes. The fare was fusion, which if you have ever read this blog before you can probably guess is not one of my favorite styles.

Continue reading “Office XMas party reviews: R15 and Melting Pot”

Not sure if “outdone” is the right word…

The same two houses I reported on last year for their terrible holiday light displays are at it again this year! At right is a house on the 3500 block of 52nd Street, right around the corner from me. You’ll notice they mined some of the same subject matter as last year, namely giant geometric shapes. This year just one Santa, and he’s riding a pogo stick. The bright area atop the gate is a green frog. Ho hum, not much else remarkable about this house… What’s that giant shape in the center, you say? Why that’s a spider, of course… with a Santa hat and presents on its back. It’s left over from Halloween, when it was ridden by a zombie bride.

Can’t wait to see what they do for President’s day! The giant native American spider god that haunted Andrew Jackson?

‘Tis the season

It just wouldn’t be the holidays without a heaping helping of disheartening crime in Sacramento. While PS3 mayhem is so last week, never fear as we’ve had our first Salvation Army robbery.

Sacramento police are still looking for a group of teens who robbed a Salvation Army bell ringer at knife point during the noon hour Friday outside a grocery store.

That’s noon, people, as in post meridiem. I think that is what is really shocking about crime these days. There really is no safe time to be out and about…however, Continue reading “‘Tis the season”

Halloween wrap-up

We enjoyed some high-returns trick-or-treating last night in Tahoe Park (specifically the region between 11th and Raymond Aves and 58th-60th streets. It was positively hoppin, a great vibe.) Witches seemed to be very popular. As usual, the most popular costume had to be “punky high schooler walking around with a pillowcase full of candy” (and I know that’s not limited to TP…)

When we got home and reviewed the photos we realized that I wore the same outfit as last year, which is funny considering it’s a night specifically about dressing up, even though as I previously stated I do not participate. Read on for the photo comparison…

Continue reading “Halloween wrap-up”

Tricks and/or treats

Despite the fact that I blog here every day under a geeky fake name, CoolDMZ and Mrs Cool do not dress in costume for Halloween (although if I did, it would be BSG related). We’re planning to take the girls (both “nice” witches) in a little loop around the hood and then we’re going to hit the church event and then maybe Boo at the Zoo. I also understand there is an event at IKEA which is a little too weird, although most IKEA product names would make great candy names (“dude you totally scored some EKTHORPE!”) and we got invited to Midtown Safeway (by a clerk who was inviting everyone, but still, partay!!)
Continue reading “Tricks and/or treats”

Haunted?

Cbs13.com has a helpful page on all things Halloween. Here’s a list of local pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and haunted houses.

However, what really caught my attention was a link to a listing of “actual” haunted places in California and, specifically, Sacramento. Apparently the Crocker Museum and Sacramento Theatre Company have experienced their share of paranormal activity:

The (Sacramento Theatre Company) 50-year-old vaudeville stage is home to a ghost that employees have named Pinky — because of the pinkish aura it manifests. The apparition has been seen on numerous occasions and is even credited with warning electricians of the impending collapse of an overhead lightbar. Several people could have been seriously injured had they not evacuated the area because of Pinky’s ghost. In the last four years, psychics have detected the presence of five other spirits in the building.

Man, doesn’t this sort of thing get you fired up to do some Paranormal Investigating? If it does, you may benefit from an online course or two at Flamel College: Continue reading “Haunted?”

Achtung Marzen!!

It is Oktoberfest season, kiddies, so get your livers ready.

First up is the second annual Fair Oaks’toberfest this Saturday, September 30 at Fair Oaks Park from 1-5pm. This is definitely the beer festival bargain of the area with admission at a mere $20 for unlimited microbrews from across the West Coast. Your friendly neighborhood Stickie will be on hand, as usual, and may even slip behind the taps to provide relief to the hard-pouring brewers who grace us with their presence.

For those who prefer a more traditional Oktoberfest, the following weekend will feature the 39th Annual Turn Verein Oktoberfest celebration. Admission is $10, with various beers, sausages, pretzels and other food sold inside. Expect to see hundreds of Germans decked out in lederhosen and dancing to the fabulous oompa band. October 6 & 7 at 3349 J Street. Call (916) 442-7360 for more information.

Prost, and try not to step on any Bierleichen!

Partay?

Let’s hear from the people–where was the place to be on New Years’ Eve 2005? In my house, the place to be was the couch, where the main attraction was a good chunk of “Arrested Development” Season 2. I’m aware that there may have been other things going on outside my house, but did any of the town’s hottest parties have spicy club sauce? Well, probably.