Tag Archives: Sacramento

New Hotel Bar — 3 Fires Lounge

Bar at Marriotts Residence Inn on 15th & L

Aside from a sandwich board sign, there isn’t much going on to let you know this place exists inside the Residence Inn, which would lead one to believe this bar is meant only for hotel guests, except that it’s not.  It’s meant for all the passers-by to enjoy.  Hence the sign on the sidewalk.

Positioning themselves nicely on the corner of 15th & L, they’re walking distance from the after-hours Capitol workers, making this is a decent place to visit at the just-after-five-o’clock hour.  Stop on in for a little bit of that Happy Hour loving, we all love to have make us Happy.  It’s the usual discounted beer, wine, and commonly made mixed-drinks you’d find at any Happy Hour setting, but what sets 3 Fires Lounge apart from the rest is its Happy Hour menu; small plates going for three to five dollars, offering a variety of salty treats to tantalize your taste buds.  I’m a fan of the Cilantro Ceasar Salad, which is regularly priced at $8 but goes for $5 during Happy Hour.  Unfortunately, my favorite small plate, the Frizzled Squash Blossoms (loaded with cheese and chorizo then deep fried), did not make it to the Happy Hour party, but still well worth the time if you’re willing to pay full price.

It’s a two-sided bar with one side facing the hotel lobby, so sitting on the west side is a good idea and makes it easy to forget you’re in a hotel.  The ambiance and decor are what you would expect in a lounge that sells a nine dollar Jameson.  Quiet atmosphere, comfortable sofa-chairs, plenty of low lighting, four televisions (which seem to host a little too much Larry King Live), local art work for 2nd Saturday Art Walk participartory actions, free coffee, and a wonderful serving staff.  The bartenders are friendly and patient, which is an absolute must when encountering the loudness that is our laughter and commentary while seated at the bench reviewing the surroundings.

Definitely consider 3 Fires Lounge for a few snacks before making your way East to enjoy the rest of your night — It’s a nice place to meet your friends after work.


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MARRS Building Home To Luigi’s Slice

Ever since I can remember I’ve been a huge fan of pizza, eating it whenever I can get my grubby hands on it.  I don’t care if it’s two in the morning just before bed, or four in the afternoon and I’m ruining my appetite for dinner — if a slice is available, I’m going to eat it.

Imagine my joy and pizza-eating delight when Luigi’s Slice found its way into the MARRS building on 20th between J and K.  It’s central to all of midtown, so I can get to it from any of my local hangouts whether I’m up on 29th & E or down at 16th and P.  Granted, there are quite a few pizza-by-the slice locations around the grid, but this is my favorite, so that’s why I’m mentioning it here first.  (I mean before I mention any of the others, which I will eventually get around to typing to you about.)

Prices for a slice range from $4.15 to $4.85, which isn’t bad given the going rates and the size of the slice.  Several beers are on tap, as well as some wine from a bottle, in addition to the usual soda fountain.  (I typically take my slice with water, so as not to fill up on fluids.)  The slice itself is somewhere between New York Thin Crust, and Chicago Deep Dish.  It’s filling.  It’s good.  Check it out for yourself next time you’re out.  It’s a great follow-up after enjoying the night at Lounge on 20.

Many a weeknight I can be found running down the street in an attempt to beat their eleven-o’clock closing hour; that’s when the pizza tastes best.


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MARRS Building Home To Luigi's Slice

Ever since I can remember I’ve been a huge fan of pizza, eating it whenever I can get my grubby hands on it.  I don’t care if it’s two in the morning just before bed, or four in the afternoon and I’m ruining my appetite for dinner — if a slice is available, I’m going to eat it.

Imagine my joy and pizza-eating delight when Luigi’s Slice found its way into the MARRS building on 20th between J and K.  It’s central to all of midtown, so I can get to it from any of my local hangouts whether I’m up on 29th & E or down at 16th and P.  Granted, there are quite a few pizza-by-the slice locations around the grid, but this is my favorite, so that’s why I’m mentioning it here first.  (I mean before I mention any of the others, which I will eventually get around to typing to you about.)

Prices for a slice range from $4.15 to $4.85, which isn’t bad given the going rates and the size of the slice.  Several beers are on tap, as well as some wine from a bottle, in addition to the usual soda fountain.  (I typically take my slice with water, so as not to fill up on fluids.)  The slice itself is somewhere between New York Thin Crust, and Chicago Deep Dish.  It’s filling.  It’s good.  Check it out for yourself next time you’re out.  It’s a great follow-up after enjoying the night at Lounge on 20.

Many a weeknight I can be found running down the street in an attempt to beat their eleven-o’clock closing hour; that’s when the pizza tastes best.


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California Bans Hands-Free Driving, Effective July 1st

I think it means you’re no longer allowed to drive and use the mobile phone at the same time _unless_ you have one of those fancy hands-free devices which is, supposedly, meant to keep you from becoming too distracted from the high-priority task of safely operating the vehicle for which you’re sitting behind the wheel.  Imagine that!  Safety first?  The nerve of these California law makers.  How dare they pass SB1613.

Seriously, though, the powers at hand have made a weak attempt to improve the safety for Californians on the road.  “Why?”, you ask.  How bout this:

  • The base fine for the FIRST offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions. With the addition of penalty assessments, the fines can be more than triple the base fine amount. Egads, batman!  More than triple?  What’s that, like $75?  Ha!  $20 is laughable for a first offense.  Not to mention, what are the odds you’ll get hit twice with this charge?  Hardly a deterrent.
  • The new law does not prohibit dialing, but drivers are strongly urged not to dial while driving. “Strongly urged”?  It would seem more attention is required to dial than to talk.
  • The law does not specifically prohibit [text messaging], but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officer’s opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Sending text messages while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged.  Again with the “strongly urged.”  I don’t get it.  Does anyone actually care about safety on the road?

This is all equivalent to having done nothing.  Someone should tell these law-makers that mobile computing is growing, it’s growing fast, and it’s going to be in all our cars via our cell phones.  Anyone who can sell you something on the Internet is trying to figure out how to sell it to you on your phone.  Forget about talking, text messaging is more distracting while driving.  (Who has time to watch the road when he’s busy replying to @JustinLL on Twitter?)  And tomorrow’s drivers are the biggest users, as they’re the ones growing up with 24/7 interconnection to mobile friends and marketers.

I hope local law enforcement agencies come out strong enforcing the law and its penalties.  However, it’s also bothersome that valuable resources are being wasted dealing with this issue.

On a similar note, SB33, which prevents drivers under the age of 18 from using a cell phone at all, also goes into effect July 1, 2008.

Read more about both new laws at the California DMV’s frequently asked questions.

Drive Safely.  It’s usually the other driver’s fault.

Ricky Berger’s First Album

CD Release Party & Ice Cream Social

Nichole, I, and that other guy, arrived promptly at twelve after seven and made our way to Revolution Wines behind Bricka Bracka after first paying cover for the Ice Cream Social and purchasing featured artist Ricky Berger’s CD , which would be autographed later in the show.  The three of us enjoyed a reasonably-priced flight that consisted of seven different wines from Sacramento’s Urban Winery.  (My favorite was the 2006 Clarksburg Syrah.)

The wine and company was nice, but it was not the reason we left the house.  We attended the night’s event to show our support for local music artist Ricky Berger who released her debut album "Ricky Berger’s First Album" to family and friends.  As we waited patiently in line to enter the venue, we had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Ricky’s grandmother — a sure sign that we truly had shown up for a family event, as Ricky’s grandmother shared family stories.  (Ricky’s father graduated from my Alma Mater, Cal Poly, and studied Engineering.)

Ricky Berger's First Album Cover

Ricky performed songs from her recently released CD as well as tracks she’s planning for her second album.  (Always think sequel, baby!)  I enjoyed Love Junkie most, but it didn’t make the first album so I’m looking forward to Ricky’s next release and keeping fingers crossed that she includes it.  The released CD itself is a treat with, perhaps the most touching song, Okle My Dokle , which brought tears to concert-goers’ eyes as she made a heartfelt dedication to her late grandfather.

That other guy @JoshGZ and I purchased copies of Ricky’s first album.  It comes loaded with eleven tracks and the video "If" (watch it below.)

Special thanks to Leatherby’s Family Creamery .  Your delicious dessert complimented the night.

Ricky Berger's First Album

CD Release Party & Ice Cream Social

Nichole, I, and that other guy, arrived promptly at twelve after seven and made our way to Revolution Wines behind Bricka Bracka after first paying cover for the Ice Cream Social and purchasing featured artist Ricky Berger’s CD , which would be autographed later in the show.  The three of us enjoyed a reasonably-priced flight that consisted of seven different wines from Sacramento’s Urban Winery.  (My favorite was the 2006 Clarksburg Syrah.)

The wine and company was nice, but it was not the reason we left the house.  We attended the night’s event to show our support for local music artist Ricky Berger who released her debut album "Ricky Berger’s First Album" to family and friends.  As we waited patiently in line to enter the venue, we had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Ricky’s grandmother — a sure sign that we truly had shown up for a family event, as Ricky’s grandmother shared family stories.  (Ricky’s father graduated from my Alma Mater, Cal Poly, and studied Engineering.)

Ricky Berger's First Album Cover

Ricky performed songs from her recently released CD as well as tracks she’s planning for her second album.  (Always think sequel, baby!)  I enjoyed Love Junkie most, but it didn’t make the first album so I’m looking forward to Ricky’s next release and keeping fingers crossed that she includes it.  The released CD itself is a treat with, perhaps the most touching song, Okle My Dokle , which brought tears to concert-goers’ eyes as she made a heartfelt dedication to her late grandfather.

That other guy @JoshGZ and I purchased copies of Ricky’s first album.  It comes loaded with eleven tracks and the video "If" (watch it below.)

Special thanks to Leatherby’s Family Creamery .  Your delicious dessert complimented the night.

Lounge On 20 – Grand Soft Opening

Last night wasn’t the first night, but it was the first night.  It’s strange to try and understand, because there could quite possibly be another first night.  That’s right, Lounge On 20 had its soft opening to the public, but it was mostly friends, family, and regulars of the local bar community.  Probably not the typical crowd you’d find once the newness passes.

It’s a lounge, so this isn’t the kind of place where you go to sit at the bar.  Hence the very short and small sitting area at the bar.  The rest of the building is great.  Wide and open areas with high ceilings.  (Not sure why the ceilings matter, but I guess it makes you feel like you actually have more room for you and your group.)  Clean, crisp lines.  Adequate low-light levels for proper dilation of the pupils.  The front walls open for patio seating.  And table service, so you don’t have to leave your conversation to go order drinks.

There is a small dress code that forbids the wearing of hats or tank tops.  (I usually take off my hat when entering a restaurant, so this isn’t a real problem for me.)  They had no issues with my wearing of sneakers and shorts — a plus, especially in this summer Sacramento heat.

I was a little late on ordering food, which stops at 10 during the week (at least for now.)  From what I gathered while talking to one of the line cooks, it’ll be mostly appetizers and snacks.  You wouldn’t come here for dinner or lunch, unless you want a bunch of small plates, which isn’t a bad idea if the food’s good.  (I’ll check back on the menu, and let you know.)

Of course my favorite part was the price of a single Bushmills.  Five Dollars.  Will this last?  I don’t know, but if it does, then it’s fair to say that my GV Hurley’s hours could be transferred to Lougne On 20.


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SMS Tax? Not 3jam!

How strange, that on the same day I come across an article in the local Sacramento newspaper indicating local government is considering a tax on text messaging, I also find myself knee deep in the latest SMS tech?  It’s called 3jam.  (Thanks Techcrunch.)  The whole thing is oddly curious.  But curiously odd?  It’s not.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a huge fan of the text message, be it SMS or MMS.  My biggest qualm being a general degradation of the English language form.  Which, if you’re keeping up, should seem kind of ridiculous —  I Twitter and Plurk.  Both services limiting input to 140 characters.  (What is it with that number?)

To be fair, the tax doesn’t really bother me.  The article claims there would be a reduction to my tax on the land line I keep.  Yea!  Some balance.  But the real reason is, I don’t do a ton of texting (verb?).  I typically distribute my GrandCentral phone number and it doesn’t allow for SMS or MMS.  (I’m saved.)

So far as I can tell, this tax is limited to the Sacramento area, so if you’re local, you might want to get involved in the November fourth election.

But even if you’re going to get taxed, the great feature of 3jam is that it only registers one text message regardless of how many folks you send the same message to.   (I can send a message to all two of my friends and only be charged for the price of one message.  Then, if either recipient replies to said message, it will go to every person on the original message list and only result in the cost of one message being sent for the sender.  It probably makes more sense if you have more than two friends.)

Good luck.

Return From Camping In Time for Art Walk

How does he do it? That’s what you should be asking yourself, if you’re asking anything at all. If you’re not asking, then I’ll ask, “what’s going on here?”

Anyhow, Camping was great. Good to be out, ya know? I think we were in Plumas National Forest. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Maybe you’ve never been anywhere that inhibits the use of electronics and the Internet. (Inhibits? I don’t know.) In either event, the specifics on the specific: Echo Lake. That’s where we actually were. It’s just south of the Caribou Wilderness area. I’m in the process of planning a backpacking trip through the Caribou Wilderness with Thompology. We’ll start at Cone Lake on the north end and backpack to Hay Meadow on the south end. This will be made possible by a driver dropping us off and picking us up. Kind of like cheating, but not really. we’ll still have to make our way and survive. Not a real challenge, I know.

In other news, we celebrated the Second Saturday Art Walk through midtown Sacramento. It was the usual good times with many a new face. Nameless faces, mostly, and a few faceless names. It’s how we roll. Started the party with an Americano coffee from Old Soul coffeehouse on 21st between “H” and “I”. It’s worth checking out if you’re ever in the area and enjoy a reasonably tasting coffee. From there, you’re on your own. Drink with caution.

I’ll see what I can do about adding some visuals for y’all. I didn’t snap any photos, but I’m sure some exist.

Cheers!

Latest Addition To The BLOC: GV Hurley's

I don’t know how to say this, but GV Hurley’s is probably the only place worth spending your time and money when it comes to nightlife on J street between 27th and 28th.  What can I say, I’m a fan of the place.  GV Hurley’s, with its classy and elegant style, fits in nicely among the other nearby eateries, but a wide swooping bar sets this place apart and above others on ‘The BLOC’ .

Let’s not forget to metion the staff is friendly, knows their game, and are familiar to boot (one of our favorite folks is now tending bar.)  The food is tasty and drinks are reasonably priced.  Normally you wouldn’t find me somewhere so far from the Streets of London , but this new restaurant and bar has my attention.  I’ll let you know how it turns out.


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