Favorites from 2011
Trying to remember a whole year is super-difficult so I’m sure I’m leaving some great stuff off this list. Here’s my best shot at remembering the places and events that I liked most in 2011.
Favorite Restaurants
Magpie Café – I just love everything about this place and I’ve heard rumors about a new peanut butter cookie. It just keeps getting better.
Azul – I eat lunch here like three times a week.
Café Rolle – Finally ate here for the first time this year. I’ll be back.
Old Ironsides – Maybe the best lunch in town. Get the soup of the day – you won’t regret it.
The Porch – I know it just opened and southern food isn’t supposed to have a lot of avocados in it, but man, that po’ boy was delicious.
Pizza Rock – Amazing pizza makes up for the unfortunate Ed Hardy-esque theme.
Eastern Empire – By far my favorite Chinese restaurant in town. Go get yourself some Peking duck and flaming Polynesian cocktail.
Juno’s – This place is great on its own, but it’s even better when you consider that it took over the spot where the worst hot dog restaurant in the history of the world once stood (Urban Dog).
Thirteen – Another place that named itself after its address. We’re not bored with that yet? I’m gonna let it slide this time because the food is really good.
Capital Dawg – Stuff it with cheese, wrap it with bacon and deep fry it.
Café Marika – One of my worst fears is that someday the couple that runs Café Marika will retire. I hope they have a plan of succession.
Ella, Grange, Waterboy, etc. – Yeah, yeah, you’re all good too.
Restaurant Let-downs
Kupros Bistro – These guys started strong last year, but after a couple rotten meals and some weird service I’m done with them.
Hamburger Patties – The bar here has some good things going for it, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a sadder burger.
The Garlic Shack – We hardly knew ye.
Favorite Breakfast Spots
Lucky Café – I eat breakfast here every Wednesday. For reals.
Eggie’s – Almost worth the trip out to Fulton Ave.
Market Club – Hidden in an old produce shipping yard, this place comes through every time…except on Saturdays when they’re closed.
Alonzo’s – The best Mexican breakfast around.
Favorite Bars
Socal’s – I’ve been going here for over a decade now, but for some reason I went more frequently in 2011.
Clubhouse 56 – Even though they dropped the ball with my Movember Team, Club 56 still gets credit for being one of the best places that has tvs, drinks and decent food. Also, I totally dominate trivia night here…sometimes.
Cheaters – A change in my bike ride home meant a decrease in my time spent at Cheaters. Still a favorite though.
Espanol – The lounge at this old Italian restaurant is one of my favorite places in town.
De Vere’s – I just think this place is doing everything right. Not only is it a great bar, but the community involvement and charity of the owners makes you proud to pound Guinness and Jameson there.
R15- The perfect middle-of-the road meeting spot for friends, co-workers, whatever.
Zelda’s – the bar here is so great you almost forget about the pizza. Of course, that’s a lie, but the bar is actually really cool too.
Favorite Places I would go if I were Younger, Cooler and Better Looking
Mix – It’s on a rooftop fer crissakes!
Lounge on 20 – Looks fancy from outside.
District 30 – What goes on in there???
Miscellaneous Favorites
Ginger Elizabeth – If anything in Sacramento is “world class” it’s this chocolate shop.
The Beat – Someday soon The Beat won’t be there and Sacramento will be less cool for it.
The New Terminal B – I’m totally on board with new terminal at Sacramento International. I’m glad they put some local Sacramento restaurants in there. And I like the big, red bunny.
The Golden Cadillacs – I like this band every time I see them.
Jimmer Fredette- I know he’s looked pretty mediocre so far, but I’ve got a bad case of Jimmer Fever.
Sutter’s Fort – It’s a dang fort right in the middle of town! How cool is that?
The Crest Theater – Get out to the Crest more and you won’t be disappointed. There’s always something cool like a French Film Festival or a David Sedaris appearance going on.
The Whole Food Truck Thing: Drive some of that stuff to my office!
Miscellaneous Let Downs
Parking Lots – Safeway on 19th, East Sac Trader Joe’s, that awful mess in Natomas where the movie theater is, I’m looking at you.
Non-existent Arena – Why can’t you exist?
Potential New Favorites for 2012
The Firestone Public House – I like beer, sports and good times so I can’t wait to see how this turns out.
Blackbird Kitchen & Bar – Rooting for something cool to fill in those eyesores on K St? This could be it.
The Squeeze Inn – The midtown location should open soon. Look out arteries!
I Went to Vegas…
…and I came back with this.
Needless to say, I’m glad to be home.
Mustache Squad 2000 on the TV (Again)
Today marks the end of Mustache Squad 2000′s Movember campaign. Out of a team of thirty men we managed to get five of them up early enough to be on Good Day Sacramento this morning. Six, if you count our friend Ken Rudulph, but back down to five if you subtract Patrick since he didn’t have a mustache.
Click here to see the video since I’m not smart enough to embed it here.
There are a few fun things to note in the video:
1. Dan’s reference to Steve Prefontaine which probably only a handful of people got.
2. Patrick’s reference to “Just Friends” which even fewer people got.
3. John saying he wanted to ride the mustache as long as he could.
4. Me giving a shout out to Anthony’s Barbershop who really stepped up to help us out.
5. Me refusing to give a shout out to Clubhouse 56 when prompted to promote our wrap-up party on account of they booked two different groups into the space I asked to reserve over 2 months ago and repeatedly reminded them about each week. As a result, I’m looking for a last-minute replacement bar. Way to support the cause, Clubhouse 56.
Oh, and it’s not too late to donate to the team! Click here to help us out.
Mustache Update
Mustache Squad 2000 had another successful Mustache Happy Hour last night at AlleyKatz. Sadly, the photo had a lot of red eye issues so I was forced to give most of us oversized cartoon sunglasses.
The team has raised over $3,000 and is set to return to Good Day Sacramento on Nov. 30th. Help us raise funds and awareness for men’s health issues by donating here.
Thanks!
Movember Update
Here’s what you’ve been waiting for: Mustache updates from Mustache Squad 2000! These photos we’re taken 10 days into the month at our Mustache Happy Hour at Clubhouse 56. We have 27 team members now and about half showed up to the happy hour, but somehow I missed a few of them. Sorry, team.
We are very quickly approaching our goal of $2000. We’d like to thank all of our donors and remind them that we will have our big Mustache Wrap-up Party on Nov. 30th.
Movember is going strong and it’s not too late for you to throw some financial support behind Mustache Squad 2000. Help the fight against prostate cancer and encourage men to go see the doctor by donating to the team here.
Also, we were in the Sacramento Bee this weekend, but had to turn down Channel 3 because I was busy drinking beer and watching the Niners. I made my choice and I’m sticking by it.
Oh and I’d like to thank The Bee for giving me a pretty hefty title change in that story. I expect to see the change reflected in my next paycheck.
Want David Sedaris Tix?
Davis Sedaris is coming to the Crest on Friday, Nov. 18! If you want two tickets, email me with two good reasons why I should give them to you.
I’m not sure if he’ll be bringing the monkey with him or not….
Movember: Day 7
Here’s the mustache at the beginning of day 7 of Movember. It’s not really doing anything for me just yet.
Don’t forget to support Mustache Squad 2000 as we raise money to support the fight agaisnt prostate cancer and other mens health issues . You can check out all the Mo Bros and donate to the team here.
Mustache Squad 2000 – Day One
Movember is here! This morning Mustache Sqaud 2000 headed to Anthony’s Barbershop to get our official shaves. Even Good Day Sacramento showed up and we convinced Ken Rudulph to join the squad too.
Here are the before and after shots of our crew.
Brandon – It took him three years to grow what little facial hair he had, so this is a big deal.
Jason – He’s the youngest member of our squad, but what he lacks in age he makes up for in aggressive beard growth.
Patrick – Patrick made a beeline to the tanning salon after his shave as his chin hadn’t seen the sun since 1998. Both these photos creep me out.
Sam – I’ll be honest, I don’t know if this is Sam pre-shave or post-shave. Doesn’t really matter.
Josh – Don’t worry ladies, this facial hair will be back in no time.
Ed – See how happy a shave made him?
Nick – Here I am. I’m really looking forward to shaving again this afternoon.
Justin: Perhaps you’re asking why he took off his beard and his shirt. Mind your own business.
Dan – It took Dan so long to shave that by the time he was done it was time to start all over again. Kinda like painting the Golden Gate Bridge.
Matt – Matt’s another one where I’m not sure if this was his before or after pic. I’m expected big things from him mustache-wise though.
Dustin – Dustin tells me one of these is a pre-shave photo and one is a post-shave photo. I think he might’ve screwed up.
Ryan J.- This canvas is awaiting its masterpiece.
John S.- Has anybody ever fallen further down the cool ladder after getting a shave?
John H. - I’m not even sure these pics are of the same guy.
Ryan L. – Man, I can’t wait to see a mustache on this mug.
Mike – An early favorite for thickest ‘stache.
Rick – The Ricker says he hasn’t let any facial hair grow in since the 90s and now he’s just hoping his stache can rival his eyebrows.
Levi – I don’t actually know Levi, but I’m a little scared of him. Whatever the case, I think a good mustache is going to complement that hair nicely.
Well, that’s all I have so far. We have a few stragglers out there who haven’t sent in pics yet.
While you’re waiting for that, make a donation to Mustache Squad 2000 here. Oh and don’t forget to follow the team on the twitters #ms2000.
Mustache Squad 2000
Mustache season starts tomorrow!
If there’s one thing we men don’t like to do it’s go to the stupid doctor’s office. That place is a real drag, it costs a lot of money and usually we think we’re better off just not knowing what’s wrong with us than to have to go through that whole ordeal.
On the other hand, one thing we men love is sweet mustaches. Nothing proclaims your manhood more than a sophisticated stache adorning the upper lip. It’s pure class.
For this reason, the month of November has officially been changed to “Movember.” Throughout the month, my mustache team (known as Mustache Squad 2000) and others like us throughout the world will be growing mustaches to bring attentions to and raise money for mens health issues such as prostate and testicular cancer.
Beginning tomorrow (Nov. 1) the entire Mustache Squad 2000 will start their month off with a trip to Anthony’s Barbershop for some professional shaves. The rules of Movember require that you start the month completely clean shaven and what better place to get clean shaven than Anthony’s?
If you’ve never been, Anthony’s is a throwback to barbershops of the olden days where men gathered to shoot the bull for hours on end even if they weren’t in need of a cut or a shave. He’s got comfy couches, concert posters and fridge full of cool beverages. What more could you ask for?
If you want to see us getting our shaves, tune into to everybody’s favorite local morning show Good Day Sacramento tomorrow morning. They are supposed to be coming by at 8am to show us live in barbershop.
After the shaves, our team’s charge is to muster up the best mustaches we can for the duration of the month. Some of them may be ugly, some may be sad, but they are all for a good cause so that makes it ok. No beards or goatees allowed! Just pure stache all the way.
Mustache Squad 2000′s goal is to raise $2000 for the cause (hence the name). Be sure to check back here for info on Mustache Happy Hours and our big Mustache Wrap-Up Party on Nov. 30. And, if you’d like to make a donation, please do so here.
Thanks!
Happy Hour Showdown: Alley Katz v. River Rock Tap House
In our first of what will hopefully be a long line of Happy Hour Showdowns we pitted Alley Katz against the River Rock Tap House. These first two competitors are fairly new and very beer-heavy. Let’s take a look at the breakdown.
Happy Hour Time
Alley Katz: Every day, 3-7pm
River Rock: M-F, 2-6pm
Winner: Alley Katz. That extra hour goes a long way for folks who can’t get out of work til 6. Plus, a weekend happy hour is a big bonus.
Happy Hour Specials
Alley Katz: $1 off all drinks.
River Rock: $4 Craft Beers, $3 small plates, $3 Wells
Winner: In a tight one, I’m gonna give the nod to River Rock. At Alley Katz, it’s hard to beat the liter of Alley Katz Honey Amber for $6 (usually $7) and I like the simplicity of just taking a dollar off everything, but River Rock offers food specials and even if the wings are small and sad, at least it’s something. The food at Alley Katz is affordable and potentially tasty, but there are no happy hour food specials of which I am aware.
Stole this photo of River Rock's taps from Yelp...which is why it isn't all blurry.
Selection
Alley Katz: huge beer selection with lots of fancy Belgium bottles. They also offer a little thing called the Beer Tower ($30) which is basically three pitchers of beer poured into one long, tall tube type thing with a spout on the end. Plus, you can get tall boys of your favorite cheapo domestics.
River Rock: About 45 beers on the menu and a full bar. No beer tower, but I like the wall of taps.
Winner: Alley Katz, just because I think they have more options…even though I didn’t count’em or nuthin’. And a beer tower? C’mon.
Ambiance
Alley Katz: A big room with plenty of tvs, a comfy living room type area, pool tables and real nice long bar. When I went there was one guy who was rocking a little too hard to his own jukebox selections, but who am I to harsh his vibe? Also, they had Sex in the City on tv while the World Series and Monday Night Football were on.
River Rock: Friendly folks at the bar and good tvs. It definitely feels more like a restaurant than Alley Katz, but I guess that’s because it’s more of a restaurant than Alley Katz. No weird jukebox guy here.
Winner: I like them both, but I like the crowd at River Rock more because there was no Weird Jukebox Guy. Also, minus points for Alley Katz showing Sex in the City while major sporting events were on. So River Rock gets the nod.
Slyly taken photo of Weird Jukebox Guy making his sweet selections.
Other Notes
Alley Katz: There’s no sign out front that says “Alley Katz” there’s just a big ol’ red cat. Maybe let people know what’s going on in there with a sign or somethin’. Also, “Alley Katz” is maybe the worst name for a bar ever. Hmmm…maybe that’s why they don’t put it on the sign.
River Rock: They have a special club that you earn entry into by drinking 41 different beers (not at one sitting). Every time you finish a new brew, you have the bartender sign off on the menu. When you complete the 41 beers you get a free upgrade to a larger mug of beer whenever you order for the rest of your life…I think. Sweet deal!
What goes on in here? And, yes, this photo was also stolen from Yelp.
Overall Winner: Alley Katz
Right out of the gates we’ve got ourselves a super-close finish to a Happy Hour Showdown. These two beer-friendly joints are similar in a lot of ways and you’d be doing ok for yourself if you hit up either one. I’m giving the coveted Showdown Trophy to Alley Katz though because I really like a happy hour that goes til 7pm and the beer selection is truly spectacular.
