Do you like the big silver horse in front of Safeway at 19th and S? He’s a shiny guy, and pretty soon he’ll have a “brother” eagle over on Sutterville and Freeport. If you’re familiar with that intersection, you’ll know that for several years the corner has housed a rotting gray building in the style of Denny’s. But it has been vacant, and for a time, fenced in. Now there are plans to put a ‘plaza’ of some sort on the corner. I’m all for progress, as I had visions of businesses in my mind every time I walked by that spot on my way to SCC. ‘That’s a waste of prime space,’ was something I often thought. Now it will be developed, and I really hope that Petrovich can do up something nice. I can’t help but be a little concerned. They want to make it a tribute to WWII veterans? Somehow that bothers me a bit. Especially if the retail shops/restaurants are questionable. Could you imagine a “Hooters” as a tribute to WWII vets? (You probably can–I’m sure a lot of the males serving our country right now would appreciate a little levity.) I’m trying to keep an open mind here, but as a veteran, and the granddaughter of three WWII veterans (not just men served, you know), it somehow doesn’t quite float. Can you imagine the advertising potential? Buy a pizza or a pair of earrings to honor a WWII vet! Only in America.

In an effort to duplicate Fox News’ Fair and Balanced reputation, I would like to post a link to The Flash Report, a Republican blog which served as the basis for the new California Majority Report…I actually think it’s more fun to see what the other side has to say…take a look and tell us which one you like better!

When I read the headline of the article “How Angry Is Your City?” on MSN.com, I thought to myself, well, pretty angry. We’re probably on that list. Sure enough, we’re number 44 in the nation, based on some interesting factors, including high blood pressure, aggravated assault, and road rage.

The road rage factor definitely applies here in town. Every morning when some (or more than some) crazy drivers cut me off or fail to use their blinkers or…drive under cell phone influence (I.e. crazy), I feel the burst of what could be called mini-road-rage. Then my rational mind takes over.

But it was also striking to note that we’re the second California city on the list–not too far behind L.A. We’re definitely moving up in the world, aren’t we? At least we can say we’re less angry than Wichita, Kansas…wait a minute, Wichita is angrier than Sacramento? How demoralizing. They must be using funny data that they don’t mention–like number of barbeque chains or something. We’re still pretty impressive on the list. We were even angrier than New York City. But then again, it all depends on how you look at it.

YEA! Taka’s Sushi, a fabulous sushi joint formerly located at S and 18th before it closed courtesy of a tenant/landlord dispute, is allegedly reopening - and at a better location: I and 15th.

“But wait!” some of our more astute Sacramento sushi loving readers will shout. That address is home to another great sushi restaurant: Zen Toro. Well, apparently Zen Toro’s now closing their doors soon. However, if this nutshell game is contagious, maybe the ZT will reopen one day at Suite 111 of 1501 16th Street, currently occupied by yet another fabu sushi joint - Nishiki.

And the plot thickens: where Taka’s Sushi used to be shall now reside another, and wholly separate, Taka’s. Confused? Not yet. Read this for more sushi name-game drama.

Sadly, after years of decline, Tower Records recently filed for bankruptcy in an effort to help the business sell (no, not more discs). Tower has been struggling for years, some would say its because of (illegal) downloading, others would say it’s because record companies charge too much for bad music (ever get that disc you’ve been waiting for only to find out that the one song they play on the radio is the only good one on the whole album?). Still other blame Tower’s decline on the big box stores like Target, Wal-Mart, and Costco undercutting the prices of music stores.
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If you’re looking for an interesting evening out, and you have a literary bent, check out the “Extemporaneous Collaboration” of Brad Buchanan and Robbie Grossklaus (both published poets) tomorrow night at 8 PM at Luna’s in Midtown.

I don’t rightly know what ‘extemporaneous collaboration’ means, other than it sounds like fun. Here’s a poetry sample from Brad Buchanan:
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Last night, I attended a party at Mason’s for the launch of The California Majority Report , a new blog that features the upper echalon of California Democratic insiders. The crowd consisted of Capitol “insider” types, including former Governor Gray Davis, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, many State Legislators, and almost EVERY former Davis staffer! Gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides was conspicuously absent, but he says he was campaigning and will likely log onto the site and provide commentary.

Check out this article in the San Francisco Chronicle to learn more about the blog and the key players…

Here’s a quick quote to give you a feel for the blog and what they’re about…

Roger Salazar, one of the publishers of the California Majority Report, said with the Internet an increasingly important tool for organization and energizing party insiders, the new site will show “we’re very much a big tent party and there isn’t any one philosophy that everyone abides by.”

Happy Reading!

Good Yoga is hard to find. Sure, 24 Hour offers yoga classes, but they can be hit-or-miss affairs. And forget that Bikram crap - when I want to feel like passing out I’ll . . . okay, I never want to feel like passing out. Sacramento, however, seems to have a Yoga studio tucked into every 5th block in midtown - the converted bottom floors of many old Victorians or bungalows littered with sweaty bodies in shivasna-induced comas (I googled my best on that spelling, but it’s still probably wrong).

Enter Deep Art Yoga on the corner of 21st and H Streets in Midtown. The long, rectangular space hosts a full schedule of yoga classes as well as an art gallery. At Deep, inner peace meets outer beauty as you stretch and sweat under framed painting of photography.

After the jump: enthusiastic instructors, yoga in the park, oodles of free Om
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If you have a few minutes (or a case of the Mondays where you don’t want to work), then take some time to read the Stop The Arena Tax website to learn about the Arena tax…everyone says politics makes strange bedfellows, and this case is no different. Check out labor and liberal Assemblymembers and City council members join with tax watchdog organizations to defeat this measure.

You know you’re becoming a cynic of the political process when you start to view Dan Walters as a moderate and reasonable voice…check out his column in today’s Sacramento Bee…he asks some very good questions on what happened to the proposed redistriciting reform constitutional amendment and looks at the manipulation of the process that killed the measure.

Our legislators have a responsibility to be open and honest with the people of California. Say that the plan was not cooked, say you didn’t like it, say that you will take it up later…but don’t insult the public’s intelligence and say that the bill got to the Assembly too late and there was nothing that could be done.

I’ve worked with the Legislature for long enough to know that when things need to get done, they get done!!! Clocks are stopped to meet deadlines, deadlines are extended, the doors are locked so members will not leave, bills are amended with a moment’s notice to get things done…

So, if you didn’t want to get it done, be honest and say you didn’t want to get it done…where there’s a will, there’s a bill!!!!