Last week a group of us enjoyed a leisurely and delicious supper at the Tower Bistro in the Embassy Suites hotel across the river from Raley Field where we all inhabit section 117. That night it was compare notes from spring training and anticipate the upcoming season. Last night we enjoyed an offensive spectacular as the Sacramento River Cats of West Sacramento nearly overtook the parent Oakland A’s, who by the fifth inning had become the Oakland River A’s.

The name of AAA baseball is really “change”. The forces of evolution are never so clearly seen. Last year’s club has virtually been swept away. Mike Rouse, last year’s short stop will start the season on the roster of the Cleveland Indians. Few players from last season remain. Recent father Charles Thomas will hold down a spot in a good outfield along with Jason Perry. Jeremy Brown at catcher and John Baker appear to be strong but there’s a new name from AA who is still playing with the A’s and where he slips into place will effect one of the others. So the team we saw fielded on Thursday night isn’t representative of the team who will take on the Tacoma Rainers to open the season next Thursday.
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I had some spare time after work before it got dark out (thanks, daylight savings time!) and decided to walk to my local library to pick up a book I’d requested online. This isn’t your childhood library: not only do they have a great selection of new books, they also carry DVDs and CDs. So, if you’re looking for some good, free entertainment in those last few days before payday, try your local library.

There’s a new city to read about on the Metroblogging network. Even if you don’t know how to spell it, you can take a virtual trip there: Kuala Lumpur! Check out this cool skyline photo.

I’ve adopted a co-worker’s organic produce box for the past two weeks and have enjoyed some really excellent local food. The box, from Terra Firma Farm, is what’s known as Community Supported Agriculture. Another local CSA is Full Belly Farm.

The big plus of using a CSA is that you get locally grown organic produce all year. The downside is that the boxes include what’s freshest that week, which means you never know exactly what you’ll get. For instance, last week my box included: grapefruit, oranges, pistachios, one large leek, broccoli and carrots. This week I have carrots, tangerines, spring onions, new red potatoes, asparagus and kiwi.

The boxes from Terra Firma come in three sizes, and the larger your box the more variety (which might help solve the dilemma of what to do with one leek). There are pick-up locations throughout the Sacramento area, mostly in people’s backyards.

Personally, I like going around the farmer’s market on Sundays under the Capital City Freeway, but if you’re looking for a way to eat more healthy, local food, check out one of these CSAs.

Boy, one weekend of summer-like weather plus a good soaking and spring busts out all over town.

Quick Thank You to the nice people at MTV for some free advertising of our fair city…Stephen, head of the Howard University College Republicans and a native Sacramentan, was proudly wearing his Governator tee…with the words SACRAMENTO, CA emblazoned on the bottom…apparently, it’s the apparrel of choice when picking up your roommate from a night in jail for public urination…this free advertising should save the city some $$$!!!!

From last week’s train tressel fire - a view of the smoke from midtown.

Did you get any good shots of the fire? Or do you have other photos from around Sacramento to share? Don’t forget - our Flickr group is always open!

Last night I caught up with a friend over a few tasters of wine at 58 Degrees & Holding Co. in Midtown. Located on 18th just off Capitol, 58 Degrees (or is it properly called Bar 58 & Bistro? Whatever.) is immediately welcoming, with coolly candlelit interiors, wide windows, and an aroma as oaky as a California chard. Mid-century mod couches and tufted benches provide the perfect perch for sipping any of their extensive collections of wines. From light-as-air whites to rich, smoky reds, the list offers something for every taste (at reasonable to splurge-ish prices), provided by knowledgeable, attentive, friendly staff.

I’m no wine expert, but I know what I like - and, more to the point - what I feel like - on any given day. Yesterday, I was looking for a sweet, drinkable white. (Click here for their menu - though I recall the prices being $1 higher on at least some of the selections last night.) I started with a Viognier that, while good, was a bit drier than I normally enjoy. It had a spice to it that was pleasant, but not necessarily what I was looking for. My friend won the first round with a JJ Cristoffel “Urziger Wurtzgarten” Kabinett Riesling from Germany that was sweet, soft, and perfect. My second round was a Gewurtztraminer, my friend’s a Chablis- but the real highlight was the Rinaldi “Bug Juice” Moscato d’Asti. The name alone should make Italian wine fans swoon. And it tasted like a bit o’sunshine in a class. Definitely motivation to return.

We paired our tastes with the cheese plate, pictured above. A creamy goat cheese, appropriately stinky bleu, mild manchego, and buttery brie accompanied a nicely spiced chutney and some salty nuts. Served with tissue-thin slices of bread, the $16 plate was filling and well presented.

Whether or not you’re into wine, 58 Degrees (and its companion wine shop) is worth the visit. The staff is helpful and free of the pretension that can make you run faster than you can say “Sideways was way overrated.” 58 Degrees is not overrated. Take a date or a friend and check it out.

It is with great regret that I noticed the Unicef store on P Street is closing, and the shop has a sign “For Rent” in the window. The regret I feel is that I have walked by that store a thousand or more times in the last 8 or 9 years, thought it looked interesting, but never went in. If you’re at all like me, then no wonder they’re closing.

Meanwhile, the tattoo place next door to Unicef is still open. There is also a new tattoo shop open just down the street at 21st and P. It’s called…”The Royal Peacock”. Hmmm, decidedly fitting moniker.

But this prompts me to ask: how many tattoo shops can you have per square mile? Isn’t there a limit? (It’s one of those questions like ‘how many angels can you fit on the head of a pin?’) Don’t forget the body piercing/tattoo shop down here on 29th and S as well.

Here’s a novel idea (or not) for an all-in-one Midtown Shop Extravaganza: open a tattoo shop that sells gourmet coffee, hamburgers, and sushi. Massage and yoga available for extra. And maybe you can get a Britney (i.e. head shaving) while you wait.

Ah, flashback to my youth in the Inland Empire, where every morning we were greeted with the brown skies of summer….zzrrrp. Wait, aren’t we in Sacramento now? Yes, but the growing brown smear of smoking creosote is truly one sight I thought I had left behind in the concrete jungle that is L.A. and the desert towns circling it.

Parked the car at work, stepped out, and WHACK! The smell of serious railroad track smacked me in the nose. There’s still a tornado-plume of smoke over the river. My hair has a lovely scent: Eau de Creosote. Do you think there’s a market for it? Nah, I thought not.

Pray for a good, solid wind. Rain would be good too.