Today, we got a bit of a break from the wet weather in Sacramento.
I enjoyed the sunshine, blue skies and a roast beef sandwich at La Bou on 9th St. Then I walked back to work with a couple of raindrops on my head. I know California needs the rain. Still, I appreciate any sunny day as we finish up these last weeks of Winter.
Here’s a look at the soggy start to our work week. On Monday, I took a break from the drive home and checked out the Yolo Causeway.
Waking up with a cup of vanilla chai. The wet weather’s reminding me that Spring is still a few weeks away.
So much for that morning jog.
Maybe next time.
Moving on to rainy weather activities – catching up on my favorite TV shows (I’m ready to roll with 30 Rock, either on my Direct TV’s DVR or on Hulu), reading (just finished “The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick Volume 1: The Short Happy Life Of The Brown Oxford”), e-mail, RSS headlines and Twitter.
In Sacramento, the Twitter community’s rockin’. I’ve had a blast following the amazing people behind the twitters, replies, RT’s, hashmarks and random connections….in 140 characters or less.
While making an infrequent bulk-supply run at Costco the other day, I was surprised to see for sale gift cards for the Paragary Restaurant Group – that’s places like Paragary’s, Spataro, Esquire, and R15. The cards, sold in packs of two $50 cards for around $75, give you a discount on a night out and give you a chance to support a more-or-less local business. (I say more-or-less not because there’s any question that it’s local, just because I think “local business” conjures up an image of a more struggling mom-and-pop operation than Randy Paragary’s Sacto restaurant mafia.)
I didn’t expect to find the local fare among the many gift cards Costco offers at a discount (stuff like movies, Starbucks, etc). Good idea though. And who doesn’t appreciate a discount – the Dow just fell below 8000! Ack. Be frugal. Happy Slim Holidays.
While browsing craigslist sacramento a few months age, I noted an ad for a Sacramento Meetup that included a link. The link was for a local Travel club. I attended a few meetings and discovered a group of interesting, active people as well as storehouses of travel information.
Having had so much good fortune with the Travel group, I branched out and discovered there’s a (very active) Sacramento Hiking group. There’s also a lot of health-oriented groups, such as exercise groups. The interesting thing about these groups is that one or two passionate people start them, and then when the membership runs out (Meetup charges an organizer fee), they disband. Most often they disband because there aren’t enough attendees at the scheduled meetings.
If you’re looking for something to lift the winter blues or just to get you out of the house now and then, I recommend checking some of these groups out. Who knows, you might make a few new friends.
It’s like Miller Time, but so much more: California Brewer’s Festival at Discovery Park this Saturday! Weather should be good. Beer should be better. Add in live music, food, and shady trees and you’ve got a great second chance for anyone who misssed Second Saturday last weekend. See you there!
Sacramento area skeptics, critical-thinkers and like-minded fellow travelers have something to look forward to on Friday, Aug. 1st: The first meeting of the Sacramento Drinking Skeptically event.
Sponsored by American River Skeptics, the event starts at 6:60 PM at Sacramento Brewing Co. (2713 El Paseo Ln.) According to the events organizer the focus of the first meeting will be meeting everyone, discussing future events, and how everyone came to the skeptic movement. I’m sure we’ll manage to fit a drink or two in there as well.
I’ll be there, anyone else?
There’s really not much else to say, is there? Enjoy. (Responsibly.)
The Sacramento French Film Festival will arrive this Friday night in a bluster of wine and baguettes at the Crest theater. While Opening Night is on the 18th, you can attend a number of les films as the fest will run for deux weekends (deux means two). A single ticket is $10, but the party and all-you-can-watch passes are a bit more.
If you don’t speak the language of love (no not, “charge it!” but French!), no worries. All films have subtitles in English. Et c’est merveilleux!
The Russians are coming…oh wait, they’re here. I just love saying that. Saturday, May 17 from 10 AM to 8 PM, there will be a YARMARKA (fair or festival) at Southside Park downtown. The park is just off Hwy 50 at 6th and W Streets. Free admission.
I’m told the event is kid friendly with food, performances, and souvenirs. There will be several music performers, including at least one Christian rock group. Oh yes, and a Ukrainian female rapper “Verka” should be there as well—it looks like she raps in English—non-religious, as far as I can tell.
If you want more info, here’s a mini-video of last year’s event. Caution: it’s all in Russian, but can give you an idea of what went on last year. I particularly like the “Russian Biker Club” segment where one guy wears a leather jacket in the video that says “Russian by Birth, U.S. Marine by Choice.”
Hoo-Rah!
Time for a picnic! Tomorrow is picnic day at UC Davis; parade starts downtown at 9 AM.
As you may remember, last year’s weather tanked, with rain spoiling the day…this year? Looking good for an early tan. Just remember to dose up on your Claritin/ Benadryl though. The pollen count is high. Although I suppose if you’re imbibing, it won’t matter to you anyway.
Picnic lovers, enjoy!
