Live Music Hotspots in Sacramento

People in the Sacramento area looking for some live music while they eat, drink, or just socialize may wish to check out the following locations in the area. The best way to choose one, of course, is to ask around to see what locals recommend; you may want to ask about one of these venues.

Harlow’s Restaurant and Night Club: Located on 2708 J Street, Harlow’s is a modern club with a classic twist, as it’s named after Jean Harlow and features a few classically inspired pieces in the décor. The cover charge may be as high as $20.

O’Mally’s Irish Pub: It seems like every big city has an O’Connell’s or an O’Shaughnessy’s or an O’Mally’s. If Irish fare and beer are what you’re after, you might want to give this pub a try. The pub is located on 1109 2nd Street and is known for good burgers and a wide variety of beer. The menu isn’t wide, however, and reviewers warn that the crowd can get pretty rowdy on occasion. Another Irish pub folks might want to try is Gallagher’s, located at 1201 K Street.

Blue Lamp: On 1400 Alhambra Blvd., this former nudie bar presents an homage to the Rat Pack and is considered similar to its San Francisco co-club.

Stoney Inn: A favorite to many locals, Stoney Inn is located at 1320 Del Paso Blvd. Formerly referred to as “Stoner Inn” by cheeky jokers, it’s the place to hear good blues music as well as local bands that play alternative rock. Locals warn people to not judge the inn by its appearance, as it seems much smaller from the outside than it is inside. Kids are welcome as long as food is still being served.

Torch Club: Located at 904 15th Street, the Torch Club is considered a decent place to dance and get drinks by many locals. The club only accepts cash, though, so be prepared.

Wednesday Night in The City

Cheap Laughs

Every Wednesday night there is a place you need to visit in the City of Chicago. It is downtown but don’t hold that against it. Yes, I am one of those people whose last resort is to head downtown for entertainment. There is so many cooler places scattered through the city and are a hell of a lot cheaper. But the place I am going to talk about is Timothy O’ Tooles. For the most part it’s your garden variety Irish pub. The prices are decent, the beer list is adequate, and if you want to catch a game there are more TV’s than there are people. It’s pretty much a sports bar but with a lot more warm clientele. Not sure why this of all the downtown bars seems to attract the slightly more normal sports nuts. It’s got good looking people and an attentive wait staff. Now, I know you can tell me you can find that place anywhere in the city on any night. That’s why we are talking about Wednesday. On that night it becomes something a little more. What makes this change happen you ask? The Comedians You Should Know a group of nine comedians who are always rotating sets every Wednesday night. There is also usually a headliner and a host. This is booked and run by comics. This why every time I go and see them there is always a couple of killer comedians. Who is a better judge of comedy you or the people who tell jokes every day in and out. They don’t want to filler. They don’t care if they offend. All you have to do is attend and laugh. It really doesn’t get much simpler than that. Actually it does. The cost is ten dollars. That for all the laughs you can take in two hours. On top of that you get a chance to see some of top rising comedians around in a small environment. Watch them try new stuff out in their act. Also if you stick around after the show the Comedians will hang out and talk to you. If you think they’re funny on stage wait to you see them off stage. Now I know at this moment I sound like a giant shill for Timothy O’ Tooles. I don’t work there, I don’t have a family member that owns it, and I just know its one place you can go in the city for a guaranteed laugh. I also have had a chance to meet a lot of these comedians and I know this means a lot to them. This isn’t some big corporate enterprise it’s nine people trying to be successful at something they love. They grind out day in and day out are little bars with small audience and no pay. So there is something thrilling about every Wednesday getting see people at the top of their game doing what they love. All I can I say is it’s more than worth the price of admission.

Star Wars Bowling

Holy Han, is this set of homemade Star Wars bowling pins adorable or what? I know that if I assembled my largely comprised of geeks group of friends together for a game night, this would be a gigantic hit. In fact, I know just which pins certain people would argue about over going home with.

It looks super simple to make, and if you don’t usually buy the Gerber snack containers featured here, you can certainly use anything else, from 20-ounce coke bottles (you’ll have to tape on paper drawings, however, since they probably won’t show up well on the clear containers), to tall plastic cups to anything else you’ve got lying around.

All of that said, if you want to try out the Gerber snacks, they’re actually quite good, and low in calories! I like to snack on the sweet potato flavored ones, myself.

And why stop at bowling pins? You could make all kinds of homemade games this way—from your own town’s version of Monopoloy (we have a St. Louis in a Box, actually, which is not homemade) to replacing the bear on your “Don’t Break the Ice” game with a little Yoda (just glue him on—but make sure he’s not too heavy first).

Mini-Fridge Beer Cannon

Here is an invention that Homer Simpson would love. Just what the dedicated couch potato needs, a mini-fridge that catapults a can of beer right into your hand so you don’t have to get off your butt. And, it is controlled with an iPhone app. They really do have an app for anything!

 

What's old is in again: Egg White Cocktails

 

          

           The Pisco Sour at Oddfellows in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood is a beautiful drink. It’s a light, milky yellow color with red Peychaud bitter cutting through the frothy foam top and dribbling in little droplets to the bottom of the glass.  It tastes delicious, too—it’s light and effervescent and tastes just a bit like a milkshake, a bit like eggnog.

            Which is no surprise. A main ingredient is egg whites. 

I couldn’t believe that I was ordering a cocktail made with a raw egg, but it looked so good when the waiter brought it to a nearby table.  I thought the only time anyone consumed a raw egg was in large quantities—like body builders on steroids or long distance runners—or people with a death wish, hoping for salmonella poisoning. I was wrong, though, and now I can’t get egg white cocktails out of my head. 

Cocktails with egg whites—fizzes, flips and pickups—fell out of fashion in the 1940’s.  Now, as nostalgia is in again, especially here in Seattle, egg white cocktails have come back into style along with handlebar mustaches and bowler hats. They are served at most restaurants that want to create old school replicas of Prohibition-era hangouts.  In Seattle, some prime examples are Oddfellows, Tavern Law, the Knee-High Stocking company.  Last night, I also had another stellar egg white cocktail made with whiskey at the bar at Hunger in Fremont.

There’s nothing old-fashioned tasting about this cocktail. Although some bars use “sour mixes,” the egg white is the original and preferable alternative. Today, bartenders infuse the egg with fruit syrups and add herbs or bitters to the top of their cocktails to make something that uses an old-fashioned idea, but makes the cocktails uniquely modern at the same time.

Although the FDA recommends not handling or eating raw eggs, consumers of egg white cocktails are at very little risk for salmonella poisoning. Plenty of popular dishes used to include raw egg, including meringue, hollandaise sauce, Caesar salad and mousse. The FDA states that only 1 in every 20,000 eggs had salmonella bacteria—compare that to the risk of being struck by drowning which is 1 in 1000. Also, liquors mixed with raw eggs that contain 80-90-or 100 proof alcohol also probably will kill off any festering bacteria. For those planning on using egg whites in their cocktails, most bartenders recommend organic eggs. 

Still, for those leery of raw eggs in their alcohol, there are other alternatives that produce similar effects.  Pasteurized egg whites come in small cartons and are available at most supermarkets. They require proper refrigeration and still have the potential to be used as salmonella cultures.

Another risk-free alternative is powdered egg whites.  They are inexpensive, pasteurized and are easy to store.  Egg white producers guarantee that their egg whites are salmonella-free. To use powdered egg whites in cocktails, mix two teaspoons of powder and one ounce of water to create the equivalent of one egg white. Powdered egg white can also be added directly to the drink, but the ratio between liquid and egg white must be the same as in the formula described. Never mix alcohol and powdered egg white together—it produces a hard, plastic-like substance. 

Clover Club Cocktail, from The Standard Cocktail Guide by Crosby Gaige,1944.

Ice
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 ounces gin                                                                                                                               1/2 ounce grenadine (4 dashes)
Juice of 1/2 medium lemon (1 to 2 tablespoons)
1 large raw egg white

Fill a glass two-thirds full with ice. Add the gin, grenadine, lemon juice and raw egg white. Shake to form a good froth. Strain into a martini glass.

Sources and further reading:  

http://www.artofdrink.com/ingredients/misc/egg/egg-whites-and-cocktails/

http://www.tablematters.com/index.php/bottle-sections/bz/bz3

Gato Negro San Pedro Wine

Gato Negro is Chile’s finest selling wine. Worldwide, it is a top wine marketing leader in more than fifteen countries. It has been known to over-deliver on its price point, even with a struggling economy. This has been the case for decades. Today, the Gato Negro brand sells over four million cases in seventy countries, contributing to the wine industry on five continents.

If you were to think about those numbers, approximately two Gato Negro bottles of wine are uncorked every two seconds. Or at any given time, hundreds of bottles are being shared all over the planet.

So it’s no wonder that it’s one of my favorites. Gato Negro is owned by Viña San Pedro. Their first branded wine was created in the 60’s. This was at a time where bottled wine was quickly gaining popularity and massive amounts were being consumed by a growing middle-class. During this time, wineries had begun to market and bottle their wines that appealed to these consumers. Gato Negro was originally simply ‘negro’, they started to include white wines to their selection many years later.

Today, Gato Negro comes in many different varietals. This is a brand with a label recognized as sophisticated. This is a brand of wine to share with family and friends—“no occasion required”, their website states.

My favorite is their original Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a classic red wine, interspersed with hints of violet. I can recall sipping this many times last summer. One night in particular, I remember sipping this while stargazing. There was a new moon so we could even see faint traces of the Milky Way galaxy even though we were just outside the city limits. I spent this night with a special someone; a summertime fling. Right after we had uncorked our bottle of Gato Negro Cabernet Sauvignon, we sat down on a park bench, looked up and saw a shooting star flit across the dark night sky.

Upon first sip, you’ll notice many fresh fruit tastes and aromas. The two that stood out for me the most are black berries as well as black currant. This Cabernet Sauvignon contains 13% alcohol and is a very fresh, open wine. It is easily palatable, because of a fruity taste and texture. The tannins are light on the tongue and it goes down very smoothly.

According to the website, the harvest for this wine occurs in the San Pedro vineyards at the Central valley, at the end of March.

Seattle Police Sergent Arrested for DUI

Seattle police sergeant, Scott Moss, age 41 was arrested on April 3rd due to suspicion of drinking and driving. According to The Seattle Times, Moss was arrested after a trooper spotted his Jeep drift onto the shoulder of interstate 405.

Moss was driving near Newcastle, northbound on I-405. The trooper pulled him over at 5:05 am. When the trooper approached Moss, he immediately smelled the presence of alcohol. When questioned, Moss told the trooper that a friend had dropped him off at 5am so he could go pick up his vehicle on the eastside. While his friend drove, Moss slept in the passenger seat. According to a State Patrol incident report, Moss also added that he had slept overnight in Bremerton and hadn’t had anything alcoholic to drink since midnight.

Moss is a 16 year veteran of the Seattle police department. According to the trooper that pulled Moss over, Michael Mong, he didn’t have the opportunity to test Moss’s (BAC) blood alcohol levels at the time that he pulled him over. Mong’s portable breathalyzer machine was not working due to a dead battery.

After Mong arrested the obviously intoxicated Sergeant, he transported him to the Issaquah City jail and was able to conduct a breathalyzer test there. According to the report, though trooper Mong wasn’t able to conduct a BAC test until one and a half hours after the time of Moss’s arrest, his levels were measured at .069 and .075. The legal limit for Washington State is .08.

Everyone’s alcohol tolerance is different, because there are many factors that can affect one’s tolerance, including the individual’s weight. If the individual were taking medication at the same time as they consumed alcohol, their tolerance could go down considerably. Generally .08 is the equivalent of consuming about two beers. It is assumed that each beer contains 5% alcohol, the industry standard. Based on these facts, if an individual were to consume two beers, they would be legally drunk and according to the law, not fit to drive.

At the time of Moss’s arrest, his levels were most likely even higher than the BAC level percentage .069 or .075, indicating he may have consumed five or more drinks or beers before attempting to drive on Interstate-405 on the morning of April 3rd, 2011.

When Moss arrived at the jail, Mong’s supervisor, Sergeant Kim Triplett, gave Seattle police a call. According to her report, she contacted the agency to let them know Moss was arrested. A Commander from the agency drove out to Issaquah to pick up Moss. Moss questioned his arrest. He stated to Triplett that his blood alcohol limit was below 0.08. She said that when doing the math, he was above the legal limit at the time Mong had pulled him over. He registered above the limit at the time of his breathalyzer test.

Seattle police department Office of Professional Accountability has launched an internal investigation due to Moss’s arrest.

New Solution for ED: Beer with Viagra

Medical personnel and frustrated women around the world are constantly noting that Erectile Dysfunction is more common in men who have consumed beer, wine, or some other strange combination of spirits. To combat the embarrassing little problem of Erectile Dysfunction in men, Brew Dog brewers in the UK have created a masterful concoction: beer with Viagra.

The new Viagra-laced brew is called Royal Virility Performance. Drinking three Royal Virility Performance beers is equal to taking one Viagra pill with three beers.  As commenters across the net have observed, the idea of a beer that actually contains Viagra is a welcome relief to many, if indeed the story is credible, which it may or may not be.

Just one Royal Virility Performance beer costs ten British pounds, which is a stiff price to pay for satisfaction at the end of the night.

 

Brew Dog Brewers claims that it created the brew not to shed light on on the common and humiliating problem of Erectile Disfunction or to honor the Royals on their wedding day as the name might suggest; instead, the brewery intended to give an alternative to the other breweries’ brews commerating the Royal wedding. Royal Virility Performance will be made available on the day before the Royal Wedding.

As for whether or not Prince William will get an opportunity to try any of the Royal Virility Performance brew, James Watt, the owner of Brew Dog, said that he sent  Jiffy bag containing the brew for Prince William to try on his wedding night, presumably so the prince can avoid any embarrassing situations.

Sip Into Spring With Sangria

Try A Fun Sangria Recipe
With spring swiftly approaching, some of us may be worried about what to do with our red wine. Just as their are summer cocktails, there are spring and summer wines, and reds often do not fall into that category.

Their full-bodied flavor and heavy texture can often be at odds with the heat, driving many of us to ignore our favorite Cabernet Sauvignon and indulge in a nice Sauvignon Blanc instead.

But, just because the weather is getting warmer, that is no reason to completely ignore the reds that you did not get a chance to open during the winter months. Nope, this is an opportunity to make lemons into lemonade, or to be more specific wine into Sangria.

The tasty Spanish-cocktail is easy to make and has many variations. After spending some time in Spain I learned that the mixture is supposed to be a garbage drink, much like Jungle Juice in which you can throw in almost anything or everything. Though Sangria is often thought of as special drink, it really is just a party punch that taste delicious and packs a punch. Those who are brave can make up their own recipes, but we’ve got one for those who may not be ready to experiment too much with their favorite Shiraz.

When making Sangria you can use any red wine, but more fruit-forward varietals like Shiraz and Grenache may make for a more satisfying drink.

This recipe is simple and straight-forward, from the Food Network.

Ingredients:
  • 2 bottles chilled dry red wine, like Rioja
  • 1 cup brandy
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup superfine granulated sugar
  • 2 oranges, cut into thin rounds
  • 2 Meyer lemons, cut into thin rounds
  • 3 Key limes, cut into thin rounds
  • 2 apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
  • 2 cups cold club soda


Directions:
In a large pot or bowl, combine all the ingredients except for the fruit and club soda. Stir well until the sugar dissolves. Add the fruit before placing the mixture in the refrigerator to chill. Before serving, add the club soda.


There are a lot of alterations that can be made to this traditional recipe. Add rum instead of brandy or use strawberries instead of apples.  Also, for those who enjoy a sweeter drink, use a lemon-lime soda in place of club soda. This a drink that can easily be altered to taste so have fun and enjoy!

Another Dubious-Sounding Study About Alcohol

Can Alcohol Help You Learn More?

I just came across another dubious-sounding study touting the benefits of alcohol consumption; this time, the claim is that drinking alcohol can help the brain remember more than it did previously. The idea behind the University of Texas at Austin study is a little complicated—the researchers believe that alcohol only helps certain areas of the brain remember through neuro-plasticity, which is the re-wiring of the brain.

Again, this study doesn’t sound as life-changing as you might think when originally reading the headline. The author of the paper on the study—submitted to the Journal of Neuroscience—admits that alcohol can make you forget where your car is or certain names. However, he believes that the study demonstrates that the ethanol in alcohol “primes the brain for learning.”

According to the Science Daily Journal, the number of things we learn from alcohol is actually fairly limited and doesn’t seem all that helpful.

“Among the things we learn is that drinking alcohol is rewarding. We also learn that going to the bar, chatting with friends, eating certain foods and listening to certain kinds of music are rewarding. The more often we do these things while drinking, and the more dopamine that gets released, the more "potentiated" the various synapses become and the more we crave the set of experiences and associations that orbit around the alcohol use.”

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