It's a Jungle Out There

Thank goodness the night was not over for Baby Mama, Baby Daddy and myself after the disappointment that was dinner. I don't think the two would have given much thought about visiting me ever again if it wasn't for how the rest of our night went.

We decided to chase the bad memories of Lucca's down with some cold ones over at DeVere's. This is the Irish Pub I told you guys about on my last record-breaking trip. This time around we were just going for some beers... us and the rest of Sacramento and its greater area. We got there and it was PACKED. It took a good amount of time just bob and weave my way to the bar. It's a good thing I have pasty white skin, freckles and red hair because my fellow Irishmen behind the bar served me up quickly. Others were waiting there a bit longer just to put their orders in. I went with my fav SnakeBite, and Baby Mama and Baby Daddy went with some kind of beer on tap that I clearly can't remember.

Normally I love the place. It's a great place to catch up with a bunch of friends, and wander from group of friends to group of friends and chit chat and throw back a few. But if it's just 2 or 3 of you, your going to better served (litterally) going to some place just a tid bit more intimate. We weren't even halfway done with our drinks when we decided all the commotion was all just a little too much for us, and we left.

Baby Mama and Baby Daddy wanted to head back up to the rooftop lounge above DeVere's that we had been to earlier that evening on our Safari where we saw Cougars and Manthers. The problem with Mix is that if you're on a big night out (which we were. Lots of drink and food already consumed with lots more in the future), the cover charge come nightfall hits your wallet pretty hard. It's $20 a head to be able to walk up the stairs to enjoy the night air. Now, that's par for the course in Sacramento so I'm not saying it's more expensive than other places... But it's just that it can get pricey if you're planning on going someplace else rather than the rooftop petting zoo. That's why Baby Daddy turned on his charm.

A few smooth words to the doorman-bouncer-guy and quick shake of the hands, Baby Daddy got the three of us in for half the price. Once upstairs we tried to find a spot just as good as what we had before, but had to settle for a little more exposed spot. It wasn't all that bad though. We did get a nice view of a Manther in his natural habitat. His mating ritual involved sharing the fruits of his labor (cash turned into alcohol) with his unassuming mating partners (a group of 20 something women). But the would-be partners were not to be fooled. They knew their extra bright colors and patterns made them more appealing than most others... and that the Manther's molting fur (slightly balding head) and mangy coat (denim shorts) were no match for them. They huddled together and formed a pack and thwarted the Manther's advances in hopes of finding a more fit one that would be better fit to raise their young. Or buy them more expensive drinks. Same thing really.

After our lesson in the ways of the wild, we moved over to the bar next to the dance floor and proceeded to watch a whole 'nother breed of animals on the prowl. This mix included slightly inebriated young females, slightly inebriated old females, and a few men looking to capitalize. Good times!

We had a round of drinks while taking it all in, and decided the night would not be complete without a(nother) nightcap at a(nother) great light night people watching spot. But we didn't need a tranquilizer dart to make it out of our next place alive, just another stomach ;)

What's a Male Version of Cougar?

Because that's what myself, Baby Mama and Baby's Daddy were dealing with when we started the new Freckled Record.

After Zocalo's we headed over to this new-er bar in downtown, called Mix. It's a rooftop bar that serves small plates. And when the sun goes down the cover charge goes up and it turns into a club... one the of the hottest in downtown.

For their Happy Hour, from 4-7, they don't charge to lounge around in their open-air digs. The whole lounge isn't totally out in the open... the back half is covered. And in the winter they pop a huge tent over the other half, making it semi-open-air. In the summer it can get pretty hot up there if you're their for Happy Hour... but when the sun starts to go down it's one of the best places to just sit back and relax. We got there just as the sun was heading down, and took up a GREAT spot in the corner. This place has retro-style lounge chairs, Adirondack chairs, and benches all around the perimeter with cushions and pillows.


That was the view from our corner spot. (The woman on the left is a perfect example of the type of people that like to frequent this place. Not saying anything bad... just saying. The key demo for this place is the over 30 crowd. 'Nuff said.)

We sat back and ordered a few beers to water down the cocktails we had just had. They've got a specialty cocktail menu, a wine list, and small plate menu. I've tried some of the small plates when they first opened and wasn't overly impressed, but I'd be willing to give it another try (if you're in town I'll let you treat me to some ;). We decided to stick to just beers as we had reservations later on that evening.

Just because we didn't eat doesn't mean we didn't have a lot to digest. There were some interesting people there. Including the male version of the cougar to our left. I've heard of Mougar, Billy Goat, Trout, a Cobra or a Manther. I'm going to go with Manther. I say he was staring at Baby Mama, but Baby Mama says he was staring at me (poor guy must have already had his beer goggles on).

Anywho, the three of us (Baby Daddy included, not Manther) concocted the story of our lives if he were to approach us. The first two characters were Baby Daddy and Baby Mama:


These two were in Sac getting to know hockey big-wigs because he was looking to make the move from playing overseas to playing in Cali. Next up was Baby Mama's cousin, who was Baby Daddy's assistant:


The story couldn't be that hard to keep straight, right?

We eagerly awaited Manther's approach, but alas, he never came. I didn't know whether to be flattered or embarrassed that a balding man his late thirties didn't hit on me. It didn't matter... we had dinner reservations to catch at one of my family's favorite spots. After all, we had a date with the Gov-nuh.

New Freckled Record!

Oh, I can always count on you guys to help me in quest to gain as much weight as possible. That's what friends and family are for. In the case of a couple of weekends ago, I had family to blame for the extra pounds I was carrying around come Monday morning. And I had them to thank for helping me set a new record: Seven eateries in only two days! Really it was nine if you count the places we went twice. (If you remember, the old record was six eateries in three days.)

After I finished up in Redding I raced home in eager anticipation of what I knew was ahead: Visitors! Oh, how I love visits. Especially from people I like ;) My two cousins came up the other weekend- Baby Mama and her Baby's Daddy- and we had a grand ol' time. At least I'd like to think so. I'm sure they left wondering how much longer I'll survive up here with all the food and drink consuming that I've got going on.

Baby Mama and Baby Daddy came up on a Friday evening... sans baby. You know what that meant, right? Time to par-tay! They were looking forward to walking around and having a couple of cocktails, and I was looking forward to showing them how I roll/waddle.

Our first stop was just down the block from me (isn't everything?). We strolled into Zocalo- which is a fancy Mexican food place- right at the end of Happy Hour and were able to order up some of their specialty drinks. We all started off with their house special Blackberry Margarita:


This little mix is pretty tasty. The blackberries give a nice tartness and the Agave (natural sweetener) made sure to mask the alcohol just enough that you could drink and drink and drink and drink and not feel it... until you stand up. It was a little too sweet for Baby Daddy... his next drink was a Caipirinha (let me try this out... KIE-purr-een-YAH). It's normally made super strong with Cachaça, which is a Brazilian distilled liquor. It's been a while, but I don't remember this version to be anything to write home about. Baby Mama on the other hand, was perfectly content with the sweet Blackberry Margarita:


The happy hour prices were $5 a drink... but normally they're $10. I recommend trying it out first during Happy Hour... and then decide if it's worth going back to pay full price. In my opinion, they're good drinks- but not great. So I'm a Happy Hour girl there :)

One thing that didn't cost a dime, and is a great thing about this place... is that they give you chips and salsa with your drinks, even if you're sitting at the bar. But it's not your every-day chips and salsa:


At Zocalo's they give you freshly made tortilla chips, two different salsa choice (one is sp-sp-spicy and the other is mild) and a bean dip. The bean dip is my fav. No, it's not Frito-Lay bean dip (does that even contain beans?). Here they mash up some really smokey tasting black beans (and I'm sure some other stuff) and top it with some crumbled Cotija cheese. Now those close to me can tell you that I don't normally like smokey-tasting food, but the smokey flavor mixed the Cotija- and sometimes dipped again into the salsa- is pretty good. It's nothing fancy, but it's the perfect compliment to their cocktails.

After we were done with our drinks and chips we decided the night was still young and we still had A LOT of room left in our little tummies. We decided to head over to this fab roof-top bar/club thingy/place. I would go into more detail, but what would that leave me with to write about tomorrow?? Come on people! I've got to keep you coming back for more!

So let me revert to my old career and give you a little teaser: "Coming up, the story of three pretty young thangs who spent a night on the town that included cougars, a near brush with the Governator, and a Hot Bag of Donuts... after the break." Take that Katie Couric!

Time Travel

Let’s go back, way back. All of the way back to the very beginning of my three day weekend, which started on a Friday night… late Friday night.

It’s not very often I’m in town on a weekend, and when I am I like to hit up friends from my old job and see what they’re up to. Usually they’re attending or throwing some going away party, because that’s how the business goes. And that’s how it went Friday night.

I called up Blondie to see what was going down and much to my delight, she was meeting up for a going away party (Gasp!) at one of my favorite places to grab a drink: Riverside Clubhouse on Riverside Blvd., just off of Broadway by Target. I think it’s a favorite because it brings back memories of my going away party, and almost every going away party I’ve been to in Sac for that matter. I’m also a big fan because it’s a great solo-dining spot: Good food, good drinks, nice bartenders, big TVs, modern setting and interesting people.

Of course these going away parties don’t start until everyone gets off at 11PM, so when we got there I expected the place to be packed full of the young professional, young urban family crowd that’s usually there. Sadly, that was not the case. It looks like Riverside is feeling the effects of Sac’s sad state of affairs. The place was practically empty. All the more reason for me to order as much as I could to help them out ;)

My favorite cocktail to order anywhere is a Lime Rickey, and Riverside was the first place I’ve had one… and I still haven’t been able to find a place that makes one that tastes even close, or even knows how to make one at all. It’s nothing fancy, just Grey Goose, lime juice, and soda. Like I said, nothing fancy but it’s def the best thirst quenching, food-neutral drinky drink.

I ponied up to the U-shaped stone bar and ordered one, and was helped by some guy that has worked there for a while. I remember this because he bailed me out one night when I was dining solo at the bar, and two drunk ‘tards kept hitting on me. He didn’t remember me (it had been a while) but I’ll always remember him calling them a cab before they even finished their food :)

I took my drink to the patio- one of the best I’ve EVER been to. It’s covered in those triangular shaped sail thingys, has tables and lounge chairs, a three tiered fire pit, and waterfall along the entire back wall. This place has also got those garage-type doors like at Capitol Garage that gives you the nice indoor/outdoor mix if you sit anywhere near it. And if you’re not down with the great outdoors, there’s a lounge area near the entrance with tables, an open floor for dancing or mingling, and an ultra-swank gas fireplace with glass instead of coals. Oh yeah, and a huge TV.

We all opted for the patio and I stayed out there until I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore. It was 12:30PM after all, and I am getting old (don’t worry it was sleepiness, not drinkiness. I only had one). I had to leave there without having my fav dessert: Warm Chocolate Cake. Don’t worry as much as I like that place, I guarantee you’ll hear more about that. And see more once I figure this picture thing out.

So I left Riverside and bid farewell to the gigantic bull on top of the building (don’t ask), apologized for not being able to spend more, and hopped into my time travel machine (it’s real), that brought me back to today so I could tell you about my adventures. That, my friends (well most of you are family), is how you spend a three day weekend in Sacramento. I dare you to come up here and try to beat six places in three days (Call me!).

The Cherry on Top

With two Snake-Bites, two Newcastles, a big dose of Kobe, and a mix of cheesecake and fries in my belly, one would think it would be a good time to call it a night. Well one would be wrong. Next stop: Sushi.

The two Women and I decided to keep Number 3 within walking distance (mostly because we had to roll ourselves out of the Garage), and all agreed that Mikuni's was our best option. Mikuni's is a great place to go not just for sushi, but for a good meal in general. On 16th St. between J and K streets, it's got a large double-sided bar with large TV's that can be seen from almost every table, a sushi bar, and an upstairs section. The hostesses took one look at us-- and put us upstairs... as far away from the public as possible. No need to scare off potential customers.

My favorite thing to order at Mikuni's is their Sea Steak Poke Salad. Made with seaweed, cucumbers, seared tuna all tossed in a sesame sauce that has a vinegar-ry bite to it... it's my favorite meal whether I'm looking to eat healthy or pig out. They serve a pretty good sized portion of it, so it's perfect for sharing too. We started out with that, and quickly agreed on three rolls to share: The Train Wreck (Shrimp tempura, spicy avo blend, crab mix topped with copped unagi,sea steak, sesame seeds, onion, spicy zing zag sauce and unagi sauce), The Japanese Mafia (Scallop cream cheese, crab salad, shrimp, avo, fresh salmon, 2 special
sauces, lightly torched masago and onion), and unfortunately something else that I couldn't remember (you're welcome).

Now I'm no sushi expert, but sometimes I like to pretend. With that said, I'm not sure if Mikuni's rolls classify as authentic Japanese food. Don't get me wrong, they're delicious. What with their endless ingredients on the inside AND out, and displays of color on top with all their sauces. But, all that kind of takes away from the main point of sushi for me: the seafood! Somewhere in that grab-bag of flavor is a lovely piece of raw tuna or semi-chewy chunk of scallop. But with all that other crap all over it, how am I supposed to enjoy those tastes?

I don't want that last rant keep your from going to Mikuni's. If you're in the mood for a roll and are looking for an authentic, fishy tasting kind of place... this may not be for you. BUT, if you want to taste a plethora of things in one bite, love sauce on your rolls, and want to eat a piece of art, then go ahead and dig in. And don't forget about the versatile Sea Steak Poke Salad.

With the combination of those four things and seeing that I had already consumed enough alcohol for one night, I stuck with my trusty sidekick: Diet Coke. If you didn't know, that's the best way to start and end your day-- with a DC in your system. And that's how I ended mine. After all was consumed, (even the last two pieces of rolls that no one seemed to have room for, but amazingly found a spot in our stomachs for) we decided to pass on the dessert. Especially considering we already ate it at stop number two.

So the three of us waddled back home just like we waddled into de Vere's, only about 10 pounds lighter, $50 poorer, and down a 3 for 1 voucher. But don't worry, there are plenty more vouchers for anyone who wants one.

1 Down, 2 to Go….

After SpiderWoman, IronWoman and I left de Vere’s, we went to the other side of the block to a personal favorite, Capitol Garage. Located on the corner of a parking garage on 15th and K Streets, this restaurant was the first I ever visited as a newbie here in Sac, so it holds a special place in my heart. It's the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat or sip on a drink during warmer weather. It's got two garage doors in place of two walls on either side of the entrance, and they roll 'em up when the weather is right. It's the best feeling to sit on that patio and get the mix of the AC blowing from the inside and the warm weather of the outside. Kind of like riding in your car with your windows down and AC blasting in the middle of the summer.

This time the three of us skipped the patio and sat up at the bar so I could get a clear view of the TV (and Kobe's butt). I ordered a Newcastle (Gasp! A Beer! I admit, I like the sweet carmel-ly flavor of this one), as did IronWoman. SpiderWoman was thoughtful enough to order some dessert and share it with two willing taste-testers. She ordered the S'more Cheesecake, and it wasn't the first time for either of us. The two of us had gone to the Garage earlier in the week with coupons in hand for a "Buy 1 Get 1 Free” special. Now that’s a real special. We shared two appetizers and the same cheesecake. She was more impressed with it than I was… having had better cheesecake at places like Tower Café, and even the Cheesecake Factory. Not to say this wasn’t good… it’s just not fall-out-of-your-chair amazing. The crust wasn't graham-cracker-crunchy enough for me, and the marshmallow topping didn’t taste enough like a marshmallow. It could have used a good torching on top to give it that campfire taste. However, with a nice drizzle of chocolate sauce across the top, the flavors did all blend together for a sweet treat. Especially after two beers. Yup, I drank TWO beers.

We stayed at the Garage for the rest of the second half, and lucky for the two Women, the Lakers won. If they hadn’t, I don’t think I would have been game for number three of our 3 for 1 special.

2 down, 1 to go....

3 for 1 Restaurant Special

Ooooh if only the 3 for 1 special was as cheap as it sounds. My 3 for 1 restaurant special did not involve the enjoyment of 3 restaurants for the price of 1. It was more like 3 restaurants in one night. That's how the Saturday of my three day weekend went.

SpiderWoman, another friend and I went out on Saturday night to celebrate all things Lakers. OK,I was the only one interested the Purple & Gold out of the three of us... but that was still good enough for me. SpiderWoman has absolutely no interest in basketball, and the other friend enjoys all sports. Not only does she enjoy watching athletes... but she's one serious athlete herself. So much so that from here on out she'll be called IronWoman.

SpiderWoman, IronWoman and I started out our night at DeVere's Irish Pub on L Street between 15th & 16th Streets. This spot opened up earlier this year, and has been packed ever since. The owners (three guys just as white as me) have said they were looking to open a place just like a pub in Ireland: an extension of one's living room. Perfect! My living room is my favorite place to watch Lakers games... so the three of us waddled inside.

There are two main parts to the Pub: The front has a long bar, and some booths and some pub tables & chairs. If you walk past the front onto the back, there's some more tables and a little bit shorter bar... but there is great service back there. That's where we plopped down, with a large flat screen in plain view. For a drink I opted for a Snake-Bite. A Snake-Bite is half beer, and half hard cider (perfect for me because I'm not so big on the beer). IronWoman had a NewCastle, and SpiderWoman stuck with soda. As for grub, I was saving room for whatever else was coming up that night... and the two Women ordered an Irish-American Grilled Cheese to split. I've had this one before, seeing that I am grilled cheese connoisseur. It's made with Dubliner and American cheeses, and served with a tomato on it (which I usually add anyways). The Dubliner cheese has one of those super-melty consistencies that gets all over your face and hands and whatever else gets close to it. The 'wich is made on your choice of bread... but everyone knows the crusty Sourdough is the best (even if it does cut up the roof of your mouth). This masterpiece also comes with your choice of "Chips or Crisps." The "Chips" are fries and the "Crisps"are potato chips. It's a little backwards, but makes sense if you remember the "Chips" in "Fish and Chips" is actually fries. Both are yummy here either way... the "Chips" being large wedges, served on the crispy side.

Two Snake-Bites and some left over fries later I was ready for a change. It was half time in the game... and when the Lakers changed sides... so did we. We went to the other side of the block to a family favorite.

1 down 2 to go...