Bier, bitte
Der Biergarten finally opened last week—that’s the much buzzed about, completely outdoor, German-style bar constructed from repurposed shipping containers on the corner of K and 24th streets. While development—especially development of an empty lot—is almost always appreciated, Scorekeeper hopes that the 32 taps soon include a wild ale.
+ 32
Tour Sac like it’s 1994
While it’s nice that the Los Angeles Times gave touristy props to Sacramento in its January 24 travel section, the reporter’s picks make it seem like the piece was written nearly 20 years ago. In “A capital sojourn in Sacramento,” writer Christopher Reynolds reports on a November outing to the state Capitol, praising the city’s gorgeous fall foliage and mild weather. Lovely. Reynolds, who stayed at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento, acknowledged his choice of lodging was a chain but applauded its cheapness. OK, fair enough. Not everyone can afford The Citizen Hotel. Likewise, he gets a pass on endorsing Old Sacramento’s “Old West flourishes” (hey, we get it—you were with family). But that’s where our civic pride generosity ends. Aside from a nod to the always excellent Muntean’s Soup, Salad & Sandwiches, the rest of the piece reads as if Reynolds searched the oldest reviews possible on Yelp and then made his selections: Centro Cocina Mexicana and Rick’s Dessert Diner. Both are musty mainstays that do little to showcase the city’s modern reputation as a foodie town. No Ella Dining Room & Bar? No Magpie Cafe? Wait, what year did you visit?
– 1994
Sacramento Cops
In a surefire affront to tourism officials, the city of Sacramento was featured on the January 25 episode of the long-running, network-hopping reality series, Cops. The featured Sacramento Police Department officers doing cool cop stuff, like trying to get a barricaded suspect out of a doughnut shop and pulling over a suspected methamphetamine trafficker. And probably lots of shaky camera work and heavy breathing.
+ 916
Live shelter
Last month, the Sacramento County animal shelter reached a new benchmark for getting rid of animals in a nonlethal way. According to a county news release, the shelter’s “live release rate”—which is comprised of adoptions, rescues and returned pets—hit 90 percent, beating the previous record of 83 percent set a year ago. Considering the shelter recently broadened its mandate, not too shabby.
+ 90
Fresh porcelain
Sacramento State University is making efforts to conserve water. The campus will get 521 new toilets in the coming months to replace its 60-plus-year-old bathrooms. The new fixtures will use more than 60 percent less water. More than half the money for the toilet upgrade comes from a $78,000 grant from the city of Sacramento. As school president Alexander Gonzalez put it, “every flush counts.”
+ 521
