Ice cream is generally thought of as a dessert, but what about its healthier, softer brother frozen yogurt? Frozen yogurt has become a very popular snack or even a meal. Self Serve, pay per ounce frozen yogurt joints have popped up all over the Sacramento area. The largest and most popular of these trendy eateries is Big Spoon Frozen Yogurt. It was voted the number 1 frozen yogurt place by Sacramento’s Best magazine.
Here you don’t just order a flavor, you create your own. The first step is to pick your size. They have 3 different choices. Then you have to pick your flavor. At the Big spoon on J Street there were 6 choices: chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, very berry, tart and raspberry. The best choice for the health conscience person worrying about the affects of eating frozen yogurt would be the raspberry which was sugar free and fat free. It was also delicious.
Next are toppings. Picking your toppings is the fun part mostly because the options are endless. Big Spoon is on the bigger side of frozen yogurt shops and with this comes more choices. Fresh fruit, raspberry sauce, caramel, fudge, pie filling and whipped cream. Then you can pick from 54 bulk candy and cereal options. The vast choices ranged from pop rocks to Cap’n crunch, jumbo sprinkles, M&Ms and jelly beans.
I mixed some of the different flavors, chocolate, vanilla, raspberry and tart. Then I topped it with whipped cream and strawberries. If you don’t know what flavor you want samples are offered. In fact you don’t even have to ask. After walking into the Big Spoon on J I was asked within seconds of walking in if I wanted a sample. The spoonologist as they are called was very friendly. She was prompt and talkative at the cash register.
So how much does this frozen treat cost? Well you pay per ounce; 39 cents will get you one. I had a small, but didn’t fill it all the way to the top of the cup and it was a little over 3 dollars.
This is an inexpensive way to eat out, but it you can still save more. If you purchase a Big Spoon T-shirt for 10 dollars and wear it into the shop you will receive 10 percent off. They also have stamp cards where you can buy 10 yogurts you get one for free.
I frequent frozen yogurt places often and would consider myself a yogurt connoisseur. This place has less yogurt flavors than some, less fresh fruit, but more bulk candy. It was clean and the fresh toppings were full. The only perk missing was the free cold water. The downside to eating frozen yogurt is that it makes you thirsty. Some places offer free water, but this place did not.
What does this place have to offer over other frozen yogurt places? The staff was friendlier than some. The candy options were more than normal and it was bigger. It also was decorated nicely. Walking in makes you feel like a kid in the candy shop and that is exactly what it looks like.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The Happy Hour Hop
“Hey lets go out tonight”
“Where are we going to go? I don’t have a lot of money”
“I don’t know, I can never think of anywhere”
“Neither can I”
Wanting to go out, but not knowing where to go and then not having money to spend when you get there is one of the biggest problems the average college student faces on a Saturday night. There is always going to be that restaurant that has such high prices you are afraid to order water, or bar that looks like so much fun, but then the words tab come into your mind and you cringe. I have two words that solve this dreadful problem: happy hour.
Sacramento has so many restaurants and bars and most of them have a happy hour. Knowing where the good deals are is one of the easiest ways to find something to do. Happy hours aren’t only on Saturday night; they are on everyday of the week. You just have to find where and when.
It’s Monday night, feeling like sushi? Head over to Tokyo Fros for their Economic Stimulus Plan, between 3 and 6pm. They offer half off sushi and cocktails. This place has a fun atmosphere. They also have 1 dollar Coors Light and 5 dollar appetizers and rolls during Monday Night Football.
Later that night go out for drinks. A really good late night happy hour is at TGIFridays. You have to sit at the bar for the deals, but it will be worth it. Here you will be able to get 5 dollar long island iced tea, strong enough to make you feel your money’s worth.
Tuesday night if you feel like Italian head downtown to II Fornaio between 5 and 7pm. Here you can get free appetizers including pizza, deviled eggs and Italian rolls. Plus, 1 dollar off well drinks and drafts, also 6 dollar glasses of wine. This place makes you feel like you’re in Italy. If it’s a nice day sit on the patio.
One of the most popular restaurants is The Cheese Cake Factory, so Wednesday why not go there. They have a happy hour between 4 and 6 pm, you can get chicken pot stickers and Caesar salad for $3.50 and avocado egg rolls, sliders, shrimp summer rolls and fried macaroni & cheese for $3.95. Eating at your favorite place can still fit your budget.
There are so many places that we pass by everyday and think, I want to go there, well you can. Tex Wasabi has a happy hour between 3 and 6 pm then again from 9 to 11pm. Joe’s Crab Shack has one from 3 to 7pm and Roxy Restaurant & Bar has one from 2-9pm.
The most surprising restaurants to offer a happy hour are the upscale ones. Ruth’s Chris Steak House a pricey restaurant, by Fair Oaks blvd, has a Happy hour from 4:30-6:30pm. They have 2 for 7 dollar appetizers or 3 for $10.50. There drink specials include 3 dollar bottled beers and 5 dollar well drinks. Another surprising find is The Firehouse in Old Sac. Thursday this would be a great place to try. They have a happy hour between 2:30-6pm. This is a fine dining restaurant where you can get 8 dollar appetizers at the specified time. This is a restaurant where dinner for two will start about $150 including drinks so the inexpensive happy hour is a real deal.
After the Firehouse hop over to the River City Saloon, on Thursday nights they have no cover and 99 cent Captain's and cokes or Corona's. If you’re looking for a good night to go to a bar Thursday night is a popular night and you will be able to find the best deals. The River City Saloon has a cool atmosphere and some of the best deals around.
Almost every restaurant has a happy hour, but they are usually only on certain days of the week or at certain times, so next time you are trying to think of something to do on Saturday night or any other night of the week be creative and you won’t have to spend much.
“Where are we going to go? I don’t have a lot of money”
“I don’t know, I can never think of anywhere”
“Neither can I”
Wanting to go out, but not knowing where to go and then not having money to spend when you get there is one of the biggest problems the average college student faces on a Saturday night. There is always going to be that restaurant that has such high prices you are afraid to order water, or bar that looks like so much fun, but then the words tab come into your mind and you cringe. I have two words that solve this dreadful problem: happy hour.
Sacramento has so many restaurants and bars and most of them have a happy hour. Knowing where the good deals are is one of the easiest ways to find something to do. Happy hours aren’t only on Saturday night; they are on everyday of the week. You just have to find where and when.
It’s Monday night, feeling like sushi? Head over to Tokyo Fros for their Economic Stimulus Plan, between 3 and 6pm. They offer half off sushi and cocktails. This place has a fun atmosphere. They also have 1 dollar Coors Light and 5 dollar appetizers and rolls during Monday Night Football.
Later that night go out for drinks. A really good late night happy hour is at TGIFridays. You have to sit at the bar for the deals, but it will be worth it. Here you will be able to get 5 dollar long island iced tea, strong enough to make you feel your money’s worth.
Tuesday night if you feel like Italian head downtown to II Fornaio between 5 and 7pm. Here you can get free appetizers including pizza, deviled eggs and Italian rolls. Plus, 1 dollar off well drinks and drafts, also 6 dollar glasses of wine. This place makes you feel like you’re in Italy. If it’s a nice day sit on the patio.
One of the most popular restaurants is The Cheese Cake Factory, so Wednesday why not go there. They have a happy hour between 4 and 6 pm, you can get chicken pot stickers and Caesar salad for $3.50 and avocado egg rolls, sliders, shrimp summer rolls and fried macaroni & cheese for $3.95. Eating at your favorite place can still fit your budget.
There are so many places that we pass by everyday and think, I want to go there, well you can. Tex Wasabi has a happy hour between 3 and 6 pm then again from 9 to 11pm. Joe’s Crab Shack has one from 3 to 7pm and Roxy Restaurant & Bar has one from 2-9pm.
The most surprising restaurants to offer a happy hour are the upscale ones. Ruth’s Chris Steak House a pricey restaurant, by Fair Oaks blvd, has a Happy hour from 4:30-6:30pm. They have 2 for 7 dollar appetizers or 3 for $10.50. There drink specials include 3 dollar bottled beers and 5 dollar well drinks. Another surprising find is The Firehouse in Old Sac. Thursday this would be a great place to try. They have a happy hour between 2:30-6pm. This is a fine dining restaurant where you can get 8 dollar appetizers at the specified time. This is a restaurant where dinner for two will start about $150 including drinks so the inexpensive happy hour is a real deal.
After the Firehouse hop over to the River City Saloon, on Thursday nights they have no cover and 99 cent Captain's and cokes or Corona's. If you’re looking for a good night to go to a bar Thursday night is a popular night and you will be able to find the best deals. The River City Saloon has a cool atmosphere and some of the best deals around.
Almost every restaurant has a happy hour, but they are usually only on certain days of the week or at certain times, so next time you are trying to think of something to do on Saturday night or any other night of the week be creative and you won’t have to spend much.
Monday, October 12, 2009
CSU to UOPX
Everyone knows about those annoying pop-ups, and advertisements that plague the internet, fake scholarships, quizzes that promise results after you sign up with their partners and sweepstakes that lead you to a list of promotions. One of the most prominent of these ads on the Internet today is for the University of Phoenix. This for-profit university haunted me while trying to decide which college to attend. I had no interest in this mostly online University that would cost way too much for a non-existent college experience, but this annoying add was on every site.
Almost 4 years later the University of Phoenix has expanded; it now has almost 400,000 students. With California’s lack of money and high expenses incurred by state subsidized schooling the option of selling the CSU system and possible the UC’s to the University of Phoenix might be a possible solution.
People go to state colleges because they are the cheaper option. State Schools are about 25 percent more affordable than private universities. In California the average student debt right now is between 15,000-20,000 dollars. California’s debt might decrease with the sale, but student’s debt would most likely increase.
The idea might sound ridiculous at first, getting rid of state funded college, but after giving this proper consideration and a more realistic approach to our state’s debt, I was almost convinced.
The University of Phoenix has increased its enrollment by 300,000 students in 9 years. Because the school is for profit it will never want to limit enrollment, something the CSU’s would have to do.
Also the tuition would not be based on the state’s budget and would not have to be raised every semester. Tuition would however cost more money. The price is per credit and based on the degree you choose. In Sacramento it could cost up to $475 per credit on campus and $530 per credit online. Each class is about 3 credits.
If the University of Phoenix did purchase the CSU system it would be important to keep the campuses the same. The whole college experience is important to many people’s lives. Not everyone goes to college just to get a degree.
Potentially this could happen. The University of Phoenix could buy up the schools. They could keep the college experience and also allow for online education. They could keep the costs as low as possible and not raise them each semester; maybe they wouldn’t turn the campuses into large billboards.
This outcome would be good for everyone, but this is not a guarantee. The University of Phoenix is just another business. It can promise an outcome, but does not have to be accountable to it.
Tuition could end up increasing just as it is now and the school would also most likely end up losing its collegiate feel, something CSUS is so hard trying to recover right now by transforming it from a commuter campus to one where people live.
For-profit schooling would change the mission of the school. The goal wouldn’t be primarily to educate society at an “affordable” price; it would be the goal of any business, to make a profit. Just like with their pestering ads on the internet classrooms would have advertisements on the walls and online lectures would have commercials.
So although one might say it can’t be any worse than it is right now just remember, prices always go up, the college community is important and big business doesn’t have to win.
Almost 4 years later the University of Phoenix has expanded; it now has almost 400,000 students. With California’s lack of money and high expenses incurred by state subsidized schooling the option of selling the CSU system and possible the UC’s to the University of Phoenix might be a possible solution.
People go to state colleges because they are the cheaper option. State Schools are about 25 percent more affordable than private universities. In California the average student debt right now is between 15,000-20,000 dollars. California’s debt might decrease with the sale, but student’s debt would most likely increase.
The idea might sound ridiculous at first, getting rid of state funded college, but after giving this proper consideration and a more realistic approach to our state’s debt, I was almost convinced.
The University of Phoenix has increased its enrollment by 300,000 students in 9 years. Because the school is for profit it will never want to limit enrollment, something the CSU’s would have to do.
Also the tuition would not be based on the state’s budget and would not have to be raised every semester. Tuition would however cost more money. The price is per credit and based on the degree you choose. In Sacramento it could cost up to $475 per credit on campus and $530 per credit online. Each class is about 3 credits.
If the University of Phoenix did purchase the CSU system it would be important to keep the campuses the same. The whole college experience is important to many people’s lives. Not everyone goes to college just to get a degree.
Potentially this could happen. The University of Phoenix could buy up the schools. They could keep the college experience and also allow for online education. They could keep the costs as low as possible and not raise them each semester; maybe they wouldn’t turn the campuses into large billboards.
This outcome would be good for everyone, but this is not a guarantee. The University of Phoenix is just another business. It can promise an outcome, but does not have to be accountable to it.
Tuition could end up increasing just as it is now and the school would also most likely end up losing its collegiate feel, something CSUS is so hard trying to recover right now by transforming it from a commuter campus to one where people live.
For-profit schooling would change the mission of the school. The goal wouldn’t be primarily to educate society at an “affordable” price; it would be the goal of any business, to make a profit. Just like with their pestering ads on the internet classrooms would have advertisements on the walls and online lectures would have commercials.
So although one might say it can’t be any worse than it is right now just remember, prices always go up, the college community is important and big business doesn’t have to win.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Billboard Application
Driving down I-80 drivers will pass by a reminder of how bad the job market is right now. A couple in Sacramento who both lost their jobs decided they had to be creative to find work in this market. They put up a billboard of themselves with the saying “Hire Us”, along with both their email addresses.
They are not the only ones having such a difficult time finding work right now. This poor job market is a national problem, in fact the nationwide unemployment rate 9.8 percent a 26 year high. Sacramento County has a much higher unemployment rate at 12.3 percent.
Right now the economy is doing very poorly. The stock market starts doing better and predictions of economic recovery start to be heard from the media. People believe what they hear and the stock market falsely represents improvement, then it drops again because the economy really isn’t improving. A more realistic prediction is that, it is going to get worse before it gets better. In the past year, California lost 741,500 jobs. One of the largest sectors to reduce it’s employee base has been felt in the technology industry. Sadly, this phenomenon has bled into the housing market where we see foreclosures signs popping up daily.
People are now finding themselves looking for jobs that they are overqualified for. The service industry has been hit hard with applicants with college degrees, but even retail jobs are scarce. Food must be put on the table somehow!
Jobs that are usually always available are the minimum wage retail positions that start in November and end in January. Hopefuls waiting for the holiday season to start with the temporary positions will be disappointed this season. 40 percent of retailers are planning on hiring 5%-25% less than last year. Ouch! These numbers are especially bad because with rising unemployment rates competition for these jobs is fierce. Sixty-two percent of retailers said they received more applications than last year.
This is a cycle that needs to be broken. How can we expect these companies to hire people if no one is shopping in their stores, but then how can people shop in the stores if they are all getting laid off and don’t have enough money to spend.
Obama is working to alleviate some of the pressure on American families. Some of the proposed ideas include extending unemployment insurance benefits, extending a tax credit for laid-off workers who buy health insurance through the COBRA program, or extending a tax credit for first time home buyers.
The end doesn’t look like its near and it has affected every last one of us. Everyone knows someone who is unemployed. Over a year ago when I heard this from a professor I thought that was untrue. At that time I did not know anybody who was unemployed. I cannot say that today. A couple months after my professor said that, my Dad, a computer consultant was laid off after 30 years of service.
The couple with the billboard application is just a reminder of how bad it is right now for so many Americans. For one of them, thinking outside the box paid off. The wife was hired and is now working in marketing. Her husband however is still out of work. My Dad, still continues to push resumes out the door in hopes someone will call out his name.
They are not the only ones having such a difficult time finding work right now. This poor job market is a national problem, in fact the nationwide unemployment rate 9.8 percent a 26 year high. Sacramento County has a much higher unemployment rate at 12.3 percent.
Right now the economy is doing very poorly. The stock market starts doing better and predictions of economic recovery start to be heard from the media. People believe what they hear and the stock market falsely represents improvement, then it drops again because the economy really isn’t improving. A more realistic prediction is that, it is going to get worse before it gets better. In the past year, California lost 741,500 jobs. One of the largest sectors to reduce it’s employee base has been felt in the technology industry. Sadly, this phenomenon has bled into the housing market where we see foreclosures signs popping up daily.
People are now finding themselves looking for jobs that they are overqualified for. The service industry has been hit hard with applicants with college degrees, but even retail jobs are scarce. Food must be put on the table somehow!
Jobs that are usually always available are the minimum wage retail positions that start in November and end in January. Hopefuls waiting for the holiday season to start with the temporary positions will be disappointed this season. 40 percent of retailers are planning on hiring 5%-25% less than last year. Ouch! These numbers are especially bad because with rising unemployment rates competition for these jobs is fierce. Sixty-two percent of retailers said they received more applications than last year.
This is a cycle that needs to be broken. How can we expect these companies to hire people if no one is shopping in their stores, but then how can people shop in the stores if they are all getting laid off and don’t have enough money to spend.
Obama is working to alleviate some of the pressure on American families. Some of the proposed ideas include extending unemployment insurance benefits, extending a tax credit for laid-off workers who buy health insurance through the COBRA program, or extending a tax credit for first time home buyers.
The end doesn’t look like its near and it has affected every last one of us. Everyone knows someone who is unemployed. Over a year ago when I heard this from a professor I thought that was untrue. At that time I did not know anybody who was unemployed. I cannot say that today. A couple months after my professor said that, my Dad, a computer consultant was laid off after 30 years of service.
The couple with the billboard application is just a reminder of how bad it is right now for so many Americans. For one of them, thinking outside the box paid off. The wife was hired and is now working in marketing. Her husband however is still out of work. My Dad, still continues to push resumes out the door in hopes someone will call out his name.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Uncorked at Laguna Seca (Revised)
There was huge machine gun strapped to the car on my left. I sat there thinking about what I was about to do and how I can potentially mess up. The CHP car started to move toward the track. I did my best to hold the flag straight up and down. I tried to fasten it to the side of the door with my leg, but the weight of the pole made this too hard. The officers assured me we wouldn’t go too fast, but I knew even 40 miles an hour around the track would be hard and most likely cause me pain.
The sound of unrestricted race cars, the smell of racing gas, riding around the track in a CHP car and the feeling of being surrounded by millions of dollars is how I spent last weekend.
At Lagua Seca raceway there was an event called Uncorked. It was a no noise restriction event put on by Club Auto Sport, an elite club for the wealthier car junkies. All the proceeds of the event went to the Monterey SPCA.
There were many racing events this weekend. The most exciting was a historic Nascar race where people who now own actual Nascars, signed by the original driver, raced. Another event that took place was called, “Ride of Your Life”, where people previously bid on EBay for the chance to ride as a passenger on the racetrack. The cars of choice were the Bugatti Veyron and Indy Car with Danny Sullivan multiple winner of the Indy 500.
I arrived at the track before most of the Club Auto Sport crew, so I was awe struck when at 6:00pm Friday night million dollar RVs around 60 feet long, towing 40 foot trailers started showing up. Once they started unloading, the gems inside the trailers started appearing, Ferraris, Porches, Lamborghinis, Nascars and Indy Cars.
This event was free to the public, and took place Saturday and Sunday. I was there as a guest of family friend Jim Doyle, former World Champion Kenny Robert’s manager.
Around lunchtime another family friend who is a CHP officer rode his R1 replica CHP bike around the track along with two other CHP officers. They went out for the national anthem holding flags. This task turned out to be more difficult then expected given the long length of the poles. One of the CHP officers asked me to ride as his passenger to hold the pole, because he could not. The flag was attached to a 10 foot long PVC pipe and was very difficult, even as a passenger, to hold, but it was definitely worth the muscle cramps experienced later.
After the parade lap with the CHP officers the main motorcycle race took place. The most surprising part of the race was the winner. Out of 40 participates most of which were 20-40 year old men, a 15 year old girl won. She was only around 5 feet tall, yet could control the bike better than most.
This event was amazing; it’s not every day that I have to get out of the way of a Nascar coming of the track. The only downside was the charity of choice. The Monterey SPCA refused to come to the event which angered many of the higher-ups. The unofficial total raised for them was over 100,000 dollars and they didn’t seem to care, but they will pick a new charity for next year.
I knew the corkscrew was coming up, my favorite part of the track. I was secretly hoping before we got there the CHP officer would slow down enough to form a gap between us and the other officers, then he could accelerate to catch up. Fast into the first turn, Left, then a quick right. It’s so steep that even at 40 mph it felt like a roller coaster. Then we rounded turn 10, I knew the lap was going to end soon, just one more turn and we would pull off. By this point the muscles in my arm were burning, but I knew I could hold on for a couple more seconds. The flag was lifting of the ground fighting with me to be set free, but as the pace car that was once leading us pulled of the track I knew I did it.
The sound of unrestricted race cars, the smell of racing gas, riding around the track in a CHP car and the feeling of being surrounded by millions of dollars is how I spent last weekend.
At Lagua Seca raceway there was an event called Uncorked. It was a no noise restriction event put on by Club Auto Sport, an elite club for the wealthier car junkies. All the proceeds of the event went to the Monterey SPCA.
There were many racing events this weekend. The most exciting was a historic Nascar race where people who now own actual Nascars, signed by the original driver, raced. Another event that took place was called, “Ride of Your Life”, where people previously bid on EBay for the chance to ride as a passenger on the racetrack. The cars of choice were the Bugatti Veyron and Indy Car with Danny Sullivan multiple winner of the Indy 500.
I arrived at the track before most of the Club Auto Sport crew, so I was awe struck when at 6:00pm Friday night million dollar RVs around 60 feet long, towing 40 foot trailers started showing up. Once they started unloading, the gems inside the trailers started appearing, Ferraris, Porches, Lamborghinis, Nascars and Indy Cars.
This event was free to the public, and took place Saturday and Sunday. I was there as a guest of family friend Jim Doyle, former World Champion Kenny Robert’s manager.
Around lunchtime another family friend who is a CHP officer rode his R1 replica CHP bike around the track along with two other CHP officers. They went out for the national anthem holding flags. This task turned out to be more difficult then expected given the long length of the poles. One of the CHP officers asked me to ride as his passenger to hold the pole, because he could not. The flag was attached to a 10 foot long PVC pipe and was very difficult, even as a passenger, to hold, but it was definitely worth the muscle cramps experienced later.
After the parade lap with the CHP officers the main motorcycle race took place. The most surprising part of the race was the winner. Out of 40 participates most of which were 20-40 year old men, a 15 year old girl won. She was only around 5 feet tall, yet could control the bike better than most.
This event was amazing; it’s not every day that I have to get out of the way of a Nascar coming of the track. The only downside was the charity of choice. The Monterey SPCA refused to come to the event which angered many of the higher-ups. The unofficial total raised for them was over 100,000 dollars and they didn’t seem to care, but they will pick a new charity for next year.
I knew the corkscrew was coming up, my favorite part of the track. I was secretly hoping before we got there the CHP officer would slow down enough to form a gap between us and the other officers, then he could accelerate to catch up. Fast into the first turn, Left, then a quick right. It’s so steep that even at 40 mph it felt like a roller coaster. Then we rounded turn 10, I knew the lap was going to end soon, just one more turn and we would pull off. By this point the muscles in my arm were burning, but I knew I could hold on for a couple more seconds. The flag was lifting of the ground fighting with me to be set free, but as the pace car that was once leading us pulled of the track I knew I did it.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Uncorked at Laguna Seca
There was huge machine gun strapped to the car on my left. I sat there thinking about what I was about to do and how I can potentially mess up. The CHP car started to move toward the track. I did my best to hold the flag straight up and down. I tried to fasten it to the side of the door with my leg, but the weight of the pole made this too hard. The officers assured me we wouldn’t go to fast, but I knew even 40 miles an hour around the track would be hard and most likely cause me pain.
The sound of unrestricted race cars, the smell of racing gas, riding around the track in a CHP car and the feeling of being surrounded by millions of dollars is how I spent last weekend.
At Lagua Seca raceway there was an event called Uncorked. It was a no noise restriction event put on by Club Auto Sport, an elite club for the wealthier car junkies. All the proceeds of the event went to the Monterey SPCA.
There were many racing events this weekend. There was a historic Nascar race where people who now own actual Nascars, signed by the original driver, raced. Another event that took place was called, “Ride of Your Life”, where people previously bid on EBay for the chance to ride as a passenger on the racetrack. The cars of choice were the Bugatti Veyron and a Nascar with Danny Sullivan as the driver, multiple winner of the Indy 500.
I arrived at the track before most of the Club Auto Sport crew, so I was awe struck when at 6:00pm Friday night million dollar RVs around 60 feet long, towing 40 foot trailers started showing up. Once they started unloading, the gems inside the trailers started appearing, Ferraris, Porches, Lamborghinis, Nascars and Indy Cars.
This event was free to the public, and took place Saturday and Sunday. However, I didn’t just come to the event as a member of the public. I grew up going to this track, track days, motorcycle races and charity events. My connection is one of the most well connected men in professional Motorcycle racing at the highest level. He is a good family friend who used to manage Kenny Roberts, a World champion. This man happened to be in charge of the motorcycle portion of the event so I was there as his guest.
Around lunchtime another family friend who is a CHP officer rode his R1 replica CHP bike around the track along with two other CHP officers. They went out for the national anthem holding flags. I rode in the passenger seat of the CHP car and held the flag. The flag was attached to a 10 foot tall PVC pipe and was very difficult to hold going around a racetrack, but it was definitely worth the muscle cramps experienced later. Laguna Seca is such a fun track to be on. My favorite part is the corkscrew, where you twist around at the same time as dropping two stories. This is the part of the track where motorcycle riders usually get air.
This event was amazing; it’s not every day that I have to get out of the way of a nascar coming of the track. The only downside was the charity of choice. The Monterey SPCA refused to come to the event which angered many of the higher-ups. The unofficial total raised for them was over 100,000 dollars and they didn’t seem to care, but they will pick a new charity for next year.
As we rounded turn 10 I knew the lap was going to end soon, just one more turn and we would pull off. By this point the muscles in my arm were burning, but I knew I could hold on for a couple more seconds. The flag was lifting of the ground fighting with me to be set free, but as the pace car that was once leading us pulled of the track I knew I did it.
The sound of unrestricted race cars, the smell of racing gas, riding around the track in a CHP car and the feeling of being surrounded by millions of dollars is how I spent last weekend.
At Lagua Seca raceway there was an event called Uncorked. It was a no noise restriction event put on by Club Auto Sport, an elite club for the wealthier car junkies. All the proceeds of the event went to the Monterey SPCA.
There were many racing events this weekend. There was a historic Nascar race where people who now own actual Nascars, signed by the original driver, raced. Another event that took place was called, “Ride of Your Life”, where people previously bid on EBay for the chance to ride as a passenger on the racetrack. The cars of choice were the Bugatti Veyron and a Nascar with Danny Sullivan as the driver, multiple winner of the Indy 500.
I arrived at the track before most of the Club Auto Sport crew, so I was awe struck when at 6:00pm Friday night million dollar RVs around 60 feet long, towing 40 foot trailers started showing up. Once they started unloading, the gems inside the trailers started appearing, Ferraris, Porches, Lamborghinis, Nascars and Indy Cars.
This event was free to the public, and took place Saturday and Sunday. However, I didn’t just come to the event as a member of the public. I grew up going to this track, track days, motorcycle races and charity events. My connection is one of the most well connected men in professional Motorcycle racing at the highest level. He is a good family friend who used to manage Kenny Roberts, a World champion. This man happened to be in charge of the motorcycle portion of the event so I was there as his guest.
Around lunchtime another family friend who is a CHP officer rode his R1 replica CHP bike around the track along with two other CHP officers. They went out for the national anthem holding flags. I rode in the passenger seat of the CHP car and held the flag. The flag was attached to a 10 foot tall PVC pipe and was very difficult to hold going around a racetrack, but it was definitely worth the muscle cramps experienced later. Laguna Seca is such a fun track to be on. My favorite part is the corkscrew, where you twist around at the same time as dropping two stories. This is the part of the track where motorcycle riders usually get air.
This event was amazing; it’s not every day that I have to get out of the way of a nascar coming of the track. The only downside was the charity of choice. The Monterey SPCA refused to come to the event which angered many of the higher-ups. The unofficial total raised for them was over 100,000 dollars and they didn’t seem to care, but they will pick a new charity for next year.
As we rounded turn 10 I knew the lap was going to end soon, just one more turn and we would pull off. By this point the muscles in my arm were burning, but I knew I could hold on for a couple more seconds. The flag was lifting of the ground fighting with me to be set free, but as the pace car that was once leading us pulled of the track I knew I did it.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Dine on a Dime
Want something to do on a Saturday night, but you haven't gotten paid since last Friday and you are craving a gourmet meal?
Why not try something new. Stay in and still eat at the five star level for the same price as a pizza from round table. Try blackened tuna steaks with a mango salsa. One of the trendiest fruits right not is the mango. It's a super fruit which means it has great taste, it's nutrient rich and it has antioxidant qualities. So use this fruit in a tasty recipe that will make anyone look like a great chef.
Now in order to make this recipe for fewer than 20 dollars there are a few places you need to go to get the cheapest ingredients. The first stop will be the 99 Cent store. Here you will be able to find all of your seasonings.
Next go to your regular grocery store and pick up the rest of the ingredients. These are all the ingredients from the produce section. The mango is the main ingredient in this recipe so it's important you find one that is ripe. The mango needs to be soft. The softer it is the sweeter the taste.
Now for your meat of choice, this recipe is designed around Ahi tuna steaks. Buy yellow-fin tuna because it has a lower per pound price. You can find it for as cheap as 6.99 a pound or as much as 9.99 a pound, but don't let this scare you because each steak is only around a quarter of a pound. When you buy tuna one of the most important things to ask is if it's sushi grade or not. To get the sushi grade tuna you need to ask the person behind the fish counter for frozen tuna. What sushi grade means to this recipe is that you can eat it raw, so you don't have to cook the fish all the way through.
For those of you that don't feel like being that adventurous and trying tuna or maybe you want to lower the price even more you can substitute it with chicken. It is cheaper and still tasty.
When you get home start defrosting the fish or chicken. Once it's thawed chop up some garlic and put it in a freezer bag with some olive oil, lime and the meat then put it in the fridge for 30 minutes. When the meat is marinating you can make the mango salsa. You chop all the remaining produce and mix together in a bowl. Everything should be in small pieces like a salsa. Put the salsa in the refrigerator and then make the dry rub. You simply mix all the dry ingredients together. When the meat is done marinating rinse it off. The marinade is meant to absorb into the meat not coat the outside.
Now would be a good time to start the rice. You want enough rice to have about a cup per person after it is cooked, not before.
Coat both sides of the meat in the rub and cook in a skillet with some oil. Don’t worry about burning the meat because the point is to blacken it. Once the fish is blackened it’s done, but the chicken will take longer. Remember the tuna should be sushi grade so don't worry about under cooking this. You can eat it raw.
After the meat is finished so are you. To plate this impressive meal put a cup of rice on the plate. Then plate the meat on top of the rice, after that scoop the salsa on top of the meat. The meat will be spicy and the salsa will be sweet. Have some people over to premiere this gourmet meal. You can still have a fun night without spending too much.
To find the full recipe go to http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Blackened-Tuna-Steaks-with-Mango-Salsa/Detail.aspx
Why not try something new. Stay in and still eat at the five star level for the same price as a pizza from round table. Try blackened tuna steaks with a mango salsa. One of the trendiest fruits right not is the mango. It's a super fruit which means it has great taste, it's nutrient rich and it has antioxidant qualities. So use this fruit in a tasty recipe that will make anyone look like a great chef.
Now in order to make this recipe for fewer than 20 dollars there are a few places you need to go to get the cheapest ingredients. The first stop will be the 99 Cent store. Here you will be able to find all of your seasonings.
Next go to your regular grocery store and pick up the rest of the ingredients. These are all the ingredients from the produce section. The mango is the main ingredient in this recipe so it's important you find one that is ripe. The mango needs to be soft. The softer it is the sweeter the taste.
Now for your meat of choice, this recipe is designed around Ahi tuna steaks. Buy yellow-fin tuna because it has a lower per pound price. You can find it for as cheap as 6.99 a pound or as much as 9.99 a pound, but don't let this scare you because each steak is only around a quarter of a pound. When you buy tuna one of the most important things to ask is if it's sushi grade or not. To get the sushi grade tuna you need to ask the person behind the fish counter for frozen tuna. What sushi grade means to this recipe is that you can eat it raw, so you don't have to cook the fish all the way through.
For those of you that don't feel like being that adventurous and trying tuna or maybe you want to lower the price even more you can substitute it with chicken. It is cheaper and still tasty.
When you get home start defrosting the fish or chicken. Once it's thawed chop up some garlic and put it in a freezer bag with some olive oil, lime and the meat then put it in the fridge for 30 minutes. When the meat is marinating you can make the mango salsa. You chop all the remaining produce and mix together in a bowl. Everything should be in small pieces like a salsa. Put the salsa in the refrigerator and then make the dry rub. You simply mix all the dry ingredients together. When the meat is done marinating rinse it off. The marinade is meant to absorb into the meat not coat the outside.
Now would be a good time to start the rice. You want enough rice to have about a cup per person after it is cooked, not before.
Coat both sides of the meat in the rub and cook in a skillet with some oil. Don’t worry about burning the meat because the point is to blacken it. Once the fish is blackened it’s done, but the chicken will take longer. Remember the tuna should be sushi grade so don't worry about under cooking this. You can eat it raw.
After the meat is finished so are you. To plate this impressive meal put a cup of rice on the plate. Then plate the meat on top of the rice, after that scoop the salsa on top of the meat. The meat will be spicy and the salsa will be sweet. Have some people over to premiere this gourmet meal. You can still have a fun night without spending too much.
To find the full recipe go to http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Blackened-Tuna-Steaks-with-Mango-Salsa/Detail.aspx
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