Okay, okay.  I know that for some of you who don’t live in Sacramento, a Sacramento Thursday post is boring & seems lame & I AM SORRY.  But seriously, y’all.  This bar?  IS AMAZING.

Also, if you ever come visit me, I will totally take you here.  Probably more than once.

A little back story: Pre-Flite is one of those bars where you need to know somebody who knows about it.  For me, this knowledge came in the form of my good friends Leslie, Steph and Becca who casually referred to Pre-Flite during a girls wine night at my house.  I was told three notable things: the bar is hidden, the drinks are ridiculously strong and they serve bologna sandwiches.  I’ve already made my feelings about bologna perfectly clear on this blog, so you can imagine how delighted I was by this prospect.

I showed up on a Friday afternoon for happy hour with the girls & tried in vain to locate the bar, which is in the basement of a local mall.  Finally, I approached a security guard & asked him if he knew where Pre-Flite was.  He nodded & led me into the abyss.

Literally, you walk downstairs into a seemingly innocuous area and then it sort of appears before your very eyes.  I walked in to find a couple making out feverishly against a wall outside the bar.  Definitely set the “dive bar” tone.

The first time I went, I arrived earlier than my friends & went & sat at the bar alone.  I was immediately welcomed into a conversation & even met a man who had also just lost his teaching job.  I hung out with the regulars until my friends showed up.  The drinks were strong (like, after two drinks I was all wasteyface) & cheap.  The seats are comfy & the decor is something straight out of the 70′s: lots of brown, bucket seats, a giant pinata shaped like a cocktail & more light-up beer signs than you can shake a stick at.  My friends jokingly call this bar the Regal Beagle, a la “Three’s Company” & yeah, that’s it exactly.

The second time I went to Pre-Flite was even better than the first, if possible, simply because of the cutest older lady who works there.  She offered us bologna sandwiches & her homemade bean dip — both which were arranged on a table for the taking by any bar patron.  My drink was never empty, my parking was validated & she was SO NICE, it was unbelievable.  My friend & I were there for several hours, nursing drinks & chatting & while a few parties came in, the bar never got crowded & everyone that came in was just as mellow.

Free bologna sandwiches.  YESSSSS.

While Pre-Flite may not be for the “see & be seen” crowd, it’s definitely my go-to for a cheap, comfortable fun place to drink in the afternoon.  I mean, can you really go wrong with an UNDERGROUND BOLOGNA BAR?

I didn’t think so.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

On Tuesday night, I attended my first Sacramento Social Media Club event, a panel about Food Blogging.  Um, yes, I realize that I’m not a food blogger.  Still, since I’m basically a full-on social media geek, and I’m also actively seeking new ways to connect with my community here in Sacramento when it comes to social media, I went.

The event was held at the Urban Hive, a cool space with a lot of art.  I was pleasantly surprised to see so many people — had NO IDEA that there were so many people passionate about social media in Sacramento.  After sampling some delicious cookies from a local restaurant, Grange, I headed into the panel with my new friend, Wendy.

The speakers were diverse, and included two girls from a local PR firm, the head of Slow Food Sacramento, the pastry chef from Grange and Garrett McCord, one of the first bloggers I read regularly.

Many of the takeaways were food-specific, but the discussion on blogging was fantastic.  Solid blogging advice, such as making your site timely, informative and entertaining was emphasized.  The impact of Yelp and other online sources of reviews was heavily discussed and as reviewers, we were reminded to be thoughtful about what we say — it’s really true that our words as bloggers and people who interact digitally can absolutely affect others livelihoods and lives.  There was also a major push for Four Square, which I STILL cannot get behind due to my incredible levels of paranoia, but I can see how as a restaurant or business, it’d be valuable.

While I won’t be starting a food blog any time soon, despite my love for all things food-related, I was really excited to see the local community come together around social media.  The more I learn about it, the more excited I am to be part of what’s happening on the Internet.  To see these things happening in the city I love is absolutely thrilling.

Does your city have a Social Media Organization?  Do you go to the meetings?  Why or why not?

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

While many Sacramentans I know turn their nose up at eating at such a well-known place in Midtown, I don’t care.  There’s a reason this place is popular, busy and well-loved: because it’s awesome.

Located on Capitol Avenue, literally in the heart of Midtown, Paesanos has been one of my favorite restaurants in Sacramento for years.  In fact, it’s the first restaurant I ever dined at in Midtown—and ever since then, it’s remained in rotation for dates, birthday dinners and pre Second Saturday art walk festivities.

If I had to craft my ideal meal there, it’d be as follows: start with the Polenta Fries.  Just do it.  They are delicious.  Also, be sure to get the gorgonzola dipping sauce.  Lots.

After that, it’s a toss-up: I’m a big fan of their pizzas, namely the Vegetariano (every veggie you can dream of, cloves of garlic, goat cheese) or the Pollo y Patata (chicken, potato, garlic sauce, cheese).  I’ve also had the risotto, which is amazing.  Their salads are also fantastic.

I’ve only had dessert there once, because usually, I’m too busy enjoying pizza and polenta.  Plus, I’ve never met a dessert I didn’t like, so I’m probably not your gal to tell you what to order and avoid in that realm.

My biggest tip is to go on a warm evening, sit outside, get a drink and take your time.  The staff is fun and friendly, and the people watching can’t be beat.  Eating at Paesanos makes me love where I live.  It’s worth a visit, or a return visit. 

Promise.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

As you may or may not know, I live near Sacramento, California.  I grew up in a tiny town about 20 miles away before moving into the heart of Midtown Sac at age 21.  I loved it there, but when Andrew and I got an apartment together, we chose to live in the suburbs because…I don’t really know.  I’ve been out of the city for almost a year, but in May, we are planning on making our epic return.  I CAN’T WAIT.  I miss the busy feeling of Midtown, the people and the abundance of things to do.  It feels like home, and I love it there.

Sacramento gets a bit of a bad rap, simply because it can’t compete with the likes of San Francisco and Los Angeles, the big name cities in our state.  Still, I absolutely adore Sacramento.  It’s an urban city, but with a small-town feel and it’s exactly my pace.  I love the budding art community, the music scene and the food.  Sure, it’s not nearly as huge as the big-name California cities, but everything I need, want or long for is within walking distance.  It’s close enough to my parents for me to be nearby, but also much, much closer to work, making it the perfect place for me.  As a young 20-something, there is plenty to do and see and oh my goodness, I just want to move back tomorrow.

As I countdown to us moving “home” I thought I’d highlight bits and pieces of the city I know and love every Thursday, so maybe YOU can grow to love it to, at least vicariously.  So, without further adieu, my first feature: Cornerstone!

The first time I went to Cornerstone, I was like, “The hell?  This place looks TERRIBLE.”  The decor appears to be straight out of the 70′s and there is NOTHING FANCY about the place.  My dining companion assured me that no, it was worth it, despite the “greasy spoon” look and feel.

He wasn’t kidding.

The food is definitely greasy, but perfect for a morning-after breakfast.  They have all the breakfast staples: good eggs, omelets, pancakes, french toast, and the best thing is that they will let you make just about any combination, substitutions and all, with no complaints or price increases.  One of my close friends is a vegetarian, but LOVES Cornerstone because they have awesome veggie entrees, too — if you can resist their perfectly crispy bacon, something I’m unable to do.  The coffee is good, and the staff seems to realize the total importance of keeping cups filled.

I’ve been eating at Cornerstone for several years now, and the staff never seems to change.  They are kind without being condescending or annoying and they know their stuff.  On occasion, I’ve had to wait awhile before being served, but that’s nothing I mind too much on a lazy morning, especially when I have a full cup of coffee.

I think my favorite thing about Cornerstone is it’s ridiculously cheap prices, especially during the week.  If you arrive before 8 AM, you can get just about any combination of three items—MORE than enough—for $4.  It’s amazing.  During my breaks from teaching, my aforementioned vegetarian friend (also a teacher!) and I love, love, love going during the week for cheap food.

The only thing you should be well aware of is that it’s a cash-only joint, so be prepared.

So, there’s my first glimpse into Sacramento life!  More to come!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites