We all remember the ridiculous song we sung long ago in our elementary years: “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…” Today we are met with, yet again, another Columbus Day. Cheers to celebrating the man that accidentally bumped into our already inhabited continent. For those free of work and/or school, today is merely a … Continue reading
Category Archives: Random
Get your dance on at Dance Party!
Beer makes me dance. I’m guilty, I admit it. I like to dance, and beer makes me do it even more. Or at least that’s what my shirt says. So I walk into this sandwich shop in Oakland last weekend wearing my purple cotton t-shirt that proclaims to the whole world, “BEER MAKES ME DANCE!” … Continue reading
food / Random / sacramento / Words.
Burgers, Burgers, and more Burgers!
As the paper VIP bracelet was strapped to my wrist I felt my giddiness rise in me like the anticipation a five-year-old feels on the eve of Christmas, Sacramento’s first annual Burger Battle was finally here and I was here to witness it through TUBE eyes! Before being herded into a private hall that resembled … Continue reading
food / Random / sacramento / Things to do / Words.
Come Celebrate National Cheeseburger Day
For many, an iconic American staple such as the cheeseburger can not be contained to just one day. In our culture of self-indulgence and immoderation many of us celebrate cheeseburgers on a daily basis. What’s that you say? You’re a disenchanted vegan tired of quinoa burgers? Well, the Sacramento Burger Battle today at Raley Field … Continue reading
Book Review – Rajaa Alsinea’s Girls of Riyadh
Here’s everything I know about Sex in the City: Sarah Jessica Parker plays Carrie Bradshaw (but she was better in Flight of the Navigator), a woman who writes a relationship advice column and has a bunch of middle-aged friends. Done. I can’t name any of the other characters or general plot-lines. I haven’t seen a full episode … Continue reading
Adventures / Random / sacramento / Words.
Surfs Up!
As Isak Dinesen said, “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea”. Well here in Sacramento, that third element isn’t really an option. What is it about water that makes us feel so relaxed? Whether it’s a dip in the pool or a vodka on the rocks, water (in whichever form) … Continue reading
Book Review – William Joyce’s The Guardians (Book 1)
Remember that Harry Potter series of books thing that sort of turned into the Inheritance (Eragon) series or the Lemony Snicket series or the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series or the Twilight series or the Hunger Game series? William Joyce has the latest in read-these-until-you’re-blue in the face technology: The Guardians series. I first … Continue reading
Book Review – Tom Wolfe’s I am Charlotte Simmons
Sometimes, when kids go to college, they binge drink and have lots of sex. If you didn’t know that, and prefer to get your information through 700+ page novels, then this is your jam: The cover of I am Charlotte Simmons (2004) indicates exactly what is wrong with the book (i.e. it’s terrible and can’t stand on … Continue reading
Book Review – Tom McCarthy’s C
I’m only four weeks in and already the 52-books-in-52-weeks project is starting to get overwhelming. This beast of a novel didn’t help much. Tom McCarthy’s C (2010) is a doozy: Let’s start off with the hype surrounding this book. Slate Magazine said it was “The Future of Fiction,” and The Guardian said it was “steeped in … Continue reading
Book Review – Daniel Orozco’s Orientation and Other Stories
Orientation (2011) is an amazing collection and is worth every penny of the absurdly high hardcover price. I was less than 20 pages in before I was convinced it had become my favorite read of the year, which should suggest the general tone of this review (i.e. Sweetbabyjesustakemenow!). Let’s take a moment to acknowledge how … Continue reading
Book Review – David Shields’ Reality Hunger
What is this thing? Because it doesn’t quite feel like a “book” in any traditional sense (and certainly doesn’t feel like a typical ham-fisted manifesto – not that I’ve read many manifestos). It doesn’t present an argument in any traditional fashion, and leaves a lot of the intellectual leg work and conclusion-making to the reader … Continue reading
Book Review – Teju Cole’s Open City
Open City (2011) has been getting a lot of praise in literary circles (i.e., it was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and won the PEN/Hemingway Award), so it seemed a worthy note to begin with. Cole’s novel is probably not a great read while you’re trying to get your sun tan on, … Continue reading
TUBE. Magazine 