Sacramento Restaurants, Nightlife and Entertainment

[wburg]

The Carrows at 10th and R was the non-slow Carrows right after Old Ironsides closed. While I generally don't miss the departure of a chain restaurant, I do think that 24 hour restaurants are a real necessity in Sacramento, especially adjacent to nightclub districts: they give people a place to sober up post-nightclub/bar/show.

The owners of the Eppie's lot (actually the Eppie Johnson family) and surrounding area (including the hotel and the senior home) want to build a 4-5 story project that would take up most of the block, with medical office on the Alhambra side, hotel/residential on the 30th Street side, and ground floor retail, with a parking structure where the senior home is. It's still pretty conceptual. At the meeting I suggested that they open a 24 hour restaurant in the ground floor retail area.

One thing mentioned in the Bee the other day is that the owners of the lot where the Carrows is located also own the old Radio Shack, where they want to open a nightclub, and the purpose of the new lot is to provide parking for this nightclub.

These neighborhoods already have names:

[creamcityleo79]

Originally Posted by Phillip

Waffle Square at 10th and R used to be a Carrows too. I used to think of it as "slow Carrows". 28th and J was "busy Carrows". 10th and R only had a crowd for an hour at lunch when the state employees came in, and not much dinner or weekend business.

I think there must be more to 28th and J closing than Carrow's being slow to renew their lease. Probably the owners didn't want to lease to ANY restaurant now. It should have been easy to rent this to another restaurant, especially with all that offstreet parking at a high traffic intersection.

With Carrow's gone maybe someone will finally rent the old Eppie's at 30th and N. It's been vacant for years. Seems like a perfect spot for Carrow's actually.

As for a six-story condo at 28th and J....I wouldn't want to live at that busy intersection with ambulances whizzing by day and night on their way to Sutter General. East facing units would overlook the Cap City freeway.

You wouldn't want to live there. But, if you were a nurse working 10-12 hr days, you might. Or if you were a single doctor who likes the urban life, it'd be great!

[otnemarcaS]

Originally Posted by Phillip

I think there must be more to 28th and J closing than Carrow's being slow to renew their lease. Probably the owners didn't want to lease to ANY restaurant now. It should have been easy to rent this to another restaurant, especially with all that offstreet parking at a high traffic intersection.

With Carrow's gone maybe someone will finally rent the old Eppie's at 30th and N. It's been vacant for years. Seems like a perfect spot for Carrow's actually.

Maybe a little bit of your answers from Bob Shallit in Saturday's Bee

Trading spaces: Neighbors are upset about Wednesday's closure of the midtown Carrows Restaurant, at 28th and J streets.

The restaurant's owners, who lost their lease, say they wanted to keep operating Carrows, which provided good food and fellowship for seniors and nearby residents.

So here's an idea: Why doesn't Carrows move into the long-empty Eppie's location six blocks away at 30th and N streets?

A spokeswoman for Carrows' parent company in Carlsbad isn't ruling that out.

"We're always looking for new opportunities," she says, adding that things happened so suddenly "we haven't been able to make any decisions" about alternative sites.

If Carrows does move to Eppie's, we'll take our standard referral fee.

* * *

Ironic twist?: Speaking of Carrows, could the restaurant's closure have been prompted inadvertently by some of the same neighbors who now are bemoaning its closure?

That's the theory of George Raya, co-chairman of the Marshall School Neighborhood Association.

He says neighbors were concerned when Carrows' property owners announced they were opening a new restaurant and bar, called G.V. Hurley's, in the former Radio Shack outlet at 2716 J St.

At public meetings, neighbors urged the owners -- Peter Geremia, Steve Goodwin and Brian Vail -- to come up with more parking to relieve the late-night congestion that a new night spot would bring. Raya speculates that closing Carrows was a way for the property owners to get the parking lot they needed.

Vail, one of the developer-owners of the Carrows location, isn't buying that theory.

"You have to remember," he says, "that Carrows didn't renew their lease." At least not in a timely manner.

"We didn't throw them out," he says.

[Phillip]

So here's an idea: Why doesn't Carrows move into the long-empty Eppie's location six blocks away at 30th and N streets?

Uhoh, I hope Bob Shallit doesn't sue me for stealing his idea. But truly I hadn't seen his article when I posted. Probably a Carrow's to Eppie's move has occurred to a lot of people.

Anyhow Midtown could use a few MORE 24 hour dining options, not fewer. If Carrow's closes is Denny's on 3rd and J all that's left?

wburg,

I didn't know about Eppie's family wanting to build a project on that site. I'm thinking there's been a "For Rent" sign in the window of old Eppie's for years, as if they were trying to rerent the place to another restaurant.

neuhickman79,

You're right that it doesn't have to be for me, as long as it's for somebody. And looking down on the Capital City freeway is probably more fun than driving on it.

[sugit]

Couple Oktoberfest events this weekend...any others I'm missing?

Brew it Up. Saturday October 6th
http://www.brewitup.com/Oktoberfest_2007.html


Sacramento Turn Verein
http://www.sacramentoturnverein.com/events/

Oktoberfest
Friday, Saturday, October 5-6
DOORS OPEN: Friday, Oct 5th at 6 p.m. & Saturday, Oct 6th at 5 p.m.
German Music in the Main Hall with dancing from 7 – 11 p.m.
Edelweiss Band on Friday & Karl Lebherz Band on Saturday
Oktoberfest Beer from Munich, authentic German food, Kaffeehaus , dancing to German music , Biergarten with specialty foods, and unique local bands upstairs

(Leather Souls – Friday/The Famous Trio – Saturday)
Also: Turner Harmonie - Camtia Schuhplattlers
Food - Entertainment - Dancing
Your favorite Drinks - Oktoberfest Beer - Wine – Champagne
Admission at the door: $10.00, Children 6 -12: $5.00, under 6: free
Come early for preferred seating and enjoy a great evening!

I'm sure you guys have all seen this on J Street in East SAc

[innov8]

A bit pricey, but it sounds like fun.


Neo-Crocker: A Modern Culture Party
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 8 PM to 1 AM
$50 advance tickets; $75 at the door (if available)
21 and over/cash bar

Fire dancers, Ferraris, champagne and more await you at a party unlike anything you have ever experienced at the Crocker. Neo-Crocker will serve as the last major onsite event until construction is complete and the New Crocker opens in 2010.

Activities throughout the evening will be held in the Museum Courtyard and the gallery and office space that has been emptied in preparation of demolition of the Herold Wing. The large open space allows for DJ dancing, image projection, artist’s murals and dance troupes along with hors d’oeuvres by Restaurant 55º and a cash bar. Images of the Crocker’s expansion project along with images from Burning Man by Andy Pischalnikoff from the Playa Vision Series will be included in projections on the blank gallery walls.

Four Ways to Buy Tickets
http://crockerartmuseum.org/NeoCrocker/index.htm

[sugit]

I think this is the new spot opening up in the Firestone Building next year. Not sure though, I just hope its not another reincarnation of K Bar/ Buddha Bar/ Cabana at 12th and K. There sure are a a bunch of lounges in that general area. Paralare, The Park, Cabana, the place Paragary is opening at 10th and K, and now this one. Should create some competition though.

Would be nice to see them take the design ideas for one of these lounges and do an actual club similar to Badlands. I've heard that place turned out nice. Or a better version of Avalon. There seems to be a shortage of upscale clubs (not lounges, but clubs) in Downtown.






http://www.myspace.com/dreamultralounge

[wburg]

There seems to be a shortage of clubs of all sorts: upscale, downscale, midscale, whatever! Plenty of hole in the wall bars, but very few places with a capacity of several hundred where mid-sized bands can play or medium-sized dance clubs (something too big for, say, Golden Bear but too small for Badlands) can exist. Something along the lines of Club 21: not divey, but nothing with a $20 cover.

[sugit]

Originally Posted by wburg

There seems to be a shortage of clubs of all sorts: upscale, downscale, midscale, whatever! Plenty of hole in the wall bars, but very few places with a capacity of several hundred where mid-sized bands can play or medium-sized dance clubs (something too big for, say, Golden Bear but too small for Badlands) can exist. Something along the lines of Club 21: not divey, but nothing with a $20 cover.

Agreed. Quite a few bars, but a lack of other stuff. In the case above I was referring to purly upscale stuff though since it seems upscale lounges are coming into play quite a it recently.

[wburg]

At some point the "scales" have to tip in favor of us non designer clothes wearing types, though...

[Tenebrist]

Originally Posted by sugit

I think this is the new spot opening up in the Firestone Building next year. Not sure though...

the image above mentions a "mid-september" opening date, but the (almost) same graphic on their myspace page says "mid-october". wth?

after seeing the photos of the people commenting on that myspace page, i can already tell it's gonna be a club i won't want to go to.

[goldcntry]

Originally Posted by wburg

At some point the "scales" have to tip in favor of us non designer clothes wearing types, though...

Sooooo true wburg!! I'd love to be able to go clubbin' some night, but the thought of being stuck in a line outside for hours just doesn't appeal to me. I have this recurring vision of the doorman taking one look at me and bursts out laughing.

[wburg]

That's some fairly precious ad copy. "Imagine an environment where you finish snorting coke in a bathroom stall. Imagine a world where you pay a $20 cover for the right to spend the rest of the evening chasing some elusive 'lobster tacos.'"

[otnemarcaS]

The ParK DT has been open more than 18 mths, I think, and I'm still blown away at how this place continues to pack in the crowds. I mean $20 to get in and $9 iced teas or mojitos and you are down $30 bucks with the first 5 mins. They cater to a specific crowd that continues to patronize the business and to that I say amen. I've been there a few times mostly when I get in for free via their email list. Also can get in free on Thurs and Fri if you are a member of Gold's gym. Some like the ambiance, others can't stand it. Some like the pretentious 'LA wannabe crowd', others would rather go home and watch re-runs of 'my friend flipper' on TV. The Torch club crowd down the street will not be standing in line anytime soon to get into The Park.

The beauty in life is that a business owner only has to give a damn about whomever he wants to give a damn about. That's why Carl's jr can continue to run their blatantly sexist ads like the Paris Hilton ones, ketchup on office worker's blouse or the latest flat buns (feminist groups be damned) because their target audience is the pre-teen to early 20's boys. And CJ is doing very well at that, I might add.

There's now a decent variety of clubs/bars to go to in DT/MT to cater to most tastes. A lot more is needed but it's much better than years ago.

[reggiesquared]

Originally Posted by otnemarcaS

The ParK DT has been open more than 18 mths, I think, and I'm still blown away at how this place continues to pack in the crowds. I mean $20 to get in and $9 iced teas or mojitos and you are down $30 bucks with the first 5 mins. They cater to a specific crowd that continues to patronize the business and to that I say amen. I've been there a few times mostly when I get in for free via their email list. Also can get in free on Thurs and Fri if you are a member of Gold's gym. Some like the ambiance, others can't stand it. Some like the pretentious 'LA wannabe crowd', others would rather go home and watch re-runs of 'my friend flipper' on TV. The Torch club crowd down the street will not be standing in line anytime soon to get into The Park.

The beauty in life is that a business owner only has to give a damn about whomever he wants to give a damn about. That's why Carl's jr can continue to run their blatantly sexist ads like the Paris Hilton ones, ketchup on office worker's blouse or the latest flat buns (feminist groups be damned) because their target audience is the pre-teen to early 20's boys. And CJ is doing very well at that, I might add.

There's now a decent variety of clubs/bars to go to in DT/MT to cater to most tastes. A lot more is needed but it's much better than years ago.

Just go to masons happy hour. Best in town next to Spataros happy hour. everything on the menu is between 3 and 7 bucks. you can get drunk and stuffed for 20 bucks. Really tasty stuff too.

[otnemarcaS]

Originally Posted by reggiesquared

Just go to masons happy hour. Best in town next to Spataros happy hour. everything on the menu is between 3 and 7 bucks. you can get drunk and stuffed for 20 bucks. Really tasty stuff too.

Wish I could but I work in SF and by the time I get back home to Sac, happy hour is already over.

[Trojan]

I went to the new restaurant Ella in the Cathedral Lofts and the restaurant interior is beautifully done. Definitely one of the most original and nicest interior of any restaurant in Sacramento. Supposedly the serving style at the restaurant is "family style"... meaning each person orders their own appetizer or salad, and then each person will choose a main course and share it with the rest of the table. The service wasn't great, since I was there the third night it was open. The food is excellent, but I'm not sure if the whole "family style" is going to work out as the restaurants main idea, since the main course meal sizes are very small, and at such a nice restaurant, people will want their own main course.

Hopefully the restaurant continues to do well.. it was fairly busy for being a Tuesday night.

[Grimnebulin]

In a strange bit of news, Mikuni's has apparently bought Plaza Hof Brau at Watt and El Camino and are upgrading much of the equipment...are Hof Braus the new Sushi bars?!?!?

[ozone]

Just to report back on the Neo-Crocker event. First it was really crowded and so it was kinda too warm inside. The bar situation sucked. The whole quasi-burning man theme -complete with fire dancers might have been entertaining if I had never been to the actual Burning Man festival.

More or less boring IMO. The highlight was my friend flicking his cigarette and nearly catching Sandy Smoley on fire. Thank god Mort and Marcy had already passed.

[Phillip]

Originally Posted by Grimnebulin

In a strange bit of news, Mikuni's has apparently bought Plaza Hof Brau at Watt and El Camino and are upgrading much of the equipment...are Hof Braus the new Sushi bars?!?!?

I'm sorry to hear that. Ten years ago I ate at that Hofbrau a lot. It was in the same strip shopping center with all the Tower stores. That Hofbrau had a fine collection of old Sacramento photos. They had very private booths with benches made of dark wood and some of the photos were on the walls inside the booths. Every visit I'd try to pick a different booth so I could study some different photos.

Several months ago I saw an obit in the Bee for a man who started the Hofbrau chain. He lived in Sacramento. There were about a dozen of them on the West Coast. I'm not totally sure of this but I'm thinking that Hamburber Mary's on J Street, now Hamburger Patty's, was once a Hofbrau too.

I was living in Portland when the Hofbrau there closed, several years ago. Same hand carved meats and corned beef as on Watt Avenue. The one in Portland became a McDonalds. A couple years later that McDonalds closed too.

I left Sacramento a month ago and I'm back visiting for a few days. I'm going to try and get to the Hofbrau on Watt one last time while I'm here. Thanks for letting me know about this, Grimnebulin.