Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "bar west"

Midtown neighbors cry foul over BarWest's entertainment permit plans

2013-03-07T04:28:26Z

Before opening in Midtown in summer 2011, BarWest's owners told neighbors and the press that they wouldn't seek an entertainment permit from the city.

Not quite two years later, the bar/restaurant that took the place of Aura on J Street is doing exactly that, inciting the wrath of neighbors who say BarWest isn't holding to its original agreement.

"Needless to say, I'm incredibly disappointed that they have gone back on their word," said Julie Murphy, co-chair of the Marshall School/New Era Park Neighborhood Association. "And we have grave concerns about how an entertainment permit will affect the ecosystem on that block."

In a letter dated Feb. 22, 2013, the City of Sacramento's community development department notified property owners of BarWest's request for an entertainment permit. This would allow the venue to host activities such as DJs, live bands, karaoke, dancing and trivia, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. The letter wasn't sent to those who rent, however, which neighbors say makes up a large portion of the area surrounding BarWest.

And they're crying foul, big time.

"They lied to us about what it was going to be when it went in," said Trish Wallis, who lives within shouting distance from BarWest, and is often woken up to the sounds of yelling, cars peeling out, and people fighting.

Wallis said the owners originally characterized the business as a beer, burgers and wings neighborhood spot, but "it's turned into something clearly much more alcohol related."

"Their big thing is punch bowls – a giant fishbowl full of alcohol, with really long straws," she said. "It's exactly the kind of atmosphere it attracts. I call it Frat West or Douche West, really bro-y guys and college-aged girls, and it turns into mayhem, and in the summer it is insane."

When contacted Wednesday, co-owner Shults said he didn't understand why neighbors are so concerned, or why The Sacramento Press was pursuing a story. "Is there a story there?" he initially responded to this reporter. "I don't believe it's a story. I continue to get bashed in the Sac Press and (Sacramento) News & Review."

Shults went on to say that BarWest pays for police and private security to patrol the area, and that he abides by every law required. "And I am a good neighbor," he said. "I pay my taxes, I employ a lot of people, and make sure there's no disturbances.

"I feel as though I'm being a good neighbor, unfortunately there are some who feel I am not."

He said the bar/restaurant filed for an entertainment permit after being forced to shut down trivia night, which is classified as entertainment.

But when asked about neighbors' concerns, Shults didn't have much to say. "If it's about neighborhood complaint issues, I choose not to give a quote," he said.

Randy Paragary, a partner of BarWest and owner of Paragary Restaurant Group, didn't return calls seeking comment.

When the bar/restaurant was moving into the space on the 2700 block of J Street in May 2011, Shults seemed to want to develop a good relationship with neighbors, telling The Sacramento Press in an interview at the time that, "In Midtown, the only way you're going to survive is if the neighborhood association supports you."

Murphy said BarWest appeared to take neighbors' concerns to heart when moving into the space, "but recent actions show they aren't going to honor their promise."

She heard about the permit application through Councilman Steve Hansen's office, she said, and not the BarWest owners. "So apparently there's no desire to work with the neighbors as well," she said. "Actions speak louder than words."

Other than telling The Sacramento Press they wouldn't seek an entertainment permit, the owners made the same verbal promise to neighborhood associations.

An article from May 2011 said that “several concessions were made to get the neighbors on board – including agreeing not to apply for an entertainment permit through the city and bolting down tables on the ground floor so they can not be cleared for a dance space, as was previously done when Aura occupied the building.”

In minutes from the Marshall School/New Era Neighborhood Association board meeting in April 2011, owners Trevor Shults and Todd Zancaner were quoted as saying they want a condition added on their ABC license saying "that they will not file for an entertainment permit." No such stipulation could be found on BarWest’s ABC license.

"You can't do that," said George Raya of the Marshall School/New Era Neighborhood Association. "You can't come in and say one thing, and down the road, change the story."

Wallis wrote a letter to the city, requesting that the permit application be denied. "I live less than a block from BarWest, and have been awoken countless times by patrons leaving the bar at early hours in the morning in my neighborhood," the letter reads. "I have picked up trash littered by patrons as they have left the bar. I have been witness to BarWest employees…drinking open containers of alcohol in the park across from the establishment and littering their empty beer bottles when finished."

Maurice Chaney, a spokesman for the city, said BarWest applied for the permit on Feb. 13. Shortly afterward, the city did an inspection of BarWest, and came back with a list of corrections. BarWest must next request a re-inspection, Chaney said. After that, the city has 45 business days to make a determination whether to grant the permit, Chaney said.

Ultimately, the community development department has the final say. There is no public hearing process, but residents with concerns can contact the city’s entertainment permits staff at (916) 808-3535, or send comments to entertainpermit@cityofsacramento.org, with the subject line “BarWest,” according to the letter sent to property owners.

But there's more to the process than simply being up to code. "There is a due diligence piece to it," Chaney said. The city considers the track record of business' management and owner, its location, community concerns, and receives input from the police on levels of calls to service the area, he said.

D4 Councilman Steve Hansen was careful to not vindicate either side. "Being a good neighbor is an important standard for everyone to live up to in the balance between residents and business," Hansen said . "As this particular permit is being considered, I would like to see all of these issues aired and given due consideration ensuring that we continue to create the kind of neighborhood everyone would want to live in."

BarWest has been a source of contention for neighbors since opening its doors in summer 2011. They’ve complained of noise levels and fights along the stretch of J Street, citing BarWest as the main culprit, though the block is also home to several other bars and clubs. And it’s received much attention from the media, such as the Sacramento Bee, Sacramento News & Review, and CBS.

Raya emphasized that the neighborhood association isn't anti-business, and worked with Harlow's in ensuring the music venue could operate while minimizing the impact to its neighbors. He went on to say that the New Marshall School/New Era Park Neighborhood Association will take up the matter at its Sunday meeting. "This just got added to it and we will officially, as an organization, take a position," Raya said. "From what I've heard, not one person is supportive of the entertainment license."

But the goal isn't to shut down BarWest, it’s to hold them to the original agreement, neighbors say.

"No, we don't want to close Barwest," Raya said in a comment on this article after it was posted. "We want Trevor Shults and Todd Zancaner to continue to honor the promise they made to their neighbors. No entertainment license would be applied for, period. They offered to put that promise in writing, but we took them at their word and did not ask for a signed pledge. Now we know, with some people, you need to put an agreement in writing."

Editor's note: The last quote in this article was removed after the speaker, Geogre Raya, said it did not reflect what he had intended to say. (See comment below for context).

Pour House details emerging, opening in one month

2012-06-29T00:29:36Z

Pour House will open by the end of next month or early August, operator Trevor Shults said Thursday, adding that the 32 beer taps will feature only craft brews, while whiskeys and bourbons will play a central role in the business’ appeal.

“It’s tough to turn the big guys down, but we wont have Coors Light or Bud Light or any of those on draft,” Shults said, adding that he wants to stock local brews such as Ruhstaller, and some up-and-coming beers from the region, with one in particular from Lincoln.

“We hope to be the first to bring Hoptologist Double IPA from Knee Deep Brewing,” Shults said, adding that it recently beat Pliny the Elder in a tasting contest.

By the time bottled brews are factored in, Shults said he hopes to stock around 100 different beers.

It’s been widely reported that four of the booths in the business, located at 1910 Q St. in the old Whiskey Wild building, will have taps at the tables, and Shults said each table will feature two beers and a whiskey on draft, and the beers will be rotated.

Each of the booths will have an iPad set into a table and covered with Plexiglas to show diners how much they've drank, and how much more they can have.

The table serve system is Alcoholic Beverage Control-approved, and limits the service to two beers or two shots of alcohol per drinker similar to the way gas pumps regulate fuel flow, Shults said.

After the limit is reached, a server must go by to reset the system, ensuring no one is being served too much.

“It’s more regulated than pitchers of beer,” Shults said.

The exposed, low-wattage lightbulbs, exposed brick walls and soon-to-be-hung Steampunk-style artwork by local artist Terry Flanigan are complemented by scrap-wood paneling behind the bar and a custom back bar with lockers that can be rented for alcohol storage.

Only two TVs will be installed, with one for the front bar and one for the back bar.

“This is in no way another BarWest,” Shults said, referencing his establishment on J Street.

Another facet of the business is the inclusion of food from popular food truck Coast to Coast Sandwiches.

When co-owner Robert Ramos started the food truck, he said his original goal was to open a brick-and-mortar store, but unable to secure a loan, he went the food truck route.

Now it’s come full circle.

“This is the perfect marriage of two really good ideas,” Ramos said.

All of the food from Coast to Coast Sandwiches will be available at Pour House, and the kitchen will allow him to prepare food that wouldn’t be possible on a mobile platform.

“We got a huge barbecue, and now we can do some things like a Texas brisket,” he said, adding that a Carolina pulled-pork sandwich will also be featured.

Prices for beers will range from about $4 - $10, and Ramos said the prices for food will be close to those of the food truck at lunch, but in line with the amount of food served.

The business will employ about 45 people, and it can seat approximately 150.

Shults said part of the business will revolve around pairing alcohol with food, and there will be a Whiskey 101 class periodically for about 25 people at the back bar.

“We also want to do something for when the trains come by,” Shults said, noting that the train tracks run beside the business. “When a train goes by and the building shakes, we’ll do $2 shots of Jack.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

AIN'T LOVE A 'KICK'?: Adult Kickball League brings a twist to the local dating scene

2012-06-06T20:22:36Z

Meeting people can be hard, but kickball offers an outlet for adults over 21 to rekindle their childhood, make lasting friendships, and, with proven success, find love. For the past eight weeks over 300 registered adults on 17 teams have been lacing up their cleats, putting on their tube socks, and sporting their team jerseys with the aim of reliving their childhood glory days by kicking a red rubber ball with the region’s World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA) franchise.

Much akin to sister sport dodgeball, kickball is just the latest childhood pastime turned competitive adult sport to hit the scene. And like dodgeball, it's gaining in popularity as the game is adapted for competitive adult play, but the overarching goal is to be social and have fun. Yet kickball goes one ‘base’ further, turning scores of friendships into marriages, some even tie the knot with wedding cakes in the shape of that bouncing red ball.

“Our team started off as a bunch of single 20-somethings, and now the majority of the team’s married,” said Kristie Blessinger, who married her kickball hubby last July. “The games, the friends, and the good times have kept us coming back season after season.”

The World Adult Kickball Association started with a group of friends who thought it'd be fun to start a kickball league. Now, it's grown to leagues in 35 states around the country, with the Sacramento league (CA-Capital) fielding players from throughout the greater Sacramento area.

A strong sense of team camaraderie is often seen which has created a league-wide community feel, so even when it’s not a Kickball night, players from the WAKA league often plan social or business activities together and find themselves seeing familiar faces everywhere they go.

The WAKA leagues are social recreational leagues, in which the league night is sponsored by a local bar. At the bar players can gather to continue with the friendly competition and rivalries off the field over a discounted pitcher or beverage. This season, the Thursday Sacramento Kickball league, meets at the locally owned and operated venue BarWest. At the bar and on the field many players have gained much more than just a Thursday night activity and fun filled evening, some have met their husbands, wives, and even new job connections there.

“When I moved to Sacramento in 2009 I was looking to make new friends, get connected to my community, and to have fun,” said Barbara Ruggiero. “I never realized that I would find so much more than that on a kickball field. I’ve made lifelong friends, established job connections, and found my future husband.”

So if you are looking for fun and friendship join us on the kickball field. On Thursday, June 21st the kickball fields are being opened up to any and all interested adults 21 and over to join one of the largest adult kickball leagues in Northern California. The games are normally limited to registered teams of players, but on June 21st the games will be considered “friendly matches” to allow family and friends to join their favorite teams to play and check out what the league has to offer.

These open games will be held Thursday, June 21st at 6:15 PM, 7:00PM, and 7:45PM on fields at Bryte Park in West Sacramento (Located at Todhunter Ave/Riverbank Rd next to Riverbank Elementary).

“WAKA changed my life,” said Brian Ching, a 12 season veteran player. “I didn’t know anyone when I first moved here, now I’m engaged to one of my teammates.”

ABOUT WORLD ADULT KICKBALL ASSOCIATION (WAKA):

WAKA kickball is real fun for real people. The average WAKA Kickball player is a young professional (21+). Leagues are co-ed adults and play is like the elementary school game you remember. It's an easy game that is open to all skill levels. Even YOU can be a kickball superstar!

A WAKA kickball season generally consists of eight regular season games and a league championship tournament. The leagues are made up of 4-16 co-ed teams. (That means TONS of new people to meet and party with!) Qualifying leagues are eligible to compete in the annual Founders Cup World Kickball Championship held in Las Vegas.

The local franchise of WAKA is in the process of becoming a locally owned franchise by Matthew Heintz, a native of Sacramento who serves as the current regional Customer Service Representative. The league is also expanding by popular demand to provide the opportunity for those in surrounding suburbs to be able to play free of commuting, with a new league currently open for registration in Roseville, and leagues developing in Folsom and various nights in Sacramento for both kickball and dodgeball.

For more information on how you can play kickball or dodgeball visit WAKA at:
www.kickball.com
facebook.com/sackickball
twitter.com/wakanorcal

Contact the League Coordinator Matthew Heintz: mheintz@kickball.com

Additional Contributions by: Brian Ching, Barbara Ruggiero, and Kristie Blessinger

Disclosure: Cristina Lupercio has played kickball for 5 seasons and has served on the local league committee since Fall 2010 and is the captain of the team "GRID-unit"

Even more St. Patrick's Day events in Sacramento

2012-03-16T18:17:41Z

Sacramento is coming alive this weekend for St. Patrick's Day! To build upon the great round-up of events included in this article, here are a few more to consider for this Saturday.

Block Parties & Pub Parties:
-St. Paddy's R Street Pub Crawl: R Street Corridor (14th-15th Streets),
Sat Noon-1am
Come celebrate St. Paddy's Day at your favorite R District bars: R15 Bar, Ace of Spades, Burgers & Brew, and the Shady Lady. Enjoy a performance by The Cheeseballs, drink specials, and Irish grub at all locations.

-St. Paddy's in The Sutter District: The Sutter District, Sat Noon-1am
Come celebrate St. Patrick's Day at your favorite Sutter District bars: Ink Eats & Drinks, Blue Cue, BarWest, Monkey Bar, Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar, Paragary's Bar & Oven, Centro Cocina Mexicana, and Harlow's. Enjoy $3 Guinness at all locations.

-St. Patty's Day at The Golden Bear: The Golden Bear, Sat 1pm-2am
Watch bartenders compete in the cocktail competition; enjoy the sounds of Dusty Brown, Hot Tar Roofers, The Great Northern Divers, and Horseneck on the outdoor stage; and dance the night away when DJ Shaun Slaughter provides jams for the after party. Plus, enjoy a special Irish Food Menu including a Corn Beef Banh Mi & drink specials all night on Red Breast, Jameson, and Absolut.

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Nightlife:
-St. Patty's Day Party with Lynt Trap: Vega's, Sat 8pm
Celebrate St. Patty's at Vega's with drink specials, green beers, swag and goodies, and tunes from rock 'n' roll band Lynt Trap.

-St. Patrick's Day & Faces App Launch: Faces Nightclub, Sat 8pm
St. Patrick's Day at Faces offers an all new way to get lucky! Enjoy a traditional Green Beer with our 10 GoGo Bois all night long! Plus, enjoy free giveaways and live app demonstrations.

-DJ Peeti V: St. Patrick's Day: The Park Ultra Lounge, Sat 8:30pm
Enjoy green beer, Irish whiskey, and Guinness. Gold and green dress themed. DJ Peeti V will keep everyone going all night with top 40 remixes and thumping bass.

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Music:
-St Patrick's Day with Wil O'Mylar: Gallagher's Irish Pub, Sat 4pm-9pm
Once again, singer/songwriter William Mylar dons an Irish brogue and performs his annual show, performing traditional and some not so traditional Irish music to help celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

-St. Patty's Party with The Coalition: Torch Club, Sat 9pm
Come and get some luck of the Irish this St. Patty's Day! Enjoy drinks and entertainment by The Coalition all night for this once-a-year celebration. Don't forget to wear something green!

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Kids & Family:
-Green Day: Sacramento Children's Museum, Sat 9am-5pm
May the luck of the Irish be with you! Wear the color green in honor of St. Patrick's Day, and receive 50% off your child's general admission.

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The Day After:
-Family Sunday: de Vere's Irish Pub, Sun 11am-4pm
Maybe you overdid it yesterday on St. Patrick's Day and need a place to recuperate. Maybe you stayed in yesterday to avoid “amateur hour.” Either way, come join for a family-friendly brunch. Good food, live music, happy hour all day, and more!

-At the End of the Rainbow: Movies on a Big Screen at Guild Theater,
Sun 7:30pm
This 1965 kids' movie has to do with a young Irish boy who skips school because it's St. Patrick's Day, finds a frog, and shoves it in his pocket. He gets lost in the woods and comes across a leprechaun whose beard is stuck in a log, and in exchange for freeing the little man, the kid gets a bag of magic coins. And the plot continues...You might want to have some post-St. Patrick's Day libations prior to coming to this.

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See even more St. Patrick's Day events in Sacramento365.com's Holiday Event section.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assisting Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Super Bowl hot spots in Sacramento

2012-02-01T03:40:48Z

For football fans still suffering from the San Francisco 49ers’ devastating loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game, the Super Bowl may have lost some of its sparkle. But with Sacramento’s great bar scene, one can’t help but be drawn to the festivities.

The Giants face the New England Patriots in Sunday’s game, a rematch of the Super Bowl game four years ago in which the Giants ended the Patriots’ perfect season. The Sacramento Press found these spots to celebrate – or drown your sorrows.

BarWest Burgers & Wings
2724 J St.
476-4550
19 flatscreen televisions, one 10-foot projection screen

At BarWest, the festivities start at 9 a.m. with an eating contest. The brave can take on the “Hot Mess,” a concoction that General Manager Ryan Pierini said has only been conquered once before.

Contestants have 30 minutes to finish the plate – English muffins piled with six eggs, six slices of bacon, six sausage links and country potatoes, covered in Hollandaise sauce. Participants must sign up with the bar by Saturday.

Winners do not have to pay for their food, and they will receive a gift certificate. Anyone who attempts the feat, Pierini said, will receive a consolation prize – a “Super Bowl shot” of their choice.

“We hope to make this an annual tradition,” Pierini said.

Bud Light and Coors Light Girls will be on hand, passing out “bar bucks” good for $1 off beer.

Ink Eats and Drinks
2730 N St.
456-2800
Four televisions

If beer isn’t your thing, perhaps Ink Eats and Drinks will draw you in. The restaurant and bar is running margarita specials on Sunday as part of a promotion with Jose Cuervo Platino tequila.

The Platino Girls will be on site from 3 - 5 p.m., said Jocelyn McGregor, marketing and promotions manager for Ink Eats and Drinks.

In addition to $3 appetizer plates, various fruit-flavored margaritas will be available for $5, and a Jose Cuervo Tradicional “touchdown shot” for $3. For $6, patrons can have a Pabst Blue Ribbon with a shot of Jose Cuervo Tradicional, McGregor said.

Monkey Bar
2730 Capitol Ave.
442-8490
Two televisions

Get started early with Monkey Bar’s happy hour special, ending at 2 p.m. A bottomless mimosa for $10 and Absolut Bloody Marys for $5 are available, and various drink specials will be available throughout the game, Manager Stacey Stell said.

The Depot Video Bar
2001 K St.
441-6823
34 televisions

The Depot Video Bar may have the best shot at a great view for the game with 34 televisions. Each one will show the game, said employee Tim Shaw.

The bar will run happy hour specials throughout the day, including $1 draft domestic beers and $3 pitchers of Miller, Shaw said. Pizza and peanuts will also be on hand.

Streets of London
1804 J St.
498-1388
Three televisions, including a big screen behind the bar

The typical happy hour fare will be offered during the game at Streets of London, Manager Brooke Tachibana said. Customers can enjoy a 20-ounce beer for $4 or get a pitcher for $11. Well cocktails are available for $3.50.

R15
1431 R St.
930-9191
14 televisions

If football alone isn’t enough, R15 will have the Budweiser Girls on hand to give out T-shirts and hats, said Manager Chris Randone.

“We’re going to have some beer,” Randone said. “The game will be shown on every single one of our TVs.”

R15 will also offer its usual bar appetizers, including pizzas, sliders and quesadillas.

Alley Katz
2019 O St.
442-2682
Seven televisions

Starting at noon, Alley Katz will offer happy hour pricing for patrons. Bartender Jon Alford said to arrive early for the best shot at staking out a spot. The bar has seven booths, and extra cocktail tables will be brought in to accommodate the Super Bowl crowd.

“We’ll have our $30 beer towers,” Alford said. “They are a yard tall and have their own taps – kind of fun if you have a group.”

Alley Katz has more than 200 different beers available, as well as a full bar and a variety of appetizers and sandwiches available for under $12.

The Golden Bear
2326 K St.
441-2242
One television

Many northern Californians had hoped to see a local team playing on Sunday, but San Francisco 49ers fans still have a place to watch the game.

“What we’re really hoping to offer is a safe haven for disappointed 49ers fans,” said co-owner Kimio Bazett, a lifelong fan. He added that a surprise drink special will be available for anyone who comes in wearing 49ers gear.

The Golden Bear’s football fare will be a general, all-American barbecue party, Bazett said.

“Our chefs are whipping up something crazy,” Bazett said, and added that they’ll offer $1 off Miller High Life, to keep with the American beer theme.

Where will you watch the game, and which team do you want to see take the win?

Holiday drinks that warm the soul

2011-12-20T06:43:57Z

With the overwhelming pressure of making sure everyone gets the right present, the holidays can be a little hectic. And the arctic chill of the winter season does not make this any easier. But, with a little bit of liquor and holiday joy poured into the glass, these holiday drinks can make the season bearable.

BARWEST:
2724 J Street, Ste. A
Sacramento, CA 95816
Mon – Fri: 11 am – 2 am
Sat – Sun: 9 am – 2 am

Klondike Bar
$7

½ oz. of Rumplemintz or any peppermint schnapps
½ oz. of Baileys
½ oz. of Godiva/ chocolate liqueur
½ oz. of cream

Shake, strain over 6 oz. glass of ice, rim with chopped peppermint

“It’s Christmas in a glass,” said Bartender Bobby Hodson. “If Santa let you down, this drink won’t”

Golden Bear
2326 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
Mon – Fri: 11:30 am – 2:00 am
Sat – Sun: 10:00 am – 2:00 am

French Buttered Pear
$7 / $5.50 – HH

1.5 oz. brandy
1 oz. pear
0.5 oz. Cinn-Vanilla Simple syrup
0.5 oz. lemon juice

Combine all with ice and shake vigorously. Double strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with grated cinnamon

“Chris Tucker actually poaches the pears and then purees them,” said Bartender Amy Pattaglia. “I feel like I should be sitting by a fireplace when I drink it, it’s delicious.”
Drink created by Chris Tucker

The Porch
1815 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Mon – Sun: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

Hot Porch Tea
$7

1 oz. Meyers Dark Rum
1 oz. Kahlua Cinnamon Spice
½ oz. vanilla bean simple syrup
¼ oz. cinnamon simple syrup
Pinch of nutmeg, brown sugar and hot water

Mix spices, syrups and liquor. Add hot water, top with slice of butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon

“It’s a twist on a hot toddy,” said Bartender Erin Puckett. “It’s cinnamon spice hot rum.”

Alley Katz
2019 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Mon – Fri: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Sat – Sun: 2:00 pm – 12:00 am

Raspberry Cheesecake
$7

Equal parts vanilla and raspberry vodka
3 splashes of cranberry juice
¼ - ½ oz. of Baileys
Rim w/ crushed graham crackers

Shake and strain

“It’s delicious yet really strong,” said customer Tarah Combs. “It’s pretty much the most delicious thing I’ve had all day”

Monkey Bar
2730 Capitol Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95816
Mon – Thurs: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Fri: 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Sat: 8:30 am – 2:00 am
Sun: 8:30 am – 12:00 am

Pink Blueberry
$7

1 oz. Blueberry Stoli Vodka
3 counts of sweet and sour
Splash of Sprite and cranberry juice

First, mix the vodka and sweet and sour. Then, add the Sprite and cranberry juice and strain.

“The girls really love this drink,” said Bartender Nelson Machado, who also created the drink. “It’s a good girl drink.”

The influence of Yelp on Sacramento restaurants

2011-11-21T00:35:30Z

With 2,624 Sacramento restaurants reviewed on Yelp, the capital city has thousands of restaurant-goers using Yelp to share their dining experiences with others. A recent study done by Harvard Business School Assistant Professor Michael Luca found that local restaurants increase revenue 5 to 9 percent per star they gain on Yelp.

The Sacramento Press wanted to see if this finding held true for restaurants in the central city. Comments and ratings on Yelp appear to make a big difference, but Sacramento restaurant owners and managers say they aren’t so sure.

Luca combined data on Seattle restaurant revenues that he collected from the Washington State Department of Revenue and Yelp ratings of the restaurants in his sample and found that no matter the type of restaurant, as long as it was not a chain, revenue increases correspond to ratings on Yelp.

Sacramento seems to have a mixed bag of restaurant owners and managers who agree and disagree with the findings of the study. Restaurants vary in both the attention they pay to their Yelp scores as well as the significance they believe the scores have on overall revenue and the quality of the reviews themselves.

“We email our customers who leave negative reviews on Yelp. It gives us an opportunity to rectify situations that do sometimes unfortunately happen,” said Mathew Parker, general manager of 58 Degrees & Holding Co. “We have had people sit in our restaurant and Yelp us at the same time. The good comes with the bad on Yelp.... I bet Yelp ratings do affect our revenue, but I am not exactly sure how.”

Sacramento restaurant owners and managers who avidly follow their Yelp scores tend to agree that not every comment and star rating is accurate but there can be helpful critiques that are worth looking at.

“When we first opened, we checked it every day,” said Ryan Pierini, general manager of BarWest. “We definitely pay attention to Yelp and it most often supports the feedback we already get from our customers in person. We do have to take some Yelp reviews with a grain of salt.”

BarWest has made some menu changes since first opening. Fries coming with burgers is one of those changes.

“The complaints on Yelp were consistent with the complaints we had heard in person about fries not coming on the side of burgers,” said Pierini. “Yelp helps support what we already know and so we can make changes.”

Now, burgers at BarWest include fries on the side.

Luca’s study found that, by 2009, Yelp had provided the broadest review coverage of Seattle’s restaurants, supplying reviews for 69 percent of all the city’s eating establishments.

“We know that people are aware of our score and that it affects their perception of the restaurant,” said Noe Hernandez, general manager of Zócalo. “We don’t see people coming in though and telling us that they came to Zócalo based on our ratings or a reviews that they read on Yelp.”

Some Sacramento restaurant owners and managers question if people choose a restaurant based on reviews at all or if customers just hear of a restaurant because they Yelped for places near them with good food.

“We follow our Yelp score, but we haven’t found that it affects our revenue. Rarely do I hear anything about the score of the restaurant, but I do hear about people finding out about us on Yelp,” said Aziz Bellarbi-Salah, manager at Aioli Bodega Española.

Different restaurants have expressed differing opinions on the importance of either star ratings overall or individual comments.

“We typically check up on comments when we look at Yelp, but we don’t pay too much attention to ratings. We pay more attention to individual comments and reviews and take that as constructive criticism,” said Michael Ng, general manager at OneSpeed.

Manager Mathew Parker of 58 Degrees & Holding Co. disagreed.

“The words and star ratings do not always match up,” Parker said. “People can post really inaccurate reviews that have nothing to do with a business and are just looking to complain. Yelp only shows a general trend of a restaurant through star ratings.”

Some Sacramento restaurant owners don’t believe that Yelp makes much of a difference in consumer choice and don’t spend any time looking at Yelp.

“We don’t pay attention to Yelp at all. We don’t really care about it,” said David English, owner and chef of The Press. “We may have guests come in because of Yelp, but how it correlates to revenue and if it makes any difference overall, I don’t know.”

Sacramento restaurant owners and managers are uncertain of the effects of Yelp ratings on revenue, but what does seem to be agreed upon is that Yelp is a force that is difficult to measure, and they are undecided about how important Yelp scores actually are. If Sacramento restaurant managers and owners pay attention to Yelp or not, Yelp is actively growing in both popularity and restaurant coverage.

The Sacramento Press took to the streets to find out when and how people are using Yelp, if they consider the reviews on Yelp to be trustworthy, and whether the website is as influential as some predict in shaping consumer decisions in Sacramento.

Kenny Truong, a 29-year-old Elk Grove resident who works for the California Department of Health Care Services, said that he mainly uses Yelp to identify restaurants before trying them out.

Though he’s never written a Yelp review, Truong said he’d be likely to if he had an extremely positive experience at a business or restaurant.

Truong said he tends to stay away from businesses that get consistently poor reviews, but otherwise his decision to try out a new place is not highly affected by the number of stars on a restaurant’s profile.

“Most of the time I give businesses the benefit of the doubt because people have different tastes,” Truong said.

Amanda Moore, 23, is a human resources administrative assistant in Midtown. While she said she often uses Yelp to find new restaurants, she has also written approximately 15 reviews on the website.

“I’m most likely to go on Yelp when I’m happy with a business or when I’m seriously dissatisfied,” Moore said.

Jonathan Williams said he was inspired to write his first Yelp review after a positive experience with a new veterinarian he found on the website.

Williams, a 56-year-old volunteer at the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center, said he uses Yelp frequently and tends to favor businesses with the most stars.

Williams said he likes to do a lot of research before trying out something new and has found Yelp to be a fairly accurate tool in the process. So far, he said, he’s never gone to a highly rated restaurant or busines and disliked it.

Consumers should be cautious when using information found on the Internet, Williams noted. But he also said he has found most Yelp reviews to be trustworthy.

Clark Paramo, a 22-year-old student at Sacramento City College, said he mainly uses Yelp to see what others have said about restaurants and businesses he’s been to.

“I like to read the funny negative reviews,” Paramo said.

Though he’s never written a review himself, Paramo said he does have friends who use their smartphones to access Yelp and post comments while sitting at a restaurant.

Paramo said he finds that the majority of reviews accurately reflect the quality of restaurants and businesses he’s been to.

Dean Goding, 44, of West Sacramento, said he became familiar with Yelp through his job. Goding works at Mike’s Bikes on I Street in Sacramento, and he said he often checks the website to see what customers are saying about the shop.

While he encourages customers to comment on their experience, Goding said he thinks that others might use Yelp to purposefully hurt rival businesses by posting negative reviews, which decreases the credibility of ratings.

Goding said he also uses Yelp to check out new restaurants and tends to avoid the poorly rated ones. He has never written a review, and he said he prefers to show his support for a businesses in person.

“If I like a place, I’ll go back,” Goding said.

Kelly Priley, 31, is a mother and skincare products saleswoman. She said that she has found Yelp reviews helpful for researching service companies such as spas and salons.

Priley said she uses Yelp both before and after trying out a business, but that ratings don’t necessarily deter her from going someplace new.

“I’m pretty optimistic and open to trying things,” Priley said. “Maybe I’d be prone to go sooner or be more excited about a place with a higher rating, but I mostly use Yelp as a reference.”

Priley said she has submitted a few reviews but prefers reading other people’s comments to writing comments herself. If she likes a business, Priley said, she’s more likely to tell friends and use word-of-mouth advertising to share the news.

Overall, Yelp appears to be a popular reference regardless if a user submits a review. Though some admit to having reservations about the accuracy of reviews posted on Yelp, the simple star rating system helps consumers to at least identify businesses that might be worth a visit.

Is Yelp an effective tool for restaurant hunters and a financial benefit to businesses alike? Do you use Yelp, and if so, does it influence your choices as a consumer? Please share your comments below.

Margaret Hoyer contributed to this article.

Second Saturday community bike rack installation: see it here

2011-07-08T19:17:46Z

If you're a cyclist in the Sacramento Midtown area, you're aware of the shortage of bicycle racks when it comes to locking up your ride at a restaurant or favorite watering hole. If your destination is the 2700 block of J Street, you'll soon have a new place to secure your faithful metal steed.

Gina Rossi, artist and Midtown resident also known as the "bike rack girl," has taken on a project to create a community bicycle station to house 12 bicycles and incorporate a few of the businesses within the 2700 Block on J street including Mosaic Hair Salon, Harlow's, Red Lotus, Bar West, j27 Gallery and Centro. The bicycle station is sculpture comprised of six different statues. Each statue will hold two bicycles and will consist of new and recycled materials.

Saturday you can watch Rossi add the final touches to the bicycle station. She will be showing her metal sculpture and providing a welding show in front of Bar West and j27 Gallery in the 2700 block of J Street starting at 6 p.m. If everything goes according to plan, the bicycle installation will immediately follow.

If you can’t make the welding show and bicycle station installation, you can watch live streaming video of the event as it happens Saturday here in this article.

Free live streaming by Ustream