Sacramento’s chefs are gearing up for an all-or-nothing competition with meat patties, lettuce, tomatoes, buns and secret sauces as the weapons of choice to claim the prize of being the cook behind the city’s best burger. Fifteen local restaurants prepare to go head to head at the inaugural Sacramento Burger Battle charity cook-off Tuesday Sept. 18 at Raley Field to raise money for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. Sacramento Burger Battle founder Rodney Blackwell said diners will enjoy sample-sized burgers, live music from Hero’s Last Mission, beer, wine and apple cider, dessert and the ability to cast their vote for the people’s choice burger. A panel of five judges from

Free Food. Free Drinks. Free music. It’s a Yelper party. Yelp is partnering with Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary and taking over the Handle district in Midtown Sacramento Aug. 25 from 3 - 6 p.m. for the ultimate block party known as “Yelp’s Too Hot to Handle Yelper Party” with music, food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and free massages. The party is completely free, invite-only and solely for Yelp.com Sacramento users. If you’re unfamiliar with Yelp, it’s a free online community website that puts the power of business reviews in the hands of consumers. According to Yelp’s Sacramento community manager, Alex Lane, part of Yelp’s mission is to act as a middleman connecting people to the

The busy streets of downtown Sacramento were promised new bicycle lanes by mid-summer – a promise that has yet to be fulfilled. Bicycle lanes planned for several downtown streets have not yet been painted, but officials said that cyclists can expect to see them by the end of September or early October. The $629,000 bike lane project expenditure was approved by the City Council in April 2011. The project is said to create bicycle lanes on the most frequently traveled streets in downtown to create a safer cycling environment. As city officials previously told The Sacramento Press, J, I, Fifth, Ninth and 10th Streets along with Capitol Mall are included in the project. The project was sch

Martinis, mojitos and mixology rule the day during Midtown's Cocktail Week, Aug. 19-26. The week features seven days full of cocktail tastings, mixology courses and the cocktail week bartending competition. Midtown Cocktail Week was founded in 2008 by mixology experts Erick Castro and Joe Anthony Savala to celebrate Sacramento’s thriving cocktail culture. The following year they formed the Cocktail Collective, comprised of industry professionals and cocktail enthusiasts, to help with the planning of cocktail week. In honor of election year, the theme of this year’s cocktail week is “A Spirited Debate.” According to Elizabeth Studebaker, Midtown Business Association Executive Director,

A historic Southside Park building is returning to its roots as an eatery next year, when N’Gina and Ian Kavookjian plan to bring New Orleans-style hospitality and classic American food alongside a mini mart. Set to open in late 2012 at 1915 Sixth St., the establishment will be called The General Store and will serve comfort food, a mix of American and Italian cuisine and a full bar with beer, wine and cocktails, while the retail area will serve as a convenience store and a mini mart, according to N’Gina Kavookjian. Kavookjian said she chose to locate the diner in Southside Park because of the historic charm of the neighborhood’s buildings, its family-oriented feel and its walkability.