Friday

Braved the rain last night and did a California 2, Sharky, Howie, Walkabout circuit. Here's what I remember:

California 2 Guesthouse: (Open Sunday.)
Swung by California 2 last night because I thought he was open for business. He isn't, but the place looks GREAT. It was a lot of work but the staff pitched in. Fucking great, man. New, higher ceiling, new lighting, and a killer old-wood bar top. You might think you'd walked into an FCC Annex. But hey,...fuck that. It's still Jim's place. As you'd expect, the sound system rocks. Jim knows music, and he knows where to put the speakers / sub woofer. The sound is loud and clean. Finally, a bar stereo that can do Zappa justice.

Sharky Bar: (Live music tonight.)
The rain kept things quiet at Sharky. Mellow scene. I noted a new group of cute Viets (well, some new, some just re-appeared after a long time away.) The stage and lighting are ready for tonight - they got a blues-rock band from Cleveland. The Curtis King Band has played in town before and I hear they're pretty good. They want to get a foothold in the local music scene, so check 'em out. No cover. (BTW: Check out the lamb special. Damn good.)

Howies Bar (Free grilled sausages tonight)
Watching the brisk business being done by the late-night burger carts across the street got Howie thinking. He's put a grill in front, and tonight, he'll be showcasing his culinary talent. The next Martin Yan? (Yan can Cook.) Maybe. The important thing is it's free while supplies last. The sausages are from Dan Meats; they'll be on the "menu" for $2-$2.50. Good luck, man.

That's all for now.