I’m on vacation!
-Rachel
A group of girls got together for some beers and ended up with a blog... Abracadabra here we are. We are the west end girls and we are your friends. westendgirls.tumblr@gmail.com
Navigate
Following
Tonight may be the last night of the baseball season (hopefully!!!), but it is also the first home game of our beloved Sacramento Kings. Our baby faced boys are off to a good start with a 2-1 on the road, and will hopefully keep it up against the Raptors tonight (fucking Canadians). I no longer have work tickets, so season ticket holders if you are looking for pretty seat fillers Melissa, Laura and I are available and will never turn down a $10 beer.
Sacramento’s new golden boy DeMarcus Cousins was born in 1990. And I thought my birthday made me feel old
-Cassie
How great are old fashioned neons? Off to Simon’s to send off our good buddy Alex before she takes off for bigger and brighter neon signs… -LC
Oh Simon’s, what a delightful time…even despite the fact that we were crashing a wake. Yummy spicy Chinese food, cheap drinks, and plenty o’ politicians, definitely a win night. And to top it off a very telling fortune:
“You will always be surrounded by good friends.”
Heck yes I will. Love you girls!
-Mel
Happy New Year! wait… not yet.
It’s New Years Eve!
I can’t believe the Holidays are over… that this year is over… That this DECADE is over. Although technically, I heard on NPR, that the decade isn’t really over until the END of 2010 and all the mathematicians are going crazy, but for all us dummies, this is definitely the beginning of something new!
But let’s leave all of the new year’s talk for after tonight’s celebrations. Right now all I’m thinking about (aside from what the heck am I going to wear tonight) is that the Holidays are actually over! It seems like the holiday season squealed right by this year… right through our lives like a little pot bellied pig that someone just put a sweater onto, and although he looks so damned cute, he’s kinda upset about the whole thing and won’t shut up. It’s a relief that it’s over, but it was a lot of fun to!
So before Christmas the west end girls got together for a secret Santa coffee mug exchange (with special guest Alex from the Usual Suspects)
It was a lot of fun to get together with the girls! And we all loved our coffee mugs! Thank you Secret Santa!
Here’s what we got…
Haven’t you heard? Cassie loves Sacramento! What a fitting mug…
Laura asked Secret Santa for a StarWars mug, and she got it!
Rachel got a stylish, yet functional leopard print mug (that’s her happy face)
LOVE my new Cheshire Cat mug!
Melissa was SO excited…
To get a travel coffee mug. Perfect for train rides!
And of course Secret Santa didn’t forget Alex. She got a mustache mug!
One of the great things about having coffee mugs at a Holiday party, is that you can drink BOOZE from the mugs… and later on in pictures, it just looks like everyone’s enjoying a nice cup of tea. or coffee.
Right?
Here are some more pictures from the night…
Wow.
Tonight should be even more fun!
-Amy
Italian for breakfast!
This looks amazing, sad I missed it.
-Rachel
The latte was perfect. The breakfast pizza was so so. But we did stop by Atelier Crimson & Clover next door. A great little consignment shop where I got my New Year’s dress for $20! Hurray. You were missed Rakem.
-Mel
The coffee was amazing. But I think in order for Hot Italian to get their brunch rolling they need to offer some less carb/cheese heavy fair. They will remain a neighborhood favorite due to their crisp pizzas, family style dining and their acceptance of diners dressed as gondoliers.
-Cassie
Don’t call it a crisis…
Over the past year I have become involved in an unabashed love affair. I have found myself putting down roots, forking over 20% and for now abandoning girlhood dreams of the past. Being the eternally single gal within a group of commitment centric friends has allowed me the opportunity to wander off and independently discover what it is that makes me happy as opposed to what should make me happy; and for now this city of mine has made me blissfully happy.
Sacramento may not be the City of Lights or the City by the Bay, but it affords me a wonderful sense of community, beauty and excitement for its growth and potential that I can’t help but brag even at the chagrin of it’s not so enthusiastic residents. And while I still struggle with the knowledge that committing myself to a government/agriculture centric community may significantly limit the fashion/media career aspirations of this 25 year old, I could not be happier.
-Cassie
Tags | sacramento |
Soup Spot Stakeout
Okay, it’s freezing. Winter has officially made herself known here in Sacramento, and she’s a frigid b***h.
Winter here would probably seem like a beach holiday to those in places such as Montana and the like, but the problem here is no one is prepared for the chill, especially when it gets to the low 30’s (someone in Lincoln, Nebraska is laughing hysterically at that number I’m sure).
My 1940’s home, like many other Sacramento midtown apartments, has zero insulation and a shoddy heater. I have discovered that days such as these, the most efficient option is to heat ‘from the inside out’. Whiskey is great too kids, but I’m talkin’ soup. Brothy, creamy, cheesy, chili-ey (?). Give it to me scalding hot, and in the biggest bowl you can find. And now everyone, lists.
Favorite Spots to Fill the Cold Void on the Grid:
1. Andy Nguyen, 2007 Broadway. Pho is a main food group for me in the winter. This joint has a healthy take on Pho and other Vietnamese soups that will make your insides happy. Try the Patience Noodle Soup.
2. The Bread Store, 1716 J St. The vegetarian chili here is IMHO the best this town has to offer, vegetarian or not! Get a bowl with some of their renowned (you guessed it) bread.
3. Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, 1900 Alhambra Blvd. Besides an awesome deli serving up some of the best hippie food around, they also have some really well made soups with natural ingredients. Minestrone FTW!
4. Thai Basil, 2431 J St. Tom Yum. Do it and I will spare you the obvious pun here. Also good - Tom Kha Gai with coconut milk awesomeness.
Places I Need Dates For This Winter:
1. La Bonne Soup Cafe, 920 8th St. This stuff is apparently out of this world. The place is consistently the highest rated restaurant on yelp. Lines form daily. It is unfortunately only open for lunch hours during the week (what a life, eh?) and so I have never been able to get there due to work constraints. That needs to change.
2. Shoki Ramen House, 2675 24th St. Ramen made right; none of that styrofoam cup stuff. I have heard the place is as authentic as it gets. If you like it spiiiiicy, the Tan Tan Men is highly rated.
3. Shabu Japanese Fondue, 1730 16th Street. This joint just cracked open its doors last week and is getting decent reviews. Plus Shabu Shabu is fun!
Who’s in!!!? I’m booking up quick!
-LC
The thought of Pho just warms my soul. Laura, I will make that long wait with you at Andy Nguyen’s any day. Oh to work near Broadway, what a cultural eating experience that would be.
- Cassie
Laura, you smell like soup. Yummy spicy soup. Sooo thank you for this post. I am freezing and about to go try one of your recommended soup spots for a late lunch. I have been to La Bonne and it is definitely amazing, but also a whole thing. It’s like going to Disneyland, especially the line part. So I’m going to pass on that since I don’t have a proper winter coat and go for the Thai Basil- I’ll let you know how it goes.
BTW, how adorable is Mr. Pont?
-Mel
