Destination….Vegas!!!

Those who know me, know that I am a sunchaser. Just like that Jeep commercial, I will always take the winding road and follow it wherever it goes. However, I don’t own a jeep. I own a little Honda Fit fondly known by those who have ridden shotgun as the Roller Skate.




I live to chase adventure…which is why when my friend told me he was celebrating his birthday in Las Vegas and wondered if I could drive up, I instantly said “yes”.

Of course, that was before I checked MapQuest and learned it would be a 9.5 hour drive. But whatever. It’s Vegas, Baby! And I’m driving there!!

Yes, I admit that while I do love Sin City, I was more psyched about the drive. You see, driving through the Mojave Desert with the wind whipping through my hair for a Vegas weekend is one of the things on my bucket list.

So at 8 a.m. on Saturday, I tossed a couple of cans of Red Bull and about 6 bottles of water in the car and off I went. It was actually quite liberating packing all these liquids as when I normally fly to Vegas, I always have to go liquid free (I try to never check luggage. In fact, I can live out of a carry-on for a week – just ask my friends who went with me to Hawaii last year).

WATCH OUT...THE DESERT IS A GAS GUZZLER

Anyways, if you ever decide to drive from Sacramento to Las Vegas, let me tell the trip over to Bakersfield is b-o-r-i-n-g. I mean dead boring. There was nothing to see, but I also had a sucky iTunes mix that wasn’t really happening either.

But once you pass Bakersfield, it gets kind of cool – because that’s when you hit the Mojave Desert...and it's gorgeous.  The mountains are spectacular and the little bush-like trees add enough variety to keep it interesting. 

I'll just give you a word of warning: If you hit Bakersfield and only have a little bit of gas left in the tank, fill up. I didn't and literally coasted down the mountain on fumes.

No really. It hardly took any gas to cut across the flat parts of California, but as soon as I started the drive up the mountains, the gas drained out of my tank like crazy. The warning light went on when I was about 20 miles up the mountain with another 30 to go until I reached the summit.

Yes, I panicked - just a bit.

I turned off the AC, opened the window, detoured off the highway in the direction of the nearest gas station --which was in the middle of nowhere and 45 degrees in the opposite direction. You know how they say you should sometimes take the road less travelled? Well, at that moment I was on THAT road -- and I was the only person on it.  There were no cars or people in any direction...and let me tell you that you can see pretty far in the desert.

With my car flashing it's warning at me, I prayed I would make it to the little town on the Indian reserve in time -- or at least close enough that I could walk in my flipflops. Thankfully, it was mostly downhill and I was able to take my foot off the accerator for the last 16 miles and roll into town.  Yes, I counted them.

After that, I filled up everytime I made a pit stop.

VEGAS REALLY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE

You know when you fly into Sin City you can see the lights in the distance? Well, when you drive during the day it's not like that. It sometimes feels like you will never get there because all you see for hours and hours is beige dirt, beige mountains and sprinklings of plants, which I hear if I did this trip in June would be beige too.

Don't get me wrong. It's still beautiful and I would do the trip again in a heartbeat. But it's kind of like being in the first Star Wars where the sand people live. At any moment, I expected an army of creatures to arise from their camouflage and add some life to the area. 

Of course, because I was going to Vegas, I imagined these creatures to be dressed as glitzy celebrity impersonators who would break out in some disco song -- but maybe that was iPod playing tricks on me. Nine hours in the car, with the windows open and the desert wind blowing at you can do that to a person.

Anyways, even with all that desert and open road, Sin City is hidden. Not until you are about an hour away can you see any sign of it.  But when you do...WOW!

OFF THE BUCKET LIST

After driving 9.5 hours, I quickly showered and washed the Mojave out of my hair and met up with my friends for a night on the strip. Less than 12 hours later, I was back on the road for the return trip.

Was it worth it? Heck, yes!!!

Last shuttle launch -- sob

Regrets suck. You only get one chance at life so I really try not to have any, but today I had to admit that I really wished I would have done a little advance planning.

You see, today was the day of the final shuttle launch for Atlantis and I missed it. Seeing a rocket or shuttle launch was one of the things on my “to-do” list, but you never think you will run out of time to do it. But what bugs me is I even have a friend in NASA who could have helped me see the launch if I really wanted it.

Now I know you are say “What?” You’re nuts. Why weren’t you there?”

Here’s why…I was afraid of taking the risk. The risk I’m talking about is wasting money or a vacation day because the shuttle sometimes cancels due to rain. I know. Lame.

TWO MORE SHUTTLE LAUNCHES TO GO

Anyway, this was a good lesson. While this is the last launch of Atlantis, there are two more shuttle launches scheduled and this time I'm going to put a plan in place.

Discovery is targeted for launch in September with spare parts and equipment. Endeavour is due to launch in November carrying a $2 billion, multinational particle detector known as the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer.

I will be there. Yes, I will.

The trouble with goat cheese

I don’t know about you, but I have a love/hate relationship with goat cheese. I swear…some days it’s the best thing to come out of a goat, and the next time I eat it, I’m spitting it out into my napkin.

Crazy? Totally.

This weekend was one of those times. On Friday I picked up a goat cheese and spinach pizza from Whole Foods in Arden. It was awful. After two bites, I gave up on eating it and scraped off all the cheese. Basically I ate soggy crust and called it a night.

But then on Sunday, I ordered this tomato/fennel soup with big chunks of goat cheese from Tuli Bistro in Midtown Sacramento and it was wonderful. So what’s up with that? Am I the only one out there with fickle goat cheese taste buds?

The one thing I do know is that I never know what I’m going to get when I order something with goat cheese so I always have a backup plan just in case it happens to suck -- such as picking it off or if I can’t pick it off, I have to make sure it’s followed with either a fabulous main course or a dessert to wash the yucky after taste out of my mouth.

The good news is that more often than not, the cheese works so I will continue to order it. It's kind of like living on the edge  –even if it’s just about goat cheese.

PS By the way, Yellowtail Jack is in season so if it's on the Tuli Bistro menu get it -- especially if you are a tuna lover. It's not as heavy as tuna and it melts in your mouth. Absolute perfection.

70 Years of ice cream goodness at Gunther's

Looking for some good old fashion fun? I was last week, which was why I took a stroll down memory lane at Gunther’s Ice Cream Shop on Franklin Blvd in Sacramento. The shop has been a neighborhood icon for years and is celebrating its 70th anniversary on May 15 by offering a hotdog, a drink, chips and a scoop of ice cream for only $2.
Now that's a deal!

WHY PEOPLE LOVE GUNTHER'S ICE CREAM
Of course, while I was there having a scoop of chocolate I had to chat up a couple of the people to find out their secret of success.

“Gunther’s was the place to go in the neighborhood,” said Eva, a long time customer. “I remember after ballet class we would come here. You would see all the girls lined up in their tutus.”

Now, that's adorable, but Eva wasn't the only one in her family to go to Gunther's. Her 93-year-old grandmother also was a frequent visitor and has been going there for years. Eva says it's the place everyone in the neighborhood seems to go.

Gunther’s Quality Ice Cream Company was established in April 1940 and was owned and operated by Herman “Pop” Gunther and his wife, Iva. It was originally located on 5th Avenue and Franklin Blvd, but after the war in 1949, they opened a larger store in 1949 at its present location, on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Franklin Blvd

WHO IS JUGGLIN' JOE?
Jugglin' Joe was the first thing I saw when pulling up to Gunther's. It's this giant animated sign located on top of the building.

I was just lining up the shot with my iPhone camera when a customer yelled to me.

“You’ve got to see it at night,” he said. “There’s nothing like it.”

I did come back later, but my as you know, the iPhone camera doesn't have a flash (so hoping they add it to the next version) so the photo sucked. But now I was intrigued with this sign and the fame behind it. I simply had to get the inside scoop from the owner...and another scoop of ice cream.

“It was ‘Pop’ Gunther who designed the animated Jugglin’ Joe sign,” said Marlena Klopp, who now runs the shop with her husband Rick. “You wouldn’t believe how many people drop by to take pictures of it.”

According to Marlena, the sign is one of the few neon animated signs left in the city. Just like the taste of their homemade products, it has become one of things customers expect when they come.

There's even a tale to go with the sign. They say if you see Jugglin' Joe not catch the ice cream scoop, then you get a free cone. That has never happened, but it's not the chance to get a free cone that keeps people coming back -- it's the family atmosphere and the ice cream.

“I just dropped off one of my grandkids. I’m here for a little treat for me,” said Jackie, Gunther’s Ice Cream customer.

Jackie has been coming to Gunther’s for over 19 years. She doesn’t live in the Curtis Park area, but in another part of the city. She says her grandchildren live by Gunther’s and when visiting them, it gives her an excuse to drop in for a little something sweet.

“Sometimes they are with me, but today, it’s just treat time for me,” Jackie said.

You can’t blame her. The secret to Gunther’s good taste is high quality processing, combined with all natural ingredients and a rich cream.

For 70 years, they have been scooping up treats for the neighborhood and on Saturday May 15 they plan to celebrate in style by bringing back the 1940s. In addition to their $2 meal deal, they have a day of fun planned for people of all ages.

“There will be a barbershop quartet, swing dancers and a DJ playing 1940s songs,” said Marlena. “We’ll also have a juggler and face painting, temporary tattoos and balloons for the kids. They’ll be something for everyone.”

Gunther’s will also be paying tribute to all small businesses in the area – both new and old. They will be raffling off a Beach Comber bicycle and other prizes that were donated by local businesses in the area.

Gunther’s 70th Anniversary Celebration
Date: May 15, 2010
12 pm. To 4 p.m.
Check out my Gunther's slideshow on News10.net

Bike Lesson #1: Get padded shorts

I hurt….everywhere.

Ever since I signed up for the Eppies Great Race in Sacramento I’ve been running a couple of times of week to work up to the 6 miles I need to complete for the first tier of the race. I make this sound like it’s been forever, but really, I only signed up on April 14 so it’s been two weeks.

But running 6 miles isn’t why I hurt. It’s the biking that’s killing me. I swear, my butt will never be the same.

FIRST I GOT THE BIKE
With the race being 10 weeks away, I thought I should plow ahead into Phase II of my training and buy a bike. The Great Race consists of a 6 mile run, 12 miles on bike and 6 miles by kayak, and if you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know that I haven’t owned a bike since I was 10.

Even though it's been a couple decades, I was really hoping it would all come back naturally and I would ride like the wind. Yeah…well…not quite.

It’s not the bike’s fault. I actually did a lot of research beforehand and after talking to people, I ditched my first plan of buying something cheap from Craig’s list – not that Craig’s list is bad. I have actually sold lots of stuff on the online board. But I learned last year when I decided to buy golf clubs that size really does matter – especially after I bought ladies clubs and then had to pay to get them extended by a couple of inches. Yes, I’m apparently a giant.

If you haven’t gone bike shopping in a long time, they come in sizes and not just adult and kids. It turns out because of my height, I needed a 57” frame.

When I walked into City Bicycle Works, I had my heart set on a Trek road bike. Not only is this the brand Lance Armstrong uses (except he has the expensive model and I was looking at the lower end cheapy one), but the three people I interviewed about bikes all had that brand, too. It seemed as if it was the brand for winners.

So did I get that one? Nope. I got a Specialized road bike and here’s why: While I do agree the Trek was faster and I liked the way gears shifted better, the bike I got had breaks on the top part of the handle bars in addition to the traditional place and it felt a little more comfortable.

Of course, fast is probably better when it comes to racing, but let’s face it…I’m not going to win this race. My goal is to finish it somewhere in the middle. Plus, when it’s all over, I plan on taking my snazzy bike out to the coast and doing some distance cycling on the weekends – so comfort…and not speed will be important.

Besides, this bike was on sale so it was slightly cheaper than the Trek Bike. Bonus.

THEN I RODE FOR 30 PLUS MILES
Now that I had the bike, I had to ride it. And ride it, I did. I went for 30 miles along the American River path and felt great for most of it. I admit, the last 5 miles on the way back were a little killer. My knees were starting to hurt (I still have to get the bike adjusted so this doesn’t happen) and I could no longer feel my butt. No really. It was completely numb.

Let me tell you a little secret that nobody told me -- Get bike shorts! Riding that long with regular shorts is not a good idea.

The feeling did come back and believe me I wish it didn’t. It hurts to walk, sit and move today.
There will be no more biking until I invest in the padded shorts.

Sipping a little chai in the city

I’m a Starbucks girl and have been one for years. I rejoice when they bring back the peppermint chocolate squares at Christmas, and it’s not officially fall until the pumpkin latte shows up on the menu.

I’m such a frequent customer that I know the drink board by heart. I also know which Starbucks I can find a low-fat turkey & egg breakfast sandwich in the middle afternoon… and which ones will be sold out.

But lately I’ve been cheating on my Starbucks barista. Yes, it’s true. I’ve been seduced by a new coffee bistro and its name is Temple.

IT BEGAN WITH A LOOK…AND A SIP
My love affair with Temple began innocently enough. It didn’t matter what time of day it was, but whenever I would drive by the bistro on S street, I would see all these people milling around. What was this magical place that was always busy? Why were the people leaving so happy and relaxed? Was it restaurant? Was it a great bunch place or a secret wine bar for members only?

For weeks, Temple was like a stranger across a crowded room. It would catch my eye, but there wasn’t time to stop.

Finally, I couldn’t take it any longer. I had to check it out and it was love at first sip.

BEST CHAI IN THE CITY
I’m not going to lie to you – I’m a high maintenance caffeine drinker. I’m one of those annoying people who like everything extra hot, low fat and with special stuff added, etc. In fact, I’m so high maintenance I can’t even make my drinks the way I like them at home, which is why I have to pay experts to do them in coffee shops. Yes, I’m pathetic.

Temple gets this. And they embrace it. They take the time to make every drink by hand and each time you go it tastes slightly different. Not that this is a bad thing. The drinks are always good. They taste “real.” For them, it’s all about flavor and every beverage you order will have an abundance of it – whether it’s a coffee, espresso or a latte.

Even their ice tea is packed full of flavor.

And don’t forget their specialty drinks. Their Mexican hot chocolate is to die for and their chai….ah…man…I loooove their chai. You can actually taste the spices.

Of course, if you think Starbucks is expensive, you are going to have a heart attack at Temple as they are even higher. But it’s worth it – even if I can only afford to go occasionally.

Besides, now that I found this place, I find myself going to Starbucks less often and saving my taste buds for my weekly Temple treat -- so I’m kind of saving money in a weird way.

ESPRESSO TASTING AT TEMPLE ON MAY 8
Temple isn’t just a bistro; it’s also a place where coffee lovers can gather to learn about the art serving up the perfect cup of java. They actually have classes.

The topics vary throughout the year, but on May 8 at 10 a.m. you can check out their espresso tasting class. For $15 you'll taste 5 different espressos (you'll be buzzing after) and get a half pound of any coffee of your choice. Very cool.

All their classes are at their S Street location and they only accept 20 people per class so you may want to register in advance.

MEET UP FOR COFFEE
There are two locations in Sacramento.
1014 10th St Sacramento CA 95814
916.443.4960

2829 S St.Sacramento CA 95816
916.454.1272

Bucket List: Can I really be an iron woman in The Great Race?

I admit it. I am freaking out just a little bit.

I not only signed up for my first triathlon yesterday, but I signed up as an iron woman. Yes, that’s right. I’m doing The Great Race in Sacramento (was the Eppie's Great Race) and have just over 90 days to whip my body into shape.

For those of you who haven’t heard of The Great Race, it’s a triathlon that is running/biking/kayaking and this year it’s taking place on July 17 along the American River.

Here’s the thing. I’m not really worried about the running portion of the race. It’s only 6 miles which I already do in my weekly workout – so that part is a piece of cake. It’s the rest of it that will be a little challenging.

You see, I haven’t owned a bike since I was 10 and really haven’t miss it all that much. I also have never kayaked. Ever.

So now you understand why I’m starting to wonder if this was the best idea.

WHAT'S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
Some people have asked why I don’t team up with someone, but that would defeat the purpose.

We all have our bucket list of stuff we want to do and doing a triathlon as an iron woman just happens to be on mine. I’ve already run 5k and 10k races. Those are off the list. It’s time to push myself to do something more.

I also haven’t been able to cross "do a triathlon" off my list in the past because I only kind of swim. I can float. I can back crawl. I can do a couple of laps across the pool at 24 hour fitness. But there is no way I could make it a mile without having to touch the ground, never mind a bunch of miles. This means – no triathlons.

The Great Race is made for poor swimmers like me because the water portion is in a kayak. Yay!

THE RACE ISN’T EVEN THE SCARY PART

Okay, so I have a lot of training to do over the next three months, but I’m not worried. Like I said, I have the running portion done – so check.

I’ll buy a road bike in the next couple of weeks and start working on that portion – check that one off too.

Kayaking? Well, they have to have lessons somewhere and I guess I can rent one the day of the race – not quite a "check", but I’ll worry about it in May.
The part of the race that has me petrified is how to get all these things (body, bike, kayak) to the race and in the correct areas before the race and then trying to figure out which one is mine after the hundreds of other racers have put theirs in the same area. What if I can’t find my kayak when I get that part of The Great Race? How do I get my bike back afterward? Do I have to walk all the way back? What if I get lost?

I now know why Lance Armstrong has a team of helpers. It would be so much easier just to run to the area and have someone hand my bike/kayak, pass me a water bottle and off I go.

I wonder if Lance would be willing to share?

Tuli Bistro: Great food, but with too much zeal

Tuli, Tuli, Tuli...I find myself at Tuli Bistro in Midtown Sacramento more often than I would like just because it's convenient and it's easy to find parking.

The good news is I've never had a bad meal at Tuli's and recommend their Maple Duck if they happen to have it on the menu. It's incredible-- especially when paired with a red wine like the Barbera.  I took a picture of it, but believe, it looks much better in real life.

The mussels are also good and so are any of their risottos. Like I said, I've never been disappointed with their food. They also have a great chocolate port which is totally worth the $12.

But what bugs me every time I go is how they rush you.

I swear, if you go at 7 p.m., they will be trying to hand over the bill before 7:50 p.m. to try to get the second seating in. However, if you show up later you still can't win and savor your meal. I know, because I've tried and have showed up at 8:10 and 8:30 just to test it out....and guess what...in both case they rushed me out before 9 p.m. --even though no one was waiting and they are open until 11 (they do stop serving food at 10 pm.)

It's rush, rush, rush with zero time to actually relax and enjoy your meal or finish that last few sips of wine. I'm sorry, but if I wanted fast food, I would have gone to a fast-food restaurant and paid $5 instead of $60 per person.

No really...it's as if they contradict their good food with their zeal to get you in and out.

So here's the deal. Amazing food, but they lose a star for ruining the experience by taking away the time to actually enjoy it.

Tuli Bistro is located at 2031 S Street in Sacramento.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue - Surprisingly delicious

A new always means discovering hidden gems in the ways of food for me....and I happened to come upon one toay.  But I'm going to warn you....don't be fooled when you walk in to L&L Hawaiian Barbecue at 1049 Broadway. This place is better than it looks.
I must admit, I didn't expect much when I dropped in, but I was pleasantly surprised and I will be back.

The food is made fresh, it's inexpensive and it's good -- really, really good. I mean, where else can you get a freshly made BBQ chicken sandwich for $2.99? And this is real chicken breast; not that processed stuff you get at other places.

I'm big into chicken so I haven't tried their other food, but they did have other BBQ meats and everything was reasonable. Just remember to ask for a mini portion unless you have a big appetite. This is because $7.99 will get you this massive BBQ dinner with tons of meat, rice and macroni. The mini orders are half the price and still massive.

This place is my new hidden treasure. You'll be seeing me there quite often.

Looking for that 'drop in' sushi place in Sacramento

Being new to Sacramento, I've been spending my time trying to find stand-by favorites like the Friday night pizza place, a local wine bar, a great place to run...and of course, that sushi restaurant where you can just drop in and relax.

I may not have found any of the other things yet, but I have found my sushi place. It's Ju Hachi by Taka on 1730 S Street, because how can you not love a sushi place that has an all-day Happy Hour every day of the week? You can get a big bowl of sesame chicken for $3 (see picture below) or tempura veggies and shrimp for $4. Plus the food is fresh and I'm all about fresh when it comes to sushi because I like the raw stuff AND I like my ahi to melt in my mouth.

The daily Happy Hour specials don't really change that much -- I've been there a few times and there is always the sesame chicken, the California roll and the tempura, but what does change are the daily chef specials. Now I'm going to warn you. These specials are really good, but they are not as cheap as the Happy Hour deals. However, they are fabulous.

I've gotten the chef's sushi roll a couple of times. The combinations of what's inside the roll are a little bizarre. In fact, I've had one that was a mix of grilled vegetables, raw tuna and apple. But here's the thing - they are always good. Taka and Ed (the sushi chefs) will also make specials just for you depending on what you like or if you are vegetarian. But here's a hint: Have them make you something with scallops. Ed is a food-genius when it comes to scallops and will leaving you coming back for more.

But while I do love the food, what keeps me coming back again and again is the atmosphere at Ju Hachi. I'm always looking for that neighborhood bar where you can simply chill. Ju Hachi has that vibe -- and all the customers know it, so they are chilling too.

It's the Japanese version of "Cheers".

Ruby Tequila's dares you to take the fajita challenge

I'm always look for the best so when I heard a rumer that the best fajitas in Houston were located at the newest Midtown Mex-Tex restaurant, Ruby Tequila's Mexican Kitchen, I had to check them out.

"Our fajitas are the best in the city," said Ruby Tequila's president Cory Strickland. "In fact, if you try them and don't agree, they're FREE."

Now I bet that has your attention.

BEEF, CHICKEN AND SUNSET?
It definitely got my attention so I had to go check them out - not that I'm a fajita connoisseur or anything, but I do know a thing or two about food having written for a food trade magazine for six years. Besides, I've been eating all my life.

Ruby Tequila's is opening officially on October 12 in Midtown and the venue has three types of fajitas: Fajitas al Carbon, Shrimp Fajitas and something called a Sunset Fajita, which is like your basic chicken or beef fajita but smothered with their special homemade queso inferno.

But before we even get to the fajitas, let me tell you what impressed me most about Ruby's is that everything is fresh...really fresh. I checked out their kitchen and they don't even have a microwave or warming station, which means every order is made to order. It also means, you're not going to get rubbery quesadillas, dried out tamales or crunchy old Mexican-style rice.

"Everything is made from scratch," said Strickland. "We don't buy anything pre-prepared. We chop up all the peppers, tomatoes and onions in the kitchen, we create our marinade for the meat, and we are cooking and prepping all day long."

I checked out the cooking stations and he wasn't exaggerating. Everything was made the old fashioned way and they don't fry their meat; they actually have a mesquite oven in the kitchen so everything has an authentic smoky flavor.

"All our meat is certified Angus beef that we trim and cut in-house," Strickland said, as he showed me the actual wood they use in the oven.

I even checked out their giant cooler and there weren't bottles of processed salad dressing or jars of pre-made salsa. It even kind of smelled good in there. And if you don't believe me, you can check it out yourself.

"We have an open kitchen policy. Any customer who wants to see the kitchen is welcome to come back for a tour," said Strickland. "The pico de gallo, guacamole, sauces, salsas, tortillas and beans are made throughout the day to ensure consistent freshness on every plate. At the end of each day, any leftovers are discarded. Nothing is reheated, frozen or saved for the next day."

In fact, the made-fresh concept is carried right out to the tables as they will make your guacamole dip right in front of you to your own level of spiciness and chunkiness. In other words, you're not going to get some just-add-water powder version.

THE RITAS TO GO WITH THE FAJITAS
While the food is good, the margaritas are outstanding and according to the bartender, what makes them so good is that they are made from real ingredients.

"We don't use a mix. They are made with premium tequila, Grand Marnier, Patron and freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice," said the bartender.

Their signature margarita is their Supreme Rita. It's your choice of tequila (I got Tres Generaciones), Grand Marnier, Patron Citronge and a little lime juice for $7.99. An extra shot is only $1.00.

The bartender also recommended their Pineapple Fusion Rita.

"That one is my favorite. It's pineapple infused sauza tequila, vanilla bean and Grand Marnier," said the bartender.

SO ARE YOU UP FOR THE FAJITA CHALLENGE?
So DO they the best fajitas in town? Give them a try at one of their two locations and let me know.

You'll find Ruby Tequila's Mexican Kitchen in Willowbrook at FM 1960 and Highway 249 and in Midtown located at 2616 Louisiana at McGowen.

Oh, and they have a Happy Hour. Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and all day Wednesday, they serve $0.99 draft beer and $1.99 house margaritas.

"Our Wednesday Happy Hour turns the middle of the week into a Friday," said Strickland.

Hmmm...weekend thinking on a Wednesday. Gotta love that.

Calling all ghost hunters -- it's time to get spooky

Did you know Galveston isn't just famous for hurricanes; it's also pretty famous for being haunted. In fact, a number of books, Web sites and ghost hunters claim it's one of the most haunted cities in America.

Naturally, I'm always up for a little historical spookiness, which is a good thing because this fall the Galveston Historical Foundation has added a "Spirits of the Past" Cemetery Tour to its Haunted Happenings offerings...and they say the "hauntings" are happening at the Broadway Cemetery.

Apparently, this cemetery isn't just full of rotting corpses. It's got some interesting local people and a few history-makers buried there.

Of course, they can't guarantee any of the ghosties will actually appear - because you just can't tell a dead person what to do, but they do say the spirit of Major General James B. Magruder who led a land and sea operation that successfully returned the City of Galveston to the Confederacy in 1863 is there - although I didn't see him. Not that I'm complaining. I love the ghosties , but am totally afraid of them at the same time.

Anyways, if you go and have more balls than I do, you may also sense (or maybe see if they really like you) the Perugini Brothers. These two guys were born on the same date two years apart. They later joined the Navy in separate states on the same day, unbeknownst to each other. And then they both died on the same day in a torpedo gun turret in World War II.

Spooky. I have goosebumps just typing this.
MORE GHOSTS TO SEE

But the cemetery isn't the only haunted place on the island. According to the people at the Historical Foundation, there are a lot more ghosties around.

They also have a couple more tours that will leave you wondering just what it is that goes bump in the night.
Ashton Villa's Are We Haunted? Tours
Every Friday in October: 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m
October 31: 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The one-hour tour checks out the Ashton Villa which may be haunted by the spirit of "Miss Bettie," the daughter of the house's first owner, James Moreau Brown.

Haunted Harbor Tours Aboard Seagull II
Every Friday and Saturday in October: 4:30 p.m.
October 30 and 31, 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
This tour presents a frightening look at the many tragic events that have occurred in and around Galveston Harbor for their guests aboard the 50-foot passenger boat, Seagull II.
Haunted Cemetery Tours
October 29, 30, 31, 2009, 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Tickets for all the "Haunted Happenings" tours are available at GHF's website: www.galvestonhistory.org.
Adult prices are:
$20 for Ashton Villa
$15 for Haunted Harbor
$12 for Haunted Cemetery.