[TWAK]

I was just thinking that we should have our own skybar....maybe in just a thread. For random crap not really related to city junk.

I can start out, some small news for me but maybe big for other people. Some of you know I was in the army.....well I'm finalizing my entrance into the air force reserves. I need more money for school (since I am so far behind in math) and it's the perfect way to get another GI bill. Not only that but I get a bonus, which is awesome because I was screwed out of one in the army.

[brandon12]

well done Twak, good luck in the AF Reserves and in school.

[brandon12]

my one little random note: I noticed there's a new (at least new to me) fountain in the center of Fremont Park. It's nice to see new investment in the city's parks...

[brandon12]

^^ oops, kinda related to "city junk", but not really in the same typical sense.

[foxmtbr]

Good luck! :tup:

[sugit]

Good luck, Twak.

my one little random note: I noticed there's a new (at least new to me) fountain in the center of Fremont Park. It's nice to see new investment in the city's parks...

Its been there about a month or so now..problem is they choose about the ugliest most uninteresting fountain they could have possibly picked out.

It looks like a fountain you would find sitting in the courtyard or garden of a retirement home.

[brandon12]

^you're so picky ;)

[sugit]

Shoot, I would think I wouldn't picky about a fountain, but that thing is pretty damn ugly.

[Schmoe]

Miss you guys so much! I hope I get to see you at Christmas time.

[brandon12]

On saturday, I took light rail from the train station. I was looking down at my ipod, but when I heard marching bands and people yelling, I looked up to find myself in the middle of Santa's parade. Literally. The light rail trains ran along much of the exact same rout (down 7th st.) as the parade, just in the opposite direction. I was the only person in my train car, and people were waving at me, so I decided to ham it up and wave back. I'm a nut.

[DALINSAC]

On saturday, I took light rail from the train station. I was looking down at my ipod, but when I heard marching bands and people yelling, I looked up to find myself in the middle of Santa's parade. Literally. The light rail trains ran along much of the exact same rout (down 7th st.) as the parade, just in the opposite direction. I was the only person in my train car, and people were waving at me, so I decided to ham it up and wave back. I'm a nut.

That is way too funny! :haha: You and Santa were the parade's grand marshalls

[Phillip]

This is random but maybe of interest to some here.

I stay in hotels a lot, mostly via Priceline. Over the last couple years I've done a lot of bidding around Sacramento, for myself and for others, and here's some of what I've learned about Pricelining Downtown Sacramento.

On Priceline you pick a zone and a quality level and place a bid. If a qualifying hotel has a room at that price or lower you get it. You don't learn which hotel it is until after you pay though. Here are the Downtown Sac hotels known to participate in Priceline, their quality levels, and how much it typically takes to win them.

At 4* level you'll either get the Hyatt or Sheraton. $75 is the lowest accepted bid I've seen and usually you can get one or the other for $75-95.

At 3* level it's the Holiday Inn next to Downtown Plaza. $55-70 range.

At 2.5* level it's the Clarion on 16th, which is a dump, or Hawthorne Suites up on Richards. (Priceline's Downtown Sacramento zone extends all the way up to the American River.) Usually $45-55.

At 2* level it's La Quinta at I-5 Richards. I've got it for $38--less than the Motel 6 across the street costs. Comes with free breakfast. Hotel is next to the American River and you can walk into Discovery Park for free, avoiding the usual $5 parking charge.

At 1* it's the Travelodge on H Street. Filthy nasty. I think I paid $30 and that was too much. Never again.

So far the Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn Express on 16th, and the new Residence Inn on L Street haven't been reported won on Priceline. (There are websites that archive Priceline win reports.)

The prices I posted don't work every day. Priceline sells excess inventory, which means on nights when a hotel is sold out Priceline won't have anything. Also Sacramento occupancy is higher during the week than weekends and Priceline stays on Mon-Thurs often require higher bids than Friday, Saturday, or Sunday nights.

[Schmoe]

That is excellent info, Phillip. Thank you. Now that I don't live in Sac anymore it's good to know I can stay at the Sheraton or Hyatt for under $100.

[Phillip]

Good luck with your bidding when it's visit time, Schmoe. If you get the Hyatt or Sheraton for half price you can stay in Sacramento twice as long!

[arod74]

That's great info Phillip, thanks for posting. Really helps for us who have family visit from time to time...