Get caffeinated with True Love…

Tired of the same old coffeehouse scene? Looking for a new place to hang out with friends? Then True Love Coffeehouse is just what you are looking for. Located in Midtown Sacramento (see box for details), True Love provides a relaxed environment where young people can socialize and get caffeinated.

Preparing to park at True Love may require a little extra work. While there is a private parking lot, it is not very conveniently located. But there are plenty of spots to be found on the surrounding streets. But expert parallel parking skills are required. So practice up. But, consider the practice time a trade-off for scrounging around for quarters. The spots directly across the street from True Love feature free two-hour parking.

When entering True Love, coffee lovers must first pass through the outdoor seating area. But then one step past the threshold leads them to the drink and food-ordering area. That’s right, like many other coffee houses in Sacramento, True Love has its customers purchase their food at the front end of the visit. It keeps staff requirements down and allows customers to hem and haw over their choices without an impatient server waiting to write down their order. But speaking of staff, the young woman who takes orders on Monday nights could leave some customers rubbed slightly the wrong way. While friendly in her own way, her personality could come off as somewhat abrasive. So be warned.

In addition to choosing from a huge selection of very reasonably-priced coffee drinks, customers can also choose from an odd assortment of food. Meatless by design, True Love offers easy-to-plate options such as nachos, humus, falafel and a veggie panini. And while the prices don’t give your pocketbook a reason to complain, the food does leave a little something to be desired… like maybe more quality and more selection. But perhaps, that’s just the omnivore speaking…

After receiving their orders from the pick-up window, customers can choose to head back out front for a people-watching session in the outdoor seating area, head to a slightly more intimate table for two in one of the small indoor rooms or sit with a larger group out in the covered outdoor area in the back (which is heated to a comfortable temperature). Each area is decorated with a funky twist, some brightly-colored twinkle lights adding a festive touch. And adding to the fun feel of the coffeehouse are the stacks of card and board games available in the entryway. Customers are free to take the games to their tables. Thanks to True Love you can say goodbye to awkward small talk and hello to “Uno.” And for those slightly less-social customers, free WiFi is also available…

After finishing the yummy-tasting beverages and mediocre food, customers are asked to clear their own tables by throwing away their garbage and stacking their red, plastic food baskets (which were lined with paper) in the designated area.

True Love Coffeehouse, although not the best place to meet for dinner, is a local take on the corporate coffeehouse. Aimed at the city’s younger inhabitants, True Love is the ideal meeting place for intellectual conversations, catching up on life or even testing your pop culture knowledge with a round of Trivial Pursuit…

An Ode to Christmas

Christmas fanatics. We all know at least one. You know the kind. Getting their decorations out of storage at some horridly-early hour of the morning the day after Thanksgiving. The ones who would hike for hours to get the perfect tree for their living room. The ones who have the Clark Griswold-style of twinkle lights on their houses. The ones who seem to thrive on anything related to Christmas.

But then there are the rest of us Christmas lovers. Sure, we may not run around wearing blinking earrings or vests clad with Rudolf and pals. But we, too, appreciate the holiday and everything that it stands for. So for us:

An Ode to Christmas.

Christmas. A season of wonderful music. Whether it be “Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer” or Handel’s “Messiah,” the songs of Christmas seem to have a way of bringing a smile to the faces of those who hear them. Of course, some department stores start to play the jazzy version of the most popular Christmas carols the day after Halloween. But even so, there is something about hearing those songs that can put a little spring into a shopper’s step. It’s the first sign of the wonderful season to come.

Christmas. An excuse to put a light bulb on any and all inanimate objects. It’s the one time of year when energy-saving consumers throw frugality out the window and use watt upon watt to light up the eaves of their homes. It’s the time when trees twinkle to the beat of “Jingle Bells” and “Frosty the Snowman.” And although some people may take the use of lights to the extreme- like those houses with 25 different blow-up characters and seven different colors and shapes of lights hanging on one porch- it is great to drive through a neighborhood and see the Christmas spirit brightly shining through the strands upon strands of glistening bulbs.

Christmas. A season of goodwill to all. Have you ever noticed the lack of attention paid to those who collect money in April, July or even October? But put a guy in a Santa suit to raise money for the same good cause and people come out of the woodwork to donate. Or collect coats and food for the less fortunate families in the area and the goodwill that Christmas brings will be apparent. There is something about the season that gets people to open not only their pocket books, but also their hearts, in ways not seen during any other time of the year.

Christmas. A time for families and traditions. While Christmas get-togethers may be stressful for the host or hostess, they are the times when extended families can put aside their differences and come together to celebrate and have a good time. A time for meal-time traditions. A time for reminiscing about past get-togethers and experiences. A time of celebrating the season and each other.

Christmas. A time to celebrate Christ’s birth. Despite what department stores and toy manufacturers try to tell us, Christmas is really a celebration of the birth of Christ. And while yes, December 25 is not the actual date on which he was born, it is a time when the miracle of his arrival can be celebrated by all. It is this very celebration that truly makes Christmas the best season of all. There are advent candles that are lit in anticipation of Christmas day. There are nativity scenes that represent the humble place and people who took part in the first Christmas. And there are special songs like “O Holy Night” and “Joy to the World” that so wonderfully tell of that night in Bethlehem.

So here’s to you Christmas fanatics and silent Christmas-lovers alike. With your pine-scented trees, fancily-wrapped gifts and sweet-smelling baked goods. May you truly enjoy the upcoming Christmas season and remember all that it represents.

YouTube: What’s the point?

It’s a Tuesday night and you are bored out of your mind. So you sit down at the computer, open your Internet browser and head over to youtube.com. Because really, what could be better than watching poor-quality videos that have been uploaded by random strangers from around the world?

Oh yeah, that’s right- about a million things.

For those who have been living under a rock for last couple of years, YouTube is a website that allows basically anyone to upload videos that can then be viewed by people around the world. The site, created in 2005 by former PayPal employees, has search engines that allow the viewer to look for videos on any subject imaginable. Well, even the unimaginable. And by signing in, viewers are able to post comments about the videos they view, mark certain videos as their favorites and even email videos to their friends.

But really, what’s the point?

Anyone who has ever spent any time searching the YouTube website can plainly see that not all posted videos are quality work. And not all posted videos are original work. Sure, there are original videos of people dancing to embarrassing songs, dogs that can make sounds that resemble human words, and even babies that have cute laughs. But couldn’t we find the same thing- in a condensed version- by watching America’s Funniest Home Videos?

And what about all the videos that are composed of less-than original material? By simply typing in the name of a favorite television show, viewers can find clips of their favorite episodes, interviews with actors and even “best-of” montages. But aren’t these clips copyrighted by the creators and networks that produce them? Sure, YouTube states that copyrighted material should not be posted, but really, other than receiving complaints by those whose product is being stolen, how can they monitor the material being uploaded and viewed? Obviously they can’t. Or they simply choose not to. But perhaps instead of watching the fuzzy frames of our favorite television characters on YouTube, we could do the legal- and ethical- thing and avoid missing our favorite programs by using a DVR. Still looking for commentaries and addition information? Buy the entire season on DVD- you’ll actually be able to see the actors and clearly understand their words. What a novel idea!

Some amateur video makers use YouTube as a place to show off their talent. And while some wannabe singers should stick to the shower, others, like Esmée Denters, have found fame- and record deals- by posting videos of themselves singing online. But is YouTube really the best way to make it big in the music or movie industry? Couldn’t a talented person make an even bigger splash and more of a reputable name for him or herself by participating on shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent, On the Lot or America’s Next Producer?

And of course YouTube is full of countless videos of already-famous people doing stupid things. But must we reward their bad behavior by watching clips of their antics over and over again? The only thing worse than Michael Richards making racially-inappropriate comments is the fact that millions of people have repeatedly watched him do so on YouTube. And really, who has time to watch clip after clip of Paris Hilton being released from jail? Come on people, bad publicity is still publicity.

So the next time you feel yourself getting bored, go watch some paint dry. It’s just as productive as watching YouTube…

Opinion: David Hinckley's Got It

Opinion. It’s that one ingredient that can make or break a column. We don’t always agree with the opinions expressed in the columns that we read, but isn’t that half the fun? What’s better than reading a column and disagreeing so much with an opinion that your blood begins to boil? Or reading a column and thinking, “Finally, someone agrees with me!”

Perhaps it is this love of opinions that leads so many to read David Hinckley’s columns on a regular basis. A staff writer for the New York Daily News, David Hinckley is anything but subtle in his attempt to comment on entertainment and popular culture.

Hinckley began his position at the Daily News in 1980 and “for the last dozen years has been critic-at-large.” While he does use a good portion of his column to review and comment on various television programs, his views can also be found in the Gossip and Lifestyle sections.

Although Hinckley’s subject matter may be somewhat diverse, his writing style is a constant. And what to some may seem like mere bluntness, upon further review, could be described as well-planned, and at times subtle, sarcasm. A sarcasm that leaves the reader with the dilemma of simply grinning or giving in and laughing out loud.

Take for example Hinckley’s review-style column on the television program Brothers & Sisters. Giving it one and a half stars, he complains about the program’s lack of a constant villain-like character. As he explains, each character takes a turn doing something mean. He then writes, “The trouble is, it never lasts. Someone is accused of being a jerk; he or she agrees and then repents. So the show is never more than 10 minutes from the next really gooey group hug, which may be great in real life, but on TV is mostly just annoying.” Hinckley’s sarcasm then shines through when he writes, “… a piece of potentially bad Justin news comes in and - wait, oh, darn, they've already had the hug.”

In addition to having a set writing style, David Hinckley is often very firm in his opinions of shows. Take for example his obvious appreciation for the show Friday Night Lights. Not only did Hinckley give more than his two cents regarding the show’s participation in this year’s Emmy Awards (they were non-existent), but he dedicated an entire column to the new program, praising its actors, writers and overall performance. So in addition to having strong opinions he is consistent.

But as previously mentioned, Hinckley does not focus solely on television. When embarrassing photographs of Vanessa Hudgens appeared online, Hinckley wrote a tongue-in-cheek “letter” to the young actress urging her to learn from the mistakes of Britney Spears. He ended his column/letter with:
“Ask Britney Spears. She's a Disney grad, too, and not long ago she was America's wholesome role model for tweens. Now she's our national celebrity from hell. I don't mean that because you posed for one picture, tomorrow you'll chop off your hair, check into rehab and only put half your clothes on. But next time you're tempted to strike a pose, you might want to pop in a DVD of Sunday night's Video Music Awards and fast-forward to Britney. She's the puffy one who loses all interest halfway through her own song. I'm just sayin'.”

So whether you are looking for a good laugh at the goings-on in Hollywood or the review of a television show, David Hinckley is guaranteed to be a good read. His sarcasm and opinions are sure to please.


Read some of David Hinckley's work here...