Although comparisons with the Eiffel kind of work to cross purposes: the Eiffel was designed as a radio broadcast tower (practical use) that was also aesthetically pleasing: the Safeway water tower is strictly an aesthetic touch that was intended to look like a practical use.

And yeah, it would have been nice to have more outdoor seating at the various sites out there.

Re Taco Bell: Actually, it was the SN&R whose Reader’s Choice “Best of Sacramento Awards” often went to places like Taco Bell and McDonald’s, which is part of why they do their Bests based largely on editorial input, with the Reader’s Choice choices as a sort of runner-up.

Taylor’s Market is old, old, old and fabulous! Best butcher shop in town and great customer service. Wonderful wine selections and hard to find grocery items.

I love The Nugget in the Pocket for absolutely spot-on customer service and a deli that is wonderful.

Love Corti’s as well..but don’t live near there anymore.

Yep, if I ever need ( can afford really) a plastic surgeon or a $5,000.00 coffee table, I’ll pick up Sacramento mag.

I personally like a good Pastrami Sandwich and would dearly love to buy one from Safeway over on 19th, except I am a little leary of sitting on the sidewalk to eat it. Andronico’s over at Stanford has a nice simple outdoor eating area, but I guess quite wisely the Owners/Developers/Architects didn’t want that old lady in the Prom Dress who hangs out over at Starbucks on J and 19th to come over. Say, I bet that’s why Peet’s has some pretty crummy outdoor seating too! Having people sit outside eating and drinking a Stawberry Frappucino is Soooo yesterday and suburban.

But I did hear the Designer of Safeways once say that the water tower at Safeway was reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower, or maybe it was the Arc de Triomphe…and would lend a gentle reminder of the Champs Elysees to R Street, something I can really get behind!

I’m not as down on the two urban Safeways — I think the 19th Street one manages to get away from the “liquor store” feel except maybe late at night, but their customer service leaves much to be desired (except at the pharmacy, where I always get great service).

The two downtown Safeways (and the one on Howe too) are little more than liquor stores. Oh Gawd, it’s 1:30 AM can we still buy a case of Shaeffer light tall boys? The union employees can handle the large homeless panhandler population better than anyone.

Trader Joes is certainly one of the four convenience stores of the Econopocalypse. They are presently shushing up their third food recall this year. Beware of the free samples!

A visit to the Co-op can be uh, interesting. Tattooed, branded and pierced indentifiers separate the regulars and employees from the members too disheartened to admit that the place is not what it’s founders ever would have envisioned. Including seeing all the money evaporate in a ill fated scheme to have a sister store in Elk Grove, that failed immediately for obvious reasons.

I haven’t read an interesting article in Sacramento magazine since they wrote up the “Batgirl” murders back in the late 1980’s.