Ole

CA Rejects Bids for OC Fairgrounds

March 17, 2010 by Ole Leave a Comment

Today, in a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger, the Acting Director of California’s Department of General Services announced that he has rejected all bids for the Orange County Fairgrounds. An excerpt from his letter:

Please be advised that after careful consideration, today I have decided to reject all of the bids. The offers contained in those bids are not in the best interest of the citizens of California because they do not obtain the highest and most certain return for the state. I continue to fully share your commitment to selling the fairgrounds and the department will go forward to explore alternative means to promptly achieve that goal.

Obviously, this is not a rejection of a sale, but hopefully it’s a start.

In case you don’t know what I’m writing about, the State of California issued a Request for Proposals last year inviting potential buyers to bid on the Orange County Fairgrounds. The State’s estimated value of the Fairgrounds is $96 million to $180 million, but the highest bidder offered $56.5 million.

The highest bidder was Craig Realty Group, a real estate development company that is “a leader in the development and management of income producing upscale factory outlet centers.”

The Governor actually proposed selling seven state owned properties in his budget revision last year. The seven properties are:

Cal Expo
San Quentin State Prison
Cow Palace
Del Mar Fairgrounds
Orange County Fairgrounds
Ventura County Fair Grounds
Los Angeles Coliseum

I believe that the Orange County Fairgrounds property is the only one that has been put up for sale so far.

Although I live in Riverside, I grew up in Costa Mesa just a few miles away from the Orange County Fairgrounds. In fact, my high school graduation was held at the Pacific Amphitheatre, which is part of the Fairgrounds. I also take my kids to the OC Fair each summer.

Hopefully, the OC Fairgrounds will not become the OC Outlets.

http://www.dgs.ca.gov/OCFair.htm

Sights: Tuscany Village

March 8, 2010 by Ole 1 Comment

I took this picture in the Tuscany Village neighborhood in Riverside. Not too bad for a cell phone camera.

Dufferin Emergency Access Gates – Part 2

March 3, 2010 by Ole 2 Comments

The gates that were supposed to be installed as a condition of the Dufferin Avenue closure at Stewart street are finally installed… over 7 months later. We seem to still be waiting for the “electronically controlled” part of the “electronically controlled gates” that will allow access to emergency vehicles.
Is it “mid-December 2009” yet?

This project will construct permanent improvements, including a street knuckle at the Dufferin Avenue/Stewart Street intersection and a 15-foot wide multi-use asphalt trail connecting Stewart Street with McAlister Parkway. The trail will be gated at each end; however, still allowing for the free flow of pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Fire and ambulance units will be able to access the trail by activating electronically controlled gates at each end of the trail using the same transmitter used to preempt the City’s traffic signals. Construction of the improvements is anticipated to be complete by mid-December 2009. – City Council Memo dated 09/22/09, emphasis added

Volleyball Open Gyms in Riverside?

February 25, 2010 by Ole 5 Comments

I am looking for places to play volleyball out here in Riverside.

I am mainly looking for open gyms, but I would also like to find out about leagues and grass tournaments. The only volleyball open gym that I have found out here is in Moreno Valley, so over the past few weeks I have gone back to some of the open gyms I played at years ago when I lived in Orange County.

If you know of any other places to play volleyball out here in Riverside, please let me know.

If you are looking for places to play, I have put together a list of volleyball open gyms that I know about in Orange County and the Inland Empire. I will add more as I find them.

Goodbye Chuy’s

December 11, 2009 by Ole Leave a Comment

My wife and I went to Chuy’s Mesquite Broiler in Corona for lunch today and found out that it will soon become Austin’s Sports Grill.

Bummer. This is absolutely my favorite place for tri-tip and shrimp, and my daughter loves the salmon.

My personal plea to the new owner:

Please keep the tri-tip, shrimp and salmon on the menu as is. The chips and salsa bar is a plus too. Good luck.

By the way, if you completely redecorate, what are you going to do with the shark heads?

Bob’s Big Boy – Norco, CA

November 21, 2009 by Ole Leave a Comment

Cowboy Bob was unveiled last week at Bob’s Big Boy in Norco. Bob is now sporting a cowboy hat and boots, along with a much bigger burger.

Cowboy Bob got the prime location by the front door, while poor regular Bob was moved to the side of the building.

We’ve been to Bob’s a few times over the past few months. Like a lot of people, I remember Bob’s from when I was a kid. Until we visited the Bob’s in Norco, I probably hadn’t been to one in 20+ years.

The boys like Bob’s food better than the girls, but we all agree that the hand-dipped shakes are worth the visit.

Bob’s Big Boy
3521 Hamner Avenue
Norco, CA 92860

Cowboy Bob Unveiling; Bob’s Big Boy, Norco

November 12, 2009 by Ole Leave a Comment

For all the Bob’s Big Boy fans out there…

Cowboy Bob will be unveiled in Norco on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at 5 pm. I took the family to Bob’s this week and picked up this flyer:

In-N-Out: The Best Burger?

October 21, 2009 by Ole Leave a Comment

In-N-Out is the “cuisine winner” for burgers in Los Angeles according to the press release for Zagat’s 2010 America’s Top Restaurants survey.

The only other California market listed in the press release was San Francisco. SF’s burger choice? In-N-Out.

After reading this, I decided to get a Double-Double today at the In-N-Out in Norco. As usual, my Double-Double and fries were hot and fresh.

In-N-Out consistently makes good burgers. But the best?

Bumblebee Sighting – OC Auto Show

October 20, 2009 by Ole Leave a Comment

Bumblebee showed up at the Orange County Auto Show over the weekend. The kids were happy.
The Corvette Stingray Concept (aka Sideswipe) also showed up. Dad was happy.

Super Mex – Riverside, CA

October 20, 2009 by Ole 1 Comment

Every time I walk into Super Mex in Riverside, I tell myself that I’m going to order something new. I fail every time.

I’ve eaten at Super Mex about five times now, and I’ve ordered the Chorizo Burrito every time. For the uninitiated, chorizo (or at least the kind of chorizo I’ve always found in Mexican food restaurants and my refrigerator) is a spicy pork sausage that practically begs to be combined with eggs. Not being a cook or the primary grocery shopper in my house, all I really know is that when chorizo is prepared correctly, it is spicy goodness.

Super Mex makes the best chorizo and egg burrito I have ever eaten.

Chips and salsa are served a bit differently here. Instead of chips, you get whole, fried corn tortillas with a chunky salsa. The tortillas always seem to be freshly prepared, but I have to admit that I would like some different salsa options.

Mrs. Ole has joined me on a few of my visits, and we’ve shared some of the antojitos (snacks) including the mini chimis and the cheese quesadilla. Both are pretty good, but my quesadilla-eating experience would be much better if I had some different salsa or hot sauce to spice it up.

My wife has tried the carne asada tacos and shredded beef hard tacos. The carne asada tacos come with onions, cilantro and guacamole, and she has tried them both fully loaded and plain. The carne asada is tender but could use more flavor. The refried beans are awesome. Note to self: it is much easier to see the food if I unwrap it before taking a picture… duh.

Super Mex has good food and good service. Someday soon, I hope to overcome the power of the Chorizo Burrito and actually try something different.

Super Mex Riverside

3444 Arlington Avenue

Riverside, CA 92506