The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for June, 2010
Cars: From Mean to Pristine
Race to the Finish
I snapped this shot while attending Reiff’s Annual Street Bash and car show in Woodland a few weeks ago. Touring the house – which is much more museum than home – I suddenly recalled being there as a child, soaking all the sights up with my eyes while my dad traded antique stories with Reiff. Putting the memory to a literal place, town and face, I felt my younger self coming full circle.
The block party is fun, but you can get a more intimate tour of the architectural artwork any time of the year. Just let Reiff know you’re coming, and I wouldn’t recommend rolling up on empty. http://www.reiffsgasstation.com
Since we’re on the topic of cars, here are some more pix; some taken at Reiff’s party and others taken outside Elkhorn Station. Elkhorn Station, by the way, is a rural escape with great food, sprawling views, live music and no pretense. On the River Road and just off the I-5, it’s the closest thing to the Sacramento Airport next to fields and more fields. It has some history, but you’ll have to Google it to get more info, as I didn’t find a website. Or just ask the guy driving the tractor in the middle of the road which way to the cold beer.
State Fair: Same Big Fun, Different Dates
Slide into Summer Fun
After decades of a late August/early September run, The CA State Fair has decided to explode into Sacramento’s summer a little earlier in the year. So please make note, ‘cuz you don’t want to miss something spectacular all because you made a fair assumption about the “When” of it all only to find all that big fun just passed you by.
July 14 through August 1 is the fair’s new run date, and personally this year I can’t wait to:
See how much fried food and beer I can handle in one evening, see how many carnie friends I can make in one day, see how many of my favorite adolescent high-velocity rides I can handle in one hour, see how many gold medal wines I can try before my tastebuds become toast, see how much money I can win by betting on the horse with the prettiest name, see how many dimes I can throw at the greased dishes before I finally win an ashtray, see how many County exhibits I can visit before I get the travel bug, see how many things I can buy and fit into my backpack, see how many farm animals I can fall in love with and want to take home with me… and finally, see if I can remember where I parked my car.
There are some traditions just worthy of paying annual respects. Just remember to pay them a little earlier this year!
Good News & Bad News
When I reported – last year was it? – that the Delta King had an amazing Happy Hour… well, ’tis no more. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the Delta King now boasts the Irish pub band, Stout Rebellion every Thursday night from 6-9. The food’s still tasty, the views still grand, and now there’s a little bit of Ireland rockin’ the boat weekly. Tit for tat? I can get jiggy with that.
Can’t get to Ireland? Let Ireland come to you. http://www.stoutrebellion.com
[image complements of GourmetGirlMagazine.com]
Back to Basics
‘Constitution Wall’ is a gigantic work of art built into the courtyard of the California Museum in Downtown Sacramento. On a quiet day you wouldn’t believe how peaceful it can be. On a particularly rambunctious day or while an event it taking place, it’s still breathtaking, even through the activity and noise.
Looking at giant stone words from the United States constitution – protruding and dripping with age – it’s enough to make one nostalgic about our country and how it all began… almost enough to re-ignite some appreciation for the values that originally shaped us… And it makes me wonder: What are we doing wrong these days? What simplicity and decency and agreement about fairness escapes us as a whole? Have we become disconnected from these core values or are they just clouded by other things?
Or, could it be that, “Because of metal oxides embedded in the surface, the colors change over time, ensuring that, like the Constitution itself, the Wall is constantly evolving,” just as we are?
It’s a worthy thought to contemplate alone or conversation to have with others while sitting and looking up at the ideals imbedded in the walls that surround you.
The California Museum • 1020 O Street • Sacramento, CA 95814 • (916) 653-7524
http://www.CaliforniaMuseum.org
The Pony Express Rides Again
Wanted: A Few Good Horses
The term “lightening speed” is certainly relative; what was considered lightening speed in the 1800s can hardly compare to the progress we’ve made today. However, imagine living in a simpler, more rustic time… when travel was always cumbersome and communication across vast lands was painstakingly slow. And then imagine something coming along – say, a horse and man – that changes everything you once knew – practically overnight.
When people moved out west, letters were carried by boat, and it took about six months to send or receive a letter by ship. It was a way to communicate, yes. But as far as efficiency goes, it was obviously far from ideal. So when the Pony Express was imagined to life in 1860, and it only took 10 days across the United States on horseback, imagine how many facets of life were affected by it!
The Pony Express was special because it connected East and West in a manner never done before. For 19 months the Central Overland and California Pikes Peak Express Company carried letters and telegrams through challenging terrain to prove the most central route through Salt Lake was passable year round. That trail is now a federally designated Historic Trail.
2010 marks the 150th Anniversary of inception of the Pony Express. And from June 6th to the 26th, The National Pony Express Association will conduct an anniversary Re-Ride over the 1,966 mile route of the National Historic Trail from California through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas to Missouri. There will be various checkpoints and exchange stops with operators who will radio information to the public. GPS transmitters will also be carried by the riders, which will transmit location to a satellite.
The men and horses of the Pony Express originally set off on their journey from what is now Old Sacramento. You can see the statue at the corner of 2nd and I streets and see artifacts at the Wells Fargo History Museum.
Sometimes, something comes along that changes what we know, how we live and how we think. And sometimes, we have to look back and honor what was to more thoughtfully and deliberately appreciate what is. As for the period of the Pony Express, while it may have been brief, its existence was far from insignificant. After all, it was a simpler but groundbreaking time, and the Pony Express is a symbol of our love affair with the American West.
Come join the kick-off anniversary ride and festivities: Monday, June 7, 10a.m., Old Sacramento. Visit http://www.xphomestation.com for more up-to-date information and anniversary events across the nation.
Antiques, Vintage, Retro… It’s all Grand
Having spent the night dreaming of antiques, vintage gowns and time travel, I thought it would be a good time to list some of the Sacramento area’s best antique and vintage shops. Many are well established with rooted reputations, while others are newer or more obscure. Either way, if you love old things and the stories they could tell, put on your comfy shoes, grab your canvas bags and an energy bar, and let’s hit the road!
Cheap Thrills – 1217 21st St (Midtown), 916-446-4103
Prevues: A Fashion Fetish – 2417 K St (Midtown), 916-448-4556
Article Consignment Boutique – 5704 Elvas (East Sac), 916-316-5772
The Antique Company – 2100 X St (Downtown), 916-457-1099
57th Street Antique Mall – 875 57th St (East Sac), 916-451-3110
Sacramento Antique Faire – Under the W-X Freeway (Downtown), Sundays, http://www.sacantiquefaire.com
There are several other places I could list, but since I haven’t been there yet…. well, I’d obviously better stop dreaming about it and and get back into the game. There’s clearly a lot of shopping yet to be done! Watch for Vintage part 2 coming soon.
There is something special about Sacramento; the rich land upon which it was built, the rivers that flow through, the bounty around it and the people who make the Sacramento area their home.
Life is good in California’s Capital City for many reasons, including climate and geography, community and amenities, nature and wildlife, and so much more. It’s hard to imagine a warmer feeling than a sunshine-drenched morning here, an easier feeling than a refreshing post-rain spring day, or a more engaging experience than a night on the town with friends or family.
There’s truly something here for everyone and every mood, for Sacramento is a shifting entity itself, with four distinct but relatively mild seasons, diverse neighborhoods and people, a ripening food and restaurant scene, year-round events and outdoor fun, and daytime and night-time adventures. Its magic is a blend of history and tradition, vision and reinvention. And there’s so much pleasure to be had here – with family and friends, food and wine, adventures and experiences – that they’re likely to create the kind of fond memories that might seem so familiar… but aren’t quite like any other.
