The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for July, 2010
Seeking Musically Inclined, Outdoorsy Types
Friday Night Concerts at Cesar Chavez Park
Sacramento’s Friday Night Concert series is free, sells food and beer, and serves up a nice amount of shade on those hot summer nights. It’s family-friendly, open to all ages, and hosts bands from a range of genres including rock, pop, punk, blues and folk.
Since there are only 2 shows left, all the more reason to partake in a free outdoor concert, complete with diverse people to people-watch, eclectic music as a backdrop or focal point, and special-after concert deals at nearby clubs and restaurants.
It’s a groovy urban experience with plenty of grass underfoot, blue sky above and chillax’n all around. I think they still offer $5 all-night parking at the 10th & I garage as well. And since Downtown Sac is so accessible, there aren’t a lot of legitimate excuses not to try one of the Friday Night Concerts on for size. But hurry! Or wait until next year…
August 6- The Golden Cadillacs, Light Rail, Johnny Guitar Knox & the Soothers
August 13- The Brodys, The Phantom Jets, This Luxury
Friday Nights, 5-9PM
Cesar Chavez Park, 10th & J streets
The Serenity of Trees
Residential Midtown Sacramento, CA, Winter
Photos of Greater Sacramento & Northern California Trees
These are a Few of My Favorite Things…
If I could write a song about wine, this would be my first line. But it’s taken already, isn’t it? More reason to get back to the tasting of wine, rather than the singing about it. And ’tis the right time, for the golden state wine competition has just revealed its winners!
The California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition is the “oldest and most prestigious wine competition in North America.” It is open to all California-bonded wineries selling retail, and the judges are said to be chosen quite meticulously. Now, I’m no expert at wine-making or tasting for that matter, but I know what I like and I continue to try to refine my palate (as well as wine vocabulary, which could use some help). Anyway, out of those I tried, I was quite pleasantly never really disappointed.
The CA State Fair used to offer tastings of the winners (for a “fair” fee), but as all things must change, now they only offer them by the glass. Something about people bellying up to the bar for too long… Anyway, if you seem really interested in wine itself (not just the guzzling of it) and happen to get a friendly, slighty rebellious barmaid or barbutler, he or she might let you try a few before choosing one by the glass. And since this did happen to us (thank you, kind sir), I will share my findings.
Jeff Runquist Reserve Barbera 2008 – I thought this was rich and yummy.
Montevina Barbera 2007 – While this Barbera was lighter, it was still nice. My husband preferred it to the former.
Macchia Petit Syrah 2008 – Rich, smooth and yet zesty. (I like bold wines).
Fetzer Chardonnay 2008 – A little sweet, good overall, but with a bit of an aftertaste? (Since Fetzer uses organic grapes and works toward environmental sustainability, I feel good buying it. Not to mention, their wines tend to be affordable for “everyday” drinking.)
Barefoot Pinot Grigio Sparkling – Fruity, a bit sweet, pleasantly refreshing.
Barefoot Brut – To my surprise, I liked the Pinot Grigio sparkler better, but this one was nice and balanced overall like a traditional brut.
For a complete list of all the award winners and more information on the competition itself, click on: http://www.thebestcaliforniawine.com/wine-competition/award-winners. And if you’re interested in a more serious immersion of winners, watch for next year’s Grape & Gourmet in July: http://www.thebestcaliforniawine.com/grape-and-gourmet/event
Lights, Camera, Action, Enjoy
Crest's Marqui Being Remodled
Now in its 11th year, the SF&MF has grown quite colorfully to embrace and encourage new facets of filmmaking. Two programs for local filmmakers, both in their seventh year, encourage and support community engagement. Sac Music Seen is a program that matches local filmmakers to local musicians to make original music videos, with almost 150 completed projects to date. The 10×10 Filmmaker Challenge is SF&MF’s own answer to the guerilla filmmaking phenomenon, with teams being allowed ten days to make a ten minute movie.
The Festival also partners with other longstanding community events, such as the Sacramento International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. This year, one evening includes a fascinating pair of documentaries about the dangers to senior citizens in the LGBT community who sometimes find themselves going back into the closet to avoid discrimination in settings like assisted living facilities, and a film about transgendered musicians and singers.
SF&MF’s ongoing relationships allows for further interesting partnerships, including Sony, Rubios, Sacramento News & Review, Capital Film Arts Alliance and Mayor Kevin Johnson’s Arts Initiative. “Our primary mission is to showcase the work of talented filmmakers, but we’re also very much a community arts event and we work closely with our partners…to promote local interest and involvement at all levels.”
Rock On, RiverCats
Fun, Friendly, Accessible Raley Field
The size and feel of West Sacramento’s Raley Field make it accessible, approachable, maneuverable and comfortable… all the while being good old-fashioned fun, and occassionally even downright electric.
Something about Raley Field’s ambiance is so fitting for Sacramento; it’s a perfect way to spend a warm summer evening while overlooking the city lights and yet still feeling the small town charm.
Although I haven’t mentioned it yet, I’m talking specifically about RiverCats games – Sacramento’s high ranking minor league baseball team. But there are also other ways to enjoy Raley Field all summer long… With concerts like the Scorpions and Steve Miller Band, Raley Field again provides a comfortable, intimate setting, perfect for rocking out or soaking up the scene(ery).
400 Ballpark Drive
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 371-4487
http://www.rivercats.com
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.
