The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for January, 2011
2011: Finely Tuned
The fog has set in, although I barely notice it. It’s hard to believe it will last for long, considering we just had a string of sunny, 60-something-degree days – and let’s be honest – the seasons aren’t what they used to be.
I guess the sunshine is still with me, however, burning off the fog in my mind. And it is certainly symbolic too, as the 28 days of 2011 thus far have been unusually energizing for this typically hibernation-induced time of year. At least for me. If feels like an especially brand new year, and I am awakened in the middle of the night by thoughts of potential for my life to come.
How can I help the environment more?
What talents can I utilize to help others?
What are my greatest accomplishment desires?
Where might I be wasting time or energy?
Sometimes, at a new beginning, the rush to cement our goals in reality creates an inflexibility that causes the pressure to build and the intrinsic interest in something to wane. And not knowing precisely what I want my future to look like, I don’t feel the need to force it. Maybe I am comforted by the stirrings I feel within, knowing that if I at least pay attention and remain open, my particular path will continue to unfold, just as it always has.
And maybe, this particular period of my life will be even more significant than the last, because that’s how it feels…. But for now, while my eyes are weary and my passions are nesting, I’m going back to bed to get some more rest.
Tomorrow’s another big day.
Art, Culture & Ice Cream…. All Free!
Planes, trains and automobiles…
Settlers, science and space…
Art, history and education…
Gold, pottery and artifacts…
Lions, tigers and bears… Say it with me now…
It’s time for the 13th annual Sacramento Museum Day, and all it costs is your time in return!
When: Saturday, February 5, 2011
What: 26 local Museums
Where: Sacramento, CA
Why: Why not?!
Who: Find out at http://www.sacmuseums.org
How: Presented by Sacramento Association of Museums and sponsored by Umpqua Bank
And for the icing on the cake… free ice cream will be served at locations to be determined!
Yosemite by Day
One of Yosemite's Wondrous Sights
When I was little, I thought Yosemite the national park and the word ‘Yosemite’ were two entirely different things. Who knew that the little girl who thought ‘Yosemite’ was pronounced “yoes-might” would grow up to be a writer?! I can recall my mom laughing at the way I spelled “weird” in the 4th grade, and yet I won the 8th grade spelling bee. Call it a lack of experience, call it a condundrum, but don’t be surprised when I mispell something else in the future (but don’t be confused either, because I like to make up words as well).
Life is full of surprises… if you let them show themselves.
Years ago, after he offered me my first regular-paying writing job, my editor at the time Ken Mandler asked me to take a drive to Yosemite with him. For the day. ‘Ug’, I thought, ‘What a long way to go for just one day.’ But as it turns out, it was a great trip. I wrote an article about it, got some great photos while we were there, and learned that Ken was selling the papers I had been writing for for the past 2 years.
That particular part wasn’t exactly the best news ever, but I appreciated his respect for me and the manner in which he shared his professional dilemna. Personally, I felt I was close to being ready for a change anyway, so it was rather bittersweet. But I’ll tell you one thing for sure: You never forget news like that when wrapped up in such a magnificent package – or views like that when wrapped up in such a brief but breathtaking encounter.
So since I’m still writing, I’d like to thank Ken for giving me my first opportunity. And even though I lost the regional spelling bee championships to the word ‘scheme’ (tragically, ‘skeme’, in my world), it was because I’d never seen the word before. And sometimes, just one look is all it takes to never again forget.
Ready, Set… Eat!
Sacramento’s sixth annual Dine Downtown Restaurant Week is already in full swing, but there’s still time to catch a ride and a great deal while experiencing 30 of Sacramento’s best restaurants. You’ve got six more days in which to enjoy special three-course dinner menus for only $30 per person. You know that’s a steal… but your taste buds won’t have a clue.
Participating restaurants include: 3 Fires Lounge & Restaurant, 4th Street Grille, Biba Restaurant, Brew It Up!, The Broiler Steakhouse, Cafeteria 15L, Capitol Garage, Chops Steak, Seafood & Bar, Dawson’s, deVere’s Irish Pub, Esquire Grill, Fat City Bar & Café, The Firehouse Restaurant, Frank Fat’s, Grange Restaurant, House, Il Fornaio, Mikuni, The Melting Pot, Morgan’s, Mulvaneys B&L, Paragary’s Bar and Oven, Pilothouse, Spataro, Rio City Café, River City Brewing Company, Ten 22, and Tower Bridge Bistro.
“Dine Downtown lets food enthusiasts of all shapes and sizes experience the best of Sacramento’s restaurant scene.” What better way to say ‘Thank You’ than to simply participate, eat, and be merry?! Just note that you may have to ask for the Dine Downtown menu at participating locations. Reservations are recommended but not necessary.
Remember, there are only six days left but a staggering 30 restaurants to consider. It’s like a portal has opened up for regular folks like us to experience local fine dining without breaking the bank. So plan your strategy now and get your appetite revved up!
Dine Downtown is produced by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. http://www.downtownsac.org/dinedowntown.
Girls’ Night Out: The Good, the Bad & the ‘Eh’
Dancing at the Mix
It was Dawn’s 40th birthday. She wanted to get her friends together to celebrate. So adorned with tiara, boa and free drink tickets, she boarded a limo bound for anyplace fun. First stop: The Corner Restaurant & Bar in East Sacramento. It wasn’t crowded, but full enough to be standing room only for eight 40-is-the-new-30-year-old chicks. We ordered a round of drinks to begin the night. Some of the patrons seemed a little uncomfortable about our presence, as if we were going to disturb their quiet, serene atmosphere. While I can’t say I blame them – they probably thought we were a bachelorette party, hell-bent on one last hurrah – it was the first stop, people! How much trouble were we going to get into that early?! Anyway, a few others at the bar were really friendly, just wondering where we were headed next. Before we slipped out the door, however, the bartender bought us all a round of no-named pink shots that tasted a little like a Flintstone vitamin. But better.
Next stop: Bulls. It’s a fairly new place with a catch: a mechanical bull. But it’s a real cow’s head (sad) with a missing eye (sadder). The place is not a country bar, per se. They play all kinds of music and is really just a regular restaurant/bar (minus the one-eyed cow-bull). It wasn’t very crowded yet, but again, we were out early, so most of us took a ride on the wild side. I sort of liked the casual vibe of the place with its glamorous country accents, but the customer service left something big to be desired (saddest of all).
All aboard the limo for one more casual stop before the finale: Shady Lady (You’ve got to pronounce that like you’re woo-ing it… er, her). Now this place was hopping. I’ve been here a couple of times during the day, but nothing beats the nighttime ambiance. With some sultry acoustical music playing in the background, the velvet wallpaper, period lighting and old-fashioned menu, this place was classy and satisfying.
Final destination: MIX Downtown. First off, you’ve always got to mind the time at these places. According to our watches, we arrived in time to get in for free, with 7 minutes to spare. According to the guy at the door, we were 7 minutes too late. Luckily, our limo driver confirmed our clocks and up the stairs we went. Most – if not all – of us had been to the Mix before. We like it because it caters more to 30 and 40-year-olds than the younger crowd and has with a cool, grown-up atmosphere and open-air patio for minglaxing – mingling and relaxing). So we dove right in and pretty much danced the night away, despite there being an unusually-younger crowd on this night and the bartenders being a little too cool for school.
All in all, a bunch of 40-something-year-olds staying up until 1:30 is an amazing feat. But when the company’s good and there’s a reason to celebrate, not much is going to get us down.
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.
