The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for February, 2011
All Aboard! for New “Fruit” Exhibit at Raiload Museum
If I could just absorb all the vitamin C in this upcoming exhibit, I doubt I’d currently be home nursing a sore throat and chest cold. But lucky for me, there’s still time to recuperate and get myself to the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento for the “Pick Me! Fruit Crate Art & the California Dream” exhibit. Starting March 5th (and running through March 30), we can view more than 80 iconic and whimsically designed fruit crate labels from the 1880s through the early 1950s that inspired many to “Go West” in search of the California Dream.
Gain an appreciation for an early art form that featured beautifully bold imagery, learn how California’s fresh produce was kept cool during transport before refrigerated cars, and discover why the railroad was the key to the early success of the California agriculture industry. Dripping with color, these labels depicted verdant fields and idyllic pastoral scenes, subtly suggesting that California was a magical place – a place where it was always sunny and the grass was somehow greener. To those of us who live here, we know there’s a certain magical aura around California, one usually best seen during dawn or twilight hours. Of course, we still have to deal with real-world stuff – just like everyone else. And no matter how much succulent fruit we produce here, we still get sick sometimes.
Widely regarded as North America’s finest and most popular railroad museum, the 100,000-square foot Railroad History Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
More Information: http://www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org or call (916) 445-6645
Cost: $9 adults; $4 youths ages 6-17; free for children ages 5 and under
Life, Death & Things to Do at the Old City Cemetery
Death is scary business. It can be scary for us all, but because it is a reality, it can also be a business… and yet it’s still more than that. Although a practical comparison, saying death is the opposite of life does not seem entirely true when one visits an old cemetery. Surely, there’s more to life than death, but I think there’s also more to death than death itself.
Consider the Old City Cemetery that borders Sacramento’s Downtown and Land Park neighborhoods. It is the resting place for many of Sacramento’s original inhabitants. And by marking and noting their deaths, we are also reminded of their lives… which makes me for one think about how I’m living my own.
There are stories of love tragically lost and life cut too short, and reminders of the hardships that befell those who came before us. There are also stories of love that seems to transcend life, and tales of life lived so fully that we are prompted to question the manner in which we are currently living.
History can be fascinating itself; it is especially fascinating when it covers the birth of a new age, like the Gold Rush era of the “old” west. And there is no place quite like the resting place for those early settlers. Walk yourself through the cemetery and ponder the lives and deaths captured there, or take a docent-led tour and learn about the early history of Sacramento. Watch for the wildly popular Lantern Tours in the fall, take a Garden Tour in the spring or History Tour this weekend. Perhaps consider getting involved with a volunteer project or just stopping by the new Visitor Center.
When all is said and done, there should be time to ponder, reflect and pay homage. The past, after all, is always imbedded in our future, whether we’re aware of it or not. Those who came before us are forever a part of us. Sometimes taking our eye of the prize off the future to look backward – and inward – we are reminded how precious every moment really is.
For a list of events and more, please visit http://www.oldcitycemetery.com
Fairy Tales & Shakespeare Merge
Fairy Tale From a Distance
When I was a little younger, more rebellious version of myself, my friends and I snuck into Fairytale Town one debaucherous night. Running the crooked mile, climbing the tree house, playing on the swiss cheese, the dusty barn animal scent, the thrill of doing something forbidden… it was exhilarating to the young-hearted young adult in me (and no animals were harmed in the making of this adventure).
Today, the memories of Fairytale Town stay with me, as we both grow and evolve into our best grown-up selves. So I’m proud to share news about what’s new at FTT:
SHAKESPERIMENT 2011, a new extension of their popular and successful Fairytale Town Troupers program! ‘The first production will be a brand new one-act adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Fairies & Fools!”, featuring young actors ages 12 to 21. This innovative and original production focuses on the disharmony between the King and Queen of Fairyland and a group of bumbling actors who unwittingly cross their paths. It’s a fun and family-friendly romp filled with music, magic, mirth, and mayhem.’
WHEN: February 19-February 27, 2011
WHERE & MORE: http://sacramento365.com/event/detail/441088679/Shakesperiment_2011_A_Midsummer_Nights_Dream_Fairies_Fools
As for the serious side of FTT, due to a City Ordinance, adults cannot be admitted to Fairytale Town unless accompanied by a child. (woops)
[Photo from: Californiadaytrips.blogspot.com]
If I Only Had a Brain, a Heart, the Nerve… and a Ticket to Tonight’s Event!
Maximilian Riedel, of Riedel Crystal, will be atop Sacramento’s historic Elks Tower, sharing his fine-tuned knowledge of wine, wine glasses, and how well the two pair up.
We all know that not all wines are created equal, and we know that plastic, styrofoam and metal do not great wine glasses make (although they can be useful in a pinch)… but how about shape, size, weight and other delicate factors of glass and crystal stemware? How might they change the intimate experiences you have with your favorite wines?
It’s an art, a craft and a science for some. But it’s sure a fun, fun and more fun hobby for the rest of us! All you need for tonight is a golden ticket.
$85 will get you up close and personal with Mr. Riedel, a golden slice of his knowledge, wine tasting, h’ors d’oevres, dessert, delicioius views, and a 4-piece set of Riedel Crystal wine glasses worth more than the price of a single ticket.
The event is also a fundraiser for the Sacramento Chapter of NACE (National Association of Catering Executives). So go forth, eat, drink and be merry. Because you can.
February 1, 2011 – 6PM
http://www.sacramento365.com/event/detail/441089303/Wine_Seminar_with_Maximilian_J_Riedel
[Photo Credit: DB's Travels, FlickR]
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.
