The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for Breweries
No Snow Day? Will You Settle for Some Sunshine?
Views from the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza
If you’re a downtown/central city type… Stay at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza, order some delicious and (surprisingly) reasonably-priced room service, and then enjoy the views as the sun sparkles through the Tower Bridge and settles into the Sacramento River.
Convenience is king here with immediate freeway access, but I suggest you park the car and leave it because you can hoof it to pretty much whatever your heart desires. Shopping and a brewery (River City) await you at the Downtown Plaza – just steps from your room – and Old Sacramento is not much farther the other direction, home to a handful of classy restaurants, historic sites, intriguing shops and photo ops.
Try Ten22 for dinner or drinks on the patio, Steamers for some breakfast tacos at a sunny sidewalk table, or the Delta King for river views and a more lavish (but still affordable) champagne brunch. Haven’t seen the newly-expanded and highly renovated Crocker Museum yet? It’s just another short jaunt away and will fulfill your more artistic, creative and cultured tastes.
If mom-n-pop is more your style… Stay at the comfy, cozy Amber House Bed & Breakfast in Midtown, unwind with a welcome drink on the porch, and then head out for some boutique shopping ‘afoot. Once those hunger pangs grab hold, grab some grub at Chicago Fire or Zelda’s pizzeria or try Kru or Tamaya Sushi. Independent bookstores and art galleries also abound around here.
Seriously, we’re all feeling pretty spoiled here since the New Year hit, and we’d like nothing more than to share our fine weather, amenities and attractions with you!
[Watch for more photos soon to come~]
A Mug of Holiday Cheer!
Can’t decide between having a cup of tea or mug of beer? It’s a common conundrum. Luckily, the people at Hoppy Brewing have created the perfect solution: Tea-infused beer. But it’s only available during the holidays, so don’t sleepy-time-tea your way through this one.
Hoppy Claus Holiday Ale is an amber ale with Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice tea in place of the hops. Bengal Spice contains a unique mixture of cinnamon, roasted chicory root, roasted carob, dates, ginger root, cardamom, black pepper, cloves, and nutmeg that obviously adds some interesting character to this holiday brew.
In keeping with the ‘containment’ of the holiday season merriment, however, Hoppy Brewers only brew enough to last through the holidays. So, like I said, don’t wait for your cup of Darjeeling to cool before trying something new. And bring your appetite because Hoppy Brewing has great food too!
916-451-hoppy, http://www.Hoppy.com
6300 Folsom Blvd, East Sacramento
Brew It Up! Drink It Up! Eat It Up!
Brew It Up!
The Spicy Buffalo Chicken Salad… it’s my favorite of all three things I’ve recently tried at Brew It Up. And when I say “tried”, I generally mean reached over and nabbed a bite of my boyfriend’s entree.
One could say I stay in the safe zone, am a creature of habit… And this could be true to some extent. But then, at least I don’t have the grass-is-greener syndrome ~ always wondering if that sandwich at table 2 is tastier than mine.
Brew it Up is a casual, easy place to dine on delicious food. They’re friendly, they are generous with their portions, and they have (my favorite) Orange Blossom Beer! If you’re a real beer fanatic/connoisseur/activist, you can even brew your own here.
Near the Music Circus, Convention Center and other sweet spots Downtown, Brew It Up Personal Brewery & Grill sits rather massively on the corner of 14th & H, but they’re gracious hosts with lots to offer, including special events, holiday happenings and both early and late night happy hours!
Oh, and they’re not a chain, in case you were wondering and like to frequent one-of-a-kinds.
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.
