The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for Culture
Diverse-City
Many days I can see snow-capped mountains on the horizon to the east, and some mornings I can even smell the ocean hitching a ride upon the low-lying fog that’s seeping in from the west. There are also the rivers winding beneath freeways, between neighborhoods, and always glistening in the distance. Come wintertime, the trees shed their leaves and reveal a hidden city beneath, until spring returns to feast upon it once again.
I see uniqueness and contrast all around this diverse city, which is full of color and flourishing life. People in cities create a complex web of existence together – challenges and all – which puts us in a positive place from which creative thinking and innovative solutions can occur. Yet diversity can mean so many things, from the people within to the landscapes we see and the resources at our disposal. Diversity, on a daily basis, is when we see different cultures existing in one place, like shopping at the mall, attending an outdoor festival, or gathering in support or rebuttal of some societal issue.
It’s a fact of life that people have different spiritual and political beliefs, different customs and societal norms, different sexual and romantic leanings, different lifestyles, ways of thinking and even behaving. That we can exist together even mostly peacefully is an amazing feat, and great cities reflect this. Coming together, whether it be living, working or socializing side by side, and taking advantage of the opportunities therein shows a respect for our surroundings, the greater good and our brave future together.
Heaven, Earth… and Humankind in Between
Off the Beaten Path
But since more life – and work – seem to occur within and around cities, I try to find a balance between living in this modern world and relishing in the ease and spirit of small town life. One of the best ways I’ve found in which to do this is by frequenting festivals and faires whenever possible. The only hang-up: It’s not that easy locating these galas and celebrations, many of which come and go without my knowledge. So I’m starting a running list of central California festivals, and I hope you’ll help me give it a good go. Because festivals, to me, help fill in the gaps between the soul of city life and the spirit of nature’s abandon.
For starters, Sacramento365.com seems a good place to warm up finding Greater Sacramento area festivals. For instance, I see that Festa Italiana (Sacramento), Sacramento Swap Meet (Natomas), and Vinyl & Music Fair (Davis) are all taking place early August. I missed the Haight-Ashbury Street Fair in San Francisco this past June and Taste of the Delta earlier this month, but we’re just in time for small town Courtland’s Pear Fair this coming weekend, July 29. So come on ~ let’s kick up a little dirt together!
What’s a’Happenin’, Hotstuff?
Early Summer Fun
Sexy, saucy play ‘OR’ to debut and close out 6-year run at the Delta King Theatre – June 17 – July 17. In addition, the Pilothouse Restaurant will be offering a specially priced $29 three-course dinner for theatre patrons. 916-995-5464, http://www.capstage.org
From Farm to You~
Announcing New Farmers’ Markets Locations:
1)Beautiful east end State Capitol Park, 15th & L Streets, every Thursday, 10AM to 1:30PM
2)St. Rose of Lima Park, 7th & K Street, every Friday, 10AM to 1:30PM (street or mall parking, light rail)
http://www.ca-grown.com
Portuguese Partay~
Come One, Come All for a Parade, Mass, Auction, Eats, Live Music & Fresh Air! The Freeport/Clarksburg Portuguese Festa will be held Sunday, June 19th at 54113 S. River Rd. 916-373-9942
100 Years of Making a Difference~
Stop to once again celebrate your rights at the Sacramento History Museum with the unveiling of the ‘We Won the Vote’ exhibit on June 16th. 916-808-7059, http://www.historicoldsac.org
Christmas, Christmas, Kwanzaa!
It must get a little tiring for those not so Christmas-minded to constantly see the focus of our culture on all things Christmas this time of year. Although Christmas has come to mean different things to different people (like it or not, purists), others who may have different beliefs have to live beneath the halo of the Christmas tree all month long. But there are growing branches upon which differing beliefs and celebrations can reside together, and the Crocker Art Museum extends one of them.
On Sunday, Dec. 26, the Crocker will present a free Kwanzaa Family Festival from noon to 4 p.m. The museum-wide festival showcases the Museum’s new collection of African art with music and dance performances, hands-on art making, and storytelling. Sponsored by Target and presented in collaboration with the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum and the Kuumba Collective Art Gallery, the Museum will be FREE from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on this day.
Celebrated worldwide, Kwanzaa is “an ancient and living cultural tradition which reflects the best of African thought and practice in its reaffirmation of the dignity of the human person in community and culture, the well-being of family and community, the integrity of the environment and our kinship with it, and the rich resource and meaning of a people’s culture.” It is celebrated December 26th through January 1st.
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.
