The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for Dining
Local Legend, Lore, Libations and Lunch!
Dark, casual, old…. It’s the kind of place I would normally frequent, so it’s also a little odd that my experiences with Old Ironsides are so limited. I remember someone suggesting going there one night after a party. It was rather late, but I guess we were still in party mode, and we arrived to find Old Ironsides of like mind. Bucho, a popular Sacramento-originated band with an engaging singer, was playing in the back room. The place was lively but there was still room to move around. I liked it.
That’s why it’s odd again that I didn’t return for nearly 4 years. This time: Lunch with an old friend whom I hadn’t seen for over 20 years. I was greeted from afar by the bartender when I walked in. The lunch crowd was much thicker than I expected. I found my friend and proceeded to catch up with her for 2 hours over food that was somehow simple, comforting and vibrant at the same time. We were again bid a farewell from afar as we parted and finally emptied the place out.
I can’t tell you what Old I looks like inside…. maybe perfectly dive-y. I know I have yet to experience this place fully, giving it my full, undivided attention. I know there’s more to discover here, and if it takes a ridiculous amount of time in order for me to do it, well, it’s certainly nothing personal.
Old Ironsides remains anchored at the corner of 10th & S, as it has since 1934. Named after the legendary war ship, “it was the first local establishment to serve liquor after the close of prohibition,” the proprietors say. I’m told by a local historian, however, that it was a speakeasy before that… But maybe that’s still supposed to be a secret?
http://www.TheOldIronsides.com, (916)443-9751
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.
