The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for Festivals
Back to Nature

Harmony Amongst Earth's Creatures
Do you like Nature? Farm-fresh food? Apple picking? Wine festivals? Water recreation? Do you like to go on nature hikes? See how something’s made? Watch Mother Nature in all her glory?
Flower farms, organic ranches, farmers’ markets, petting zoos, fishing, horseback riding, Green movements… the list is long and so far ever-growing when it comes to the agricultural and nature opportunities in the Greater Sacramento area.
Watch for more comprehensive information to come! In the meantime, pack your binoculars, maps, camera, maybe a picnic… and get ready to get back to the basics… They’re more stunning than you might recall.
Grape & Grape 2009

Sacramento Grape & Gourmet 2009
The 2009 Grape & Gourmet show-(sip a lot)-and-tell was held last week at the Sacramento Convention Center. Let me just start by saying that I’ve never, ever before seen so many people (hundreds) arrive at an event on time. Maybe it was the 800 award-winning California wines available for tasting…
For adults who love wine, Grape & Gourmet is to them like Disneyland is to youngens. It’s exciting. It’s hard to believe. It’s tangible. And it’s downright overwhelming.
When my nephew was about 1 and 1/2, he used to get so excited to see me that he’d immediately take off running from his dad’s car toward my front door. But just before he reached me – confused and overwhelmed by his emotion – he’d suddenly drop and begin crying. (We realized early on that this was a very sensitive and sweet boy).
And that’s pretty much how I felt when walking into the 2009 Grape & Gourmet wine competition winner round-up. I wanted to run to my beloved wines and seek out new bottled friends… but alas, there was delectable food too… and oh, look there – friends!
But the beauty about getting older is one, that I’m old enough to recognize what my emotion is all about… and two, that I’m old enough to appreciate all that fine wine (even if it does take me a lifetime).
Cozy Up in Downtown Winters This Summer

Downtown Winters CA
If you’ve never been to Winters, you’re missing Norman Rockwell’s point. Adding to the small town charm of an adorable and historic rural community, the 1st Annual Winters Outdoor Quilt and Textile Art Festival is coming Saturday, June 27th and Sunday, June 28th. Take a gander because you love quilting… or just because it’s a great reason to get you to go. (I once had a roaring time at the Stockton Asparagus Festival… and I wasn’t even all that fond of Asparagus at the time).
Anyway, when things like this come to a tiny town, one might say the whole town gets involved. And the involvement in Winters is getting more and more artsy, and more and more inviting. Home to the beloved Palms Playhouse (live music), the infamous (in a good way) Buckhorn Steakhouse, Putah Creek Nature Area, art galleries, wine tasting, and plenty of good eateries and charming businesses, Winters is a perfect little day trip, afternoon jaunt or weekend getaway.
In addition, there’ll be a sunset dinner with local Firefighters. I assume it’s a fundraising thing, either for the artists or public servants. But I say, ‘sunset, firefighters, local art… you probably can’t go wrong either way.’
(Winters is just west of Woodland and Davis, north of Vacaville. Call 530-795-2580 for more information on the festival or visit www.yolocvb.org for general area and event information).
[Photo Courtesy Solano Magazine]









