The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for Old Sacramento
Cool River City Sippin’ on a Hot Summer Day
A little frolicking with the past.
P.S. Find out what that guy’s story is sitting at the end of the bar, would ya?
http://discovergold.chambermaster.com/list/member/river-city-saloon-old-sacramento-99.htm
Stroll Through Time & Place
With this great mild summer weather, there’s hardly an excuse to not be outside. And I’ve got the perfect stroll and sightsee path for you! Just wear comfy shoes and some sunscreen, maybe a hat, definitely a camera.
Off the I-5 freeway and adjacent to Embassy Suites in Old Sacramento is a stretch of 10-hour parking spots. Grab one of those, pay the meter machine (cash or credit/ATM), and then decide which way to head first.
Let’s say you decide to cross the pedestrian-friendly overpass to find the Crocker Art Museum at 2nd & O. You could spend hours there if you choose – going forward and backward in time and traveling the world through art. And luckily there’s a café and plenty of casual seating to enjoy refreshments and downtime. From there, walk back toward your car (but don’t get in it). Just beyond the street is a railroad and then Promenade with unfettered river views. Stroll the wide tree-lined concrete path enjoying the scenery, people watching, and brushing up on your Sacramento bridge, boat and railroad history. From here, I suggest two options: Either go straight and swiftly end up in Old Sacramento for bountiful dining, shopping and entertainment opportunities…. Or head left across the Tower Bridge to Raley Field and end up in West Sacramento; See a River Cats game or concert there, or take a tour of the facility.
Traversing on foot in this manner, you’ll really get an intimate feeling of the lay of land and gain a better picture of past, present, and possibly even future.
Where to Stay: Embassy Suites, Delta King or Holiday Inn Capital Plaza
(Uh oh – I didn’t mention the shopping plaza nearby or eclectic K Street Mall, did I ?….)
Irish the Weekend Would Come Sooner…
See that green-hued rainbow overhead? It may not be obvious yet but it’s building momentum. And you know what’s on the other side… So are you gonna bah humbug the little Leprechauns already hard at work or are you going to join their merriment, song and folly this St. Patty’s Day?! It’s Saturday, March 17. No need to be saint or stick in the mud to join the communal festivities~
Got Family?
Join the Old Sacramento St. Patrick’s Day Parade – 2nd & L streets, 1PM. http://oldsacramento.com/events-and-activities-detail.php?id=189
Or get your green (tennies) on at a St. Patrick’s Day Nature Hike – Several different hikes will be offered for different energy levels and age groups. http://www.sacramentovalleyconservancy.org
Or sing your heart out with the Sacramento Master Singers at Celtic Connections III – A collection of new and old music from Ireland, Britain and Scotland. http://www.mastersingers.org
Got Thirst?
Various Pub Crawls are occurring around the area, including one in Midtown Sacramento and one in Downtown Woodland
http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/317062278352743/
Got a Little Commute?
Stop off in Winters for a hearty St. Patrick’s Day celebration in a tiny but mighty town – Wine and cheese tasting, live music, green gifts, and finally, that proverbial pot of gold~
No need to be green with envy. Join some of the fun (and get your own green tongue!).
Sacramento’s Winter Wonderland: Late Night Live Music Venues
Art of Chaos at The Boardwalk
If you enjoy the feel of late night and the pounding of live music through your veins, here are a few haunts in which to consider hanging.
Vega’s [Old Sacramento] – Mix of History and Haunted Club – This underground establishment doesn’t require a password to get in, but it has managed to remain a bit of a secret. It’s not exactly romantic, but seems to beg for a little intimacy while you’re there. Explore all the crannies in which to cuddle up with a partner and then bundle up for some cozy time by the outdoor fireplace. They (pretty much) only serve beer and wine (and a mysterious homemade punch if you dare), but it’s worth a dip into the underground and the building is as old as Old Sac gets. 910 2nd Street
The Boardwalk [Orangevale] – Bonafide Long-time Rockin’ Establishment – The Boardwalk has been hosting local and not-so-local hard rock and heavy metal bands and fans since 1987. A somewhat small and dark venue tucked into a vacuum-like section of Sacramento’s suburbs, its sound quality keeps bringing them back for more. They serve lots of fried food and are open to all ages, so don’t be surprised to see a few adolescents roaming the premises. While it’s not exactly an enchanting place, it doesn’t claim to be such. http://www.boardwalkrocks.com
On the Y [Arden-Arcade] – Dive Bar Meets Metal Madness – With that dive bar atmosphere, On the Y could simply be perfect for a cold beer (known for being “the coldest in town”). But late at night it comes alive with the sounds of screaming voices and thrashing instruments. A respected venue for hard-core music, On the Y manages to contain order with the music tidily tucked away in a corner, so you can still hold a conversation should you choose. If you prefer a more mainstream vein, they also host karaoke regularly. 670 Fulton Avenue
Shenanigans [Downtown] – Two-Headed Musical Monster – Not too many late night venues have two levels with such different feels. Shenanigans has a stage for all kinds of live music upstairs, while downstairs is all about DJs, dancing and dark corners. You might also just stop by early in the evening for a game of bar Jenga, plate of club grub, and chat with a friendly monkey (stuffed or otherwise). http://www.shenaniganssacramento.com
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~]
Time Traveling & Good ol’ Fashion Family Fun
Every time I turn around these days it seems Old Sacramento has something new up its sleeve. This time it’s the Silent Movie Festival happening every Saturday evening through July and August. Not enough to get your interest piqued just yet? Image… old time movies from 1900-1929, audience involvement and sing-alongs, period performers with music, mini skits and comedic acts, and each Saturday night offering something different – from early dramas and comedies to fantasies and more! More than you imagined? Me too. Eagle Theatre, 7PM, $5.
Wait, there’s still more: Time Travel Weekends in Old Sac, which is a free street theatre program with live roaming entertainment, 11AM-5PM, through August.
916-808-7059, http://www.historicoldsac.org/timetravel
New Ghost Adventures in Old Sacramento
Dat you, Scooby?
Watching the show, however, it seemed to me that Zak & the gang were not told many of the juicy stories I had once been privy to, or perhaps they just weren’t letting on. I did, nonetheless, particularly enjoy the part where Sean the tour guide was overwhelming Zak with his vast array of run-on knowledge, because anyone who’s attended one of Sean’s Sacramento history tours knows the amusing feeling of trying to mentally keep up with him.
Honestly, I was hoping the show would fully capture Sacramento’s shadowy past and how it literally lingers on today, but maybe my expectations were set too high and hometown self-consciousness just too acute. That said, I did enjoy the fact that they “locked” themselves in three different locations – the Eagle Theatre, old Supreme Court building and underground of the B.F. Hastings building.
I don’t know if Ghost Adventures’ equipment and expertise is improving to the point that they get more and better evidence – or if they’re just getting better at faking it – but I was impressed with the “shadow” figure and realistic sounding “intelligent voices”. I also always appreciate it when they try to debunk something right then and there, giving the viewer on the other side of the tube a little credit as well as immediate gratification. But really, when you add the unmistakable footsteps, loud banging, and chair rocking on its own, the evidence piling up seems almost… too good to be true.
Heck , if I were locked in an old, supposedly haunted building all night long, I know for a fact that I’d scare myself into being a believer. And after a while – if nothing happened and I by chance got used to the darkness – I might just get bored enough to pull some pranks. Does that make me a skeptic? Of course. But am I also a believer in something that I can’t quite put my finger on… that’s an affirmative as well.
May Madness: So Much to See & Do in Sac & Beyond!
If April showers bring May flowers, then what do May flowers bring?
FUN, of course~
OUTDOOR CONCERTS
Announcing the kick-off the 20th season of Friday Night Concerts in the Park.
May 6th and every Friday night, 5-9PM, through August 12.
Cesar Chavez Park, Downtown
http://www.SacFridayConcerts.com
ART & WINE AFFAIR
20 area wineries, artists, vendors, live entertainment.
Saturday & Sunday, May 7 & 8, 11-4PM
El Dorado Hills
916-802-6924, http://www.eldoradohillsartaffaire.com
PIXAR COLLECTION
Disney Fine Art by Collectors Editions presents the Pixar Collection worldwide debut — One Day Only!
Sunday, May 15, 11AM to 4PM
California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento State Historic Park
916-445-6645, http://www.csrmf.org
NATURE TOURS
Delta Eco-Tours – Take a short or long nature and cultural history tour of California’s best and most breathtaking locations along the Sacramento Delta.
Saturday, May 21, 2-hour History & Riparian Cruise
Saturday, May 28, 4-1/2 hour Tule Wilderness Adventure
Delta Ecotours/Hartland Nursery
13737 Grand Island Road (P.O. Box 439), Walnut Grove, CA 95690
(916) 775-4545, http://www.DeltaEcoTours.com
HISTORY TOURS
Gold Rush Legacy Tours and Old Sacramento Architectural Tours begin in May and go all summer long.
Saturdays & Sundays at 11AM
916-808-7059, http://www.historicoldsac.org
And for more ongoing, engaging and special events check out http://www.Sacramento365.com!
TEN 22 – TODAY, “Tomorrow” and Thursdays
Patio Dining: What Good Weather was Made For
The storm has passed, the weekend has come and Spring is in full swing. If you’re wondering how to start your weekend in Sacramento or are looking for a reason to visit, look no further than Ten22 Restaurant in Old Sacramento.
TODAY marks the celebration and opening of their outdoor patio, starting at 11:30AM and featuring a fresh new spring menu of local, organic and seasonal ingredients. Music from NOW 100.5 FM, glorious weather and undetermined amounts of fun are included. Reservations are recommended, and valet and validated parking is available.
As for “Tomorrow”, I’m speaking metaphorically, because hey – it makes for a cute title. From April 10 through 13, Ten22 will be participating in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Sacramento Area Dine & Donate Program, where 15% of all revenue generated will be donated to the non-profit organization. Ten22 is the first restaurant in Sacramento to participate in this Program, and gives us all a reason to create a better (and more delicious) tomorrow.
And finally, Thursdays… They’re the new Friday for those affected by furloughs, and Ten22 has created TASTING THURSDAYS, a wonderland of food and beer pairings. For just $10 per person, you can experience a different theme with Executive Chef Jay Veregge at 5:30PM every Thursday. “Themes” include ‘Spring Ciders and Local Production with Seasonal Cheeses,’ ‘Warm Weather Beer “Cocktails” of the Future with Veggie Pairings,’ and ‘Trucker Hats and Bad Beer: Down Home Brews and Country Nibbles.’ Who can resist?
Also don’t miss Friday and Saturday nights at Ten22: live music all evening long performed by local talent!
Come to think of it – that’s a lot of fun for one weekend – can we camp out on your new patio, Ten22?!
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.
