The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for Outdoor Fun
A Concert for Kindness
Sacramento’s Pet-A-Palooza 2013
is just a week and 1/2 away, and if I can’t find a reason to make you want to attend… well, then I think I’m gonna have to check you for a pulse.
It’s no secret – I love animals and always have. To me, there’s hardly anything cuter than a fluffy feather-light kitten or wobbly floppy-eared puppy. Cows – love them too. Mice – I have a soft spot for ‘em. Snakes – It depends on how and where we meet, but I did enjoy a nice cuddle with one once…
Anyway, you know the quote by Gandhi that goes something like this: ‘The greatness of a society can be measured by how well it treats its animals’? Well, it’s events like these, that in my opinion too, take our society up a notch in emotional evolution.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun doing it!
Enter Pet-A-Palooza!
The Fun Stuff:
IT’S FREE
HINDER, Vicci Martinez and Sara Skinner all performing Live
Pony Rides & Petting Zoo
Giant Slide and Tubs Ride
Rock Wall
Toddler Playland
Beer Garden
Photo Booth
Lots of Vendors
Splash Dogs
The Feel-Good Stuff:
Animals in need up for Adoption
Rabbits visiting from the House Rabbit Society
K9 Unit Appearances
Kids + Animals = LOL
One person really can Make a Difference!
The What’s What:
Sacramento Pet-A-Palooza 2013
Saturday, April 27th, 10AM -4PM, Rusch Park (7801 Auburn Blvd, Citrus Heights)
The Website (or best online presence I could find): http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/pet-a-palooza-2013/
Afterthoughts on Aftershock
Aftershock(s) pretty mild and manageable in SacTown…
Discovery Park, which is near Old Sacramento and the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers, hasn’t seen many concerts in its time, especially one that could hold two stages, an abundance of vendors, and thousands of fans while still leaving plenty of wiggle room. But after partaking in this bountiful music festival, we’d really like to see more outdoor events happening here. (Are you reading this, promoters?).
What We Experienced:
Traffic moving steadily and easily into and out of the venue, a speedy entrance into the festival, manageable crowds to the extent that we could actually see our favorite band members, accessible bathrooms with short lines (ok, port-a-potties, but they were spacious), “mister” tent and shade always somewhere to be found, surprisingly delicious food (where did the vendors come from?), generous drinks at relatively-decent prices, mild temperatures and soft-cloud-dowsed skies, people just looking for a rockin’ good time.
How We Did It:
We took a blanket, set it down in the shade between the two stages, and listened to the music from afar the majority of the time. When we wanted to get closer to our favorite bands, we were able to get closer than we thought possible. The rest of the time, we hung out with friends, sharing nachos and watching the crowd slowly volley back and forth from stage to stage.
What We Learned:
If one vendor is out of cranberry juice, Shocktop or chicken tenders, there is another not far away with just what the doctor ordered. Rules are not always enforced across the board (why say “no backpacks” and then let hundreds of them in?). If one port-a-potty is out of t.p. or one hand-washing station out of soap, you’re not doomed; they’re not all out. Tailgating is not encouraged, although if you’re not causing any trouble, you might be able to enjoy a little pre-concert socializing.
Summary:
Hoping for an almost Woodstock-like music festival (minus the rain and mud), we pretty much found it – complete with dusty lungs, satisfied souls, and cherished memories-to-go.
The Monster Energy Aftershock Festival took place on September 23rd, 2012 in Sacramento, CA.
Fun, Frivolity, Wine & Retro Things
Good Times Ahead!
Are You Up for a Weekend of Fun, Frivolity, Wine & Retro Things?
If so, pack your vintage-inspired bathing suit and get your taste buds ready for a rollercoaster ride of an experience. Oh, and make sure you have a place to rest up – before, between and after – as these events are sure to require some energy and enthusiasm on your part. And while you’re at it (if you can handle more excitement), ask for your Gold Card (at participating hotels) – your ticket to even more fun and extra savings around town. [http://www.discovergold.org/visitors/goldcard/]
Friday, September 21
A TASTE OF SACRAMENTO – 14th Annual Easter Seals benefit featuring unlimited wine, beer and food tastings. Sacramento Convention Center, Downtown, 5:30-9pm, $40. http://www.myeasterseals.org/events/a-taste-of-sacramento.html
NATIVE HARVEST FESTIVAL TASTING – Seasonal Native American-inspired foods, entertainment and trunk show. Inside Ancient Future, Midtown, 6-8pm. Ticket pre-purchase required, $30.
(916) 476-3754, http://sacramento.downtowngrid.com/events/index.php?events_id=8571&tk=d79dbf1b6378939e57e9&event_on=09%2F21%2F2012
Saturday, September 22
A MAD MEN INSPIRED POOL PARTY – Contests, cocktails, food trucks, DJ music, classic cars, shopping, proceeds to various charities. The Greens Hotel, Uptown. 2-6pm, $8. http://sacramento.downtowngrid.com/events/index.php?events_id=8766&tk=d79dbf1b6378939e57e9&event_on=09%2F22%2F2012
Eat, drink and be merry. Be there or be square.
Lake Berryessa or Bust
Morning serenity, Afternoon delights!
Just 40 miles from Sacramento, between Winters and Napa, you’ll find more recreational opportunities than you can shake a stick at – as my grandmother used to say – including swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, hiking, birding, camping, picnicking, etc.
Before it was cemented and filled in 1963 due to state water needs, the geography consisted of “a valley floor covered with family farms whose land titles could be traced to the Homestead Act of 1862.” A gold rush-era town called Monticello was also gravely affected, with its residents (both living and dead) re-located and structures demolished.
Although Berryessa’s water reaches temperatures of up to 75 degrees in the summer making it an ideal place for water sports and laissez-faire floating, there are year-round recreational opportunities. Even the drive to or fro is dotted with beauty and scenic delights, including the Morning Glory Spillway which spouts water when the dam reaches capacity.
But if all of this fair-weathered fun is making you hot under the collar, here’s a chilling piece of trivia: The lake shore was the site of one of the Zodiac Killer murders in September 1969. (…Or, just forget that part and whistle as you wakeboard across the moss-green waters of bouyant Berryessa).
http://www.recreation.gov/recAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&recAreaId=17&agencyCode=129
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!).
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.
