The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialSummer: Don’t Kiss it Goodbye Just Yet
What wonderful weather we’ve been having in the greater Sacramento area! While I see back-to-school supplies and Halloween decorations in the stores, as long as it’s August, it’s still summer to me! So before school, Halloween and the nippier weather are actually upon us, here are a few things going on around town that you might like to check out:
August 17 (through the 21st) – Yolo County Fair Opens – It’s the last free fair in the state! Woodland, CA, www.yolocountyfair.net
Thursdays ‘til 9 – The Crocker Art Museum will remain open until 9PM on Thursdays through August and September. In addition, every third Thursday of the month the Crocker concert series continues through September 15. Sacramento, CA, www.crockerartmuseum.org
Mondays Added – Old Sacramento Underground Tours have added Mondays to their days of operation now through Labor Day. There’s still time to get a peek. Old Sacramento, CA, www.historicoldsac.org
North Shore, South Shore… What’s Not to Love?
Lake Tahoe: Sacramento's Higher Self
El Dorado Hills, Ice House, Grass Valley, Auburn, Davis, Winters, Napa, Sonoma, Chico, and the list goes on and on of places to explore when utilizing Sacramento as a home – or home away from home – base. www.DiscoverGold (and autumn leaves, and lakes, and snow, and adventure, and so on).org.
Image courtesy of www.tahoeecosports.com
Magic, Mystery, Mayhem
Fairytale Town Lights the Night (Adults Only)
Finally, Fairytale Town sets the mood for adults with their 2nd annual Moonlight Costume Ball: Arabian Nights! Proceeds go back to the park and into kids’ programs, so don’t feel guilty leaving them at home for a night.
When: August 6th, 7-11PM
What: Live music and DJ, belly dancers, henna tattoos, physic readings, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine, and two exotic bars
How: Costumes required but Contests and Raffles yield prizes
How Much: $10 in advance or $15 at the door
Where to Stay: Le Rivage Boutique Hotel, www.LeRivageHotel.com
More: Fairytaletown.org, (916) 808-7462
California + Cajun = Crawdads
The day is young at Crawdads on the River
A popular river restaurant, bar, hangout and boat dock, Crawdads is a well-known party place amongst boaters, river rats and restless after-work crowds. Featuring live music during the summer months, Thursdays through Sundays, the often-serene place gets more boisterous as the night progresses. Happy Hours feature good drink specials while weekends feature $2 Bloody Marys and Mimosas (with the former being much better than the latter). The food is hit or miss or just-missed-the-mark, probably just depending on what you order. The service is usually friendly and good, and the beers wet and sloppy. The scenery? The clencher that makes this place continue to draw them in from both land and sea.
www.crawdadsrivercantina.com
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, www.historicoldsac.org/timetravel
Taste, Sip, Song of the Delta
Is it just me or is there a lot going on July 16th?! If I could be several places at one time, one of those places would be ‘Taste of the Delta’ festival going on at Windmill Cove Resort & Marina just outside of Stockton. Local Delta wines and appetizers will be served, along with live music and more from 1-4PM. Tickets are still a steal at only $25 (but they jump to $35 at the door for late-risers and commitment-phobes).
Just because I have three other things on the calendar that day doesn’t mean I’m giving up just yet. Wine, food, water and Delta breezes are a pretty irresistable combination!
916-777-4041, www.TasteoftheDelta.com
Napa Valley Wine Tasting on a Budget
Chateau Montelena
There’s hardly any disputing that the lush, fertile Napa Valley is gorgeous. It’s also a well-known fact that wine tasting in this region is popular and prolific. But crowds, hefty tasting fees and being herded like cattle can detract from the pleasantness of the trip… unless you know a few little secrets and are willing to experiment.
First of all, avoid the weekends, if at all possible. Second, avoid the main drag and head someplace with back country roads like Calistoga. Third, get a wine map (complimentary at many places in the area) and chart a route if you really want to visit specific wineries. Fourth, since tasting fees are the norm here (typically $10-20 per person), consider sharing a glass with your partner and maybe actually buying some wine. Most places will waive the tasting fee if you make a purchase. Fifth, be friendly with the pourers. If they think you actually like wine -and aren’t just out for a free party – they might ignore the fee altogether. And finally, if the parking lot is full and the place resembles an amusement park, consider skipping it for someplace more intimate. Your chances at learning a lot more about wine and possibly even making new friends skyrocket when you meander off the beaten path and slow down long enough to really savor each sip.
http://www.montelena.com/
Random Updates
Retro boutique Bows & Arrows has moved (or at least opened another location) across from Safeway on 19th St.
Bar-by-day, club-by-night Shenanigans is neat, clean and safe to patron again!
May flowers bring June thunderstorms to the valley, so keep your umbrellas or hoodies close at hand.
The 3rd summer-monthly Sacramento Urban Collector Faire will be taking place July 16th in Uptown, 1409 Del Paso Blvd, 9am-3pm.
What’s going on in your corner of the world?
xo
Easy, Breezy Elkhorn Station
A roadside bar and grill with a splash of class, great food, down-home atmosphere, easy vibe… It’s a wonder this place isn’t constantly packed, because if you ask me, it’s a diamond in the rough. Stop by any random day or afternoon and you’re likely to find a talented local band belting out party tunes on the outdoor stage. You might notice a private party taking over part of the outdoor space, students “studying” on the grass, or people with lawn chairs and beach umbrellas. You’re also probably going to notice it’s the kind of place where everyone knows your name – even if you’re not one of them – and that they’re still friendly nonetheless. Situated between Natomas and Woodland, past the airport off I-5 and the River Road, Elkhorn is a literal breath of fresh air, an unusual but easy find, and a true gem if you like low-key hangouts.
They don’t have much of a web presence – aside from some pretty stellar reviews on Yelp – http://www.yelp.com/biz/elkhorn-station-west-sacramento – but here’s the old-school 411:
Elhorn Station
18398 Old River Rd
West Sacramento, CA 95799
(916) 371-1389
Pizza Rock’in it 80s-Style
Today is Wednesday and tonight is 80s Night at Pizza Rock on K Street. All things 80s – movies, music and trivia after 8PM. If you like ambiance, someplace cool and different, a slight Vegas feel and mighty large draft beers, check out Pizza Rock in Downtown Sacramento. Go early for their great Happy Hour specials!
1020 K St, (916) 737-5777, pizzarocksacramento.com
There is something special about Sacramento; the rich land upon which she was built, the rivers that flow through her, the bounty around her and the people who make it their home.
Life is good in California’s Capital City for many reasons, including climate and geography, community and amenities, nature and wildlife, and more. It’s hard to imagine a warmer feeling than a sunshine-drenched morning here, an easier feeling than a refreshing spring day, or a more engaging experience than a night on the town after a cleansing rain.
There’s truly something 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 nighttime 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.
