Seeing Sacramento & Beyond
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for October, 2009
An Acquired Taste
Noises Off
It was a mild early Autumn day ~ The leaves were beginning to turn various colors and the sun was still high and bright in the sky. We walked toward the entrance of the theatre’s courtyard to meet my stepdad, stepsister and brother-in-law for a matinee showing of ‘Noises Off’… but what stood before me – outside the theatre – was almost like a dream…
There were rows and rows of vintage costumes reminding me of both richer and simpler times ~ frocks of sheer cotton, velvet robes with ruffled trims, patchwork pastel aprons, long luscious coats, sailor dresses, shortsuits, scarves and more. All were for sale, all those dreamy textures and classy shapes… And from so many different eras ~ Oh, the stories these garments could tell!
Come to find out it was Sacramento Theatre Company’s 1st Annual costume sale. All this before the show even began!
Sitting in the intimate theatre where nearly every seat appears to be a good one, I thought about the various performances I’d attended (and missed) throughout my lifetime – ballet, opera, orchestra… I thought about all the culture I’d tended to shy away from… And I realized how these cultural gatherings can actually help move and escalate us to new heights of the imagination. After I’ve had a good experience at a particularly inspiring performance, I often walk away a little more expanded in mind and spirit, and I dare to dream just a little bit bigger than I did the day before.
It is only now that I fully realize how invaluable this really is.
Sac has more theatres and stages than I can keep track of, but www.Sacramento365.com is a great resource. For the record, ‘Noises Off’ is showing at the Wells Fargo Pavillion through November 1. www.sactheatre.org/
[photo courtesy www.BroadwayWorld.com]
Blue October Sky
Capitol Area Buildings, Autumn
The distance between this feeling, or memory, and me may seem far ~ because it is difficult to quantify ~ and yet the familiarity brings it closer to home, and touches my heart the same way the wispy clouds are caressing the blue October sky above.
Hello, Enchanting Happy Hour!
Delta King Lounge
The historic Delta King Riverboat is pretty special in its own right, alright. It has a lot of, well, history. (It even has some ghosts, some say…). You can eat there. You can even sleep there. And now… you can experience one of the best Happy Hours around upon it.
The Delta King sits atop the Sacramento River off the Old Sacramento riverfront. Venture aboard and look around. The Lounge is on the far right side, upper floor, providing a very nice view of the river and West Sacramento. If the weather’s nice, grab a table outside – the fresh air just adds to the experience. But even if it’s raining, it’s going to be warm and cozy inside, and you’ve always got those views of the river.
The Happy Hour is from 4-7 (if memory serves. Could be 5-7). The service is friendly. And the options are splendid. I got a truly scrumptuous glass of Wente Chardonnary for $4. (Ok, I had two). Tom got a Guinness for $3, and there were several other drink specials. The appetizers are half-priced, although full satisfaction! Shrimp cocktail, crabcakes, sirloin sandwich, fresh ahi…. come on…. this is the life! And for less, no less!
They also have some pretty great room rates right about now, so its high time to take full adventage of this one-of-a-kind experience!
www.DeltaKing.com
Spirit of the Season
Old Sacramento's Garden of Enchantment
When October arrives, all I can think of are leaves changing color, crisp air, harvest moons and of course, Halloween. One of the best places to be enchanted this month is Evangeline’s Haunted Mansion in Old Sacramento. Even if you’re not looking for a costume or accessories for the alter ego, it’s almost like a Halloween theme park. Set within 3 stories of a Gold Rush-era building, this place will force your imagination to run wild.
Just across the street toward 2nd, further magic can be found at the Garden of Enchantment. Filled to the brim with crystals, jewelry, wind chimes, music, gifts, paper goods and seemingly unlimited items of charm, this shop will likely both delight and draw out your sensual side.
www.OldSacramento.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.
