Seeing Sacramento & Beyond
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for January, 2010
Arden Fair – Hits Midlife at 52
A 'Retro' Arden Fairl
It’s a cold and wet Friday afternoon. We drive into the Arden Fair Mall parking lot and slip right into a convenient parking space (Obviously, it’s not Christmastime). We walk down the mall, which is full of people and light, and still I find myself missing the gargantuan Christmas decorations that really make the place sparkle during the holidays (But then again, I don’t usually get to see them because I usually avoid the December crowds like the dentist).
After some rather intense shopping, Tom and I decide to take a load off and rejuvenate at the quiet and cozy California Cafe bar. There’s a couple eating a late lunch, two women just finishing cappuccinos and a woman with an armful of bags having a beer and what looks to be a shot of vodka.
Refreshed, we separate to cover greater ground. Tom finds the perfect black t-shirt at Banana Republic. I sample 20 different ‘butters’ at The Body Shop and try on some billowy little nighties at Victoria’s Secret.
I think back on what Arden Fair used to be like: Small and dark with Weinstocks on one end and Sears – separated by a small street – at the other. I look out and see an open field across the street… notice the scent of caramel corn emanating from Caramel Corner… see the five and dime Ben Franklin store… the movie theater hidden underground and the psychedelic 70s paisley carpet luring us down into its clutches… There’s the groovy Food Circus and Corti Brothers speciality market separated from the main mall by an automotive shop to the east…
I loved that little mall, and how it still reminds me of childhood and the magic lurking in dark, quirky spaces.
These days, Arden Fair is hardly anything like it used to be. It’s better in so many ways – large, clean and constantly full of the latest and greatest shops. There’s a handful of restaurants encasing it like a half circle. And at Christmastime, the crowds are so great that shuttles scoot people from the parking lots of other nearby businesses. (Of course, that field across the street is now full of buildings… and I may be the only one bothered by the loss of that little touch of nature).
Still, what was once the Little Humble Mall that Could is now the large contemporary mall that does. I wonder what 10 or 20 more years will unveil, and how we’ll look back on this particular time and place with nostalgia.
www.ArdenFairMall.com
{photo courtesy Arden Fair Mall}
Warm Reprieve on a Winter’s Day
Summertime at Lucca
Sometimes, a little Lucca is just what the doctor ordered on a stormy winter day…
Sometimes, they’re so friendly you wonder if it could be true.
Sometimes, warm, hearty food such as this is exactly what the doctor himself is having.
Most often, the Happy Hour menu makes you feel like royalty, indulging with little monetary care.
And always, those tiny little flaky fried zucchini chips are like swallowing a handful of mini happy smiling faces.
So back to verse 2… It must be true then. They’re just always eating those lovely little crunchy bits of bliss.
Many know that Summertime’s a breeze at Lucca with her trellised outdoor patio and large open-air windows. But don’t let Wintertime stop you from visiting… because Lucca can be downright cozy ~ when the heavy rains are beating down the long windows and you, gentle ladies & men, are warm and dry inside.
www.LuccaRestaurant.com
Cool Surprise Awaits in Midtown
Midtown Ice Rink
It’s a beautiful sunny day and a new year full of potential. Forget the finger-pointing ‘shoulds’ of your resolutions… why not combine something that’s fun and good for you?! The Midtown Ice Rink is still open, after all (through Jan. 18), and what better way to liven up after the holidays than with a little brisk, lingering cheer!
You can grab a warm drink at Peet’s next door, a warm slice at Luigi’s next to that, or stop in afterward for a glass of bubbly at Lounge on 20. While the theme is still Christmas-based, the glittering lights and pop music add a little sparkle to an otherwise dull January. Just bring your mittens and some cash, because they don’t take American Express.
Midtown Ice Rink
20th between K & J Streets
$8/adults, $5/kids, $2/skate rental
www.exploremidtown.org
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.
