Seeing Sacramento & Beyond
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for Ambiance
Rock On, RiverCats
Fun, Friendly, Accessible Raley Field
The size and feel of West Sacramento’s Raley Field make it accessible, approachable, maneuverable and comfortable… all the while being good old-fashioned fun, and occassionally even downright electric.
Something about Raley Field’s ambiance is so fitting for Sacramento; it’s a perfect way to spend a warm summer evening while overlooking the city lights and yet still feeling the small town charm.
Although I haven’t mentioned it yet, I’m talking specifically about RiverCats games – Sacramento’s high ranking minor league baseball team. But there are also other ways to enjoy Raley Field all summer long… With concerts like the Scorpions and Steve Miller Band, Raley Field again provides a comfortable, intimate setting, perfect for rocking out or soaking up the scene(ery).
400 Ballpark Drive
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 371-4487
www.rivercats.com
Cars: From Mean to Pristine
Race to the Finish
I snapped this shot while attending Reiff’s Annual Street Bash and car show in Woodland a few weeks ago. Touring the house – which is much more museum than home – I suddenly recalled being there as a child, soaking all the sights up with my eyes while my dad traded antique stories with Reiff. Putting the memory to a literal place, town and face, I felt my younger self coming full circle.
The block party is fun, but you can get a more intimate tour of the architectural artwork any time of the year. Just let Reiff know you’re coming, and I wouldn’t recommend rolling up on empty. www.reiffsgasstation.com
Since we’re on the topic of cars, here are some more pix; some taken at Reiff’s party and others taken outside Elkhorn Station. Elkhorn Station, by the way, is a rural escape with great food, sprawling views, live music and no pretense. On the River Road and just off the I-5, it’s the closest thing to the Sacramento Airport next to fields and more fields. It has some history, but you’ll have to Google it to get more info, as I didn’t find a website. Or just ask the guy driving the tractor in the middle of the road which way to the cold beer.
Lounging in Style
Rainy Window at Level Up Lounge
The Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau held a networking mixer at Level Up Lounge on Tuesday night, February 23, 2010. The lounge is above Thai Basil Restaurant at 2341 J Street. (There’s a 3rd floor as well, but I think they try to keep that under wraps).
Level Up generously provided beverages and a variety of appetizers for guests, including chicken satay skewers, mango salsa on fried wontons and “beef jerky” on sticky rice pads. In addition, owner Suleka Sun-Lindley handed out coupons for her alluring mid-level space.
There’s something about the decor of this place that I just love. Rain or shine, it’s appealing and comfortable. With its colorful chandeliers, ever-color-changing backdrop lighting and sheer-curtain-covered windows overlooking the lights and action on J Street, Level Up has a unique look and feel all its own when it comes to Sacramento area lounges.
For the literally young, I think it can get pretty hip and hoppin’ late at night. For those of us a little older (but still young enough at heart), afternoon and evenings are always a great time to discover the place, take it over outright or duck into a low-lit corner.
The artist responsible for all the colorful, eclectic artwork currently adorning Level Up’s walls is John Titus Krempel, a well travelled and lived man with much to show for it.
www.LevelUpLounge.com
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
I do. They Did. Would you?
Ye Olde Sugar Mill is a sublime wine tasting spot with several tasting rooms in one historic building. But I’m not here to talk about the wine (this time). It’s the getting hitched in a fabulous location that’s permeating my personal airwaves.
Our very own ‘Nick on the Town’ recently tied the knot at the Old Sugar Mill just outside of Clarksburg and only 15 minutes from Downtown Sac. And even though it was cold and drizzly outside, inside was all about romance, with soft lighting and magical ambiance ~ worth reciting some vows for.
Planning on only doing it once in a lifetime? No problem. There’s always the wine tasting!
Happy Nuptuals, Nick & Amber~
www.OldSugarMill.com
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
Just a Few Minutes from Downtown… A Gem Awaits!
Enotria's Intimate Dining Room
Enotria.
When I think of Enotria, wine is the first thing that comes to mind. Fine wine and lots of it. Ambiance is the second. Indoor and outdoor ambiance that makes the sipping of the fine wine all the more enjoyable. But hey, they serve other spirits as well, and have great service and pleasant live music (on Fridays). There’s also ‘Free Wine Wednesdays’, ’30% off Thursdays’ and ‘Wine Flight Fridays’.
My significant other and I found an affordable wine that we loved and were even able to take home retail. A real bonus for wine lovers who know that finding their favorite wines can take a lot of time, travel and effort. Not that we don’t love the experiences, but we can’t always get out and about to make the necessary wine tasting jaunts here and there. At Enotria, it was a head-spinning one-stop shop wine tasting experience. And it wasn’t even so much the amount consumed, but the amount of choices! Amen.
Wine flights – affordable, yummy and oh-so practical. Out of 3 champagnes, I found 2 new one’s to love. That’s pretty rare for me. One was even within my budget. (The other? I’ll just keep in mind for when I feel a special splurge coming on).
Turns out, “Enotria” means ‘Land of untrained vines, land of wine’. Must be I somehow knew that… Ok, it was more likely the 900-label winelist that put the sumptuous vine so steadfast on my mind.
The food was fresh and unique too. And one of my favorite parts: We weren’t in any rush and nor were we herded (or kicked) out at any point. Now that’s what I call a mighty fine, fine wine and fine dining experience! Maybe we’ll see you there next time~
www.enotria.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.
