Seeing Sacramento & Beyond
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for Charity Events
TEN 22 – TODAY, “Tomorrow” and Thursdays
Patio Dining: What Good Weather was Made For
The storm has passed, the weekend has come and Spring is in full swing. If you’re wondering how to start your weekend in Sacramento or are looking for a reason to visit, look no further than Ten22 Restaurant in Old Sacramento.
TODAY marks the celebration and opening of their outdoor patio, starting at 11:30AM and featuring a fresh new spring menu of local, organic and seasonal ingredients. Music from NOW 100.5 FM, glorious weather and undetermined amounts of fun are included. Reservations are recommended, and valet and validated parking is available.
As for “Tomorrow”, I’m speaking metaphorically, because hey – it makes for a cute title. From April 10 through 13, Ten22 will be participating in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Sacramento Area Dine & Donate Program, where 15% of all revenue generated will be donated to the non-profit organization. Ten22 is the first restaurant in Sacramento to participate in this Program, and gives us all a reason to create a better (and more delicious) tomorrow.
And finally, Thursdays… They’re the new Friday for those affected by furloughs, and Ten22 has created TASTING THURSDAYS, a wonderland of food and beer pairings. For just $10 per person, you can experience a different theme with Executive Chef Jay Veregge at 5:30PM every Thursday. “Themes” include ‘Spring Ciders and Local Production with Seasonal Cheeses,’ ‘Warm Weather Beer “Cocktails” of the Future with Veggie Pairings,’ and ‘Trucker Hats and Bad Beer: Down Home Brews and Country Nibbles.’ Who can resist?
Also don’t miss Friday and Saturday nights at Ten22: live music all evening long performed by local talent!
Come to think of it – that’s a lot of fun for one weekend – can we camp out on your new patio, Ten22?!
www.ten22oldsac.com
Merging Worlds at Berryessa Gap Winery
Berryessa Gap Rare Bubbly
Shrimp sizzling in garlic butter; peppers, onions and sea snails; chicken, chorizo sausage and risotto; sangria with pomegranates and lemon, sangria sweetened to near perfection, sangria with jalapenos?! It can’t be often that the wine at Berryessa Gap takes second stage…. But on this night of sangria, tapas, paella dishes and festive people, it was difficult for me to give the wine I love so much all the attention it truly deserves. November 6th was Berryessa Gap’s annual Paella Cook-Off & Dinner, and this being my first, it certainly won’t be my last. Sometimes when you fall in love with something, it actually loves you back.
One of the owners, Mike Anderson, escorted a few of us around the grounds and showed us how the magical elixir is made while dispensing some very frothy champagne into our glasses. I sipped carefully and tried to absorb the lessons at hand: An immense respect and care for the grapes, an unfaltering appreciation for good wine at an accessible price, a unique approach with exotic varietals… The really important stuff was coming across, while on another level (and to my delight) I felt I was re-living scenes from ‘Bottleshock’.
Fast forward a bit into the evening: Nick Toma from Good Day Sacramento, Charlotte King from The Grand Adventures of a Food & Wine Diva, a few other community pillars and food lovers, and myself are judging the paella dishes. Having sat next to her, it is clear to see how much Charlotte knows about food, and I know I have a lot to learn, but the soft-hearted ‘can’t-we-all-just-get-along’ part of me wants them all to be winners. Still, there’s a lot to consider: Is the meat or seafood under or over-cooked? Is there any flavor overwhelming the rest? Does the flavor of the rice reflect the complexity of the dish? Is it a more traditional or bold style paella? And on and on.
The sangria and paella themes of this event pay homage to the area’s Spanish roots. If you visit the tasting room in downtown Winters, there’s a binder with the history of the area, which is quite impressive for such a tiny town. But that’s the thing ~ How small a town is does not define its depth. And the same can be said for Berryessa Gap wines. You’re not going to find them mass produced and put on every store shelf… But if you sip, focus and think about what really matters in life – good company, good health, good food – this wine pairs well with it all!
www.BerryessaGap.com
www.WineFoodDiva.com
www.GoodDaySacramento.com
Battling it Out for Charity
A sensitive creature by nature, I’ve never been a fan of fighting, boxing included. But I’ve gotta say, my first taste of amateur boxing wasn’t as sour as I thought it would be. Not to mention, the blood, sweat and bruises were all for charity’s sake.
Sacramento’s Battle of the Badges VII, an annual charity boxing event featuring peace officers and firefighters from all over Northern California, was held Saturday, August 28th at the historic Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. It consisted of 15 boxing matches, ranging in weights from 160 to 270, including 2 female boxers and 3 Corona Girls.
I have to be honest, there was some blood involved (although I tried to look away). What surprised me most, however, was not only the level of enthusiasm generating in the crowd, but the same feelings of excitement also welling up in me. While my tendency to root for the underdog did not waver on this night, what surprised me was how satisfying a really good punch to the noggin can be.
Even more satisfying, Battle of the Badges raises money for multiple charities, including the Firefighters Burn Unit, CHP Widow & Orphans Fund, and the SPCA.
www.BattleoftheBadgesSac.com
Scotts, Celts, Kilts, Cold Beer!
Festival-Goers and Historical Characters Mingling
Since I live there, it’s probably okay for me to admit that Woodland is not especially well known for its fancy variety of world-renowned festivals… But having just attended the 134th Annual Sacramento Valley Scottish Games & Festival at the Yolo County Fairgrounds, I think this one’s worth writing home about.
Modeled after the traditional gatherings of Scots in their homeland, the weekend-long festival features Olympic-style heavy athletics and Highland dancing, pipe bands and Celtic rock groups, sheep dog trials, historical re-enactments and more.
Just like any festival, there’s plenty of good food and fun, cold beer and faire frills, shows and vendors (although I would have personally appreciated more of those). But unlike many festivals, this one’s got an eye-full of colorful kilts walking around, as well as those manly Scottish games playing out on the open field. This April, there was plenty of sunshine and luckily also plenty of shade beneath ye olde olive trees. And if there’s one thing about Woodland, everything’s pretty easy here: easy to access, easy entry… easy escape.
What began as a simple “Scottish Picnic Competition” in a park is now what allows the club to “benefit” the public through education, scholarships and charity. McKinley Park in East Sacramento was the site of the first Sacramento Scottish Games & Gathering on June 16, 1877. The festival moved to the 55-acre Yolo County Fairgrounds in 1997 due to it having more elbow room, ample parking and helpful fairground staff.
The event is hosted by the Caledonian Club of Sacramento, a nonprofit organization established in 1876. Club membership is open to any one of Scottish birth or descent, their kin, and to any person interested in the rich and historic traditions of Scotland. They host other annual events, including the Sacramento Tartan Ball in November.
Keep the Sacramento Scottish Games in mind next year; it’s a magical day for anyone interested in Scottish and Celtic arts, culture and history – or anyone just a fan of festivals, period. It takes place the last full weekend of every April.
www.saccallie.org, (916) 557-0764.
Golfing for Charity: Hole in One
Did you hear about the charity events?
Do you like golf and charity? The great outdoors and little critters? Here are two options to fulfill all of the above just in time for spring and right around the bend:
You can help the SSPCA aim for the well being of our furry friends with the first annual PAWS, PALS, & PUTTS Golf Tournament on April 26th at the Del Paso Country Club. Specifically, the benefits proceed the Sacramento SPCA Senior Services, which help facilitate ongoing relationships between seniors and pets. Helping both people and animals… now that’s my cup of tea! For more information, call (916) 383-7387, ext. 9102 or visit www.sspca.org.
Or join the Yolo Basin Foundation in rooting for our feathered friends at the PUTTS for DUCKS Golf Tournament, Friday, May 14th at Wildhorse Golf Course in Davis. Proceeds from the golf tournament will fund Discover the Flyway, the hands-on wetlands education program that serves 4,000 students annually. It’s another win-win. Just call (530) 758-1018 or click on www.YoloBasin.org.
Baldness: More Than Just Hip These Days
My grandfather was already bald by the time he hit 50. Well, nearly bald, anyway… But I’d bet his hard-earned beer belly that he’d have shaved off the rest (and even forgone his toupee) for this great cause.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government, more than $12 million in 2009 alone. To date, over 106,000 volunteers have shaved their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer at more than 2,400 events in 50 states and 24 countries.
And tonight, St. Baldrick’s celebrates another hair-raising event at DeVere’s Irish Pub, Downtown Sacramento. With 170 shavees, they’ve already raised over $54,000. That’s accomplishment enough! But the team’s total goal is $75K, so let’s put our heads (and hearts) together and help make a difference. If you can’t make it to the event to watch the scalps revealed, donations of any amount are accepted at the link below.
Tonight, 5PM (March 15, 2010)
Devere’s Irish Pub, 16th & L
http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/eventid/44/eventyear/2010
Here’s to Health, Harmony & Happy Children!
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.
