Seeing Sacramento & Beyond » Historic

Sacramento’s Winter Wonderland: Late Night Live Music Venues

melanie noel light — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:12:13 +0000

Art of Chaos at The Boardwalk

If you enjoy the feel of late night and the pounding of live music through your veins, here are a few haunts in which to consider hanging.

Vega’s [Old Sacramento] – Mix of History and Haunted Club – This underground establishment doesn’t require a password to get in, but it has managed to remain a bit of a secret. It’s not exactly romantic, but seems to beg for a little intimacy while you’re there. Explore all the crannies in which to cuddle up with a partner and then bundle up for some cozy time by the outdoor fireplace. They (pretty much) only serve beer and wine (and a mysterious homemade punch if you dare), but it’s worth a dip into the underground and the building is as old as Old Sac gets. 910 2nd Street

The Boardwalk [Orangevale] – Bonafide Long-time Rockin’ Establishment – The Boardwalk has been hosting local and not-so-local hard rock and heavy metal bands and fans since 1987. A somewhat small and dark venue tucked into a vacuum-like section of Sacramento’s suburbs, its sound quality keeps bringing them back for more. They serve lots of fried food and are open to all ages, so don’t be surprised to see a few adolescents roaming the premises. While it’s not exactly an enchanting place, it doesn’t claim to be such. www.boardwalkrocks.com

On the Y [Arden-Arcade] – Dive Bar Meets Metal Madness – With that dive bar atmosphere, On the Y could simply be perfect for a cold beer (known for being “the coldest in town”). But late at night it comes alive with the sounds of screaming voices and thrashing instruments. A respected venue for hard-core music, On the Y manages to contain order with the music tidily tucked away in a corner, so you can still hold a conversation should you choose. If you prefer a more mainstream vein, they also host karaoke regularly. 670 Fulton Avenue

Shenanigans [Downtown] – Two-Headed Musical Monster – Not too many late night venues have two levels with such different feels. Shenanigans has a stage for all kinds of live music upstairs, while downstairs is all about DJs, dancing and dark corners. You might also just stop by early in the evening for a game of bar Jenga, plate of club grub, and chat with a friendly monkey (stuffed or otherwise). www.shenaniganssacramento.com

No Snow Day? Will You Settle for Some Sunshine?

melanie noel light — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:10:52 +0000

Views from the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza

The weather is unusually fair for January and Sacramento’s afternoons of late feel like spring. So if you’re here for business or are coming into town for some weekend fun, dress in layers, wear some comfy shoes, and set out on any number of pleasant little adventures while you await the snow fall farther north.

If you’re a downtown/central city type… Stay at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza, order some delicious and (surprisingly) reasonably-priced room service, and then enjoy the views as the sun sparkles through the Tower Bridge and settles into the Sacramento River.

Convenience is king here with immediate freeway access, but I suggest you park the car and leave it because you can hoof it to pretty much whatever your heart desires. Shopping and a brewery (River City) await you at the Downtown Plaza – just steps from your room – and Old Sacramento is not much farther the other direction, home to a handful of classy restaurants, historic sites, intriguing shops and photo ops.

Try Ten22 for dinner or drinks on the patio, Steamers for some breakfast tacos at a sunny sidewalk table, or the Delta King for river views and a more lavish (but still affordable) champagne brunch. Haven’t seen the newly-expanded and highly renovated Crocker Museum yet? It’s just another short jaunt away and will fulfill your more artistic, creative and cultured tastes.

If mom-n-pop is more your style… Stay at the comfy, cozy Amber House Bed & Breakfast in Midtown, unwind with a welcome drink on the porch, and then head out for some boutique shopping ‘afoot. Once those hunger pangs grab hold, grab some grub at Chicago Fire or Zelda’s pizzeria or try Kru or Tamaya Sushi. Independent bookstores and art galleries also abound around here.

Seriously, we’re all feeling pretty spoiled here since the New Year hit, and we’d like nothing more than to share our fine weather, amenities and attractions with you!

[Watch for more photos soon to come~]

Decades of Dinky Dining Deliciousness

melanie noel light — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:07:01 +0000

Jim Denny's Outdoor Patio

What the best thing about Jim Denny’s is can surely be debated. Could be the food, could be how hard you have to work to get the food. Could be the nostalgia, could be all the Food Network attention it gets. Could be watching the gals behind the counter operate like a (fairly) well-oiled machine, could be sitting outside on a warm, lazy morning. Could be the charming retro vibe, could be that the small but mighty structure stands out like a sore thumb amongst a set of otherwise-numb fingers.

Sad to say it was my first visit to Jim Denny’s in Downtown Sacramento, especially since I was born and raised here. What excuse do I have other than being a creature of habit and allowing most of my younger-year decisions to be made by others?! Anyway, what matters now is that I’m a bit more “in the know” when it comes to this long-held tradition and establishment.

Saturday morning, 10:40am, November 19

We were able to find a seat right away because a couple of barstools opened up right as we walked in, and we got to watch the cook juggle Hubcap pancakes and monster omelets right in front of us. But then we had to wait nearly an hour to actually eat anything. In hindsight I think it’s good to know this kind of thing ahead of time, so you don’t bite someone’s head off if you happen to stumble in starved from the get-go.

We got the Works Omelet, which they recommend sharing. Loaded with meat, cheese and veggies, and served with toast and potatoes on the side, it was a nice hearty meal. We both agreed, however, that my husband could have eaten it all himself (if I’d be willing to roll him home, that is). And the $11.50 price tag seemed a little high, but we’re probably paying for TV-worthy food at this point. Still, steaming and delicious, it hit the spot and then some.

Founded in 1934, Jim Denny’s certainly has a certain charm, and I had the urge to back up the truck, hook it up and take her away with us. Overall, the staff was friendly but not sweet-as-pie. Curiously, I’d say at least half of the diners were out-of-towners. The place is mostly counter seats because the back part of the “building” (if you can call it that) is for food prep, dish washing and what-not. There’s more to the story of course – check out their website and reviews on Yelp - just don’t believe everything you read. The website says they’re closed Saturday and Sunday. (I found this to be half true).

http://jim-dennys.com/

816 12^th Street (between H & I), 916-443-9651

[P.S. If you do eat the whole thing yourself, there are plenty of hotels nearby to fit any budget. Check out the hotel finder on www.DiscoverGold.org]

Thirst-for-Knowledge Quencher

melanie noel light — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:11:01 +0000

Honoring the Past & Those Who've Come Before Us

History didn’t become all that fascinating to me until a college professor of mine made it more personal and relatable, luring most of us in the class into actually caring about it. He knew how to make the subject more subjective, intimate and thus, interesting to those of us who had been brought up simply learning historical facts and spewing them out for a grade.

What brings this coming-of-age story up for me? Well, September is whizzing by and October is right around the corner, which typically makes me think of Halloween, alter egos and harvest moons… But now that I know October is also ‘Celebrate National Archives Month’ and the first annual ‘Explore History: Sacramento Archives Crawl’ has been announced, I too can get in that back-to-school spirit.

WHEN & WHERE:

October 1, 11AM-4PM

California State Archives, 1020 ‘O’ Street
California State Library, 900 N Street
Center for Sacramento History, 5551 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.
The Sacramento Room (@ the Central Library), 828 I Street

HOW & WHO:

Start at any one of the locations above, appreciate rarely-seen historical photographs, books, artifacts and collections, take a tour, ask questions, and learn how intriguing and useful these historical resources can be.

WHY & WEB:

Because history helps put things in perspective.

http://sacarchivescrawl.blogspot.com

Time Traveling & Good ol’ Fashion Family Fun

melanie noel light — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:34:08 +0000

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

Sip, Stroll & Rock ‘n Roll

melanie noel light — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:55:50 +0000

Whether you’re just visiting Sacramento or are a long-time resident, acting like a tourist has its benefits. For one, you learn more, meet interesting people and experience new things. (Wait, that’s three, isn’t it?). Two, you can return to that fresh, innocent state of curiosity and openness. And three, you’ll find you have a lot more options when looking for things to do on, say, a lovely Friday night.

It really seems that every time I refresh my inbox or turn a literal corner, there’s something new in the area to experience. Most recently, we have the Rock & Roll History Tour and Pub Crawl on Friday nights. Running in conjunction with the Friday Night Concerts in the Park, the tour starts at the corner of 9th and J streets at 6pm. Guests learn about Sacramento’s Rock & Roll history and Downtown’s historical connection to The Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Nirvana and more. Cocktail stops include The Torch Club, Tequila Museo Mayahuel, Cosmo Café and Marilyn’s on K, ending at Cesar Chavez Plaza just in time for the headlining act. Tickets are $10 and the tour lasts approximately two hours.

Brought to you by Downtown Sacramento Partnership, more details can be found at http://sacrockandrolltour.eventbrite.com/.

New Ghost Adventures in Old Sacramento

melanie noel light — Thu, 05 May 2011 17:38:17 +0000

Dat you, Scooby?

I took a very personalized ghost tour of Old Sacramento quite a few years ago, and was left surprisingly intrigued. The various stories – from cold-blooded murders and spirits walking up from the water, to fire victims and galloping ghost horses – were rich and compelling, and left some long-lasting impressions burned in my mind. While I have not yet taken an Underground tour, I do have a newfound respect for Sacramento’s past. So when I heard that ‘Ghost Adventures’ had come to town for a sleepover, I was mighty curious.

Watching the show, however, it seemed to me that Zak & the gang were not told many of the juicy stories I had once been privy to, or perhaps they just weren’t letting on. I did, nonetheless, particularly enjoy the part where Sean the tour guide was overwhelming Zak with his vast array of run-on knowledge, because anyone who’s attended one of Sean’s Sacramento history tours knows the amusing feeling of trying to mentally keep up with him.

Honestly, I was hoping the show would fully capture Sacramento’s shadowy past and how it literally lingers on today, but maybe my expectations were set too high and hometown self-consciousness just too acute. That said, I did enjoy the fact that they “locked” themselves in three different locations – the Eagle Theatre, old Supreme Court building and underground of the B.F. Hastings building.

I don’t know if Ghost Adventures’ equipment and expertise is improving to the point that they get more and better evidence – or if they’re just getting better at faking it – but I was impressed with the “shadow” figure and realistic sounding “intelligent voices”. I also always appreciate it when they try to debunk something right then and there, giving the viewer on the other side of the tube a little credit as well as immediate gratification. But really, when you add the unmistakable footsteps, loud banging, and chair rocking on its own, the evidence piling up seems almost… too good to be true.

Heck , if I were locked in an old, supposedly haunted building all night long, I know for a fact that I’d scare myself into being a believer. And after a while – if nothing happened and I by chance got used to the darkness – I might just get bored enough to pull some pranks. Does that make me a skeptic? Of course. But am I also a believer in something that I can’t quite put my finger on… that’s an affirmative as well.

May Madness: So Much to See & Do in Sac & Beyond!

melanie noel light — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:12:24 +0000

If April showers bring May flowers, then what do May flowers bring?
FUN, of course~

OUTDOOR CONCERTS
Announcing the kick-off the 20th season of Friday Night Concerts in the Park.
May 6th and every Friday night, 5-9PM, through August 12.
Cesar Chavez Park, Downtown
www.SacFridayConcerts.com

ART & WINE AFFAIR
20 area wineries, artists, vendors, live entertainment.
Saturday & Sunday, May 7 & 8, 11-4PM
El Dorado Hills
916-802-6924, www.eldoradohillsartaffaire.com

PIXAR COLLECTION
Disney Fine Art by Collectors Editions presents the Pixar Collection worldwide debut — One Day Only!
Sunday, May 15, 11AM to 4PM
California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento State Historic Park
916-445-6645, www.csrmf.org

NATURE TOURS
Delta Eco-Tours – Take a short or long nature and cultural history tour of California’s best and most breathtaking locations along the Sacramento Delta.
Saturday, May 21, 2-hour History & Riparian Cruise
Saturday, May 28, 4-1/2 hour Tule Wilderness Adventure
Delta Ecotours/Hartland Nursery
13737 Grand Island Road (P.O. Box 439), Walnut Grove, CA 95690
(916) 775-4545, www.DeltaEcoTours.com

HISTORY TOURS
Gold Rush Legacy Tours and Old Sacramento Architectural Tours begin in May and go all summer long.
Saturdays & Sundays at 11AM
916-808-7059, www.historicoldsac.org

And for more ongoing, engaging and special events check out www.Sacramento365.com!

All Aboard! for New “Fruit” Exhibit at Raiload Museum

melanie noel light — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:09:59 +0000

If I could just absorb all the vitamin C in this upcoming exhibit, I doubt I’d currently be home nursing a sore throat and chest cold. But lucky for me, there’s still time to recuperate and get myself to the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento for the “Pick Me! Fruit Crate Art & the California Dream” exhibit. Starting March 5th (and running through March 30), we can view more than 80 iconic and whimsically designed fruit crate labels from the 1880s through the early 1950s that inspired many to “Go West” in search of the California Dream.

Gain an appreciation for an early art form that featured beautifully bold imagery, learn how California’s fresh produce was kept cool during transport before refrigerated cars, and discover why the railroad was the key to the early success of the California agriculture industry. Dripping with color, these labels depicted verdant fields and idyllic pastoral scenes, subtly suggesting that California was a magical place – a place where it was always sunny and the grass was somehow greener. To those of us who live here, we know there’s a certain magical aura around California, one usually best seen during dawn or twilight hours. Of course, we still have to deal with real-world stuff – just like everyone else. And no matter how much succulent fruit we produce here, we still get sick sometimes.

Widely regarded as North America’s finest and most popular railroad museum, the 100,000-square foot Railroad History Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

More Information: www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org or call (916) 445-6645

Cost: $9 adults; $4 youths ages 6-17; free for children ages 5 and under

Life, Death & Things to Do at the Old City Cemetery

melanie noel light — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:03:03 +0000

Death is scary business. It can be scary for us all, but because it is a reality, it can also be a business… and yet it’s still more than that. Although a practical comparison, saying death is the opposite of life does not seem entirely true when one visits an old cemetery. Surely, there’s more to life than death, but I think there’s also more to death than death itself.

Consider the Old City Cemetery that borders Sacramento’s Downtown and Land Park neighborhoods. It is the resting place for many of Sacramento’s original inhabitants. And by marking and noting their deaths, we are also reminded of their lives… which makes me for one think about how I’m living my own.

There are stories of love tragically lost and life cut too short, and reminders of the hardships that befell those who came before us. There are also stories of love that seems to transcend life, and tales of life lived so fully that we are prompted to question the manner in which we are currently living.

History can be fascinating itself; it is especially fascinating when it covers the birth of a new age, like the Gold Rush era of the “old” west. And there is no place quite like the resting place for those early settlers. Walk yourself through the cemetery and ponder the lives and deaths captured there, or take a docent-led tour and learn about the early history of Sacramento. Watch for the wildly popular Lantern Tours in the fall, take a Garden Tour in the spring or History Tour this weekend. Perhaps consider getting involved with a volunteer project or just stopping by the new Visitor Center.

When all is said and done, there should be time to ponder, reflect and pay homage. The past, after all, is always imbedded in our future, whether we’re aware of it or not. Those who came before us are forever a part of us. Sometimes taking our eye of the prize off the future to look backward – and inward – we are reminded how precious every moment really is.

For a list of events and more, please visit www.oldcitycemetery.com