Seeing Sacramento & Beyond
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialEasy, Breezy Elkhorn Station
A roadside bar and grill with a splash of class, great food, down-home atmosphere, easy vibe… It’s a wonder this place isn’t constantly packed, because if you ask me, it’s a diamond in the rough. Stop by any random day or afternoon and you’re likely to find a talented local band belting out party tunes on the outdoor stage. You might notice a private party taking over part of the outdoor space, students “studying” on the grass, or people with lawn chairs and beach umbrellas. You’re also probably going to notice it’s the kind of place where everyone knows your name – even if you’re not one of them – and that they’re still friendly nonetheless. Situated between Natomas and Woodland, past the airport off I-5 and the River Road, Elkhorn is a literal breath of fresh air, an unusual but easy find, and a true gem if you like low-key hangouts.
They don’t have much of a web presence – aside from some pretty stellar reviews on Yelp – http://www.yelp.com/biz/elkhorn-station-west-sacramento – but here’s the old-school 411:
Elhorn Station
18398 Old River Rd
West Sacramento, CA 95799
(916) 371-1389
Pizza Rock’in it 80s-Style
Today is Wednesday and tonight is 80s Night at Pizza Rock on K Street. All things 80s – movies, music and trivia after 8PM. If you like ambiance, someplace cool and different, a slight Vegas feel and mighty large draft beers, check out Pizza Rock in Downtown Sacramento. Go early for their great Happy Hour specials!
1020 K St, (916) 737-5777, pizzarocksacramento.com
Today: Launching of Midtown’s New Bike Share Program
Win-Win Situation
The weather’s glorious, there’s so much to see and do Downtown, and now – just in time for summer fun – the training wheels are coming off. Remember how excited you were to get your first banana-seat bike, Huffy, ten-speed, beach cruiser?! Don’t leave all the fun, fresh air and frolicking in childhood’s past – Reclaim the streets while you help save the planet one peddle at a time.
There’s a kick-off party today at 28th and J Streets in the Priority Parking Lot, 4PM, and you are invited.
The Midtown Bike Share will make it easier for both Midtown residents and visitors to get around, and is quite affordable and easy to use. It will also make Sacramento one of the few bike share programs on the West Coast. The pilot program will include two bike rental kiosks/vaults and 12 bikes, with kiosks located in the parking lots at 28th and J Streets and at 16th and I Streets. If the pilot program is a success – that’s where you and me come in -additional kiosk/vaults may be placed throughout Midtown and the Central City.
For more information about the Midtown Bike Share visit facebook.com/RideYourOwnWay or contact Heather Philpott: 916.442.1500, heather@mbasac.com. The Ride Your Own Way Midtown Bike Share program is brought to you by Midtown Business Association (MBA).
What’s a’Happenin’, Hotstuff?
Early Summer Fun
Sexy, saucy play ‘OR’ to debut and close out 6-year run at the Delta King Theatre – June 17 – July 17. In addition, the Pilothouse Restaurant will be offering a specially priced $29 three-course dinner for theatre patrons. 916-995-5464, www.capstage.org
From Farm to You~
Announcing New Farmers’ Markets Locations:
1)Beautiful east end State Capitol Park, 15th & L Streets, every Thursday, 10AM to 1:30PM
2)St. Rose of Lima Park, 7th & K Street, every Friday, 10AM to 1:30PM (street or mall parking, light rail)
www.ca-grown.com
Portuguese Partay~
Come One, Come All for a Parade, Mass, Auction, Eats, Live Music & Fresh Air! The Freeport/Clarksburg Portuguese Festa will be held Sunday, June 19th at 54113 S. River Rd. 916-373-9942
100 Years of Making a Difference~
Stop to once again celebrate your rights at the Sacramento History Museum with the unveiling of the ‘We Won the Vote’ exhibit on June 16th. 916-808-7059, www.historicoldsac.org
Strange Days
Magical May is coming to a close. It started off soft, sunny and warm and is ending with whirlpools of dark clouds and spirals of wind in the sky. Yesterday we paid our respects to the veterans who served our country; Today, we are attempting to get back to business as usual. But currently, nothing really feels usual. So I struggle to meet my deadlines as I attempt to also stay in touch with reality… It just doesn’t feel there, like the matrix of our existence has vanished. I check my resources for evidence of a global or personal shift, but find no explanation for my strange sense of detachment, and then I lose my internet connection. I peer out from my body to find both my husband and cat eerily quiet, and wonder if anyone is actually home in our house today. Some days are just so strange they make you feel more like Jim Morrison than yourself.
What’s So Great About CA Produce?
Juicy!
Season Debuts:
Earlicots – The first apricots to arrive, tart
Aprium – Rich in flavor
Poppy Cot – Apricots with a blush
White and Yellow Peaches and Nectarines – Try the yellow Queen Crest and the white Snow Angel
Golden Rainiers Cherris – Have the pinkest glow
Blueberries from the Delta – Antioxidant-rich
Fresh Vegetables – Onions, garlic, broccoli, summer squash, pickling cucumbers, bok choy, swiss chard
Root vegetables – Beets, carrots, and radishes
Insider Tip: Fresh green – yes, green! – garbanzo beans can soon be found at the farmers’ markets in their fuzzy pillowlike pods, and some farmers pull the entire bushy plant from the roots. This means fresh garbanzos are here for a limited time. Not only are they rich in minerals and folate, but just one ounce provides 5 grams of both protein and fiber.
Many vegetables are able to grow year round in California because of its varied climates. However, some crops are phased out in order to make room for new ones. Different types of lettuce and greens are replanted often, so let the growers know which ones you like best.
For recipes, market locations, dates and times, and more visit www.ca-grown.com!
Freaky Friday: Feeling Our Way Around Shenanigans & Dive Bar
Some friends and I wanted to check out the new ‘Dive Bar’ on K Street, as where else around these parts are we going to find mermaids dipping and diving in a gigantic tank? It’s easy to let the name fool you, since the concept of a “dive bar” tends to elicit pretty strong images of dark, dusty, sometimes dingy places. Yet while dark indeed, this particular Dive Bar creates a class all its own, with huge glowing chandeliers, large elegant mirrors, and lounge-style seating perfect for classy cocktails and conversation.
Next, we hit Shenanigans on J Street. I’d seen photos of it and was expecting a posh, club-y hangout, but Shenanigans deserves the general term “dive bar” tenfold next to the literal Dive Bar. Still, appearances can be misleading, and what kind of joint appeals to each of us depends a great deal on our individual priorities. While the bartender was refreshingly engaging, Shenanigans in the light of day was a bit too rough around the edges (ok, truthfully, grimy around the toilets) for me. There was, however, a certain energy about the place that made my male compatriots want to return the next weekend. And I can imagine that once the sun goes down and the cocktails and music start flowing, that hazy glaze could soften up the edges and cast a more magical glow. So with live music and comedy shows upstairs, thumping DJ and lounge downstairs, the entertainment options might be just what the janitor ordered.
http://divebarsacramento.com/
http://www.sacramento365.com/venue/detail/5931
Sip, Stroll & Rock ‘n Roll
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
Dat you, Scooby?
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.
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.
