Slice of Sacramento

The End...for now...

2011-05-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

Well, i am very sad to say, but current Life is getting in the way of writing so i will not be able to keep this blog up along with all the other ones as well (i have three more). I am, like so many out there, stressing over the possibility of being without an income and am spending all my time hunting down the slightest lead to a cash-paying job.

I will continue to write for my other main blog, If It Were Real, and will occasionally post local events on that site. This site will remain, however, i have removed the link from the former page to this site. It's possible i will re-start it once things have stopped spinning out-of-control.

I am sad - it was great fun roaming all over the greater Sacramento region and reporting the events. Can't say that i've had much time - and certainly no money - to attend anything lately.

It's raining right now. And that fits my mood...

Vesak - Sacramento Buddha Day

2011-05-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

May 28th & 29th

What is Vesak? Well, that’s a bit hard to answer. In a nutshell, it's a celebration of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death. The dates of Vesak vary as it's based on a lunar calendar, but generally it falls on a full moon in May or the beginning of June. For me it’s a day to reflect and celebrate with other spiritual seekers the wisdom of the Dharma. Whether you are Buddhist or not, there are some serious lessons within the Dharma on something we all want for ourselves and our loved ones – how to be happy. For that reason, if no other, celebrating Vesak (or Buddha Day) is a wonderful excuse to join this festival and see what all the fuss is about.

The celebration begins on Saturday night with a candlelight prayer for peace. Everyone is welcome to join. The main festivities though are on Sunday beginning as early as 8 am and going till 6 pm. There will be International dances, foods, speakers, and multiple activities throughout the day – so something for everyone! I am so looking forward to this! And it's FREE!!!

The festivities will be held at Kim Quang Temple, 3119 Alta Arden Expressway, Sacramento 95825.

Visit the home site here:
http://www.buddhadaysacramento.org/index.html

Earth Day Sacramento 2011

2011-04-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

Photo by Vera Kratochivil

Friday is officially Earth Day though the whole week, from the 16th – 23rd, is centered on Earth awareness. And really, every day is Earth Day. I mean, how could it not be? There are a lot of activities going on all over the Sacramento area, the largest probably being the event on Saturday at Southside Park located on 6th Street between X and W Streets from 12:30 PM – 5 PM. With it also being Easter weekend, there’s sure to be ample opportunities for things to do. I’ve listed several links below with details of different events happening all over town. But i really don’t want to talk about the events – though i’m posting this on the Slice of Sacramento, a blog supposedly dedicated to “what’s happening.” What i really want to talk about is what we need to do to make a positive change for we little human beings who live on this beautiful planet. Give up plastic for a week. (This is a futile, but an eye-opening experience.) Recycle not just paper, bottles, and cans but clothes, tires, and other household goods. Check out solar or wind power. Buy organic. Buy local. Use one eco-friendly household cleaning product instead of the plethora you currently have under the kitchen sink. Conserve water. Don’t have so many babies! (Seriously!) If we use that wonderful thing we call a brain, we can come up with all sorts of creative ways to help clean-up and make the World a better place to live.

The photos are of wind turbines from all over the world. There are pros and cons to wind turbines. But there is no con as far as i’m concerned with their overall beauty. There’s something very serene and calming about looking at a horizon filled with the graceful silhouettes of wind turbines. And sitting on the edge of the fields and listening to the whoosh-whoosh of the blades is a magical sound.

Enjoy the Earth. Enjoy Her beauty. Be thankful for what we have. Work hard and with pride to keep this a place we can live in for generations to come.

Peace.

Events from the Sacramento Press - http://go.emaildir5.com/l/a/8e/nk/ngd/efi/1d5/trouble.htm

From Sacramento News and Review - http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/earth-events/content?oid=1961971

Picnic for the Planet by Nature Conservancy - http://earthday.nature.org/?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=activities%20for%20earth%20day&utm_campaign=2011%20Earth%20Day%20-%20General

Photo from

http://www.magnumphotoagency.com/wind-turbine-making-wind-a-clean-source-of-renewable-energy

Photo by Chuck Coker

More info about wind energy (and some impressive photos) -

http://information2share.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/wind-power-in-stormy-waters/

Doggies, Orchids, Maidu, and Kites! What a Spring!

2011-04-15T23:04:00.000-07:00

The nicer the weather, the more the events. Which is a good thing if you’re looking for something to do this weekend. And there is no shortage of fun stuff – take a look –
(Please note – exact dates, time, event locations, directions, and other details are located on each link.)

A Doggie Easter - April 16th & 17th (different events)

Ah this just has fun written all over it! Doggie Easter egg hunts – yah for the doggies! Now, i am a cat person. I’ve had cats all my life. People tease me that i will become a weird cat lady when i get old. I can neither confirm nor deny that accusation but i will confirm that public, social events with dogs can be doggone fun. Nobody has a better time than a dog surrounded by other dogs surrounded by proud owners who smother the dogs with treats and affection. Add to this, the happy enthusiasm that only a dog can give when set on a task – like hunting Easter eggs – and you’ve got one ecstatic puppy!

Easter Egg Hunt & Bonnet Contest for Dogs- A benefit for A Chance For Bliss, Citrus Heights – Saturday, April 16th
Spring Hill Easter Egg Hunt for Dogs – Sunday, April 17th

Orchid Show - April 16th & 17th
So maybe dogs aren’t your thing. What about flowers? Spring is definitely the time for showing off the magnificence of Nature. And one of Nature’s finest examples of flowers is the elegant orchid. Despite the fact that the only orchid most people know are the ones that show up at the grocer’s or florist every spring, there are over 22,000 known orchid species and they are the second largest family of flowering plants. The Sacramento Orchid Society is holding a show over Saturday and Sunday at the Scottish Rite Temple across from Sac State University.

Maidu - April 17th
One of the Native American tribes who lived in the Sacramento region is the Maidu. They have a fascinating culture and we are very fortunate to have them here to celebrating spring in traditional style. The Maidu Museum in Roseville is holding a Yomen – a Maidu celebration of the leafing out of trees and flowers – spring! It’s an all-day event with crafts, demos, traditional Maidu dancing, games, storytelling, and much more so please come out and enjoy the museum and support the Maidu people!

Make A Kite! - April 16th
This Saturday is the last day to get the chance to make a kite for a good cause. The Fountains in Roseville are sponsoring kite making with the proceeds going to the Make A Wish Foundation. Once you make your kite, it will be displayed until the following Saturday, April 23rd, when the Fountains will hold a kite flying contest. And who doesn’t love the simplicity of flying a kite? OK – well – it was never simple for me as i seem to have the unique ability of tangling a line just by looking at it! Anyway – come out and make the best, most awesome kite every made! Fun for the whole family!

Photograph by Rona Proudfoot - ronnie44052 on Flickr

Yomen - A Leafing Out!

2011-04-12T22:13:00.000-07:00

I volunteer as a docent at the Maidu Museum and Historic Site in Roseville. It’s an awesome experience working at the museum and i wouldn’t trade it for the world. I get to learn cool stuff about nature, how the Maidu lived and how they celebrate their culture today, then i get to pass that knowledge on to enthusiastic 3rd and 4th graders. I’m never quite sure who’s more excited – me – or them.

A Maidu Festival
This Sunday, April 17th, we will be celebrating Yomen – a Maidu festival celebrating the leafing out of the trees and flowers – spring. I’m super excited and can hardly wait for the event. It’s going to be fantastic! We’ll get a chance to watch traditional Maidu dancers – something you don’t see very often. There will be trail tours going on all day, demos of traditional crafts, a special section for hands-on activities for the kids, music, vendors selling beautifully made hand-crafted items, Native storytelling and poetry, and (one of my favs) Indian tacos. And if you haven’t been to the museum lately – well definitely come check it out. We have a new, and very beautiful, museum – just one year old!

Free!
To top it off, this is a free event! There will be no entrance fee to enter the museum or the event. Nice. That said, i strongly suggest to bring some cash – you don’t want to miss out on Indian tacos and there will certainly be crafts there you won’t find anywhere else. Perfect opportunity to pick up gifts for someone special. The festival will be going on all day, from 10 am. till 3 pm. Come early for good parking. For more details and directions to the park, click here.

Address: 1970 Johnson Ranch Drive, Roseville 95661
Phone: 916-774-5934

It's Film Festival Time!

2011-04-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

I’m a little late on this and many of you may already know – but there is a plethora of films and theatre being shown in our lovely town of Sacramento. Going on right now is the Sacramento Film Festival with films, workshops, parties, awards and just a great overall smorgasbord of celluloid-speak and delicacies for film aficionados. Many of the events are taking place at the Artisan, 1901 Del Paso Blvd – between Arden and El Camino just west of I-80 – but check the local schedule of events to get current information on locations and times.

For the young ones who have their hearts in theatre, check out Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom. They have two plays showing right now, 13 – the Musical and The Noodle Doodle Box. They also run workshops for all ages. Final showings of Cinderella by Buck Busfield will finish up its run this week at B Street Theatre with a last show on Sunday, April 17th.

Team In Training - Team Ostroff

2011-04-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

I am always moved by people who walk the talk. Those who get off their duff and DO – to support what they believe in. And so it is with Pat Ostroff. Pat and i are both volunteers at the Maidu Museum in Roseville. That said, we don’t see each other that often and honestly, i don’t really know her. But today i heard her speak as she passed out a handful of purple cards and i immediately heard in her voice the sound of courage and determination that only a person who is fighting for something they love could make. You see, Pat is training for a marathon. And she’s running that marathon to raise money for her mother-in-law who has lymphoma – a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system and often spreads to other parts of the body. Pat has lost 5 people in the last four years to cancer. The look in her eyes is that of a battle worn captain. A captain who has walked the trenches of the hospital halls supporting those in pain. I understand. Some of you may know that my own father has had lung cancer; he’s never smoked a day in his life. One day maybe i can talk about it. But not now.

Right now i want to help Pat and her family by raising awareness and raising funds. Every little bit helps. Please take a moment and look at what this family is doing to help their own and to help others. If you can give – bless you and thank you! – and please pass this on. If you cannot give – bless you and thank you for reading this! – and please pass this on.

In Peace and Love…

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - Team In Training
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sac/rnr11/postrofpkw

Magpies, Poppies, and Butterflies

2011-04-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

Isn’t California beautiful? Just take a good look around. What don’t we have? And what a great spring this is starting out to be! Flowers everywhere, trees are super-saturated green. Just lovely. What a fantastic season! But over the past few years, a subtle list of oddities has accumulated in the dark recesses of my brain – something is missing amidst this garden utopia we call California. Something missing like – magpies.

Back when i lived in a house and not an apartment, i used to be visited by a flock of the gregarious, chatty birds every morning. I loved their black and white suits and bright yellow-orange beaks, and their social antics made me laugh. When i moved to an apartment several years ago, i saw less of them. They’re not too keen on crowded buildings and prefer spacious yards and open grass fields to hunt for insects. They nest high-up in large oaks in open savannah – definitely not the apartment dweller type. So even though i had moved, i still saw them around neighbors’ houses and all across the countryside. But over the last five or six years, i’ve hardly seen a magpie – anywhere. It’s been a long time since i’ve heard their distinctive and expressive vocabulary of whistles, grackling, and chirping – and it makes me sad. What happened? Where did they go?

The Yellow-billed magpie is special; they are endemic to California. And not even all of California. Their range is limited to the central valley and coastal ranges of the state. To find out where my little tuxedo friends had gone, i spoke to a ranger at Effie Yeaw about their disappearance. She told me the magpies were hard hit by the West Nile virus which started sometime around 2004. They’re not wiped out, but have been seriously reduced in numbers – enough that Audubon has placed them on a “WatchList.” I also discovered through several on-line bird watching sites that the Yellow-billed magpie, previous to the West Nile virus, was already on a decline due to loss of habitat and pesticides. After hearing all this, i was quite depressed. I really do love the birds. But one day, i was driving in West Sac close to the river and had just turned down a small street when there they were. Four little magpies, skipping and hopping along the side of the road. I pulled over and watched them for a long time. They reminded me of best friends, playing good-naturedly and teasing one another. I have since seen the occasional magpie and i always whisper a prayer that they will hang tough and continue their antics for a very long time.

Here is another site by UC Davis on the Yellow-billed magpie and the West Nile Virus: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vgl/wildlife/projects/magpies.html

Carpet California in Golden Poppies

Another thing i’ve noticed – where the heck is the State flower – the ever-cheerful poppy? While there are some well-known parks that advertise their abundance, why don’t we see them all over the state? I would think they’d be everywhere. One place you can see them is anywhere D.O.T. has been – they’re like the Johnny Appleseed of poppies. I called D.O.T. and spoke with several, very pleasant, and informed gentlemen in the landscape and maintenance divisions. D.O.T., as well as Cal Trans, seeds and plants poppies in areas of new construction, which account for all the poppies along freeways. But why nowhere else? That took a little more digging. It seems that poppies prefer disturbed land over established and they love poor, sandy, dry soils and lots of sunshine. Ah! So you’re not going to see them around the heavily treed and lush lawn suburbs of Sacramento. Too much water, too much mulch, and too much shade. So why don’t they cover the countryside then? No one had a ready answer for me on that – the only thing this countryside doesn’t have on the wanted list for poppies is “disturbed soil.” If someone knows the answer to this, please let me know! I'm stumped!

April 6th each year is California Poppy Day! Celebrate the poppy!

Here’s a link to CA State Parks, Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627

Top 10 places in CA to see poppies:
http://www.wondermondo.com/Best/NA/CalifPoppies.htm

Amazing Butterfly

The absence of the third of my trio is more well-known but i still listed it because, well, i know with the right education and planning, we could bring them back – the monarch butterfly. A lot has been said about the loss of one of the most beautiful, and at one time, most plentiful of butterflies. Like the magpie, pesticides, habitat loss, and the destruction of their food supply, the milkweed, is the culprit for the increasingly smaller numbers that visit our lands. And though the coast is famous for the nesting grounds of these amazing butterflies, they migrate yearly across the valley in search of milkweeds. Plant more milkweed!

If i had a house with property, i would have huge valley oaks with lots of savannah grasses for the magpies, i would plant hundreds of golden poppies, and have loads of milkweeds in my garden in hopes the beautiful monarch would appear. Then i would sit at my window, sipping tea, and enjoy the beauty of California.

Happy Spring Everyone!

Blimey! I Think I Saw A Leprechaun!

2011-03-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Paddy’s Day! Well, by the number of green shirts i’ve seen today, i don’t think i need to encourage the celebration of Ireland’s best known holiday. Despite that it’s Thursday – there’s a party atmosphere in the air – maybe it’s the sunshine. So let’s get down to business – where are the festivities? Every Irish bar, and the English ones too, are pulling out the green and offering specials on beers and music festivals and anything remotely Irish. Downtown Sacramento has the best variety of venues and choices of entertainment and beer specials. But Elk Grove, Folsom, and Roseville are celebrating the green tonight too. De Veres downtown is having a block party that started this morning and will go till 10pm – featuring live music, dancers, bagpipes, and food vendors. Proceeds benefit Mary House, a service that provides shelter and help for the homeless and struggling families. Another live music venue is at the Boxing Donkey in Roseville. The Streets of London, while not Irish (but neither am i), will be celebrating in big style in all three locations (Sac, Folsom, and West Sac). Elk Grove has the Elk Grove Brewery & Restaurant which will be serving up some tasty treats and brews this St. Patrick’s.

While you’re out enjoying the celebration, look for these favorite Irish drinks. I’m going to skip Guinness; i think everyone is familiar with that famous stout. For beer, try Beamish, Murphy’s, Smithwick’s, or Sam Adams Irish Red. For whiskey (and my personal favorite), look for one of these pleasers, Jameson, Bushmills, Midleton, Brennans, and Tullamore Dew. I put the last on the list, not because you will find it (if you do, for freak’s sake – please let me know!), but because it’s one of my favs from when i lived in the UK.

If you’re completely broke (like me) or can’t go out due to work obligations the following day – here’s a recipe for St. Paddy’s fun. Put on a CD of Dropkick Murphy’s and play it obnoxiously loud – sing along whether you know the words or not. Drink your favorite Irish brew or whiskey. Have a Rueben sandwich. Watch the DVD Boondock Saints (the first one please, and no – they’re not actually Irish but it’s a great flick nonetheless). Read some James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, or William Butler Yeats – top it off with a whiskey night cap and Oi! You’re Irish for the night!

Erin go braugh!

Since whiskey is my drink of choice, i have to push this nice little guide to Irish whiskey here: http://www.thewhiskyguide.com/Irish/Irish_Whiskey.html

And please - if you drink and are out on the town, don't drive! Have a designated driver!

Time Well Spent - Volunteer!

2011-03-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

On this blog i’ve talked about what we can do to enjoy our lives. To see and experience things we haven’t tried before or maybe not for a long time. But now i’d like to suggest something near and dear to my heart – volunteering. If you rolled your eyes when you read this, don’t worry; i did too for most of my life. I had in my head that volunteering was boring. Stuffy. Like filing books at the library or stamp collecting. It just didn’t have that zing that i thought i was looking for. Ha! I love it when i can surprise myself.

Sometimes it seems we’re already stretched to our limits with lists of “things to do,” many of which are never finished. You never feel there’s enough time. Or maybe you wonder why you should give away what precious little time you have – for free – to someone else; let some other sucker give it away. Even the most open of hearts can feel this way sometimes. We are pulled and pushed in so many different directions that just the idea of one more thing to do will send us over the edge. Yet we will make enough time to chat on Facebook or Twitter for hours. Or mindlessly watch whatever happens to be on TV for most of the evening.

Enrich Your Life
Despite what some might think, volunteering is not altogether an altruistic act. At least not completely. When you volunteer, you suddenly have a whole world of information open up that was previously not accessible. If you like learning new things, volunteering can be a great way to re-discover your inner-child. Like a great teacher it offers intellectual and hands-on learning. The best of both worlds.

I’ve found another benefit to volunteering. Camaraderie. This, even more than learning, is a huge factor in the warm and fuzzy feeling i get about volunteering. Humans are such social creatures. Being with other like-minded people is such a boost to our need for community. The time spent together working on a project connects us heart and soul to what is best in the human spirit.

Obviously, many of us like the idea of volunteering because we truly like helping others. The opportunity to help and contribute to the community in a positive way makes us feel good about ourselves. It gives us a place to belong and a reason to be a better person. And that’s addicting. One of the few addictions that won’t cause weight-gain, isn’t illegal, and you won’t be embarrassed about telling others.

The other great thing about volunteering – you make your schedule. Do as much as you want. Organizations that rely on volunteers are overjoyed with whatever you can give. So there really isn’t a downside to being a volunteer. It’s all good. If there’s something you like or are interested in, there’s probably a volunteer job out there that will fit the bill. Whether you want to work with animals, medical & disaster preparedness, museums, environmental, schools, sports, the homeless, or children’s services, there is a niche you can fill.

Where To Go To Volunteer
There are many, many centers over the greater Sacramento area that take volunteers. Most cities have a volunteer page on their websites but almost all organizations have listings on Volunteer Sacramento – an all-in-one site of information. There is also the Volunteer Center of Sacramento and Hands on Sacramento that have excellent suggestions and contacts for volunteering. So take a moment and ask yourself, “What do i have a passion for?” Now get out there and volunteer!

Bok Kai Festival!

2011-03-03T15:17:00.000-08:00

Everyone Loves a Parade!
March 5 &6, 2011 - Marysville, CA
The festivities of March start off with the spectacular and colorful Bok Kai parade in Chinatown, Marysville. This will be the 131st year of the Bok Kai festival which celebrates the Chinese New Year and honors Bok Kai, a Chinese water deity believed to keep Marysville safe from flooding. The Saturday parade is a huge affair, with marching bands, equestrian riders, dancers, martial artists, singers, and various performances. But the big treat that everyone waits for are the lion dancers and the Bok Kai Dragon! So colorful, so energetic! The Dragon coils and uncoils and weaves its sinewy body along the parade route. The best show is, of course, in front of the Bok Kai Temple where the Dragon and lion dancers converge to honor Bok Kai. Two-story long firecrackers are set alight and the scene is filled with celebration! I have performed in many a Chinese New Year parade – but Marysville has more firecrackers than any place i have been – including the parade in San Francisco! It’s fantastic!

Bombs Away!
The following day, March 6th, is “Bomb Day” where special “bombs” are made and set off at 4 PM. Both days offer tours through the Chinese American History Museum of Northern California and the Local History Archives.

Parade Details
The parade is on Saturday the 5th and starts at 11 AM on the corner of 6th and D Street and lasts approximately one hour. Come early, bring chairs and get a good seat. Immediately following the parade are performances which are held on 2nd Street between C and D Streets. There will also be vendors selling food and drinks all throughout this area.

Click for a calendar of events!

Map of Marysville

Celebrate Beer!

2011-02-25T16:25:00.000-08:00

Photofile from Wend Magazine

http://www.wendmag.com/greenery/2009/06/sustainable-craft-brewing/

It’s still dark, wet, and cold. What better way to pass the last of winter’s chill than with good friends sharing a golden pint of ale? Beer is not for everyone’s palate. But there are now so many breweries across the country, just about every taste bud can find a happy flavor that makes them go mmmmm. And lucky us, we have the perfect opportunity to find that perfect beer with the Sacramento Beer Festival. Valentines Day may bring out the wine and chocolate, but March and upcoming St. Patrick’s Day brings out the golden nectar of the gods – beer!

10 Days of Beer
Starting today, Feb. 25th through March 6th, there will be an abundant flowing of tasty beers. So many brewers, so few nights. And just about everyone is getting into the act. Nugget Markets are offering beer tasting on certain dates. Capital Garage downtown is having a Stouts and Chocolate night. Bonn Lair is hosting the Sacramento Women’s Brewers Association. Come on guys – women who can make a fine beer. How great is that? The list of beer and fun events goes on and on. Bike shops promoting a race and environmental responsibility – with green beer, of course. A ping pong tournament. Old School Happy Hour at the Monkey Bar with $1 beers. A free Bluegrass concert at Hoppy Brewing. A scavenger hunt. Pizza and beer. Music and beer. Classes on beer making. There is something going on every night all over the Sacramento area. And i checked – many of these events are pretty inexpensive considering all the beer you get to sample.

The Stranger the Name, the Tastier the Beer
OK – that may not be true, but like a really cool record label or book cover, quirkiness and creativity get our attention. A great name for a beer is like the top SEO hit of blog advertising. And the stranger, more creative, and funnier the name, the more we want to try it. Especially if there’s a really good – and highly unlikely – tall tale to go with it. Here’s a list of names i came across that i would love to sample: Moose Drool Brown Ale, Double Bastard Ale, Portsmouth Kate the Great, The Perfect Storm/The Mother of All Storms (the name has been changed to protect the innocent – or trademark infringement), Supplication, La Fin du Monde, and i certainly have to try a beer with the name “Darkness” – by Surly Brewing Company no less. With so many jaunty names and saucy labels, it may take the rest of my life to sample them. I should start tonight.

Party with a Responsible Friend
All this partying though must be tempered with one thought – getting home safely. Before you go out, find a responsible friend – yes, i know you have one, we all do – and give them a healthy gas tip so they don’t feel quite so bad about ferrying all of us inebriated people home. Whatever you do, DON'T DRIVE DRUNK!

Cheers!

For the home of all things brewing...Sacramento Beer Festival...
http://sacramentobeerweek.com/

Inspiration - Tibetan Monks...

2011-02-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

If you are interested in the Tibetan monks and their stay in Roseville, see my main page, "If It Were Real" or hit the "back to home" button at the top of this page. Their visit was an inspiration to all and i want to share with all my readers and not just we lucky Sacramento folk! I will be adding another post shortly in the next day - so stay tuned!

Chocolate Festival this Saturday the 12th!

2011-02-11T15:35:00.000-08:00

This Saturday, Feb. 12th

OK, OK, OK... I know. I said that the New Year's resolution for this blog was to be skinny and frugal. Well, gosh, i just can't help myself. I saw this and i had to post. But come on! It's CHOCOLATE we're talking about here! And it IS free to go. And there's nothing saying that you have to buy anything. Or eat anything. Right. Lame. OK - how about - it's Valentine's weekend? Does that work of you? Does for me! Yes - everyone has a weakness and chocolate is mine. At least i'm not alone.

Here's the venue - Whole Foods in Roseville is hosting a Chocolate Festival complete with a band and various vendors - henna tattoos, aromatherapy and more. Starts at 4 pm. Be there or be square. ;-)

Whole Foods Market
1001 Galleria Blvd, Roseville 95678
916-781-5300

Tibetan Monks in Roseville!

2011-02-08T14:56:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of the American Foundation for Tibetan Cultural Preservation.

I seem to be on a roll – the Universe must be talking to me. I should listen. The last two posts have been about places and things relaxing and meditative, and then today i came across this flyer presented by the Center of Wellness. Tibetan Monks are here in Roseville creating a sand mandala at the Children’s Art Center. This actually started last weekend but runs through this Sunday. I’m super excited to visit with the monks and watch them create this extraordinary piece of art. It isn’t free. But it’s well worth it, many times over. I plan on attending at least one event, possibly more, and i will post on this event.

To Peace, Compassion, Clarity, and Kindness – i hope all of you find your way to this place!

Here is a link to the flyer with all events and details:http://thecenterofwellness.health.officelive.com/Monks2011schedule.aspx

Rivers Run Mighty

2011-02-07T10:13:00.000-08:00

We are so fortunate to live in the vastly varied and magnificently marvelous state of California. And having a day like today – with the weather near perfect while all the rest of the country is buried in snow – i’m beginning to think that this is God’s country. Well, at least until the earthquakes and floods take us.

Today was most amazing. And not because it was the Super Bowl. I took a stroll with a dear friend along some of the most beautiful and inspiring part of the American River as you could dream – The American River Confluence. It’s a spectacular area where the north and middle fork of the American Rivers meet and lies just south of Auburn at the intersection of Hwy 49 and Old Forest Hill Road. Right now the rivers are clear as a bell and roaring. In a few more months, when the snows melt, they will get muddy and violently turbulent for a short while. So this is a great time to explore and enjoy. I’ve been here before, many times in fact. But there was something in the air – a kind of soft, electric energy that was both relaxing and restorative at the same time. Just breathing made me feel giddy. I had this sudden vision of me leaping along the rocks wearing a tie-dye shirt and head band singing, “Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now…” It was just that kind of day.

Everyone needs a day like this. Like defragging the hard drive and plugging into a recharger – cleansing and rejuvenating. So now’s your chance to get that energy back that you lost over the holidays. And it’s completely free. Totally fun. Involves no consumption of calories and in fact will burn a few more than just sitting on the couch. All my New Year’s Resolutions for this site have been met and exceeded. Now go out and celebrate your own inner hippie! I’m already planning my next trip…

Some notes if you go:

Saturday afternoon can get crowded, especially in the summer, and tends to get a bit rowdy though the Park Rangers try to keep a tight lid on things. I suggest getting out of bed early and hitting the site by 10 am.

Bring water – but please do not leave the bottles behind except in proper trash bins.

Please be kind and bring a plastic bag with you to pick up any trash. This is part of the State Park system and, once again, the Park Rangers work at keeping it a clean place. But they shouldn’t have to pick up after our lazy selves! I always bring a bag to carry out any trash i see. Share the beauty!

Wear sturdy shoes. There are no paved paths and some of the trails can be steep and crumbly. Take care where you step.

Paths on both sides of the Rivers are shared by hikers and bikers alike and the trails tend to be narrow. There are horse trails too. Check out this map before you go and keep alert while on the trail.

I have to mention PARC because they have so much great information and do so much to keep our rivers beautiful. PARC is a grass-roots operation based out of Auburn whose prime purpose is to protect the north and middle forks of the American Rivers. They have a festival once a year, organize river clean-ups, and provide educational presentations. Check out their site and join!

Quiet Contemplation

2011-01-26T13:25:00.000-08:00

There are times in your life when you just need to wind down. Need to find some little corner to be alone and think. Or maybe you’re not even sure what it is you need, but you just feel in a funk. And nothing you have tried – family, food, or friends – has helped.

I found myself in such a state recently. Restless. Listless. Fidgety. Dull. Spastic boredom. Twitchy tiredness. I could go on but i think you get my meaning. I needed the energy of quietness, somewhere close by, that i could both step away and step inside. Step away from the confusing clutter of my life and just – breathe. I like breathing. ;-) Aside from the obvious, it’s such a pure way to de-stress and let go of baggage. And step inside – into that quiet place in your heart. That wellspring of glowing light. Peace.

And so it was that a friend of mine introduced me to the Garden of the Saints. A place of quietness and simplicity. It isn’t a formal garden of exacting design, but a workman’s garden of rambling delight. It is Winter now and much is leafless – but not lifeless. For there are buds swelling with pale green energy. And here and there are tiny snow drops peeking out from the brown mold of January. So many different plants and trees have been planted here, such diversity. It’s an old garden. Olive trunks are twisted, knotted, and gnarled into shapes that remind me of old men’s faces. Lovely strawberry trees are heavy with bright fruit and delicate white blossoms that bend the evergreen boughs earthward. Naked fig. Blossoming camellia. Pine and fir. And the beautiful ginkgo, its thick buds lined up like monks along a path. The Garden has a good, clean smell. I walked the grounds and felt the loveliness of this place rejuvenate me.

I like this time of year, though others may think it barren and dead. There is a lot going on that demands sensitive observation. Everything is still and quiet on the surface. But if you listen closely, you can hear the Earth. You can sense the pulse. Feel the pregnancy of plant and planet alike. A wave in the Ocean gathering, gathering, gathering itself to suddenly release its power on the unsuspecting shore. Here i walked for hours and meditated in peace. And that kind of joy cannot be described with words.

If you find yourself in need of some quiet space, some reflective time, visit the Garden of the Saints. It is completely free and open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 6 AM till 8:30 PM or dusk. I have not described nearly in full all the delights of this place, i leave that for you to discover, but i do ask that if you go – go in humility and tranquility. Be respectful. Be quiet. Be at Peace.

The Garden of the Saints is owned by the Vedanta Society of Sacramento. Click here for the address and directions. If you wish to know more about the society, click here.

Delays...

2011-01-25T12:41:00.000-08:00

It has been more difficult to find basement bargains and free events than i thought. And Life has been, well, interesting. Which means i haven't been able to do as much writing as i like. So - my apologies. But fear not, i have some projects that will hopefully be out by the end of the week or at least by the weekend.

Soon...

Bulging Waists and Skinny Wallets

2011-01-03T10:24:00.000-08:00

Well here we are in a new year – 2011 – let the resolutions commence! Making it through the holidays, from Thanksgiving to the New Year’s, is a bit like waking up from a month and a half long party. You probably had a wonderfully good time, though the details are a bit sketchy, but you realize that you are now left with clothes two sizes too small and a zero balance in your checking account (or worse). Like waking to a massive hangover that has no end in sight.

Rest assured – i hear you. And i’m right there with you. So to help us both out, my New Year’s resolution for this blog is to give you some great tips for fun without depleting your money or adding inches to your waist. I’ll post free events, offer ideas for cheap entertainment, suggest budget-conscious opportunities for under $10, and promote ways to work off that extra piece of pumpkin pie. That is not to say i won’t post anything at all about food. Hey – we have to eat! But the focus for the first of the year is on what Sacramento area has to offer to ease the stress on our over-burdened finances, give us healthy choices, and have fun while doing it! Not too much to ask is it?

So here’s to skinny waists and fat wallets!

Free Days at the Maidu Museum in Roseville!

2010-12-14T10:54:00.000-08:00

Free Entrance Dec. 21st, 22nd, and 23rd!

I don’t know about you, but Christmas season has a way of breaking a balanced budget. Even if you put money away ahead of time and planned your shopping wisely, there’s more spending done than most of us would like. There’s always those unexpected parties, office gatherings, and children’s events that – well – we just didn’t plan for. So it comes with a great relief to see something offered at this time of year – free.

And not just “something” but an awesome place to visit. The Maidu Museum is brand new – just opened this year – it still has that “new building” smell. Recently, landscaping crews began their artistry around the entranceways – a project close to completion – i can hardly wait to see how it will bloom come springtime!

Do you and the kids like to watch the Discovery Channel? Well going to the Maidu Museum is like being in one of the shows – IRL! So now that the kids are off from school, the shopping is mostly done, and there’s little cash left in the bank, why not treat yourself to a visit – because it IS a treat! There are hands-on activities, beautiful works of art, guided tours, and brand new displays. And that’s just what’s inside – go out on the trail and get a whole new picture of how the Maidu people lived with the land!

The FREE DAYS won’t last – so get in while the getting’s good!

Free Days at the Maidu Museum start December 21st and run through December 23rd (Tues.-Thurs.). Free entrance to the Museum and Trail. Tours are given at 10 AM and 1 PM.

Operating hours for the week before Christmas:

Tues. – Thurs., 9 AM – 4 PM

Closed Fri., Dec. 24th through Mon., Jan. 3rd, 2011

For more information call: 916-774-5934 or visit their website at http://www.roseville.ca.us/parks/parks_n_facilities/facilities/maidu_indian_museum/default.asp

California Museum - The Famous Come to Town!

2010-12-14T10:49:00.000-08:00

I know i'm not saying anything new here - which makes me wonder why i am writing this - but i'm really excited to see the California Hall of Fame being hosted by the California Museum tonight. It's what i've been saying all along - there is a lot going for Sacramento. We've got the stuff! ;-) So if i hear one more person say that Sacramento is boring - i say - you only have yourself to blame!

You can catch all the famous faces and action tonight starting at 6 PM streaming live on the California Museum's home page or through Comcast Hometown Network, digital cable channel 104.

For a list of the Famous - go to California Museum - the California Hall of Fame - and check out just how cool Sacramento is!

The Old 5 Mile House

2010-11-29T15:07:00.000-08:00

There’s something about a quaint little building stuck in the middle of nowhere. Seductively inviting. It doesn’t need a gaudy sign to announce its presence. Its aloneness and singular nature draws us unerringly towards the mystery better than a neon billboard. I had driven that morning through some of the most beautiful snow-covered country, reveling in the silence and spectacular scenery, when up pops this homely pub. And my eyes immediately wandered to the building, to the people coming and going and the kind of cars there. Judging if it would be a safe place for a single woman to stop. Because i knew i would stop. That decision had been made the moment i spied the place. It was now just a matter if i would feel safe going in there. Into that mystery.

My safety sensors gave me a green light, so i parked in front and headed in. I liked the place immediately. Dark mahogany walls with lots of interesting western décor and a large fireplace with a real log fire that – judging by the embers – had been burning for a long while. And my timing was perfect – between the lunch and dinner rush. There were just enough people to make it interesting. I got a chance to chat with one of the servers and, after a short sit at the bar with a hot cup of coffee, i moved to a table by the fire. This is the kind of place you snuggle into after a long day of playing in the snow – or in the spring – a long hike on the trail. The patrons were a mix of locals and folks like me, friendly and talkative without being nosy. Just north of Nevada City on Hwy 20 at Scott's flat lies the building that was built in 1890 mainly as a stagecoach stop, but also served as a postal drop, telegraph post, a restaurant, and pub. My server told me the story how The Old 5 Mile House got its name – supposedly it was also a brothel and by law it had to be at least 5 miles from town. Ah! Good story whether it’s true or not.

I’d been out all day and was famished – time to ponder food choices. I liked that the menu wasn’t 10 pages long. I’d rather a restaurant do a few dishes well than try to please every person ever born and do it poorly. That said, when i asked the server about the flag out front, he informed me that every month they have a special ethnic food – the current month was Indian food – hence the Indian flag. The specials are an addition to the regular menu. Ah! As i looked over the menu – still hours before dinner – i was impressed with the fresh take on the typical luncheon fare. Panini with fresh pear, Italian rosemary ham, and brie cheese; skirt steak sandwich with arugula, shave red onions, blue cheese, chimichurri (i had to look that one up!) and aioli; and piadine – a type of pizza dough topped with salad items; this along with more traditional fare; burgers, Ruben sandwiches, and sausage pizza; filled out the menu nicely. (All of this is making me hungry…) They had several items too for the vegetarian – organic greens salad, grilled zucchini and eggplant pizza, and grilled Portobello Panini. I ordered the rosemary chicken, potato, roasted garlic, and goat’s cheese pizza. It was a little bit of a wait, but when the pizza arrived i was delighted by a lovely thin crust with just the right amount of sauce and toppings. Delicious! My only real complaint is that it wasn’t piping hot.

Now that i was warm and happily full, i wandered around the place and took a closer look at the dinner menu. It seems that The Old 5 Mile House is a full restaurant and can easily handle events and banquets as was evident by the elegant cloth covered tables in the back of the building. The front is deceiving – it only looks like a small bar/restaurant – a whole parking lot and main entrance was hidden by the piles of snow. Another “ah!” moment.

When i got home and looked at their website i felt a bit foolish. I had no idea just how much they had to offer – which only makes me want to go back. The dinner menu is mouth-watering, and though it was a touch pricey for a poor girl like me, the variety and tastiness of their food, and the warmth and coziness of the place will draw me back. Sure as the sun rises in the East…i’ll be back.

A Shoutout - Thanks!

2010-11-24T22:54:00.000-08:00

Here’s a helloooo to all the work crews who have been busting their balls clearing the snow and getting the power back on in Northern CA. I was up in the Scott’s Flat area on Hwy 20 and the crews were tucked along the road in every nook and cranny. Snow plows, bucket trucks, front-end loaders, tree cutters, snow blowers, utility trucks – you name it – they were everywhere. I saw downed tree limbs everywhere too. PG&E had lines and electrical poles propped and crews were working furiously to repair the damage. What a mess – and on the day before Thanksgiving too. No one can predict or help what Mother Nature will dish out for us to deal with. So i’m glad you are there to keep us from freezing our butts off!

PG&E Storm Outages and Safety Page
http://www.pge.com/myhome/edusafety/naturaldisaster/stormsoutagessafety/

The Hawaiian Chieftain

2010-11-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

There are some things – that simply escape me to put into words. It’s as if the idea is so close to the heart, so primal, so deep, that any attempt to describe it will surely fail. Yet, like so many things across time, the more powerful something speaks to us, the more we fumble to put into words that which moves us.

For me, this powerful emotion lies in the beauty of a tall ship. Docked here on the east bank of the Sacramento River is the Hawaiian Chieftain, a topsail ketch and 19th century replica of a traditional trading vessel. She sailed to our port on Oct 15th and will depart on Dec. 14th to make her way down the coast to San Diego. I could rattle off stats here – her sail area, her length on deck, her draft – information you can find on a website, but that isn’t necessarily what makes her beautiful though that is part of it. I am reminded of a line from that infamous Hollywood pirate, Capt. Jack Sparrow, “it’s not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails – that’s what a ship needs. But what a ship is, what the Black Pearl really is – is freedom.” And so it is. A ship is freedom. There is a magic that surrounds these tall ships like a shroud descended from the heavens. But i think that magic – in reality – comes from love. Love of the shipwrights as they dream into being the body of a ship; love of the carpenter as he planes the wood for her hull and decks; love of the sailmaker weaving miles of canvas into billowing sails; love of the crew who bath and feed her and keep her a happy ship; love of the Captain who knows her every mood, strength, and weakness, and calls her, “My Love, My Love…” Love of the Ocean. Love of the unknown that some call adventure. Love is the magic that fills the sails and floats the beautiful tall ships from one port to another.

I was very fortunate, though i think luck had little to do with it. Maybe destiny. Fate. Several years ago i sailed upon the Hawaiian Chieftain in the San Juan Islands that lie between Washington and Canada. A three day passage from Townsend to Anacortes, winding our way through some of the most beautiful islands whose giant ferns, trees, and misty mornings made me think of a time before humans. The Hawaiian Chieftain sailed with the Lady Washington, what a sight! To walk the decks of one ship while gazing across the water to see another tall ship gliding silently through the mists. Dreamlike. There were times when we saw no other boats, no other ships. Just these two great ladies, the water, and the mist covered islands. The crew taught me to haul on the braces, to read a leadline, and to stand a watch at night. I treasured every second. After three days of sailing, the crew saw me off with a farewell song – “don’t forget your old shipmates…” I slept on shore that night in sight of the docks. I still rocked to the motion of the ship and heard her ship bells ringing as i fell asleep…

If you visit the Hawaiian Chieftain, and i strongly suggest you do, as you walk the decks take a moment, close your eyes, let the noise of our modern world drift away, and imagine the spray of salty sea air, the wind in your hair, the roll of the Ocean. Imagine hauling on the lines, going aloft, and shimmying out the bowsprit to furl the sails. It’s hard work sailing a ship but the payoff cannot be measured – not with money, words, or pictures.

So if you find yourself in a nostalgic mood, or you want to get out and do something different, take a wander down to Old Sac and visit the docks near Joe’s Crab Shack. The Hawaiian Chieftain lays docked just below the restaurant. She’s open for tours and the ship’s crew will be happy to answer your questions. But if you feel that special magic, hear the call of the sea, ask the crew about an adventure sail or maybe even a passage sail. Who knows, you might find yourself volunteering for a two week crash course in sailing a tall ship at sea!

…Fair Winds and Following Sea, Hawaiian Chieftain!

Special Note: The Hawaiian Chieftain is working in conjunction with the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services to collect food and clothing donations for the holidays. So when you’re making your plans to visit the ship, bring along some non-perishable foods, infant formula, or winter clothing for children and adults and donate for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Photo taken in San Francisco, Feb. 2010

Another Halloween

2010-11-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

Ah – how depressing. A fav time of year gone by. I seriously think we should petition to add Nov 1st as a holiday on Tuesday’s ballet. About the only thing i could vote on with a clear conscience. What an idea! The kids could re-coup from their sugar-binged excitement and we adults wouldn’t have to worry about crawling out of bed with the previous night’s make-up still smudged behind our ears and a frightful hang-over. Don’t know about you, but that sounds mighty good to me.

I would love to hear from anyone who joined the “zombie train” on Friday night. I went to one of the stops, “O” Street and 8th, and found it empty of zombies – and pretty much everything else. Anyone out in Folsom know if the zombies arrived? Of course, i suppose if they did arrive there would be no one left to report on it as the living would have all been eaten…

I was downtown in Old Sac on Halloween night. I HAD to go by Evangeline’s. That’s just the most awesome place no matter what time of year. While i was standing in the middle of the street taking a picture, a huge murder of crows flew by… Shiver…

When i walked up to this display, the elevator opened. There was no one in it. Well, i can tell you, iiiiiiiii wasn't going to go in! No way!

There were tons of parties going on all over the town all through the weekend. So if you didn’t get a chance to join in the festivities…you only have yourself to blame! Now we get to watch as all our wonderfully carved pumpkins shrivel into little old men. Funny, but after a few days, they all look exactly the same. Till next year!

Happy Halloween Weekend!

2010-10-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

How can you NOT luv Halloween? You have to be a real-stick-in-the-mud to not enjoy the Fall, the silly and sometimes scary costumes, carved pumpkins, and the yummy candy. It's fun for all ages - not just the kids.

So what's happening?

Check this out - a Zombie Train ride on Friday night. A Flashmob event. How cool is that. Just make sure to have an alternative way to get home from Folsom. Also - check out this link too... If i've read the RT fare rates correctly, the single fare ticket which is good for two hours is $25. Check out RT here.

Ghost Tours of Old Sac.

Here's a massive list of the party scene for Halloween weekend. Everyone should be able to find something that is frightfully right for you.

Get Outside!

2010-09-20T17:38:00.000-07:00

Oh the weather outside is N-I-C-E! Yeah duh. Like no one has noticed. Fall, or Autumn as i like to call it because it sounds – well – more pumpkiny, is just a few days away. The Autumnal Equinox is Sept. 22 at 8:09pm PDT, a time when day and night are equal length. (And the 23rd is the full moon!) It’s such an outdoorsy time. I want to lie in the sun, wiggle my toes in the earth, and watch the leaves fall. Eat chick-a-dee candy. Breath in the cool morning air and bake pumpkin muffins – because i know in just a few more months the weather will turn cold, wet, and grey. Not that that’s a bad thing. But the knowing what’s ahead is what makes the present day even sweeter.

There are some events and places that are dear to my heart and satisfy my need for Nature and just good kid fun. I debated a bit before putting Apple Hill on the list because it’s so well-known, but it really is a fantastic place to visit.

Sacramento – Effie Yeaw Nature Center

I’m always surprised at how many locals have never heard of this beautiful place. It should be at the top of everyone’s list as a great outdoor nature park and information center. And don’t think you have to be a kid to enjoy its bounty!

The park was named after a wonderful teacher, a woman whose passion for conservation spurred the interest of local citizens and councilmen alike and brought about the preservation of what is now the American River Parkway system. The Center has live exhibits, guided tours, a reconstructed Maidu village, and multiple trails that meander through meadows and woods down to the river. In less than one hour, on a visit i made this past Spring, i counted a dozen different animals and butterflies.

Roseville – Maidu Museum and Historic Site (formerly the Maidu Interpretive Center)

Here’s another beautiful and under-appreciated place located right in the middle of Roseville. This center boasts a wonderful, brand new museum – just completed earlier this Spring. The thing i found remarkable and exciting is that this is an actual site of an ancient Maidu town. The people of this land lived and died here for 1000’s of years. There is so much history here in fact that the Center is listed with the National Register of Historic Places. There are numerous petroglyphs, whose meanings have been lost to time, and over 300 bedrock mortars that the Maidu used to grind their acorns. A fresh spring runs through the site – which is quite pretty – and provides water to many animals that live in the area – coyote, beaver, ground squirrels and more.

Elk Grove – Pumpkin Festival
For you festival go-ers, this is a great chance to get out and enjoy the weather and support your local pumpkin! There’s music, a scarecrow decorating contest, food – lots of pumpkin recipes and contests of course – and even a pumpkin regatta on Sunday! Yes – they hollow out a real pumpkin and race it across the lake. No joke. There’s also the heftiest pumpkin contest – last year’s winner weighed in at 1,467.5 lbs! I suppose that’s where they grow pumpkins for Cinderella’s coach.
UPDATE: THIS EVENT IS NOW PAST!

Placerville – Apple Hill
I suppose i don’t need to say much about this one. Apple Hill and Autumn celebrations go hand-in-hand. One of my best memories of when i first moved to Sacramento was when a group of friends and i went to Apple Hill and ate just about every pie concoction made. Our bellies were poking out from under our shirts but – oh! – the pies were so yummy! Definitely good times! Apple Hill has grown so much over the years that i strongly suggest you take a look at the maps available on the website. I really, really like it too that organic produce is available. Nice. I prefer my apples sans pesticides and non-GMO! ;-)

Museum Day - Sept 25th Only!
If allergies or bad weather make it difficult to go outside – there is the Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day where you and a friend or family member can print a ticket from their website and get in to a participating museum for free! (The Maidu Museum is one of those…) Click on their “Find A Museum Near You” button, click on your state, and you can scroll through all the museums that are observing this special.

http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/venue.html

Dancing At The Lake

2010-09-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

Dance is beautiful. Um, let me clarify, not the kind of dance i do at clubs – which is flailing around like my hair is on fire – but graceful, expressive movement of body and soul. THAT kind of dancing. I got a chance to see a troupe the other night in a very unique setting –
E: motion Dance Ensemble at Willow Hill Reservoir in Folsom. The setting was completely different than my memory of college ballet performed in the bowels of a dark theatre. Willow Hill is everything that a theatre is not. Light, airy, fresh, charming. It’s nestled between the arms of Prairie City Road and Iron Point Road adjacent to Folsom High School. Though small, it has a lovely blue pond with cattails rimming one side and tall trees on the other. This picturesque setting was the perfect backdrop for the stage. Who needs a theatre when you have such a wonderful vista!

I got turned on to E: motion through a friend who dances with the group. According to their website, E: motion is dedicated to a limitless fusion of jazz, ballet, modern, musical theatre and basically any number of combinations and creations to express the vision of the director and dancers. Though E: motion has been around for several years, this is the first season they have not been associated with The Sacramento Ballet.

The day had been just a tad too warm, but by 6 PM the sun was dropping low and the Delta breeze kicked up, chilling the sweat off our bodies. The dance began. Lovely. Expressive. Fun. Silly. Theatrical. Heart-wrenchingly beautiful. I loved it all. I’m not a dance critic. And i don’t really care if everyone is in perfect synch or if someone misses a step – what i’m looking for is the overall expression and do i connect to that? The exquisite delicacy of pain etched on a face, the tenderness of arms as they unfold like flowers opening to the sun, the bouncing rhythm of feet hitting the stage, this is the real experience for me. And it was all just lovely. But better than i can express in words – pictures. See for yourself what a wonderful thing it is to Dance!

Deserted on the Sacramento River

2010-07-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

I am a wanderer. And a photographer. Sometimes i ask myself, am i simply wandering and the camera is just a happy passenger capturing moments along the way? Or does some image in my mind make me wander – looking to give shape to the emotions in my soul? Either way, the other day i found myself rambling along a lonesome stretch on the banks of the Sacramento River. And as serendipity would have it, i stumbled across an old lost soul – a broken-down riverboat listing hard to starboard.

In fact, she was sunk in silt and water past her starboard rail and the water rippled softly across the main deck all the way to her port deck guards. She was an eerie sight. Doorways opened into darkness where imagined ghosts of men wandered. It sounds cliche, but the sight made me shiver and i couldn't stem the flow of questions. What was her name? Why did she sink? Who had abandoned her to this fate?

And then, standing there on the banks of the River with the sun setting low, i imagined how haunting and magnificent she would be in the moaning winds of Autumn with swaying lanterns hanging from the upper decks and pilothouse. I would sit inside the dark doorways and watch as people stopped to whisper and wonder. Yeah. I’ve got a bit of deviousness in me – for some reason that makes me smile.

The image of that lonesome hulk stuck with me and when i came home i sat at my computer trying to find who she was, who had she belonged to…and…i found nothing. Zip. Nada. I called the Sacramento Yacht Club, which is just down river, and spoke to a very nice lady. She didn’t know anything about it either though she did say it was supposed to be moved. You know, for all the history surrounding Sacramento, i’ve come to realize that the history dwells on one thing and one thing only. Gold. If you want to know about panning, mining, or claim jumping during the mid 1800’s, there’s a plethora of material available from museums, books, to online sites devoted strictly to the gold era that California is so well-known. The history of the railway gets a nice second billing. (And if you haven’t been to the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sac, you should set aside a Saturday to view some of the best train restorations possibly anywhere in the country.)

However, Sacramento is also known as a port city. Really? Does anyone out there know the stories of the ships and sailors who sailed to this port? Sacramento was founded because it was a port. So where’s our maritime history? Where's our museum? San Francisco? That’s the closest one i could find. There are teasing bits of info on the web, but nothing that constitutes a real collaborative collection of maritime history for a city who’s named after the River. Amazingly enough, the best local info i have found is at the aforementioned museum, the California State Railroad Museum. They have some fine B&W prints, mainly from the early 1900’s, depicting maritime traffic on the river. Yet there is so much more to discover.

I am now intrigued to the point of making phone calls - which i loath above all things. I want to know about these ghosts of the past. The ships. The men who sailed them. The tall tales of the sea and rivers. Is there anyone out there that has some knowledge of the nautical history of the area? Who knows about this haunting ship that lies rotting on the banks of the Sacramento River – what is her story?

Other References:
1. A brief history of Sacramento, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sacramento,_California

2. A history of San Joaquin Delta,
http://www.sacdelta.com/hist.html
3. Historic Old Sacramento Foundation run by the City, http://www.historicoldsac.org/shm.asp
4. An excellent site devoted to maritime history in San Francisco Bay area which also includes lists of ships that sailed to Sacramento, http://www.maritimeheritage.org/index.htm
5. Recent (‘09) discovery of a sunken ship, the Clarksburg, in the Sacramento River, http://www.kcra.com/news/20270043/detail.html

More Free Stuff at The Fountains

2010-07-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

Whoo-hoo! Fourth of July fireworks and concerts in the park. Yup – it’s summer all right! I love the laid-back atmosphere of summer concerts. A warm breeze, a cold beer, and groovy tunes. Ahhhh… Many SAC folks know about Cesar Chavez Park and the Friday Night Concerts (for a list of concerts at CCP click here), but there are a number of other free concert series that run all summer long throughout the valley. One i attended recently was at The Fountains in Roseville.

The Fountains shopping and dining center are still relatively new yet i have avoided it like the plague because – well – there are a lot of exclusive shops there. By exclusive i mean shops i can’t afford. But the lure of free music brought me around and i found my feet wandering into the center late one Saturday evening.

And i’m sorry now that i let my prejudice keep me away; i was snooty about being snooty. Prejudice = missing out on cool stuff. Even if you don’t shop or take advantage of the restaurants, it’s a beautiful place to just wander around. The landscaping – yeah i’m a geek and notice things like that – is beautiful and well-maintained. There is even a large fire pit – which i am certainly going to dig come Autumn. And two things that i’m always looking for in a center and usually don’t find – trash cans and lots of whimsical seating areas.
OK – snicker if you want – but i was happy to not have to wander all over for a trash can to toss my empty water bottle. And the hits don’t stop coming – The Fountains also have a train car ride for the kids. It’s rather cute. My friends tried to talk me into riding it, but i opted out. Hard to believe, i know. But there were other things that had caught my attention…

Yes, the crowning glory of the center – the fountains. Splashing, sparkling, bubbling, lusciously wet fountains. While there are several water features on the property, the central fountain is the most interesting and fun. So maybe it doesn’t rank up there with the Bellagio in Vegas, but it certainly has its own charm.

My first impression made me think of a fountain floating in the clouds. Along with the multiple water jets, colored lights, and music, the fountain boasts a huge set of very fine misters along the inner lip of the pool. It’s a beautiful and welcoming sight – people are drawn into the cooling mists like magic. Advertisers all across the world wish they could get that kind of publicity – the ability to draw in every person without garish signs, promotions, or the Internet. About the only thing that would get more attention are the words “free” followed by the words “chocolate” or “sex.”

But for me, all the above is bonus material; the real reason i came was for the music. On July 3rd i caught the show for Sacramento Blues Revue and was lucky enough to get a front seat. What a blast! A fine line-up of talent – from vocalists to the horn section and lead by Rick von Geldern – energized the crowd. People clapped, whooped, and sang along. It was a fantastic way to start the Fourth weekend.

The following week another blues band hit the stage – Pinkie and Blind Resistance. The name alone piqued my curiosity so i met some friends early and we got a front row seat. We weren’t disappointed. This band plays some wicked blues. I loved their raw and soulful sound. And the harmonica player – wow! Trust me, you’d just have to see and hear this guy to believe it. Words won’t suffice. Pinkie Rideau, their illustrious leader, was as down-home and genuine as they come – and you got it – she loves pink. The band wowed the crowd; people were dancing in the aisles and rocking in their chairs.

Now i’ve only had the good fortune to see these two bands – but if this is any example of what’s in store for the rest of the summer then i’m going to be one happy chica until the tunes stop flowing. Oh happy summer!

NorCal Pirate Festival - Vallejo CA

2010-06-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

I luv Pirates! And it’s another free event so it’s hard for me to not get excited. I’m a poor girl and it irks me no end that all the fun stuff costs what i pay for groceries for the week. So i can either have fun or i can eat. Life’s full of tough choices, isn’t it? ;-)

But not only is the NorCal Pirate Festival a free event, but a really well-organized, “fun-ly-run,” decadently decorated, fantastic weekend of pirating. You’d have to be one grumpy sour-puss to not enjoy yourself. There’s something about pirates that just brings out the silly, fun-loving kid in me. Joie de vivre. It’s like Halloween in summer. If you’re too uptight to enjoy maybe you should get a Doctor to prescribe a bit of medicinal marijuana. OK. Well, maybe not. But with so many great props and backdrops, and folk decked out in nautical garb, it’s hard to resist the levity and good-natured, slap-stick humor. Rum all 'round!

And the fooooooood! Tender lamb and beef gyros; roasted turkey legs; tri-tip; fried artichokes stuffed with goats cheese; cheese blintz with raspberry sauce; tasty, England-style meat pies (and if anyone’s been to England you know if i say “tasty,” it’s been Americanized); and all sorts of scrumptious treats like roasted almonds; yummy soft pretzels; and my favorite – gourmet chocolate fondue over fruit. There was more that i can’t recall at the moment – but it all looked – and smelled – so good! I wanted to go both days just so i could sample more of the food. Oh and rum cakes, i really wanted one of those! Ah well – next year. And yes – for the less gastronomically adventurous, there were hamburgers, sandwiches, fries, and chips. But for me, i can get that any day. The NorCal Pirate Festival is a time to explore!

And explore i did – through every tent-filled shop of treasures. Spun glass the color or the Ocean. Delicate, hand-crafted jewelry fit for a queen or king. Shops with nothing but beautifully designed leather apparel. Call me weird, but i love the smell of leather; i stood in the middle of the tent and just – breathed! Swords, clothing, beads and baubles, it was all here and wonderfully displayed. Sorta like a Ren Faire but better. Then there were the entertainers which reminded me of old vaudeville. As much acting as singing. As much playing as laughing. It’s sometimes hard to tell who’s having more fun – the audience or the performers. When the musicians played, i couldn’t help myself but to sing along and not care one whit what anyone thought of it.

However, the best part of this festival is the people – the organizers, laborers, vendors, and entertainers. Yes, their costumes and site designs were great, their food fantastic, their goods beautiful, their entertainment fun. But it was their love for what they were doing, their sincerity in sharing this gift with everyone, that stood out and made the day. Their happiness was in the air; you could feel it. Wow. Imagine if DMV was run by this group.

Of course, how can you not love having fun? It was a party atmosphere. Pirates passed out “doubloons,” “Capt Jack Sparrow” fought off opponents, and mermaids swam through crowds of onlookers (OK – that was corny). There were all kinds of things for the kids – making nautical knots, magic shows, and sing-a-long sea shanties. The finale for the day was the battle between the “Red Coats” on land who fired their cannons at the attacking pirate ship, the Aldebaran. She’s a schooner with lovely lines and beautiful rust-red sails. The pirates tacked the boat back and forth along the waterfront, returning fire at the British navy. Great ending to a great day.

This is such a fun event, i wish it was twice a year. Oooo – they could hold another on Sept. 19th – on International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Ah-ha! Landlubbers be warned!

Backyard BBQ

2010-06-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

May 2010

It doesn’t happen very often; maybe this will set a trend. I hope so because this weekend was one of the best pick-me-ups i’ve had in a while. The Backyard BBQ hosted by Journey’s was just killer lovely. In this economic crush, it was so welcome to go to a completely FREE – and very cool – event. Those two don’t usually go hand-in-hand. Generally you get crap for free and pay through the nose for real talent. Not this weekend. Saturday rocked. Hello Sacramento and event organizers – T-H-A-N-K- Y-O-U!!!

Journey’s hosted a Backyard BBQ Tour with some great talent – BMXers, skaters, some rad FMX boys, and the sweet tunes of rockin’ bands – simply fantastic. To get the negative heads out of the way – yeah not everything was bliss. The parking was confusing. It took an hour to park and would have taken longer if i had not turned around and parked down the street in an undeveloped lot. There weren’t enough “blue rooms” – either that or they were darn well hidden. I ended up going into the mall and using the facilities there. Maybe that’s what the event organizers wanted – get people in to buy stuff. Then the title to the event was based on the laid-back, down-home goodness of the word BBQ. I didn’t see a food vendor unless you count Rock Star as a food group. But honestly, i wasn’t coming for food anyway. Food at events tends to become a smelly mess. I was fine without the food – i just thought it odd for an event named BBQ.

I’m not going to pretend i knew the BMX, skate, or FMXers. But talent is talent and damn hard to miss. And it was a fine display all around. Skaters – Rob Dyrdek (check out his “Journey Across the Internet” at robsjourney.dcshoes.com), and Chaz Ortiz. BMX talents like Dave Mirra and Chris Doyle. FMXers – i have no idea. I couldn’t find a listing of players on the official site. The sponsor, Metal Mulisha, has a great site but doesn’t list who’s doing what event. Maybe because they don’t know till the event. Whatever. I had a blast watching; i’m particularly attracted to “sports” that developed out of the primal need for fun. The guys turned, twisted, flipped, and levitated boards and bikes alike. Sweet.

Then there was the music. Awesomeness. The event organizers wisely kept the tunes coming – whether live or not – it was head-banging, heel-stomping, thrust-your-fist-in-the-air good times. If i had been driving a car i would have broken the law numerous times. High energy was flowing. I had arrived at the event later in the day and only saw two of the five bands that played. All are CA based, and FFG, A Lover’s Plea, and Hero’s Mission are local to the Sac Valley area. I was sorry to miss Hero as i really dig their sound. But i got the opportunity to hear the opener, Fight Fair, who made me smile with their head-banging rock. And it was obvious from the numerous young girls who thronged to the front, they felt equally pleased – though certainly for different reasons than mine!

But the real all-round treat for me – was Switchfoot. They were the main drive for me being here. Not to take away from any of the talent i had seen or heard, but i’ve followed Switchfoot off and on over the last 7 years and they’ve only gotten better. The kicker is that they are an awesome concert band too. Not all bands can pull that off. And they seem genuine. Real. Like family playing a reunion. I have family members who are in bands, so i know that feeling. Switchfoot is like that. To the heart. They smiled easy. Laughed. They were having fun and radiated energy – and the crowd felt it. When Jon Foreman, the lead singer, gave a little talk on Love – i mean really – there’s a subject that can turn cheesy in a blink. But the sincerity behind it hushed the crowd. Everyone listened. Almost gave me goose bumps from the positive energy that powered his words. It was a perfect moment in a perfect day.

So a shout out to Journey’s, sponsors, and event organizers – Thanks for taking a chance during strange times and bringing good times to Sacramento.

Peace!