Sacramento Unexplored Magazine

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Victorians Revived

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Viking Hobby

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Dining Diaries

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Midtown Bar Bites

ISSUE

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OUR MISSION Sacramento Unexplored is a local quarterly magazine that functions as a guide and resource showcasing lesser known businesses, attractions, events, and recreational activities available in the greater Sacramento region.

Unexplored seeks to engage the Sacramento community to participate in varied facets which the city has to offer to enrich neigborhood experiences and foster community growth

Meet the

TEAM

Brandon Griffin

Emily Masterson

Tyler McCarville

Patricia Wong

Viking Hobby

Midtown Bar Bites

Victorians Revived

Dining Diaries

Issue No. 01

Featured Highlights

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International Hostel 925 H St, Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 443-1691

Stanford Mansion

800 N St, Sacramento, CA 9 5814 (916) 324-0575 M-T CLOSED W-F 10:00 AM–5:00 PM SAT 10:00 AM–5:00 PM SUN 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

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Viking Hobby

4713 El Camino Ave, Carmichael, CA 95608 (916) 483–6885 M-F 10:30 AM–6:00 PM SAT 11:00 AM– 5:00 PM

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Magpie Cafe

1601 16th St, Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 452–7594 M–TH FRI SAT SUN

11:00 AM–9:00 PM 10:00 AM–5:00 PM 8:00 AM–10:00 PM 8:00 AM–3:00 PM

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Federalist

2009 Matsui Alley, Sacramento, CA 95811 (916) 661–6134 M–W TH–F SAT SUN

11:30 AM–10:00 PM 11:30–12:00 AM 11:30–12:00 AM 11:30–12:00 AM

Ramen House Raijin

Block Butcher Bar

1901 S St, Sacramento, CA 95811 (916) 498–9968

1050 20th St, Sacramento, CA 95840 (916) 476-6306

M–F TUES SAT SUN

M–F SAT SUN

11:30 AM–9:00 PM CLOSED 11:30 AM–9:00 PM 11:30 AM–9:00 PM

Localis

2031 S St, Sacramento, CA 95811 (916) 737–7699 M–F SAT SUN

11:00 AM–2:00 PM 5:00–10:00 PM 5:00–10:00 PM CLOSED

4:00 PM-1:00 A.M. 4:00 PM-1:00 A.M. 4:00 PM-1:00 A.M.

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VICTORIANS REVIVED A Repurposed Past written by / Emily Masterson If you are a Sacramento native, chances are you know all too well the sites in Old Sacramento. You have wandered the crowded cobblestone pathways and enjoyed the novel visions of period style buildings and horse drawn carriages. As a day outing to the museum, most likely you found yourself panning for gold at Sacramento’s Historic Museum, exploring the tracks, and marveling the feats of engineering of the Railroad Museum before setting out to see the varied array of antique shops, apparel boutiques, and candy stores lining the streets.

You ended the day feeling as if you got to look into the past.

The Governor’s Mansion and The Capitol Building nearby also offer opportunities to turn back time to see grand, ornate architecture and learn about Sacramento’s long standing history. If you were schooled in the Sacramento region, it is likely that a trip to these landmarks was even a required field trip by your history teacher at some point. However, these well-known places are not the only locations that provide the residents of Sacramento with a history fix. There are numerous less-known sites worth exploring for those interested in discovering the historical flavor of the city.

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“Italian Stick Style architecture, grand columns encompassing the wrap around veranda complete.”

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International Hostel: Sacramento

The first location offers a unique experience for those searching for both Victorian architecture as well as an unconventional place to stay.

The International Hostel in Sacramento provides a unique lodging experience both for those traveling to Sacramento or those just looking for a weekend escape while on a budget. The International Hostel, located on H Street, provides a relaxed environment ripe with historical flair situated in the heart of downtown, central to the nightlife, outdoor recreation, and restaurants available nearby.

Upon encountering the hostel property, guests are charmed by the ornate stairs, Italian Stick Style architecture, grand columns encompassing the wrap around veranda complete with benches perfect for afternoon relaxation. Guests encounter through large doors hovering over patterned tile, clearly worn through their use and therefore beaming with the history of those who went through them. If they are observant enough, the guest might notice the double address numbers overhead alluding to address changes from the mansion’s many moves.

To the right of the entry way a sign sums up the mission of Hosteling International, citing “to help all, especially the young, gain greater understanding of the world and its people through hosteling.”

Upon entering the establishment, hostel guests are greeted by the spaciousness and grand decorations unique to International Hostels, providing historical character to the

historical character to the space. The mansion welcomes its guests both in its visual elegance and inviting atmosphere. Guests are checked in by accommodating staff who more than happily share the detailed history of the hostel and provide tours.

The Traveling Mansion

The Sacramento Hostel is a re-purposed mansion originally owned by Llewellyn “Lew” Williams during the mid 1800s following the gold rush. Williams, drawn to Sacramento like so many others for easy wealth, found his success as a part-owner of the Pioneer Milling Company. An influential member of society, Williams hired the expertise of prestigious architects Seth Babson and James Seadler. Both architects also sign their names to the designs of the Stanford and Crocker Mansions, two historical landmarks of the Sacramento region. Babson and Seadler

would design the mansion in Italianate Stick Style seen at the converted mansion today including intricate bracketing and featuring irregular design aspects. As guests explore the mansions many rooms they may ascend the steep winding staircases which acted as pathways for servants to the Williams family.

Upon the death of Lew Williams, H.G. Smith, William’s partner, became president of the Pioneer Milling Company and acquired the mansion.

Smith soon sold the building to the Van Voorhies Investment Company, who moved the mansion about 40 feet from its original location. In 1904, H. Edward Yardley bought the mansion and under his ownership the mansion served as California’s oldest operating funeral home known as Clark, Booth, and Yardley for quite some time. The funeral home was run by Mory Holmes until 1967. After his

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retirement, the mansion was then leased to the University Club, a club of judges, attorneys, and members of legislature, in the 1970s. The space was used by the club for “meetings and other informal business affairs.” However, in 1978, Mory Holmes acquired the estate again to open what was known as “Mory’s Place: The Victorian,” where he served meals to downtown workers and rented the space for special events like weddings, receptions, and parties. Some may still recognize the mansion as Mory’s Place.

The mansion was sold again in 1988 to developers with plans to build an office building on the mansion’s property. They therefore donated the building to the Golden Gate council of American Youth — what is now Hostelling International.

Their donation came with one caveat: the mansion must be

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moved again. In 1994, the entire mansion was lifted from its foundation and carefully moved directly across H Street. Shortly following the move, the four-story Victorian building underwent remodeling and restoration. By 1995, the mansion reopened in May as the Sacramento Hostel.

In 2001, however the Williams mansion would move back to it’s original location to make way for the expansion of Sacramento’s City Hall. Today, the mansion remains open to the public as a local hostel providing its guests with the opportunity to explore the many activities of Sacramento while maintaining a comfortable and relaxed location in Merchants Row. The Sacramento Hostel is one of many hostels across the country as a part of Hostelling International nonprofit organization. Like the re-purposing of the William’s mansion many of the hostels feature historical

and otherwise unique lodging experiences. Depending upon whether you prefer dorm style rooms, private, or family rooms, the Sacramento International Hostel offers lodging space for prices ranging from $30.00 to $100.00. Guests may stay at the hostel for up to 14 nights.

A free continental breakfast is offered each morning for guests and an open kitchen is available for guests to prepare their own meals. Staying at the hostel likewise provides guests access to the lounges, a modern recreation room with a pool table and vending machines, parking, and free on-site wifi. The hostel likewise serves as beautiful location to accommodate larger groups and may be booked for private events, such as conferences, retreats, reunions, and weddings. For those looking fore a more private experience, the entire mansion may also be rented for exclusive use.

“Sacramento International Hostel provides a unique way to explore and engage in Sacramento’s history.”

However, the Sacramento International Hostel is just one of many locations in California provided by Hostelling International orga-nization. Other sites include Monterey, Point Reyes, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo.

These sites also include rare experiences for their guests, using converted mansions, reinvented lighthouses, and historic buildings for guest lodging.

Hostelling International provides over 4,000 other locations worldwide.

Sacramento is privy to this grand building, overflowing with historical character, from the original wallpaper to the chandelier detailing which displays portraits of the building’s original owner and his wife.

Despite this, it is a spot which is relatively unknown to the public. However, for Sacramento residents and out-of-towners searching for a new experience or a venue for their next event, the Sacramento International Hostel provides a unique way to explore and engage in Sacramento’s history.

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Standford Mansion

The Stanford mansion likewise provides an interesting look into Sacramento’s past.

The Victorian mansion towers over the corner of N Street yet somehow remains an under recognized attraction in the Sacramento area, taking the back seat to other locations such as the Governor’s Mansion and the Crocker Art Museum. However, an unexplored treasure can be found in the Stanford Mansion for those seeking local history beyond the sites Old Sacramento has to offer. The mansion was originally owned by merchant Shelton C. Fogus. However, the mansion is most prominently known for being owned by the Governor of California, Leland Stanford, a powerful influencer at the time. Stanford served as a US Senator from 1885 to 1893, was a member of the infamous “Big Four,” and a founder of Stan-

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ford University. The Stanford family remodeled the house in the early 1870s expanding it and redesigning the estate to reflect French Second Empire architecture, the style most popular at the time. In 1900, the mansion was donated to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento by Jane Stanford following the death of her husband, where the mansion served as an orphanage. By 1957, the house was designated a California Historical Landmark and became a Historic State Park in 1987. After 20 million dollars in renovation of the estate, the Stanford Mansion opened to public tours. These tours offer the opportunity for guests to marvel at the estates’ 17 foot tall ceilings, gilded mirrors, carved moldings, historic paintings, and 19th century style gardens of the elegant Victorian era mansion. The State park is open daily until 5:00PM and

is free for those who want to enjoy the hour long tour. With access to such history, it seems a shame to overlook the many sites in Sacramento offering a look into the past. While museums and period style dress of Old Sacramento provide entertainment value, there is more to explore in the City of Trees than the expected and popular. Whether staying overnight and attending an event at the International Hostel or wondering at the architectural marvels of the Standford Mansion, Sacramento has many unexplored locations for those seeking more to Sacramento’s history.

Go find them.

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C RO CKE R A RT MU S EUM

NEW EXHIBITS COMING IN 2015 Tuesday – Sunday Thursday

10 AM – 5 PM 10 AM – 9 PM

VIKING HOBBY

A Classic Assault on the Modern Age of Gaming

written by / Brandon Griffin

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“ You may raise an eyebrow at the customer service factor being labeled as a key reason to pay attention to this shop.”

“There is so much stuff.”

It might not be apparent for those not in the hobby, but today, we are in a golden age of gaming. Even though this golden age is more of a recent development, there is one store in the city that has been catering to this demographic for a very long time. Yeah, since before it was cool. Not only does the store have OG cred, its selection is more robust than its more modern competition. Where is this gem, you may ask? Well, the store sits on the corner of El Camino and Eastern, which frankly, feels a little bit like the middle of nowhere. It sits across the street from an old shopping center, where it feels like somebody cut and pasted part of 80s miami into the modern age and left it out in the sun too long. The store itself has a humble exterior – a black and white sign that stands tall yet unassuming.

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Walk inside, and the modest exterior empties into something anything but. There is so. much. stuff. it’s hard to decide whether it would be better to spend hours reading and perusing the various games, or simply admire the abstract expressionist feel of the shelves bursting with games and models. Product is stacked near floor to ceiling inside, just waiting for your perusal. Your guides on the massive game safari are Jessica the owner and Mark, a long time employee. You want to be that guy and ask for the 40 pound

“…all sorts pass through these doors.

It’s a good reminder of gaming culture,

of the way you treat your customers.” Just because. It was nice to hear this from someone besides myself without needing to probe for it.

It’s not too difficult to see why this sort of thing means so much to people. For the consumer that participates in a niche hobby, sometimes it can be preferable to talk to someone with experience and love for your hobby, and not just the cold steel gaze of Amazon or other online retailers.

In my 10 or so years of buying from Viking, I have seen, rich, poor, young, old, all sorts pass through these doors. It’s a good reminder of gaming culture, and how it defies classification.

A good chunk of this interest I would believe,

and how it defies classification.” grand strategy game on the top shelf? No problem. Jessica is probably already grabbing it for you. The service in Viking Hobby is impeccable.

Really, even for in the modern age where price and convenience tend to be more of a focus than the shopping experience itself, the store’s service really helps it stand out. That said, you may raise an eyebrow at the customer service factor being labeled as a key reason to pay attention to this shop. It sounds trite to base much of the worth of a business on that “small town” feel, especially in today’s age where it’s possible to 2 day ship pretty much anything with a few minutes of clicking. Not trite here. Viking Hobby is the real deal.

I would call it the poster child for the “Brick and Mortar” shop. If you don’t know, “Brick and Mortar” is a designation that describes small independent shops. They are definitely a dying breed, and the way Viking is run truly is a lost art.

I have never seen a stranger in this store. The day I was shooting photos for Sacramento Unexplored, I heard someone say something to the effect of “you have my business because

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is the browsing experience of the store itself.

Viking Hobby is built to browse. Most modern stores follow the modern rules of business: the bottom line is paramount, buy what sells. Viking Hobby like any viking worth it’s salt, spits in the face of these rules and happily thrives without them. Modern stores, tend to stock a ton of “safe” product, items that may be more popular and less niche because it carries less risk to hold as an asset.

The problem with this approach, is that because of individual costs, the store owner will never be able to compete with what online retailers like Amazon can offer. Sadly, other than simply having a desire to support businesses with souls, there is no real advantage to support the little guy who plays it safe over a giant like Amazon. The only true advantage these stores have over the online retailers is the browsing aspect – the idea that you can wanderlust around for an hour or two, getting that immediate gratification of an impulse purchase that you may not have known existed.

With many other retailers, namely, the safe spots with towers of Fantasy Flight Games and Games Workshop product, the browsing aspect suffers. Why spend time driving to a store to look at what you already wanted, and what could just as easily buy online without putting

pants on? This is the trap of retail in the modern age. It’s dying. The question retailers are asking should be “what can I do that the internet can’t?” Viking Hobby can answer this question, and this is why Viking Hobby can thrive in the shadow of Amazon. Browsing Viking Hobby is a quite the journey because the store has been in business for so long. There is a vast variety of gaming history and niche in the stock – 30 dollar breadcrumbs of various states of gaming long past. Viking can manage this, because it doesn’t suffer by not having a security blanket like many other brick and mortar stores.

Thankfully, they cater to participants of a series of gaming niches, and not just that, they treat them well. Because of the rapport and relationship they’ve built, they can buy what their customers want, which ensures purchases, and more varied stock than the competition.

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I realize that the focus of the article is the experience of Viking Hobby, and the draw is that it exists in a world where technically it shouldn’t.

Though to add some color, what product-wise what can one enjoy at Viking Hobby that they can’t enjoy anywhere else? Well, one thing, is that Viking stocks what I would call a true wargame. Many new school gamers will consider a wargame as anything with a hex grid and units, but that’s not a wargame in the traditional sense. A true wargame is the kind that old men with beards mull over for hours and leave out on the table for weeks before they finish, with themes ranging from obscure Napoleonic

skirmishes to WWII. In fact, this is one of the reasons the store was founded. The owner Ken, is a history buff, and wanted to find a engaging way to get people involved in history. That way was tabletop gaming, and the store opened in 1976 with this intent. A pretty noble goal, and thankfully for us, it ended up being successful.

So next time you’re out in Arden-Arcade and want to chat with a friendly face about gaming, seek out Viking Hobby. They’ve done the impossible and held back Amazon with their knowledge, kindness, and vast wall of diverse and awesome product. They deserve your business, and will treat you well.

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Local Agriculture Prepared Food Artisans & Crafters

MIDTOWN F A R M E R ’ S

MARKET

Every Saturday 8 AM – 1 PM

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DINING DIARIES Midtown’s Meet & Eat written by / Patricia Wong

Food Culture is when you enjoy food in the deepest and purest sense and thoroughly enjoying that dining experience.

Gastronomy can be described as an art or science of good food or a study of food and culture with a focus on gourmet cuisine. The foodie culture is not satisfied with mass production of food; instead, they like to buy organic or local food and dine at restaurants with unique cuisine to spark a conversation. All of these subcultures and studies have emerged from understanding food and simply having some food appreciation. In Sacramento, the dining experience is exquisite and quite different from other cities in the Northern California region. This time I am taking the food experience to the beautiful midtown area of Sacramento.

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I. Breakfast/Brunch Magpie Cafè was founded in 2009 by Janel Inouye and Ed Roeher and was best known as a catering company. Recently they made a new home at the 16 Powerhouse building on 16th and P street. Although they havemoved to a different area of midtown, their newly opened bakery shop, Nido now resides at their old location.

With the help of the talented culinary team: Ed Roehr, Chris Woo, Kelly Hogge, a new type of New American cuisine has emerged. This was the first time I had gone to sample their brunch menu, so I was curious of what was in store for me. I ordered the natural pulled pork sandwich with potato salad and couldn’t help to ask for the ice cream sandwich.

The sandwich was on a heavier side for me, but I grabbed a taste and bit through the tender pork easily, but was left with the taste of the sweet barbeque sauce. The bread was soft but not too soft that it became chewy; hence, it was easier to take a bite. The potato salad was much different than the traditional version, it looked like it had sweet potatoes instead of yellow and there was a either minced pickles or relish mixed into it giving it a sweet and sour taste. The ice cream sandwich was made with gingerbread cookies and homemade ice-cream that did not melt as fast. It was a nice, sweet treat for the end of the meal.

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II. Lunch Interested in the culture of ramen? Ramen House Rai Jin is the sister restaurant to Ryujin that opened recently in July 3, 2015 by the same owner. The waitress informed me that there were actually a couple of different styles of Ramen. Shio based ramen originated from Hokkaido, shoyu is from Tokyo, and tonkatsu(pork) is from the region of Kyushu. The most important ingredient to make a delicious ramen is the broth.

However, nowadays all of the styles are mixed. She also mentioned that L.A. has a large selection of ramen and most of the ramen culture is centralized in San Jose.

The waitress proudly said that there was no msg used in the broth and that their ramen is the closest to the taste of Japan.

After answering, she went back to the kitchen to bring the appetizer, which was the Kakuni Bun, braised pork belly sandwich wrapped in a white bun. The pork belly’s braising was similar to the Chinese version of

red braising. When I took the first bite, the pork belly was chewy and tender where I could really taste the rich texture of the pork belly salivating in my mouth.

I ordered the Kara Miso Tonkatsu Ramen and the taste of the dish thoroughly surprised me.. Although the chashu (pork) is usually sliced thickly, the pork slices were a bit thinner then I anticipated but it was just the right portion for me since I have always enjoyed eating noodles more than meat when its soup-based.

The noodles were al dante, firm to bite, and cooked correctly that it left the mouth after smooth, satisfying bite. It was the first time I had boiled egg in ramen that was runny and half cooked with the yolk oozing slowly from the center. Most of the time, the boiled eggs yolk is overcooked. The broth had a hint of the tonkatsu flavor mixed in with a mild spicy sauce. This combination made me feel nostalgic of the times I have been in Japan after a tiring airplane ride, I would always be hungry and my go to food was ramen.

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“

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It is based on how much we love food and appreciate people that love food to be able to share that passion.

III. Dinner Localis provides a fresh change of scenery in the fine dining experience. Located on 2031 S. Street, the ambience was warm and relaxing. After sitting down and taking my time looking through the unique items on the menu, the waiter, Danny came and I wanted to confirm my fact checking about the restaurant. He mentioned that most of their ingredients come from at 150 mile radius of the great Northern California region fresh and whatever is in season. The restaurant works close with the local food vendors such as Laughing Duck Farms. Additionally, the vendor of Laughing Duck Farms, Kathryn McRoberts also helps plant herbs around the restaurant’s patio to ensure the freshness of the ingredients. I didn’t believe it until I saw one of the chefs come out and start picking out some of the herbs needed to prepare the meals. As I asked my questions, he told me that he be happy to introduce the chef to us and that was something that I had rarely experienced.

Executive Chef Christopher Barnum later on came out to introduce himself and from our conversation, one could tell how much passion he has for his craft. He told me that the experience he aims for is beyond the the fancy food. “It is based on how much we love food and appreciate people that love food to be able to share that passion to create an experience.” In addition, he mentioned that all the food created in the kitchen is “as fresh as we can make it.” After our light conversation, the appetizers began to arrive and it was time to start my fine dining experience.

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It was difficult to pick a dish to talk about because all of Chef Barnum’s food felt like I was eating works of art and his presentation was aesthetically pleasing; clean and modern. The Bacon and Eggs had an interesting composition, it was made with whey potato, pasture egg, Jamon Serrano, peashoots, and pesto.When the yolk was split and oozed into the cracks of the block of cooked whey potato, it added to the texture and never had I had the honor of fully tasting the taste of a potato. The pea shoots had some vin gear taste with the pesto that was the perfect complement to the rich

taste emitting from the whey potato. This dish alone is only the beginnings of the unique food experience that Localis has to offer.

These recommendations are not restricted to these few restaurants; this is only the beginning of being able to explore the rest of the midtown area. It is also revolutionizing to see that the food trend in Sacramento is growing rapidly and all of these diverse food cuisines integrating together. The next segment will be focused in North Sacramento where the next part of my food adventures will begin.

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BAR BITES written by: Tyler McCarville

“ If you are driving down Capitol Ave in the Midtown of Sacramento looking for food and drinks, there is a good chance you may miss a place you wish you hadn’t. ” MIDTOWN BAR BITES

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Midtown Sacramento, or more commonly known as just “Midtown” is an area of Sacramento that is thriving with new discoveries. This residential based historical district is a face for the music and art culture here in Sacramento. Midtown has a wide variety of bars, clubs and dining to offer and is conveniently located near the downtown of Sacramento.

Midtown is a diverse community with much to offer.

If you are driving down Capitol Ave in the Midtown

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of Sacramento looking for food and drinks, there is a good chance you may miss a place you wish you hadn’t.

Tucked away in the alley between Capitol and N Street, you will find Federalist. The outside of this little establishment may take you by surprise with their lack of traditional restaurant exterior. The Federalist Public House & Beer Garden is one of Sacramento’s newest additions to the Beer Garden and restaurant scene.

What makes Federalist so interesting is its unique structure. The establishment is comprised of seven, forty foot shipping containers that are specifically arranged in the middle of an alley. The indoor space of the Federalist surrounded by the several shipping containers allows for an indoor protection but with a sense of still be be connected with outside elements.

The structure was created by an architect by the name of Marvin Maldonado. Who is a local resident of Sacramento and who happens to live in the Federalist style

house which the establishment was named after.

Federalist creates a 2,200 square foot restaurant that sits directly behind a Federalist Style Victorian house that dates back over a century old. These seven shipping containers that were turned into a restaurant and name Federalist were modified and supplied by the company CubeDepot, a Santa Barbra based company.

Dining and drinking inside Federalist is like no other atmosphere in Sacramento.

Federalist has a tag line of pizza, beer and bocce, and that is exactly what they have

to offer. From their menu, and one of the most popular orders, they serve a tradition style Neapolitan style pizza.

Other items featured from Federalist include small bites, additional signature wood fired pizzas, farm to fork salads, sandwiches, and savory desserts to finish off your night. With being a localized individual business, Federalist focuses on offering a variety of beer from local and California breweries.

Sierra Nevada, Firestone Walker, Ruhstaller and Track 7 are a few of the crafts beers offered here.

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If you are not much of a beer goer but more of a wine drinking, they also offer a wine list that keeps on track with their local feel. If you are someone who frequently visits Midtown Sacramento for dining and night life,more often then not you have found yourself at the very popular Low Brau Bierhall for a drink.

What you may not have known is attached to Low Brau, physically and by a connecting back entrance is small and intimate restaurant and bar. Block Butcher Bar extends off of Low Brau as a fine meat, cheese, and spirit establishment.

Block Butcher Bar has a fine cocktail menu including an overwhelming whiskey list with a few choices of beers and wines. Block Butcher Bar is newer than Low Brau but puts off a sense of being the older more sophisticated sibling. The close quarters of Block Butcher Bar consist of a bar that serves specialty-crafted drinks, a three booth and three table seating area, with a dark wooded low lighting ambiance. Everyone from a whiskey expert to a cheese and meat aficionado to a person who just want to enjoy a couple specialty items without all the craziness of a bigger establishment on the

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an outlet for creative expression through unique and artisanal beers

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