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America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital GUEST AND RESOURCE GUIDE
DOCO | GOLDEN 1 CENTER
live. play. hang.
riverwalk. baseball. art. beer. architecture. good design. #TBDLIFE
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EXPERIENCE WINNING
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Management reserves all rights. Problem Gambling? 1-800-GAMBLER
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FOR QUESTIONS CALL: Karen Newman 214-891-5875
Once you Cache In, you’ll never want to cash out anywhere else.
cachecreek.com
Cache Creek Casino Resort is committed to responsible gaming. For help, call 1-800-Gambler. Must be 21 to gamble.
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Hello
million acres of farmland, Sacramento is known as America’ Farm-to-Fork Capital . . . and our regional restaurants are serving up fresh flavors that are unmatched. From Michelin-rated restaurants to casual pizza parlors, your meal is sure to be locally sourced and delicious. Wash it all down with one of our award-winning craft beers, sip from one of the more than 200 wineries in our region or grab a cup from one of our celebrated coffee roasters. And if you get the chance, pull up a chair at one of the many restaurants inviting you to enjoy Farm to Fork Al Fresco with extended outdoor seating that allows for plenty of space and an opportunity to enjoy Sacramento’s unmatched weather. While there’s so much to see, we invite you to consider Sacramento your home away from home and enjoy the new tastes, sights and sounds that our city has to offer. And don’t be afraid to make yourself comfortable—after all, that’s what being in Sacramento is all about. Thank you again for the chance to serve you during your visit, and please come back to see us soon!
Mike Testa President and CEO Visit Sacramento
True Love Photo
Dear Friends and Visitors, Welcome to Sacramento! We’re honored that you’ve decided to spend time in our city, especially in a time when so many of us are in need of some relaxation and joy. Sacramento offers a piece of just about everything you’d expect from a California destination—great weather, delicious restaurants, plenty of wineries and breweries and an abundance of outdoor activities ready to be explored. But what sets Sacramento apart is the spirit of our community. Whether you’re enjoying a meal in an elegant bistro or pedaling for a pint on the Sac Brew Bike, Sacramento is an approachable place where you’ll quickly feel like a local. And in a time when health and safety has never been more important, you can rest assured that ours is a community that is dedicated to everyone’s collective well-being. So, where to start? Check out our famed Crocker Art Museum or lose yourself in a midtown gallery. Get in some retail therapy at Downtown Commons (or DOCO, as we call it). Or, just lace up your sneakers and tour the city. Be sure to look up while you’re at it—our local mural festival, Wide Open Walls, has added more than 100 works of art to buildings across Sacramento. Experience our agri-cultural legend at one of our famed farmers markets or just take a seat in one of our picturesque parks. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, it’s a must that you get a true taste of Sac-ramento cuisine. Surrounded by 1.5 6 2020 / 2021 METROPOLITAN SACRAMENTO GUEST AND RESOURCE GUIDE
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Imagine justice in the shape of a tree. Even in the “City of Trees,” trees aren’t everywhere. In poor, unshaded communities, homes absorb heat during the day and don’t cool off at night. These are our neighbors who will be most at risk from the increasingly hot summers ahead. However, a tree canopy can cool a neighborhood by as much as 10 degrees and reduce cooling costs by up to 40 percent. At UC Davis, we believe facing
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tomorrow’s challenges means thinking outside expected lanes. It means thinking of the urban forest not as a beautification project but as a critical public health asset.
Learn more about where climate, research and justice meet at climatechange.ucdavis.edu.
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Contents
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G U EST AN D R ESOU RCE G U I DE
Contents FEATURES
36
Take a Tour
Local tour companies offer a broad variety of ways to see the city.
40
Weekend in Sac
Let’s say you’ve got three days. Here’s what to do.
Jose Garcia / @vibrant_visuals_916
44
10 Things To Do in Sacramento
Here’s a short list of possibilities for fun while you’re in town.
46
56
Area architecture reflects the past, shows the present and predicts the future.
The Sacramento region is surrounded by wine country.
City Landmarks
52
All Around Town
See six of Sacramento’s venerable neighborhoods.
Through the Grapevine
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Fill Your Shopping Bag
Retail options abound, whether you love a mall or a local boutique.
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Contents
2 0 2 0 / 2 0 2 1 M E T R O P O L I TA N
G U EST AN D R ESOU RCE G U I DE
6 Hello from Mike Testa, Visit Sacramento
13 Glad You’re Here
16 Maps
20 Photos
27 Getting Around
28 Resources
30 Calendar of Events
34 Want To Spend the Night? 61 Good Sports
66 Dining: Ready, Set, Eat!
80 Attractions: Out and About Museums, Galleries, Venues, Performing Arts
84 Recreation: Adventures Galore! Parks, Trails, Pools, Golf Courses, Casinos, Indoor Climbing
88 Nightlife: After Dark
90 A Slice of Sacramento
Lyda Mock
Bars, Beer Halls, Night Clubs
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TAKE OUT
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About Us ADMINISTRATION
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Accounting/Business Manager Tracy Strong
America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital
CIRCULATION
PUBLISHED BY SACRAMENTO MEDIA LLC
Circulation Manager Riley Meyers
Publisher Dennis Rainey Editorial Director Krista Minard
PRODUCTION
Project Art Director John Facundo Jr.
Production Director Stephen Rice
EDITORIAL AND ART
SACRAMENTO MEDIA LLC
Managing Editor Darlena Belushin McKay
CEO Stefan Wanczyk
Dining Editor Marybeth Bizjak
President John Balardo
Calendar Editor Kari L. Rose Parsell
2020 / 2021 METROPOLITAN SACRAMENTO GUEST AND RESOURCE GUIDE
2020 / 2021 METROPOLITAN SACRAMENTO GUEST AND RESOURCE GUIDE
GUEST AND RESOURCE GUIDE
DOCO | GOLDEN 1 CENTER
ON THE COVER: Fans stand in line for a Sacramento Kings game at Golden 1 Center/DOCO Photo by William Thompson
ADVERTISING National Accounts Manager Lisa Bonk Advertising Managers Duffy Kelly, Victor Obenauf, Carla Shults Senior Advertising Designer John Facundo Jr.
MARKETING AND WEB Director of Marketing and Digital Media Dan Poggetti Marketing and Digital Media Coordinator Nicole Kern
2020 Sacramento Media LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction, either in whole or in part, is forbidden without written permission from the publisher. All prices and dates mentioned are subject to change without notice. 231 Lathrop Way, Suite A, Sacramento, CA 95815; (916) 426-1720, sacmag.com For copies of the Metropolitan Sacramento Guest and Resource Guide ($13.95), call (916) 426-1720.
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Welcome
Glad You’re Here At first, it may seem like a trick question: Are you here for the bright lights of our big city, or the warmth of our small town? But soon you’ll see that Sacramento encompasses both aspects, since our amenities and activities are plentiful, and our roots are as deep as those of the trees that grow alongside the confluence of our two rivers. Let’s get down to business. (We can talk about leisure after a bit.) As the capital city of the fifth-largest economy in the world, Sacramento offers an attractive climate to start or grow a business. A strong economy, healthy employment rate, ethnic diversity and seismic stability make it one of the most livable cities in the nation. And the region has surged in prominence since Golden 1 Center, the $558 million arena, debuted in 2016. The “greenest” and most technologically advanced arena in the world is home to the Sacramento Kings, our city’s NBA team, and it also hosts a plethora of high-profile concerts and events. The arena has stimulated housing, dining, arts and entertainment options to spring up all around, which have created many opportunities with regard to leisure. Sacramento has burgeoned into a hip metropolis with a vibrant cultural scene, replete with theater, music and ballet. You’ll also find literary readings,
comedy shows and lots of community festivals that fill parks and riverbanks. Artworks painted during the Wide Open Walls mural festival have splashed color throughout the city. You can explore it all, then replenish your energy at one of the many dining spots that use the freshest and most local California ingredients. The region’s designation as the Farmto-Fork Capital of America celebrates its position among some of the greatest agricultural producers in the world. While the farm-to-fork movement is celebrated all around the country, very few places offer a similar bounty to Sacramento, thanks to its Mediterranean climate. From the verdant fields of the Capay Valley just north of town, to the apple orchards of El Dorado County east of it, the region produces an admirable array of fruits, vegetables, livestock and other foodstuffs, and chefs and farmers see each other as partners in what turns up on restaurant plates. Farm-to-fork encompasses everything from sustainably raised caviar to the craft cocktails served at local bars. It’s the grass-fed cattle raised by local restaurateurs for their own kitchens and the heritage hops recently reintroduced to the fields along Interstate 80 for use at the artisanal breweries. Sacramento offers much for families and recreationalists in the way of year-round outdoor activities. With several regional 2020 / 2021 METROPOLITAN SACRAMENTO GUEST AND RESOURCE GUIDE
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Welcome
parks, including McKinley and William Land, golf courses and gathering spots along the American and Sacramento rivers, the area draws people who love the great outdoors. One local gem: the 32-mile American River Bike Trail, which runs from Old Sacramento to Folsom and beckons not just cyclists but runners, walkers and others who just want to explore along the banks of the river. Cool off at Folsom Lake, where miles of trails wind into the foothills, or Lake Natoma—home of Sacramento State Aquatic Center. The region’s other river, the Sacramento, provides prime boating conditions. Catch a game while you’re here: The Sacramento Kings play basketball at Golden 1 Center; the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats, play baseball at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento; and at Cal Expo’s Papa Murphy’s Park, the Sacramento Republic FC puts on a rousing soccer match. Sacramento is surrounded by some world-renowned destinations, including Lake Tahoe, San Francisco Bay Area, Napa
Valley, Yosemite National Park and Monterey/Carmel, all within a couple hours’ drive. In the foothills, Lodi and the Delta, you’ll find more wine country. You can see that Sacramento has come a long way from its beginnings as a supply center for gold prospectors who came from around the globe to make their fortunes along the American River (where gold was discovered in Coloma, just east of Sacramento, in 1848). The city sprang up at the intersection of the American and Sacramento rivers—now the Old Sacramento Waterfront—and over the course of the second half of the 19th century, it withstood floods and fire to become a thriving commercial and railroad hub—and California’s capital. The best of these beginnings have been preserved, from the beautiful Victorian homes and Craftsman bungalows in the central city to the historic district of Old Sacramento, with its woodplank sidewalks historical museums. All in all, the richness of history and the vitality of the present combine for a lively visitor experience. We greet you warmly!
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OLD SUGAR MILL 35265 WILLOW AVE CLARKSBURG, CA 95612
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Sacramento is alive with exciting sights, sounds and smells. Fresh Farm-to-Fork food, concerts at Golden 1 Center, locally roasted coffee and craft beer, public art around every corner, and more. It’s all happening here and now. Welcome to a city that is full of never-ending possibilities. VisitSacramento.com
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2362 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95825 916.485.4911 | www.renaissancecorp.com
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Photos
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Papa Murphy’s Park—Home of the Sacramento Republic FC, this sports venue at Cal Expo holds 11,500-plus screaming soccer fans. Photography by Sara Molina @sacrepublic
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Photos Sacramento Mural at Sac State– Composed of 15-foot-tall letters, each painted by a different artist, this mural went up during the opening ceremonies for the Wide Open Walls public art festival in 2018. Photography by Hrach Avetisyan @avetimedia
California State Capitol— As the capital of California, Sacramento is home to one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the nation. Photography by Alfredo Castillo @viewsacramento
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Tower Bridge at Night—One of the region’s most photographed landmarks, the Tower Bridge spans the Sacramento River between West Sac and Old Sacramento Waterfront; it lifts vertically to allow boat traffi c to pass beneath. Photography by David Moreno @davidmoreno.photography
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Sunflowers–Each summer, vast fi elds of sunfl owers sway in the breeze beside Interstate 80 and off roads surrounding Davis and Winters. Photography by Tatyana Fomina @taty_fomina
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Cosumnes River Preserve—This gem, located just south of downtown Sacramento, is a gorgeous spot for walks and bird-watching. Photography by Tatyana Fomina @taty_fomina
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Getting Around
Getting Around AIRPORTS Executive Airport (SAC) 6151 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 875-9035, sacramento.aero/sac Mather Airport (MHR) 10425 Norden Ave., Mather, (916) 875-7077, sacramento.aero/mhr Sacramento International Airport (SMF) 6900 Airport Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 929-5411, sacramento.aero/smf
AIRLINES AT SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Aeroméxico, Terminal B, (800) 237-6639, aeromexico.com Air Canada, Terminal A, (888) 247-2262, aircanada.com Alaska Airlines, Terminal B, (800) 252-7522, alaskaair.com American Airlines, Terminal A, (800) 433-7300, aa.com Boutique Air, Terminal B, (855) 268-8478, boutiqueair.com Contour Airlines, Terminal B, (888) 332-6686, contourairlines.com Delta, Terminal A, (800) 221-1212, delta.com Frontier, Terminal B, (801) 401-9000, flyfrontier.com Hawaiian Airlines, Terminal B, (800) 367-5320, hawaiianairlines.com Horizon Air, Terminal B, (800) 252-7522, alaskaair.com JetBlue, Terminal B, (800) 538-2583, jetblue.com Spirit, Terminal B, (810) 401-2222, spirit.com Southwest Airlines, Terminal B, (800) 435-9792, southwest.com Sun Country Airlines, Terminal B, (651) 9052737, suncountry.com
PUBLIC TRANSIT/BUS SERVICE Sacramento Regional Transit (916) 321-2877, sacrt.com SacRT operates 80 bus routes and 43 miles of light rail covering a 400-square-mile service area. Route 142 offers express airport bus service from downtown to Sacramento International Airport every 20–30 minutes daily from 3:25 a.m. to midnight. See schedule at sacrt.com. Yolobus (916) 371-2877, yolobus.com Serves West Sacramento, Davis, Woodland, Winters and other Yolo County towns plus downtown Sacramento and Sacramento Causeway Connection foa.ucdavis.edu/initiatives/ causeway-connection All-electric shuttle buses run express service weekdays between UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and UC Davis campus in Davis, plus limited stops in downtown Sacramento. International Airport Greyhound Bus Station, 420 Richards Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 444-6858, greyhound.com Service from Sacramento to more than 2,400 destinations throughout the United States Megabus (877) 462-6342, us.megabus.com Service from Sacramento to San Francisco, from University/65th Light Rail Station, 6740 Q St., Sacramento Paratransit (916) 429-2009, paratransit.org Service for elderly and disabled riders with prior registration and one- to two-day advance reservation. SacRT assumes paratransit operations under the name SacRT Go Paratransit Services as of July 2020. (916) 557-4685, sacrt. com/apps/sacrt-go-paratransit-services
APP-BASED RIDE-SHARE SERVICES Lyft lyft.com SmaRT Ride (916) 556-0100, sacrt.com/apps/smart-ride SacRT’s on-demand, app-based shuttle service takes riders curb to curb or corner to corner within select zones in the city and certain suburbs. Via West Sacramento (916) 318-5101, ridewithvia.com/westsacramento On-demand, app-based service uses ViaVans to take riders throughout West Sacramento.
United Airlines, Terminal A, (800) 864-8331, united.com
Uber uber.com
Volaris, Terminal B, (855) 865-2747, volaris.com
Wings wingz.me
TRAINS
YCS (Yellow Cab of Sacramento), yellowcabsacramento.com/ycs-mobile-app
Sacramento Valley Station 401 I St., Sacramento (877) 974-3322, amtrak.com/stations/sac Open daily 4 a.m.–midnight
TAXIS
Capitol Corridor (capitolcorridor.org) runs daily passenger service between the Sacramento region and the Bay Area, including 18 stations from Auburn to San Jose and a bus connection between Emeryville and San Francisco. San Joaquins (amtrak.com/san-joaquins-train) runs daily passenger service between Sacramento (or San Francisco) and the Central Valley, including bus connections to Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks and bus connections between Bakersfield and Southern California.
EXECUTIVE CAR SERVICE/ LIMOUSINES/ MOTORCOACHES API Limousine (916) 852-5466, apilimos.com Baja Limo (916) 638-1400, bajalimo.net Barrett Executive Transportation Services (916) 858-1221, gobarrett.com Capitol City Limousine (916) 858-1775, capitolcitylimo.net Empire Limousine (916) 985-4002, limousine-sacramento.com ExecuCar (916) 648-2500; (800) 410-4444, execucar.com Global Limos (800) 414-0442; (888) 600-6098, globallimos.com/sacramento.html Limo Club Sacramento (916) 444-5466, limoclub.com Limo Service Sacramento (916) 221-0462, limoservicesacramento.com Neumann Enterprises (916) 922-5466, neumannlimo.com 1 Way Tesla (916) 672-1929, 1waytesla.com Royal Coach (916) 331-5553, sacramentoroyalcoach.com Sterling Ride Co. (916) 905-3995, sterlingride.com Universal Limousine and Transportation (855) 361-5466, universallimo.com
BUS AND MOTORCOACH CHARTERS All West Coach Lines (916) 423-4000; coachusa. com Amador Stage Lines (916) 444-7880, amadorstagelines.com Delta Charter Bus (209) 465-1053; (888) 2418543, deltacharterbus.com
CAR RENTAL Rental car companies at Sacramento International Airport include: Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, E-Z Rent-a-Car, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless and Thrifty. See carrentals.com, kayak.com or rentalcars.com for a list of currently available cars at these companies and others.
CAR SHARE Gig gigcarshare.com Turo turo.com Zipcar zipcar.com
BIKE RENTAL
Americab (916) 441-5555, americab.net California Co-op Cab (916) 444-7777, californiacoopcab.com Jay’s Cab Service (916) 504-8500, jayscab.net Ray Star Taxi (916) 222-4499, raystartaxi.com Sacramento City Cab (916) 604-1111, sacramentocitycab.com Sacramento Taxi Yellow Cab Co. (916) 8882222, sacramentoyellowcabco.com Yellow Cab Co. of Sacramento (916) 444-2222, yellowcabsacramento.com
Folsom Bike folsombike.com 7610 Folsom Auburn Road #100, Folsom, (916) 432-8374 Practical Cycle practicalcycle.com 905 Leidesdorff St., Folsom, (916) 706-0077
BIKE & SCOOTER SHARE JUMP jump.com (via Uber) Bird bird.co/#ride-on Spin spin.app More than 3,000 Jump, Bird and Spin electric scooters and 1,000 Jump electric bikes cruise local city streets, with more to come. To use, download the company’s app to your smartphone to create an account, locate (or reserve) your scooter or bike, pay for it, unlock it, and go!
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Resources
Resources SAFETY Emergency: Call 9-1-1 (to report a fire, save a life, or report a crime in progress or just occurred) Non-Emergency: Sacramento Police Department (916) 2645471, cityofsacramento.org/police Sacramento Fire Department (916) 808-1300, cityofsacramento.org/fire Sacramento County Sheriff (916) 874-5115, sacsheriff.com (events in Sacramento County only)
HOSPITALS Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center and Offices 2025 Morse Ave., Sacramento, (916) 973-5000, healthy. kaiserpermanente.org Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center 6600 Bruceville Road, Sacramento, (916) 688-2000, healthy. kaiserpermanente.org Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center 1600 Eureka Road, Roseville, (916) 784-4000, healthy.kaiserpermanente.org
Mercy General Hospital (Dignity Health) 4001 J St., Sacramento, (855) 900-3785, dignityhealth.org/sacramento/locations/mercygeneral-hospital Mercy Hospital of Folsom (Dignity Health) 1650 Creekside Drive, Folsom, (855) 476-2617, dignityhealth.org/sacramento/locations/mercyhospital-of-folsom Mercy San Juan Medical Center (Dignity Health) 6501 Coyle Ave., Carmichael, (855) 6528954, dignityhealth.org/sacramento/locations/ mercy-san-juan-medical-center Methodist Hospital of Sacramento (Dignity Health) 7500 Hospital Drive, Sacramento (South), (844) 370-7681, dignityhealth.org/ sacramento/locations/methodist-hospitalof-sacramento Shriners Hospitals for Children – Northern California 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 453-2191, shrinershospitalsforchildren.org Sutter Medical Center 2825 Capitol Ave., Sacramento, (916) 887-0000, sutterhealth.org Sutter Roseville Medical Center One Medical Plaza Drive, Roseville, (916) 781-1000, sutterhealth.org Sutter Davis Hospital 2000 Sutter Place, Davis, (530) 756-6440, sutterhealth.org
UC Davis Medical Center and Children’s Hospital 2315 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 734-2011, health.ucdavis.edu/medicalcenter
URGENT CARE MDSTAT Urgent Care, mdstaturgentcare.com, 391 Howe Ave., Sacramento, (916) 678-5280, 4948 San Juan Ave., Fair Oaks, (916) 966-6287, 851 Pleasant Grove Blvd., #10, Roseville, (916) 773-9222, 3860 El Dorado Hills Blvd., #601, El Dorado Hills, (916) 941-9222 Med 7 Urgent Care Centers, med7.com, 4112 E. Commerce Way, Sacramento (Natomas), (916) 447-6337, 1201 E. Bidwell St., Folsom, (916) 920-6337, 701 Sunrise Ave., Roseville, (916) 7726337, 4156 Manzanita Ave., Carmichael, (916) 488-6337 Mercy Medical Group Midtown Walk-in Clinic 3000 Q St., Sacramento (916) 733-3377, dignityhealth.org Sutter Urgent Care, 1201 Alhambra Blvd. Suite 230, Sacramento, (916) 731-7728, 2020 Sutter Place, Davis, (530) 750-5830; 8170 Laguna Blvd., Elk Grove, (916) 478-6561; 2575 E. Bidwell St., Folsom, (916) 817-3730; 3 Medical Plaza Drive, Roseville, (916) 865-1400, sutterhealth.org
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Resources TOURIST INFORMATION
Folsom Chamber of Commerce 200 Wool St., Folsom, (916) 985-2698, folsomchamber.com
Radio Stations
Old Sacramento Waterfront 1124 Second St., Old Sacramento, (916) 442-8575, oldsacramento.com
Lincoln Chamber of Commerce 540 F St., Lincoln, (916) 645-2035, lincolnchamber.com
KSTE 650 AM Talk
Loomis Basin Chamber of Commerce 6090 Horseshoe Bar Road, Loomis, (916) 652-7252, loomischamber.com
KLIB 1110 International
Sacramento Visitors Center/Sacramento History Museum 1002 Second St., Old Sacramento, (916) 808-7644, oldsacramento.com Tourist information center about historic Old Sacramento and the Sacramento region.
Visit Sacramento (Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau) 1608 I St., Sacramento, (916) 808-7777, visitsacramento.com Sacramento365 1608 I St., Suite 200, Sacramento, (916) 808-8642, sacramento365.com Online arts and entertainment resource for the region, including an extensive events calendar.
AREA BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS & CHAMBER INFORMATION Downtown Sacramento Partnership 980 Ninth St., Suite 200, Sacramento, (916) 442-8575, downtownsac.org Galt District Chamber of Commerce, 604 N. Lincoln Way, Galt, (209) 745-2529, galtchamber.com Greater Sacramento Area Economic Council 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2520, Sacramento, (916) 441-2144, selectsacramento.com Midtown Association 1401 21st St., Unit A, Sacramento, (916) 442-1500, exploremidtown.org Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce 1 Capitol Mall, Suite 700, Sacramento, (916) 552-6800, metrochamber.org Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce 2331 Alhambra Blvd., Suite 100, Sacramento, (916) 446-7883, sacasiancc.org Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce 5770 Freeport Blvd., Suite 44, Sacramento, (916) 231-0416, sacblackchamber.org Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 1111 Exposition Blvd., Building 100, Sacramento, (916) 486-7700, sachcc.org Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 160126, Sacramento, (916) 266-9630, rainbowchamber.com Auburn Chamber of Commerce 1103 High St., Suite 100, Auburn, (530) 885-5616, auburnchamber.net Carmichael Chamber of Commerce 6241 Fair Oaks Blvd., Suite K, Carmichael, (916) 481-1002, carmichaelchamber.com Citrus Heights Chamber 5911 Sunrise Mall, Citrus Heights, (916) 722-4545, chchamber.com Davis Chamber of Commerce 604 Third St., Davis, (530) 756-5160, facebook.com/ davischamber East Sacramento Chamber of Commerce 3104 O St., Suite 367, Sacramento, eastsacchamber.org
Natomas Chamber of Commerce 3511 Del Paso Road, Sacramento, (916) 877-5436, natomaschamber.org North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 15468, Sacramento, northsacchamber.org
AM Stations KFIA 710 Christian KHTK 1140 Sports (“Home of the Kings”) KCVV 1240 Spanish Religious KIFM 1320 Sports (“ESPN 1320”) KTKZ 1380 Conservative Talk (“The Answer”) KJAY 1430 Hmong/Gospel
Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Suite 117, Rancho Cordova, (916) 273-5700, ranchocordova.org
KIID 1470 Punjabi
Rocklin Area Chamber of Commerce 3700 Rocklin Road, Rocklin, (916) 624-2548, rocklinchamber.com
KSMH 1620 Catholic
Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce 650 Douglas Blvd., Roseville, (916) 783-8136, rosevillechamber.com
FM Stations
West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce 1401 Halyard Drive, West Sacramento, (916) 3717042, westsacramentochamber.com
KXPR 88.9 Capital Public Radio/Classical, Jazz, Blues, Opera
MEDIA
KFBK 1530 News/Talk/Traffic (“NewsRadio KFBK”) KFSG 1690 Spanish Religious KEBR 88.1 FM Religious (“Family Radio”) KCPC 88.3 Religious
KQEI 89.3 Public Radio (KQED, San Francisco) KVMR 89.5 Community Radio, Nevada County
Newspapers The Sacramento Bee—daily, 2100 Q St., Sacramento, (916) 321-1000, sacbee.com Sacramento Business Journal—business news weekly, 555 Capitol Mall, Suite 200, Sacramento, (916) 447-7661, bizjournals.com/sacramento Sacramento News & Review—free alternative news and entertainment weekly, 1124 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 498-1234, newsreview.com/sacramento The Sacramento Observer—African Americanowned online weekly, 1825 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 452-4781, sacobserver.com Capitol Weekly—covers California government and politics, P.O. Box 837, Sacramento, (916) 475-4840, capitolweekly.net Inside Publications (Inside East Sac, Inside Pocket, Inside Land Park/Grid, Inside Arden)—free hyperlocal monthlies, Inside Publications, 3104 O St., Suite 120, Sacramento, (916) 443-5087 Magazines Comstock’s Magazine—business monthly for the capital region and surrounding counties, 2335 American River Drive, Suite 301, Sacramento, (916) 364-1000, comstocksmag.com Outword Magazine—free biweekly magazine serving the region’s LGBT community, 372 Florin Road, Suite 133, Sacramento, (916) 3299280, outwordmagazine.com Sacramento Magazine—the city and region’s premier monthly lifestyle magazine, 231 Lathrop Way, Suite A, Sacramento, (916) 4261720, sacmag.com
KDVS 90.3 Non-commercial/eclectic/college, UC Davis KXJZ 90.9 Capital Public Radio/News KBEB 92.5 Soft Adult Contemporary (“The Breeze”) KFBK 93.1 News/Talk/Traffic (“NewsRadio KFBK”) KYRV 93.7 Classic Rock (“The River”) KKDO 94.7 Alternative Rock (“Alt 94.7”) KYMX 96.1 Adult Contemporary (“Mix96”) KSEG 96.9 Classic Rock (“96.9 Eagle”) KRXQ 98.5 Rock (“98 Rock”) KLVB 99.5 Christian Contemporary (“K-Love”) KZZO 100.5 Contemporary Nits (“Now 100.5”) KHYL 101.1 Throwback Hip-Hop and R&B (“V101.1”) KCCL 101.5 Oldies (“101.5 K-Hits”) KNTY 101.9 Ranchera (“José 101.9”) KSFM 102.5 Rhythmic Contemporary Hits Radio KKCY 103.1 Country KHHM 103.5 Rhythmic Contemporary Hits Radio (“Hot 103.5”) KKFS 103.9 Contemporary Christian (“The Fish”) KXSE 104.3 Spanish Adult Hits (“La Suavecita 104.3”) KNCI 105.1 Country (“New Country 105.1 KNCI”) KSAC 105.5 Business Talk (“Money 105.5”) KUDL 106.5 Contemporary Hits Radio (“106.5 The End”) TV Stations KCRA 3 NBC
El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce 2085 Vine St., Suite 105, El Dorado Hills, (916) 9331335, eldoradohillschamber.org
Sacramento Home—the city and region’s quarterly home and garden magazine, 231 Lathrop Way, Suite A, Sacramento, (916) 4261720, sacramentohomemag.com
Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce 9401 E. Stockton Blvd., Suite 125, Elk Grove, (916) 6913760, elkgroveca.com
Sacramento Visitors Guide—Visit Sacramento’s guide to the region, 1608 I St., Sacramento, (916) 808-7777, visitsacramento.com
KOVR 13 CBS
Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce 10014 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, (916) 967-2903, fairoakschamber.com
SubMerge—free biweekly local arts, entertainment and lifestyle magazine, (916) 441-3803, submergemag.com
KVIE 6 PBS KXTV 10 ABC KUVS 19 Univision KMAX 31 CW KTXL 40 FOX KQCA 58 My58
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Annual Sacramento Women’s Expo
Calendar of Events
A day of professional and personal empowerment: business summit plus speakers, workshops, exhibits, products and services in health and fitness, fashion, finances, technology and more, at Sheraton Grand. sacwomenexpo.com
Coloma Gold Rush Live Visit a living history encampment of the Gold Rush era, with costumed reenactors, period music, gold panning, period games and vendors, at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma. (530) 622-3470, coloma.com
Annual BENT Sacramento LGBTQ Film Festival Sac Pride Festival
Global LGBTQ films come to Sacramento, at Crest Theatre. bentfilmfest.org
KVIE Art Auction
Every day, there’s something happening in Sacramento—be it a craft beer tasting, concert, film festival, 5K or farm-to-fork dinner. This calendar offers a taste of what goes on year-round (when a pandemic isn’t ruining all our plans), but there’s so much more: nightly summer concerts in parks throughout the region, festivals showcasing the city’s ethnic diversity and all kinds of events that take advantage of our amazing weather. So while you’re in town, join the locals in getting out on the town! California Capital Airshow The following websites have helpful events calendars, the most comprehensive being sacramento365.com. Check them out to confirm the dates and details of the events listed below—and to discover even more things to do:
Look up to see a soaring lineup of highflying acts, including the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, at Mather Airport. (916) 876-7568, californiacapitalairshow.com
Visit Sacramento: sacramento365.com
Downtown Sac: godowntownsac.com
Hundreds of Irish dancers, youths and adults, from throughout the West compete at this annual dance competition hosted by McKeever School of Irish Dance, at Hiram Johnson High School. mckeeverdance.com
Midtown Association: exploremidtown.org
One Love, One Heart Reggae Festival
The Sacramento Bee: events.sacbee.com
A multicultural weekend of world music, dance, marketplace and cuisine, featuring top reggae artists, at Yolo County Fairgrounds in Woodland. oneloveoneheartreggae.com
Capital Public Radio: events.capradio.org Sacramento Downtown Grid: sacramento.downtowngrid.com
Sacramento Magazine: sacmag.com Sacramento News & Review: newsreview.com SubMerge: submergemag.com/calendar
OCTOBER Annual Sacramento Vegan Chef Challenge Dozens of area restaurants offer creative, plantbased specials throughout October and compete for top honors in a variety of categories, as voted on by diners. sacveganchallenge.com
Annual Sacramento Aloha Festival Experience Hawaii through music, dance, food, culture and a marketplace, at Cal Expo. sacalohafest.org
Annual Greek Festival A big, fat celebration of Greek cuisine and culture, music and dance, featuring dining, live entertainment, a marketplace and more, at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. (916) 4432033, sacramentogreekfestival.com
Chris Allan / Shutterstock
CruiseFest More than 500 cars of all years, makes and models cruise Fulton Avenue, then join a car show and street fair for this annual festival with trophies, food trucks, beer and live bands. (916) 442-6802, calautomuseum.org
A Place Called Sacramento Film Festival The annual spring script competition culminates in a world-premiere showcase of 10 short films by local budding screenwriters and filmmakers, at Crest Theatre. (916) 456-8600, accesssacramento.org
McKeever School Feis
Annual Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival Enjoy giant pumpkin and produce weigh-offs, a pumpkin food court, pumpkin regatta, pumpkin patch, kids’ zone, crafts, music and food, at Elk Grove Regional Park in Elk Grove. yourcsd.com
Annual Niello Concours at Serrano An elegant display of motorcars plus fashion, food and drink, at Serrano Visitors Center, El Dorado Hills. theconcours.net
Annual Sacramento Taco Festival
The city’s public TV station hosts its art auction, featuring a preview gala and an online and live televised auction of works by hundreds of established and emerging local and regional artists. kvie.org
Sacramento Cocktail Week A toast to artisan cocktails and the bartenders who make them, at various venues. sacramentococktailweek.com
Sacramento Vegan Food Festival – Fall Edition This biannual healthy living street fest boasts four blocks of plant-based food and drink, cooking demos, speakers, live music, family activities and more, on Capitol Mall. facebook.com/ events/2246968222275305
Annual Hangtown Music Festival Enjoy dozens of bands (three nights of host band Railroad Earth), family activities, yoga, pumpkin carving, costumes, late-night shows and camping, at El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville. hangtownfestival.com
NOVEMBER Annual Festival of New American Music Sacramento State’s School of Music hosts a series of free day and evening concerts by innovative local and national guest artists, at Sacramento State. csus.edu/music/fenam
Annual Sandhill Crane Festival Sandhill cranes have been making their autumn pilgrimage to the Sacramento Delta for centuries. Learn about them with tours, workshops, kids’ activities, vendors, art and music, at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi. cranefestival.com
Cowpoke Fall Gathering
Eating contests, chihuahua beauty contest, vendors, live music and tacos galore, on Del Paso Boulevard. sacramentotacofestival.com
This annual weekend of cowboy poetry, music and storytelling features nationally known cowboy poets, at Blue Goose Fruit Shed in Loomis. (916) 6526290, cowpokefallgathering.com
Annual Urban Cow Half Marathon
Annual West Coast Ragtime Festival
Get mooving! Capital Road Race Management hosts a half marathon, half marathon relay and 5K (plus festival) that benefits local youth running programs, in William Land Park. (916) 492-8966, urbancowhalf.com
Ragtime fans get their fill of music performed by renowned artists on six stages, plus dancing, parties, seminars, silent movies and vendors, at Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova. (916) 4573324, westcoastragtime.com
Best of Sacramento Party
Theatre of Lights
Sacramento Magazine hosts its annual celebration of what’s best in the city, with food, wine and beer tastings, entertainment, live music, dancing and more, at DOCO. (916) 808-5181, sacmag.com
Annual Oktoberfest No place in town celebrates Oktoberfest like the Turn Verein, with its German bands, choir, folk dancers, polkas, food and beer—lots of beer, at Sacramento Turn Verein. (916) 442-7360, sacramentoturnverein.com
A family-friendly live dramatization of local history and a reading of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” featuring sound and light effects on Old Sacramento building facades and balconies. Weekend nights Thanksgiving weekend till Christmas Eve. oldsacramento.com
Annual Run To Feed the Hungry Join up to 28,000 exercise enthusiasts for a 5K/10K run/walk for the largest Thanksgiving Day charity run in the country, at Sacramento State. (916) 4561980, runtofeedthehungry.com
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Calendar Cornish Christmas / Late November–Mid December
Victorian Christmas
Gold Discovery Day
Historic Grass Valley’s annual Friday night street festival teems with strolling entertainers, carolers, cloggers, artisans and food vendors next to shops and restaurants, in Grass Valley. (530) 273-4667, grassvalleychamber.com
Nevada City’s annual holiday street fair features artisans, food and drink, costumed musicians, carriage rides and festive holiday decor on Sundays afternoons and Wednesday evenings through the third week of December. (530) 265-2692, nevadacitychamber.com
Commemorate the local discovery of gold, with living history, traders, panning and more, in Coloma. coloma.com
Annual Elk Grove Dickens Street Faire
Sacramento Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”
Experience an Olde English street fair, with merchants and entertainers in period costume, carriage rides, carolers, kids’ crafts, a parade, tree lighting and Santa, in Old Town Elk Grove. (209) 242-3330, dickensstreetfaire.com
California Hall of Fame Gala The red-carpet gala, attended by the governor and first partner, honors California Hall of Fame’s newest class of inductees, often including a few Hollywood stars, at California Museum. (916) 6537524, californiamuseum.org
The Polar Express Train Rides / Late November to Late December Families (in their pajamas!) enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while riding in vintage railcars with characters from “The Polar Express.” Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station, Old Sacramento. (916) 445-8270, csrmf.org
DECEMBER Annual Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour Take a walking tour of six elegantly decorated homes in East Sacramento’s Fabulous Forties neighborhood and enjoy the holiday boutique, cafe and champagne bar, at Sacred Heart Parish School. sacredhearthometour.com
Annual Crocker Ball The premier black-tie event of the year: cocktails, dinner and dancing, at Crocker Art Museum. crockerart.org
California International Marathon Run or watch the annual CIM, which starts at Folsom Dam and ends at the Capitol. (916) 7372627, runsra.org
This holiday favorite, choreographed by artistic director Amy Seiwert, stars the professional company dancers and includes hundreds of young dancers from the community, at Memorial Auditorium. (916) 808-5181, sacballet.org
New Year’s Eve Sky Spectacular Head to Old Sac for family activities and the largest New Year’s Eve fireworks show in town. oldsacramento.com
Noon Year’s Eve Hundreds of families with children ring in the new year here, with free museum entry, craft making, multicultural performances and a countdown at noon, at Crocker Art Museum. (916) 808-7000, crockerart.org
JANUARY SacAnime Winter Anime fans descend on this pop culture fest featuring cosplay, art, music, fashion, autographs with popular voice actors, gaming, exhibitors, parties and more, at Sacramento Convention Center. sacanime.com
MLK365 Capitol March for the Dream Thousands honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at this annual multi-mile march from Sacramento City College through Land Park to Broadway and beyond, followed by a Diversity Expo. mlk365.org
Annual Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame The induction ceremony honors top area athletes, at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln. sacsportshof.com
Annual MLK Celebration Dinner This celebration of the MLK Jr. legacy honors locals activists, at Sacramento State. mlkcelebrationsacramento.org
FEBRUARY SacTown VegFest An annual celebration of plant-based eating, at McClellan Conference Center. sactownvegfest.org
Annual Sacramento Museum Day More than 25 area museums offer free admission (half price at Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town) and special programs. sacmuseums.org
Annual Lenaea High School Theatre Festival More than 1,000 California high school students attend one of the nation’s oldest and largest theater festivals to perform and get feedback—and the public is invited, at Harris Center in Folsom. (916) 608-6888, harriscenter.net
Sweet Potato Festival Sacramento Valley Section of National Council of Negro Women Inc. holds its annual fest featuring food, entertainment and lots of sweet potato pie, at Samuel C. Pannell Community Center. (916) 2895371, svsncnw.org
Teagarden Jazz Festival
Local chefs craft three-course prix fixe dinners at more than 30 participating restaurants. godowntownsac.com
Formerly the Traditional Youth Band Festival, this annual music fest showcases youth ensembles (elementary school through college) performing New Orleans-style jazz, at Sacramento State. teagardenjazzfestival.org
Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Chinese New Year Celebration
Celebrity sightings are common at this acclaimed film fest, with 100-plus screenings about the natural world that inspire environmental stewardship and activism, in Nevada City and Grass Valley. wildandscenicfilmfestival.org
Chinese New Year Celebration Association’s annual party offers cultural entertainment, children’s games, business and community groups, martial arts and food vendors, at Hiram Johnson High School. cnyca.net
Annual Dine Downtown Restaurant Week
Festival Fun
Sac Pride June
State Fair July-August
Farm to Fork September
Wide Open Walls September
Aftershock October
Día de los Muertos November
Get your pride on at the Sacramento Pride Festival, an annual celebration of the city’s LGBTQ community. Catch the rainbow-filled parade on N Street (from Third to 10th streets), then join the all-day party on Capitol Mall featuring live entertainment, a dance pavilion, food and drink, art, exhibits, community organizations, inclusive zones and family activities. sacramentopride.org
The California State Fair & Food Festival at Cal Expo is a feast for the senses, with its carnival rides, monster truck pulls, nightly concerts and deep-fried everything on a stick. But there’s more: exhibits saluting achievements in agriculture, industry, and the arts; award-winning wines, craft beers, cheeses and olive oils; and daily celebrations of California’s rich diversity. It’s the Golden State’s annual pop-up party, and everyone’s invited! castatefair.org
Sacramento celebrates its status as the nation’s farm-to-fork capital with three signature events: Legends of Wine, a regional wine-tasting party on the steps of the Capitol; Tower Bridge Dinner, a locally sourced meal prepared by area chefs and served atop Tower Bridge; and the free Farm-to-Fork Festival, where thousands partake in the region’s food, wine and beer while listening to live bands on Capitol Mall. farmtofork.com
Wide Open Walls street art festival welcomes dozens of contemporary mural artists from across town and across the globe to transform the sides of buildings throughout the city. Engage with the art and the artists at receptions, workshops, tours, street parties and more. wideopenwalls.com
Every fall, more than 50,000 headbangers descend on Sacramento’s Discovery Park for what’s become the state’s largest rock music festival. Monster Energy’s Aftershock boasts an epic lineup of hard rock and heavy metal bands on multiple stages over a three-day weekend. aftershockfestival.com
Honor the lives of loved ones who have died at El Panteón de Sacramento, the city’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration hosted by Latino Center of Art and Culture. Rooted in centuries-old Mexican traditions, the annual festival brims with colorful processions, family and community altars, music and dancing, children’s crafts and a market-place, filling the blocks between 20th, 21st, J and K streets in midtown. thelatinocenter.com
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Calendar Sacramento Jewish Film Festival
Annual Sacramento Beer & Chili Festival
Banjo-Rama
A half dozen films spotlight Jewish culture, plus food, music and talks, at Crest Theatre. jewishsac.org
Chili cookoff and beer tastings, all from local purveyors, at Roosevelt Park. sacramentobeerandchilifestival.com
Annual Capital Swing Convention
Annual Wine Passport Event
A weekend full of Western swing dance workshops, master classes, competitions and more, at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. capitalswingconvention.com
El Dorado Winery Association’s 25 member wineries host winery tours and tastings with winemakers, food and wine pairings, music, local artisans and more. eldoradowines.org
It’s a banjo bonanza for those attending Sacramento Banjo Band’s annual gathering, featuring workshops, vendors, shows with the pros and a focus on jamming, at Lion’s Gate Hotel at McClellan Park. banjo-rama.com
Annual O’Reilly Sacramento Autorama
UC Davis Picnic Day
More than 500 show cars on display compete for awards, plus hundreds more cars participate in weekend drive-ins at one of the largest indoor car show in the world, at Cal Expo. (877) 763-7469, rodshows.com
ASUCD’s annual open house (and citywide party) promises a parade and more than 200 exhibits, competitions, demonstrations, entertainment and athletic events, on UC Davis campus. (530) 7526320, picnicday.ucdavis.edu
Sacramento Fashion Week
Woodland Celtic Games & Festival
A series of workshops and industry mixers, followed by fashion shows of spring and summer collections by local and Northern California designers. facebook.com/sacfashionweek
California Duck Days Yolo Basin Foundation’s annual wetlands and wildlife festival includes workshops, tours, displays and children’s activities, at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Headquarters, Davis. (530) 757-3780, yolobasin.org
Carnaval 2021 The Brazilian Center of Sacramento’s annual extravaganza boasts live music, dancing, and Brazilian food and drink, at the CLARA. (916) 387-7344, braziliancentersac.org
MARCH Annual Camellia Festival Camellia Society of Sacramento hosts the oldest camellia show in the country, featuring thousands of camellias on display, awards and plant sales, at Elks Lodge on Riverside Boulevard. camelliasocietyofsacramento.org
A weekend of Irish and highland dancing, clans, parades, vendors, pipe and drum competitions, athletic games and top Celtic bands, at Yolo County Fairgrounds, Woodland. woodlandcelticgames.org
Curtis Park Home & Garden Tour Folks stand in line for the chance to see charming vintage homes and gardens during this annual tour, in Curtis Park. sierra2.org
Sacramento Earth Day Environmental Council of Sacramento hosts this annual celebration of sustainable living: 150 groups and businesses offering green ideas, goods and services, live music and plant-based cuisine, at Southside Park. ecosacramento.net
Sacramento International Film Festival A showcase of Northern California films and filmmakers, featuring screenings, networking and parties, at Crest Theatre. sacramentofilmfestival.com
Sacramento SPCA’s Doggy
Savor tastings from 125 of the country’s top brewers serving 300 craft beers, plus food trucks and live music, on Capitol Mall. capitolbeerfest.com
Dash & Bark in the Park Festival The annual 2K/5K walk attracts thousands of participants, many with their pups in tow, followed by a festival of canine contests, pet products and animal rescue groups, in William Land Park. (916) 504-2868, sspca.org
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Annual Sacramento Beer Week
Thousands get their green on to party at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade—Sacramento’s largest, with Irish and Highland dancers, pipe and drum bands, and myriad cultural and civic groups, in Old Sacramento. oldsacramento.com
Craft beer heaven! Ten days of hundreds of regional craft beer events including brewers’ showcases, education, tours, food pairings, dinners, competitions and much more. sacbeerweek.com
Annual Capitol Beer Fest
Annual Authors on the Move Sacramento Public Library Foundation’s annual drinks and dinner event with dozens of distinguished California authors and an author/keynote speaker, at Hyatt Regency Sacramento. (916) 836-3556, saclibraryfoundation.org
Shamrock’n Weekend Run or walk the 5K and 10K on Saturday, then watch the kids do the Leprechaun Half-Mile Dash; Sunday’s half marathon promises live music, crazy costumes and beer at the finish line, at Sutter Health Park. shamrocknhalf.com
MAY Concerts in the Park Let your hair down at Downtown Sacramento Partnership’s annual Friday night concert series, featuring local and national bands, DJs, a beer tent and food trucks, at Cesar Chavez Plaza. (916) 4428575, godowntownsac.com
Whole Earth Festival
Rancho Cordova iFest Rancho Cordova celebrates its cultural diversity with international music, dance, exhibits, art, kids’ activities, food and wine at this family festival, at Village Green Park in Rancho Cordova. (916) 373-5701, cordovacouncil.org/ifest
Western States Horse Expo Horse folks flock to this premiere annual equine expo for seminars, clinics, vendors, horse sales and entertainment, at Murieta Equestrian Center. (530) 672-7490, horsexpo.com
Crocker Art Museum Big Names, Small Art Auction Auction party featuring small works (12 by 12 inches or less) by big-name artists. (916) 808-2692, crockerart.org
Sacramento County Fair A traditional county fair in the city, with entertainment, food, shopping, contests and competitions, arts and crafts, animals, monster trucks and carnival rides, at Cal Expo. (916) 263-2975, sacfair.com
Taste the World Food Festival Food and drink from around the world and live entertainment, at Southside Park. tastetheworldfestival.com
Sacramento Vegan Food Festival – Spring Edition This biannual healthy living street fest boasts four blocks of plant-based food and drink, cooking demos, speakers, live music, family activities and more, on Capitol Mall. facebook.com/ events/2246968222275305
JUNE Crocker Art Museum Art Auction Elegant night of cocktails, dinner and live auction of works by regional artists. (916) 808-7843, crockerart.org
Annual Kiwanis Art Fiesta Artists and artisans show and sell their works at this outdoor fest, at Pavilions. (916) 972-7337, kiwanisartfiesta.org
Kaiser Permanente Women’s Fitness Festival & Expo More than 4,000 women and girls step up for a 5K, 10K and Girls’ Princess Half-Miler followed by a fitness expo, at the Capitol. womensfitnessfestival.com
Broadway at Music Circus / June–August
APRIL
Up to 30,000 people attend UC Davis’ student-run, zero-waste party for Mother Earth on Mother’s Day Weekend, with live music, dance, art, vendors, community booths and food, on the UC Davis Quad. wef.ucdavis.edu
Photography Month Sacramento
Annual East Sacramento Garden Tour
Annual Spring Gala & Auction: Art, Where Wild Things Are
A region-wide celebration of photographic arts, at galleries and other venues throughout April. photomonthsac.org
Tour seven gardens in East Sac’s Fabulous Forties neighborhood for Mother’s Day. davidlubingardentour.com
Sutter’s Fort Traders’ Fair
BerryFest Strawberry Festival
The State Historic Park is transformed into a lively pre-Gold Rush marketplace, with costumed artisans selling period-inspired goods and docents demonstrating pioneer skills all weekend, at Sutter’s Fort. suttersfort.org
Enjoy berries and all kinds of strawberry-themed foods plus bands, food court, beer garden, entertainment, contests, kids’ activities, carnival rides and more, at the Grounds (Placer County Fairgrounds), Roseville. feedmeberries.com
A local summer tradition since 1951, this season’s theater-in-the-round series features top talent in six Broadway musicals, at Music Circus, 1419 H St. (916) 557-1999, broadwaysacramento.com
American River Natural History Association invites art and nature lovers to its gala for a juried art show, dinner and auctions, at Effie Yeaw Nature Center. (916) 489-4918, sacnaturecenter.net
Croatian Extravaganza An annual celebration of Croatian culture and cuisine, at Croatian American Cultural Center. croatiancenter.org
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Calendar Sacramento Juneteenth
Annual Race for the Arts
Sacramento Burger Battle
Enjoy a host of activities—music, dance, talent show, parade, golf tournament, ball, festival—that honor the history and promote the education and wellness of African Americans, in William Land Park. sacramentojuneteenthinc.org
This 5K run/walk and Kids Fun Run raises funds for local arts organizations, with many groups entertaining runners along the course and at the post-run arts festival, at William Land Park. (916) 966-8893, raceforthearts.com
Chefs from top area restaurants vie for “best burger” at this charity cook-off, offering burger, wine and beer tastings plus live music to benefit Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, at Cesar Chavez Plaza. sacburgerbattle.com
SEPTEMBER
Annual KVMR Celtic Festival
Enjoy screenings of classic and contemporary French films (all with English subtitles), posh receptions and other festivities, at Crest Theatre. sacramentofrenchfilmfestival.org
Western States Endurance Run Elite distance athletes run from Squaw Valley to Auburn in the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race. wser.org
JULY Sacramento Shakespeare Festival / Throughout July Sacramento City College’s City Theatre presents two Shakespeare plays in repertory. sacramentoshakespeare.net
Folsom Pro Rodeo /Fourth of July Weekend Folsom shows off its cowboy roots—and boots—with several days of rodeo entertainment and several nights of fireworks, at Dan Russell Rodeo Arena in Folsom. folsomprorodeo.com
California WorldFest Hippies, hipsters and lovers of global music and dance gather to commune with top world-music artists, nature and each other, at Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. worldfest.net
Annual Sacramento Rainbow Festival The city’s LGBTQ community puts on a street fair, with live music, entertainment, dancing and more, in Lavender Heights, 20th and K streets. sacrainbowfest.com
Sacramento Speakers Series / September to May Six speakers at the top of their fields—science, politics, entertainment, literature, history, medicine and more—share their stories and ideas, at Memorial Auditorium. (916) 388-1100, sacramentospeakers.com
Annual Chalk It Up! (to) Sacramento
Annual Sacramento Black Book Fair Celebration of African American authors includes author talks, book signings, vendors, children’s activities, poetry, art and more, at Women’s Civic Improvement Club in Oak Park. (916) 484-3749, sacramentoblackbookfair.com.
Dressed in ball gowns and tuxedos, dancers perform choreographed waltzes and polkas to a live orchestra under the stars, at Elk Grove Regional Park. (916) 714-2527, straussfestival.com
Annual Pear Fair This tiny Delta town’s celebration of the Bartlett pear charms with a parade, 5- and 10-mile runs, pancake breakfast, live music, quilts, classic cars, and all sorts of pear (and other) foods, in Courtland. (916) 775-2000, pearfair.com
AUGUST Annual Banana Festival Celebrate the banana with multicultural family entertainment, activities, a marketplace, and banana and world cuisine, at William Land Park. sacbananafestival.com
Annual Japanese Food & Cultural Bazaar Enjoy traditional Japanese food and drink, music, dance, cultural demonstrations and a marketplace, at Sacramento Buddhist Church. (916) 446-0121, buddhistchurch.org
Experience Olde English pageantry, entertainment on multiple stages, artisans, games, food and drink, jousting championships and hundreds of actors in full ren faire garb, at Folsom Lions City Park in Folsom. folsomfaire.com
Long for the straight-ahead sounds of Sacramento’s old Jazz Jubilee? This band-packed jazz fest is just the ticket, at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. (916) 8137665, hotjazzjubilee.com
Eppie’s Great Race, which ended in 2018, inspired the inauguration of this no-swim, run-ride-paddle race in 2019, which takes place in and along the American River in Sacramento and Rancho Cordova. greatamericantriathlon.com
Annual Strauss Festival of Elk Grove
Folsom Renaissance Faire
Annual Hot Jazz Jubilee
Annual Great American Triathlon
Explore the Placer County Wine Trail (Auburn, Lincoln, Loomis, Newcastle, Rocklin, Meadow Vista) at this annual open house offering self-guided tours, wine tasting, seminars, live music and food at 20 wineries. placerwine.com
Historic Sutter Street comes alive with bands, street performers, food and drink, in Folsom. folsomlive.com
Anime fans descend on this pop culture fest featuring cosplay, art, music, fashion, autographs with popular voice actors, gaming, exhibitors, parties and more, at Cal Expo. sacanime.com
This free festival of chalk art on the park’s sidewalks—plus kids’ creative zone, local bands, vendors, food trucks and a beer garden—attracts 60,000-plus annually, at Fremont Park. (916) 5838248, chalkitup.org
Grape Days of Summer
Folsom Live!
SacAnime Summer
View several Japanese films at this annual event— one of only a handful of Japanese film festivals in the country, at Crest Theatre. (916) 421-1017, sacjapanesefilmfestival.net
Sacramento Japanese Film Festival
A weekend of Celtic music by top Celtic bands and artists, dancers, living history guilds, pageantry, athletics and a marketplace await, at Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. kvmrcelticfestival.org
Brent Seizer / Shutterstock
Annual Sacramento French Film Festival
Annual Sacramento Play Summit Fairytale Town and Sacramento Public Library host this conference for educators, childcare professionals and parents about the critical importance of play for children, at Tsakopoulos Library Galleria. fairytaletown.org
Annual California Brewers Festival Point West Rotary hosts this outdoor fest, with tastings of 150 beers, wines and ciders, food, local live bands, an artisan-vendor village and a grownups fun zone, at Discovery Park. calbrewfest.com
Soil Born Farms Annual Autumn Equinox Celebration Celebrate the harvest in the gardens under the stars with live music, local wine and craft beers, and seasonal, local organic food prepared by top area chefs, at American River Ranch, Rancho Cordova. (916) 363-9685, soilborn.org
Annual Preservation Sacramento Historic Home Tour A different historic city neighborhood is highlighted every year. (916) 202-4815, preservationsacramento.org
Annual Sac Open Studios Dozens of artists throughout the city open their studios to the public over two weekends.
California Capital Airshow
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Hotels
Want To Spend the Night? With some 16,000 hotel rooms in the Sacramento region, we’ve got the welcome mat out. Whether you’re seeking bigname luxury, moderate-level comfort, a historic B&B dripping with charm, or a bargain pillow right off the freeway for a late night in, early morning out, you’ll find it. Here’s a select list of inns and hotels in and around downtown, near the central city action. Amber House Bed & Breakfast 1315 22nd St., (916) 444-8085, amberhouse.com, 10 rooms
Delta King Hotel 1000 Front St., (916) 4445464, deltaking.com, 44 rooms
Best Western Plus Sutter House 1100 H St., (916) 441-1314, thesutterhouse.com, 95 rooms
Embassy Suites Sacramento Hotel 100 Capitol Mall, (916) 326-5000, sacramento. embassysuites.com, 242 rooms
The Citizen Hotel 926 J St., (916) 447-2700, citizenhotel.com, 198 rooms Courtyard by Marriott—Sacramento Midtown 4422 Y St., (916) 455-6800, marriott. com/saccy, 139 rooms
Governor’s Inn Hotel 210 Richards Blvd., (916) 448-7224, governorsinnhotel.com, 133 rooms Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza 300 J St., (916) 446-0100, holidayinnsacramento.com, 359 rooms
Sheraton Grand Sacramento
Holiday Inn Express Sacramento Convention Center 728 16th St., (916) 4444436, hiexpress.com/sacramentoca, 132 rooms Hyatt Regency Sacramento 1209 L St., (916) 443-1234, sacramentohyatt.com, 503 rooms Inn at Parkside Bed & Breakfast 2116 Sixth St., (916) 658-1818, innatparkside.com, 11 rooms Inn Off Capitol Park 1530 N St., (916) 4478100, innoffcapitolpark.com, 37 rooms The Sawyer 500 J St., (916) 545-7100, kimptonhotels.com, 250 rooms Residence Inn by Marriott Sacramento Downtown at Capitol Park 1121 15th St., (916) 443-0500, marriott.com/sacdt, 235 rooms Sheraton Grand Sacramento 1230 J St., (916) 447-1700, sheraton.com/sacramento, 503 rooms Sterling Hotel 1300 H St., (916) 448-1300, sterlinghotelsacramento.com, 16 rooms The Westin Sacramento 4800 Riverside Blvd., (916) 443-8400, westinsacramento.com, 101 rooms
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Access the City Stay in the iconic heart of Sacramento, a short walk from the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, Golden 1 Arena and all the culture and nightlife downtown has to offer.
TO LEARN MORE, CALL 916-447-1700 OR VISIT WWW.MARRIOTT.COM/SACSI
©2020 Marriott International. All rights reserved.
Savor. Learn. Explore. Connect.
TRIPADVISOR.COM YELP
Our tours offer cuisine as an opportunity to connect with restaurants & their chefs, shops & their keepers, history & the current day, all while showcasing Sacramento and its wonderful neighborhoods. Tours Daily. Visit our website or call. LocalRootsFoodTours.com | 800.407.8918
P r i v a t e T o u r s
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Courtesy of Local Roots Food Tours
TAKE
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A FEW WAYS TO GET FORMALLY INTRODUCED TO SACRAMENTO. FROM GOLD RUSH-ERA LORE TO RECENTLY
SACRAMENTO’S PAST AND PRESENT ARE BRIMMING WITH CHARACTER.
REVITALIZED CORRIDORS,
GET TO KNOW THE FAMOUSLY WALKABLE CITY. WHETHER YOU’RE A LONGTIME RESIDENT, A RECENT TRANSPLANT OR JUST PASSING THROUGH, THESE TOURS WILL HELP
LUNA ANONA
BY
FAMILIARIZE YOU WITH THE CAPITAL OF CALIFORNIA.
TOUR
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Courtesy of Local Roots Food Tours
LOCAL ROOTS FOOD TOURS: DOWNTOWN HISTORICAL SACRAMENTO OR R STREET HISTORICAL CORRIDOR Through the delightful medium of food, Local Roots connects guests with the history of the city, local lore and legends, current events and, of course, the diverse chefs and shop owners. Take a tour of Downtown Historical Sacramento or the R Street Historical Corridor, two notable hot spots experiencing a 21st-century renaissance. No matter which edible adventure you choose, each tour focuses on five to six locally owned and independent restaurants—some with Michelin Guide bragging rights, others “hole-in-the-wall” eateries—that focus on locally procured seasonal ingredients. Local Roots works with restaurants to showcase signature dishes and chef specialties, and each tour is curated with an eye toward diverse tasting experiences. The Downtown Historical Tour might include crema de chili poblano soup from Michelin Guide Plate award-winner Tequila Museo Mayahuel and a pastrami sandwich and matzo ball soup from Solomon’s Delicatessen (named for Sacramento native Russ Solomon, founder of Tower Records), while the R Street Historical Tour could offer a visit to Fish Face Poke Bar, offering simple, flavorful meals with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, plus a stop at Magpie for the Dalai Lama’s favorite: a carrot cake cookie with cream cheese frosting.
INSIDER TIP: BREAKING BREAD IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, AS LOCAL ROOTS ALSO FOCUSES ON STAYING UP TO DATE WITH CURRENT EVENTS IN THIS DYNAMIC CITY. IF IT’S HAPPENING IN SACRAMENTO, THEY KNOW ABOUT IT, AND AFTER THE TOUR, SO WILL YOU.
INSIDER TIP: THE FOOD IS FAMILY- AND VEGAN/VEGETARIAN-FRIENDLY. THE EXPERIENCE ALSO INCLUDES VIEWING SOME OF SACRAMENTO’S PUBLIC ART, SUCH AS THE CAPITAL BOX ART PROJECT, WALK OF STARS AND WIDE OPEN WALLS.
Tour info: Tour groups are limited to no more than 14 people. Private tours can be booked. Special dietary needs can be met with prior notice. The tour takes place Monday through Friday, starting at 1 p.m. Downtown Historical Tour, $75; R Street Historical Tour, $78. (800) 407-8918; localrootsfoodtours.com
Tour info: $79 per adult (no alcohol), $99 for three drink pairings per 21+ adult, $59 for children 12 and under. Tours last approximately three hours. (800) 656-0713; sactownbites.com
SACTOWN BITES: FARM-TO-TABLE MIDTOWN TOUR
This tour starts at the Sacramento History Museum and takes you below Old Sacramento Waterfront, where the original city used to be. During the rush for California gold following its discovery in the nearby foothills, local merchant Sam Brannan set up shop because of the area’s convenient waterfront location. The city grew into a trading center for miners outfitting themselves, but merchants were busy capitalizing on the moment and didn’t think too much about the future—otherwise, they might have thought twice about building on two riverbanks. Sacramento flooded frequently and disastrously, with three floods in its first official year, 1850, and continued notable flooding in 1852, 1853 and 1854. Then, a storm hit in December 1861, which brought 45 days of rain. The city eventually raised its center an average of 9 feet 6 inches, a process that took 13 years, but the hard work paid off: The city prevailed in becoming the permanent capital of the state, the seat of government and the Western terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad. This hourlong tour, which runs through half of the Old Sacramento Historic District and into key underground spaces, offers guides portraying characters from mid-19th-century Sacramento.
Experience America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital the way it was meant to be experienced: with your taste buds. Hit the scrumptious streets of Midtown on a food tour adventure with SacTown Bites, a women-owned tour company that showcases the bounty of the Sacramento Valley. With an emphasis on eateries that focus on sustainability, fair trade and labor practices, community engagement and local sourcing, this tour delivers an authentic farm-to-fork experience. (Think a hummus bowl piled with seasonal grilled vegetables, Japonica forbidden black rice, a six-minute egg and grilled Acme bread drizzled with olive oil from Seka Hills in Capay Valley.) Small groups (no more than 12 people) take advantage of the city’s walkability and restaurant scene by strolling to several eateries (up to six per tour) to enjoy a specially prepared dish while learning about the chefs and owners, the inspiration behind the recipes, the ingredients and the farms where the ingredients are sourced. The tour, which covers approximately one and a half miles, is wheelchair accessible and appropriate for all fitness levels.
SACRAMENTO UNDERGROUND TOURS
INSIDER TIP: THE UNDERGROUND AFTER HOURS TOUR RUNS TUESDAY–SATURDAY MAY–OCTOBER. THOUGH IT FOLLOWS THE SAME ROUTE, IT COVERS NOTORIOUS CRIMES, GAMBLING, PROSTITUTION, DUELS, SALOON FIGHTS, STEAMBOAT DISASTERS AND OTHER TRUE TALES OF OLD SACRAMENTO’S NIGHTLIFE. IT STOPS AT RIVER CITY SALOON, WHERE GUESTS RECEIVE A COMMEMORATIVE SHOT GLASS AND DRINK DISCOUNTS. 90 MINUTES. $25 FOR ADULTS 21+
Tour info: Tour runs year-round with at least one per day. The tour is $18 for adults, $12 for kids 6–17, and free for children 5 and younger. It includes museum admission that day. 101 I St.; (916) 808-7059; sachistorymuseum.org
SAC TOUR COMPANY PUBLIC ART TOURS Charlie Schuman
Add some color to your next walk with a tour of Sacramento’s stunning street art scene. Discover more than 40 pieces of street art, including the city’s newest murals, iconic pieces and classic graffiti. (In the case of the Solomon’s Delicatessen Tower Records mural, which was refurbished from original, all three adjectives apply!) This 38 2020 / 2021 METROPOLITAN SACRAMENTO GUEST AND RESOURCE GUIDE
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vibrant public art can be traced back 50 years, mirroring the rise of modern graffiti on the East Coast. The Royal Chicano Air Force, founded in 1970 by Jose Montoya and Esteban Villa, is a locally based art collective that spurred a political, educational and cultural street art movement beginning in the late ’60s. Were it not for them, Sacramento’s buildings likely wouldn’t be punctuated with the vivid imagery that they boast today. Another way to explore the city is through the lens of filmmaker and Sacramento native Greta Gerwig. Meander past seven key filming locations from the Oscar-nominated film “Lady Bird,” including the iconic “blue house,” the famed Fab 40s neighborhood, McKinley Park Rose Garden, Pasty Shack and more. This indepth local Hollywood story tour includes information about the locations, filming, Gerwig’s inspiration, Sacramento history and more. INSIDER TIP: SAC TOUR COMPANY ALSO OFFERS RUNNING TOURS (3.3 MILES, 1.25 HOURS) AND BIKING TOURS (6 MILES, 2 HOURS). WITH PLENTY OF BREAKS, MANY PEOPLE REPORT THAT IT’S THE “EASIEST 5K EVER.”
Tour info: $25–$35 per person for public tours. $40 per person for 2–4 people for private tours, $35 for 5+ people, $32 for 10+ people. sactourcompany.com
CAL EVENTS: CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITOL TOUR A tour company since 1973, Cal Events offers delightful vantages of Sacramento ranging from single-day tours to a week’s worth of discovery about local people, places and venues. The California State Capitol is one of the region’s most popular and sought-after tours. Lasting approximately 90 minutes, the walking tour of the historic building includes secrets of the California State Seal, the stories of California’s most recent governors and the history of the 11.5-ton Roman Corinthian columns. This one-of-a-kind tour includes visits to both chambers of the state Legislature and tales of notable figures like President Ronald Reagan, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Speaker Willie Brown. Then, you’ll step outside for a pleasant stroll through the magnificent 40-acre Capitol Park while you listen to the history of its memorials, learn about the hundreds of diverse trees—many of them gifts from other
countries—and hear the best-kept secrets about America’s space tree, plus the story of why Sacramento’s founders planted the beautiful camellia grove as a testament to the diversity of this fair city. INSIDER TIP: OTHER TOURS OFFERED BY CAL EVENTS INCLUDE VISITS TO OLD SACRAMENTO AND CITY TOURS FROM THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION TO MCKINLEY PARK. CAL EVENTS ALSO PROVIDES CUSTOM SERVICES FOR GUESTS IN TOWN FOR CONVENTIONS AND CONFERENCES, SUCH AS ON-SITE REGISTRATION SUPPORT, UNUSUAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE FUNCTIONS, AND CUSTOM-LED WINE TASTING TOURS WITH A WINE HISTORIAN.
Tour info: Prices start at $50 per person and vary depending on tour and length. (877) 225-3836; calevents.com
OLD CITY CEMETERY TOURS Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this “Resting Place of Pioneers” was established in 1849 when the Sutter family gave Sacramento 10 acres just south of Y Street (now Broadway) for a new site for a cemetery. Land donations, including one from Margaret Crocker, expanded the cemetery to nearly 60 acres. Today, it’s half that size. Broadway was widened to become a major thoroughfare, effectively eliminating some of the cemetery’s acreage, and then there was the sale of land to two fraternal organizations, the Order of Masons and the Order of Odd Fellows. Now, the 30-acre space is the final resting place for more than 25,000 people as well as three gardens: the Historic Rose Garden, Hamilton Square Perennial Plant Garden and California Native Plant Demonstration Garden. Private tours for groups up to 50 take one-and-a-half hours and include introductions to famous cemetery residents like John Sutter Jr., the Crocker family, Mark Hopkins and William Stephen Hamilton (Alexander’s son), as well as less famous denizens with fascinating life stories. INSIDER TIP: BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY, FREE MONTHLY TOURS FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC TOPICS (AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, BASEBALL IN SACRAMENTO AND MAUSOLEUMS, TO NAME A FEW) TAKE PLACE, PLUS SPECIAL SEASONAL EVENING TOURS, LIKE HAUNTED SACRAMENTO AND BEYOND THE VEIL.
Tour info: $25 for up to five people, or $5 per person for larger groups. Tours can focus on cemetery history, gardens or both and must be arranged in advance. Self-guided tours are available; brochures are located at a kiosk in front of the cemetery. 1000 Broadway; (916) 264-5621; historicoldcitycemetery.org
OAK PARK TOUR In the first half of the 20th century, Oak Park prospered as Sacramento’s first streetcar suburb, and this walking tour offers 39 points of interest as it winds around an area rich with history, from the Lewis Building/40 Acres to McClatchy Park, where you could once catch a streetcar to downtown. Set slightly away from what we now call “the grid,” Oak Park developed its own small business district, which allowed residents to fulfill their day-to-day needs within the neighborhood. Before World War II, most people in Oak Park were of European descent, with a small population of African-Americans and Mexican-Americans. After the war, the population of black residents grew, in part because other neighborhoods were off-limits due to restrictive racial covenants. Economic and social issues intensified, and Oak Park emerged as an epicenter of Sacramento’s racial tensions during the Civil Rights era. Today, Oak Park is socially and ethnically diverse. Its central commercial area has received recent investment and enthusiasm, with new restaurants and shops as well as old landmarks like the early 1900s Victor Theater (later the Oak Park Theater and now the Guild Theater) refurbished and reopened for films and live performances in 2003. INSIDER TIP: GUIDED TOURS WITH DR. ROBIN DATEL, CHAIR OF THE GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT AT SACRAMENTO STATE, OCCASIONALLY TAKE PLACE ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH, WHEN LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE SPECIAL HOURS AND EVENTS. FOLLOW THE OAK PARK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION ON FACEBOOK FOR DETAILS.
Tour info: The starting point of the tour is the corner of Broadway, Third Avenue and 35th Street. Guided tours are free. You can take a self-guided tour; pick up a brochure at several locations in Oak Park, including Underground Books, Old Soul Co. @ 40 Acres and US Bank. The route is wheelchair accessible. centerforsacramentohistory.org
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The Sawyer
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WEEKEND IN SAC
From Friday to Sunday, pack your schedule with these Sacramento favorites.
Y
ou’re in town for the weekend—scored a great hotel, the weather’s perfect and you want to make the most of your time in California’s capital city. Let’s go!
FRIDAY EVENING Check in at The Sawyer (500 J St.), the area’s only Kimpton hotel, ideally located next to Golden 1 Center. It provides a refined boutique experience, with 250 rooms and suites, 45 highend residential lofts and Revival, a third-floor modern lounge (anchored by a sparkling swimming pool) with fire pits, cabanas and a DJ stand.
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Sit down for dinner at the on-site Echo & Rig, an upscale steakhouse with celeb chef Sam Marvin’s name attached. (Think Vegas—and beating Bobby Flay.) Order a steak (many types and cuts available, including massive porterhouses to share) grilled over red oak, and it’ll arrive accompanied by crisp garlic chips, mushroom Rockefeller and your choice of sauce from the lineup of seven. Later, head up to Revival for drinks and snacks by the pool. Take in the views of downtown Sacramento as you sip on something crafty—mixers are made inhouse, and the list of inventive cocktails is well-curated. Keep your eyes open: Just a short stroll from the downtown arena, Revival is an unofficial clubhouse for visiting athletes and musicians. Lil Jon has partied here, and Sacramento Kings players and management have been spotted as well. (LeBron James, in town for a Cavs game, tried to get in one Christmas Day, but the bar was closed.) Also, don’t forget your swimsuit. Hotel guests and loft residents can take a dip in the pool.
ue your downtown tour with a stop at the State Capitol World Peace Rose Garden (1317 15th St.)—usually blooming in spring—and identify the Betty Boop or John F. Kennedy rosebushes (among other celebs). While away the afternoon at DOCO (405 K St.), the outdoor mall just outside your hotel room, attached to Golden 1 Center. Short for Downtown Commons, DOCO includes shops, restaurants, a movie theater, public art (including the iconic Jeff Koons’ Coloring Book #4) and an outdoor green for gatherings including yoga and kids’ activities every second Saturday morning of the month. The stateof-the-art Golden 1 Center, which opened
in 2016 as home arena for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, hosts big-name entertainment and has a farm-to-fork food and beverage program that sources its ingredients from a 150-mile radius. After shopping, grab a local craft brew at Ruhstaller BSMT (726 K St.), with 14 rotating taps and an outdoor patio where even your dog is welcome. Play a round of mini golf at the nearby Flatstick Pub (630 K St.) before you head out for dinner. Grange Restaurant & Bar, located in The Citizen Hotel (926 J St.), spotlights some of the area’s best farm-to-fork producers, and the ambiance in the stunning dining room is seductive and low-lit. Check out the gorgeous Citizen and peg it as your “where to stay” on your next trip to town.
SUNDAY First stop: Solomon’s Delicatessen (730 K St.) for a bagel and shmear. This cafe pays homage to the late Russ Solomon, founder of Tower Records, and is in fact a former Tower location. Then head uptown to East Sacramento, where the Fab Forties neighborhood includes ven-
SATURDAY Hop on a Jump bike and head a few blocks over to Temple Coffee (1010 Ninth St., between I and J) for a pourover and a pastry, then pop into Andy’s Candy Apothecary next door and pick up a sea salt caramel or something from local Puur Chocolat. (Artisanal bonbons are the bomb.) Contin-
Flatstick Pub
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Corner of 45th and M streets in the Fab Forties
erable old multimillion-dollar homes—one on 45th Street where Ronald Reagan lived when he was governor. Shop at The Kitchen Table (1462 33rd St.), a charming little store in an old house with several rooms stuffed with interesting, high-quality kitchen products, barware and gifts. Feed the ducks and geese in McKinley Park (Alhambra and H streets)—but first swing by Western Feed and Pet Supply (1600 34th St.) to pick up some approved
duck food; signs warn not to feed them bread because it causes angel wing in waterfowl. At lunchtime, listen to live music at SacYard Community Tap House (1725 33rd St.), where you also can play bocce, ping-pong and other games. Or watch sports (football, baseball, basketball) on the big screen at Clubhouse 56 (734 56th St.). Another option: Limelight Bar & Café (1014 Alhambra Blvd.), where you can view a collection of photos from Sac-
ramento’s baseball history, curated by Sacramento Solons expert Alan O’Connor. After a casual dinner at one of Sacramento’s great pizza restaurants—OneSpeed (4818 Folsom Blvd.), where the Rick’s thin-crust pie includes Canadian bacon, caramelized onions, olives and Yukon gold potatoes—stop in at Bonn Lair (3651 J St.), which holds pub trivia night on Sundays starting at 8:30 p.m. You can always play darts and watch international football (ie., soccer).
OneSpeed
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Things To Do in
Visit Sacramento
Whether you like sports, shows, art, animals or all of the above, you’ll find plenty of fun in our fair city.
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1. Cheer for a sports team. Sacramento Kings basketball fans have been through a lot together (see: the early ’90s, 2013 and the Maloofs), and perhaps nothing signifies the pride of that NBA journey quite like ringing an engraved cowbell at Golden 1 Center. Catch a game between October and mid April. nba.com/kings At a River Cats baseball game, you’ll find a fully loaded kids’ zone and an unbeatable view of the sunset. You’ll have plenty of reasons to raise your glass and cheer with your fellow Sutter Health Park revelers for the Giants Triple-A affiliate baseball team. Games take place April through September. rivercats.com If you think professional soccer is just for Europeans, you’ve never been to a football match in the States. And if you think Americans only get excited for American football (as opposed to the football we know as soccer), you’ve never witnessed the Tower Bridge Battalion at a Sac Republic match at Papa Murphy’s Park. This group of crazed fans is on their feet, chanting in unison and waving custom flags and banners at each and every match. The season runs March through October. tbbattalion.com 2. Enjoy offerings fresh from a farmers market. The Sacramento region contains about 1.5 million acres of farmland and 8,000 acres of boutique farms, earning its status as America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital. In the summertime, the farms kick into high gear, delivering a huge variety of produce at its biggest and best. Take advantage of this freshness boon—and support local growers. The Sacramento region has more than 40 farmers markets. Some are open year-round. Others, such as the one at Cesar Chavez Park, open in mid-spring and close in midfall. But during the summer, they’re all open for business, and it’s boom, boom, booming. Of course, you’ll find much more than just fruits and vegetables. You’ll likely also come across goodies like artisanal cheeses and honeys, baked goods, herbs, flowers, locally ranched meats and locally caught fish. Some, like the Oak Park Farmers Market, feature live music or kids’ activities like storytelling, face painting or art making. california-grown.com. 3. Tour the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Whether for religious reverence (it’s the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento) or architectural reverence (construction started in 1887, and the building is one of the largest cathedrals west of the Mississippi River), the cathedral holds a special place in the heart of many Sacramentans. Mass is held
seven days a week, guided tours are offered on Sundays and Wednesdays, and videoassisted self-guided tours are available. cathedralsacramento.org 4. See a film at the Crest Theatre. The beautifully lavish art-deco Crest has the same story as many K Street traditions: It was great, then it wasn’t, there were renovations and reimaginings, and now it’s cooler than it’s ever been. Having undergone an extensive modernization project a few years ago, which included the opening of Empress Tavern carvery-focused restaurant in what used to be the basement screening rooms, the Crest has been fully restored as the heirloom crown jewel of the once-beleaguered downtown district. Catch a screening of an old-time favorite like “Singin’ in the Rain” (shown seasonally). crestsacramento.com 5. Walk, run or bike the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail. Also known as the American River Trail, it runs 32 miles along the American River connecting a string of public spaces including Sutter’s Landing Park, Paradise Beach, William B. Pond Recreation Area, River Bend Park and all the way up to Beals Point at Folsom Lake. Each spot has its own highlights, from the salmon ladders at Nimbus Fish Hatchery to the archery range at Discovery Park and the creature comforts of Old Sacramento. The Jedediah Smith is one of the longest paved trails in the country. If you’re on a bike, you can ride just long enough to justify a destination reward. But the trail has plenty of room for everyone. Families and couples abound on both wheels and sneakers. So pack a lunch and hit the trail. www.regionalparks.saccounty.net. (You actually need to type the “www.”) 6. See exotic animals at Sacramento Zoo. Some animal lovers have mixed feeling about zoos. But seeing animals from faraway places is fun. It stirs the imagination. It promotes conversation. Kids love it. And the very best time to go to Sacramento Zoo (3930 W. Land Park Drive) is first thing in the morning when the critters are waking up. So get up early and go hang with the coolest vertebrates when they’re active. Check out the new viewing deck where you can meet giraffes eye-to-eye. And the big cat exhibits are always a crowd-pleaser. saczoo.org 7. View art at Crocker Art Museum. Crocker Art Museum permanently houses a collection of more than 15,000 works of art. In 2017, the museum received national recognition for excellence by the American
Alliance of Museums, joining only 3 percent of the nation’s 33,000 museums. The museum is “world renowned for its collection of California art and European master drawings,” says Crocker’s media relations associate, Karen Christian. “The museum also offers a diverse spectrum of exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections, including films, concerts, studio classes, lectures, children’s activities and more.” The Crocker also lets its hair down one evening a month with drinks and music. Art Mix begins at 6 p.m., with drink specials, DJs or live music, and a uniquely artthemed party, from bohemia to masquerade balls. crockerart.org 8. Visit the California State Railroad Museum. The world-class California State Railroad Museum is the largest of its kind in North America, boasting 19 steam locomotives and telling the story of the Transcontinental Railroad, which was completed only yards from the museum’s entrance. With more than 225,000 square feet of space for exhibits with trains that kids (and adults) can climb aboard and peek inside of, storyboards detailing railroad history (such as Abraham Lincoln’s influence over the Union Pacific Railroad and the Pullman strike of 1894) and current events (high-speed rail), the museum offers a full day of entertainment and education. The museum store is a delight in itself, selling books, bags, clothing and railroad memorabilia. californiarailroad.museum 9. Take in a show at Broadway Sacramento. The organization has brought performances to Sacramento for decades with its summertime Broadway at Music Circus series at 1419 H St. and Broadway on Tour at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center (1301 L St.). Broadway Sacramento is Sacramento’s oldest professional performing arts organization and California’s largest nonprofit musical theater company. broadwaysacramento.com 10. Meet the animals of the California State Fair. People used to call Sacramento a cow town, and while the expanding downtown skyline laughs at the city’s former reputation, for 17 days every summer you can still find cows in the center of town. The California State Fair hosts an animal education center as well as a petting zoo, so when you chase a corn dog with a funnel cake and call it dinner, you can chalk up your appetite to all that manual labor on the makeshift farm. castatefair.org
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Courtes y of Visit Sacramento
Our skyline may be ever changing and growing, but the best parts of the city will always remain intact, such as our treasured historical buildings and our instant classic, Golden 1 Center.
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Golden 1 Center
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Landmarks State Capitol Museum and Gardens
Spend some time under the Capitol dome to learn about state government in action. Take one of the daily tours to learn about the 1869 building’s architecture. Discover changing museum exhibits and historical rooms that offer a view into California’s political past. If the legislature is in session, ask for access to public galleries to watch bills being debated or votes being cast. Outside, stroll the 40 acres of tranquil gardens, where camellias, roses and many species of trees frame the Capitol. Monuments dot the landscape, honoring Native Americans, firefighters, California’s veterans, pioneers and other people who shaped this great state. Tours begin in the rotunda every hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1315 10th St., capitolmuseum.ca.gov Old Sacramento Waterfront
Golden 1 Center
The arena of the future has arrived, and Sacramento’s got it. The 100 percent solar-powered Golden 1 Center is known as the world’s greenest arena. In October 2016, The NBA’s Sacramento Kings tipped off their first game at their new home, the most technologically advanced arena in the world, which covers four city blocks. It also reflects the region’s farm-to-fork designation by sourcing 90 percent of its food from within 150 miles of Sacramento. With clean sight lines and the world’s largest scoreboard, this facility is focused on creating the ultimate fan experience. Its hanging doors welcome summer breezes during games, concerts and other events. The arena can seat up to 19,000 people. 500 David J. Stern Walk, golden1center.com
California Museum
California Museum
Through its innovative, interactive displays, the California Museum inspires visitors to pursue the California dream. It was opened 1998 to showcase the materials of the California State Archives. The museum’s goal is to educate visitors about the richness and diversity of California history, arts and culture, with a special focus placed on serving the young people who will become the voters, decision makers and leaders of the future. Periodically, the museum holds the California Hall of Fame, a program honoring people who have made a mark on California’s history. Jane Fonda, Robert Downey Jr., Isabel Allende, Buzz Aldrin, Maya Angelou and Magic Johnson are just a few of the inductees. The Unity Center at the museum celebrates
the state’s diverse people, customs and cultures. 1020 O St., californiamuseum.org Crocker Art Museum
The first public art museum founded in the Western United States, the Crocker Art Museum serves as the primary resource in the region for the study and appreciation of fine art. Established in 1885, the Crocker is one California’s premier museums. It offers many special exhibitions and programs to complement its permanent collections of California, European, Asian, African and Oceanic art, which also includes works on paper, ceramics and photography. Hosting tours, talks, classes, films and concerts, the museum aims to shed light on the human experience through art.
John Hernandez
Step into the Gold Rush era at this 28-acre National Historic Landmark District, located along the Sacramento River, with its wood-plank sidewalks and many original buildings still intact. Enjoy shopping, dining, entertainment, historical attractions and worldrenowned museums, including the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum, the California Military Museum and the Sacramento History Museum. Perhaps most notable: the award-winning California State Railroad Museum, at 125 I St., with six buildings full of beautifully restored locomotives, railcars and other exhibits. The Sacramento Visitors Center is located at 1002 Second St., oldsacramento.com
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Landmarks SAFE Credit Union Convention Center and SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center
Downtown’s new and improved convention center is scheduled to premiere in November 2020. The new complex, with a ballroom, more exhibit space than before and a striking lobby, among other improvements, replaces the old facility, which was demolished in 2019. More than 875,000 people have walked through the convention center’s doors each year to attend SacAnime, home and garden shows, volleyball and cheerleading tournaments, and other events. Its proximity to dining, shopping and nightlife, as well as top-notch hotels and the state Capitol will make the new complex a popular venue for those who think big. 1400 J St., sacramentoconventioncenter.com Just across the walkway lies the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, which is known for hosting nationally touring musicals, concerts, comedians and all manner of other high-caliber shows. It is being renovated also, with plans to open December 2020. 1301 L St., sacramentocommunitycentertheater.com Governor’s Mansion
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
The Crocker is the only museum in the Sacramento region accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, a recognition given to fewer than 800 of the nation’s 17,500 museums. The original Crocker family mansion and gallery building is a California Historical Landmark and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2010, the Crocker opened a 125,000-square-foot expansion called the Teel Family Pavilion. 216 O St., crockerart.org
Carlos Eliason
Memorial Auditorium
One of the most beloved buildings in Sacramento, Memorial Auditorium has been working overtime since the Community Center Theater closed for renovation. The site welcomed its first visitors in 1927 as a tribute to the city’s residents who gave their lives in service
to our country. The 3,850-seat auditorium, often referred to as the crown jewel of Sacramento, is a true multipurpose venue, attracting audiences for championship boxing, fashion shows, speakers and concerts ranging from big bands and violin virtuosos to the Beach Boys and Rolling Stones. Under the glow of the facility’s vintage chandeliers, thousands of students have received diplomas during graduation ceremonies, and hundreds of couples have tied the knot. Nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, the building, which celebrates its 91st anniversary this year, boasts many unique architectural design elements and operational features. It also houses the Jean Runyon Little Theater, which can seat up to 272 people. 1515 J St., sacramentomemorialauditorium.com
Until recently, Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park was once again the official residence of California’s governor. Home to 13 other governors from 1903 to 1967, when Gov. Ronald Reagan relocated to a house in the Fabulous 40s after living there for four months, the mansion stood empty until Gov. Jerry Brown and his wife moved there in 2015. Current governor Gavin Newsom has chosen to move his family into a home in Fair Oaks, so state ceremonies and public events will showcase the Italianate structure’s marble fireplaces, 14-foot ceilings, chandeliers, Persian carpets and handcrafted details, such as period-appropriate hinges and doorknobs. It’s no wonder the mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 1526 H St., parks.ca.gov Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
One of Sacramento’s most distinctive and imposing architectural structures, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament has been an active Catholic parish since 1889. Patrick Manogue, born in County Kilkenny, Ireland in 1831, immigrated to the United States, and earned enough from prospecting gold in California to pay his tuition to Saint Sulpice Semi-
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Landmarks
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge
Opened in 1935, Tower Bridge was the first vertical lift bridge in California to permit ship traffic to cross underneath. It was painted gold in 2002, the color that received the most votes from residents within a 35-mile radius of the Capitol. The vehicle and pedestrian bridge spans the Sacramento River, linking West Sacramento to Sacramento at Old Sacramento’s southern end. If crossing from West Sac, it’s a straight, 10-block shot to Capitol. If crossing in the other direction, the bridge provides an easy means of access to West Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park, home of the Sacramento River Cats. Each year, the bridge closes to cars
during the Tower Bridge Dinner, which is the capstone of Sacramento’s Farm-ToFork Festival. Leland Stanford Mansion
The Leland Stanford Mansion is a museum and the state’s official reception center for leaders from around the world. The Victorian-era mansion underwent a 14-year, $22 million restoration, which was completed in 2005. The 19,000-square-foot mansion features 17-foot ceilings, beautiful woodwork, historic paintings and original period furnishings that belonged tothe Stanfords. Built in 1856, the mansion was later purchased and remodeled by Leland and
Visit Sacramento
nary in Paris. After he was ordained a priest in 1861, he returned to California. In 1886, he was appointed as Sacramento’s first bishop and he championed the cathedral’s construction. The cornerstone for the cathedral, modeled after Paris’ Church of the Holy Trinity, was laid on June 12, 1887. Recognized as one of the largest churches west of the Mississippi River and the seat of the Sacramento Diocese, the Cathedral is both a religious and civic landmark. A five-year, $34 million renovation was completed in 2005. The renovation included seismic retrofitting and returning the cathedral to its original style, which had been altered by repair work throughout the years. 1017 11th St., cathedralsacramento.org
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Landmarks
Sutter’s Fort
Jane Stanford. Leland Stanford served as governor from 1862 to 1863 and negotiated political and business deals at the mansion that helped complete the transcontinental railroad. The couple’s new wealth enabled them to expand the mansion in 1872. In 1978, the State of California purchased the property for use as a state park. The structure was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. 800 N St., parks.ca.gov Sutter’s Fort
In 1839 John Sutter received a land grant in the Sacramento Valley from the Mexican government. With the land, he created “New Helvetia” (“New Switzerland”), an agricultural empire in what is
now midtown Sacramento. New Helvetia was Sacramento’s earliest settlement. After Sutter sent aid to the Donner party, the group of immigrants struggling for their lives in the snowy Sierra, New Helvetia became known as a destination for immigrants. Within a decade the property was overrun by gold-seekers and destroyed, except for the fort. Now, restored to its original state, the fort holds tours daily. Special events and educational opportunities abound in the historic fort. 2701 L St., suttersfort.org Old City Cemetery
Since 1849, Sacramento’s Old City Cemetery has served as the final resting place for thousands of early settlers, including 600 victims of the 1850 cholera epi-
demic and some of the city’s first mayors. Notables such as railroad mogul Mark Hopkins, lawyer and art collector E.B. Crocker, and Alexander Hamilton’s son, William Stephen Hamilton, were all buried here. As was customary in the Victorian era, the cemetery was developed as a park with a profusion of seasonal flowers. Pathways and avenues wind around monuments and headstones, defining the boundaries of sections such as Hamilton Square, or the Masons’ and volunteer firefighters’ group plots. Guided walking tours are led by Old City Cemetery Committee docents. Or take a self-guided tour. 1000 Broadway, historicoldcitycemetery.org
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All Around Town
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While you’re driving around seeing the sights, don’t miss a cruise through some of Sacramento’s most venerable neighborhoods. Midtown
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Neighborhoods OLD SACRAMENTO Built along the Sacramento River, this is the city’s oldest neighborhood. In the mid-1800s, adventure seekers came here on their way to the gold fields in the foothills. Some enterprising entrepreneurs stayed and built Old Sac into California’s first business district, a place where miners could buy supplies and spend their hard-earned gold. The area was prone to flooding, and repeated fires destroyed the hastily constructed wood-and-canvas buildings. Eventually, the streets were raised and new buildings were constructed on top of the old town. Today, the entire 28-acre neighborhood is a state park that offers a fascinating glimpse back to the city’s historic founding, with walking tours, carriage rides, historic re-enactments and a guided underground tour that allows you to see remnants of the original settlement. Old Sac is home to several museums, including the California State Railroad Museum, California Automobile Museum and Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum, a living replica of a one-room schoolhouse. Docked on the river, The Delta King riverboat offers hotel lodging and dining, but anyone can walk aboard and stroll its decks. Old Sac pays tribute to the Wild West with its old-fashioned wooden sidewalks while offering plenty of modern shopping, dining and entertainment options.
DOWNTOWN Until recently, downtown Sacramento was largely known for being the center of state government. (The State Capitol is located there, along with a number of state agency buildings.) But Golden 1 Center changed all that. The $558 million sports and entertainment arena, which opened to great acclaim in late 2016, has provided downtown with a massive boost of energy and excitement. The Sacramento Kings basketball team plays all its home games there, and the arena attracts top-caliber entertainers such as Lady Gaga, Elton John and Katy Perry, along with productions such as Disney on Ice and Cirque du Soleil. But you don’t need a ticket to enjoy the arena’s elegant architecture, marked by undulating exterior panels that evoke the foothills, or to visit the striking Jeff
Koons sculpture on the plaza. (In case you’re wondering, the colorful sculpture depicts Winnie-the-Pooh’s Piglet.) A multitude of new restaurants and bars have popped up around the arena and on nearby K Street Mall, making this a great place to grab a drink or a bite to eat. Downtown is home to Crocker Art Museum (the oldest art museum in the West) and California Museum, where you can visit the California Hall of Fame. Nearby, the State Capitol offers fascinating guided tours that allow you to watch legislators at work when they’re in session. Stroll the grounds of Capitol Park, which feature the International World Peace Rose Garden and the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Another don’t-miss downtown attraction is the Sunday Farmers Market. Held at Eighth and W streets under the freeway year-round from 8 a.m. to noon, it is Sacramento’s largest farmers market, attracting foodies, families and local chefs. The bustling market is a testament to the city’s passion for farm-to-fork cooking.
MIDTOWN This live wire of a neighborhood in the heart of the city is a magnet for fun lovers. There are dozens of hip restaurants and bars, and the monthly Second Saturday Art Walk draws thousands of merrymakers. On Saturday mornings, the Midtown Farmers Market on 20th Street between J and L is a great place to shop for seasonal produce from local farmers, along with artisanal food products and handmade goods. Midtown is also home to a large number of independently owned boutiques and art galleries. The neighborhood is both walkable and bicycle friendly. It’s made up of several smaller sub-neighborhoods, each with its own distinct personality. The Handle District is the epicenter for fine dining, with restaurants such as The Waterboy, Zocalo and 58 Degrees & Holding Co. R Street Corridor is Sacramento’s old warehouse district. Many of those atmospheric old buildings have been redeveloped and are now home to exciting bars, restaurants and lofts. Lavender Heights is the hub of Sacramento’s gay and lesbian community. Shaded by trees and built on a gentle rise, Poverty
Ridge is largely a residential neighborhood, known for its classic Victorians and Craftsman bungalows. (It got its colorful name from the gold rush days, when the city’s poor would flock here during heavy rains to escape the floodwaters.)
LAND PARK Life in this elegant, tree-shaded neighborhood centers around William Land Park, a 166-acre oasis of green in the middle of the city. In addition to a jogging path, picnic areas and picturesque ponds, the park offers attractions such as the Sacramento Zoo, Fairytale Town (a children’s play park with 25 sets based on fairy tales and nursery rhymes), Funderland (a small amusement park) and a nine-hole golf course. William A. Carroll Amphitheatre in the park hosts concerts, plays, an annual Shakespeare festival and other productions. Sacramento Historic City Cemetery on Broadway is an outdoor museum that pays homage to the city’s history from the gold rush onward. It’s the final resting place for many of the city’s first citizens, from early mayors and governors to more colorful denizens such as bootleggers and saloon owners. The cemetery’s Historic Rose Garden features old and antique roses in a profusion of shapes and colors. Guided tours of the cemetery and rose garden are available. Land Park is home to the classic Tower Theatre, a grand old movie house on Broadway that shows mostly foreign, indie and art films. Nearby, you’ll find numerous restaurants serving global cuisine: Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Ethiopian, you name it. Venture out into the residential parts of the neighborhood to see exquisite examples of European Revival architecture from the 1920s and ’30s.
EAST SACRAMENTO This pedestrian-friendly neighborhood east of midtown is like a little village plunked in the middle of the city. It’s easy to walk or bike to the area’s many independent restaurants, cafes and retailers. The jewel of the neighborhood is 32acre McKinley Park, home to a library, duck pond, rose garden, garden and arts center, tennis courts, soccer and baseball fields and a popular 1.1-mile running
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path. (Back in the ’90s, then-President Bill Clinton famously jogged on the track during a trip to Sacramento.) In the warm months, the park hosts a free outdoor yoga session on Saturday mornings that attracts hundreds of people eager to practice their downward-facing dog in the fresh air. The neighborhood has a mix of bungalows and Tudor, Craftsman and Mediterranean Revival-style houses built in the 1920s and ’30s. It’s also home to an upscale sub-neighborhood
called the Fabulous Forties, with grand old houses and sweeping green lawns. As governor, Ronald Reagan lived on 45th Street with his wife, Nancy, and their two children.
OAK PARK This quaint, working-class city neighborhood is undergoing a big transition. Members of the city’s creative class and young homeowners are moving in, attracted to Oak Park’s proximity to downtown and affordable housing stock.
The area has seen significant development. A slew of restaurants, boutiques and design businesses have opened in the vicinity of Broadway Triangle, a stylish development with stores, loft apartments and townhouses. The area is also home to a coffeehouse called Old Soul @ 40 Acres, a farmers market, an urban nursery, art studios and gallery spaces, and a monthly outdoor food event called GATHER. And on the first Friday of each month, local businesses stay open late for shopping, art and music.
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Through the The sun sets on a vineyard in Lodi.
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Chantarat / Shutterstock
Sacramento is surrounded by wine country: the hills and valleys of Amador, Placer and El Dorado counties, and in Yolo County, vines line the riverbanks in and around Clarksburg, less than 20 minutes from downtown. Farther south, Lodi calls with its zins and chardonnays, and the world-renowned Napa and Sonoma wine regions lie about 90 minutes to the northwest, alluring with the famous towns of Yountville, St. Helena, Sonoma, Sebastopol and Healdsburg. Let’s hit the road!
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Wine NEVADA COUNTY The hilly vineyards and small wineries are miles apart in this lush, often-rugged swath of the Sierra foothills off Highway 49 near Grass Valley. Try Solune, Pilot Peak and Bent Metal, and check out a number of others in downtown Grass Valley, where at least eight wineries have tasting rooms.
EL DORADO It’s a fine line between Amador and El Dorado counties, where the Sierra Nevada foothills’ warm summer days and cool nights make the grape. In El Dorado, the hillsides pitch a bit steeper, the elevation climbs higher and many roads are lined with apple orchards and berry farms. A broad range of wines is created in El Dorado County, from warm-weather zins and barberas, to cooler-weather chardonnays, cabernets and gewürztraminers. Find California Gold Rush history in Placerville, and plenty of wine-tasting rooms among the shops, restaurants and museums. With approximately 50 wineries and more than 2,000 acres of vines, El Dorado is home to award winners such as Boeger, Convergence, Element 79, Oakstone, Perry Creek, Sierra Vista and Windwalker.
PLACER
Bella Grace, a charming 1860s-era tasting room in Sutter Creek, Amador County
AMADOR This golden wine country, less than an hour’s drive from Sacramento, deserves its status as a getaway. Amador County’s vineyards roll across the rises and valleys of these Sierra Gold Country foothills, producing fine warm-weather reds— particularly zins, rhones and barberas. Some 40-plus wineries are tucked into
the hills, with a majority of them off Shenandoah Road just outside of Plymouth. The little town of Sutter Creek teems with tasting rooms, an inviting way for wine lovers to stay in one place and sample numerous local wines. It’s beautiful country out here. Some standout wineries: Andis, Cooper, Drytown, Helwig, Bella Grace, Jeff Runquist, Rombauer, Sera Fina and Uphill.
On the Placer County Wine Trail, the wineries and tasting rooms are loosely grouped into two areas called the Loomis Loop and Wise Wineries, and the tour includes stops in and around Granite Bay, Rocklin, Roseville and Loomis, along with Auburn, Newcastle and Lincoln. In other words, so nearby that you’re barely leaving Sacramento. No two wineries or winemakers are alike, but they share proximity, a down-toearth attitude and a passion for making good wine. The winemaker/owner will likely be the one pouring your wine and patiently answering questions. Many of the wineries routinely earn top awards. A few of the wineries include Bonitata, Casque, Ciotti Cellars, Lone Buffalo, Mt. Vernon, PaZa Estate, Rock Hill,
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Wine
Heringer Estates, Clarksburg
Secret Ravine and Wise Villa, which won the Golden State Winery of the Year in 2015 in the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition.
LODI The Lodi wine region, anchored by a renovated Old Town, lies about 30 minutes south of Sacramento. Come in on the back roads to fully appreciate the vineyards, some knotty and gnarled from more than a century in production. More than 50 wineries dot this flatland where rich and loamy soil, hot daytime sun and evening Delta breezes combine
to help stress grapes into prime ingredients. Look for thick, dark old-vine zins (a Lodi specialty), deep-red cabs and crisp chardonnays. Tasting fees run low. Start at the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center at the Wine & Roses inn/spa/restaurant and pick up a map. Some great stops include Cycles Gladiator, d’Art, Harney Lane, Jessie’s Grove, Klinker Brick, M2, Mettler, Michael David, Viaggio, Weibel and Woodbridge.
CLARKSBURG Just 20 minutes from downtown Sacramento in the Delta, the Clarksburg
wine-growing region feels a world apart from the city. Some families have been farming there since the 19th century, turning out fine chenin blancs, sauvignon blancs, verdelhos, zins, cabs and more. Cruise along the Sacramento River, and discover wineries on both sides. The Old Sugar Mill makes an ideal starting point, with some 15 wineries representing in its tasting rooms. Clarksburg Wine Company, which manages the location, maintains three styles of chenin blanc, the region’s signature grape. Spots to stop include Bogle (bring a picnic!), Heringer, Julietta, Kirchhoff, Miner’s Leap and Scribner Bend.
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AMADOR
WI N E C O U N T RY
PHOTO BY KATIE DEMERS
20 minutes away from Downtown Sacramento
Open Daily 11a–5p 37375 Netherlands Road, Clarksburg, CA 95612 Use promo code SACMAG and enjoy 10% off in the tasting room, online, and at farmers’ markets.
World-class wines, warm hospitality, and distinguished history all in a breathtaking Sierra Foothills setting. That’s Amador Wine Country. Just 45 minutes east of Sacramento, but worlds away!
(Not to be combined with other discounts or promotions)
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Sports
Good Sports
Sacramento River Cats
BASEBALL What’s your game? Whether you’re a fan of basketball, baseball, soccer or something else, the Sacramento region’s got it.
400 Ballpark Drive, West Sacramento, (916) 371-4487, rivercats.com The River Cats, Triple-A affiliate for the San Francisco Giants, wrapped up their 2019 season as national champs—the first team to win the Triple-A National Championship three times and its first as a Giants farm team.
(October–April)
(August–December)
Sacramento State Hornets: Big Sky Conference (men’s and women’s) The
Nest gymnasium, CSUS campus, 6000 J St., Sacramento, (916) 278-4323, hornetsports.com
University of California, Davis Aggies: Big West Conference (men’s and women’s) The Pavilion, UC Davis campus, Davis, (530) 752-2471, ucdavisaggies.com
Great American Triathlon (July)
Sacramento River Cats: Pacific Coast League (Triple A) Sutter Health Park,
FOOTBALL
J. Stern Walk, Sacramento, (888) 915-4647 general information, (916) 701-5401 box office, golden1center.com In the LEED-certified Golden 1 Center, the purple-uniformed NBA franchise continues its quest to break through and become a championship-caliber team. Its fans are as ready as ever. Chris Allan / Shutterstock
(April–September)
BASKETBALL Sacramento Kings: National Basketball Association Golden 1 Center, 500 David
Lake Tahoe through Sierra high country and historic Gold County, finishing in Auburn.
Sacramento State Hornets: Big Sky Conference Hornet Field, CSUS campus, 6000 J St., Sacramento, (916) 278-4323, hornetsports.com
University of California, Davis Aggies: Big Sky Conference UC Davis Health Stadium,
greatamericantriathlon.com When after 45 years Eppie’s Great Race ran its course in 2018, local race enthusiasts introduced this no-swim, run-ride-paddle triathlon in 2019, which uses Eppie’s course in and along the American River in Rancho Cordova and Sacramento.
California International Marathon (First Sunday in December) runsra.org/californiainternational-marathon CIM annually attracts thousands of runners from around the world thanks to its fast, net downhill course that starts near Folsom Dam and ends at the Capitol. Certified and sanctioned by USA Track & Field, CIM is a Boston Marathon and U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier.
SOCCER
La Rue Road, Davis, (530) 752-2471, ucdavisaggies.com
(March–October)
RUNNING/TRIATHLON
Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 307-6100, sacrepublicfc.com The multinational men’s professional soccer team, which enjoys rabid support among a wide and diverse cross section of local fans, was awarded a coveted MLS expansion franchise in 2019, with a launch—in a brand-new downtown stadium—expected in 2022.
Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run (June) wser.org
With its inception in 1974, the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race includes a climb of 18,000 feet and a descent of 23,000 feet as it follows the Western States Trail from Squaw Valley near
Sacramento Republic FC: United Soccer League Papa Murphy’s Park, 1600
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Fair Oaks Boulevard, is an upscale, open-air shoppers’ playground. Heading north on Interstate 80, you’ll find that the city of Roseville offers much shopping, including Westfield Galleria at Roseville, the region’s largest shopping mall, and Fountains, which often serves as a venue for concerts and other activities right among
RIRE
its stores and restaurants. In Folsom, you’ll find Folsom Premium Outlets and Palladio, and just up the hill, there’s El Dorado Hills Town Center. Want to see and be seen? Then head over to DOCO, adjacent to Golden 1 Center. Here’s a look at some of the best shops in the region, where you’ll find the latest and greatest.
Wes Davis
Shop local! Midtown, East Sacramento and Oak Park’s Triangle District are home to some of the most interesting shops and boutiques in the region. Those neighborhoods are all very walkable, as well. Want to find it all in one place? Then Arden Fair mall, right off the Capital City Freeway, is a good bet. Also in Sacramento, Pavilions, on
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FASHION All Good If you’re going to hike Half Dome or stroll the shores of Lake Tahoe, you may as well look good doing it. That’s where All Good comes in. Part apparel retailer, part camp store, the shop is outfitted with all the trappings of a fashion-forward adventure, from color-block parkas to camo-print jogging pants for gents. The flagship store also serves as a base camp of sorts for All Good’s expeditions, just in case canoeing down the Russian River or surfing in Nicaragua is your thing. 1715 R St.; (916) 376-7641; allgxxd.com Crocker Art Museum Store Museum gift shops are often a great place to find interesting and unusual gifts, and the Crocker Art Museum Store is no different. Located on the downtown museum’s ground floor, it carries books, prints, jewelry, apparel, puzzles, toys, cards and many more artistic and artrelated items. 216 O St.; (916) 808-5531; crockerart.org/shop Nectar Owner Janel Lacayo makes original, one-of-a-kind earrings, necklaces and bracelets at a tiny workbench behind the cash register. She’s big on upcycling, incorporating vintage jewelry parts into her hammered-wire designs, with prices ranging from $6 to $200. She also sells vintage apparel, T-shirts and aprons decorated with bits of old embroidery. 3328 Broadway; (916) 616-5724; collectingnectar.com Old Gold At this little gem of a shop in WAL Public Market, fans of vintage apparel and local goods strike it rich. The jewelry cases brim with minimalist and statement pieces, many of them designed by Trisha Rhomberg (who co-owns the shop with Rachel Fowler) and fabricated by midtown jewelry makers. Vintage fiends flock here for funky dresses, blouses, handbags and a boot selection that will have you kicking up your heels. The home decor, most of it crafted by local artisans, is fresh and fun. Great finds: Leather journals by Richard Bigelow, mirror and glass art by Amy Streit, textile necklaces from Roxanne Young, and stools and plant stands by Trent Dean. 1104 R St.; (916) 329-8569; shopoldgold.com
#Panache #Panache is an eclectic shop that demands frequent visits because the selection is always evolving. Owners Ralph Barnett and Hector Lopez scoop up unique items from their favorite flea markets and travels abroad, which means all the merchandise here (aside from the soaps and candles) is secondhand. Lopez describes the store as a celebration of “affordable luxury” that encompasses everything from 1970s designer sunglasses to Kelly-green suede Louboutin ballet flats to a French caned bedside table. Retail therapy done right: Hit up #Panache and its posh neighbor, Fleuri (a Francophile’s dream) with your most stylish BFF, then grab lunch at nearby Selland’s Market-Cafe or Cafe Rolle. 5379 H St.; (916) 813-5758 Purpose Situated on a side street just off J in midtown, Purpose is a hip little women’s boutique that carries ethically produced apparel, accessories and jewelry. You’ll find pieces by small manufacturers featuring unique fabrics from artisans in Bali and elsewhere. You’ll never have to worry about running into someone wearing the same outfit as you. 920 24th St.; (916) 426-8037; shopthepurpose.com R. Douglas When it comes to fashion, there’s one thing that never goes out of style: clothes that fit well. Custom clothier R. Douglas specializes in hand-tailored suits, shirts, tuxedoes and overcoats for men who appreciate one-of-a-kind garments that fit to a T. Just be sure to plan ahead: It can take four to six weeks for a tailor to turn out custom items. R. Douglas also carries a line of handmade silk ties from Italy as well as satchels, cuff links, pocket squares and custom-made belts to help pull off your signature style. 1020 12th St.; (916) 438-9455; rdouglas.net RIRE Boutique owner Josie Lee, who launched her women’s apparel business with a humble 100-square-foot pop-up shop, now operates two retail stores: one in midtown Sacramento, the other in Oak Park. The local chain’s lead stylist, Melissa Leonard, describes the RIRE look as “very contemporary, very girly, with a twist of edginess.” Fashion-forward shoppers come here for on-trend jewelry, belts and hats, flirty dresses and a dozen colors of bralettes, which work great under
flowy tanks or low-cut dresses. Prices are reasonable and the sales staff approachable. 2522 J St.; (916) 696-0119; 3330 Broadway; (916) 668-7412; rireboutique.com Sacramento Kings Team Store If you’re a basketball fan, don’t leave Sacramento without stopping in to the Sacramento Kings Team Store. Located next to Golden 1 Center in the Downtown Commons, this shop is your onestop shop for official team merch and memorabilia. 500 David J. Stern Walk; (916) 701-5450; kingsteamstore.com Sacramento Republic RC Team Store Now that Sacramento is getting an MLS expansion team, Sac Republic FCbranded memorabilia is hotter than ever. At the Sacramento Republic FC Team Store in midtown, stock up on apparel, hats, scarves and souvenirs for the soccer fan in your life. 1050 20th St., Suite 200; (916) 307-6138; sacrepublicfc.com Strapping Looking for a gag gift or fun stocking stuffer? Check out Strapping, which carries a mindboggling selection of fun, funny, silly and naughty items, most of which retail for just a few dollars. Do you really need a wiener dog wine stopper, an off-color coffee mug or a pair of Ruth Bader Ginsburg socks? No, but you’ll definitely want it once you see it. 3405 Broadway; (916) 476-3376; strappingsacramento.com
FOODSTUFFS Allspicery Cooks will discover sugar, spice and everything nice at this fully stocked spice shop across the street from the state Capitol. Owner Heather Wong, a selfdescribed “food nerd,” was inspired by her love of travel and food to open this quaint store filled with unusual and hard-to-find ingredients, including zhug, barberries, porcini mushroom powder, scorpion pepper salt and habanero sugar. Come here to stock your own pantry or find a useful gift for the foodie in your life who has everything. 1125 11th St.; (916) 389-7828; allspicery.com Andy’s Candy Apothecary Willy Wonka himself would be giddy in this delightful downtown shop frequented by tourists and office workers looking
ock.com
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Shopping for a sugar fix or a gift for their favorite sweet tooth. Owners Andy Paul and Camille Esch stock the finest candies from the United States and abroad—chocolates, caramels, brittles, hard candies, you name it—as well as adorable gifts for kids and adults and a wide selection of highquality greeting cards. A satellite shop at DOCO features grab-and-go versions of Andy’s top sellers. Great finds: Artisanal chocolates, Japanese Kit Kats, Swedish gummies, German licorice, Fat Face popsicles and gelato push pops from Devine Gelateria.1012 9th St.; (916) 905-4115; andyscandystore.com Preservation & co. Delicious things happen when you apply an urban bartender’s sensibility to the old-fashioned art of food preservation. At Preservation & co., founder Jason Poole has taken pickling to the next level with products like black pepper asparagus, habanero pickles and balsamic beets, all made with crisp produce that’s handpacked on site. But it’s Preservation’s Bloody Mary mix that brought fame to Poole, who won over national judges and a fandom of brunch enthusiasts with his zesty concoction. The shop, which has the old-timey charm of a general store, also stocks an impressive selection of artisanal condiments, preserves and cocktail ingredients, all of which are sure to perk up your pantry. Great finds: Cherry bark vanilla bitters, blackberry margarita mix, green Sriracha and citrus rosemary salt. 1717 19th St.; (916) 706-1044; preservationandco.com The Chefs’ Olive Mix Sure, you could buy olive oil and vinegar from the supermarket, but what’s the fun in that? Owner Lisa Lubeley contends her shops are about the experience, not just the sale. “They are cool stores because you can taste everything before you buy,” she says. “We have tasting cups so that you know exactly what you are getting.” Each Olive Mix boasts more than 60 tanks of oils and vinegars, including extra-virgin olive oils from around the world—Portugal, Tunisia, Chile, Australia and more—as well as a selection of specialty vinegars in every imaginable f lavor, like black cherry balsamic and serrano honey vinegar. Quick bite: Hungry and in a hurry? Olive Mix makes its own hummus, peanut butter and Greek salads and stocks sandwiches, salads and cheese boards
from specialty cheese shop The Rind— all available to go. 131 J St.; (916) 706-3105; chefsolivemix.com
HOME, GARDEN & GIFTS Bleu The partners behind Bleu have curated an enchanting French-inspired shop filled with a mix of vintage treasures and new classics, including furniture, home goods, apparel and jewelry. The store is a tribute to the finer things in life, like a pink Limoges tea set, robin’s egg-blue coupes, distressed French dining chairs, an antique marble pastry display, engraved brass napkin rings, delivered without a whiff of stuffiness, thanks to the congenial service. Great finds: Premium jeans from Mother and AG, cotton tops and bottoms from Raw Earth Wild Sky, statement mirrors, antique oil paintings and one-ofa-kind serving pieces. 3319 Folsom Blvd.; (916) 330-1971 Bungalow Vintage Living There are few shops in the Sacramento region as pleasing to the eye as Bungalow. Every corner has something interesting to capture the imagination: time-worn furnishings; industrial light fixtures; weathered architectural pieces; on-trend jewelry, apparel and accessories. Owner Kim Panighetti has a gift for bringing it all together with flair. 10139 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks; (916) 967-7000 DISPLAY California Change is good. That’s the unofficial motto for Display California, a revolving pop-up shop that reinvents itself every few weeks by rolling out a new crop of artisan products made in California, with a heavy emphasis on Sacramento makers and designers. The fun is in discovering something unexpected every time you shop, whether it’s glass bead necklaces from Cabine, colorful greeting cards from Cara Emilia or linen tea towels from Loft Studios. The corner store has led an exciting retail revival in Oak Park that continues to flourish as creative entrepreneurs hang out their shingle in the historic neighborhood. 3433 Broadway; (916) 822-4925; displaycalifornia.com Kechmara Designs It’s little wonder that Moroccan rugs have been a hot trend in interior design for the past couple of years. They bring
instant interest to any room thanks to their shaggy texture and irregular geometric lines. But you needn’t settle for a West Elm look-alike when buying one. Rug gallery owner Ali Setayesh sells an impressive selection of new and vintage Moroccan rugs that he unearths during regular trips to the North African country. And unlike the chain-store copycats, every carpet sold here is handmade and unique. 1104 R St.; (916) 342-0257; kechmaradesigns.com The Kitchen Table Run out of a darling pink bungalow cottage in East Sacramento, The Kitchen Table overflows with a beautifully curated selection of kitchen wares, entertaining pieces, bar accessories and more. You’ll find the perfect gift for your cooking-obsessed friends, and you’ll probably leave with at least one item you didn’t know you needed. 1462 33rd St.; (916) 588-9866; kitchentablesac.com The Plant Foundry This colorful urban nursery in the heart of Oak Park caters to all types of gardeners, from veteran green thumbs who know their way around a composting bin to newbies just getting started with a terrarium for their apartment. Owner Angela Pratt stocks a variety of native and drought-tolerant plants in addition to house plants, succulents, fruit trees, vegetable seeds, fertilizers—even chicken coops! Not looking to get your hands dirty? The Plant Foundry also carries patio furniture by Fermob, as well as garden-related gifts and cards.
3500 Broadway; (916) 917-5787; plantfoundry.com
Underground Books This friendly African-American bookstore serves as Oak Park’s literary hub. There’s local art on the walls and a comfy leather couch for sprawling. The store hosts book signings, children’s story time, a book club, panel discussions and art talks. 2814 35th St.; (916) 737-3333; underground-books.com
SPORTS & FITNESS Gold Country Run + Sport Everyone knows that runners are fanatical about their footwear, and this pair of stores caters to that fanaticism. At Gold Country Run + Sport, well-trained staffers help shoppers find just the right fit
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Preservation & co.
by conducting a free video gait analysis. “We put customers on a treadmill and record them for about 20 seconds, then play it back, frame by frame, so we and the customer can see it,” explains Leon Shahinian, who co-owns the two stores with Donn Cox. “It’s all part of our overall philosophy about customer service,” says Shahinian, adding, “When someone walks through the door, we want them to feel like they’re a friend of ours.” Good to know: In addition to carrying a wide selection of shoes and technical apparel, Gold Country also hosts educational workshops and training programs.
And during demo runs, customers can take a pair of kicks out for a trial run before committing. 4370 Town Center Blvd., El Dorado Hills; (916) 303-4786; 7610 Folsom-Auburn Road, Folsom; (916) 817-1151; goldcountryrunandsport.com Sutterville Bicycle Company Tucked away in an industrial section of Hollywood Park is this canine- and people-friendly bike shop where the accommodating owner, Jeff Dzurinko, prides himself on having created a store that’s “very service-oriented and repair-
oriented.” To wit: On a recent afternoon, he happily assisted a young boy seeking a part to repair his broken scooter. As for bikes, “We love to fix ’em up and sell them,” says Dzurinko. He sells both new and used bicycles but has a special affection for vintage cruisers, early-style mountain bikes and the like. The Sutterville team also does custom builds and can repair just about any bike you bring in. Helpful hint: Need a hard-to-find bicycle part? If Dzurinko doesn’t have it in stock, he can order it for you. 2635 Sutterville Bypass; (916) 737-7537; suttervillebicycle.com
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Dining
Ready, Set, Eat! Sacramento has a restaurant for every taste, budget, occasion and mood. In 2019, The Michelin Guide bestowed a coveted star on The Kitchen, Sacramento’s acclaimed demonstration restaurant. That stellar event put the capital of California firmly on the nation’s food map, alongside cities such as New York, Chicago and Wash-ington, D.C. The news was greeted with a great deal of excitement here. After all, we Sacramentans have known for quite a while that ours is one heck of a food city. But that vaunted Michelin star was proof that outsiders are sitting up and taking notice, too. Over the past several years, media outlets such as Sunset magazine, TripAdvisor, The New York Times and Thrillist have singled out Sacramento for the quality, caliber and inventiveness of its dining. That is largely thanks to the innovative chefs, farmers, wine-makers, brewers and food artisans putting their own unique stamp on the restaurant world.
Iron Grill
Sacramento’s food scene got a jumpstart in 2012, when then-Mayor Kevin Johnson officially proclaimed Sacramento the Farm-to-Fork Capital of America. It was recognition that Sacramento was more than just the governing capital of California. By virtue of climate, soil and topography, the region is also home to some of the most prolific farms on the planet. (There are almost 8,000 acres of boutique farms and more than 50 farmers markets here.) Sacramento has redefined what it means to be farm-to-fork. It’s everything from locally harvested caviar to seasonal craft cocktails. It’s the grass-fed cattle raised by local restaurateurs for their own kitchen and the heritage hops reintroduced to the fields along Interstate 80 for use at the artisanal breweries popping up all over the place. Even the concession stands at Golden 1 Center boast that 90 percent of the food they serve is sourced from within 150 miles of the arena. They call it “farm to court.” All those locally produced ingredients have made this region a magnet for some of the most talented chefs in the country. They’re mostly young chefs,
many of them with experience working at top restaurants in San Francisco and Napa. Take Brad Cecchi, for example. While working at Solbar in Calistoga, he received his first Michelin star. Sacramento was thrilled when he brought his talent to town to open Canon, the highly regarded New American eatery in East Sacramento that received Michelin’s Bib Gourmand designation in 2019. Like Cecchi, young up-and-coming chefs-attracted by Sacramento’s affordable rents and quality ingredients--come here to make their mark. While the pandemic, with its need for social distancing, has altered some aspects of the restaurant experience, Sacramento eateries are still serving innovative, creative cuisine. (In fact, thanks to the pandemic, diners now have even greater choices when it comes to takeout and curbside pickup options.) What can a diner from out of town expect when eating out in Sacramento? First, be prepared for a myriad of choices. Much of the restaurant scene is clustered in midtown and downtown. There, you’ll find everything from food trucks and beer gardens to omakase bars and white-tablecloth restaurants. With all that variety, it can be hard to decide where to eat. Next, figure out what kind of cuisine you want to eat. Sacramento is a culturally diverse metropolis, which adds even more flavor to its restaurant offerings. Neighborhoods such as Little Saigon, Southside Park and Broadway offer a variety of global cuisines. There are ramen houses, dim sum palaces, pho joints, izakayas and more. If you want regional American cuisine, Sacramento offers that, too. Vegan and vegetarian fare is widely available; so is gluten-free cuisine. There’s literally something for everyone. And if you want to dine outdoors, Sacramento has the weather for it. There are dozens of restaurants with charming outdoor pati-os, courtyards, porches and other outside spaces. At many places, you can even bring your dog! Given all that Sacramento has to offer, it’s no surprise that people here are excited about food. You can see and feel it at the crowded farmers markets and at food events such as Sacramento Beer Week and Bacon Fest. If you love food (and who doesn’t?), there’s much to love about Sacramento.
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Dining REAL PIE COMPANY At this homey pie shop, you’ll find the pies of your dreams, made with all-butter crusts and seasonal fruit sourced from local farms. In addition to dessert pies such as jumbleberry and butterscotch banana cream, you can order savory pot pies, shepherd’s pies and dishes like mac and cheese, all available to eat in or take out. 2425 24th St.; (916) 838-4007; realpie-company.com. L–D. American. $ TOWER CAFE This place is a hot spot on weekend mornings. Regulars swear by the New Mexico blueberry cornmeal pan-cakes and the thick-cut, custardy French toast. Breakfast is all-American, but lunch and dinner have a global flavor. 1518 Broadway; (916) 441-0222; towercafe.com. B–L–D. World fusion. $$
CAPAY ROAD TRIP BAR & GRILL This family-friendly joint serves up classic roadhouse fare, from salads and burgers to chops. 24989 State Highway 16; (530) 796-3777; roadtripbg. com. B–L–D. American. $–$$ Pizza Rock
ARDEN ARCADE
AUBURN
CAFE VINOTECA Located in Arden Town Center, Cafe Vinoteca serves some of the loveliest Italian-inspired cuisine in the city. 3535 Fair Oaks Blvd.; (916) 487-1331; cafevinoteca.com. L–D. Italian. $$$
CARPE VINO The welcoming restaurant, located in a historic brick building in Old Town, is one of the region’s best-kept dining secrets. Look for specialties such as halibut with peas and turnips, chicken liver mousse, and arugula and fava bean salad with strawberries. 1568 Lincoln Way; (530) 823-0320; carpevinoauburn.com. D. New American. $$–$$$
FAMOUS KABOB Meat kabobs are the starring attraction here. Smokily delicious, the meats are served with fluffy basmati rice and grilled tomatoes. 1290 Fulton Ave.; (916) 4831700; famouskabob.com. L–D. Persian. $–$$ THE KITCHEN Part supper club, part theatrical production, part cocktail party: This is like no other restaurant in Sacramento. You need to make reservations months in advance for the multi-course dinner. The food is complex and mind-blowingly creative. 2225 Hurley Way; (916) 568-7171; thekitchenrestaurant. com. D. American. $$$$ LEATHERBY’S FAMILY CREAMERY Go for the ice cream, all made on the premises and used in shakes, malts and tower-ing sundaes. 2333 Arden Way; (916) 920-8382; leatherbys.net. L–D. Sandwiches/ice cream. $ PLAN B The menu is compact, with a handful of appetizers and several wonderful salads. Plan B’s claim to fame is its stellar mussels, offered six ways. 555 La Sierra Drive; (916) 483-3000; planbrestaurant.com. D. New American/French. $$–$$$ TEXAS WEST BAR-B-QUE This no-frills establishment serves slow wood-cooked meat in big portions. Dig into the tender Western-style pork spareribs and beef brisket or the smoky chicken. 1600 Fulton Ave.; (916) 483-7427; texaswestbbq.com. L–D. Barbecue. $–$$
KATRINA’S CAFE This Auburn institution serves some of the best breakfast fare in the region. Cheery and tiny, it’s packed on weekends, and the menu includes sturdy dishes such as chili con carne omelet and French toast topped with strawberries. 456 Grass Valley Highway; (530) 888-1166; katrinascafe.com. B–L. American/breakfast. $
BROADWAY ANDY NGUYEN VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT This bastion of Buddhist-inspired vegetarian cuisine serves food that is fresh and flavorful. 2007 Broadway; (916) 736-1157; andynguyenvegetarian.com. L–D. Vegetarian/ Asian. $ IRON GRILL Come here for a sizzlingly romantic dinner or a cocktail-laden business meeting. With a compact menu anchored in traditional American dishes, the restaurant encourages family-style dining. 2422 13th St.; (916) 737-5115; irongrillsacramen-to.com L–D–Br. American. $$–$$$ KATHMANDU KITCHEN This family-owned restaurant envelops you in a cocoon of exotic fragrances. Order the lal maas (lamb curry with chili sauce) or chicken saagwala (stir fried chicken, spinach and curry). 1728 Broadway; (916) 441-2172; kathman-dukitchen.com/sacramento. L–D. Indian/Nepalese/vegetarian. $
CARMICHAEL MARK & MONICA’S FAMILY PIZZA The pizzas here are belly filling and hearty. 4751 Manzanita Ave.; (916) 487-1010; markandmonicaspizza.com. L–D. Pizza. $$ MATTEO’S PIZZA & BISTRO The menu is compact, and there’s no skimping on first-rate ingredients. The pizza crust is damned good, attaining that chewy-crispy-airy trifecta. You also can order pasta, steak or a burger. 5132 Arden Way; (916) 779-0727; pizzamatteo. com. L–D. Pizza/American. $$
CITRUS HEIGHTS LEATHERBY’S FAMILY CREAMERY For description, see listing under “Arden Arcade.” 7910 Antelope Road; (916) 729-4021; leatherbys.net. L–D. Sandwiches/ice cream. $ SAM’S CLASSIC BURGERS At this driveup burger shack, the shakes are great and the burgers wonderfully straightforward. 7442 Auburn Blvd.; (916) 723-7512. L–D. Burgers. $
DAVIS BISTRO 33 Davis This attractive restaurant, located in historic City Hall, offers an appealing menu of Pacific Northwest-inspired dishes. 226 F St.; (530) 756-4556; bistro33davis. com. B–L–D. New American. $$ BURGERS AND BREW The casual, publike restaurant uses high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and serves an interesting selection of beers and ales. 1409 R St.; (916) 4420900; burgersbrew.com. L–D. Burgers. $ CAFE BERNARDO For description, see listing under “Downtown.” 234 D St.; (530) 750-5101; paragarys.com. B–L–D. New American. $
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frank fat’s
celebrating 80 years 1939-2019
fat’s asia bistro
FAT FAMILY
RESTAURANT GROUP
downtown FrankFats.com | folsom | roseville | FatsBistro.com
!ORDER YOURS TODAY! 2 0 2 0 / 2 0 2 1 M E T R O P O L I TA N
GUEST AND RESOURCE GUIDE
2 0 2 0 / 2 0 2 1 M E T R O P O L I TA N
America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital GUEST AND RESOURCE GUIDE
DOCO | GOLDEN 1 CENTER
$13.95 Call (916) 426-1722 or email tracystr@sacmag.com USE THE SACRAMENTO GUEST & RESOURCE GUIDE TO REMEMBER YOUR STAY HERE OR HAVE IT HANDY WHEN YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT TRIP TO
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Dining BURGERS AND BREW The casual, publike restaurant uses high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and serves an interesting selection of beers and ales. 1409 R St.; (916) 4420900; burgersbrew.com. L–D. Burgers. $ CAFE BERNARDO The menu offers straightforward fare guaranteed to please just about everyone. Breakfast includes huevos rancheros and eggs Bernardo, drizzled with housemade hollandaise sauce. Lunch and dinner feature chewy-crusted pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and substantial entrées such as pan-seared chicken breast with mashed potatoes. 1431 R St.; (916) 930-9191; para-garys. com. B–L–D. New American. $ CAFETERIA 15L Go to Cafeteria 15L for modern, approachably priced comfort food in a casual yet stylish environment. The menu emphasizes fun fare, such as mac ’n’ cheese, truffle tater tots, and fried chicken and waffle with gravy and pecan butter. 1116 15th St.; (916) 492-1960; cafeteria15l.com. L–D. Californian. $$
CREPEVILLE This bustling creperie serves many variations on the crepe theme, from entrée to dessert. 330 Third St.; (530) 7502400; crepeville.com. B–L–D. Crepes. $ DE VERE’S IRISH PUB For description, see listing under “Downtown.” 217 E St.; (530) 204-5533; deverespub.com. L–D. Irish pub. $$ THE HOTDOGGER A well-loved Davis institution, The Hotdogger dishes up a delectable assortment of frankfurters and sausages. 129 E St.; (530) 753-6291; thehotdogger.com. L–D. Hot dogs. $ KATHMANDU KITCHEN For description, see listing under “Broadway.” 234 G St., Davis; (530) 756-3507; kathman-dukitchendavisca.com. L–D. Indian/Nepalese/vegetarian. $ MIKUNI JAPANESE RESTAURANT AND SUSHI BAR For description, see listing under “Downtown.” 500 First St.; (530) 756-2111; mikunisushi.com. L–D. Japanese/sushi. $$ THE MUSTARD SEED The restaurant (a former house) is composed of three tiny rooms, plus a shaded patio out back. Dinner selections range from crab-stuffed Idaho trout to shrimp and sun-dried tomato risotto. 222 D St.; (530) 758-5750; mustardseedda-vis.com. L–D. New American. $$–$$$ OSTERIA FASULO This restaurant has a beautiful outdoor courtyard bordered by trellised grapevines and punctuated by leafy trees strung with tiny lights. The menu is proudly Italian, with wonderful pastas and robust meat dishes. 2657 Portage Bay East; (530) 758-1324; osteriafasulo.com. L–D. Italian. $$$–$$$$ OUR HOUSE With its dim ambience, this doesn’t feel like a house, nor does it serve home-style cuisine. Rather, the menu is a compact selection of traditional dishes (meatloaf,
macaroni and cheese) with some fun, innovative tweaks. 808 Second St.; (530) 757-1232; ourhousedavis.com. L–D. New American. $$$ PAESANOS For description, see listing under “Midtown.” 139 G St.; (530) 758-8646; paesanos.biz. L–D. Pizza/Italian. $ SEASONS This attractive, upscale restaurant showcases seasonal products; the menu changes every three months. Pizzas are great; so are the bountiful salads. But you’ll find the kitchen’s real talent in its creative appetizers and limited entrées. 102 F St.; (530) 7501801; seasonsdavis.com. L–D. New American. $$–$$$ YAKITORI YUCHAN This busy little restaurant focuses on skewered grilled meats, seafood and vegetables. Most items are meant to be shared; bring an adventurous palate and a group of food-loving friends. 109 E St.; (530) 753-3196; yakitoriyuchan.com. D. Japanese. $–$$
DIXON CATTLEMENS This classic Western steakhouse serves up big slabs of prime rib, porterhouse, T-bone and cowboy steaks, plus all the trimmings: shrimp cocktail, loaded potato skins more. 250 Dorset Court; (707) 6785518; cattlemens.com. D. Steak-house. $$$
DOWNTOWN BRASSERIE CAPITALE Owned by the family behind midtown’s Aïoli Bodega Española and The Grand wine bar, this beau-tifully designed restaurant is based on a traditional French brasserie. The menu hits the high points of the brasserie canon, every-thing from onion soup to steak frites. 1201 K St.; (916) 329-8033; brasseriecapitale.com. L–D. French. $$–$$$
DAWSON’S Located within the Hyatt Regency, Dawson’s has dark-paneled walls, elegant linen-draped tables and a convivial bar. It’s a great spot for a martini and a New York steak. You can’t help but enjoy the lavish attention showered on you by the blackvested, professional wait staff, and the food is undeniably sophisticated. 1209 L St.; (916) 321-3600; sacramento.hyatt.com. D. New American. $$$–$$$$ DE VERE’S IRISH PUB Don’t head to de Vere’s if you’re seeking a quiet evening—the raucous, high-energy pub is noisy and packed with revelers. The wood bar (imported from Ireland) is enormous, and the food is highquality pub fare. 1521 L St.; (916) 231-9947. deverespub.com. L–D. Irish pub. $$ ECHO & RIG Located in the lobby of The Sawyer hotel, this outpost of a Vegas steakhouse is sleek and unstuffy. Prices are considerably gentler than at most other steakhouses, but the quality of the meat is high. In addition to standard cuts like filet, New York steak and rib-eye, you’ll find butcher cuts such as hanger, bavette, skirt and tri-tip. 500 J St.; (877) 678-6255; sawyerho-tel.com. B–L–D– Br. Steakhouse. $$$ ELLA This stunning restaurant (owned by the Selland family and designed by award-winning European architects) is an elegant oasis compared to the gritty hustle and bustle outside. From the open kitchen, the staff turns out innovative dishes and old favorites. The emphasis is on seasonal, local and artisanal. 1131 K St.; (916) 443-3772; elladiningroomandbar.com. L–D. New American. $$$$
Courtesy of Local Roots Food Tours
Solomon’s Delicatessen
CAMDEN SPIT & LARDER Highly regarded chef Oliver Ridgeway opened this swank brasserie in a modern, glass-walled building near the Capitol. It appeals to lobbyists, lawyers and legislators with its gin-forward cocktails (martini, anyone?) and a menu that’s an interesting mash-up of British chop-house classics, English schoolboy favorites and elevated pub fare. 555 Capitol Mall; (916) 619-8897; camdenspitandlarder.com. L–D. Steakhouse. $$$–$$$$
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CATTLEMENS STEAKHOUSE & SALOON Serving exclusively Harris Ranch “Natural Beef”, Cattlemens ages and hand-cuts all beef selections on site. Signature steaks include the famous “Sizzling Prime Rib”, “King of Steaks” 32-oz. Porterhouse, New York Strip and Filet Mignon. Other popular items are Baby Back Pork Ribs, Grilled Salmon, Chicken and Pasta. All entrees are served up with all the fixin’s — All-You-Can-Eat tossed salad, hot sourdough bread and ranch-style beans. A popular spot for “More Beef for Your Buck” weeknight dinner specials and kid friendly dining. Seven days a week, Happy Hour is 4-6 pm in the saloon with savory small plates and thirst quenching handcrafted cocktails served nightly. Full banquet and reception facilities are available for both day and evening events. Reservations accepted. Open at 4 p.m. seven days per week. 2000 Taylor Rd., Roseville | 916-782-5587 12409 Folsom Blvd., Rancho Cordova 916-985-3030 Hwy 80 at Currey Rd., Dixon | 707-678-5518 www.cattlemens.com
Breakfast, Lunch, Happy Hour, and Dinner Daily. 1110 T ST. SACRAMENTO | 916.822.4665 River Park
Brunch on the weekends!
5489 CARLSON DR. | 916.993.8942
2502 J ST. | 916.447.1855 best thai '19 • happy hour 4:30-6PM THAI FOOD • VEGAN • GLUTEN FREE
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1500 K Street, Sacramento 916-444-3633 www.capitolgarage.com
LOW COUNTRY CUISINE .IN MIDTOWN.
1815 K Street, Sacramento (916) 444-2423 theporchrestaurantandbar.com CHECK WEBSITE FOR HOURS
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Dining for veg heads, roasted cauliflower and butternut squash. You can also get Lat-in-flavored rice bowls, salads and starters such as elote (Mexican street corn) and habanero fire balls (a mixture of roasted chilies, cream cheese, bacon and pepper jack, rolled into balls and fried). 1800 15th St.; mastacobar.com. L–D– Br. Mexican. $$ THE MELTING POT Fondue goes upscale here. Try the Wisconsin Trio cheese fondue, prepared at your table with fontina, Butterkase and Gorgonzola cheese. 814 15th St.; (916) 443-2347; meltingpot.com/sacramento. D. Fondue/American. $$–$$$$ MIKUNI JAPANESE RESTAURANT AND SUSHI BAR This hip sushi bar serves its sushi with a side of sass. There are three sushi bars and a dense menu of appetizers, rice bowls, bento boxes and sushi rolls. 1530 J St.; (916) 447-2112; mikuni-sushi.com. L–D. Japanese/sushi. $$ MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE From cozy, candlelit booths and stunning, glassenclosed wine room to the crisply outfit-ted chefs, Morton’s oozes Special Occasion. Red meat is the star here. 621 Capitol Mall; (916) 442-5091; mor-tons.com/sacramento. D. Steakhouse. $$$$
EMPRESS TAVERN Located in the basement of the Crest Theatre, this meat-centric restaurant has a catacomb vibe. It’s a modern version of an old English carvery: whole chickens, prime rib roasts and hams turn slowly on a rotisserie in the open kitchen, and diners can order sides like whipped potatoes with pork gravy. The bar features a gin-focused cocktail menu and a long beer list. 1013 K St.; (916) 662-7694; empresstavern.com. D. New American carvery. $$$ PUBLIC HOUSE DOWNTOWN Belly up to the bar, where you can watch sports on multiple TV screens or gab with the bartender. Order a giant Bavarian pretzel or pulled pork nachos, topped with pickled jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, guacamole and sour cream. 1132 16th St.; (916) 446-0888; firestonepublichouse.com. L–D–Br. American. $$ FOUNDATION RESTAURANT & BAR Located across from the Golden 1 Center, this downtown hangout serves modern-style comfort food, along with old favorites like burgers, fish tacos and hot wings. 400 L St.; (916) 321-9522; foundationrestau-rantandbar. com. L–D. American. $$–$$$ FOX & GOOSE PUBLIC HOUSE This tavern plates up some of the best breakfasts in town, along with pub staples like beer-battered fish and chips, a Cornish pasty or Welsh rarebit. 1001 R St.; (916) 443-8825; foxandgoose. com. B–L–D. English pub. $
FRANK FAT’S Downtown Sacramento’s oldest restaurant, Fat’s is a favorite of the Capitol crowd. The restaurant is well known for its steaks—especially Frank’s Style New York Steak—and its brandy-fried chicken. This is Chinese cuisine at its most sophisti-cated. 806 L St.; (916) 442-7092; fatsrestaurants. com. L–D. Chinese. $$$ GRANGE RESTAURANT & BAR Located in The Citizen Hotel, Grange proves that a hotel restaurant doesn’t have to be pe-destrian. The menu changes frequently and spotlights some of the area’s best producers. At dinner, the ambience in the stunning dining room is seductive and low-lit. 926 J St.; (916) 492-4450; grangesacramento.com. B–L–Br. Californian/ American. $$$$ HOUSE KITCHEN & BAR This pretty restaurant is perfect for business lunches, providing upscale comfort food along with views of Capitol Mall. 555 Capitol Mall; (916) 498-9924; houseoncapitol.com. L–D. New American. $–$$ MAGPIE CAFE This restaurant has a casual, unassuming vibe, and its hallmark is clean, simple fare that tastes like the best version of itself. 1601 16th St.; (916) 452-7594; magpiecafe.com. B–L–D. Californian. $$ MAS TACO BAR Tasty little tacos are the headliners at this casual eatery. They come with all sorts of delicious fillings: braised short rib, Korean fried chicken, banh mi shrimp and,
PIZZA ROCK The narrow space is loud, but there’s a sense of festivity in the air, and the pizza is darned good. Choose from five different styles of pizza: Classic Italian, Classic American, Neapolitan, Sicilian and Roman. 1020 K St.; (916) 737-5777; piz-zarocksacramento.com. L–D. Pizza/Italian/American. $$ SANDRA DEE’S BAR-B-QUE & SEAFOOD The meaty aroma grabs you the minute you step inside. Grab a seat at one of the plain tables and order the stellar chicken wings, spackled with a zesty dry rub. Or opt for the dinner combo (barbecued pork loin, pork ribs, whole or half chickens and tri-tip). Side dishes include greens and hush puppies, and a kidfriendly version of maca-roni and cheese. 601 15th St.; (916) 448-6375; sandradeesbbq. com. L–D. Barbecue/Southern. $–$$ SHADY LADY SALOON The charming faux speakeasy is an excellent place to meet up with friends for a round of cocktails and a firstrate meal. Bordello-inspired wallpaper and dim lighting set an alluring stage for the robust and flavorful food. 1409 R St.; (916) 231-9121; shadyladybar.com. L–D. American/Southern. $$ SOLOMON’S DELICATESSEN This modern Jewish deli serves up all the traditional goodies, from chopped liver and matzo ball soup to pastrami on rye, along with bagels with lox or a schmear. Located in a former Tower Records location, with plenty of Russ Solomon memorabilia and one of the city’s most iconic public murals. 730 K St.; (916) 857-8200; nobagelsnolife.com. B–L–D. Deli. $
Jeremy Sykes
Mikuni Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar
P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO With its lofty ceilings, striking artwork and sweeping staircase, this is the place to come if you’re seeking a little glamour with your Asian cuisine. The extensive menu offers dishes whose origins spring from many regions throughout China but that reflect a California sensibility. 1530 J St.; (916) 288-0970; pfchangs.com. L–D. Chinese. $$
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Dining TIGER This restaurant/bar is a fastand-furious place where you can grab a quick drink before a game or a concert at Golden 1 Center. The food here is American pub fare: sandwiches, bowls and salads. 722 K St.; (916) 382-9610; tiger700block.com. D. American. $$$ URBAN ROOTS BREWING & SMOKEHOUSE At this casual brewery, a massive smoker turns out succulent meats—brisket, ribs, turkey and sausage—in the tradition of the great barbecue houses of Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee. Sides include collard greens, mac and cheese, yams and poblano cheese grits. Sit indoors or out at long picnic tables. 1322 V St.; (916) 706-3741; urbanrootsbrewing.com. L–D. Barbecue. $$
EAST SACRAMENTO BACON & BUTTER Lively and delightfully urban, the place is packed with fans of chef Billy Zoellin’s homey flapjacks, biscuits and other breakfasty fare. 3839 J St.; (916) 475-1801; baconandbuttersac.com. B–L. Breakfast. $ –$$
CELESTIN’S Gumbo is the signature dish at this charming, minuscule restaurant specializing in Creole and Cajun cuisine. It comes in six varieties, including chicken, vegetarian and seafood. But the pièce de resistance is the namesake Celestin’s gumbo, chock-full of chicken, sea scallops, wild shrimp, rock cod and sausage. 3610 McKinley Blvd.; (916) 258-4060; celestinsgum-bo.com. L–D. Cajun/Creole. $$ CLUBHOUSE 56 This is your classic sports bar, from the multiple TVs and two giant screens broadcasting games via DI-RECTV to the local sports memorabilia on the walls. The food, too, is classic sports-bar fare: burgers, sandwiches and apps such as tacos and jalapeño poppers. The place is dark, casual and convivial, Sacramento’s very own Cheers. 734 56th St.; (916) 454-5656; ch56sports.com. Br–L–D. Sports bar. $$ JUNO’S KITCHEN AND DELICATESSEN This tiny eatery serves some of the best sandwiches in town. Owner Mark Helms also offers an intriguing selection of salads and “pan” dishes such as rock shrimp mac ’n’ cheese. But you can’t go wrong with the burger or the grilled chicken sandwich. Though there’s only a handful of tables, takeout is a tasty option. 3675 J St.; (916) 456-4522; junoskitchen. com. L–D. Bistro. $ KRU Kru turns out exciting Japanese fare, and there’s a craft cocktail bar, outdoor patios and an omakase bar. 3135 Folsom Blvd.; (916) 551-1559; krurestaurant.com. L–D. Japanese. $$$–$$$$
Canon
THE MIMOSA HOUSE This small local chain offers a comprehensive lineup of breakfast fare: omelets, scrambles, Benedicts, crepes, waffles, burritos and, of course, mimosas. The lunch/dinner menu is similarly broad, with burgers, salads, grilled sand-wiches and Mexican “street food.” 5641 J St.; (916) 4004084; mimosahouse.com. B–L–D. American. $$ OBO’ ITALIAN TABLE & BAR This casual Italian eatery is beautifully designed and efficiently run. There are hot dishes and cold salads behind the glass cases, ready for the taking. But the stars of the menu are the freshly made pastas and wood-oven pizzas. There’s also a full bar serving Italian-theme craft cocktails. 3145 Folsom Blvd.; (916) 8228720; oboitalian.com. L–D. Italian. $$ ONESPEED Chef Rick Mahan, who built his stellar reputation at The Waterboy in midtown, branched out with a more casual concept at his East Sac eatery. The open bistro has a tiled pizza oven that cranks out chewy, flavorful pizzas. 4818 Folsom Blvd.; (916) 706-1748; onespeedpizza.com. B–L–D. Pizza. $$ ORIGAMI ASIAN GRILL Most of the time, this is a fast-casual eatery serving Asian-flavored rice bowls, banh mi sandwich-es, salads and ramen. But on Friday and Saturday nights, the two talented chefs behind Origami offer an elevated tasting menu for a handful of lucky diners at the counter. (By reservation only.) 4801 Folsom Blvd.; (916) 400-3075; origamiasiangrill.com. L–D. Asian fusion. $–$$$ SELLAND’S MARKET-CAFE Choose from an array of appetizers and hot items along with crowd-pleasing side dishes and pizza. This high-quality takeout food can be a real lifesaver. 5340 H St.; (916) 736-3333; sellands. com. L–D–Br. Gourmet takeout. $$
STAR GINGER ASIAN GRILL AND NOODLE BAR Offering affordably priced dishes inspired by the street foods of Thai-land, Vietnam and Singapore. The spicy Thai chicken soup is a delicious bargain. 3101 Folsom Blvd.; (916) 231-8888; starginger-restaurant. com. L–D. Pan-Asian. $ 3 HERMANAS With the 2018 opening of this little Mexican eatery, all three Saenz sisters now have their own Sacramento res-taurants. Like its sibling restaurants, Tres Hermanas and Three Sisters, this one serves hearty, classic Mexican fare such as ensalada norteña and camarones a la diabla, along with vegan and vegetarian options. 3260 J St.; (916) 382-9079; 3hermanasonj.com. L–D–Br. Mexican. $$
EL DORADO HILLS AJI JAPANESE BISTRO This casually elegant restaurant offers an innovative menu of Japanese street food, interesting fusion entrées, traditional dishes such as teriyaki and tempura and sushi. 4361 Town Center Blvd.; (916) 941-9181; ajibistroedh.com. L–D. Japanese/sushi. $–$$ BAMIYAN AFGHAN RESTAURANT Mustorder dishes include mantoo (dumplings filled with spiced ground beef) and skewered, charbroiled leg of lamb. For dessert, Afghani-style vanilla ice cream is sprinkled with dates, figs and pistachios. 1121 White Rock Road; (916) 941-8787; afghancuisine.com. D. Afghan. $$–$$$ EARLY TOAST MIMOSA HOUSE This local chain offers a comprehensive lineup of breakfast fare: omelets, Benedicts, crepes, waffles, burritos and, of course, mimosas. The lunch/ dinner menu is similarly broad, with burgers, salads, grilled sand-wiches and Mexican “street food.” 2023 Vine St., El Dorado Hills; (916) 934-0965; mimosahouse.com. B–L–D. American. $$
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CANON With Michelin-starred chef Brad Cecchi at the helm, this breezily chic restaurant offers an ambitious menu of globally inspired sharable plates. Much of the menu is vegetarian, vegan or gluten free, but you can also order from a small selection of hearty meat, poultry and fish dishes. 1719 34th St.; (916) 469-2433; canoneastsac.com. Global/New American. D–Br. $$$–$$$$
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Dining
9 Iconic Sacramento Dishes . . .
Plus 1 Stellar Dessert 1. Hot Blonde Sandwich, Dad’s Sandwich Shop
2. Squeezeburger With Cheese, Squeeze Inn
3. New Mexico Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes, Tower Cafe 4. Sauteed Veal Sweetbreads, The Waterboy
5. House-Smoked Salmon with Irish Brown Bread, Mulvaney’s B&L 6. Nutburger, Sunflower Drive-In
7. Chicken-Fried Mushroom Po’boy, Mother
8. Sliced Mushroom Salad With Jarlsberg, Paragary’s Midtown Bistro
9. Pork Belly and Uni, Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine
and Banana Cream Pie, Frank Fat’s
MILESTONE This unstuffy eatery serves great takes on comfort-food classics like pot roast and fried chicken. It’s straightfor-ward, without pretense or gimmickry. The setting is like a Napa country porch, and the service is warm and approachable. 4359 Town Center Blvd.; (916) 934-0790; milestonerestaurantedh.com. L–D–Br. New American. $$–$$ THE PURPLE PLACE BAR & GRILL Open since 1955, this funky roadhouse packs ’em in during happy hour and on week-end evenings for pool and darts. But food folk come for the good eats. This is not your standard bar fare: Everything is thoughtfully prepared with high-quality ingredients. 363 Green Valley Road; (916) 933-2313; thepurp.com. B–L–D. American. $$ RELISH BURGER BAR This burger place offers so many enticing choices, it’s hard to avoid order paralysis. We’ll make it easy on you: Get the teriyaki burger. The beef patty is embellished with slices of warm grilled pineapple, fried onions and melted Swiss cheese. A copious splash of teriyaki sauce rounds out the flavor of this delectable burger. 1000 White Rock Road; (916) 933-3111; relishburgerbar.com. L–D. Burgers. $ SELLAND’S MARKET-CAFE For description, see listing under “East Sacramento.” 4370 Town Center Blvd.; (916) 932-5025; sellands.com. L–D–Br. Gourmet takeout. $$
SIENNA RESTAURANT A luxurious Tuscan interior features a large bar and pretty patios. The menu includes a playful me-lange of global cuisine, including fresh seafood, handcut steaks, stone hearth pizzas, inventive appetizers and a stacked French dip sandwich. Live music Thursday–Saturday nights. Sunday brunch includes a made-to-order omelet bar and unlimited mimosas. 3909 Park Drive; (916) 941-9694; siennarestaurants.com. L–D–Br. Global. $$–$$$
ELK GROVE BOULEVARD BISTRO Located in a cozy 1908 bungalow, this bistro is one of the region’s best-kept dining secrets. Chef/owner Bret Bohlmann is a passionate supporter of local farmers and winemakers, and his innovative food sings with freshness and seasonality. 8941 Elk Grove Blvd.; (916) 685-2220; frontiernet.net/~boulevardbistro. D–Br. New American. $$–$$$ FUJI SUSHI BUFFET Looking to get your fill of sushi? At lunch time, it’s $15.25 for all the sushi you can eat. The food is delivered on little boats that sail in merrily in front of you— just snatch what you want as it floats past. 8473 Elk Grove Blvd.; (916) 683-8288. L–D. Sushi. $$ LEATHERBY’S FAMILY CREAMERY For description, see listing under “Arden Arcade.” 8238 Laguna Blvd.; (916) 691-3334; leatherbys.net. L–D. Sandwiches/ice cream. $ MIKUNI JAPANESE RESTAURANT AND SUSHI BAR For description, see listing under “Downtown.” 8525 Bond Road; (916) 714-2112; mikunisushi.com. L–D. Japanese/ sushi. $$ PAESANOS For description, see listing under “Midtown.” 8519 Bond Road; (916) 6908646; paesanos.biz. L–D. Piz-za/Italian. $ THAI CHILI This plain restaurant offers an entire menu just for vegetarians, plus interesting meat and fish dishes. 8696 Elk Grove Blvd.; (916) 714-3519; thaichilielkgrove.net. L–D. Thai. $$
FAIR OAKS MIKUNI JAPANESE RESTAURANT AND SUSHI BAR For description, see listing under “Downtown.” 4323 Hazel Ave.; (916) 9612112; mikunisushi.com. L–D. Japanese/sushi. $$ SUNFLOWER DRIVE IN This casual spot serves healthful, wholesome vegetarian and vegan fare. Faves include the Nut-burger, the egg salad sandwich and fruit smoothies. 10344 Fair Oaks Blvd.; (916) 967-4331; sunflowerdrivein.com. L–D. Vegetari-an. $
FOLSOM BACCHUS HOUSE WINE BAR & BISTRO With a seasonal menu packed with innovative, globally influenced dishes, this restaurant has plenty to choose from. 1004 E. Bidwell St.; (916) 984-7500; bacchushousebistro.com. L–D–Br. New American. $$–$$$
BACK BISTRO A warm pocket of coziness and urban sophistication in a retail center, this place offers an appealing menu of casual nibbles and swankier entrées. But it’s the wine program that really knocks this charming little bistro out of the park. 230 Palladio Parkway, Suite 1201; (916) 986-9100; backbistro.com. D. New American/Mediterranean. $$–$$$ CHICAGO FIRE Oodles of melted cheese blanket the pizzas that fly out of the kitchen of this busy restaurant, a local chain with four locations, including two in Folsom. Here, you get to choose between thin-crust, deep-dish and stuffed pizzas. 614 Sutter St.; (916) 353-0140. Also: 310 Palladio Parkway; (916) 984-0140; chicagofire.com. L–D. Pizza. $ FAT’S ASIA BISTRO AND DIM SUM BAR This glamorous restaurant looks like a set from an Indiana Jones movie, with tall palm trees and an enormous golden Buddha atop a water fountain. The menu focuses on Asian cuisine, from Mongolian beef and Hong Kong chow mein to Thai chicken satay served with a fiery curry-peanut sauce. 2585 Iron Point Road; (916) 983-1133; fatsrestaurants.com. L–D. Pan-Asian. $$ LAND OCEAN The menu hits all the steakhouse high notes: hand-cut steaks, lobster, seafood and rotisserie, entrée salads and sandwiches. 2720 E. Bidwell St.; (916) 9837000; landoceanrestaurants.com. L–D–Br. New American/steakhouse. $$$ SAMUEL HORNE’S TAVERN At this friendly pub on Historic Folsom’s main drag, the ambience is purely utilitarian, from the rough wood tables to the beer barrel seating. The menu focuses on suds-friendly fare such as chili, burgers and sandwiches. Yes. 719 Sutter St.; (916) 293-8207; samhornes.com. L–D. Pub. $–$$ SCOTT’S SEAFOOD GRILL & BAR This restaurant offers a solid menu of delicious seafood, from crab cakes and calamari to roasted lobster tail. 9611 Greenback Lane; (916) 989-6711; scottsseafood.net. L–D. Seafood. $$$–$$$$ THAI PARADISE Standouts on the extensive menu include spring rolls, tom kha koong (coconut milk soup with prawns), green curry, spicy scallops and pad thai. Try the fried banana with ice cream for dessert. 2770 E. Bidwell St.; (916) 984-8988; thai-paradisefolsom.com. L–D. Thai. $$
FREEPORT FREEPORT BAR & GRILL This casual restaurant is a favorite with rivergoers. The affable bar is often filled with regulars, and the kitchen has a well-deserved reputation for its hearty sandwiches and rotisserie chickens. On warm days, dine outside on the lovely patio. 8259 Freeport Blvd.; (916) 665-1169; freeportbarandgrill.com. L–D–Br. American. $–$$
GARDEN HIGHWAY CRAWDADS ON THE RIVER This riverfront restaurant draws crowds looking for a great place to party on the water during warm-weather months. Boats pull up to the
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Dining restaurant’s deck, where you can sip a cocktail, and roll-up doors blur the line between indoors and out. The Cajun-inspired menu includes fish tacos and several fun entrées. 1375 Garden Highway; (916) 929-2268; saccrawdads.com. L–D–Br. Cajun/American. $$ THE VIRGIN STURGEON This quirky floating restaurant is the quintessential Sacramento River dining experience. In sum-mer, a cocktail pontoon is connected to the restaurant, where you can drink and enjoy the breezy proximity to the water below. Best known for its seafood, The Virgin Sturgeon also offers weekend brunch. 1577 Garden Highway; (916) 921-2694. L–D–Br. Sea-food/American. $$
GRANITE BAY HAWKS One of Placer County’s best restaurants, Hawks is known for elegant cuisine and beautiful interior. The dining room has clean lines, soothing colors, and crisp white tablecloths. Framed photos of farmscapes remind diners of owners Molly Hawks and Michael Fagnoni’s commitment to locally sourced ingredients. The seasonal menu is full of delicious surprises, such as seared scallop and sea urchin. 5530 Douglas Blvd.; (916) 7916200; hawksrestaurant.com. L–D–Br. New American/French. $$$–$$$$
GREENHAVEN/POCKET SCOTT’S SEAFOOD ON THE RIVER Located in The Westin Sacramento, Scott’s has a patio and a view of the river. Breakfast dishes include crab cake Benedict, and lunch entrées range from petrale sole to a prawn Caesar salad. For dinner, splurge on a lobster tail or choose a more modestly priced grilled salmon. 4800 Riverside Blvd.; (916) 379-5959; scottsseafood.net/theriver. B–L– D. Seafood. $$$–$$$$
JACKSON LONE WOLF RESTAURANT & LOUNGE An award-winning steakhouse located in Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort fo-cused on local, quality ingredients in approachable dishes: seared Atlantic salmon, chicken Alfredo with housemade fettuccine, Car-ibbean lobster tail, rib-eye, filet mignon, plus pizza, burgers and meatloaf. 12222 New York Ranch Road; (209) 223-9653; jack-soncasino.com. D. Steakhouse. $$$$ RANCHERIA BUFFET Taste a world of flavor here, home of Northern California’s famous Fisherman’s Wharf Buffet featur-ing warm whole lobster, crab, prime rib, filet mignon, salmon, shrimp and more. Located in Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort. 12222 New York Ranch Road; (209) 223-9653; jacksoncasino. com. D. Seafood buffet. $$$$ STANLEY’S STEAKHOUSE This upscale restaurant, located inside the historic National Hotel, offers a traditional steak-house menu and an extensive wine selection. 2 Water St.; (209) 257-2595; nationalhoteljackson.com. D. Steakhouse. $$$
Broderick Midtown
LAND PARK RIVERSIDE CLUBHOUSE The busy kitchen focuses on a solid menu of American classics. Beautifully designed, the restau-rant features a stunning outdoor waterfall and a tri-level fireplace. 2633 Riverside Blvd.; (916) 448-9988; riversideclubhouse.com. L–D–Br. American/ New American. $$ TAYLOR’S KITCHEN Step inside the cozy space and you’ll notice the focal point is an open kitchen where the chefs prepare meats and produce sold at Taylor’s Market next door. 2924 Freeport Blvd.; (916) 443-5154; taylorskitchen.com. D–Br. American. $$$
LINCOLN HIGH STEAKS This Thunder Valley Casino restaurant is a meat lover’s paradise, offering up everything from an 8-ounce prime filet to a 26-ounce bone-in New York steak. The kitchen sources some of the best products in the country, including Wagyu beef, Mary’s organic chicken and pork from Idaho’s Snake River Farms. Side dishes range from sweet potato casserole to five-cheese mac-aroni. 1200 Athens Ave.; (916) 408-8327; thundervalleyresort.com. D. Steakhouse. $$$$ MERIDIANS Located in Sun City Lincoln Hills’ Orchard Creek Lodge, this elegant restaurant offers comfort and reliability. The dining room has live piano music and a patio overlooking rolling green hills and waterfalls.
The menu is American to its core, featuring classic dishes such as grilled porterhouse pork chop and pot roast with mashed potatoes and pan gravy. 965 Orchard Creek Lane; (916) 625-4040; meridiansrestaurant.com. B–L–D. American. $$$. RED LANTERN This attractive restaurant serves Asian fusion, dim sum and noodle dishes such as chow fun and Hong Kong panfried noodles. Lunch and dinner specials are good deals at this Thunder Valley eatery. 1200 Athens Ave.; (916) 408-8326; thundervalleyresort.com. L–D. Asian. $$–$$$
MIDTOWN AÏOLI BODEGA ESPAñOLA Aïoli features lusty Spanish cuisine. Tables are covered with burlap and brown butcher paper, and the patio is intimate. The main focus of the menu is tapas, and the selection is broad. 1800 L St.; (916) 447-9440; aiolibode-ga.com. L–D. Spanish/tapas. $$ BEAST + BOUNTY The beating heart of this chic restaurant is its open hearth, where meats and vegetables are roasted over a wood fire. The meaty rib-eye, served over potatoes roasted in the meat’s fat, is meant to be shared. So is the pizza, thin, flat and seductively charred from the wood-burning pizza oven. 1701 R St.; (916) 244-4016; eatbeastandbounty.com. L–D–Br. American. $$$
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Dining BLOCK BUTCHER BAR This modern salumi bar serves first-rate sandwiches, salads and meat and cheese boards, along with whiskey-based craft cocktails. 1050 20th St.; (916) 476-6306; blockbutcherbar.com. L–D. Charcuterie bar. $$ BRODERICK MIDTOWN This midtown outpost of West Sac’s divey Broderick Roadhouse serves the same fare, but in slightly nicer digs. The menu is dominated by burgers. Wings, fries and beer round out the brofriendly menu. 1820 L St.; (916) 469-9720; broderickroadhouse.com. L–D–Br. Burgers. $$ THE CABIN This cozy cocktail bar looks like it was picked up and transported from South Lake Tahoe. The cabin décor is kitschy but fun, and the cocktails are delish, especially the Gimme S’more, made with vanilla vodka, crème de cacao and cream. It’s garnished with a flaming marshmallow. Food is limited to mountain-hike snacks such as beef jerky and trail mix. 1207 21st St.; thecabinsac.com. Cocktail bar. $ CHICAGO FIRE For description, see listing under “Folsom.” 2416 J St.; (916) 443-0440; chicagofire.com. L–D. Pizza. $ CREPEVILLE For description, see listing under “Davis.” 1730 L St.; (916) 444-1100; crepeville.com. B–L–D. Crepes. $ ERNESTO’S MEXICAN FOOD This midtown favorite offers robust Mexican fare in an exuberantly cheerful environment. 1901 16th St.; (916) 441-5850; ernestosmexicanfood. com. L–D. Mexican. $ 58 DEGREES & HOLDING CO. This wine bar showcases an astonishing number of wines by the glass—all available in 3- and 6-ounce pours. There’s also an abbreviated menu of small plates designed to complement and enhance the wines. 1217 18th St.; (916) 442-5858; 58degrees.com. L–D. Wine bar. $$ THE GOLDEN BEAR Remember the adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Keep it in mind when you come here. You may have to wave cigarette smoke away from your face as you cross the patio, and you might even have to dodge a leashless pit bull to get in the door. But once inside the dim bar, you’ll find a surprisingly sophisticated menu. 2326 K St.; (916) 441-2242; golden-bear916.com. L–D– Br. Gastropub. $$ HAWKS PUBLIC HOUSE At this sophisticated gastropub, the menu includes beautifully executed dishes like country pâté and baked rigatoni. The pastas are made in-house, and even the burger is top-notch. 1525 Alhambra Blvd.; (916) 588-4440; hawkspublichouse. com. L–D–Br. Mediterranean gastropub. $$$ HOOK & LADDER MANUFACTURING COMPANY Located in a Quonset hut, this restaurant is both hip and cozy. De-spite the barlike ambience, Hook & Ladder is serious about food. All the pastas and desserts are made in-house. 1630 S St.; (916) 442-4885; hookandladder916.com. L–D–Br. Californian. $$ INK EATS & DRINKS Drop by this hip lounge for a first-rate meal. The kitchen whips up some of the best huevos rancheros in town, and the restaurant stays open late. 2730 N St.; (916) 456-2800; inkeats.com. L–D–Br. New American. $
JUNGLE BIRD At this kitschy tiki bar, the playful menu riffs on old-school “Polynesian” food: things like pu pu platter maca-damiacrusted mahi-mahi and mochi fried chicken. 2516 J St.; (916) 476-3280; thejunglebird. com. D–Br. Polynesian. $$–$$$ KUPROS This fun gastropub is housed in a beautifully renovated 1910 Craftsman building. Belly up to the ground-floor bar for a pint of beer, or head upstairs for a seat in the dining room or the outdoor balcony, where you can tuck into fare such as steak frites or pot roast. 1217 21st St.; (916) 440-0401; kuproscrafthouse.com. L–D–Br. New American/gastropub. $$ LOCALIS This upscale restaurant is a pleasant surprise. Localis (Latin for “local”) is a dinner-only restaurant with a tiny, in-ventive menu of ingredient-driven dishes. Chef Christopher Barnum-Dann works with local farms to source most of the menu with-in 100 miles. 2031 S St.; (916) 737-7699; localissacramento.com. D. Californian. $$$–$$$$ LOWBRAU BIERHALLE This chic yet casual watering hole serves house-made sausages, duck fat fries and stand-out beers. Long communal tables make for an experience that’s noisy and convivial. 1050 20th St.; (916) 706-2636; lowbrausacramento.com. L–D–Br. Beer hall. $ LUCCA RESTAURANT AND BAR The popular restaurant serves an eclectic, Mediterranean-inspired menu. The food is fla-vorful and prettily presented. Start with a plate of the fabulous zucchini chips, which are hot, salty and addictive. 1615 J. St.; (916) 669-5300; luccarestaurant.com. L–D. Mediterranean. $$ MIDTOWN SUSHI This intimate restaurant has the feel of a convivial dinner party. On the menu: traditional sushi rolls, nigiri and house specialties such as seafood nachos. 2801 P St.; (916) 451-4700; midtownsushi.net. L–D. Sushi. $$ MOXIE This restaurant is more than two decades old but remains one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Its owners are known for their food presentations, lengthy verbal specials and eagerness to please: Basically, if you want something, they’ll prepare it for you— anything from surf and turf to meatloaf. 2028 H St.; (916) 443-7585; moxierestaurant.com. D. American. $$$ MULVANEY’S BUILDING & LOAN Distinctive and cozy, this topflight restaurant exudes the generous affability of its own-er, chef Patrick Mulvaney. It’s housed in a brick firehouse from the late 1800s, and the lush patio is a popular spot in warm months. The menu changes frequently and is focused on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. 1215 19th St.; (916) 441-6022; mul-vaneysbl.com. L–D. Californian. $$$ PAESANOS Paesanos is a festive spot to settle in for a casual meal of pizza, pasta or salads with friends or family. 1806 Capitol Ave.; (916) 447-8646; paesanos.biz. L–D. Pizza/Italian. $ PARAGARY’S MIDTOWN BISTRO This legendary restaurant focuses on elegant, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. 1401 28th St.; (916) 457-5737; paragarys.com. L–D–Br. Californian/French. $$–$$$
Crazy for Coffee
Access to great coffee is one of the perks (get it?) of living in Sacramento. The city is home to a large and growing number of top-notch artisanal coffee roasters and cafes. You’ll find Temple Coffee Roasters, Insight Coffee, Identity Coffees, Old Soul Co., Naked Coffee and Chocolate Fish Coffee—all known for their exacting standards in sourcing, roasting and brewing. Other places, like The Mill in midtown, don’t roast their own but still make a mean pour-over. And San Francisco cult favorite Philz Coffee (which serves brewed coffee but no espresso drinks) has opened an outpost on the R Street Corridor. THE PORCH RESTAURANT AND BAR The menu here is built on a core of Lowcountry staples and Southern fare: shrimp po’ boy, crawfish boil, buttermilk fried chicken, smoked brisket and cornbread. 1815 K St.; (916) 444-2423; theporchrestau-rantandbar.com. L–D–Br. Southern. $$ THE RED RABBIT KITCHEN & BAR The menu is a playful jumble of dishes, some robustly American, others with an Asian, Latin or Mediterranean influence. 2718 J St.; (916) 706-2275; theredrabbit.net. L–D–Br. New American. $$ RICK’S DESSERT DINER This diner has a playful ’50s vibe, with red booths and a jukebox. The ever-present line of custom-ers in front of the display case can make it difficult to see the mind-boggling assortment of sweets. 2401 J St.; (916) 444-0969; ricksdessertdiner.com. Dessert. $ THE RIND At this cheese-centric bar, you can savor cheese in a number of ways. The menu includes variations on macaroni and cheese, cheese boards and creative grilled cheese sandwiches. 1801 L St.; (916) 441-7463; therindsacramento.com. L–D. American. $$ SAMPINO’S TOWNE FOODS This oldworld Italian gem is part market, part deli, part restaurant. Everything’s prepared on the premises, from fresh pastas and sauces to sausages made in a hand-cranked grinder. 1607 F St.; (916) 441-2372; face-book.com/ sampinostownefoods. L–D. Italian. $$ THE SNUG This craft cocktail bar from the owners of deVere’s Irish Pub hits all the right notes for midtown millennials: fun atmosphere, tasty drinks and easy-to-swallow prices. Food is nonexistent except for a mix of peanuts and cashews dusted with ranch dressing. Eat before you go, or grab something from one of the nearby food trucks. 1800 15th St.; snugca.com. Cocktail bar. $
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Dining SQUEEZE INN This fast-food place regularly tops polls for the best burger in town. 1630 K St.; (916) 492-2499; thesqueezeinn.com. L–D. Burgers. $ TANK HOUSE This midtown ’cue joint offers a limited menu of ribs, brisket and sides along with a thoughtful selection of craft beers. 1925 J St.; (916) 431-7199; tankhousebbq.com. L–D. Barbecue. $ TAPA THE WORLD The dark space is packed practically every night. The best seats are along the windows that look out onto J Street—perfect for people-watching as you savor classic tapas along with a Spanish cava or tempranillo from the lengthy, exciting wine list. 2115 J St.; (916) 442-4353; tapatheworld.com. L–D. Spanish/tapas. $$ THE WATERBOY This Mediterraneaninspired restaurant produces perhaps the finest cooking in the region. Chef/owner Rick Mahan honors local farmers with his commitment to simply prepared, highcaliber food. You can’t go wrong if you order one of the lovely salads, followed by the gnocchi, ravioli or a simple piece of fish, finished with butter and fresh herbs. You’ll also find French classics such as veal sweetbreads and pomme frites. 2000 Capitol Ave.; (916) 498-9891; waterboyrestaurant.com. L–D. Mediterra-nean. $$$$ ZELDA’S ORIGINAL GOURMET PIZZA Zelda’s is legendary for the greatness of its pizza and its attitude. But that’s part of Zelda’s charm, along with the dark, dingy atmosphere. It’s all about the food: oldschool, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza that routinely wins “best pizza” in local polls. 1415 21st St.; (916) 447-1400; zeldasgourmetpizza.com. L–D. Pizza/Italian. $$ ZOCALO This Mexican restaurant is one of the best places to while away an evening with friends over margaritas. The restau-rant is high-ceilinged, with a wood bar and roomy booths. During warm months, the wraparound sidewalk patio is one of the most popular spots in town. The menu has regional Mexican specialties such as tacos de cazuela, a casserole-ish concoction of steak, chorizo, and cheese served with housemade tortillas. 1801 Capitol Ave.; (916) 441-0303; zocalosacramento.com. L–D–Br. Mexican. $$
OAK PARK LA VENADITA This inviting, casual taqueria has a concise menu that includes inventive street tacos, a brightly flavored ceviche and an enchilada with rich mole sauce. It also boasts a full bar and an enticing menu of craft cocktails. 3501 Third Ave.; (916) 400-4676; lavenaditasac.com. L–D. Mexican. $$
The Rind
and top-notch service. The outdoor courtyard is one of the prettiest in town, and its canopy of trees sparkles at night with tiny lights. The food is special-occasion wor-thy, and the wine list represents more than 2,100 labels. 1112 Second St.; (916) 442-4772; firehouseoldsac. com. L–D. Californi-an/American. $$$$ PILOTHOUSE Housed in the history-steeped Delta King riverboat, this is one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. On Sundays, it puts on one of the prettiest champagne brunches around. 1000 Front St.; (916) 441-4440; deltaking.com. B–L–Br. American. $$–$$$ RIO CITY CAFE Located on the riverbank, the bustling restaurant offers stunning views of Tower Bridge. The menu changes seasonally and offers a wide selection of creative, solid dishes. 1110 Front St.; (916) 442-8226; riocitycafe.com. L–D–Br. New American. $$
OLD SACRAMENTO
ORANGEVALE
THE FIREHOUSE Since opening in 1960, this has been Sacramento’s go-to restaurant for romantic atmosphere and historic charm. Located in a 1853 firehouse, it’s white tablecloth all the way, with crystal wine glasses
BLUE NAMI This pretty little restaurant is a hidden gem serving elaborate sushi rolls and a great lineup of appetizers. 8807 Greenback Lane; (916) 988-2300; bluenamisushi.com. L–D. Japanese/sushi. $–$$
PLACERVILLE HEYDAY CAFE The restaurant’s lunch menu offers salads, pizzas and sandwiches. Dinner entrées range from a coffee-glazed pork chop to citrus-marinated chicken. 325 Main St.; (530) 626-9700; heydaycafe.com. L–D. New American. $$–$$$ THE INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT AND BAR The atmosphere here is lively and convivial, both indoors and on the pa-tio. The kitchen takes traditional dishes such as Southern fried chicken and gives them a twist. 629 Main St.; (530) 344-7645; in-dependentplacerville. com. L–D. New American. $$–$$$
POCKET/GREENHAVEN CACIO This tiny sliver of a restaurant has only a handful of tables—and more than a handful of people who want to dine here. The fare is high-quality Italian comfort food, with an emphasis on pasta. Service is warm and homey, prices are gentle, and reserva-tions (even at lunch) are a must. 7600 Greenhaven Drive; (916) 399-9309; caciosacramento.com. L–D. Italian. $$
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Dining RANCHO CORDOVA CATTLEMENS For description, see listing under “Dixon.” 12409 Folsom Blvd.; (916) 985-3030; cattlemens.com. D. Steak-house. $$$
ROCKLIN ANATOLIAN TABLE The menu here is lengthy, with an enticing lineup of kebabs and “oven foods” such as kusbasi pide, a Turkish dish similar to pizza. 6815 Lonetree Blvd.; (916) 772-3020; anatoliantable.com. L–D. Turkish. $–$$ RUBINO’S RISTORANTE This intimate, dimly lit restaurant serves classic Italian fare such as veal scallopine, fettuccine Al-fredo and shrimp scampi. It also offers a fine selection of steaks. 5015 Pacific St.; (916) 624-3401; rubinosrestaurant.com. L–D. Italian. $$$ ZEST KITCHEN Everything served at this casual cafe is vegan, and most of the dishes are gluten-free. 2620 Sunset Blvd.; (916) 824-1688; zestvegankitchen.com. L–D. Vegan/ vegetarian. $
ROSEVILLE BLUE NAMI For description, see listing under “Orangevale.” 1465 Eureka Road; (916) 7871177; bluenamisushi.com. L–D. Japanese/sushi. $–$$ THE BOXING DONKEY This Irish pub has everything a bro could possibly want: a masculine environment, hearty food and arcade games. 300 Lincoln St.; (916) 797-3665; theboxingdonkey.com. L–D. Irish pub. $ CATTLEMENS For description, see listing under “Dixon.” 2000 Taylor Road; (916) 7825587; cattlemens.com. D. Steak-house. $$$ CHICAGO FIRE For description, see listing under “Folsom.” 500 N. Sunrise Ave.; (916) 771-2020; chicagofire.com. L–D. Pizza. $ EARLY TOAST MIMOSA HOUSE For description, see listing under “El Dorado Hills.” 761 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Rose-ville; (916) 784-1313; mimosahouse.com. B–L–D. American. $$ FAT’S ASIA BISTRO AND DIM SUM BAR For description, see listing under “Folsom.” 1500 Eureka Road; (916) 787-3287; fatsrestaurants.com. L–D. Pan-Asian. $$ LA PROVENCE RESTAURANT & TERRACE This elegant French restaurant offers some of the region’s loveliest outdoor dining. The seasonal menu features items such as bouillabaisse and soupe au pistou. 110 Diamond Creek Place; (916) 789-2002; laprovenceroseville.com. L–D–Br. French. $$$–$$$$ MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S Sophisticated seafood restaurant with a large menu. 1194 Roseville Parkway; (916) 960-4875; mccormickandschmicks.com. L–D. Seafood/American. $$–$$$ MIKUNI JAPANESE RESTAURANT AND SUSHI BAR For description, see listing under “Downtown.” 1565 Eureka Road; (916) 7972112; mikunisushi.com. L–D. Japanese/sushi. $$
PAUL MARTIN’S AMERICAN BISTRO The bustling, comfortable restaurant is a local favorite. The kitchen offers a great list of small plates and robust, approachable entrées. 1455 Eureka Road; (916) 783-3600; paulmartinsamericangrill.com. L–D–Br. New American. $$–$$$ P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO For description, see listing under “Downtown.” 1180 Galleria Blvd.; (916) 788-2800; pfchangs.com. L–D. Chinese. $$ RUEN THAI Simple and serene, Ruen Thai is a family-owned restaurant that offers a surprisingly large selection of fresh-tasting food. 1470 Eureka Road; (916) 774-1499; ruenthai.net. L–D. Thai. $ RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE This swanky dinner house serves some of the tastiest meat in town. Expertly cooked steaks are seared at 1,800 degrees. Don’t miss the cowboy rib-eye or the fork-tender filet mignon. 1185 Galleria Blvd.; (916) 780-6910; ruthschris.com. D. Steakhouse. $$$$ SQUEEZE INN For description, see listing under “Midtown.” 106 N. Sunrise Ave.; (916) 783-2874; thesqueezeinn.com. L–D. Burgers. $ YARD HOUSE With its lengthy menu, big flavors and loud music, there’s nothing retiring about this restaurant. There are close to 130 beers on tap, and the food includes beerfriendly small plates. 1166 Roseville Parkway; (916) 780-9273; yard-house.com/CA/ Roseville. L–D. American/bar food. $$ ZOCALO For description, see listing under “Midtown.” 1182 Roseville Parkway; (916) 788-0303; zocalosacramen-to.com/roseville. L–D–Br. Mexican. $$
SIERRA OAKS CAFE BERNARDO AT PAVILIONS For description, see listing under “Midtown.” 515 Pavilions Lane; (916) 922-2870; paragarys. com. B–L–D. New American. $ ETTORE’S This bakery is a convivial spot for a casual meal. It’s hard to take your eyes off the dessert cases long enough to choose your savory items. But you’ll soon discover the kitchen’s talent extends to the wonderful pizzas, cooked in a wood-burning oven, hearty sandwiches and burgers, and fresh salads. 2376 Fair Oaks Blvd.; (916) 482-0708; ettores.com. B–L–D. Bakery/New American. $–$$ LEMON GRASS RESTAURANT Lemon Grass serves delicious, upscale Asian fare such as salad rolls, green curry and catfish in a clay pot. Everything tastes fresh, light and clean. 601 Munroe St.; (916) 486-4891; lemongrassrestaurant.com. L–D. Pan-Asian. $$$ PIATTI Muted colors and dark wood provide a comfortable, contemporary vibe. The culinary focus is on Italian cuisine with an American influence. The menu includes delightful variations on Italian staples—margherita, pesto or roasted chicken pizzas; ravioli, pappardelle and fettuccine pasta dishes. 571 Pavilions Lane; (916) 649-8885; piatti.com/sacramento. L–D. Italian/American. $$
ROXY RESTAURANT AND BAR From the cowhide booths to the sparkling light fixtures in the bar, Roxy is a class act that happens to also serve chili and fried chicken. The innovative New American menu is seasonal and locally focused, with many of the ingredients sourced from area farms and ranches. 2381 Fair Oaks Blvd.; (916) 489-2000; roxyrestaurantandbar.com. L–D–Br. American/Californian/steakhouse. $$ RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE For description, see listing under “Roseville.” 501 Pavilions Lane; (916) 286-2702; ruth-schris. com. L (Fridays only)–D. Steakhouse. $$$$ ZINFANDEL GRILLE Open for more than two decades, Zinfandel Grille is an enduring dining favorite, serving wood-fired pizzas, pasta, fish and other Mediterranean entrées. 2384 Fair Oaks Blvd.; (916) 485-7100; zinfandelgrille. com. L–D. New Ameri-can. $$$
SOUTH SACRAMENTO FRASINETTI’S This friendly, eager-to-please restaurant shares space with Frasinetti’s Winery. The menu is old-school Ital-ian—think minestrone and spaghetti and meatballs—and the portions are huge. 7395 Frasinetti Road; (916) 383-2444; frasinet-ti.com. L–D. Italian. $$–$$$ LALO’S RESTAURANT If you’re craving real Mexican food, come here for the carne asada tacos or the moist pork tamales. Taco flavors range from grilled pork and beef tongue to buche (fried pork stomach); traditional Mexican sandwiches also are availa-ble. 5063 24th St.; (916) 736-2389. L–D. Mexican. $
TAHOE PARK BACON & BUTTER For description, see listing under “East Sacramento.” 5913 Broadway; (916) 346-4445; baconandbutter-sac.com. B–L. Breakfast/American. $–$$
WEST SACRAMENTO BRODERICK ROADHOUSE Burgers rule at this appealingly scruffy bar/restaurant. In addition to the juicy beef burgers, there’s also a selection of more avant-garde versions, including the duck burger. 319 Sixth St.; (916) 372-2436; broderickroad-house.com. L–D– Br. Burgers. $ BURGERS AND BREW For description, see listing under “Downtown.” 317 Third St., (530) 572-0909; burgersbrew.com. L–D. Burgers. $ LA CROSTA PIZZA BAR From the people behind The Rind in midtown Sacramento, this casual pizza joint serves first-rate pies baked in a wood-burning oven, along with inventive flatbread sandwiches and a small selection of Italian entrees. 330 3rd St.; (916) 389-0372; lacrostapizzabar.com. L–D–Br. Pizza. $$–$$$ VIENTIANE RESTAURANT This dynamic spot offers some dishes you might not find at other Thai restaurants, such as gar-lic quail, deep-fried and lavished with pepper and garlic. 1001 Jefferson Blvd.; (916) 373-1556. L–D. Thai/Laotian. $
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Attractions
Out and About
Aerospace Museum of California
What to see while you’re here: museums, galleries, performing arts groups, venues and more. MUSEUMS Aerospace Museum of California 3200 Freedom Park Drive, McClellan, (916) 643-3192, aerospaceca.org A collection of military and civilian aircraft and engines housed at a former Air Force base. California Agriculture Museum 1958 Hays Lane, Woodland, (530) 666-9700, californiaagmuseum.org See the world’s largest assemblage of antique tractors, plus antique farm equipment and trucks. California Automobile Museum 2200 Front St., Sacramento, (916) 442-6802, calautomuseum.org A collection of automobiles from every era, tracing their evolution and impact on California culture. California Museum 1020 O St., Sacramento, (916) 653-7524, californiamuseum.org Permanent and special exhibits spotlight California history and the state’s contributions to the world through arts and culture, ideas and innovation. Home of the California Hall of Fame.
California State Capitol Museum State Capitol Building, 1315 10th St., Sacramento, (916) 3240333, capitolmuseum.ca.gov Explore exhibits and take a tour of the seat of state government, a “living museum” since 1869. California State Library 914 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, (916) 323-9843, library.ca.gov Tour the renovated library in the circa-1928 Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building. California State Railroad Museum 125 I St., Old Sacramento, (916) 323-9280, californiarailroad.museum Explore railroad history in the West through beautifully restored cars and locomotives and interactive exhibits in one of North America’s finest railroad museums. Ticketed excursion train rides (from nearby Central Pacific Passenger Station, 930 Front St., Old Sacramento) behind a vintage diesel or steam locomotive available weekends April–September, Tuesdays in March, April and October, and for special events and holidays.
Crocker Art Museum 216 O St., Sacramento, (916) 808-7000, crockerart.org The oldest public art museum in the West (est. 1885) and one of the state’s best, the Crocker boasts top collections of California art, Old Masters drawings and international ceramics plus hosts special exhibitions year-round along with a full calendar of cultural and family events. Don & June Salvatori California Pharmacy Museum 4030 Lennane Drive, Sacramento, (714) 376-0424, donjunesalvatoricapharmacymuseum.org Thousands of pharmacy artifacts and books from the past two centuries, organized in three time periods. Explorit Science Center 3141 Fifth St., Davis, (530) 756-0191, explorit.org Science museum for school-age children with hands-on exhibits and special programs. Folsom Historical Society: Folsom History Museum, Pioneer Village 823 Sutter St., Folsom, (916) 985-2707, folsomhistoricalsociety.org The museum focuses on local native peoples, gold discovery and mining, and special exhibits; the village is an interpretive center with a miner’s cabin, blacksmith shop and gold panning.
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Your Next Adventure is
on the Rails.
Trains run weekends April through September. Museum open daily. See the past, present and future of the railroad come to life every day in Old Sacramento Waterfront with historic train rides, awe-inspiring engines and engaging exhibits. Plan your visit today.
BUY TRAIN TICKETS NOW 111 I Street Old Sacramento Waterfront CaliforniaRailroad.Museum
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Attractions Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park 1526 H St., Sacramento, parks.ca.gov Built in 1877, this Second Empire Italianate Victorian mansion was home to 13 California governors, then served as a museum. Gov. Jerry Brown and wife Anne Gust Brown refurbished it and lived there from 2015 to 2018. In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom opted to move his family to the Sacramento suburb of Fair Oaks. The mansion is closed to tours until further notice. Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art 254 Old Davis Road, Davis, (530) 752-8500, manettishremmuseum.ucdavis.edu Opened in November 2016, UC Davis’ newest museum showcases expansive architecture and works by renowned first-generation UC Davis art faculty among other must-see attractions. Maidu Museum & Historic Site 1970 Johnson Ranch Drive, Roseville, (916) 774-5934, roseville. ca.us An indoor-outdoor interpretive center about native Maidu at a site where Nisenan Maidu families lived for 3,000 years. An outdoor trail takes visitors by mortar holes and petroglyphs. Museum of Medical History 5380 Elvas Ave., Sacramento, (916) 452-2671, ssvms.org/ museum.aspx An array of artifacts and books illustrating developments in medicine, 1850s through today. Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum 1200 Front St., Old Sacramento, (916) 483-8818, sacmuseums.org Replica of 1800s-era schoolhouse filled with desks and artifacts recreating the experience. Old Sacramento State Historic Park Between Capitol Mall and I Street, Sacramento River/Front Street and Interstate 5, Old Sacramento, (916) 4457387, parks.ca.gov. See also oldsacramento.com This cluster of city blocks along the Sacramento River is where the city got its start, featuring 50plus restored Gold Rush-era commercial buildings now housing museums, shops and eateries. Powerhouse Science Center 3615 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 674-5000, powerhousesc.org Exhibits, weekend programs and planetarium shows bring STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) experiences to life. Roseville Utility Exploration Center 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville, (916) 746-1550, roseville.ca.us/explore Explore tools for sustainable living at school, work and home, with “green” exhibits and events.
PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS Big Idea Theatre 1616 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 960-3036, bigideatheatre.org Small collaborative community theater company stages dramatic, artful, edgy works. Broadway Sacramento—Broadway at Music Circus 1419 H St., Sacramento (916) 557-1999, broadwaysacramento.com A series of professional, theater-in-the-round Broadway musicals staged every summer since 1951. Broadway Sacramento—Broadway on Tour 1515 J St., Sacramento (916) 557-1999, broadwaysacramento.com Broadway Sacramento brings national touring Broadway shows to town, performing at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium while SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Complex undergoes a major renovation and expansion, to be completed in 2021. B Street Theatre The Sofia, 2700 Capitol Ave., Sacramento, (916) 443-5300, bstreettheatre.org One of Northern California’s top professional theaters, B Street stages Mainstage and Family series plays along with a Music Series and other entertainment at The Sofia, which opened in 2018. Camellia Symphony Orchestra 1731 Howe Ave. Suite 499, Sacramento (800) 838-3006, camelliasymphony.org Maestro Christian Baldini leads the community orchestra, first established in the 1960s. Capital Stage 2215 J St., Sacramento, (916) 9955464, capstage.org Professional actors perform bold, thoughtprovoking contemporary works in an intimate setting. Celebration Arts 2727 B St., Sacramento, (916) 455-2787, celebrationarts.net The region’s only theater dedicated to performing works by and about African Americans. El Dorado Musical Theatre 5011 Golden Foothill Parkway, Suite 4, El Dorado Hills, (916) 941-7464, edmt.info One of the premier youth musical theaters in the West, EDMT stages top-quality, full-scale musicals and revues at Harris Center in Folsom.
Sacramento Children’s Museum 2701 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, (916) 638-7225, sackids.org For kids 8 and younger: interactive zones for art making, water play, building and creating.
Sacramento Ballet CLARA (E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts), 2420 N St., Suite 100, Sacramento, (916) 552-5800, sacballet.org Founded in 1954, the professional dance company performs classics, world premieres and innovative works by emerging choreographers. Home of The School of the Sacramento Ballet.
Sacramento Historic City Cemetery 1000 Broadway, Sacramento, (916) 448-0811, historicoldcitycemetery.org The parklike cemetery (est. 1849) is the resting place of notable Sacramentans and Californians.
Sacramento Children’s Chorus 25 Cadillac Drive, Suite 220, Sacramento, (916) 646-1141, sacramentochildrenschorus.org Area students, ages 7 to 20, train and perform a range of choral works in four choirs.
Sacramento History Museum 101 I St., Old Sacramento, (916) 808-7059, sachistorymuseum.org Learn the story of the city: founders, rivers, Gold Rush, agriculture, industry, culture and more.
Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra 4025A Bridge St., Fair Oaks, (916) 536-9065, sacramentochoral.com An audition-based, 140-voice community chorus and 55-member professional orchestra.
Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum 2251 Florin Road, Sacramento, (916) 320-9573, sojoartsmuseum.org African American history, culture and art is celebrated here with exhibits, events and outreach.
Sacramento Jazz Cooperative (916) 922-9758, sacramentojazzcoop.org Dedicated to the preservation of classical jazz, SJC hosts concerts featuring jazz artists.
State Indian Museum 2618 K St., Sacramento, (916) 324-0971, parks.ca.gov Discover the cultures of native Californians through artifacts, photographs and exhibits. Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park 2701 L St., Sacramento, (916) 445-4422, suttersfort.org Established by city founding father John Sutter in 1839, the fort supplied goods and shelter for pioneers. Today, living history programs reveal what their lives were like during the Gold Rush.
Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera 1110 Second St., Old Sacramento (916) 476-5975 The philharmonic and opera joined forces to put on classical and pop series plus operas. Sacramento State School of Music Capistrano Hall, 6000 J St., Sacramento, (916) 278-5155, csus. edu/music The School of Music hosts 150 concerts annually, including piano and world-music series, the Festival of New American Music every fall and the New Millennium Series every winter/spring.
Sacramento Theatre Company 1419 H St., Sacramento, (916) 443-6722, sactheatre.org Productions include classics, contemporary works, musicals, youth shows and cabarets. Sacramento Youth Symphony 3443 Ramona Ave., Suite 22, Sacramento, (916) 731-5777, sacramentoyouthsymphony.org The region’s top orchestral youth organization cultivates youth talent at many levels and in several performing ensembles. Sutter Street Theatre 717 Sutter St., Folsom, (916) 353-1001, sutterstreettheatre.com Off-Broadway and Family Series productions performed in an intimate setting. Woodland Opera House Theatre 340 Second St., Woodland, (530) 666-9617, woodlandoperahouse.org Mainstage and family theater productions and concerts performed in a historic opera house.
ART GALLERIES Second Saturday Art Walk Galleries in downtown, midtown, East Sacramento and outer areas hold open receptions on the second Saturday of every month, mostly 6 to 9 p.m., sacramento.downtowngrid.com/2nd-Saturday. See also 2ndsaturdaysacramento.com 2nd Friday ArtAbout Davis galleries and businesses hold open receptions on the second Friday of every month, mostly 5 to 9 p.m., davisdowntown.com/artabout Arthouse 1021 R St., Sacramento, arthouseonr.com ACAI Gallery & Studios 7425 Winding Way, Fair Oaks, (916) 966-2453, acaistudios.com Axis Gallery@ Verge Center for the Arts, 625 S St., Sacramento, axisgallery.org The Barn Beatnik Studios 723 S St., Sacramento, (916) 400-4281, beatnik-studios.com Brickhouse Gallery & Art Complex 2837 36th St., Sacramento, (916) 475-1240, thebrickhouseartgallery.com B. Sakata Garo 923 20th St., Sacramento, (916) 447-4276, bsakatagaro.com Elliott Fouts Gallery 1831 P St., Sacramento, (916) 736-1429, efgallery.com JayJay 5524B Elvas Ave., Sacramento, (916) 4532999, jayjayart.com Kennedy Gallery 1931 L St., Sacramento, (916) 400-4272, kennedygallerysac.com John Natsoulas Gallery 521 First St., Davis, (530) 756-3938, natsoulas.com Pence Gallery 212 D St., Davis, (530) 758-3370, pencegallery.org The Gallery at 48 Natoma 48 Natoma St., Folsom, (916) 461-6601, facebook.com/Galleryat48Natoma Tim Collom Gallery 915 20th St., Sacramento, (916) 849-0302, timcollomgallery.com Verge Center for the Arts 625 S St., Sacramento, (916) 448-2985, vergeart.com Viewpoint Gallery/Photographic Art Center 2015 J St., Sacramento, (916) 441-2341, viewpointgallery.org
PERFORMANCE & EVENT VENUES Ace of Spades 1417 R St., Sacramento, (916) 9300220, aceofspadessac.com An entertainment anchor of the hipster-heavy R Street Corridor, this popular 1,000-person live music venue, purchased in 2016 by Live Nation, brings in national touring recording artists.
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Attractions
California State Fair, Cal Expo
Drake’s The Barn 985 Riverfront St., West Sacramento, drinkdrakes.com Crowned by a sinuous wave of barn wood, this indoor-outdoor event space in West Sac’s Bridge District is a community gathering spot anchored by Drake’s Brewing Co. for food, beverages and entertainment. CLARA: E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts 2420 N St., Sacramento, (916) 823-5078, claramidtown.org Several local arts organizations including Sacramento Ballet, McKeever School of Irish Dance and Sacramento Preparatory Music Academy are tenants of the renovated, centuryold Fremont School, which includes intimate performance spaces. Cal Expo 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 263-3000, calexpo.com Home to the California State Fair held in July, this 350-acre complex holds festivals, trade shows and concerts. Also on site: the 12,000-seat sports and entertainment venue Papa Murphy’s Park, home to Sacramento Republic FC soccer team, plus Raging Waters water park and a harness racing track. Crest Theatre 1013 K St., Sacramento, (916) 4763356, crestsacramento.com The historic Art Deco-style theater hosts nationally known musical acts and comedians, local performing ensembles and film festivals, and screenings of classic and cult films.
Downtown Commons (DOCO) K Street between Third and Seventh streets, (916) 273-8124, docosacramento.com At the doorstep of Golden 1 Center and Kimpton Sawyer hotel, DOCO is downtown’s new epicenter of cool—an expansive outdoor, walkfriendly space with dozens of dining and drinking spots, retail (local boutiques to Macy’s) and an upscale cinema. Art, pop-up events and street performers add to the mix. It really comes alive during Kings games and concerts. Golden 1 Center 500 David J. Stern Walk, Sacramento, (916) 701-5401, golden1center.com Home to NBA’s Sacramento Kings since its October 2016 debut, the state-of-the-art downtown arena seats 19,000, boasts farm-tofork concessions and attracts top performing artists to town. Harris Center Folsom Lake College, 10 College Parkway, Folsom, (916) 608-6888, harriscenter.net The performing arts center holds hundreds of public performances a year, including national touring artists and regional groups, in 850-seat, 200-seat and 100-seat theaters. Mondavi Center UC Davis campus, Davis, (530) 754-2787, mondaviarts.org. The region’s premier performing arts venue welcomes world-renowned artists, lecturers and entertainers to its 1,801-seat Jackson Hall and Vanderhoef Studio Theatre, which seats up to 250.
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium 1515 J St., Sacramento, (916) 808-5291, sacramentomemorialauditorium.com The National Historic Register-listed brick structure—part of the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center Complex—is undergoing a $17 million renovation and restoration, hosting events and extra performances while the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center undergoes its own renovation. SAFE Credit Union Convention Center 1400 J St., Sacramento, (916) 808-5291, sacramentoconventioncenter.com The city’s newly renamed convention center is undergoing a multimillion dollar renovation and expansion, to be completed in 2021. SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center 1301 L St., Sacramento, (916) 808-5291, sacramentocommunitycentertheater.com The city’s largest theater space is undergoing a multimillion dollar renovation and expansion, to be completed in 2021. Sutter Health Park 400 Ballpark Drive, West Sacramento, (916) 376-4676, sutterhealthpark.com Sacramento River Cats’ ballpark hosts concerts, charity runs, festivals and community events. Toyota Amphitheatre 2677 Forty Mile Road, Wheatland, (530) 743-5200, livenation.com With 18,500 seats (8,000 reserved, the rest on the lawn) in this open-air amphitheater in farm country 35 minutes north of downtown, owner Live Nation can bring in its big summer tours.
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Recreation
Gabriel Teague
Adventures Galore! Cosumnes RiverMETROPOLITAN Preserve 84 2020 / 2021 SACRAMENTO GUEST AND RESOURCE GUIDE
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Take advantage of the region’s Mediterranean climate and many recreational opportunities. Most every day is a great day for getting outdoors in sunny Sacramento to experience this river valley’s beauty. With the two rivers—Sacramento and the American—convening downtown, two lakes east of town (Natoma and Folsom) and lots of parks and trails, the great outdoors beckons year-round. Winters are mild, springs burst forth with an incredible biodiversity of plant and animal life, and even the hottest summer days are refreshed by cool evening breezes coming off the Delta. In autumn, we relish not only the harvest in this rich agricultural area but the changing colors of the city’s famously thick canopy of trees. So grab your swimsuit, running shoes, hiking boots, bike, binoculars, picnic blankets and golf clubs, and discover why locals love living here.
PARKS Sacramento is blessed with several large parks, generously shaded by elms, oaks and redwoods. Whether you want to get in a run or get your kids to a playground, check out these favorites. Capitol Park 10th, 15th, N and L streets Surrounding the Capitol, this 40-acre oasis spanning 12 city blocks boasts a World Peace Rose Garden, 150 memorials and monuments, and more than 200 species of trees, some well over a century old. You’ll see Capitol staffers briskly walking the outer 1.1-mile path on weekdays, and tourists and wedding parties snapping photos on the Capitol’s west steps on weekends. McKinley Park Alhambra and McKinley boulevards, H and 33rd streets With more than 32 acres, this park in stately, residential East Sacramento contains a 1920s-era library, community center and pool, rose garden, duck pond, garden and arts center, tennis courts, community-designed playground and 1-mile perimeter running track. A major water vault project has torn out the sports fields and part of the picnic area but leaves much of the park unaffected. Southside Park T, Sixth and Eighth streets The site of numerous annual festivals, this 20-acre urban park has an amphitheater, pond with fishing piers, ¾-mile running track, swimming complex, and an expansive, engaging playground. William Land Park Riverside and Freeport boulevards, 11th and 13th avenues, Sutterville Road Surrounded by grand older homes in the lovely Land Park neighborhood, this 166-acre park has it all: sports fields, duck ponds, a playground with summer play pool and nine-hole public golf course. The park also claims three top attractions for families: the Sacramento Zoo; Fairytale Town, a storybook-themed park for
young children; and Funderland, an old-school amusement park including a carousel, roller coaster and train. Folsom City Lions Park 403 Stafford St., Folsom, (916) 461-6601, folsom.ca.us Although outside Sacramento city limits, this Folsom park’s many amenities make it well worth a mention: sports fields, library, art gallery, city hall and community center, two playgrounds and trails to the river, not to mention a 12-inch gauge railroad offering 10-minute open-car rides and the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, home to a variety of animals unfit to be released back into the wild.
ADVENTURE PARKS Quarry Park Adventures 5373 Pacific St., Rocklin, (916) 625-5243, quarrypark.com Built in a 160-year-old granite quarry, this 5.5-acre adventure park is filled with outdoor pursuits: zip lines, ropes courses, free falls, climbing walls, paddle boats, a waterfall, kids zone, picnic areas and observation decks. TreeTopSac Heritage Oaks Park, Village Parkway and Lake Washington Boulevard, West Sacramento, (916) 893-1596, treetopsac.com Kletterwald USA’s New tree top/Aerial adventure park offers a self-guided high-ropes obstacle course with hanging bridges, ladders, slacklines and ziplines amid a grove of heritage oaks.
POOLS AND WATERPARKS Staying cool in a pool is almost mandatory here come summer, when temps can climb higher than 100 degrees. Manor Pool City of Davis Aquatics and City Pools, 1525 Tulip Lane, Davis, (530) 758-2000, cityofdavis.org Complex includes a large lap pool, diving pool, water slide, beach-entry pool and sprayground. Memorial Day–Labor Day. Golfland Sunsplash 1893 Taylor Road, Roseville, (916) 784-1273, golfland.com/roseville Attractions include extreme slides, floating river, 84-foot wave pool, in-pool play area and cabanas. May–September. (Golfland’s two 18-hole miniature golf courses, arcade, laser tag and fastcar raceway are open year-round.) Raging Waters Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 924-3747, rwsac.com Water park with 25 attractions and rides including tube and extreme body slides, wave pool, lazy river, two younger children’s areas and cabanas. May–September. Steve Miklos Aquatic Center 1200 Riley St., Folsom, (916) 461-6640, folsom.ca.us/parks/ aquatic_center Multipool complex offers lap swim and aquatic programs year-round, lessons, recreational swimming, water slides, in-pool obstacle course and play area Memorial Day–Labor Day. West Sacramento Recreation Center Aquatics 2801 Jefferson Blvd., West Sacramento, (916) 617-4770, cityofwestsacramento.org Multipool complex includes a beach-entry pool,
slides and in-pool play areas plus recreational swimming. June–August. Wackford Aquatics Complex 9014 Bruceville Road, Elk Grove, (916) 405-5600, yourcsd.com Wading pool, beach-entry pool with playground, deep-water pool with slide and inflatable obstacle course Memorial Day–Labor Day. Recreational swimming available year-round. Wake Island Waterpark 7633 Locust Road, Pleasant Grove, (916) 655-3900, wakeislandwaterpark.com Eighty-acre waterpark offers cable (boatless) wakeboarding, floating playground/obstacle course, paddleboards, canoes and pedal boats, swimming beach, over-water zipline, beach volleyball and picnic area. May– September (April–October for wakeboarding).
NATURE TRAILS Cosumnes River Preserve 13501 Franklin Blvd., Galt, (916) 684-2816, cosumnes.org In the floodplains and riparian habitat along the Cosumnes River south of Sacramento, this 50,000-acre preserve is home, among other flora and fauna, to more than 250 bird species. Bring binoculars and hike the 11 miles of trails to spy Swainson’s hawks, tundra swans, sandhill cranes and other native and migratory birds that winter here, a critical stop along the Pacific Flyway. Effie Yeaw Nature Center Ancil Hoffman County Park, 2850 San Lorenzo Way (off Tarshes Drive), Carmichael, (916) 489-4918, sacnaturecenter.net Walk the handful of trails through this 100-acre riparian preserve to experience what this riverblessed region once looked like throughout much of the valley. Visit a replica Nisenan Maidu village, spot jack rabbits, wild turkey and deer, and stop by the small, kid-friendly museum. UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden 448 La Rue Road, UC Davis campus, Davis, (530) 752-4880, arboretum.ucdavis.edu Meandering along a 3.5-mile loop path, this series of demonstration gardens spanning the UC Davis campus are organized into collections, from Australian, East Asian, desert and Mediterranean to North Coast, California foothills, California native and desert, plus a redwood grove. It also includes Putah Creek Riparian Reserve.
WALKING TOURS Local Roots Food Tours (800) 407-8918, localrootsfoodtours.com Take a culinary approach to experiencing the city with a walking and dining tour of specific neighborhoods. Themes include Downtown Historical, Sutter District and Midtown Arts. Sacramento Heritage Inc. Download a free app from sacramentoheritage. org for a self-guided walking tour of downtown Sacramento with an architectural/historical preservation focus. Sacramento History Museum Walking Tours 101 I St., Old Sacramento, (916) 808-7059, sachistorymuseum.org/tours Sacramento History Museum puts on guided historical walking tours with such themes as Old Sacramento Underground, Underground After Hours and Gold Fever! Game.
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Recreation Recreation
American River Bike Trail
Sacramento Tree Foundation (916) 924-8733, sactree.com Take a walking tour of various tree-rich neighborhoods with local tree experts, or visit the nonprofit’s website for downloadable files of self-guided tree tours of several area parks. Sac Tour Company sactourcompany.com Running, walking and biking tours of local landmarks, public urban art and historic spots, including places featured in Greta Gerwig’s award-winning 2017 film “Lady Bird” and the murals of Wide Open Walls.
CYCLING, RUNNING, HIKING American River Bike Trail For outdoor enthusiasts, the crowning jewel of the region is the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, commonly known as the American River Bike Trail—though runners, walkers and hikers utilize it as much as cyclists. This nationally recognized trail starts at Discovery Park (at the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers north of downtown) and wends its way through the bucolic American River Parkway for 32 miles to Beals Point at Folsom Lake. With trail and river access points and adjacent parks all along the way, it’s especially popular on weekends. Folsom Trails Folsom is not just an endpoint to the American River Bike Trail, but a bike- and hike-friendly city itself, with more than 50 miles of well-maintained paved trails for recreational use. Three to try: Humbug-Willow Creek Trail, Folsom Parkway Rail Trail and Johnny Cash Trail. Lake Natoma Trail, Folsom This 11.3-mile paved bike and pedestrian trail loop (with dirt offshoots for runners and walkers) offers views and access points to the
lake, densely forested spots, gentle inclines and wildlife. Folsom ’Round the Lake Trail, Folsom/ Cool/Auburn This challenging 50-mile bike trek starts at Beals Point in Folsom Lake Recreation Area, traverses Green Valley and Salmon Falls roads, joins Highway 49, heads to Cool, crosses Foresthill Bridge (highest in the state!), goes to Auburn and heads back on AuburnFolsom Road. Miners Ravine Trail, Roseville A haven for wildlife in this bustling suburb, the 7.5-mile paved bike and pedestrian trail runs along Dry Creek from Old Roseville under Interstate 80 and past residential neighborhoods to Sierra College Boulevard. Hidden Falls Regional Park, Auburn/Lincoln Among the 30 miles of multi-use trails in this 1,200-acre park used for hiking, biking, running and horseback riding is a popular 3-mile stretch that takes you alongside creeks, through wooded areas and by interpretive panels to a 30-foot waterfall outfitted with two observation decks. Parking reservations required for weekends and holidays. placer.ca.gov/6106/Hidden-FallsRegional-Park
RIVERS Sacramento got its start near the conf luence of the Sacramento and American rivers, which have shaped the region in innumerable ways: geographically, agriculturally, economically, culturally. Top off your experience in River City by getting out on a river and having some fun!
Cruise the Sacramento River Hornblower’s one-hour cruises depart from Old Sacramento Waterfront and offer views of the river and city skyline accompanied by stories of the city’s Gold Rush history. Visit hornblower. com/sacramento River City Queen runs sunset and luncheon cruises from Old Sacramento Waterfront. rivercityqueen.com Raft or Kayak the Lower American River Rent a raft or kayak for a self-guided trip down the river along the American River Parkway. The Class I–II river is popular with DIYers, and young folks out for a good time. Embark near Sunrise Bridge, float to River Bend Park, then return by shuttle. Contact American River Raft Rentals (raftrentals.com) or River Rat Raft & Bike (river-rat.com). Whitewater Raft the American River’s Upper Forks In the foothills an hour east of Sacramento, the upper American River’s three forks—South, Middle and North—make up the most popular whitewater rafting destination in California, offering varying levels of difficulty (Class II–IV) and excitement. But don’t go it alone unless you’re an experienced rafter. Visit californiawhitewater.com for a list of outfitters and tours. Explore the Sacramento River Delta The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which feeds valley rivers into the San Francisco Bay, encompasses 1,000 miles of waterways. Explore the sloughs, islands, marinas and historic Delta towns up close by canoe, kayak, ski boat, wakeboard, paddleboard, fishing boat, houseboat or personal watercraft. For rentals and charters, see deltaboating.com or deltarentalcenter.com.
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Recreation Windsurf in the Delta Rio Vista and Sherman Island, about an hour’s drive southwest of Sacramento in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, are an international mecca for windsurfing and kiteboarding, thanks to superb water and wind conditions. Visit rvwa-siko.org and deltawindsports.com.
LAKES Folsom Lake About 25 miles northeast of Sacramento, this drought-sensitive reservoir on the American River (created by Folsom Dam in 1955) attracts boaters, sailors, water skiers, personal watercrafters, paddleboarders, fishers, swimmers, beachgoers and picnickers to its waters and 75 miles of shoreline. The surrounding Folsom Lake State Recreation Area includes nearly 100 miles of trails for hiking, trail running, horseback riding and mountain biking. On the lake’s western side is a campground at Beals Point; on the eastern side is Folsom Lake Marina at Browns Ravine. Lake Natoma Downriver from Folsom Lake is slender Lake Natoma, created by Nimbus Dam and part of the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. The 5-mile-long lake flanks the city of Folsom and offers picturesque scenery for kayakers, paddleboarders and college crews rowing on its calm surface. (Motorized watercraft have a 5-mph speed limit.) Among several boat launch sites is Sacramento State Aquatic Center, which provides instruction and equipment for rowing, sailing, paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking. Another attraction is Nimbus Fish Hatchery, which raises Chinook salmon and steelhead for release into the river. Its visitor center is open daily. Sacramento State Aquatic Center 1901 Hazel Ave., Gold River, (916) 278-2842, sacstateaquaticcenter.com Nimbus Fish Hatchery 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River, (916) 3582884, wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/hatcheries/nimbus
GOLF These public golf courses showcase the valley’s natural terrain, albeit sculpted and well-watered. Ancil Hoffman Golf Course 6700 Tarshes Drive, Carmichael, (916) 482-3813, golfancilhoffman.com Beautiful 18-hole course along the American River Parkway designed by William Bell in 1965.
Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course 8301 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 808-2020, bartleycavanaugh.com Designed by Perry Dye in 1995, an 18-hole championship course close to the Sacramento River. Bing Maloney Golf Complex 6801 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 808-2283, bingmaloney.com Championship 18-hole and express nine-hole courses plus a night-lighted driving range. Cherry Island Golf Course 2360 Elverta Road, Elverta, (916) 991-7293, golfcherryisland.com Championship 18-hole course designed by Robert Muir Graves plus a daytime driving range.
Haggin Oaks Golf Complex 3645 Fulton Ave., Sacramento, (916) 481-4653, hagginoaks.com Two 18-hole championship courses (Alister MacKenzie and Arcade Creek) plus a 100-stall, 24-hour lighted driving range, nine-hole putting course, player performance studio and huge golf shop. Teal Bend Golf Club 7200 Garden Highway, Sacramento, (916) 922-5209, clubcorp.com/ clubs/teal-bend-golf club Brad Bell-designed 18-hole championship course adjacent to the Sacramento River with 250 acres of wetlands and native trees, plus an all-grass driving range and two putting greens. WildHawk Golf Club 7713 Vineyard Road,
Sacramento, (916) 688-4653, wildhawkgolf.com South Sacramento 18-hole championship course plays well in wet weather. William Land Golf Course 1701 Sutterville Road, Sacramento, (916) 277-1207, williamlandgc.com Popular nine-hole course in lush William Land Park is the city’s oldest course, built in 1924.
INDOOR CLIMBING When it’s time for a change of pace from outdoor pursuits, local athletes go climb the walls. The Boulder Field 8425 Belvedere Ave., Suite 100, Sacramento, (916) 329-8994, theboulderfield.com The area’s newest indoor climbing gym offers 10,000 square feet of bouldering space, plus a variety of training and fitness areas in an open layout with workspaces, a café and lounge.
Granite Arch Climbing Center 11335-G Folsom Blvd., Rancho Cordova, (916) 852-7625, granitearch.com More than 20,000 square feet of indoor wall space plus a members-only outdoor boulder park. Rocknasium 720 Olive Drive, Suite S, Davis,
(530) 757-2902, rocknasium.com Community climbing gym with 5,500-plus square feet of vertical terrain plus fitness classes. Sacramento Pipeworks 116 N. 16th St., Sacramento, (916) 341-0100, touchstoneclimbing.com/pipeworks Cavernous climbing and fitness gym with 14,000 square feet of climbing terrain, 8,000 square feet of bouldering, a huge CrossFit area, full gym with cardio and weight equipment, and classes.
MORE INDOOR FUN Flatstick Pub DOCO, 630 K St. Suite 120, Sacramento, (916) 872-0772, tipsyputt.com With dozens of local craft beers of tap, duffleboard tabletop golf games and 18 holes of mini golf on two courses, putting has never been this fun. 21 and older. iFly 118 Harding Blvd., Roseville, (916) 8364359, iflyworld.com/sacramento/ Kids 3 to 103 experience the thrill of indoor skydiving thanks to wind-tunnel technology.
Punch Bowl Social DOCO, 500 J St. Suite 100, Sacramento, (916) 925-5610, punchbowlsocial. com/location/sacramento Enjoy fun and games—bowling, billiards, ping pong, foosball, darts, karaoke and more— plus creative food and drink in a modern 25,000-square-foot space. Kids welcome before 10 p.m. Topgolf 1700 Freedom Way, Roseville, (916) 200-1002, topgolf.com/us/roseville Imagine your favorite sports bar opening directly onto the driving range of your dreams. For all skill levels. Families welcome. Urban Air Adventure Park 1700 Arden Way, Sacramento, (916) 930-6822, urbanairtrampolinepark.com On a rare rainy day, treat the family to trampolines, climbing walls, ropes courses, a tubes playground, warrior and obstacles courses, bumper cars, aerial sky rider coaster and more.
CASINOS With several Indian gaming casinos in the area, you don’t have to travel far to try your luck.
Cache Creek Casino Resort 14455 Highway 16, Brooks, (530) 796-3118, cachecreek.com Cache Creek is wrapping up an expansion and series of upgrades to its large resort, giving it a total of 659 rooms plus added conference space, concert space, a second pool and new restaurant, complementing its casino, day spa and 18-hole championship golf course. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain 3317 Forty Mile Road, Wheatland, (833) 337-3473, hardrockhotels.com/sacramento This full-service casino resort—with 1,800-plus slots and game table spots, hotel with outdoor pool and multiple dining options—opened next to Toyota Amphitheatre in late 2019. Harrah’s Northern California 4640 Coal Mine Road, Ione, (866) 915-0777, caesars.com/harrahs-northern-california The casino has 950 rotating slots, 20 gaming tables and several dining options, and partners with the restored Victorian-era National Hotel in Jackson for overnight guests. Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort 12222 New York Ranch Road, Jackson, (800) 822-9466, jacksoncasino.com Experience winning with more than 1,700 slot machines, 32 table games, top-rated RV park, AAA three-diamond hotel, four restaurants and more at this 24-hour casino and resort. Red Hawk Casino 1 Red Hawk Parkway, Placerville, (888) 573-3495, redhawkcasino.com This 24-hour casino has more than 2,300 slots, 70 table games and five restaurants. Thunder Valley Casino Resort 1200 Athens Ave., Lincoln, (916) 408-7777, thundervalleyresort.com This expansive 24-hour casino resort now has 3,500-plus slot and video machines, 125-plus gaming tables, a 25,000-square foot poker room, nearly a dozen restaurants and dining options, 400-plus-room hotel, day spa, banquet hall and outdoor amphitheater.
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Nightlife
Nightlife Sacramento is great during the day, but it really comes alive at night. The city is filled with craft cocktail bars, lively beer halls and nightclubs where you can party well into the early-morning hours. Here’s your essential guide to Sacramento’s nightlife.
CRAFT COCKTAIL BARS Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Company (1630 S St.) fields a bar program that’s simultaneously seri-
ous and cheeky. This gorgeous, dimly lit, vaguely steampunky restaurant/ bar offers a drinks menu that embraces classics like the Negroni (available on draft) and original inventions such as the Spaghetti Western (mezcal, orange juice and bitters). De Vere’s Irish Pub (1521 L St.) was Sacramento’s first whiskey bar, and it still has the city’s largest selection of whiskey. The place is like a reverse mullet: party in the front, business in the back. The front bar is bright and raucous, with people ordering shots and beers. But walk through the door into the back room and you’ve entered de Vere’s famed whiskey library, a long bar backed by rows of handsome mahogany
shelves with hundreds of bottles of scotch, bourbon and Irish whiskey. If de Vere’s Irish Pub is a whiskey library, Block Butcher Bar (1050 20th St.) is more like a whiskey museum, offering up a highly curated list of esoteric brown spirits from around the world. The tiny space is intimate and quiet, and the bar is stocked with dozens of singlemalt scotches. To encourage drinkers to “taste the wall,” flights are available. Like the whiskey collection, the cocktail menu is quirky and curated, divided into cocktails that are shaken and those that are stirred. Most popular: Guy on a Buffalo, a traditional whiskey and ginger ale made with Buffalo Trace bourbon and house-made peach cardamom preserves.
William Thompson
Looking to hit the town after hours? We’ve got the list for after-hours fun.
Revival
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Nightlife Opened in 2009, Shady Lady Saloon (1409 R St.) was the spark that ignited Sacramento’s cocktail revolution. For inspiration, its owners looked back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, two golden eras for bartending. The menu reads like a history book, detailing the backstories of classic drinks such as the Sazerac (created in New Orleans around 1850) and the French 75 (a Prohibitionera gin cocktail). In 2014, Esquire magazine named Shady Lady one of the nation’s top 25 bars. This faux speakeasy has red flocked wallpaper and naughty Belle Epoque artwork that will make you feel vaguely shady—but in a good way. The Red Rabbit Kitchen and Bar (2718 J St.) is a friendly hangout whose cocktail menu is a mash-up of classic and original recipes. Drinks are categorized not by spirit but by f lavor profile: Juicy, Tart and Refreshing, Bitter or Rich. The goal: to get drinkers out of their vodka rut and try something new. If you like, leave the thinking to the bartender and order Dealers Choice. He or she will vibe you out and whip up the perfect concoction. Looking for a swanky hotel-bar experience? Head to Grange (926 J St.), located inside The Citizen Hotel. The cocktail menu is inventive and inspired, with an emphasis on local and seasonal ingredients. But you can’t miss with oldschool classics like the Grange Manhattan and Grange Old Fashioned. Bottle & Barlow (1120 R St.) is Sacramento’s first (and only) bar and barbershop under one roof. The bar sits at one end of the long, shoebox-shaped space, the barbershop at the other, with a “viewing lounge” in between where drinkers can watch the goings-on in the barbershop through a one-way mirror. The look is disco crossed with deco: brass light fixtures, silver foil wallpaper, highbacked leather banquettes. It’s “American Hustle” meets “The Great Gatsby.” You can’t get food here—just a small menu of modern cocktails and twists on classic drinks. Over on the barbershop side, customers get a cocktail or draft beer included with their haircut or straightrazor shave. The Jungle Bird (2516 J St.) is a knowing, tongue-in-cheek throwback to the tiki bars of old. The decor is a kitschy melange of fishing nets, lobster traps, tiki statues and parrot figurines
dangling from the ceiling. There’s tropical jazz from the ’30s and ’40s on the sound system, and servers dressed in Hawaiian shirts shout “Aloha” when you walk in the door. The place may be kitsch, but The Jungle Bird takes a serious, craft-focused approach to cocktails: a mix of classics (Zombie, Mai Tai) and new concoctions, as well as shareable drinks like the Volcano Bowl and the Three Hour Tour (136 ounces of vodka, rum and champagne, the equivalent of 15 drinks). Other bars worth of a visit: Beast + Bounty (1701 R St.), a chic, upscale hangout; The Snug (1800 15th St.), a cozy Irish pub; Camden Spit & Larder (555 Capitol Mall), a London-style brasserie; and Locked Barrel (921 11th St.), a whiskey bar with more than 400 whiskeys, including rare and allocated bottles.
BEER HALLS LowBrau Bierhalle (1050 20th St.) has a boisterous, breezy vibe. With its lengthy community tables, it’s midtown’s most congenial watering hole, offering draft brews and pub grub such as housemade sausages and duck-fat fries. The bar is open till 2 a.m. all week long. Constructed entirely out of shipping containers, Der Biergarten (2332 K St.) serves 32 beers on tap and a light food menu that includes Belgies (sandwiches made with waffles in place of bread). If it’s raining, head elsewhere; seating is outdoors at long picnic tables. You can also play cornhole, foosball and pingpong with your new best friends. One of the hottest spots in town is Drake’s Brewing Co. at The Barn, just across the river in West Sac (985 Riverfront St.). It features a 400-seat beer garden, casual indoor and outdoor dining (mostly pizza) and a separate outdoor cocktail bar. Everyone’s welcome, including kids and dogs. Founded in 1881, Ruhstaller (726 K St.) was Sacramento’s original brewing company, and a local entrepreneur revived the company several years ago. Fans of the beer and its history can get a taste of both at Ruhstaller’s basement tap room on K Street. Its 14 rotating taps include several devoted to small-batch beers undergoing research and development.Located in an industrial section of East Sacramento, SacYard Commu-
nity Tap House + Beer Garden (1725 33rd St.) serves a rotating selection of local craft brews plus wine, champagne and kombucha for non-beer drinkers. An on-site food truck supplies the eats. Customers are encouraged to bring their kids, both human and canine. Live music, games and competitions such as trike races round out the experience.
NIGHTCLUBS At The Park Ultra Lounge (1116 15th St.), they bring out the red velvet ropes to manage the line that forms along 15th Street. Inside, the layout is expansive, with a cavernous dance room, multiple bars, plenty of table space and even a fire pit. From Wednesday through Sunday, Mix Downtown (1525 L St.) transforms from lounge to dance party at 9 p.m. This bar has a rooftop cabana atmosphere, with an open patio, heated lamps and fire pits. With 15 bar stations and three dance rooms, there’s always something happening at gay nightclub Faces (2000 K St.). There’s even a heated pool on the back patio for patrons who want to show off the results of their long hours at the gym. There’s nothing divey about Dive Bar (1016 K St.). Directly above the fully stocked bar is a 7,500-gallon saltwater tank, complete with live fish and the occasional mermaid. Popular with a young crowd, District 30 (1022 K St.) boasts a large mirror ball and a color-changing floor. It offers bottle service and guest DJs. Add Revival (500 J St.) to the bigcity amenities on Sacramento’s growing brag list. Located on the third floor of The Sawyer boutique hotel, this swanky lounge offers a rooftop patio, complete with a pool and cabanas. Just a short stroll from the downtown arena, Revival is a clubhouse of sorts for visiting athletes and musicians. It offers classic cocktails, traditional bottle service and DIY “kits” that allow groups of people to mix their own French 75 or Moscow Mule. One of the city’s newest nightspots is London (1009 10th St.), styled after chic British nightclubs such as Soho House. It’s on three levels, with a downstairs cocktail bar, a neon-lit mezzanine (perfect for ’gramming) and anupstairs dance floor.
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Back Page
A Slice of Sacramento Photography by Kevin Fiscus The artwork of Sacramento native Anthony Padilla, aka Kinetic Ideas, appears in many outdoor spaces around Sacramento. This mural is located outside The Food Factory at 1425 C St..
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YOUR ESCAPE IS NOW BOARDING
Step aboard the River Fox Train and reconnect with your sense of adventure. From the new railbikes and murder mystery dinners to our beer and wine trains, this is your invitation to escape and have an experience you can’t get anywhere else in Sacramento.
Book your ticket at RiverFoxTrain.com/Hotels, no checked baggage required. River Fox .indd 91
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