A Step Back in Time - Locke

The first thought I had when I drove down into Locke off the 160 Hwy, was, "Wow, this looks like a cowboy town from an old Western."

The narrow one-way Main Street is lined with two-story storefront buildings, most of which are filled with businesses or are historic sites. Locke was built in 1915, by a group of Chinese businessmen after a fire in the Chinese section of nearby Walnut Grove and remains essentially the same as it was after it's completion in 1920.

You can step back in time for free at the Chinese schoolhouse, which dates back to 1915, but was closed in the 1980s due to a lack of Chinese students. The walls are covered with interesting photos.


There is also the Dai Loy Museum, for a little more time travel, open to the public for a very minimal fee.

One local artist, Chris Spencer, characterized Locke as an artist colony, and the art galleries attest to the talent in town. Spencer shows his art in the "Down By the River Gallery" opened by Catherine Conner Erickson.

The name may be politically incorrect (from a time before there was even such a thing as politically correct), but "Al the Wop's" bar and restaurant is very popular with the locals and out-of-towners, who often ride in on motorcycles.

Locke is worth a half hour drive along the Sacramento river, both for the destination and the drive itself. Take Hwy 160 south and follow the signs. Come prepared to stroll Main Street, perhaps buy a piece of artwork, stop into Al's for a libation or maybe dinner - steak and pasta is their speciality, and definitely for a step back into another time.

Freeport Is Jamming On Sundays

I had the good fortune of being let in on a secret. Freeport, which is about 10 from miles of riverside driving from downtown Sacramento, has its own blues celebration every week. Okay, it’s a smaller scale that the blues festivals, with about 120 people attending last Sunday, but it is cozy and lots of fun.

The Moon River Inn hosts the blues jam from 4-8 p.m. on Sundays through Nov. 2 (or until it starts raining!). You can’t miss the Inn, because it’s right on 160 and there will a number of motorcycles leaning to one side, waiting for their owners to return. The music can be heard from the road, too.

The jam is organized by members of the Sacramento Blues Society and rotates local musicians through sets, so you get a different flavor from each group that takes the mike.

The music is good and the atmosphere very relaxing. You can get fed from the Inn's menu or you can buy a hot dog and chips for $3. Alcohol and soft drinks are available inside the bar or if you can catch a waitress, you can have it delivered.

While there are tables and chairs provided, some of us brought our own chairs and blankets. The crowd was very diverse and ranged from families, to older folks to a few twenty-somethings.

Getting to Freeport is easy from almost anywhere, take the 5 to the Pocket Road exit and drive south on Freeport Blvd aka Hwy 160. You'll be there in a couple of minutes.

So, plan to get to the Moon River Inn before the rains come!

Imagine My Surprise...

…when I found a thriving karaoke scene at Marie Calendar’s! Seriously, would you have ever thought of Marie’s as a place for karaoke? Yet, when my neighbor April told me about it I couldn’t wait to see what it was like and I wasn’t disappointed in any way. The Marie Calendar’s we’re talking about is on Sunrise, just north of Madison.

Like any karaoke gathering, there were those who sang for the pure joy or fun of it, but couldn’t carry a tune (which is the group I belong to). However, the great majority of the singers were quite good, and some were great.

Because the bar serves food, kids could come and listen or sing until 9 p.m., which was a treat. Watching them listen to their folks sing or in the case of one really talented young girl, probably 13 at the most, rock the house with old songs from the 60s and 70s, was really a blast.

The picture of Kid Rock’s brother – just kidding – is actually of Tiny, a 7 foot singer who belted out “What a Wonderful World” in Louis Armstrong’s voice. I had to thank him. He did a great job, and Pete, my wonderful late husband, loved that song the best above all others. We played it at his memorial service. So, watching Tiny deliver the goods, was really great. By the way, he does smile…quite a bit.

Then the trio of singers, April, Curtis and April’s daughter Sophie, was who I sat with and cheered on. April is really a fabulous singer, with a strong voice for songs like those Faith Hill sings. Sophie has a sweet voice and is coming along right behind her mother, while Curtis did George Strait with ease and played with a soprano range at the table when only our group could hear. Actually, I liked the high sound a lot.

In the last hour, two of the best singers in the house, gave the audience the chills. First a tiny gal sang RESPECT with a flair that Aretha would have bowed to and then a young woman who looked too young to have lived enough to understand her rendition of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” sang it like someone who had really been through the pain. She hit and hit it hard.

Lastly, a shaved-bald Joseph crooned “Unchained Melody” with such range and sincerity the women in the bar nearly swooned, at least I did.

There were others, too many to recount here, who really did a great job, but the true joy of the evening was just feeling the love in the house. That’s what karaoke is all about. I fell in love with the atmosphere about ten years ago, when under the spell of eight (count them – 8) martinis I got up and sang Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” and nobody laughed. In fact, when the song calls for a crescendo, they even clapped. And take my word for it, I can’t sing. What bliss is this?

I’ll go back again, soon. Maybe I’ll see you there. I’ll be the one with a ridiculous grin on my face, chair-dancing with gusto. Wait a minute, that’s most everyone there…

Downtown Treasures

I was lucky enough to participate in a company mixer held at Barton Art Gallery at 1723 I Street last week. What a lovely little gallery and a perfect venue for an intimate gathering.

The exhibit was "Hot African Nights", the proceeds of which will benefit a school in Kenya. On every wall and pillar was hung beautiful, intensely colorful art. When the conversation lagged on business, all eyes turned to appreciating the creativity surrounding us.

The event was catered by "Michelangelo's" restaurant, right next door, and it was incredible. Although I couldn't get a good picture of the interior of the comfortable, yet elegant bistro, all our staff stepped over to check out the location that had produced such great appetizers.

The individual pizzas were delectable and the meatballs were the tastiest I've ever had. Often, the flavor of the sauce overwhelms the taste of the meatballs, but such was not the case with these. There were also wonderful raviolis and I had my first bit of polenta - lovely.

This little island of culture was right in the heart of government central. As with many of downtown eateries and galleries, both Barton's and Michelangelo's were fabulous little finds that make you want to explore more.

Next time you're looking for someplace a little different to try, wander down to 17th and I Street! You won't be sorry.

Quaint Ain't All It Is - Old Folsom

I have to start with my favorite picture from my exploration of Old Folsom. The star is Guinness and he actually posed for me. I love a good-looking redhead. Guinness was visiting Buffy's Barkery, a doggie treat shop, with his owner. Along with a great selection of treats that look like human fare, but are actually good for your pooch, the Barkery offers upscale accessories to make your beloved pet feel beloved.

Buffy's Barkery is at 711 Sutter Street, Suite E, in Old Town Folsom, and you enter from a wooden sidewalk that covers three block of Sutter Street. Most of the sidewalk is also covered by overhanging storefront and there are plenty of benches for just watching the world go by if you like. But that's going to be hard in Old Folsom, because there's so much to do.

Quaint is the definitive word for the atomsphere that has been so successfully created here. A stroll down the walkway will lead you through a retail community that is awash in antiques, places to eat and unique little shops that will lure you away from your bench in a heartbeat.

There are a couple of places for funky clothes; one is the "Fire House" and another is "Rides." At the Fire House you can load up on distinctive wear that meanders through slightly hippieish to funky, upscale club wear. There are also things for the Red Hat Society and accessories to brighten up any outfit that may have gotten a little staid. Rides offers the type of clothes and accessories you'd imagine a biker chick wearing, hence the name Rides. Just a sidenote here; I sincerely believe there's a biker chick in all of us, so most people will enjoy checking it out.

For a more sedate, but still playful adventure, try "Partea Time" a tea house and gift shop. Here again, is a business which offers the Red Hat ladies a place to meet, but it is also great for little ladies that want to have a tea party, or just the average everyday gal who wants a moment of quiet elegance. You get to pick your tea cup and a hat to wear if you like. What fun! This delightful little spot is located at 727 Sutter Street, just down from Buffy's.


Places to eat vary to accomodate every taste, from pizza at the "Hacienda Del Rio" or "Hop Sing's" for Chinese. There are several little places that offer gourmet dishes and ambiance. The stroll will uncover these for you, and perhaps even lead you right through a door to culinary heaven you hadn't anticipated even finding. Have fun with it.




Willams Carriage House Antiques is a great example of what you'll find if you're a treasure hunter. It's got a wide selection of pieces and lots little nooks and crannies to explore. It's also got a funky facade that will catch your eye, right across from Partea Time, at 728 Sutter Street.

There's much more to Old Town Folsom - like Sunday Farmer's Market, Railroad Museum and Interpretative area where you and the kids can even pan for gold - but that will have to wait for the next installment.

You can even hop the most modern transportation available - the Light Rail - right into the heart of Historic Folsom, then wander back in time, like the folks below did on a lovely Sunday afternoon.

A beloved community park

I was a little lazy last weekend and hard pressed to go very far for an adventure, so I hopped on Hwy 80, took the Capital City Freeway loop, and was downtown from the Citrus Heights area in about 15 minutes. Of course, it was Sunday and the traffic was light. However, once I got there it took me another 20 minutes to locate my targeted destination, McKinley Park. That was simply a matter of getting turned around three times. It's actually easy to get there if you're just using your internal compass and natural intelligence (of which I was in short supply on Sunday apparently).

I never thought I could relax in a city park as I found myself doing that day. The weather was gorgeous. It was breezy and even a little too cool in the shade for a summer's day. But I wasn't complaining. I've just come from Phoenix!

Anyway, the park is lovely, unless you have an aversion or fear of ducks and geese, for they are obviously in charge of the pond and 50 feet in any directions. They're beautiful and people came with bags of feed for them. Squirrels are also in abundance and seem to be doing well in the food department as well. No skinny varmints in this neck of the woods.

A squadron of dragonflies, seeming to fly in formation, made a reconnaissance mission around one area of the park. What they were looking for - I have no idea. However, they were fun to watch and imagine them having radio conversations like the fighter pilots in old World War II movies. My imagination got away with me - a sure sign that the place was relaxing the old girl (me).

The place seemed way too deserted for its size. It's 275 acres are bound by Alhambra and McKinley Boulevard, and 33rd and H Streets, so we're not talking a tiny community park here. However, the area residents obviously use the park for walking, jogging, dog-walking and even horseshoes. One gentleman, who was very good, was out honing his skills, ringing the post almost every time.

There were tennis courts, a beautiful swimming pool (not open that day for some reason), lots of picnic tables, benches for resting and a truly grand playground. The playground was put in by a community group in 1984, and resembles a castle made out of wooden blocks. Two giant lions guard the gates.

Whether you just want some peace and quiet, or a place to take the kids for an outing, or a romantic spot to nuzzle a bit (I saw several couples walking hand-in-hand and sneaking a smooch when they could), this is the park for you. It's not that far from anywhere in the Sacramento area. On the plus side, there are several areas nearby to explore if you're an urban adventure seeker. You'll find interesting coffee houses or places for lunch that aren't on the national franchise list.

Live a little! Check out McKinley Park for yourself.

Roseville, Rocklin and Steinmart

I went in search of the only Steinmart in the Sacramento area as if on a mission. In fact, I was on a mission. I work with some ladies that love to shop, and I personally know they are missing out on a great experience, as only one has ever been to a Steinmart. There are only 22 in the entire state of California. However, since I returned to California from Arizona, where there are seven of these glorious stores in the Phoenix area, I am a big fan of what I call the “funky” store.

Well, after some trepidatious wandering down the wrong highway, I consulted my map again and finally found Steinmart after only 30 minutes of hard looking. It was actually easy to find, if you don’t follow the directions of an 18-year-old stock boy from Camping World, right off of Highway 65. He was sweet, but come on, he’s only been driving for two years.

I don’t usually extol the virtues of chain stores, but I have to make an exception here. What I love about Steinmart is that where other “discount” stores carry the castoffs from other chains, Steinmart concentrates on high quality and often very unique items. I always find things there that are unusual and therefore, to me, desirable. I don’t want to wear what everyone else is wearing, although I often end up doing just that.

In addition to clothes, I’ve found shoes, jewelry, gifts and household items that I just loved. Their selection of decorative pillows can’t be beat and one of my nieces was the recipient of a beautiful set of multi-colored, hand-blown wineglasses from Czechoslovakia that I found there.

Now let’s talk prices. When I wanted a shower curtain that was rich-looking, I found a red and gold one that had been $35 and paid less than $7. You can’t even get a nice Wal-Mart shower curtain for $7. My watch, the first one I’ve worn in years, is a Bulova that started its retail life with a price tag of $199. I paid $19.99. It has been running on the original battery for almost two years and I love it.

The trick is taking advantage of their “red dot” sales and signing up for their “card”, which doesn’t really do anything for you except that then you get on their mailing list and they send you coupons regularly. If you combine a 20% coupon with the discounts, up to 75%, you walk away nearly feeling guilty for the amazing bargains you’ve just scored.

Okay, so the title promises more than Steinmart, but to be truthful I don’t have a lot to deliver on Roseville or Rocklin. Both are growing communities with lots of shopping opportunities. In Roseville, I wandered around until I found Vernon Street, a restored and celebrated downtown area, but didn’t find much to cause me to stop and explore. However, the old cottagy ( I think I just made a word up) homes in the downtown area lend a lot of charm. And of course, I found another bridge. The one pictured here is a footbridge over a little creek and the Roseville Veterans Memorial Hall is captured in the background. I really liked old Roseville, but if there is an old Rocklin, I didn’t manage to find it.

Don’t worry, I’ll explore again when I’m not so excited about Steinmart, so I can really concentrate and bring you more to explore yourselves in both Roseville and Rocklin.