Take the family out for a historical day of reenactments, education and fun games and entertainment! Admission is free and events begin at 11 through Monday. It's an entirely different experience to see the streets of Old Sac covered in dirt and all the cars removed. Kids will enjoy trying to play authentic games of the time period while adults marvel at the food preparation required in early California. I highly recommend it for everyone. For more information visit the Gold Rush Days website or just pop over to Old Sac anytime this weekend. If you're already been to the fair, this is great entertainment for the long weekend.
One word of caution, if your children are frightened by loud noises, check the schedule carefully for reenacted gun fights and cannon firings. You'll want to be on the opposite side of Old Sac when they occur.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
A great place to blow $30, eat a ton and have fun!
My son has a new favorite location. It's not technically Sacramento, but it's close enough that he does not complain once about being in the car. If you have kids under 40 you must take them to the new John's Incredible Pizza!
Located in the old Sam's Club building in Roseville, just off the Atlantic St. exit, you'll find fun, food and entertainment. John's has some of the best pizza I've ever had, especially considering it's mass produced buffet style. The Garlic Alfredo is worth the drive alone! For $6.49 at lunch or $8.49 dinner and weekends, you'll be treated to all-you-can-eat buffet of pizzas galore, a large salad bar, breadsticks, pastas, desserts and ice cream. You'll load up your tray and sit in one of the theme rooms from cartoons to cabins, techno to calm and quiet. The cartoon room is our favorite because we can eat and chat while the little man watches a few cartoons that are generally kid appropriate.
After you are stuffed to the brim, venture into the gaming room where you can play a variety of games, bowl, ride a few rides and gamble for tickets. You can purchase individual credits on a card or just go for the gusto and get the $24.95 fun card with a ton of credits on it. There are many choices and the place is much cleaner than any Chuck E Cheese I've ever seen. Little man loves that the games give out tons of tickets too so you can buy cool prizes at the end.
If you're looking for an alternative to the same movie and coffee date, JIP could easily be a fun and exciting date night as well! My husband and I could easily spend an evening there playing games, dueling on the mini-bowling alley or battling bad guys in the teen/adult games in the back.
Located in the old Sam's Club building in Roseville, just off the Atlantic St. exit, you'll find fun, food and entertainment. John's has some of the best pizza I've ever had, especially considering it's mass produced buffet style. The Garlic Alfredo is worth the drive alone! For $6.49 at lunch or $8.49 dinner and weekends, you'll be treated to all-you-can-eat buffet of pizzas galore, a large salad bar, breadsticks, pastas, desserts and ice cream. You'll load up your tray and sit in one of the theme rooms from cartoons to cabins, techno to calm and quiet. The cartoon room is our favorite because we can eat and chat while the little man watches a few cartoons that are generally kid appropriate.
After you are stuffed to the brim, venture into the gaming room where you can play a variety of games, bowl, ride a few rides and gamble for tickets. You can purchase individual credits on a card or just go for the gusto and get the $24.95 fun card with a ton of credits on it. There are many choices and the place is much cleaner than any Chuck E Cheese I've ever seen. Little man loves that the games give out tons of tickets too so you can buy cool prizes at the end.
If you're looking for an alternative to the same movie and coffee date, JIP could easily be a fun and exciting date night as well! My husband and I could easily spend an evening there playing games, dueling on the mini-bowling alley or battling bad guys in the teen/adult games in the back.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
A children's museum would make us a "real" city
Once upon a time, about two years ago, some neighbors and I embarked on an adventure to start a children's museum right here in Sacramento. We made some decent progress when we were shocked to discover another group was working on the same concept. We handed over all of our materials and gracefully bowed out of the competition, as we were promised that the other group had significant fundraising capabilities and "larger" contacts in the community.
Two years and some change later and the Sacramento Children's Museum website hasn't been updated. From what I understand, they got stalled in arena talks, the discussion of putting some sort of civic contribution at the railyard and general infighting among the group. It's a real tragedy that they have been unable to get something productive off the ground.
What brings this up? I spent the day with my son at the Stockton Children's Museum. We sat in a real ambulance, police car, bus and fire truck. We shopped at a pretend grocery store, looked at x-rays, learned about delta fish and made some great art. For a measly $4.50 each, we played in an airconditioned, child-friendly, educational center. For three hours, he was able to touch everything in sight, experiment and play in his own way and discover how to make current flow on a water table.
So why don't we have a children's museum? Most major cities in the US have at least one, some have several. My personal favorite is in Portland, but we have also visited similar designs in San Jose, Seattle, San Antonio, and San Francisco. Each is unique in the way it is presented, but all are designed for children to learn and explore on his/her own terms. They allow children of all types, ages, shapes, sizes, disabilities and backgrounds to come together and play in a unifying and friendly way.
It's time for Sacramento to get on board. Sure we have the Discovery Museum or Explorit in Davis but these aren't the same. Science museums are exciting and interesting but you have to be old enough to manipulate the exhibits and understand the context of the information. At a true children's museum, kids come in with all different education levels and still appreciate the exhibits, discovering and learning as they go through.
If we are to be a true family friendly city, it's time to provide an enriching, enlightening experience for all families to enjoy. If Stockton can do it, Sacramento can too.
Two years and some change later and the Sacramento Children's Museum website hasn't been updated. From what I understand, they got stalled in arena talks, the discussion of putting some sort of civic contribution at the railyard and general infighting among the group. It's a real tragedy that they have been unable to get something productive off the ground.
What brings this up? I spent the day with my son at the Stockton Children's Museum. We sat in a real ambulance, police car, bus and fire truck. We shopped at a pretend grocery store, looked at x-rays, learned about delta fish and made some great art. For a measly $4.50 each, we played in an airconditioned, child-friendly, educational center. For three hours, he was able to touch everything in sight, experiment and play in his own way and discover how to make current flow on a water table.
So why don't we have a children's museum? Most major cities in the US have at least one, some have several. My personal favorite is in Portland, but we have also visited similar designs in San Jose, Seattle, San Antonio, and San Francisco. Each is unique in the way it is presented, but all are designed for children to learn and explore on his/her own terms. They allow children of all types, ages, shapes, sizes, disabilities and backgrounds to come together and play in a unifying and friendly way.
It's time for Sacramento to get on board. Sure we have the Discovery Museum or Explorit in Davis but these aren't the same. Science museums are exciting and interesting but you have to be old enough to manipulate the exhibits and understand the context of the information. At a true children's museum, kids come in with all different education levels and still appreciate the exhibits, discovering and learning as they go through.
If we are to be a true family friendly city, it's time to provide an enriching, enlightening experience for all families to enjoy. If Stockton can do it, Sacramento can too.
Yes we have a budget... mostly
So after much deliberation the CA Senate approved the budget today in nearly identical form as the Assembly passed it weeks ago. What was the holdup?
Apparently Republican Senators were unhappy with the promise of the Governator to make some line-item veto cuts on his desk. According to the Sac Bee, they didn't trust their own party Governor to uphold his word to remove an additional $700 million from the budget. Yet suddenly, they have a newfound trust and believe the Governor will keep his word. The only other major gain the Republicans made by holding out was an amendment to protect infrastructure bonds from greenhouse gas emission lawsuits. That doesn't strike me as a major gain, nor one the Democrats would have refused in regular session.
Perhaps it's time to sit down and seriously reevaluate the CA budget process. Obviously, being 52 days late on a budget is not a good plan. If I were 52 days late paying my credit card, you can bet there'd be someone calling my house, my cell, my work and anywhere else they could find me. Why then are Californians so unconcerned with the ongoing budget problems?
Could someone explain to me why our legislators were out playing softball instead of wrapping up loose budget ends so that we could pay healthcare providers, childcare centers and others?
Apparently Republican Senators were unhappy with the promise of the Governator to make some line-item veto cuts on his desk. According to the Sac Bee, they didn't trust their own party Governor to uphold his word to remove an additional $700 million from the budget. Yet suddenly, they have a newfound trust and believe the Governor will keep his word. The only other major gain the Republicans made by holding out was an amendment to protect infrastructure bonds from greenhouse gas emission lawsuits. That doesn't strike me as a major gain, nor one the Democrats would have refused in regular session.
Perhaps it's time to sit down and seriously reevaluate the CA budget process. Obviously, being 52 days late on a budget is not a good plan. If I were 52 days late paying my credit card, you can bet there'd be someone calling my house, my cell, my work and anywhere else they could find me. Why then are Californians so unconcerned with the ongoing budget problems?
Could someone explain to me why our legislators were out playing softball instead of wrapping up loose budget ends so that we could pay healthcare providers, childcare centers and others?
Monday, August 20, 2007
Will we get a budget today?
Today lawmakers return to a budget stalemate that is keeping many Californians from getting paid... will they pull their heads out? The Assembly has passed a version but the Senate Republicans are still holding out for more cuts. In the meantime, children's health care issues are heating up in the newspapers and TV ads but being ignored while the budget debacle continues.
Will we get a budget? Will we get children's universal health care? Will the Republicans dump the Governator for pushing them on the budget? Will we have a budget by the September recess? Stay tuned for more on "The Downside of Full-time Legislatures"
Will we get a budget? Will we get children's universal health care? Will the Republicans dump the Governator for pushing them on the budget? Will we have a budget by the September recess? Stay tuned for more on "The Downside of Full-time Legislatures"
Friday, August 17, 2007
Avoiding the fair? Three things to do this weekend-
If you're not really into the State Fair, or you just want to wait for the crowds to die down a little- try these three fun events and activities around town this weekend:
*The Great Sacramento Duck Race- Events and activities begin in the Old Sac waterfront area at 10am. Stick around until 3pm to see the official Great Duck Race as many as 20,000 rubber duckies will make a journey down the river to win prizes. All in good fun, the event is a major fundraiser for Special Olympics of Northern California
*The Yolo County Fair- If you're looking for a more mellow, true fair and farm experience, check out the Yolo County Fair! If you hurry, you can still get tickets for the old-fashioned destruction derby on Sunday.
*The WOOF Movie night in Elk Grove- Get the whole family out to see Fox and the Hound after dark.
And a bonus extra for those without kids or who already have a sitter- tickets are still available to see Lewis Black at the Community Center on Sunday.
*The Great Sacramento Duck Race- Events and activities begin in the Old Sac waterfront area at 10am. Stick around until 3pm to see the official Great Duck Race as many as 20,000 rubber duckies will make a journey down the river to win prizes. All in good fun, the event is a major fundraiser for Special Olympics of Northern California
*The Yolo County Fair- If you're looking for a more mellow, true fair and farm experience, check out the Yolo County Fair! If you hurry, you can still get tickets for the old-fashioned destruction derby on Sunday.
*The WOOF Movie night in Elk Grove- Get the whole family out to see Fox and the Hound after dark.
And a bonus extra for those without kids or who already have a sitter- tickets are still available to see Lewis Black at the Community Center on Sunday.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Where oh where is our budget?
Imagine for a moment that you had a project deadline at work but you decided to just skip it and go on vacation. Six weeks later, you're still dilly dallying around the office, filing a few papers and making a few phone calls but still haven't bothered to finish your project. Would your boss be very happy?
Now imagine that your project is affecting millions of people around the state. Some people will soon run out of healthcare options, others won't get paid and many hardworking people will begin to wonder if they'll make their house payments. From the Sacramento Bee's Dale Kassler on 8/9/2007, "All told, an estimated $1.1 billion in bills didn't get paid across the state in July, state Controller John Chiang estimated last week. Another $2.1 billion would be withheld this month if there's no budget."
3.2 billion owed to Californians who contract with the state and they're not getting paid. If you were my employee, I'd fire you. Oh wait, you are my employee. You are a legislator who works for me. Did you get surprised by the budget deadline? I hate it when June comes every year... it's so sneaky! Perhaps you were too busy on vacation to realize that elder care homes, childcare centers and MediCal clinics are in danger of closing because you're on the beach?
August 20th the vacation ends and the project better get finished. You should be embarrassed.
Now imagine that your project is affecting millions of people around the state. Some people will soon run out of healthcare options, others won't get paid and many hardworking people will begin to wonder if they'll make their house payments. From the Sacramento Bee's Dale Kassler on 8/9/2007, "All told, an estimated $1.1 billion in bills didn't get paid across the state in July, state Controller John Chiang estimated last week. Another $2.1 billion would be withheld this month if there's no budget."
3.2 billion owed to Californians who contract with the state and they're not getting paid. If you were my employee, I'd fire you. Oh wait, you are my employee. You are a legislator who works for me. Did you get surprised by the budget deadline? I hate it when June comes every year... it's so sneaky! Perhaps you were too busy on vacation to realize that elder care homes, childcare centers and MediCal clinics are in danger of closing because you're on the beach?
August 20th the vacation ends and the project better get finished. You should be embarrassed.
Friday, August 3, 2007
It's almost back to school- 3 things to do this weekend before it's over
The back to school signs are up, the sales are on and it's almost the end of summer! Even if you don't have kids, there is something about "back to school" that brings you back to reality. Vacations are done, swimsuits are on clearance and pants and coats are on sale. Here are 3 things to do this weekend to pretend that none of this is happening!
* Screen on the Green- The City of Sacramento will be showing "Ghostbusters" on Saturday at sundown at East Portal Park. I highly recommend a late picnic from Selland's Market and a big blanket to watch the movie. Not much else says Sacramento like a picnic and a movie after dark.
*Davis Farmer's Market- Take a short road trip to Davis and hit the Saturday farmer's market. Your tastebuds will thank you and your kids will love the dad-powered carousel in the park. When you're done, wander through downtown and stop in one of the local shops.
*Raft the American- It's not as dangerous as it sounds, even if you've never rafted before. This is not whitewater and the biggest problem you're likely to have is sunburn. Pack up the cooler, take a lunch and spend the day on the water. The alcohol ban has made this a very pleasant and fun family adventure. Without the kids, you'll still have a chance to kick back, relax and daydream about your to-do list you've put off one more weekend. Check out River Rat Rentals and American River Raft Rentals for more info.
* Screen on the Green- The City of Sacramento will be showing "Ghostbusters" on Saturday at sundown at East Portal Park. I highly recommend a late picnic from Selland's Market and a big blanket to watch the movie. Not much else says Sacramento like a picnic and a movie after dark.
*Davis Farmer's Market- Take a short road trip to Davis and hit the Saturday farmer's market. Your tastebuds will thank you and your kids will love the dad-powered carousel in the park. When you're done, wander through downtown and stop in one of the local shops.
*Raft the American- It's not as dangerous as it sounds, even if you've never rafted before. This is not whitewater and the biggest problem you're likely to have is sunburn. Pack up the cooler, take a lunch and spend the day on the water. The alcohol ban has made this a very pleasant and fun family adventure. Without the kids, you'll still have a chance to kick back, relax and daydream about your to-do list you've put off one more weekend. Check out River Rat Rentals and American River Raft Rentals for more info.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
West Nile- I'll take my chances, stop spraying my house!
My house is being bombed by a WWII plane this week. At least that's what it sounds like at 7:30 every night when the West Nile spray plane takes off. In theory, we're outside of the spray zone. In reality, they hit our house at least 3 times last night. If I can see you flying overhead and could probably hit you with a rock if I tried, we're in your spray zone.
I am not afraid of West Nile virus. Don't get me wrong, I'm sorry that four elderly people have contracted West Nile. But does that mean my organic garden in my backyard needs to be blasted with pesticides because some people won't clean their pools? I happen to be allergic to chrysanthemums, the main ingredient in pyrethrins that they use to spray for the mosquitoes. I've read the news articles that say this is "nontoxic" for humans. Obviously they weren't in my house yesterday or today as I tried to stop sneezing and coughing long enough to take some extra allergy medicine. Sure it's "virtually" the same as lice treatment for children... in what dosage? Many chemicals are fine in a small amount and toxic in large amounts with continued exposure. That seems like cheating to me.
We really have no idea how this spray affects the local wildlife. NIH says it's toxic to fish as does this study from New York. In addition, if pyrethrins kill all insects and are nondiscriminate, could we be contributing to honeybee colony collapse? I have not seen one single wasp or bee in my backyard today and it's usually covered in yellow jackets and wasps by mid-afternoon.
We've had more hit and run deaths in Sacramento County than West Nile this year. I don't have recent statistics but 2005 stats say that 102 people were murdered in Sacramento County. More than 100 people died here from heat related problems last year. And we're spending money on spraying for West Nile? I can't find any cost data but I have to believe we could put one more cop on the street all year for the price of that private plane.
Organic Sacramento has more information and ways to voice your concerns. Stop West Nile Spraying Now has data and alternative ways to get rid of mosquitoes.
My personal belief- West Nile virus cases drop because people are hiding inside from all the pesticides being dumped on our parks, backyards and houses. Not too many mosquitoes inside our suburban homes.
I am not afraid of West Nile virus. Don't get me wrong, I'm sorry that four elderly people have contracted West Nile. But does that mean my organic garden in my backyard needs to be blasted with pesticides because some people won't clean their pools? I happen to be allergic to chrysanthemums, the main ingredient in pyrethrins that they use to spray for the mosquitoes. I've read the news articles that say this is "nontoxic" for humans. Obviously they weren't in my house yesterday or today as I tried to stop sneezing and coughing long enough to take some extra allergy medicine. Sure it's "virtually" the same as lice treatment for children... in what dosage? Many chemicals are fine in a small amount and toxic in large amounts with continued exposure. That seems like cheating to me.
We really have no idea how this spray affects the local wildlife. NIH says it's toxic to fish as does this study from New York. In addition, if pyrethrins kill all insects and are nondiscriminate, could we be contributing to honeybee colony collapse? I have not seen one single wasp or bee in my backyard today and it's usually covered in yellow jackets and wasps by mid-afternoon.
We've had more hit and run deaths in Sacramento County than West Nile this year. I don't have recent statistics but 2005 stats say that 102 people were murdered in Sacramento County. More than 100 people died here from heat related problems last year. And we're spending money on spraying for West Nile? I can't find any cost data but I have to believe we could put one more cop on the street all year for the price of that private plane.
Organic Sacramento has more information and ways to voice your concerns. Stop West Nile Spraying Now has data and alternative ways to get rid of mosquitoes.
My personal belief- West Nile virus cases drop because people are hiding inside from all the pesticides being dumped on our parks, backyards and houses. Not too many mosquitoes inside our suburban homes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
