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Sacramento’s Tower Bridge To Be Partially Closed For Construction

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Motorists who use the Tower Bridge may want to take an alternate route this week.

Caltrans will be partially closing the bridge during the day to make some much-needed repairs on the bridge, weather permitting.

Motorists should expect various lane restrictions or one-way traffic control beginning Monday, March 5 thru Friday, March 9 from 7:00 in the morning to 7:00 at night.

Crews will be repairing electrical wiring and replacing the operating cables on the bridge as part of a $670,000 State Highway Operation and Protection Program.


Best Food & Drink Spots Near Sacramento’s Pride Parade And Festival

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Sacramento Pride 2012 is just around the corner on Saturday, June 2nd. The parade begins at 11 a.m. along with the festival, which is held on Capitol Mall near the Tower Bridge, between 4th and 7th streets. During the festival, booths offer drinks and food, but many festival attendees like to get together for dinner or drinks afterwards. Check out these four locations for some post- or pre-Pride hot spots.

zocalo via facebook Best Food & Drink Spots Near Sacramentos Pride Parade And Festival

Photo Credit: Zocalo via Facebook

Zocalo
1801 Capitol Ave
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 441-0303
www.zocalosacramento.com

Zocalo is a popular Midtown neighborhood hang out. It’s located in a historic renovated building on the corner of 18th Street and Capitol Avenue. The Arnold Brothers Building was originally built for a Hudson car dealership back in the 1920’s. Today, Zocalo brings inspiration from the town square of Mexico City, embracing a contemporary look, but paying homage to the building’s history.

Sacramento Pride revelers can enjoy many of Zocalo’s menu items. One of best drinks is the blackberry margarita. All margaritas feature real agave nectar and freshly squeezed limes to highlight the true character of the blue agave tequila. The blackberry margarita features 100% blue agave blanco tequila, blackberries, agave and lime. With the ability to order a pitcher, this is a definite win with larger groups. If you prefer to get a jump start on Pride, Zocalo offers a weekend breakfast menu as well — complete with a selection of interesting beverages. Build your own bloody mary or try the Zocalo Tomatada made with freshly squeezed lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, tabasco sauce, clamato juice, Maggi seasoning sauce and ice. If looking for more than just libations on the celebration day, order the Carne En Jugo for a delicious dish of braised beef brisket in a pasilla chile sauce. Also, Zocalo offers complimentary cornmeal muffins flavored with a cinnamon crumble. These muffins alone are worth the visit.

Related: Best Mexican Restaurants in Sacramento

burger thinkstock Best Food & Drink Spots Near Sacramentos Pride Parade And Festival

Photo Credit: Thinkstock

Hot Rod’s Burgers
2007 K St
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-RODS
www.hotrodsburgers.net

Hot Rod’s Burgers is a popular spot in the Lavender Heights neighborhood. With a basic menu consisting of burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, fries and shakes, this is the place to hang late into the night after Sacramento Pride. Many people go partying at nearby clubs or bars and then make a late-night run into Hot Rod’s for their burger and chili cheese fries fix. You can even get chili on your burger. Stack your chosen burger three patties high for the ultimate end-of-day meal, and order any of the beefy handfuls cowboy or breakfast style.

4th st grille thinkstock Best Food & Drink Spots Near Sacramentos Pride Parade And Festival

Photo Credit: Thinkstock

4th Street Grille
400 L St
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 448-2847
www.4thstreetgrille.com

The 4th Street Grille doesn’t open on Saturdays until 5 p.m., so this is a spot to hit after the festival ends if you don’t want to walk too far. As its name suggests, the 4th Street Grille is at 4th and L Streets, just at the edge of the Pride festival itself. In business since 1992, it has been a popular spot for locals seeking out good pasta, pizzas, salads and more. Chef Ron Fleming has taken his best dishes and created “New American” cuisine, which the chef describes as Californian, only in larger portions. Ethnic influences in his cuisine include French, Asian, Italian and Southwestern. Try one of the Grille’s signature dishes: the smoked pork loin with grilled Granny Smith apples cooked in whiskey and brown sugar. If that’s not enough to sway you, creamy mashed potatoes and vegetables are served on the side. If the thought of indulging in a huge meal after partying all day is a bit daunting, 4th Street Grille has a stellar selection of salads and appetizers for those seeking lighter or healthier fare.

paesanos Best Food & Drink Spots Near Sacramentos Pride Parade And Festival

Photo Credit: Paesanos

Paesanos
1806 Capitol Ave
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 447-8646
www.paesanos.biz

Another favorite in the Lavender Heights area of Midtown is Paesanos. If you are craving Italian after Sacramento Pride, stop by Paesanos for some of the best pastas and Italian specialties around. A large number of starters are available to choose from, including fun options like polenta fries served with balsamic ketchup and gorgonzola sauce or bocce balls, which are lightly-fried balls of pizza dough smothered in garlic butter, parmesan and basil. Be sure to save room for a main course because the baked pasta is a local favorite. The popular dish consists of rigatoni baked with parmesan cream and Bolognese sauce.

Related: Best Italian Restaurants in Sacramento

the depot video bar via facebook Best Food & Drink Spots Near Sacramentos Pride Parade And Festival

Photo Credit: The Depot Video Bar via Facebook

The Depot Video Bar
2001 K St
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 441-6823
www.thedepot.net

Another late-night gathering spot to hang after Sacramento Pride is The Depot Video Bar on K Street. It has two big-screen monitors and 34 televisions showing a wide variety of music entertainment, including high energy, alternative, classic rock, easy listening, R&B and country. The Depot has been in business since 1997 and is a popular LGBT hangout in the Lavender Heights area. With 12 beers on draught and a full line of premium and well liquors, The Depot is a great place to grab a few drinks or play a game of pool with other Pride revelers.

Check out CBS Local’s Guide to Sacramento Pride

Erin De Santiago is a freelance travel and food/wine writer and photographer from Sacramento, California. She is a regional membership coordinator for the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and writes for a number of publications in addition to publishing her own blogs.  She has traveled to over 40 countries on five continents in search of the best food and wine around the globe. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

Best Family-Friendly New Year’s Parties In Sacramento

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From bursts of color in the evening sky to music, dance, rock climbing and ice, the final days of 2012 offer a little bit of everything to Sacramento residents and visitors. While ushering in the new year is often an adult-centric experience, these options offer fun and entertainment for families, teens and tots.

(credit: thecspb.org)

(credit: thecspb.org)


Noon Year’s Eve Family Festival
Crocker Art Museum
216 O St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 808-7000
www.crockerartmuseum.org

Price: Free; Crocker Museum will also be open at no cost until 5 p.m.
Hours: Monday, Dec. 31 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Adults and children of all ages will love this holiday trip around the world, and they won’t have to stay up all night to do it. Engaging live music and dance performances will highlight the ways that the new year is celebrated in other cultures. The colorful and exhilarating art of traditional Chinese lion dancing and live Scottish music from the City of Sacramento Pipe Band are just the beginning.

Guests can also take part in a number of creative activities and will particularly enjoy Agua de Beber Capoeira. The Sacramento-based group performs capoeira, an interactive Brazilian game that combines dancing, singing, martial arts and acrobatics. Viewers of recent television celebrity dance shows may have heard of bhangra. This event is an opportunity to experience the Punjabi folk music and dance in person.

(credit: downtownsac.org)

(credit: downtownsac.org)


Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink
701 K St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 442-8575
www.downtownsac.org

Price: Admission $8/Free age 4 and under; skate rental $2
Hours: Sessions start at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

There are few better ways to celebrate with the family than to enjoy cool outdoor ice skating followed by a bite to eat or a creamy hot chocolate. Located at 7th and K streets, the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink is nestled between an eclectic mix of restaurants and stores. Beginning skaters have plenty of space to practice and learn, and more experienced skaters can mesmerize the crowd with their graceful twirls and jumps.

New Year’s Eve at the rink can be a come-as-you-are party. In addition to renting skates, guests can borrow a locker and warm socks and gloves for only $2 more. If no spots for street parking are open, the rink can validate tickets for the Downtown Plaza East parking garage. Entrances to the garage are at 6th and J streets, 6th and Capitol Mall and 7th and K streets.

Related: Best Places To Adopt Puppies And Kittens In Sacramento

(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)


New Year’s Eve Sky Spectacular in Old Sacramento
1000 Front St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 808-7777
www.downtownsac.org

Price: Free
Hours: Monday, Dec. 31 – event begins at 6 p.m. with fireworks at 9 p.m. and 12 a.m.

Old Sacramento plays host to an evening of fun for adults and children alike. Visitors can sing their hearts out on a karaoke stage and enjoy shopping, street entertainers and live music, with special performers and excitement for kids. There are plenty of options to entice the taste buds, from fine dining to snacks and drinks from vendors.

The 9 p.m. fireworks display is perfect for a family audience, with special music and popular songs that are suited for younger ears. The midnight show features classic rock and a visually arresting display of fireworks coming from Old Sacramento and from atop the Tower Bridge, which will be blocked from traffic for the event.

epic eve
Campus Connect’s Epic Eve for Teens
Begins at Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church
11427 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Ends at Sky High Sports Complex
11327 Folsom Blvd.
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
epiceve.eventbrite.com

Price: $20-$30 dependent upon date of registration
Hours: Friday, Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. through Saturday, Dec. 29 at 6 a.m.

This fully supervised overnight event for junior-high and senior-high school students is the largest teen New Year’s Eve event in Sacramento. Sponsored by area churches, the event begins Friday evening with a party, DJ, games and rally at Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church. By midnight, the teens will be transported by bus to Sky High Sports Complex for hours of swimming, rock climbing, soccer, trampoline, music, open mic and movies. Breakfast at 5:30 a.m. is included in the registration price. Other food and drink can be purchased throughout the event. Parents can pick up their teens at 6 a.m. on Saturday.

There is a zero-tolerance policy regarding disrespectful behavior, drugs or alcohol, and experienced adults will provide constant supervision and security. No participants can leave early unless the responsible parent arranges it with event staff. For a schedule and other necessary information, visit the event website.

Related: Top Arts And Crafts Classes and Activities For Kids In Sacramento

Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers animals and community issues. She has volunteered and worked for many organizations helping animals and people.
Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

Tower Bridge Shuts Down For Farm-to-Fork Festival Dinner

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The Tower Bridge was closed on Sunday as Sacramento wrapped up its first farm-to-fork festival.

The city is looking to make its mark as the farm-to-fork capital of the world, hosting a dinner on the bridge to cap off a week full of events.

The dinner table spanned the entire length of the bridge, seating as many as 600 people — all to enjoy a taste of the best locally grown food.

“It’s something that the Sacramento region can claim that nobody else can. And when you have something different and something that’s as wonderful as food and nutrition and healthy living, it’s something to be proud of,” said Mike Testa with the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Center

Some of Sacramento’s top chefs prepared the dinner.

Downtown Sacramento’s Blackbird Kitchen And Bar Closes In The Dead Of Night

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Blackbird Kitchen And Bar is the latest Sacramento restaurant to close its doors.

Out of nowhere, employees were sent an email informing them that the owner had unexpectedly turned off the burners for good in the restaurant that would typically be bustling with young professionals and couples.

There may be no closed sign on the door, and the website may allow you to make reservations, but Blackbird has shut down.

No one seems to know why Carina Lampkin, the owner of the 9th Street hot spot, told her employees she would close for good.

This comes just days after the restaurant participated in last weekend’s Farm to Fork Dinner on the Tower Bridge.

CBS13 reached the property owner by phone. Even she didn’t know why Blackbird closed its doors, but she said she didn’t increase the rent on the restaurant.

Fellow business owners in downtown Sacramento like Warren Anapolsky know just how hard it is to survive.

“Cost of doing business today is expensive,” the owner of California Loan and Jewelry said. “Labor was probably hard and high at times. It probably just got to be too much. It is very sad, because she did a great job.”

With the help of friends, and pouring her own money into the labor of love, the granddaughter of the founder of USA Today is considered a visionary.

“She didn’t give life to just the building, but the whole block,” said Valerie Mamone-Werder, the business development director in downtown. “People wanted to be around her. Businesses wanted to be across the street from Blackbird, down the street from Blackbird.”

Lampkin was also in a serious car crash in 2006, so it’s not known if the long hours were too physically taxing.

What Will CalPERS Do With Vacant Land Near Sacramento’s Tower Bridge?

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — It’s a waiting game for the gateway to Sacramento.

Even with a future arena revitalizing the downtown core, there’s still a hole in the ground at the corner of Third and Capitol Mall.

The boarded up dirt lot has been vacant for so long, it’s become overgrown with bushes and trees.

It was originally going to be the home of a 53-story condominium tower, promised as the tallest residential highrise west of the Mississippi River.

Construction had started in 2006, but now it’s quiet. The towers never got off the ground, and some of the completed foundation now sits exposed in the weeds of the dirt lot.

“It doesn’t even look like a construction site because of all the trees growing there,” said Adrian Oleksiewicz, who lives next door.

Public employee pension fund CalPERS owns the land. Together with real estate partner CIM, they are in discussion about what to put here.

But no application has been filed, even with the new arena for the Sacramento Kings going up just a block away, slated for a fall 2016 opening.

“That spot will ultimately be the gateway to sacramento. its a spot that requires by design, an iconic building,” said Sacramento land-use attorney Tina Thomas. “It’s gotta respect the capitol, but its gotta be iconic, and beautiful.”

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is calling for 10,000 new residential units in the downtown core over the next 10 years. With the rental market booming, real estate brokers are recommending a high-rise at the spot, but for now, it’s still a waiting game.

Sacramento city leaders are pressuring CalPERS to do something with the site soon.

All-Access Pass: A Behind-The-Scenes Look At Places In Sacramento Off-Limits To The Public

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — They are places maybe you’ve always wanted to go, but you can’t—local spots considered off-limits to the public.

But this video is an all-access pass.

All-Access Pass Part 1: Behind-The-Scenes At The Sacramento Zoo

Watch as a colony of fruit bats make their move for lunch at the Sacramento Zoo, and the place where food is made for more than 600 animals.

Designing a menu for 140 different species is a tall order, kind of like the giraffe exhibit we also toured. The barn offers a place to keep warm, or where vets can give medical attention to the sometimes 2,000-pound animals.

But we didn’t just go to the zoo—how about the Tower Bridge?

All-Access Pass Part 2: Who Controls The Tower Bridge?

Scott Bennet has been the drawbridge operator for 14 years and it can be a lonely job.

“You’re up here by yourself for most of the time—no one to talk to or anything,” he said.

His perch is about 30 feet above the road, and 70 feet above the water. A series of monitors helps him figure out when to raise the bridge, but that hasn’t happened much during the drought. He says he’s gone from 30 to 40 times a month to just two or three times.

All-Access Pass Part 3: Under (and on top of) The (Capitol) Dome

Another high point of the tour was the tippy-top of the Capitol Dome. Assemblyman Ken Cooley was our guide. He was a young legislative assistant during the dome restoration in the late 1970s.

The long climb extends well above the rotunda and gives a view of Sacramento few get to experience. The area is off-limits except for legislators and their guests.

Web Extra: All-Access Pass Bonus Video

IMG_0284IMG_0285IMG_0286

We had to leave a few things off our tour on the air, but that’s why we have the Internet. Find out more about the zoo’s reptile exhibit, what does Scott feel if there’s an accident on the Tower Bridge, and a little more history on the design of the Capitol building. And what were all those names?

Body Washes Ashore Near Tower Bridge

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WEST SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – A female body has washed ashore near the Tower Bridge Thursday morning.

West Sacramento Police say that they were called to the scene just before 7 a.m.

The person has not been identified. However, authorities are saying that there is currently no connection between the body found and the case of a woman who drowned in the area earlier this week.

A police presence is at the scene, but no roads are blocked at this time.


Farm-To-Fork Dinner Transforms Tower Bridge Into Eatery

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – This is a different kind of fork in the road.

The Tower Bridge was transformed Sunday evening from a place to cross the river into a place for a coveted catered event as Sacramento’s farm-to-fork movement took over.

“The most important thing is coming together not only the community of Sacramento, but the community of chefs,” said Ravin Patel, chief culinary officer for Selland Family Restaurants.

Meticulous table settings took the place of traffic on Sacramento’s iconic 80-year-old roadway.

“We have appetizers here, we have charcuterie, we have cheese. This is the pinnacle of the farm-to-fork festival,” said Oliver Ridgeway, executive chef Grange restaurant and bar.

With the golden steel beams as the backdrop, the Tower Bridge was blocked off to vehicles to become the venue for the finest dining Sacramento has to offer.

“If we compare this third year to the first year … the recognition is vastly different,” said Mike Testa with the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Couple months ago, we were in the Wall Street Journal as one of the best mid-sized cities for food in the country. We didn’t get that kind of attention three years ago.”

The 750-seat dinner was sold out within seconds when tickets became available this summer. Dinner was served at 6 p.m., and the bridge reopened to traffic at 10.

Guide To Spending New Year’s Eve 2015 In Sacramento

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There are plenty of ways to say goodbye to 2015 in Sacramento. As 2015 ends and 2016 begins, celebrate Sacramento-style with music, food, champagne, acrobats on ice, magic, international entertainment, fireworks and more. Here are a few tips for making your New Year’s Eve exciting, safe and memorable.

Find Free Fun For Families
Crocker Art Museum
216 O St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 808-7000
www.crockerartmuseum.org

Crocker Art Museum will be welcoming families to the annual Noon Year’s Eve Festival. The free event begins at 12 p.m. on Dec. 31, and the museum is open with no admission fee from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day. Guests of every age will enjoy the energetic, international flavor of the entertainment. Check out Hawaiian performances by the Ohana Dance Group, West African drum music, acapella songs with the All Family Boys of Samoa, as well as high-energy, folkloric Afro-Cuban dance and music. Get ready to laugh at Germar the Magician’s comedic magic, and enjoy rousing performances by bagpipers and by a klezmer string group performing Jewish folk tunes.

Come On and Take A Free Ride

It is unwise to drive after partying, even if all you have had is a couple of glasses of champagne at midnight. There are many people on the road on New Year’s Eve, and not all of them will be paying enough attention to drive safely. If you plan to imbibe at all, for your own well-being and that of others on the road, plan ahead and set up a designated driver. If nothing else, call a taxi. Don’t take chances, or you might end up starting the New Year with injuries or worse.

Related: Best Ways To Help Your Winter Skin In Sacramento

See Fireworks And Fanfare In Old Sacramento
nyesacramento.com

Head to Old Sacramento for one of the area’s best fireworks shows, which light up the sky over the Tower Bridge and Sacramento River. One show is at 9 p.m. and another at midnight. The free event also includes live music, a 3D Gaming Theater, street performers, kid’s programming and food and drink vendors. There are a number of parking options for Old Sac; try to avoid the metered street parking, which is hard to get and only good for 2 hours. Try the public parking lot on I Street between 2nd and 3rd or the Tower Bridge lot on Capital Boulevard. If you are also wining or dining in Old Sac, some places will validate parking.

Eat, Drink, Dance And Be Merry

There are many great parties set for New Year’s Eve, including a stylish soiree for ages 30 and up called “Midnight in Paris” and a full-on fun celebration at Capital Dance Center in Rancho Cordova. There are also cool events for those whose idea of New Year’s Eve entertainment is a bit less traditional. Local favorite Jackie Greene will bring his talents to the Crest Theatre for a 9:30 p.m. concert on NYE. In addition to his highly charged vocals and hot guitar licks on blues, rock and honky-tonk numbers, Greene will be performing American roots music from his recently released album. Or head to Capital Stage that evening for a production of the award-winning satirical comedy/drama “The Behavior of Broadus.”

Go Global For Illuminating Entertainment

Visit Cal Expo for an exhilarating sensory experience at the all-new Global Winter Wonderland. There are 17 acres filled with lights, huge visual displays, music, cultural performances, shopping and an international food court. Celebrate the New Year at the ice-rink, view the scene from the sky on carnival-style rides and see acrobats perform on skates (think Cirque du Soleil on ice). As always at Cal Expo, remember that there are steep parking fees in addition to ticket costs.

Related: Best Outdoor Gear Stores In Sacramento

Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers business, employment, animal rescue, volunteerism and nonprofits. Her work can also be found at Examiner.com.

Best Jungle Gyms In Sacramento

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Playing games on electronic devices may keep kids engaged, and a tyke riding a battery-powered car is cute to watch. But running around a sunny playground with other children, swinging on the monkey bars and climbing on a jungle gym, are the real thing. Physical play strengthens the body, engages the imagination, encourages healthy social interaction and invigorates the spirit of youngsters. Visit these top-of the-line Sacramento jungle gyms for guaranteed fun.
south side park playground jungle gym sized Best Jungle Gyms In Sacramento

Southside Park jungle gym (Photo by Valerie Heimerich)


Southside Park
2115 6th St.
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 808-5200
www.cityofsacramento.org

Southside Park’s large playground area is cool enough to make adults wish they were children again. There are two “solar system” themed areas, with jungle gyms and play elements appropriate for different age groups. The Tadpole Galaxy is perfect for preschoolers to climb, twirl and slide, with wheels to spin and fun things to see and touch; infants under the age of 2 have their own play area with a soft rubber surface. Kids 5 and up can romp on Spaceship Explore, a big collection of adventure play equipment with options for climbing, rolling, swaying, rocking and more. The play area also has swings, a merry-go-round, springy riders, individual climbing areas, sound features and even a spaceship high in the sky with blinking lights

Related: Ask A Sacramento Expert: After-School Activity Ideas

Shasta Community Park
7407 Shasta Ave.
Elk Grove, CA 95758
(916) 808-2285
portal.cityofsacramento.org

The City of Sacramento hits it out of the park once again with this large community area located by the Valley Hi/North Laguna Library. There are two shaded playgrounds which include an excellent variety of jungle gyms to climb on, slide through and swing from. One of the playgrounds is fashioned after the Swiss Family Robinson and the other has a Treasure Island theme. The latter includes a wonderfully climbable blue whale sculpture that rises up from a painted sea. The park also has areas for soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball and horseshoes, and a neighborhood skate park.

fort natomas jungle gym better sized Best Jungle Gyms In Sacramento

Fort Natomas jungle gym (Photo by Valerie Heimerich)


Fort Natomas
2921 Truxel Road
Sacramento CA 95833
(916) 808-1571
www.cityofsacramento.org

While perhaps not the largest of jungle gyms in the Sacramento region, this well-designed park is proud evidence of a unified and resilient community. The original playground, located less than a mile away, was destroyed by fire twice within several years. Both times, local businesses and residents volunteered their time and supplies to rebuild it. A playground remains on the original site, but the concept of pirate-themed Fort Natomas was ultimately relocated to the grounds of the South Natomas Community Center. The mood of families at Fort Natomas is friendly and appropriately proud.

McKinley Park
601 Alhambra Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 452-8011
portal.cityofsacramento.org

The iconic McKinley Park has numerous sports courts, jogging and walking trails, a swimming pool, picnic areas, public art a garden and arts center, community center and a truly creative play area with equipment and jungle gyms. The playground was custom-designed with a historic East Sacramento theme, which is incorporated throughout the tot lot and adventure play areas. An extensive selection of play equipment sits amid representations of a river boat, the Alhambra Theater archway, the Tower Bridge and street trollies. Kids love the huge tree house and a fun, artist-designed climbing wall.

Wacky Tacky
11327 Folsom Blvd.
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
(916) 476-3260
www.wackytacky.net

Wacky Tacky, which also has a smaller location in Roseville, is a fun indoor experience for families. Unlike the public parks, there are fees involved in going there, but the place is packed to the rafters with play experiences. There are three separate themed playgrounds, but the number of areas for open play depends on how many private parties have been booked. Birthday parties are very popular, so on weekends the jungle playground is generally the only one open for the general public. It is a wild, fun-packed play area, but can quickly get filled up with enthusiastic children. The website offers periodic coupons, and maintains a calendar so parents can see in advance how many play areas are openRelated:Best Places To Buy Shoes For Kids In Sacramento

Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers business, employment, animal rescue, volunteerism and nonprofits. Her work can also be found at Examiner.com.

State Worker Rushing To Save Feral Cats Near Tower Bridge From Rising River

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A state worker is hoping to save feral cats before they are washed away near the Tower Bridge in Sacramento.

Dave Johnson says he’s been doing this for about two years now, and he calls it his lifelong mission. He’s passionate about cats, especially those by the Tower Bridge.

“They know my voice,” he said.

He supplies them with food, and makes sure they’re spayed or neutered.

But with rising water levels, he’s concerned about their survival. He’s set cages to trap them, hoping to get them to a shelter.

“I was trying to do it, like, all week into the cages but they don’t go to the cages. They’re so smart,” he said.

But other critters aren’t so smart.

“Sometimes I get raccoons but I haven’t see them lately though but they’re here too,” he said.

There are no stairs to get to the cats, and it’s about a 30- to 40-foot drop. He gets down with a two-story fire escape ladder and uses rappelling rope to tie around the cages to get them up.

Most Instagram Worthy Locations Near Sacramento

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Almost everyone has a camera on them at all times in the form of their smartphones. And unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of years, Instagram is the place to post your daily visual journal of all of life’s adventures and happenings, however big or small. Generally speaking, scenic locations, popular hot-spots, the best restaurants and photo locations that inspire a simple and uncluttered shot do well on Instagram. That being said, Sacramento is chock full of Instagram-worthy locations that are worth visiting for the experience as well as “for the gram.” Here are just a couple you should definitely check out.
California Capitol State Museum

There are few buildings that symbolize the state of California and Sacramento better than the Capitol Building itself. The home of the California State Legislature since 1869 the California Capitol serves as both the working seat of California’s government and a thriving historical museum visited by thousands daily. With Greek and Roman influences found literally everywhere inside and out, finding an interesting photo won’t be much of a challenge. For a real Instagram-worthy photo, it would behoove you to aim your smartphone up towards the Rotunda ceiling when you first enter for that all-important selfie shot.

Tower Bridge

This vertical lift bridge is close to 100 years old and still serves as a four-lane road. With a new paint job in 2007, this bridge serves as a functional standing monument for the city that connects West Sacramento with the capital on the other side. It also happens to look rather striking and impressive both day and night. For a great shot, it doesn’t matter which side of the bridge you’re on. From the street, you’ll most likely have trees blocking your view, but if you hop on the Sacramento River Bike Trail or onto River Walk Park, the bridge is clearly visible from the trail. Join the bike trail from Old Sacramento and you’re closer to a few more shops and restaurants.

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament

There are lots of places in Sacramento where old meets new, but few are more noteworthy than the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Located at the corner of 11th and K Street, the Cathedral serves as the chair for the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Sacramento and is an important symbol for the city’s visual history. Sure, you can snag a great shot for Instagram in the Cathedral itself, but if you want a real crowd pleaser you’ll have to head up high. Across the street is the Hyatt Regency and its multi-level parking garage. Head to the top of the parking garage towards the end of the day and snag a shot of the Cathedral on the other side of the street as the sun sets.

Related:  Best Baseball Fields In Sacramento

California State Expo Center

If you’ve spent any time looking for fun events in the heart of Sacramento, you’ve probably attended a couple of events at the California State Expo Center. Located a hop, skip and a jump away from mid-town Sacramento, the California State Expo center is home to the Sacramento County Fair in May and the California State Fair for more than two weeks in the middle of July. When the Expo Center isn’t hosting fairs, it’s home to Sacramento’s local soccer and rugby teams as well as numerous horse races and motocross events. Keen eyes will notice giant letters spelling out our state’s name at the entrance and is a certainly a great Instagram photo opportunity. Buy some soccer or rugby tickets, invite some friends and snap some shots enjoying the game.

No Hands Bridge

If you want an Instagram-worthy spot that only the locals know, head on over to “No Hands Bridge.” From El Dorado St., head over The American River on CA 193 and park alongside the road next to the trailhead to Calcutta Falls. You’ll hike for less than a couple of minutes and actually walk over “No Hands Bridge” and across to the other side. From the trail after that, you can catch some awesome views of this concrete bridge with its iconic arches. Although no longer carrying trains across the river, the No Hands Bridge is still used by runners, horse riders and hikers. Start hiking towards the end of the day to catch some epic shots.

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Paulo Acoba is a California native raised in the Bay Area and living in the Central Valley. He enjoys distance running, cycling and grassroots motorsports. He holds a degree in management from the University of California Merced. Paulo has been writing for Examiner.com since 2012 and covering the Fresno area.

Tower Bridge Reopens 7 Hours After Woman Makes Bomb Threat

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WEST SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – West Sacramento Police found several suspicious devices inside the car that stopped traffic on the Tower Bridge Tuesday.

The devices are being investigated to determine if they are explosive.

The bridge is back open after being shut down for more than seven hours. The incident started around 3 p.m. on the West Sacramento side of the Tower Bridge.

A car was seen parked blocking lanes of traffic with its windows partially covered, and the female driver alerting police that she had a bomb.

“We established a perimeter, basically we stopped a two-three block perimeter, and we asked everyone to shelter in place,” said West Sacramento Police Sgt. Roger Kinney.

As West Sacramento PD responded, a number of other agencies including Homeland Security rushed to the scene.

“The bridge was moved up at an effort to demobilize the driver so that car can’t move,” said Sgt Kinney.

One nearby resident who happened to be walking towards the bridge at the time couldn’t believe what he saw next.

“I saw the driver get out of the front seat and walk towards the trunk. And then I saw some wires in her hand, she walked towards the gas tank and I saw her shoving the wires into her gas tank. That’s when I grabbed my fiance and I said ‘let’s get out of here, something’s going down,'” said Thomas Dodson.

Police confirm there were suspicious wires on the car. Dodson snapped photos of the woman who he says was also holding up a sign.

“A big white cardboard sign, didn’t know what it said, but she was in the car by herself, holding the sign up moving it from side to side,” he said.

What was written on the sign has not been released, but police closed the Tower Bridge in both directions and a shelter in place order was issued for the nearby Calstrs building and Raley field.

“They immediately pulled everybody back, shut down the bridge then shut down traffic from blocks away,” said Dodson.

The woman was eventually taken into custody without incident, as investigators carefully canvassed the area.

“We don’t know any of her motivation at this point, she’s with our investigators,” said Sgt Kinney.

Wednesday, the woman was identified as 58-year-old Sacramento resident Karen Jeffery. She was booked at Yolo County Jail and is facing a charge of making terrorist threats and another misdemeanor charge.

Group Raising Money To Shine A New Light On Tower Bridge

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A new campaign is underway to give the capital city’s signature monument a facelift.

The idea is to install hundreds of energy-efficient LED lights on the tower that could be programmed to showcase every shade of the rainbow.

DONATE: RePower The Tower

It’s the brainchild of former Sacramento County supervisor Sandy Smoley. She helped lead the initial charge to add lights to the bridge back in 1998, but during the city’s most recent farm-to-fork dinner, she was inspired to do a little more.

“To add a color component so that we could have a different color bridge opening night for the Kings, opening night for the River Cats, and opening night of the Republic,” she said.

Her goal is to match the wow factor of the Golden 1 Center.

“People love that iconic Tower Bridge, and to make it interesting and change the contours and the colors I think will make people happy and Sacramento proud,” she said.

The bright pursuit comes with a hefty price tag. With a small committee of volunteers, Smoley is trying to raise $800,000 to make the colorful new rays a reality.

“And that could be less if we get donations for goods and services, so it’s not going to cost the taxpayer anything,” she said. “It will be done with private money.”

 


Sea Lions In Sacramento River Using Tower Bridge as Shelter

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The sea lions hanging out in the Sacramento River are using the wooden structures under the Tower Bridge as a shelter.

The male sea lions were spotted in late April/early May in the area around Old Sacramento. The group, known as a raft, wandered upstream and will likely return to the ocean in about a month.

Front Street Animal Shelter posted on its Facebook page saying a lot of people have called worried the sea lions were trapped in the wooden structures. Front Street determined the sea lions can come and go as they please and are using the structures as shelter when they’re not fishing.

For those interested in checking them out, Front Street asks you prevent interacting with the raft and use your zoom lens to take pictures and video.

Tower Bridge Construction Starts Monday, Lanes Will Be Closed Until July

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Construction on the Tower Bridge starts Monday, May 28 and will last until mid-July. The Tower Bridge will completely close for a number of days during the construction project.

Caltrans will inspect and replace parts of the lifting mechanism of the Tower Bridge- which connects Old Sacramento to West Sacramento.

One lane will close in each direction during the day (9 am-4 pm):

  • May 28-July 17
  • July 20-July 22
  • July 24-July 27

SEE: Sea Lions In Sacramento River Using Tower Bridge As Shelter

The Tower Bridge will completely close during the day (9 am-4 pm):

  • July 18-July 19
  • July 23

The Tower Bridge will completely close at night:

  • June 11-June 15 (11:30 pm-6 am)
  • June 30-July 1 (11:30 pm-6:30 am)

During full closures drivers will be detoured to US 50. Pedestrians will be detoured to the I Street Bridge.

The Tower Bridge opened in 1935. It is 737 feet long.

Tower Bridge Construction Delayed; Was Supposed To Start Monday

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) Construction on the Tower Bridge is delayed until mid-July.

Work was supposed to start Monday to inspect and replace parts of the lifting mechanisms. However, Caltrans delayed the project. A spokesperson for West Sacramento did not give a new project timeline, nor provide a reason for the delay.

When work eventually does begin it will involve both one-lane and full bridge closures.

The Tower Bridge opened in 1935. It connects Old Sacramento to West Sacramento.

John Doe Identified As ‘Bridge Hero’ From 1987 Tower Bridge Accident

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A decades-old mystery has been solved after DNA evidence links a man dubbed “The bridge hero” by local media to his family.

 John Doe Identified As Bridge Hero From 1987 Tower Bridge Accident

(source: Kristene Feldhaus)

Today the Yolo County coroner’s office identified the remains of a 1987 “John Doe” as “James Wray Miller” of Iowa. The unidentified man had jumped into the Sacramento River in an attempt to rescue people that drove off the bridge.

It’s a case that has a lot of twists and turns reaching starting in the Midwest.

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“I grew up thinking dad was a bank robber and he ran off.”

Kristene Feldhaus grew up in Ames, Iowa where her dad James Wray Miller left in his car in 1986 after being accused of robbing a bank.

Unbeknownst to her, hundreds of miles away, in September of 1987, a truck plunged off the Tower Bridge after an intoxicated bridge operator raised the span without turning on the warning lights. Two people in the truck drowned.

san francisco chronicle 1987 09 29 3 John Doe Identified As Bridge Hero From 1987 Tower Bridge Accident

According to the Yolo County sheriff’s office, a few days later another body was recovered, a John Doe. That’s where things got complicated.

John Doe had another man’s birth certificate in his pocket so the coroner’s office misidentified him.

Then, a man authorities describe as a con artist claimed John Doe was his brother and took his ashes in an attempt to steal his identity. He later mailed the ashes back.

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For most of her life, Feldhaus believed her dad, who had repeated trouble with the law, was dead.

“He was an alcoholic, severe,” Feldhaus said.

But after naming her fifth child after her dad, she decided to find the truth and searched a justice department website for missing people.

“I’m looking at this picture of a John Doe and I put it up with a picture of dad, and I see my dad!” she said.

She then submitted her DNA to authorities. While she was waiting to hear more, she searched newspaper clippings about the John Doe that she thought could be her father and she found a fascinating story.

“He saw a truck go in and he ran or dove in and never came back so he was trying to help, trying to save people. And that is a huge awesome thing that I never saw coming,” Feldhaus said.

After recently learning the DNA was a match to James Wray Miller, Feldhaus said she’s glad she can now tell her kids that grandpa died trying to help people.

“It was vindication for me because I grew up thinking my dad’s not there. Dad died doing the right thing and that makes up for everything.”

31 Years Later, Tower Bridge Hero Identified Through DNA As James Wray Miller Of Iowa

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YOLO COUNTY (CBS13) — After years of wondering about her father and her whereabouts, Kristene Feldhaus came to claim the remains of a man now known as a hero.

The decades-old mystery was solved after DNA evidence found her father was a man dubbed the “Tower Bridge Hero.”

Feldhaus says she feels like a weight has been lifted off her, not only finding her dad but finding out what kind of man he really ways.

RELATED: John Doe Identified As ‘Bridge Hero’ From 1987 Tower Bridge Accident

“He saw a truck go in and he ran or dove in and never came back so he was trying to help, trying to save people,” she said.

That’s the story she now knows is true. She walked on the Tower Bridge for the first time on Tuesday.

The Yolo County Coroner’s Office recently identified the remains of a 1987 John Doe as James Wray Miller of Iowa. He jumped into the Sacramento River in an attempt to rescue people that drove off of the bridge.

But no one knew who he was.

RELATED: Sea Lions In Sacramento River Using Tower Bridge as Shelter

“I don’t think he went in thinking he was going to die, I don’t think he thought anyone was going to die,” says Feldhaus.

An intoxicated bridge operator raised the span without turning on the warning lights. The truck ran off the span. Two people inside the vehicle drowned. Days later, the body of the attempted rescuer emerged.

A long, confusing process continued, but no one figured out who he was until his daughter came looking. Last year, Feldman went looking for her father through missing persons reports. She came upon a photo she thought was her dad and submitted her DNA. It was a match.

Feldman claimed her father’s ashes from the Yolo County Coroner’s Office on Tuesday. The box had a special plaque describing him as a hero.

“It’s a good feeling, I’m really happy that they think that way of him, he really left a good impression, that’s the Dad I wish everyone could’ve seen,” she said.

Her only regret is that her father’s mother passed away two weeks before the DNA evidence came back identifying him as the hero.

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