Sacramento : Of Conventions and Galas
Statue Outside Sacramento Convention center - Courtesy i.pbase.com
Sacramento, the capital of California has come up all of a sudden on my radar. The Scrapbook EXPO to be held there on October 17 and 18, to be held at the Sacramento Convention Center is where I have to be. My amateur hobby for creating albums and making memories sacrosanct had been gaining some recognition of late in laid back Santa Barbara. But nothing prepared me for this opportunity to exhibit my work as a participant in Sacramento. It was reason enough for me to go delirious. But the fun part was that I had decided to drive up the 421 odd miles on CA-126 E State Highway, so that I could spend some time time exploring the place that was just a name on the map for me.
Sacramento, the county seat of Sacramento County is located along the Sacramento River. it is the oldest incorporated city in California having been incorporated on February 27, 1850. The location, weather and quality of life, I learn, are just a few of the things that make Sacramento a great place to live, work and visit. I would be taking my assistant Natalie as a Volunteer. Besides enjoying her jovial company she would be immensely valuable at the Expo. And although we are not novices we would be happy to be in the company of seasoned scrapbookers.
Scrapbook EXPO would be offering us the opportunity to learn all the newest and hottest scrapbooking techniques! Also top-notch workshops and basic classes were going to be taught by experts. Additionally exciting events, make & takes, contests, crop nights and more would keep us happily engrossed for two days. Scrapbook EXPO is considered one of the top rated shows in the State.
I also learn that the greater Sacramento area is one of the West’s fastest growing, most affordable, and attractive cities. It’s a small town with pretty friendly big-city amenities.The Sacramento Convention Center is located across the street from the State Capitol and is just 15 minutes from the Airport. Situated in the heart of downtown it offers flexible meeting and exhibit space that suit incoming participants immensely.
Designed for flexibility, the Sacramento Convention Center offers 134,000 square feet of contiguous Exhibit Hall space with 12 loading bays to provide easy access to the show floor. Speaking of easy access I look up the net to discover that there are very many centrally located hotels, restaurants and shops. The Sacramento Downtown Hotel site had me making quick reservations to avoid any last minute hassles.Wow I would be able to mix a little bit of business with a whole lot of fun!
And fun there was going to be with the Sacramento SPCA’s 22nd Annual Reigning Cats & Dogs Gala that was also to be on at the Convention Center Exhibit Hall on Saturday, October 18. Guess I would need to juggle the time schedules very adroitly indeed. Just as the Scrap event closes the Gala begins. I am quite looking forward to enjoy the festive Whisker Wonderland featuring delicious food from over 30 restaurants and beverages by an equal number of breweries.
All the big names in the food and beverage industry are going to be there. Andy Ngyuens, Dawson’s and Café Bernardo, along with Ironstone Vineyards, Bogle Vineyards and Oakstsone Winery. Entertainment is to be provided by AirAligned, Aerial Dance Group and Starling Strings quartet. I have already registered and booked advance tickets through the SPCA.
Sacramento being strategically located in Northern California is a hotbed offering a wealth of cultural activities besides a wide range of other attractions. I am going to take time off to walk about in the city and stroll through Capitol Park. Also Natalie and I would be visiting the many shops, relax on a riverboat and experience Old Sacramento that still has wooden boardwalks, cobblestone streets and horse-drawn carriages. I am just waiting to be transported back in time. Perhaps the place would be giving me some more creative ideas to scrap about.
There are several major theater venues in Sacramento. The Sacramento Convention Center governs both the Community Center Theater and Memorial Auditorium. The Wells Fargo Pavilion is a recent addition. The Sacramento Ballet is to present a new rendition of Alice in Wonderland along with Mozart Divertimenti at the Theater on October 23-26. The theater buff in me has us booked for the evening performance on 23rd starting 7:30 p.m. onwards. Also on the anvil on October 28 is THE BACKYARDIGANS LIVE! Tale of the Mighty Knights, at Memorial Auditorium presenting just two shows. The concert will have audiences singing, dancing, and laughing along to songs of courage, friendship, and the power of imagination! Which is why I am taking a vacation for full ten days thats going to end with this grand show.