Hunting and Fishing

Hunting and Fishing

19th June 2015 - by Chris Saizan

Where to hunt and fish in West Sacramento First day of Summer is here, which means it’s time to start planning your hunting agenda for the Fall. Last week, the results for California hunting tags became available. Transplants from out of state will appreciate the fact that yes, we do allow people to hunt in […]

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Kaboom! New Bryte Park!

Kaboom! New Bryte Park!

5th June 2015 - by Chris Saizan

The new Bryte Park opens today!   Last weekend, volunteers from Disney and the West Sac community KABOOM-ed the park into being in a single day. I have heard of KABOOM before, they are a Washington D.C. based non-profit that works with communities to organize quick-turnaround park building projects. The timeline for this new park […]

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Independent Film

Independent Film

22nd May 2015 - by Chris Saizan

  Film doesn’t only happen in Hollywood.   Some big movies and popular TV shows have been filmed right here in the Sacramento area over the years, such as “Almost Famous” and “The Mentalist.” As exciting as that is, the real buzz around here is independent film. This week, I met a guy who makes […]

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Art Scene

Art Scene

12th May 2015 - by Chris Saizan

“Excuse me, do you know where I can find an art gallery nearby?”   I was having coffee in midtown when a visitor with a soft, foreign accent asked me where they could find some art. I pulled out my phone and searched for galleries. Instead of one or two, the Google map results for […]

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Food Truck

Food Truck

24th April 2015 - by Chris Saizan

When I saw eight food trucks in the Lowe’s parking lot in West Sac, I thought “How did I not know about this?”   Every fourth Wednesday, you’ll find a wagon train of food trucks here from 5pm to 8pm. The organizer, SactoMofo, provides the tables and chairs, portable restrooms, music and lights. It’s a […]

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Paths to Improvement

Paths to Improvement

9th April 2015 - by Chris Saizan

It’s one thing to build a community, and another to maintain or improve it.   West Sacramento is divided into three main sections. The South side, generally referred to as “Southport,” has only been built up in the last 15 years. The central section is older, many homes dating back 60 years, and has undergone […]

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Colleges and Universities

Colleges and Universities

27th March 2015 - by Chris Saizan

The Impact of Higher Education   One way to gauge the stability, job market and quality of life in a community is to look at the educational institutions nearby. How many are there? How prestigious are they? How do they effect the community? This 2009 study by explains the impact of universities on their regional […]

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Startup Culture

Startup Culture

13th March 2015 - by Chris Saizan

  “Startup Culture” refers to the work-world movement towards individuals that work in a collaborative environment, sometimes forming teams that become Startup companies. Startup culture is built on talented free-agents who are looking for meaningful jobs that fit seamlessly into their lives. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson released his budget memo this week, which included plans […]

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Transportation

Transportation

3rd February 2015 - by Chris Saizan

I love our train station.   The brick exterior, the waxed tile floor, the wooden benches, the chandeliers and high arches, the murals. I have taken the train in and out of Sacramento dozens of times, and every time I feel enchanted by the old building. Sacramento is in the process of developing the rail […]

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Streetcar Connection to Downtown Sac

Streetcar Connection to Downtown Sac

14th January 2015 - by Chris Saizan

Sacramento – West Sac Streetcar   It has been several months since I first heard the rumors of a streetcar transit system connection downtown Sacramento to West Sacramento’s riverfront district and civic center. Last month, two articles on the streetcar plan demonstrated that the streetcar has been promoted from a “someday” dream to a much […]

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Neighbors Without Borders

Neighbors Without Borders

2nd January 2015 - by Chris Saizan

West Sac is getting a gated community. Without the gate. When I was house hunting, one of the things I loved about West Sac was the feeling of openness and connectedness. The community garden at the end of the block, the benches located between cul-de-sacs. West Sacramento has 27 parks, three community gardens, the Clarksburg […]

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Christopher Cabaldon

Christopher Cabaldon

27th December 2014 - by Chris Saizan

Mayor Christopher Cabaldon   I have had the pleasure of meeting our Mayor Christopher Cabaldon at a few events around town, and I have to say he’s a very likable guy. It’s nice to have a mayor who has been with the city through it’s recent growth, and is personally invested in seeing it grow […]

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Mike McGowan Bridge

Mike McGowan Bridge

20th December 2014 - by Chris Saizan

There are a lot of up sides to living a growing community. For instance, we just got a Dickey’s BBQ Restaurant and there are plans in the works for a street trolley and an outdoor community venue called “The Barn.” The downside – TRAFFIC. Most of West Sacramento is bordered on both sides by rivers, […]

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Christmas Trees

Christmas Trees

13th December 2014 - by Chris Saizan

Christmas starts when the tree goes up.   There are three places (that I know of) in West Sac to get a Christmas tree. Two Christmas tree lots on Jefferson – one near Jefferson and 19th, and  Chad’s Christmas Trees on Jefferson and 13th. The third place is Dave’s Xmas Trees – also known as Dave’s […]

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Santa Run

Santa Run

8th December 2014 - by Chris Saizan

The Annual Santa Run starts today.   What is the Santa Run? Picture this: Santa Clause riding a firetruck that is decorated to look like a sleigh through your neighborhood handing out candy canes while off-duty firemen dressed as elves collect donations of canned food. The Santa Run is a collaboration of the West Sacramento Fire […]

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The Barn Restaurant

The Barn Restaurant

1st December 2014 - by Chris Saizan

The Barn will be a multi-purpose community space along the riverfront in West Sacramento. At first, I thought “the Barn” was the name of the restaurant* that will be integrated into the footprint, but apparently the Barn is so much more. A concert venue, a park, a place for refreshment and gathering. In my mind, it […]

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Homes for everyone

21st November 2014 - by Chris Saizan

A home is more than a place to live.   A home is security, a house is belonging. A person feels more human when they have a home. Which is why I support the Yolo County “Bridge to Housing Pilot Program.” I have lived in several cities that had high homeless populations. West Sacramento’s homeless […]

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West Sacramento Sun

West Sacramento Sun

13th November 2014 - by Chris Saizan

The West Sacramento Sun   The little local newspaper that shows up at my door twice a month is one of the little surprizes I didn’t expect when I moved to West Sacramento. I’m not usually much of a newspaper reader, but there is something especially nice about having local news. It makes me feel […]

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Capitol Bowl

Capitol Bowl

7th November 2014 - by Chris Saizan

Capitol Bowl’s new look   Capitol Bowl has been a cornerstone of West Sacramento community life since the early 1950’s. Originally “El Rancho Bowl,” Capitol Bowl was the first racially integrated bowling alley in Northern California, the first to have women-only bowling leagues, and apparently a favorite of the Rolling Stones whenever they came to […]

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Dave’s Pumpkin Patch

Dave’s Pumpkin Patch

23rd October 2014 - by Chris Saizan

Dave’s Pumpkin Patch is one of West Sac’s best kept secrets, in my opinion. For 11 months out of the year it is known as Vierra Farms, a family farm/produce stand/wedding venue. (I was there a lot when corn was ripe –  fresh picked corn for $1 an ear? Yes please.) Then in October, they […]

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Sactoberfest

Sactoberfest

17th October 2014 - by Chris Saizan

German beer. German food. German music. And a Ferris wheel.   Octoberfest may be over, but the party lives on in West Sacramento as “Sactoberfest.” This is how West Sacramento does Octoberfest. We play beer pong in Lederhosen, then learn to polka dance. The three-day festival featured Bavarian culture served family-style, lots of people brought […]

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TBD Festival

TBD Festival

9th October 2014 - by Chris Saizan

TBD Festival in West Sacramento was last weekend. According to SacRev, it was kind of a big deal. The three day festival highlights the best that Sacramento has to offer in terms of food, art, architecture, fashion and music. Mostly music.   Among the 80+ artists that took the stage were Moby, Blondie, and Empire of […]

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The Park Moderns

The Park Moderns

3rd October 2014 - by Chris Saizan

TBD   It looks like a huge construction zone now, but in a few months  this will be “The Bridge District” – West Sacramento’s coolest neighborhood. How cool? It made the evening news. (“Housing Market in West Sacramento Heating Up”) The Bridge District is now considered one of the largest urban infill projects in the […]

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Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge

25th September 2014 - by Chris Saizan

Tower Bridge is the bridge featured in the City of West Sacramento logo.   Tower bridge is one of the things in West Sacramento that I tend to forget about. Once in a while, a visiting friend will comment on what a cool bridge it is as we drive over it into Old Town Sac. […]

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New Stadiums near West Sac

New Stadiums near West Sac

19th September 2014 - by Chris Saizan

Sports fanatics – it’s time to get excited.   Two new professional sports stadiums are in the works in Sacramento. The new stadium for the Sacramento Kings (below) has long been the topic of discussion, debate, and excitement. After over a decade of deliberation, the city approved plans for the new stadium last May.  Completion […]

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Bayer Crop Science

Bayer Crop Science

10th September 2014 - by Chris Saizan

Bayer CropScience opened a new facility in West Sacramento last week. I’m so excited, it feels like Christmas! This on the heels of Shinmei opening their rice bun factory in town, Bayer is one of four food-related companies making big investments in West Sacramento this year. (food hub article here)   Bayer is one of […]

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Commute Times from West Sac

Commute Times from West Sac

5th September 2014 - by Chris Saizan

Over the next ten years, West Sacramento is projected to become a commuter city for the impacted Bay Area. Personally, I prefer not to drive more than 30 minutes to work, and there is a very large job market within that 30 minute envelope. Many of the brilliant minds who find their dream job in […]

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Sacramento River Cats

Sacramento River Cats

22nd August 2014 - by Chris Saizan

River Cats – Minor League Baseball At Its Best   The Sacramento River Cats are a minor league baseball team who make their home at Raley Field in West Sacramento. Last year, the River Cats were named “most valuable minor league team” by Forbes – and I can see why. (story here) I have been […]

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Urban Agriculture in West Sacramento

15th August 2014 - by Chris Saizan

One of the things that sold me on my house in West Sacramento was the community garden at the end of the block. I have seen articles about the growing (literally, growing) movement known as “urban agriculture,” stories about vegetables growing street-side in LA or roof-top gardens in Chicago, I and think “that’s cool, good […]

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National Night Out in West Sacramento

7th August 2014 - by Chris Saizan

When I watch movies like Sandlot, I think about how neighborhood potlucks and safe streets for kids to run around are a bygone thing. Then I was invited to National Night Out. Started in 1983, National Night Out is an event that communities across America participate in to promote community organization against crime. In West Sacramento, […]

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Black Box Community Theatre

Black Box Community Theatre

31st July 2014 - by Chris Saizan

One of the benefits of West Sacramento’s proximity to downtown Sacramento proper is access to fine art and musical theatre. Shows you would expect to see in Los Angeles and New York regularly appear here in Sacramento. 

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Award Winning Program for Little Ones

Award Winning Program for Little Ones

23rd July 2014 - by Chris Saizan

I see West Sacramento as a very family friendly place to raise your kids. We have the rec center, with swim lessons and sports programs. 27 parks (more if you include walking trails) that span 145 acres. But the thing I’m REALLY proud of –

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Good Feelings about Rice Buns

Good Feelings about Rice Buns

17th July 2014 - by Chris Saizan

As a home-owner in West Sac, I like hearing about new businesses because it means that they see our community as a good investment.

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West Sac Farmer’s Market

West Sac Farmer’s Market

11th July 2014 - by Chris Saizan

One of the good things about living in the “Farm to Fork” capital of the world is all of the farmer’s markets.

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Microbreweries Popping Up Like Daisies

Microbreweries Popping Up Like Daisies

2nd July 2014 - by Chris Saizan

Fourth of July means a lot of things – fireworks, parades, flags, and of course BEER. If you get excited about local artisan beer (I certainly do) then this is going to be a great Fourth of July for you.

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