Tree Hugger

The giant "Teddy Bear" was hanging in a tree on the 16th Street freeway exit last Friday..I was stopped at the light and looked to my left and saw that poor fella.

"Subtile" Shimmering on the Sacramento River

"Subtile" created by Czech artist Federico Diaz.  This kinetic sculpture shimmers and shakes along the river bank in West Sacramento and is coated with more than 34,000 stainless steel disks. It measures 26 feet long, 20 feet high and 6 feet wide.  While I stood mesmerized by this beautiful art piece,  the wind came up and the sculpture's sound and movement reminded me of the Quaking Aspens we loved when I was a kid growing up in Idaho. Take a walk on the river walk soon...

Culinary Arts and Farm to Fork Education (CAFFE) in West Sacramento

The Beginning and Advanced Culinary Classes served brunch today at the Bryte Garden Cafe.  The presentation was beautiful, the service was excellent and the food was delicious.  It was great to meet the students and the folks who supervise this career training program for Washington Unified School District: Cheryle Sutton Culinary Instructor, Renee Collins Director of College and Career Readiness and Andy Parsons Assistant Superintendent Educational Services. For more information check out their website CAFFE.

Wide Open Walls Mural Celebrates Lady Bird

The" Lady Bird" mural created by visual artist Maren Conrad is located at 16th and I streets in Sacramento.  It was finished just in time to celebrate Greta Gerwig's Academy Award Nomination for her locally filmed movie Lady Bird. Thank you Christy and Maya for dashing over to get this photo for us before our family Red Carpet Gala Party.
Read more about the Wide Open Walls project.

Record Hail Storm hits Sacramento yesterday

It may look like snow but it was actually a deluge of hail that hit the Sacramento area.
This was the scene on the Blessing's patio yesterday afternoon.

Classic Hot Road at Bloom's Garage

Cindy Garrison-Smith shared this great photo. Bloom's Garage is located on the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Harmon Road.. It is beautiful Cindy, thanks! 

Celebrating Lady Bird

Thanks Steve Ruland for sharing his photo congratulating Sacramento local Greta Gerwig. Her highly successful movie “Lady Bird” was filmed in and around the Sacramento area.

Ruland’s Used Office Furnishings is located on North 12th Street and we always enjoy seeing his messages painted on his bovine RUOFS.

Zàijiàn To Kings Restaurant On West Capitol Avenue

We gathered with old friends to say goodbye to a West Sacramento landmark last night. Kings Restaurant will be serving up their last Dim Sum brunch this Sunday. The 94 year old owner and chef, Mr. Lam, is retiring and his local celebrity server Jennifer will be taking an extended vacation to visit her family in Hong Kong.  Will sure miss their Bao and old school chow main. Photo by Barbara Linker. See this link for a previous post about Kings.

Sacramento Bee OCTOBER 25, 2017 12:03 PM King’s Restaurant, the West Sacramento eatery specializing in dim sum and with roots dating back to 1960, will close its doors at the close of business on Sunday. For decades, the restaurant at 1500 W. Capitol Ave. has been run by China native Chew Lam. Jennifer Dong, a 33-year-employee, said Wednesday that Lam is finally ready to retire. She said he will turn 94 next month. “It’s about time to retire, right?” said Dong, who said she will return to Hong Kong after the restaurant closes.

Chew Lam Obituary

Chew Hoy Lam 

November 27, 1924 - September 29, 2023 

West Sacramento, California - Chew Hoy Lam (A.K.A. Bing Keung Wong) 

Born in Hoi Ping, China on November 27th, 1924, Chew passed away peacefully at home in West Sacramento surrounded by his family on September 29th, 2023. Chew immigrated to the United States in 1949. He worked at an herb shop and had many restaurant jobs before opening his first restaurant in 1953, The Great Wall on K Street in downtown Sacramento. In 1959, Chew closed The Great Wall, and began construction of King's Restaurant in West Sacramento, which opened in 1960. King's Restaurant was known for its traditional Cantonese style cooking as well as its Dim Sum. Chew retired in 2017 at the age of 93, after 57 years of cooking and running the restaurant. 

One of Chew's greatest accolades was on November 15, 2017, when the City of West Sacramento honored him with a proclamation: "Now, therefore, be it proclaimed, that the City Council of the City of West Sacramento does hereby recognized King's Restaurant for its delicious food and incredible longevity as a West Sacramento Institution and sends best wishes to Chew Hoy Lam and his family in retirement." After Chew closed the restaurant, he continued to live in West Sacramento. He enjoyed reading his newspaper, cooking, watching Sacramento Kings Basketball, taking his daily walk, and spending time with his dogs. He is survived by two stepdaughters, Dolores Powell (David) and Jane Fong, and five sons, Benny Wong, John Wong (Cindy), Denny Wong (Erin), Kenneth Wong (Shelley), Michael Wong (Hongdara), and close family friend, Jennifer Dong (Tim). His grandchildren: Russell Likes (Kitman), Spencer Powell (Kelly), Jonathan Fong (Kelly), Alexander Fong (Ruby), Benjamin Fong, Sarah Wong, Jason Wong, Coco Wong, Justin Wong, Emeline Wong, Addison Wong, Kandle Zehrung (Jake), Hunter Wong, Kylea Wong and Paris Wong. He is also survived by many great grandchildren. 

Services will be held at River Cities Funeral Chapel, 910 Soule Street, West Sacramento, CA 95691 on October 12, 2023 at 10:00 AM.

Published by The Sacramento Bee on Oct. 8, 2023.

River City Big Band at Dave's Pumpkin Patch today

These members of the River City High School Big Band performed for the folks at Dave Vierra's  Pumpkin Patch today. The weather was warm but the music was really cool!

Wide Open Walls Mural Project in Sacramento

Christy Jourdan shot this remarkable photo of her niece Maya Johnson under the Wide Open Walls mural at 28th & R Streets in Sacramento.

New York magazine had this to say. "Just an hour from the hills of San Francisco or the vineyards of the Napa Valley, Sacramento is now a must-visit destination for those seeking a phenomenal, world-class street art scene. Even a day trip from either of those California landmarks will leave you feeling...WOW. So, do yourself a favor and take in the beauty of the new Wide Open Walls of Sacramento. What are you waiting for?"

Celebrating Nat's 89th Birthday

Longtime friend and resident of West Sacramento, Natividad "Nat"  Lopez celebrated her 89th Birthday today at the Espanol restaurant in Sacramento. Celebrating with Nat were 40 friends from her YMCA water exercise class.

Replacing the Past

A film about Sacramento's Redevelopment History.  This film made me sad and perhaps explains one of the reasons I decided to start this photoblog and capture some of the flavor of West Sacramento in transition.

National Night Out August 1,2017 West Sacramento

Mayor Christopher Cabaldon stopped by the 2017 Night Out event at Bo & Bonnie VonHoffman's house on Meadow Road this year.  With a great BBQ, kids water slide, classic cars and DJ Music, Bo and his team of volunteers always make this night a fun time for the neighbors and his family and friends.

Wheelchairs for Vets

The Knights of Columbus American Wheel Chair Mission donated 80 brand new wheelchairs still in the box to the Bryte VFW to distribute to their members in need today.