Are You That Woman

It Never Rains in California

Years of plentiful rain are sometimes few and far between. Water Conservation is a must! Originally posted January 29, 2008, California is in the midst of a water famine the likes of which we have never seen. Water conservation is imperative and not just in famine years. Water is the source of all life. Conserve at every opportunity and understand that it's a precious resource.  

I want to meet the person, or persons, who coined that phrase -- in song or otherwise. Californians have come to understand that our weather -- if you can call it that -- is either feast or famine.  The warm months -- of which there are many -- are almost entirely the feasting months. Long, lovely springs and even longer summers -- how much sunshine can you stand?  But where the famine comes in is generated by our unstable winters when we (supposedly) get all of our rain and snow.

Weather forecasters drone on and one about the "normal" precipitation. Comparing this year's totals to last year's totals, and historically to totals dating back to the dawn of total-taking time. I don't know what defines a normal year in California. Every year is different. Hence, the feast or famine of our winters. With rain and cold comes the snow. Some years it rains, but if temps are warm...well, you get the picture...and we've had famous years of Pineapple Express when warm weather melted tons of seasonal snow and flooded everything in valleys below. Last year was a famine year. Little rain. Little snow. The fear, of course, is that it was a trend and the start of a series of drought years. I moved to California in the '70s in the middle of a serious drought. There hasn't been anything like it since, but it's only a matter of time. It's just nature.

When this year's rainy season began, it wasn't looking good. And ski resorts who pray for early snows to coincide with the Thanksgiving holiday and the official start of the ski season...well, this year they were sorely disappointed. Though it was cold enough to make snow, the powers-that-be weren't bringing forth the real stuff from the skies. And there was no rain to speak of in the remainder of the state. Things weren't looking good -- another famine year.

Well, that was then and this is now. We went from way below normal to off-the-charts above normal in the rain category. And the snow...well it just keeps on coming. And it's cold...so cold that the snow levels have dropped well-below normal. And that, my friends, was the reason for this rambling. The snow was so low (how low was it?) that we decided to hop in the Subaru to see. No big deal getting away from the city. Heading up the road into the rolling Gold Country foothills past turn-offs for historic towns like Jackson, Amador City, and Sutter Creek. We skirted through the tiny town of Plymouth and found one of those quiet back roads that we love -- Shake Ridge Road -- even sounds nice. And eventually we started to see what we had come to find...white, shimmering snow. And unbelievably below the 2,000-foot level.

And we weren't alone in our quest. We found families building snowmen and playing with their saucers. Cars having returned from higher elevations were pulled off the road removing their snow chains.  but mostly we found quiet. Cold, white, quiet. We easily reach Hwy. 88 just below the chain-up area. Other then the cars along the roadside, we hadn't passed another car. Shake Ridge ends at Hwy. 88 where we find skiers returning from the mountains -- Kirkwood, Heavenly, Hope Valley, but we weren't about to join them. We easily turned the Subaru around and headed back down Shake Ridge Road. It was like seeing it all for the first time.

 If my Subaru can't get me there, 
that's a good reason not to go!

 

The Noble California Haute Dog

I maintain a fairly healthy diet. I'm nothing close to being a vegetarian, but tend to keep the carnivore in me at bay. Go figure that  I would be the one to say, "A good hot dog is a thing of joy!" It's stimulated by one of those wonderful childhood memories of chowing down on a Nathan's buried in sauerkraut and onions, with the roar of baseball fans ringing in my ears.  Those were the days.

I only rarely get to the games anymore. So sometimes, I am happy to settle for a stool in front of the counter at one of the many old-time hot dog joints. Who would guess that something nicknamed "tube steak" could proudly hold it's on with other California culinary delights as haute cuisine.

In a small, nondescript shopping center (not a mall, 'cause this spot's been around before malls were invented) The Weinery has been feeding generations of Sacramentans more than 120 pounds of hot dogs a week. A LOT of dogs! Steamed or served-up in homemade chili. It's downright dog delirium. So popular are these local pups, that the walls proudly display Congressional, State, and City Council resolutions honoring the  legendary Weinery.

Their most popular dogs: the Hotsy Dog (Chinese mustard, onions, and tomato) and the BLT Dog -- served open-face with crumbled bacon, mayo, lettuce, and tomato. Some dogs are seasonal, like the Summer Dog (April-September) adorned with tangy cucumber, green onion, relish, mustard, and tomato. Young and old alike agree, they are all (truly) a thing of joy!

Going to the California Haute Dogs:

Weiner Works, Carmichael – Foot-long, beer-steamed dogs are the cat’s meow. The large order of fresh-cut fries weighs in at…well, how does 2 pounds sound to you?

The Wienery, Sacramento – Steamy pups and kid friendly.

Dogzilla Café, San Francisco – Gourmet dogs in the heart of SF financial district
Pink’s, Los Angeles – Since 1939, hot dog to the stars!

Don’s Dogs, Monte Rio – Housed inside the Quonset hut Rio Theater on the shores of the Russian River.

Tail O’ the Pup, Los Angeles – A landmark since 1945, this LA fave closed in 2006. Hot dog-o-philes have heart! A new location is in the works, with a scheduled re-opening in 2007. Stay tuned.

PS - Be sure the read The Rest of the Story.

by Barbara L. Steinberg

Urban(e) Adventure

Once in a while it helps to be free of our modern-day shackles: Cars; phones; email; TV; answering machine. All those modern conveniences we claim make our lives so much “simpler” and, at the same time, keep us running in circles. 

 

In an attempt to slow the pace, I planned an urban escape.  Now I know you’re wondering how this could be slow.  We rarely equate urbanism with a leisurely pace. But even on our best rural vacations, I find myself rushing to get to from place-to-place; trying to see as much as possible. Fearful I’ll miss something. And what if I never return?

 
So when planning what we have humorously come to call our “Urban(e) Adventure” a few things had to be ironed out:

First:  We had to leave the car behind. Solution: Amtrak. 

 

Second: Somewhere unencumbered. Where everyday distractions don’t block-out all that is special in your destination. Where there are no phones. Or TV! There’s email if you feel the need or urge to stay connected to the outside world, but you have to pay for it. Solution:  How about a youth hostel?

 

Third: A location full of great sights, sounds and tastes – all accessible on foot or by transit. A certain sophistication without all the trappings of a 5-star retreat.Solution: From Sacramento there could be but one solution: The urban delights of San Francisco and Hostelling International at Fisherman's Wharf/Fort Mason – part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area; perched along San Francisco Bay and a short walk to all the excitement and wonders of San Francisco!
     

 We were the quintessential tourists visiting all of the classic spots:  Fisherman’s Wharf, The Cannery, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, PIER 39, and the Wax Museum.  There was no way we would miss Irish coffee at the ever-so famous Buena Vista Café.  They serve more than 1,500 Irish coffees daily – this according to a 33-year- veteran bartender – and pour more Irish whiskey than any other bar in the world. 

     

We stopped in at the Boudin Sourdough Bread factory, restaurant and museum.  The museum and bakery tour is well-worth the $3 entrance fee. The interpretive displays are first rate and it includes a bread and olive oil tasting at the end. You may even win a free loaf of bread!  YUMMY!!

The Youth Hostel is bare bones, but they do have a few private rooms if the usual dormotority-style isn't your thing. Private or public, it's the cheapest, best San Francisco Bay view and location ever! And if the location isn't enough, with the diversity of guests, it's like its own country -- young, old, rich, the not-so rich, and accents from near and far -- no wonder they call it "international."      

     

 An added bonus for me was realizing that the Hostel is a stone's throw from the world-famous Greens Restaurant. Vegetarian delights and window-table views of the marina and Bay brought us to dine two days in a row. All organic, all local, all the best! If not for the public place, I would have licked my plates clean.  Well, maybe I did anyway.

 

The walking left us exhausted but exhilerated. The worry- and hassle-free no-car option was a fantastic choice. And making some new friends along the way...well, that's just special.

For more information and to plan your own Urban(e) Adventure, visit: www.SanFranciscoTravel.com