Today on weekend meanderings, summer spritz, salad and swimsuits, plus a visit to Fairytale Town and Walnut Creek’s Uncorked event.
Happy Saturday, friends!
It’s time for the weekend post with Kim and Elizabeth. Our weekly roundup of inspirations and goings on.
We saw Earth, Wind & Fire last night at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. Jim asked … how many times have we seen them? My answer … never enough.
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The Greek Theatre was built in 1903 funded with a gift from William Randolph Hearst, I believe the last renovation was in 1957.
It’s not the most comfortable theatre. If you get seats above the pitt area you’ll be sitting on pebbly cement … BYO cushion is recommended. I’ve learned to shell out whatever is required to get a proper seat and still it’s no frills. But there’s not a more awesome theater experience for a summer concert in the Bay Area.
My first concert at the Greek was Al Jarreau – so good – in the early 80’s. I know, I’m ancient.
Anyway, the theater’s near the football stadium and looks out over the campus campanile.
EWF came on about 8:30 … they created an amazingly fun and happy atmosphere and I think we all can use that kind of joy in our lives right now. I’ll post snippets from the concert later today on Instagram stories.
In addition to EWF, we were out and about quite a bit this week.
Fairytale Town
We got out and about this week to meet niece Sophie and her kiddos at Fairytale Town in West Sacramento. Sophie lives in Grass Valley so it’s a halfway meeting point. We discovered Fairytale Town when we visited the Sacramento Zoo last year. They’re across the street from one another.
As the name suggests the theme of the park is fairytales and so all the interactive features represent all the tales we’re familiar with. We started out with the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe. It was grand-niece Haddie’s favorite slide.
Behind the windmill is a reading room where story hours are held.
Haddie also enjoyed King Arthur’s Castle and made a bee-line for the Round Table room throne.
The pirate ship was a huge hit with Haddie and little brother Everett. As were the fire truck, hippopotamus water fountain and tractor.
Fairytale Town is a fun place to spend an hour or two. I recommend going early. They open at 9:00am (during the summer) and around 11am it started to get very busy. Admission is only $10 – kids and adults. Under 2’s are free.
The park feels like a smaller version of Children’s Fairyland in Oakland. I have vivid memories of visiting Fairyland as a child, but for some reason I never took my nieces. I’ll have to talk Sophie into bringing the kids down here so we can go.
Jim and Everett shared a snack before we headed for the exit.
Haddie wore this adorable ribbed dress from Old Navy (I can’t believe the price!) with her sparkly jelly sandals.
Much less of a fashion plate than my grand-niece, I wore my new favorite ruffle waist wide-leg cropped pants, cropped tee and Arizona EVA slides. It’s my early summer uniform and I’m in danger of wearing out all three pieces. The pants are lightweight and roomy and great for chasing kids around parks. The same can be said for Birkenstock’s EVA Arizona’s … they’re light as a feather and surprisingly great for lots of walking. Of course, I brought my everywhere bag because handsfree is the only option.
Farro Salad with Radishes, Arugula and Feta
When we were done at the park we walked across the parking lot to William Land Regional Park for a picnic. I brought Sophie’s favorite farro salad with radishes, arugula and feta, and ham and brie sandwiches. Both recipes – from Nancy Fuller – have been a summer staple in our house for years.
Sophie brought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Haddie and Everett and her yummy sourdough chocolate chip cookies.
Jim and I had leftovers for lunch on Thursday.
BTW I’m loving the woven, fringed placemats and oversize linen napkins I picked up at Pottery Barn after mistakenly sending all our tabletop stuff to storage.
Sophie sent the leftover sourdough chocolate chip cookies home with us and we devoured them. I shared her sourdough essentials last year.
Walnut Creek Uncorked
Thursday night we Sipped, Savored and Strolled at Walnut Creek’s Uncorked event.
Lots of favorite restaurants and shops offering yummy bites and pouring bubbles, wine, bourbon and tequila.
Fizz | 1515 | Bourbon Highway | Melos
It was such a pleasant evening, I think I’ll adopt the philosophy of sip savor and stroll through life. Or at least summer.
Bicicletta Spritz
Summer cocktail nights continue with a Bicicletta Spritz … a super simple spritz with ingredients you likely already have in your bar.
Dry white wine, like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris, Campari, Club Soda, and an orange. Recipe here.
It was hot yesterday, and this spritz is pretty and refreshing. We enjoyed them before heading off to Earth, Wind and Fire. Watch my mixing Reel here.
Cheers!
Summer Poolside Classics
With our rapidly approaching Cabo vacation on my mind I took inventory of my bathing suit situation and decided to treat myself to a new one. My plan is to pack two suits for four days. I foolishly promised Jim I will pack a carry-on bag this trip. But … bathing suits don’t take up a lot of space and I reserve the right to toss in a couple more at the last minute.
My two favorite suits are Andie Swim’s Tulum suit and Summersalt’s Marina suit which sadly had only limited sizes available (similar suit here and here).
My new suit is J.Crew’s Gemma suit in simply sage. And my new Everything But Water Ava Halter suit. Did I say one new suit? I meant two.
Poolside coverups are almost, maybe more, important than the bathing suit itself. I love the classic look of the shirt-dress style coverup. J.Crew makes a fantastic one and I have it in a stripe. J.Crew no longer offers the stripe but Frank & Eileen makes a similar version. And Tommy Bahama has this one.
The classic cover-up also comes in white, flax and black which works with any and every bathing suit option out imaginable.
J.Crew Coverup in White, Black, Flax
I bought a similar version in Puglia last summer and spent a small fortune. I’d have been better off saving my money and ordering the J.Crew.
Similar Shirt Coverup | Swimsuit | Linen Pants | Similar Sandals | Hat
While I’m excited about summer – and vacation – I’m not excited about putting on a bathing suit. But, as a full-fledged member of the We Do Not Care Club, I’m trying hard to embrace club rules … ‘we do not care about summer bodies, summer is getting the same body as every other season.’
Shop ~
Odds and Socks ~
Great news, Gap restocked their popular cotton gauze barrel pant that I mentioned last week.
Current Favorites ~
That’s what I have for you today.
Weekend Meanderings is taking a little summer (July) break and will be back August 2!
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