a day in Sacramento

[calimac]

Today my visiting brother and I made a day trip to Sacramento. Because it's there. Despite numerous other visits to the city, I don't believe I'd been inside the state capitol since childhood. But now, having navigated building security (if you don't take your camera out of your pocket to pass through the metal detector, the terrorists win; but if, having taken it out of your pocket, you snap a photo of the security apparatus, the terrorists also win), I have seen the office door with the name ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER above it in big letters, while it's still there. Paid homage also to the ugly portrait at the staircase landing of the obscure 19th-century governor (this one) whose papers I processed when I worked for the state historical society.

Lunch at small place in Davis serving pita bread sandwiches under various challenging titles. Dinner at exquisite Mandarin-Szechuan restaurant in Albany with a lamb dish proving to be a slightly less vehement version of the house special lamb at my favorite Hunan place in Mountain View.

Heard intimations of impending holiday over sound systems. In hotel lobby, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." In shop in terminally kitschy (but the chocolate was good) Old Sacramento, Thurl Ravenscroft lustily singing "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch." This is technically a Christmas song, even if one tends not to consider it as such.

Stopped in at the Jelly Belly factory store in Fairfield and bought enough Belly Flops to make favors at all the parties I'll be attending between now and New Year's.

Comments

[jpmassar.livejournal.com]

What's the name of the Mandarin-Szechuan restaurant in Albany?

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

China Village (I know, not a promising name, but the results are good). Solano at Ramona.