until suburbia!

Hunt for Cadavers, Historical Gallery, West Sacramento

August 30, 2026Silvia

The Historical Gallery in West Sacramento packs a lot of history in a little room in the West Sacramento Community Center. Here you can find the historical book exchange, information on the first people and first settlers, and a special exhibit.

The current special exhibit: The Cadaver Hunters, sounds rather gruesome, but presents a spiritual undertaking. A story about how two men fished dead people out of the river. The exhibit started in the spooky season, October 2025, and will end in October 2026. It depicts how a constable and his fisherman brother sifted the river for bodies in the 1950s. They gave families and friends the opportunity to bury their loved ones and find peace in knowing where the remains are.

This gallery is run by the West Sacramento Historical Society.

The Historical Society’s book exchange is a little library with free history books. Same as other little free libraries, you can, of course, also add to the collection.

Some artifacts from the First People living in West Sacramento are displayed together with a brief history over time – from meeting the first European settlers to recent activism. Another little display shows how the settlers lived at the time of the gold rush.

If you would like to see the Historical Gallery, visit it at 1075 West Capitol Avenue, West Sacramento, CA. Opening hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am – 5 pm. Admission is free.

Ride the Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round

August 19, 2026Silvia

Up in Tilden Regional Park is a hidden gem – one of the few working antique merry-go-rounds in the United States. Built in 1911 by the Herschell-Spillman Company of Tonawanda, New York, the handcrafted wood animals still enthrall kids and adults alike. Before it settled in 1949 at this location, one of the previous stops was Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

A single ride is $4, but they also offer party packages. A branch of Fenton’s Ice Cream is connected to the building and offers not only desserts but some diner classics.

Find the Tilden Park merry-go-round at Central Park Dr, Berkeley, CA 94708.

Regular hours are, weather permitting, Friday – Sunday: 11 – 5:30 pm and from June 15th – August 14th open daily, 12 pm – 5:30 pm. Check their website for more information.

Counter at the 'ammatka cafe at Lawrence Hall

Dine on Native American Food with a View

August 10, 2026Silvia

The Lawrence Hall of Science is bustling with kids during the summer camp classes. We came here to have lunch with a view at the ‘ammatka, an Ohlone cuisine inspired cafe. Since we weren’t here for the exhibits, we found ourselves taking a quick walk downstairs to the cafeteria.

The menu is quite unusual with duck sandwiches and an Ohlone salad. But fear not, there are also the usual kid-friendly items such as grilled cheese and chicken nuggets.

The view overlooking Berkeley is also spectacular. It was easy to grab a table next to the window.

‘Ammatka means “the dining hall” in Chochenyo, the first language spoken in the East Bay.

Their opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am – 3 pm. It is part of UC Berkeley’s ‘ottoy Initiative, whose mission is to foster an understanding of Ohlone culture and its people.

Fight Some Demons, Gallery 1075, West Sacramento

April 18, 2026April 18, 2026Silvia

Gallery 1075 is a free (zero fee, zero commission) exhibition space in West Sacramento’s Community Center. This space offers local artists exposure with month-long rotating exhibits.

Currently, until the end of April 2026, you can view Fighting Demons, a powerful exhibit by emerging artist Shaunte Neely. Her mental health journey and breakthrough is captured in expressive imagery, drawn from the heart with arresting accuracy of how depression feels.

Upcoming exhibits are:

People, Places and Things by Celeste Budd; reception 5/15 6 pm – 7:30 pm, until 5/29

Pride Month Group Art Show, reception 6/11, 6 pm – 8 pm, exhibit runs from June 8th – 30.

This is a great space to admire local talent. They also host monthly meetings of the West Sacramento Art Guild (WSAG). Some of their art is displayed on the cafe wall next to the gallery.

Gallery 1075 is located in the West Sacramento community center on

1075 W Capitol Ave. Opening hours are Mondays through Fridays 8 am – 5 pm.

Celebrate 60 years of Black Panthers at the Berkeley Library

April 11, 2026Silvia

“The Black Panther Party in Berkeley: An Archival Exhibit and 60th Anniversary Celebration” is on display at the Central Library in Berkeley. Curated by Billy X Jennings, a former Black Panther member and founder of “It’s About Time,” the Panther Alumni Committee and Archive.

Various cases show articles and memorabilia of the era. They remind us that this political movement also established programs such as free school lunches and free health clinics. Often, the Black Panthers are seen as Oakland-based, but, after the Oakland office was attacked by drunk police in 1968, Berkeley’s 3106 Shattuck Avenue served as their Central Headquarters. Also featured are Cec and Saul Levinson, white Berkeley activists who founded the Berkeley National Committee to Combat Fascism (NCCF), highlighting the multi-cultural ties of anti-fascists groups in the Bay Area.

The Black Panther Party in Berkeley: An Archival Exhibit and 60th Anniversary Celebration is on display until the end of May at the Central Library in Berkeley, 2090 Kittredge St., Berkeley, CA.

A brief history of the Black Panthers: https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/black-panther-party-berkeley

A person taking a picture of the flower fields and a sign saying: Pick Your Own Bouquet today

Pick Some Flowers, Park Winters, Winter, CA

March 27, 2026Silvia

If you only plan on picking your next bouquet at the flower farm in Park Winters, you are missing out. They also have an amazing brunch where everything can be made vegetarian. Wandering around the beautiful estate, before and afterwards, is required.

Even with events going on, you can visit the gift shop near the estate. You may walk away with some olive oil, soap, or a cute greeting card.

Picking flowers on most Saturdays or Sundays can be a relaxing way to spend your weekend. You can just ‘walk-in’, but they recommend that you reserve a spot online. Take the kids, but make sure they are supervised at all times. Kids under 12 are not allowed to handle the shears. Please leave your dog at home. Each bouquet costs $38, not the most frugal experience, but an extraordinary one. Get inspired by nature, relax, and let your creativity bloom.

Not a fan of fresh flowers? No problem! The flower farm also offers to create a bouquet of dried flowers. Want to learn something? Sure, just book one of their workshops, like wreath making. Or book one of their garden tours and learn what’s in bloom.

Park Winters is located at 27850 County Road 26, Winters, CA. The flower picking experience is offered Saturdays and Sundays from 9am – 1pm.

Flowers blooming overlooking the Davis Cemetery

Gaze at the Bloom in the Davis Cemetery

March 13, 2026March 13, 2026Silvia

A cemetery might not be the first place you think of when looking at blooming trees. But the Davis Cemetery, established in 1855, is also a level 2 arboretum. With over 150 species of trees, it’s a great place to take a walk. Right now, some of the trees are in bloom. A wonderful stroll that is augmented by unique headstones and other memorials.

Besides that, they also have one of the nation’s first tributes to COVID-19. The walkway with some colorful arches ends in a cluster of benches that are ideal for social distancing.

If you prefer a meditative walk, they offer a labyrinth that is uniquely shaped.

The all-denominational cemetery is open every day of the week from sunrise to sunset. Located at 820 Pole Line Rd. in Davis.

The entrance of the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg

Taste Some Wines, Old Sugar Mill, Clarksburg

February 7, 2026Silvia

A destination for wine lovers is the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg. Originally established in 1934 as a production facility for sugar beets, it’s now a backdrop for 14 wineries hosting their tasting rooms. The large brick building and the courtyard is a picturesque event venue. The tasting rooms each have their own styles. For example Draconis with their cozy seating and dragon decorations impressed both of us. This would be a great place for a restaurant, but right now, they only offer a food truck on the weekends.

I think this location will be great in the summer. The outside courtyard is inviting, but the rooms were all a bit chilly. The staff throughout was super friendly. One winery even recommended the winery where we stopped for a wine tasting because of my husband’s grape preference.

Where is your go-to winery?

Old Sugar Mill is located at 35265 Willow Ave in Clarksburg, CA. The opening hours depend on each winery; check on the website https://oldsugarmill.com/wineries.html. No pets allowed, except service animals. No outside foods – there will be food trucks on Saturday and Sundays.

Explore Art by Native Americans, Gorman Museum, Davis

January 16, 2026Silvia

Contemporary art by Native Americans, First Nations, and Indigenous Peoples is the focus of the Gorman Museum in Davis, CA. This museum, located near the arboretum, is part of the UC Davis campus. Established in 1973, it has a large collection of earlier indigenous art – baskets, ceramics, and sculptures. The exhibitions now, however, present artists of contemporary Native American arts. Rick Bartow’s solo exhibit ends January 18th, 2026. Shelly Niro will be the next solo artist opening on January 28th, 2026.

I highly recommend the Indigenous Futurisms exhibit, where nine artists redefine their relationship with aliens and superheroes. The Star Wars theme is catchy and invites the viewer to reflect. My absolute favorite was Resistance by Andy Everson. Darth Vader wearing Native American symbols makes him stand out. Is it a ridicule of the powerful? Or a display of dark forces being rejected? The Indigenous Futurisms collection can be seen until September 2026.

The museum doesn’t allow taking pictures of the artwork. You can visit their website to browse their collection.

The Gorman Museum of Native American Art is located at 181 Old Davis Road, Davis. Opening hours are Wednesday to Friday from 11 am – 5 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from noon – 5 pm.

Parking is always challenging at the campus, but if you visit on the weekends, the parking lot 5a has free spots available. During the week, you can use the 7 metered spots in lot 5a, but they might fill up.

Babi Yar is the site of a mass killing by the German Schutzpolizei in WW II

Discern Beauty and Terror, Center for the Performing Arts, Mountain View

January 4, 2026Silvia

Beauty and Terror is the current exhibit in the Center for Performing Arts lobby in Mountain View. Robin L. Bernstein’s beautiful creations using strings pressed into wax reveal, on closer inspection, an ugly truth. 18 artworks telling us about the Holocaust and its many awful atrocities.

Every piece is accompanied by a fact sheet detailing an awful occurrence of genocide during World War II. One features the resistance of the White Rose, another denounces Germany’s handling of its Nazi past.

I think I would title Robin L. Bernstein’s exhibit Strings Attached. Such a fascinating medium- she uses wax and colorful strings for her artwork. Many of the strings are vintage and of European origin.

On her website, she says:

“Dwell on the past, lose an eye.

Forget the past, lose both.”

With Beauty and Terror, she reminds us that we are able to create beautiful things; nevertheless, humans are also capable of killing each other in the most horrendous ways. Being human, we should fight every day to be able to live in peace and not slaughter each other. Learn from our history and never forget.

The beauty of the artworks draws us in to look closer and discover underlying ugly truths. We are capable of both.

This free exhibit runs until January 25, 2026, and is open Wednesdays thru Saturdays from 12 pm to 3 pm. Ask to be let in at the ticket office.

Some of the information might be distressing for people since the descriptions are very graphic, dealing with genocide and horrific acts of violence.