I have to admit, I find the letter K a little frustrating. And why do we even need it, when we already have the letter C?

It’s a krusty komedy konundrum!

Anyway, I racked my brain for some K words that might appeal, because I’m not about to tell you to go check out Kitchen (AKA Sacramento’s most expensive restaurant), even though their Spring menu does sound rather appealing. And I don’t give a hoot about basketball, so talking about the Kings is also not going to happen here.

After much konjuring and a little kursing, I kame up with two options: kites and kazoos!

First, the kites

If you’re into flying them or know a kid who might be, check out Old City Kites and More. As their name implies, they’ve got kites galore, and also offer toys, games and home decor. Need a performance yo-yo? WHO DOESN’T?! Ready to puzzle away an afternoon? HERE’S YOUR HAVEN! Ready to tell the wind who’s boss with a good old-fashioned windsock? SOCK IT TO ME!

With a staff that’s intent on keeping it real, I’m already loving this store, with or without the stunt kites.

Kites have gotten a lot more pricey, but also a lot more cool, since I was a kid. Now you can choose from fancy birds, butterflies, dragons, sharks or cartoon characters, or even spend in the hundred-dollar range for huge kites that look large enough to pull you off the ground and send you soaring.

I’m rather partial to this pirate shark specimen:

Kwit it with the kites already

If kites aren’t quite your cup o’ tea, let’s switch to kazoos.

Check out Kline Music for all your musical needs, from instruments (bought or rented) to sheet music to lessons to repairs.

Want to get kooky with a uke? They’ve got ukuleles in all sizes to fit all pocketbooks. (I didn’t even know ukuleles came in different ranges, “from soprano to bass,” so shows how much I know!)

You can find all your favorite band and orchestra instruments here, plus guitars, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, accordions, keyboards, and a wide variety of world drums. And I’m pretty sure they’ve GOT to have kazoos in there, too. Or at least a harmonica?

As per their Google Maps virtual tour, I can see they’ve got a good selection of piano keyboard neckties and scarves (classic!), and there are a good number of director’s batons, too, in case you’ve been wondering what to get your long-suffering conductor for his or her next birthday or upcoming holiday.

In short, this music store is packed to the gills with everything a musician could want, from beginners to hobbyists to professional performers. It makes me a little nostalgic about my youth, when I had to hop on over to the local music store to grab new sheet music for solo performances (flute and piano) or pick up new strings for my sister’s cello. And if you like musical gifts, they’ve even got a selection of mugs and those ever-present sculptures to complete your mini home orchestra!

So, which will it be: kites or kazoos? Why not both?