local businesses – Exploring Sacramento

Where to celebrate Pi Day (3/14) in Sacramento

March 13, 2020March 8, 2020 Posted in Annual Events, local businesses

Happy Pi Day! If you love a good pun – or just a good slice of pie – then March 14th (3/14) is your day. So, without further ado, here are my top 3.14 places to celebrate both math and desserts with pie in Sacramento.

Rick’s Dessert Diner

Located at 2401 J Street, Rick’s Dessert Diner is a blast from the past. Set up to look like a 1950s diner—complete with neon jukebox, pop art of James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, and black-and-white checkerboard floor—and serving up all of your favorites, you’ll find pies from Apple to California Walnut. They’ve got fruit pies, custard pies, coconut cream pies, and cheese pies, as well as seasonal pies to tantalize your taste buds. Everything in the diner is made fresh, daily, using the finest quality ingredients. If you love pie (not to mention tortes, tarts, cheesecakes, cakes and pastries), you’ve got to visit Rick’s! Open Saturdays from 10 AM to 1 AM for all your Pi Day needs.

Screen Shot 2020-03-08 at 6.24.05 PM

Real Pie Company

Real Pie Company (2425 24th Street) is run by husband-and-wife team Kira O’Donnell Babich and Fred Babich, baking up artisanal seasonal favorites with frequent menu changes, so here’s my best guess for what might be on the menu (based on their offerings, as of 3/8): sweet treats like Jumbleberry, Cherry, Key Lime, Lemon Meringue, Chocolate Cream, Coconut Cream, and Butterscotch-Banana Cream pies, plus a variety of savory options like Chicken Pot Pie, Chili Pot Pie, Shepherd’s Pie, and assorted hand pies. Be sure to check their online menu or call 916-838-4007 for the latest updates! Open 10 AM to 10 PM for Pi Day service.

Screen Shot 2020-03-08 at 6.41.18 PM

I Love Pie Bakeshop

I mean, how can you not immediately head straight for a place named I Love Pie (4949 Marconi Avenue in Carmichael) on Pi Day?! Diana Shockley’s pie palace turns two this year, and her pies are already legendary. Here’s the complete 2020 Pi Day line-up of available flavors (per her Instagram account @ilovepiebakeshop): Triple Chocolate Mocha Cream, Honey Walnut, Extreme Banana Cream (coconut rum, salted caramel banana cream pie), Lemon Cream (topped with mini lemon macarons), Classic Apple, Salted Caramel Dutch, Banana Cream, Chocolate Cream, Coconut Cream, Lemon Meringue, Key Lime, and Bourbon Pecan. Open 11 AM to 7 PM on Saturdays for Pi Day shenanigans, or order in advance by calling 916-969-7791 to be sure you get your favorite flavor!

Screen Shot 2020-03-08 at 6.50.37 PM

Ettore’s European Bakery & Restaurant

For pie lovers who like to keep it simple, turn to Ettore’s (2376 Fair Oaks Blvd). With just three seasonal pies available (the ABCs of apple, blueberry and cherry), you don’t have to stress. Just pick your favorite fruit pie, and enjoy! You can even schedule a pick-up date, time and location to make your Pi Day experience super streamlined. Ettore’s is open from 6 AM to 10 PM on Pi Day and every Saturday.

Screen Shot 2020-03-08 at 7.11.22 PM

Got a favorite pie place we’ve missed?

Let us know in the comments!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Celebrating love and romance in #Sacramento

February 14, 2020February 13, 2020 Posted in Annual Events, local businesses

Happy Valentine’s Day! Today’s the day to celebrate love and romance, and in case you forgot that this holiday existed until RIGHT NOW, well, boy-howdy, you’re in luck. Here at Exploring Sacramento, we’re all about the love and romance (and chocolate!), so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your very last-minute guide to Sacramento’s most romantic options in five very important departments.

Flowers With Flair

Flowers to say “I love you,” right? But you don’t want to be ordinary, do you? You don’t want a dozen roses, like every other Tom, Dick and Harry. No, you want something special, something unique. You want Kiyo’s Floral Design, for ikebana-inspired arrangements. Each design is a work of art, so be sure to check out their Yelp page for tons of gorgeous photos and inspiration.

2030 16th Street, open 9 AM to 5 PM

Screen Shot 2020-02-13 at 9.31.08 PM — Just one of many of the unique arrangements designed by Kiyo’s

Gourmet Chocolate

Chocolate. It’s what everyone really wants for Valentine’s Day. So don’t skimp on the picked-over selection from your closest drug store—get the good stuff. That’s right: go to Kobasic’s Candies and choose from dozens of handmade options for valentines with special dietary needs and discerning palates. Stock up on kruffles (their proprietary take on the truffle) in all flavors and knock the virtual socks off your sweetie with a pound of their favorite candy for $24.95!

5324 Riverside Blvd., open 10 AM to 6:30 PM

Screen Shot 2020-02-13 at 9.19.28 PM — Handmade candy assortment, dressed to impress

Romantic Restaurant

Want to impress your date with a romantic meal cooked by a professional chef? Of course you do! Skip all the usual suspects with the outrageous prices, the silly fondues, and the outrageously long reservation lines and head to Casablanca. Moroccan food, belly dancing, and great atmosphere? Oui, sí, اه!

3516 Fair Oaks Blvd., open 5:30-10 PM

Screen Shot 2020-02-13 at 8.58.08 PM — Comfy seating and camels! Not pictured: belly dancing on Friday and Saturday nights & delicious Moroccan food!

Killer Comedy

Long-term lovers always say that being able to laugh with their partner is what helps keep them together. Whether that’s with or at may be up for some debate, but the important thing is that the laughs keep coming. Bring your best guy or gal to a comedy club and show ’em you’ve still got what it takes: a healthy sense of humor! Some V-Day shows happening this Friday, February 14th include Date Night Comedy Show at Sacramento Comedy Spot (1050 20th Street, Suite 130), The Art of Kissing at STAB! Comedy Theater (1710 Broadway), and And That’s Why We Drink: Here for the Boos Tour at Ace of Spades (1417 R Street).

Genuine Gifts

And finally, for the valentine who’s got it it all, where do you find a great gift? Try Strapping, where Galentines are just as welcome as Valentines! If you’re looking for hometown pride, you’ll find plenty of Sacramento-themed options to choose from. With everything from home goods and decor to gag gifts, clothing, and so much more, there’s a bit of everything (in every price range!) in this cute, jam-packed, offbeat boutique.

3405 Broadway, open from 9 AM to 7 PM

Celebrating National Pizza Day with my favorite pizzeria in Sacramento

February 9, 2020February 9, 2020 Posted in local businesses

Happy National Pizza Day! There are a lot of places where you can get a pizza in Sacramento, so it would be crazy to try to list them all. Instead, I’m going to share a little bit about my favorite pizzeria in Sacramento, so you can enjoy it next time you’re in town.

While it’s true that I generally try to avoid national pizza chains, I’ve found that my favorite pizza joint is actually part of the Chicago’s Pizza With A Twist empire. The reason? Indian pizza.

What the heck is Indian pizza? First of all, it’s delicious! But more importantly, you can get toppings like Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka, Tandoori Chicken, or Curry Chicken on a regular pizza OR you can get those same toppings on a naan bread crust!

Screen Shot 2020-02-09 at 2.16.17 PM

Are you with me so far?

If you’ve never thought about non-traditional, non-Italian toppings on a pizza before, please allow Chicago’s Pizza With A Twist to blow your mind in the very best of all possible ways. My favorite toppings are the Butter Chicken and the Chicken Tikka options, but I’m also very partial to their Butter Chicken penne pasta if you’re not feeling like pizza tonight. (Wait, who doesn’t feel like pizza tonight? Did you miss the part about it being NATIONAL PIZZA DAY?! It’s your national duty to eat pizza tonight, so order the pizza AND the pasta!)

Special bonus: If you order via their website, you can sign up to earn loyalty points towards free pizzas. SCORE!

So, where are you grabbing your pizza tonight, Sacramento?

Chicago’s Pizza With A Twist has two locations in Sacramento: