Out-of-towners sometimes still think we’re a cow town, but Sacramento has come a long way in the last 15 years or so.  Our best restaurants rival San Francisco standards, and our gay and lesbian community is reputedly larger (if less flamboyant, since most of them work in stodgy government jobs).  Second Saturday (sorry, we’re going to be one week late for that) features open art galleries throughout midtown in the evening.  But you can still visit them during the day, if you have time.  Following is a partial list of restaurants, clubs, bookstores, and other attractions in the immediate area:

Restaurants: There are many more, but this list covers those within easy walking distance that local members have enjoyed:

Bistro 33 Midtown: 1020 16th St; 233-3633; $$; Pac NW; B wkend; L, D daily.  www.bistro33.com/bistro33_midtown/home.html

Crepeville:  1730 L St; 444-1100; $; Am-Medit; B, L, D daily.  www.sacmag.com/media/Sacramento-Magazine/April-2005/Fork-On-The-Road-Crepeville/

58 Degrees and Holding Co: 1217 18th St; 442-5858; $$; Medit; L, D daily.  58degrees.com

Nishiki Sushi:  1501 16th St; 446-3629; $$; Sushi; L, D daily.  www.nishikisushi.com

Chipotle:  1831 Capitol Ave; 444-8940; $; Mexican; L, D daily.  www.chipotle.com/#flash/food_menu

Tamaya Sushi:  2131 J St; 498-8388; $$; Sushi; L, D daily.  www.tamayasushi.com

Zocalo:  1801 Capitol Ave; 441-0303; $$; Mex; L, D daily.  www.zocalosacramento.com

Dragonfly:  1809 Capitol Ave; 498-9200; $$; Asian; L, D daily.  www.dragonflysac.com

The Waterboy:  2000 Capitol Ave; 498-9891; $$$; Fr-Ital; D daily.  waterboyrestaurant.com

Thai Basil:  2431 J St; 422-7690; $$; Thai; L, D daily.  www.thaibasilrestaurant.com

Tapa the World:  2115 J St; 442-4353; $$; Spanish; L, D daily.  www.tapatheworld.com

Kasbah Lounge:  2115 J St; 442-4388; $$; Medit; D daily.  Bellydancing!  kasbahlounge.com

Mason’s:  1116 15th St; 492-1960; $$$; Cali; L (M-F); D daily.  www.theparkdowntown.com/page.php?url=masons

Streets of London:  1804 J St; 498-1388; $; English; L, D daily.  www.streetsoflondon.net/sacramentohp.html

P.F Chang’s China Bistro:  1530 J St; 288-0970; $$; Chinese; L, D daily. pfchangs.com

Budget travelers:  Crepeville and Chipotle are excellent, inexpensive, and you pay at the counter, so no check-splitting headaches at the end of the meal!  Streets of London is a little grittier, but offers that English pub atmosphere and the same price range and counter pay.

Coffeeshops:

Starbucks:  right in the Convention Center, on your way from the hotel to the meeting rooms.

Old Soul Co.:  1716 L St; 443-7685; M-Th 6am-9pm; F-Sa 6am-10pm; Su 6am-2pm.

True Love Coffeehouse:  2315 K St; 448-5683; Su-Th 11am-midnight; F-Sa 11am-1am.

Rick’s Dessert Diner:  2322 K St; 444-0969.  www.ricksdessertdiner.com

Clubs:

Faces:  The premier gay/lesbian etc nightclub in town; open to friendly persons of all genders and orientations.  Different themes on different nights and floors.  www.faces.net

Goth clubs:  usually a few running at any one time, but they tend to move around.  Watch here for timely details as the event approaches.

Mason’s:  address etc under restaurants, above; also runs a trendy nightclub including beds as part of the decor!  If you buy dinner, you get free admission to the club.

The Rage:  1890 Arden Way.  Well beyond walking distance, but if you’re interested, there’s a goth club every Sunday night there called Asylum:  www.asylumnetwork.com

Bookstores:

Beers Books:  915 S St; 442-9485.  New and used; all fields, but including Sacramento’s best occult selection.  Su 11-5, M-W 10-6, Th-Fr-Sa 10-8.

The Avid Reader:  1003 L St; 443-7323.

Book Collector:  1008 24th St (betw J & K); 442-9295.  M-Sa 10-6; Su 11-4.

Other Attractions:

Capitol Park:  Great walking under sun or moon.  This is an urban area, so bring a friend with you after dark.  http://www.sacbee.com/165/story/437495.html

Sutter’s Fort:  Same John Sutter you learned about in middle school:  http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=485

Old Town Sacramento:  A little further away, and a little touristy, but fun in its own way:  http://www.oldsacramento.com/

And of course:

San Francisco:  an hour and a half to the west.

Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada Mountains: John Muir’s “Range of Light”;  an hour and a half to the east.

Napa Valley Wine Country:  an hour and a half to the west and north.