Sacramento Stylin’ with The Lipstick Giraffe

Sacramento Stylin’ with The Lipstick Giraffe

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With #SuperBowl50 just around the corner, CA natives and out-of-towners alike are planning their trip to the Big Game. Why not spend some extra time on the Best Coast to soak up some sunshine and famous California wine? Read on to see why Sacramento is a stop you should definitely make before or after the football festivities.

Amtrak: Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.
Kachet: My name is Kachet and I am known by my moniker The Lipstick Giraffe. The Lipstick Giraffe is a fashionable lifestyle brand that I started in 2012.  My friends call me the Sacramento ambassador, and even predict that I’ll be mayor one day. While I can’t say that a political career is in my future, I do love this place and I want the world to know it!

Describe Sacramento to a first-timer. What’s the vibe? Is it known for anything besides being the Golden State’s capital?
If you didn’t know Sacramento is America’s Farm to Fork Capitol, something that the city is very proud of and has a week-long Farm to Fork Festival every September in honor of it. The vibe? I’d say Sacramento is warm and welcoming. There is always something going on, whether it’s a race or street festival. Sacramento loves its events! Sacramento is also a place for collaboration. You can be who you want to be here. I know that may sound cheesy, but if you have a crazy idea, this is the place to have it. It’s a little less scary here and the people will back you up.

Talk to us about Sacramento style – are there any local trends? Best places to shop?
Defining Sacramento style is a bit of a challenge. I will say style changes by neighborhood. Otherwise, it’s very eclectic and . Some top trends that I’ve seen a lot lately are fringe, graphic tees (many supporting local businesses/brands), chambray and leather. Beards are everywhere, too.When shopping in Sac, I like to visit head up to Midtown and visit places like Heart Clothing Boutique and Freestyle Clothing Boutique. Display in Oak Park is a must visit. It is a revolving retail concept, and also used for events. About every 8 weeks, the store changes completely and so does some of the merchandise. All of the items are highly curated and are from local artisans. I live in East Sac and my go-to spot there is Article Consignment Boutique. If you want designer duds and don’t want to pay Neiman-Marcus or Bergdorf prices, then this is your spot. The best part of shopping at these spots is that the owners and staff are so nice. They spend time getting to know you, and repeats are known by name and notified if something comes in that they may like. The personal touch supersedes going to a big box store.

CSP_3270r for webHow about food? Any great local bites, places to enjoy Happy Hour?
Some of my go to places for happy hour are Grange, Blackbird and Cafeteria 15L. If you’re into oysters like I am, we have a couple of oyster happy hours here but the best one is at Esquire Grill with $1 oysters from 3-6, M-F. If you’re into southern food, a new restaurant that stole my heart is South. If you want a taste of wine country without having to make the trek, Downtown & Vine on K Street is a must-visit. While you’re on that block, stop by Ella for a gin and tonic with house made tonic. If you’re into dive bars, hit up Pre-Flite Lounge. It has a cool and unpretentious vibe.Sacramento also has award-winning coffee.  Temple Coffee, Insight and Chocolate Fish are all great picks. When I need a sweet treat, I’m storming into Andy’s Candy Apothecary for my favorite Berry Bricks. Rick’s Dessert Diner is another favorite. A place that a lot of locals don’t even know about is Osaka-Ya — it’s my favorite place to get a cool summer treat when the temperature rises. Get one with a scoop of ice cream on the bottom and Azuki beans. And when I’m not eating and drinking my way through town, I’m at Liquidology to stock up on some great cold-pressed juice and beverages.

Any places that visitors should be sure to hit up while they’re in town?
The Crocker Art Museum cannot be missed. It’s the oldest public art museum founded in the West and went through a massive expansion a few years ago, making it a leading art museum in the region. Take a short walk from the Crocker along the Sacramento River and you’ll end up in Old Sacramento. There you can step back into the Old West and visit some unique shops.If you’re more of the active type, rent bikes from one of our bike shops and take a ride on the American River Parkway. It is quite picturesque! Since Sacramento is the State Capitol, there’s no way you can miss the gorgeous Capitol Park. There are trees from around the world within the park and numerous gardens and memorials. It’s the perfect place to read a book or have a picnic. Continuing with the people watching, GATHER in Oak Park is one of my new favorite places to do so while also eating good food. The block at Broadway and 3rd Ave is shut down every second Thursday starting in May to create the ultimate block party. It’s an experience that I highly recommend.  Into music? Every Friday until July 18 you can enjoy Friday night Concerts in the Park at Cesar Chavez Park on 10th/J. If I’m ever at a loss for things to do, I usually check out the Downtown Sac website.  It’s a great resource for events around Sac year-round.

With service to Sac Town on the Capitol Corridor via the Coast Starlight or California Zephyr, it’s easy to explore California, Amtrak-style. ?