在亚利桑那州长大, Mona Bahraini grew up surrounded by striking saguaro cactus, 泰迪熊cholla, 还有金刺梨. 当她搬到 萨克拉门托, Bahraini brought her love for desert flora along with her, building a personal collection of more than 300 succulents, 住在一个500平方英尺的公寓里.
In 2017, an accident left Bahraini out of work. Stuck on the couch surrounded by her at-home oasis, she realized that her love for succulents was more than just a hobby—it was her calling. “I really wanted people to understand that plants are cool,” she says. “Succulents are literally prehistoric, so beautiful and strong.” The 萨克拉门托 local started hosting potting classes for birthday parties and mothers’ groups. The events took off and soon her passion transformed into a full-blown business.
今天，巴林拥有并经营 多刺的梨, a nursery and community greenhouse in 南side Park. “Our space is like a magical oasis in the middle of downtown,” she says. Walk down a narrow path behind a historic home to find a whimsical space marked by blooming wisteria, 闪烁的灯光, 以及各种形状和大小的多肉植物. “The best day to visit is Sunday when you’ll get to meet our three Nigerian dwarf goats,巴林尼说, who loves inviting curious visitors into her shop—and showing them around her beloved adopted hometown.
It’s no surprise that one of Bahraini’s favorite things about 萨克拉门托 is its natural beauty. “One of its nicknames is ‘the City of Trees,’ and there are trees absolutely everywhere,” she says. “这里的植被好极了.” She recommends travelers get their bearings in 国会公园. Developed by former California governor Leland Stanford in 1863, 绿色空间包括一个玫瑰园, 原生植物生长的区域, 还有一丛丛开花的茶树. 巴林尼说:“味道好极了。.
自称美食家, Bahraini and her husband also enjoy sampling the ever-growing restaurant scene in California’s 建立资本. 星期六从 中城农贸市场, where the couple browses fresh produce and locally made crafts; Bahraini swears by leather goods from 萨克拉门托-based craftsman 杰克卡斯特罗. For brunch, it’s the buzzy 南ern-influenced 培根和黄油. “Their food is sustainably sourced, and the taste is out of control,巴林尼说. Take her advice and order one of their fresh-out-of-the-oven Cinna Roll.
An ideal weekend afternoon might continue with wrangling some friends to hop on a self-propelled trolley with Sac Brew自行车 或者开车去福尔松湖徒步旅行 花岗岩湾. 在晚上, Bahraini recommends taking your pick of any of 萨克拉门托’s “cool restaurants” and window shopping at the “tons of mom-and-pop shops.”
五个最爱
隐藏的宝石:“ 加州州立图书馆 镇上的人都被低估了. The entire building is special, and I just love to go there. The Circulation Room has big, beautiful windows—it feels almost enchanted. The library is open to the public and you can explore the building’s three stories on your own, or you can take a docent-led tour to learn more about its history.”
约会之夜:“ Sunshine Roll (shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, and green apple) at 克鲁人的 是难以置信的. My husband and I have taken countless guests there, and they all agree it’s the best roll they’ve ever had. The restaurant is 日本-California fusion and they focus on local sourcing and sustainability. The ambience has a sexy, playful vibe, and the bartenders are really fun.”
最喜欢的三明治: “南 is just beyond—it’s one of my favorite restaurants and serves the ultimate 南ern comfort food. Everything is traditional, but the owner puts a modern twist on things. 他们的早午餐很丰盛, 但bbin游戏官网通常去那里吃饭, and every single time we get the Hot Chicken Sandwich. It’s a classic fried chicken sandwich, but with Green Goddess–style dressing. 味道太棒了.”
神奇的鸡尾酒的主人 瓶子和巴洛 wanted to blend a barbershop with a bar, so he created a mix of the two. You can order a drink or get your hair cut. They make amazing cocktails—both alcoholic and nonalcoholic—and it’s very hip, 欢迎, 一点也不矫情. Plus, they play great music late into the night. 我最喜欢的饮料是黄瓜鸡尾酒.”
当地的烤肉炉: “My husband is a huge coffee fan—he drinks it all day long—and we think 这个工厂 这是城里最好的地方吗. It's very warm and 欢迎, with an adorable space. They roast their own coffee that you can pair with house-made seasonal syrups. The hand-held waffles with powdered sugar and honey butter are also really popular and tasty. 我丈夫总是点他们的冷咖啡.”
