Just Riding Around......

Parking the bikes in front of the garden shed at our first stop on the ULI Bike tour.

A couple of weekends ago, Tim and I took to the streets of Sacramento with a group from the Urban Land Institute to check out urban infill projects of note in the Midtown area. Every couple of months, anyone interested in architecture and what is happening to the fabric of Sacramento's urban core can join in the fun and tour different areas by bike. Everyone meets up at Old Soul Coffee (some swear the best coffee in California!) at 9:00 on a Saturday and we all follow the leader to the first destination.

This time we toured what is known as the Fremont Park area. The first stop just happened to be a house that is across the street from my old work place, so I was very familiar with the house. Designed by architect Ron Vrilakas, it is one of my favorite infill residences in town. It looks like it has been here for decades. A modified version of an American Foursquare design it is full of charm.....

One of my favorite aspects of the house is the backyard where the owner has planted raised beds with perennials and vegetables. You can see another ongoing project behind the garden....a new take on the traditional Victorian, also prevalent in this area.....

Thought you might like a little peak at the flavor of the interior......

Next up was a project that takes full advantage of the many alleys in the midtown area. We parked our bikes in front of a great old carriage house on the alley.....

....and were met with refreshment. One could get used to bike trips like this. I loved the garden design on the alley which included roses, salvia, lavender and other drought tolerant plants...

Here is a long view of the alley where the builder took advantage of this small street and made it the pedestrian entrance for the residences with plantings all along the way.....

After a few more stops, we arrived at Fremont Park, which has been much improved over the last ten years, thanks in large part to the Friends of Fremont Park,. It is now home to the annual Chalk It Up Festival, Farmers Market, and the Hot Lunch Concert Series (next one coming up this Thursday!) We stopped to admire the Art in the Park before our appetites got the best of us. What luck! Hot Italian is right across the street (Pizza anyone?)......so no surprise that they are one of the collaborators of the Hot Lunch Concert Series!

Hot Italian is home to perhaps the best pizza in Sacramento.....although you know pizza lovers....they are an opinionated bunch! For me....Hot Italian takes it.......

And for we bike riders....another place to look at bikes....and hot Italian scooters.....

Sorry....I was busy eating....I am back now.

Meet the amazing and dedicated Andrea Lepore, one half of the founding team of Hot Italian. The other half is Fabrizio Carcatore, a most talented pizzaiolo from the Italian Riviera. Both are committed not only to great pizza, but but also to building great communities. Their motto? "Tutto e possibile"...