When it comes to live local music, "Old I" is a Sacramento icon. Many famous bands started here, including Cake, Catfish and the Crawdaddies, and Mick Martin. Sometimes crowded, sometimes intimate, this bar features historical photos on the wood-paneled walls. The stage is in an adjoining room so patrons can usually find a booth in which to talk over the music if they choose. Full bar service is available.

Located in a trendy shopping plaza, this dining spot has great food served in a simple and comfortable atmosphere. The menu at Shanghai Garden, including lunch, dinner, takeout and delivery, features the excellently prepared and presented traditional Chinese dishes. Some notable exceptions include the crabmeat cheese wontons, vegetable tempura and curry chicken. Mandarin and Hunan recipes are the specialty of this restaurant. The appetizers, six of which can be combined in the Pupu Platter sampler, are very filling and some guests order them as a meal.

You may wait 20 minutes at lunch for one of the Reuben or Creole sandwiches, but do not give up; the wait is worth it. Located in the trendy Pavilions Center on Fair Oaks, this eatery combines the freshest meats, vegetables and other produce into some of the best sandwiches around. The Creole, combining turkey, zesty Creole mayonnaise, cabbage, lettuce and tomato is a favorite of the large and noisy noon-hour crowd. The wine selection is so extensive that experts are available to help you select a wine.

33rd Street Bistro is an upscale eatery which is usually packed with locals. The trendy diner decor and menu created by Chef Fred Haines have turned brunch into an especially popular event. The spinach salad with citrus shallot dressing comes highly recommended. Try the roast chicken sandwich on focaccia bread for a quick lunch. For dessert, the Bistro's chocolate martini offers a unique alternative to ice cream. Fruit-packed berry pancakes highlight the daily breakfast menu.

This theater is conveniently located with easy on-and-off access to Interstate 80. It has 16 screens featuring digital sound. The interior is comfortable with rocker chairs, and its stadium seating provides a great view of the screen. The concession area has more than traditional cinema snacks and features a cafe with coffee drinks, ice cream, nachos and more.

Ettore's bakery with a European-flavored atmosphere is arguably the best place in Sacramento to enjoy sweet treats. Cakes, truffles, Napoleons, gingersnaps, crullers, Danish, eclairs and shortbread are all fresh and delicious. The assortment changes every day. The lunch and dinner menus feature a delicious assortment of sandwiches on fresh baked bread. All menu items are reasonably priced and seating at the cafe tables provides an interesting vantage point from which to people-watch. There is a second location in Folsom at 510 Natoma Station Drive.

Sacramento's Aces Supper Club is a fun spot with a vast and varied menu. For instance, the blackened-beef sandwich comes with a smoke flavored Philippine sauce. Munch on some Hong Kong chicken wings or grilled brushetta. Then go for some succulent baby back ribs with Black Jack barbecue sauce. Salads are of a huge variety at the Aces Supper Club.

The grill features a great selection of barbecue dishes and appetizers. In addition, you can order stuff to go and take the party home with you. The pub/club features 32 tap beers, DJ-hosted dancing nightly, theme nights, drink specials and a full arcade. Round the clock, 52 televisions show sporting events. The restaurant appeals to families, while the club and bar draw a young college crowd. Call for the schedule of televised sports.

A favorite game watching and drinking spot with a young male crowd. The pub has 35 TVs, two of them big screens, that overlook the tables and bars. Name a sporting event and the satellite dish pulls it in. Posted daily is a new schedule of televised events. Most pay-per-view events are free of charge. In between sports shows, this hot spot has plenty of video games, Skee-ball, darts, shuffleboard and a very popular basketball game to keep you entertained.

Located on the riverbank Marina, Crawdads River Cantina is the best place for live music and great food. The menu constitutes of  chicken and spinach quesadillas, coconut shrimp, garlic steak sandwich or homemade deserts such as peach melba sundae. They have happy hours from Monday to Friday from 3p to 6p and on Sundays from 10:30a to 1p. Crawdads is known for their impeccable service. Summers are the best to spend here especially with the view of the river and with the cool breeze blowing away.