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NOTES FROM THE TRAIL – With a new baby on the way, my wife and I are trying to get into better shape by taking advantage of the local trails. Armed with “American River Canyon Hikes,” a guide by Jim Ferris, Mike Lynch and Sheila Toner, we’ve been learning more about the fantastic trails in our area. A few weeks ago, we hiked from the staging area at Overlook Park to about 1.5 miles down along the Western States Trail, then turned around and hiked back uphill. Along the way, we ran into Jo Gennuso, of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, and her niece. This particular stretch of trail offers great views of the canyon, the dam site, the river and plenty of trees (as you can see in this week’s snapshot). It becomes very narrow in certain areas and you have to share the trail with horses and runners, which can be problematic in some spots. I took my kids on this hike the weekend before so we could scout the difficulty level before dragging my pregnant wife along. If my eight-year-old daughter can handle the trail, then I figure Rachel will be just fine. In next week’s column, we’ll look at the new Hidden Falls Regional Park trails.
DOWNTOWN HAPPENINGS – With all of the projects going on in Downtown
Auburn, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that the core area is going
through a sort of renaissance. In May, Project Auburn will be giving
the State Theater Building a much-needed facelift. The effort,
spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Auburn, is the unofficial kickoff to
the city’s redevelopment plans, which they refer to as “Streetscape.”
Expect to see a new marquee go up as well (the design for which was
going before the Historic Design Review Commission on Tuesday night,
after the Sentinel’s press deadline). The first phase for the city
begins in August with the beautification of Central Square. This
massive undertaking will include restructuring those crazy traffic
signals, widening the sidewalks and creating outdoor dining areas.
(Hopefully the project won’t interfere with the Black and White Ball,
which has been moved to the third Saturday in August. The main entrance
to the soiree is usually at Central Square.) If we look up to the Clock
Tower, we can see the work Billy Prior has put into the old Post Office
building. Already sporting an anchor tenant (Citizens Bank, run by the
lovely Michelle Strange), Billy is adding an outdoor dining area for
Pasquale T’s, which moved in officially last Friday. The next building
up Lincoln Way, which formerly housed the rug shop, is going through
renovations as well. Split in two, one side features Me Gusta Baby, a
children’s clothing store with its own original line of baby clothes,
and A Taste of Auburn, a wine-tasting room run by Fawnridge Winery. And
heck, next door to that endeavor will be Three Brothers and a Mudda, a
restaurant that will combine the two spaces formerly occupied by Syl
Bruce’s Southwest Silver (now located at High Street and Elm Avenue
where Sundance Computers used to be since they moved out to Grass
Valley Highway and Palm Avenue next door to Yae Japanese Restaurant)
and Eric Erickson’s Open Door Café. Expect a new look for that building
as landlords Marcello and Sarah Nolivo (yes, the same couple who owns
the Club Car) secured the services of popular architect Michael Kent
Murphy for the redesign.
OLD TOWN TALK – Renovation work on the historic Tsuda Grocery building
is still underway. It’s been gutted, the floors ripped up and the front
and rear walls torn out. Once complete, Ty Rowe (of Bootleggers) plans
to lease the space and open an upscale deli. Up Sacramento Street, the
Beach Hut Deli is no more and a “for lease” sign is hanging on the
rails.
Don Chaddock is the executive editor of the Sentinel. He may be reached via e-mail at
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