Summer Guide 2015 Shopping & Services picks

Fancy party time on a dime

East Bay Restaurant Supply

Summertime means barbecues, dinner parties and any other excuse to show off to your friends. Whether you need a new outdoor grill or just a muddler for your tiki bar, East Bay Restaurant Supply probably has you covered. Restaurant supply stores that don’t actually require you to be part of the restaurant industry are rare blessings, so take advantage. Professional equipment means quality, with prices so reasonable that you’ll never look at a Williams-Sonoma catalog again. 522 N 12th Street;(916) 440-0620; www.eastbayrestaurantsupply.com. J.B.

Get buzzed, buy a lot

California State Fair

Some people freaking love the State Fair. And they also freaking love getting buzzed on some wine slushies and browsing through buildings full of consumer goods—think T-shirts and jewelry, shoe cleaner and blenders, shower heads and saltwater taffy—in the air-conditioned exposition buildings. If you’ve ever wanted to do some buzzed shopping for vibrating massage pillows and scented marbles, you’re in luck. July 10 through July 26 at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Boulevard; www.castatefair.org. J.M.

Not just Hello Kitty

Japanese Food & Culture Bazaar

The 69th annual Japanese Food & Cultural Bazaar happens over two days in August this year. Last year’s featured handmade Japanese food, cultural performances, raffles, games and souvenirs. Then, some of the coolest DIY things were Japanese ikebana arrangements from the Ikenobo School of Ikebana and handmade dolls from the Mataro Kimekomi Doll Academy of Northern California. August 8 and 9 at the Sacramento Buddhist Church, 2401 Riverside Boulevard; www.buddhistchurch.com/
events/Bazaar.htm. J.M.

Clean up your bath

Herbivore Organics bath products

Too many bath products smell like your grandma’s perfume (heavy, froufrou scents), or as if you just fell off a strawberry truck (ugh, sickeningly sweet). The Seattle-based Herbivore Organics line, available at Deeda Salon, offers a fresh alternative. Packaged in bottles, vials and bags that sport a hospital-lab aesthetic, these 100 percent vegan soaps, bath salts, oils and balms are made absent of any artificial colors or fragrances. With ingredients such as clay, charcoal, sea salt and coconut milk, they’re light on the nose and feel good on the body. 1734 34th Street; www.deedasalon.com. R.L.

Stock up on strawberry-kale smoothie supplies

Farmers markets

Since it’s always so hot in Sacramento, summer’s the best time to eat lots of fruit and veggies. That’s an easy task thanks to the multitude of seasonal farmers markets we have all summer. There are, of course, an abundance of small strawberry stands on corners in South Sacramento as well as huge weekly certified markets that take place all over the city; it shouldn’t be difficult to keep the cheap and tasty strawberry-kale smoothies flowing all summer long. Find lists of farmers markets at www.california-grown.com/Market-times.html and www.farmtofork.com/farmer-markets. J.M.

Sip ’n’ shop

High Hand in Loomis

High Hand is a pretty sweet one-stop shopping destination in Loomis that’s way better than the mall. The spot comprises a bunch of businesses connected in one big building: wineries, fruit sheds, an art gallery, a nursery, a rug store, a few boutique shops, a cafe and a bunch of gardens. Careful: You can easily kill the whole day there before you realize you have something else to do. 3750 Taylor Road in Loomis; www.highhand.com. J.M.

Vacation distraction starts here

Art of Toys

If you’ve got kids, you are keenly aware that summer vacation starts soon. Skip the trip to the giant toy store and hit up Art of Toys for distractions that are whimsical, educational and even downright beautiful. Art of Toys is part gallery with toys presented as pieces of art, part vintage toy display and part gift shop. Except these cultured gifts are toys: robot-like gadgets, alternative art tools, wooden blocks of the periodic table, pocket-sized puzzles, music boxes decorated with Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” and adorable fuzzy friends all the way from Denmark.

1126 18th Street;www.artoftoys.com. J.B.

Tune up your caffeine fix

Edible Pedal

Edible Pedal’s first location in the alley next to Old Soul Co. makes bike repairs all the more enjoyable. Drop off your bike, go next door, sip a latte, return to fixed bike. Noting this recipe for success, when the quirky bike shop and bike delivery service opened up its second location in West Sacramento—the first full-service bike shop in town—it made sure coffee was among its offerings. Though much smaller in size, this Edible Pedal isn’t so cluttered—there’s room to sit and lounge with a cup of freshly brewed Insight coffee while your ride gets tuned up. 328 Third Street in West Sacramento, www.ediblepedal.com. J.B.

Dress you up

Rire Boutique

Whether you’re headed to a music festival or just another backyard barbecue, Rire Boutique—with locations in Midtown and East Sacramento—makes for a must-stop shopping option. The shops are stocked with an abundance of floral frocks, flirty tops, roomy bags and supercute necklaces, earrings and shoes. Best of all, the prices are super reasonable in the $20-$40 price range. All the more money to spend on festival tix and barbecue fixins. 2522 J Street and 3257 Folsom Boulevard; www.rireboutique.com. R.L.