Downtown Sacramento

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Downtown Sacramento is the central district of the city of Sacramento, California. The district is defined as north of R Street, south of H Street, east of the Sacramento River, and west of 16th Street. Downtown Sacramento is currently undergoing a major revitalization project.

Contents

[edit] Politics

[edit] Streets

Basically all the streets in Downtown Sacramento run on a numbered and lettered grid system. This makes it easier to get around downtown. The notable exception is the Capitol Mall which is the equivalent of M Street.

[edit] Major Features

Included within downtown is the California State Capitol building, the house of California State Government. The major shopping center is Downtown Plaza, an outdoor shopping mall that includes Macy's. The recently renovated and expanded Sacramento City Hall is also located downtown. The Sacramento Convention Center is the major events venue downtown. The recently renovated Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament located at 11th and K Street. It is the largest historical cathedral west of the Mississippi River.

[edit] Pedestrian Malls

K Street between 13th Street and Downtown Plaza has been closed to all automobile traffic. The only traffic is the occasional light rail train. The K Street Mall functions as an easy way for pedestrians to get around the downtown district.

Another pedestrian mall in downtown is 11th Street between L Street and a little past K Street. However, no light rail runs on the 11th Street Mall.

[edit] Transportation

Sacramento Regional Transit provides light rail and bus service through downtown. Interstate 5 runs on the western edge of downtown, separating it from Old Sacramento State Historic Park. State Route 160 borders the eastern edge of downtown on a pair of one-way surface streets. The historic Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station is located downtown just north of Downtown Plaza and is serviced by Amtrak Capitol Corridor and three other routes, in addition to being the western terminus of Gold light rail line. The return of streetcars to downtown is currently being evaluated in a joint effort by both Sacramento and West Sacramento.

[edit] Hotels

There are many major hotels located in the downtown area. The Hyatt Regency and a Sheraton Grand are located near the State Capitol and the Embassy Suites is located more west in the downtown area, closer to the Sacramento River and Crocker Art Museum. A mid rise Holiday Inn is located right off of I-5 near Old Town. A 230-room 15-story Residence Inn by Marriott is the newest hotel downtown and is located at 15th Street and L Street which is on the northeast corner of Capitol Park. Soon to join the repertoire of hotels downtown will be a 200-room boutique hotel in the old Cal West historic building at 10th street and J street. It is being designed by Joie de Vivre Hotels. There have also been plans for a Intercontinental Hotel downtown but with the failure of John Saca's towers (where the hotel would have been housed), the future of this hotel is unknown.

[edit] Restaurants

Numerous restaurants are located in the downtown area, including a McCormick & Schmick's recently opened in the restored Elks Lodge building at 11th street and J street.

[edit] Theatres

Near the convention center are the Crest Theatre at 10th and K and an IMAX theater located at 13th and K. Downtown Plaza also has a large multiplex cinema. The Sacramento Community Center Theatre is located on 13th and L Street, which has regular performances by the Broadway Sacramento, Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera, and Ballet. The Wells Fargo Pavilion (Music Circus) located on 14th and H provides a unique 'theater in the round' live theater and musical experience. The historic Memorial Auditorium at 16th and J holds many performances from concerts, musicals, comedy acts, traveling bands, and speakers. Currently, a 200-seat cabaret theater is under construction at 10th and K Street.

[edit] Nightlife

Downtown Sacramento is also beginning to attract an active nightlife. There is an increasing number of nightclubs in the downtown area. Some of the nightclubs include The Park Ultra Lounge and 15th street and L Street, the Avalon at 15th street and H street, the Cabana at 12th street and K Street, the Zokku at 4th street and J Street, the Empire Entertainment Center at 14th Street and R Street, The Reggae Dancehall called "The Get Down To The Champion Sound" with Dj's Esef & KDK at the Capitol Garage (1500 K St.), The Loft at J Street and 7th Street, Marilyn's at 9th Street and K Street, and the Parlare Euro Lounge at 10th street and J Street.