Description: As I mentioned in my entry on Old Sacramento as a tourist attraction, many of the buildings there are given over to some strange shops. The place selling replica Star Trek uniforms seems to have closed down, but there are plenty of weird places left.
The better stores specialise in things like craft goods. There are several shops specialising in Native American wares. Many shops sell antiques from the 19th Century so that you can take your own piece of history home.
Also more or less in keeping with the theme are shops selling locally produced food and drink. Discover California has a fine range of micro-brewed beers and local wines. Be warned, however, that they charge for the advertised wine tastings. If you have been in Old Sacramento on a busy day you will know why. If you are desperate for a drink, the Hogshead brewpub next door will be happy to oblige.
Now things start to get strange. I mean, why is there a Scottish shop in a place devoted to Californian history? Actually it is not really Scottish anymore; it is more pan-Celtic. I was pleased to find a Welsh rugby supporter t-shirt. I also noted that Charlotte Church had made it into the music section despite not being a purveyor of "Celtic music". That was about it for modern Welsh music though: no Catatonia, no Stereophonics, no Manic Street Preachers, not even Jones the Voice or our Shirl.
Then there is Evangeline's. I have seen many a joke/magic/costume shop in my time, but this place is magnificent. There are fabulous 50's skirts, Betty Boop costumes, a chain mail shirt, French Maid outfits and wigs of absolutely any colour you can think of. The shop has a separate "costume mansion" selling what Americans call "renaissance" clothing (basically anything from ancient Egypt to 17th Century). I rather liked the doormat bearing the legend, "wow, nice underwear!" but then I'm sick like that.
And finally, to cap it all, My Best Friend's Bakery, a shop devoted to producing the very finest in baked goods: for dogs. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to crazy California.
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