Quarry Ponds, the newest shopping center in Granite Bay, hosted a culinary and theatre art festival last weekend that showcased a few artist friends of mine. There was a salsa contest by local chefs, ballroom dance exposition and a raffle for $500 along with the art show featuring local artists from the Folsom Lake area.

The weather was perfect for outdoor activity and I heard that this event will be the first of many for this local center. Since the seasons are changing perhaps the owners would consider a wine tasting dinner or hosting a ZAP dinner but that’s another blog.

Sierra Style Magazine was there promoting their  “Saving with Style” program which features local businesses who participate by offering discounts on their products or services. This is a entertainment type card exclusive to local businesses who advertise in the magazine. My artist friends do advertise in Sierra Style so were on hand to promote the festival and offer their support.

I was having so much fun looking at the art and watching the dancing that I forgot to look for a copy of the much anticipated Art & Artist Magazine  The art world is expanding in our region and once this magazine hits the stands I think we might have a shot at losing our cow town reputation.

Granite Bay is ideally located next to Folsom Lake and has two entrances for boats and campers. Since the lake is surrounded mostly by federal lands, private property that touches the lake is rare and Granite Bay is home to those lucky homeowners. There are also a few neighborhoods where you can walk to the lake or enjoy a bike ride along the shore. There are special events ranging from boat shows to art festivals and camping is available with reservations through the national park service.

The newly created Granite Bay Recreation Association has a new website to connect with other sports fans and is long overdue. This area was once a part of Roseville but the need to separate the paperwork has become crucial for continued growth and Granite Bay officially seceded in 1987. There is every sport a young athlete could hope to play and the parent participation is every soccer mom’s dream come true.

Golf is huge in this part of Placer County and the private course in Granite Bay has lots of challenge and participates in many charity events where you can catch a glimpse of some famous locals.  Boaters and water sports abound when the lake is full and then there is the usual biking clubs who can be seen every weekend along Folsom-Auburn Rd.

Real estate is a bit pricey in this part of town but equally important is the impact Bayside Church has had on the local population. This congregation hosts up to 15,000 people each Sunday and has expanded out to various towns in the valley. This has been a positive for the community and many of the local businesses enthusiastically offer support. Overall Granite Bay is a very family friendly town with lots to offer.

Roseville, CA is a great city located along Hwy 80 half way between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe.  Situated in the Sierra foothills of the Sacramento valley this up and coming town claims #90 in the top 100 places in 2008 to live in the United States according to Money Magazine.

Historic Roseville has a quaint downtown area with a new civic center, classic movie theatre and local shopping with antique stores and assorted local vendors. They host an Art Walk every 3^rd Saturday from spring to fall and there are a variety of street fairs that support charities and special events during the summer months.

Granite Bay is the bedroom community located next to Roseville and was once part of this city. It is similar to El Dorado Hills in that it has a more affluent population and caters to the upper end real estate shopper. The private Granite Bay Golf Club is located in the middle of this lovely area and is available for special events.

West Roseville offers incredible shopping thanks to the Galleria. When this mall opened in the early 2000s, it was showcased as one of the newest concepts in shopping mall design. The expansion has yet to be complete with an additional wing just opening called the Fountains. Located across from the main mall this new center offers Whole Foods as the main anchor.

East Roseville offers a more tranquil setting with established neighborhoods and easy access to Folsom Lake. Homes on acreage are still available and working farms offer roadside produce that get plenty of business from the locals. On the weekends, you will see bicycle clubs riding along Auburn-Folsom Road with both types of bikes sharing the road.  

This northern section of the Sacramento valley offers virtually every sport imaginable and is located within 1.5hrs drive to some of the world’s best winter sports in Lake Tahoe. If you are considering a relocation please give me a call and I’ll be happy to get you started.