Nightlife & Entertainment

25. Ride the Double Dare in the dark

It might get a little chilly when the Delta breeze blows through Golfland Sunsplash’s nighttime hours, but there’s no risk of sunburn, and everyone looks sexier in bikinis by twilight. The park’s evening hours run from 5:30 to 10 p.m. most nights from June 18 through August 31. It can get pretty crowded, so you’ll have to be patient to try the new free-fall Double Dare waterslide under cover of darkness.

Golfland Sunsplash, 1893 Taylor Road in Roseville; (916) 784-1273; www.golfland.com/roseville.

B.C.

26. Dance in outdoor air conditioning

If variety is the spice of life, then Rocky’s 7440 Club is among the most piquant places to be this summer. A small but animated bar will satisfy your karaoke jones and pool-playing aspirations, and a trip outside will cover the rest. Random rules the backyard—complete with flat screens, disco balls and stripper poles. Heat up the dance floor while staying cool with outdoor (yes, outdoor) air conditioning. Fetch a drink at one of two tiki huts. Get sporty at the beach volleyball court or feel special with bottle service at a VIP cabana or fire pit. The crowd is just as varied as the venue’s décor. It’s like an epic house party in a cliché coming-of-age movie that neither police nor parent can shut down.

Rocky’s 7440 Club, 7440 Auburn Boulevard in Citrus Heights; http://rockys7440club.com.

K.B.

27. Make your summer playlist

“I like to soundtrack the season. I’ll do this at least once every spring, summer, fall and winter for walks around Midtown. The summer has particularly reliable standbys: the Dead Kennedys, Madlib, Pavement, Yo La Tengo. For this year’s mix I’m adding new records by Beach House and the latest from Quantic featuring Alice Russell & the Combo Bárbaro.”

—Nick Brunner, host of Capitol Public Radio’s Blue Dog Jam

28. Return to the past

The pleasure of gallivanting about in a Halloween costume is too many months away, but Folsom’s Reliving a Night in History: June 23, 1862 encourages slipping into into something a little more 1800s-like. Besides dressing the part of a pioneer, there are old-school activities to participate in: doll making, gold panning, storytelling and even a square-dancing exhibition. Tickets are $15-$35 for the event, which happens from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on June 23.

Pioneer Village, 200 Wool Street in Folsom; (916) 985-2707; http://folsomhistorymuseum.org.

S.

29. Lay on the grass, and watch the stars come out one by one.

30. Park at the drive-in movies

I can see why people think drive-in movies are a bit sketch. People sneak in contraband. They also fog up windows while partaking in other illicit activities. But consider this: My last trip to the drive-in was more classy than going to the local cinemadome or indie theater. I packed my own sundried tomato, pesto and garlic-cheese spread to go along with bread, crackers, fruit and vegetables. I also snuck in a bottle of pinot noir in a water bottle to make watching The Vow bearable. Needless to say, this summer’s crop of films could also be spruced up with the aforementioned picnic materials.

West Wind Sacramento 6 Drive-In, 9616 Oates Drive; (916) 363-6572; www.westwinddriveins.com.

J.M.

31. Walk with the dead

Being as this is the summer of 2012, many have their speculations as to how this world is going to end. More than a few are hoping for a zombie apocalypse. For the rest of us who prefer to pretend, Sacramento’s annual Zombie Walk opens the 12th annual Trash Film Orgy cult-movie festival. The walk begins downtown on July 14, at 10 p.m. and winds up at the Crest Theatre for a midnight screening of Army of Darkness. There will also be a zombie short-film contest.

Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street; www.trashfilmorgy.com.

A.N.

32. Tame a mechanical bull

Load up on totchos and liquid courage, and take the mechanical bull by the horns at Bulls Restaurant & Bar, the Western bar incongruously located in the heart of downtown. Bonus money-making opportunity: The bar sometimes holds bikini bull-riding contests with $200 cash prizes. Men, we dare you to put down the scorecards and put on a two-piece.

Sacramento Bulls Restaurant & Bar, 1330 H Street; (916) 235-8674; www.sacramentobulls.com.

B.C.

33. Show your dirty dance moves

DJ Hailey and DJ CrookOne’s regular Tuesday night throwdown at The Press Club, Fffreak!, is where the real ass-shakers get down. It’s a free dance night. The drinks ($2 tall cans and $3 shots) are as cheap as Midtown gets, and the tunes speak to a higher rhythm consciousness than—I’m gonna use the word—ultra-lounge fare. Same goes for DJ Larry Rodriguez (a.k.a. the Flower Vato) and his psychedelic day-of-the-Lord dance party, which is also free, and also quite groovy. The underground is alive, Sacto, and it has sweet moves. Fffreak! is every Tuesday, 9 p.m., no cover. The Flower Vato’s dance party is every Sunday, 9 p.m., no cover.

The Press Club, 2030 P Street; (916) 444-7914.

N.M.

34. Rock harder with Joan Jett

In her 30-plus years in music—whether playing with the Runaways or fronting her own band the Blackhearts—Joan Jett’s musical ethos has remained consistent: Play good, stripped-down rock ’n’ roll with a trashy glam vibe and plenty of attitude. Now in her 50s, Jett looks awesome and sounds as good as ever on classics such as “I Love Rock ’N Roll” and “Bad Reputation.” Jett performs July 27, at 8 p.m. at the California State Fair. Tickets are free with fair admission, but if you want to see up close just how tough, talented and fun Jett is, be sure to snag some Gold Circle tickets. Really, $22 isn’t too much to pay to witness a rock ’n’ roll legend.

Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Boulevard; www.bigfun.org.

R.L.

35. Turn on your heartlight

Ready for a rocking summer at Power Balance Pavilion? Don’t get your hopes up. After Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music at the end of June, the venue is mostly dark until Neil Diamond brings his easy-going adult-contemporary groove to Sacramento on August 27. Diamond’s been at it since before some of your parents were born, but how can you miss a show by someone so moved by E.T. that he wrote “Heartlight”? Tickets are $52.50-$117.50.

1 Sports Parkway, www.ticketmaster.com.

K. Bu.

36. Get a room (for karaoke)

If you like your karaoke in a dark room instead of a bar packed with frat bros rapping “Baby Got Back,” then time to howl at the BlueMoon Cafe & Karaoke. The rates are reasonable—$20 an hour for a small room that can fit about five people, $45 an hour for the big room with 20 people—and the bill at the end of the night won’t include any additional-cost surprises, something disconcertingly common at most karaoke spots. It serves beer (it’s pricey) and Hong Kong-style eats (cheaper) and stays open till 3 a.m. on weekends. Go croon “Love Shack,” and snarf some stinky tofu.

BlueMoon Cafe & Karaoke, 5000 Freeport Boulevard, Suite A; (916) 706-2995.

N.M.

37. Read for prizes

The Sacramento Public Library’s summer reading program is open to kids and adults this year. There are more than 500 free summer reading events at local branches, plus there are prizes on the line. Win tote bags, free books, Target gift cards and even an iPad! Register at your local branch or online and log your summer reading. The more you read, the greater your chances to win.

www.saclibrary.org.

B.C.

38. Set up lawn chairs in a parking lot to watch the Fourth of July fireworks at Cal Expo.

39. Belt it out

“Go sing karaoke at On the Y [670 Fulton Avenue]. Coldest beer in town, retro rock and pinup posters abound, and Shay is a super fun host.”

—Robert Berry, founder of Retrocrush

40. Rock out in a basement

Picture walking down into a basement, the ceiling so low that Manute Bol might not make clearance. It’s like those old crusty punk basement show days—but in Davis, in a pizza shop, with a sound system a helluva lot doper than the beat-up PA you stole from your uncle. Luigi’s Slice’s sister location in the 530 also boasts a “fun garden”—an Italian term for a party area in the back of a bar or restaurant—and this fun garden puts on gigs. Jerry Perry has been known to book there, ditto KDVS and all the regulars. Find out more on the Luigi’s Slice Davis Facebook page.

Luigi’s, 213 E Street in Davis; (530) 231-5177.

N.M.

41. Chill on the most popular patio

Show up early at Sophia’s Thai Kitchen for some handmade crab wontons with plum sauce. Stick around—cold Chimay in hand—on the outdoor patio for Davis’ premier outdoor summertime live-music experience. Period. You can get all friendly up in the front near the bands or lurk on tiptoe in the back. You can even sneak around to the back and relax and chat, but still remain in earshot. This month’s concert slate is packed, including the Davis Music Festival on June 23.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen, 129 E Street, Suite E in Davis; (530) 758-4333; www.sophiasthaikitchen.com.

N.M.