The last Second Saturday Art Walk of 2012 contained an assortment of events not only in Midtown and downtown but also in Granite Bay and Folsom. Folsom hosted its 45th Annual Arts and Crafts Fair. Nearly 200 vendors, live entertainment and fun for the entire family was part of the event rescheduled from the week before because of weather. Christmas craft vendors lined the middle of Folsom's Historic Sutter Street to sell goods suited for children, adults, pets and Christmas gift giving. Businesses were open along Sutter Street as well and visitors were able to enjoy the pubs, restaurants and shopping areas in Historic Folsom. The Folsom Historic District  Ice Rink which had been clos

Skip the crowded malls and bring your wish lists and cameras down to the MARRS Building to visit Santa’s Workshop in Midtown, Sacramento. This Saturday, Santa's elves will be welcoming the whole family down to capture their holiday portraits with Santa during his final day in Midtown. Attending the workshop is FREE and open to the public. Families will have the opportunity to take their own photos or they can purchase instant photos from the on-site photographer. Children are also encouraged to bring their letters to Santa and place them in Santa’s Mailbox for express journey to the North Pole. This Saturday we will also be having FREE Milk & Cookies available for all the kiddos to enjoy

Last night after a party, myself and two friends went on a moonchase. As we left the party, this is what we saw: So we tried to find other vantage points to no avail. The moon was in sinking mode. Luckily we stumbled upon Candy Cane Lane or our spirits would've be sunk. During non-Christmas time the streets are really called Mineral Springs Drive and Striker Court, just off Baseline Rd.in the Roseville area: This is in a cul-de-sac with music playing. We were able to play it on the radio prompted by a sign that said to tune into that station!

An enchanting evening full of music and dance came to the Three Stages Performing Arts Center at Folsom Lake College. The Compañia Mazatlán Bellas Artes de Sacramento presented a festive Christmas performance on the main stage. The “Posada Navideña,” a Christmas processional, was performed by a group of 30 dancers and musicians. They brought traditional live Mexican music and traditional Mexican dance mixed with ballet to the stage. Executive director Yolanda Ramos-Colosio began teaching traditional Mexican folk dance in Sacramento in 1994. Four years later, as the school grew, she introduced a school (Instituto Mazatlán Bellas Artes) and a professional performing company (Compañia Maz

Skip the crowded malls this Holiday Season and bring your wish lists and cameras down to the MARRS Building to visit Santa’s Workshop in Midtown, Sacramento. Santa's Workshop is open every Saturday in December, leading up to Christmas Weekend. This Saturday Santa's elves welcome the whole family, even the pets, to capture their holiday portraits with Santa. Grateful Dog Daycare will be on hand to give the photogenic pooches a special treat. Families will have the opportunity to take their own photos or they can purchase instant photos from the on-site photographer. Children are also encouraged to bring their letters to Santa and place them in Santa’s Mailbox for express journey to the No

photographs by Barry Wisdom /     Like modern-day Mouseketeers, the boys and girls, and the young men and women of Galena Street East are Sacramento’s freshly scrubbed, unfailingly upbeat ambassadors of song and dance. During the Golden Age of TV, the telegenic team (think the King Family or the Osmond Brothers) might have been featured regularly on variety shows hosted by such iconic hosts as Lawrence Welk, Andy Williams and Ed Sullivan. Today, it’s the kind of all-ages, feel-good troupe one would more likely catch on a theme park or state fair stage (where they do, in fact, regularly appear). Now in the midst of the group’s spate of annual “Holiday Tapestry” performances, which w

On Wednesday the holiday season officially began at the UC Davis Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. “An Nollaig in Éirinn,” or “Christmas in Ireland,” was the theme for the evening of entertainment by award-winning Irish ensemble, Danú. The performance was all about sharing Irish Christmas traditions – both those that include music and those that don’t.  Christmas in Ireland must be a whole lot of fun. The six-member group shared the stage throughout the night, each taking the mic on different occasions to introduce a song, story or joke to educate and amuse the Jackson Hall audience. Lead vocalist Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh had a voice that was powerful, smooth and entirely enchanting.

'Tis the season for holiday celebrations galore. This weekend arrives bearing holiday events of all ilks, from theatre and dance to concerts, kids' activities, local shopping, and more. Check out some of our picks below, and find even more options in Sacramento365.com's Holiday Events section. Celebrate with the whole family: Holiday Magic: Sacramento Zoo; Sat 10am-4pm See your favorite Sacramento Zoo animals receive their special holiday presents. Animals will get special treats delivered to them and staff will be on hand to share facts, secrets, and answer your questions. Christmas Memories: Governor's Mansion State Historic Park; Sat 10am-4pm Surrounded by docents in period costume,

All across Sacramento, people are bringing boxes down from attics, unraveling tangled wires and testing the limits of extension cords. Holiday displays are going up fast, and Midtown merchants are about to get into the act. This year marks the third annual Light up Midtown contest in which businesses compete to see who create the most impressive, holiday cheer inspiring, oh-and-ah provoking store window display. As always, the contest is begin run by The Midtown Business Association, but this year we're proud to say The Sacramento Press is also playing a part. First, we need your input: Midtown shoppers and visitors will be able to vote online at ExploreMidtown.org for their favorite wi

Your favorite neighborhood just got a little merrier. Midtown is all dressed up for the upcoming holiday season with events and specials that are sure to fill visitors and residents with holiday cheer. The 12 Days of Midtown festivities run from Saturday, Dec. 1  through Wednesday, Dec. 12 with festivities for all ages. The event, which is in its third year, features local businesses and showcases hundreds more throughout the district. The annual holiday promotion is designed to engage the public and make Midtown a part of their annual holiday tradition. Throughout the 12 days, attendees can experience a variety of events and activities. Whether it's supporting our local retailers, givi

Saturday, November 24 was "Small Business Saturday" across the nation. Supporting small business is more important than ever since it has been the main force driving the economic recovery. The idea came from American Express a few years back and was embraced by President Obama on Saturday, as he went Christmas shopping for his family at an independent book store. The question is, did this concept, sandwiched in between "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday" have an impact in Sacramento? I decided to take my SacTV.com camera Downtown and to Old Sac to investigate on Saturday between noon and 2pm. Walking around the K Street Mall, which now has the title "The Kay," I did not find much action goi

Local city officials oversaw the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Old Sacramento prior to the opening of the Raley's Theatre of Lights for the holiday season 2012. Local celebrity Mark S. Allen kicked things off.     Mayor Kevin Johnson counted down to the lighting of the Christmas tree.   A beautiful evergreen adorned with a changing light pattern was spectacular to see.   The Raley's Theatre of Lights began with the page describing how Old Sacramento would have been in the mid-1800s during the Christmas season. Now time for the main event, "'Twas the night before Christmas," narrated by Mark Twain.           It actually snowed on the buildings and in the streets of

This Front Street shop in Old Town Sacramento is a toy lovers’ (of any age) paradise. Each year 12 toys are picked to showcase the best in creativity, activity, and education. I visited the shop where Connie explained each toy and demonstrated them to me. Here are photos of each of the toys. They can be found to either side of the Christmas tree near the front door. Like Connie said, they are pretty ugly, but remain popular for those that like that sort of thing.   KEVA uses good ole wood. These put-it together kits can make things small to large.   Check out this tall tower built out of KEVA.   Just like Hot potato only it flashes on and off and plays music... When the music st

Every holiday season, Sacramentans enjoy their presence in malls, churches, parties and other venues as they sit on their chairs and take pictures with kids eager to tell their Christmas wishes – they are the many faces of Santa and Mrs. Claus. One of these Santa Clauses is Stefan Michael Philpott, 53, a painting contractor who lives in Yuba City. He has played the role during the holiday for three years. He worked as a Santa at a local Walgreens in his neighborhood in Yuba City and also for the Midtown Business Association at the MARRS building. For Philpott, he said he tries to prepare himself for the questions kids might ask him about Santa. Philpott said that kids have asked him,

While last-minute shoppers set out to get that final gift on Christmas Eve the Sacramento Zoo filled with visitors who took advantage of free admission as the Zoo held its annual PJ Party. Opening the Zoo on Christmas Eve has been a tradition for more than 12 years and while wearing pajamas is not required to attend, admission is free during the three hour event. Tonja Swank, the Zoo's public relations coordinator, said the Zoo typically draws 500 to 600 visitors on a regular Saturday but on days like Christmas Eve or Free Museum Day when admission is free the number jumps into the thousands.     

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when most folks are sitting down to enjoy dinner with family and friends, public safety officers, doctors and nurses and others in service industries still have to work. It’s not always easy – crime and accidents don’t take a break on holidays. The Sacramento Press asked some of them to share their holiday work experiences. These are their stories. FIRE DEPARTMENT: “(Christmas) is a pretty loaded day,” Doug Bruce, an engineer with Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, said Friday. “There is a lot of last-minute things going on, so there is a lot of traffic out. We keep busy.” Bruce said calls to the fire station can be strange no matter what the day,

During the cold winter nights, the colorful Christmas lights on homes around town bring warmth to the hearts of passers-by. Each decorated house, big and small, has its own charm – front lawns filled with Santa Claus balloons and figures, brightly lit reindeer, colorful candy cane lights, and even cartoon penguins and bears. Some homes have lights overflowing their rooftops and trees, and some have their lights dance to the tune of Christmas carols. Cars slow down in amazement, smiles on their occupants’ faces, as they gaze at the festive decorations. Here are the photos from some of the houses Kalyn Ruijters and I took around our neighborhoods – East Sacramento, South Sacramento, and El

It’s that special time of year on Capitol Mall and Old Sacramento, Christmas lights are up inviting people to walk a few blocks and the Capitol Christmas Trees decked out in all its splendor. Over the last several years, it appears as if more lights have gone up to enrich the overall experience as an inviting destination to visit and enjoy. The Wells Fargo Center has done a fantastic job with a beautiful tree in the lobby and twinkling lights inside and out. Merry Christmas!  

Christmas is a time of giving and receiving, but the former may prove challenging – especially when you need financially friendly ideas. Even when it’s the thought that counts behind a gift, you still need to look like you’ve thought about it, and socks don’t always leave that impression. To make this Christmas challenge a bit easier, The Sacramento Press looked at local stores in Midtown that have some fun options, each of them under $20. The Beat Location: 1700 J St. Store hours: Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. The Beat is an independent music store that sells all genres, new and old. Here, a unique gift can be bou

Little kids all over look forward with excited anticipation to Santa coming into town. They know he has a list that shows who’s been “naughty” and who’s been “nice.” Saturday night several hundred “naughty” people attended Trash Film Orgy’s (TFO) showing of “Don’t Open Till Christmas,” a film directed by Edmund Purdom. The film was one of several films featured at the Crest Theater’s “Santa's Cool Holiday Film Festival.” Doors opened at 10 p.m. for an 18 and older crowd that had been waiting outside the Crest Theater. Audience members dressed in costume were given a discount on admission. Once inside the Crest Theatre, a Christmas tree was decorated and included gifts that were given