3 Gifts of Entertainment If you’re still trying to figure out gift options, here are three recommendations that are easy to purchase without dealing with crowded shopping malls. And tickets have the added advantage of being easy to wrap. How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular Mix the storyline and production company behind the excellent animated film “How to Train Your Dragon” with the animatronic masterminds behind “Walking with Dinosaurs” and you get this amazing show that’s touring arenas around the country. Not only are the dragons awesome enough to thrill ‘children of all ages’ (myself included) but the show incorporates some really cool mixed-media techniques that put the char

Old Sacramento’s Laughs Unlimited packed a full house for stand-up headliner Tyrone (Ty) Barnett and all for a good cause. Hosted by Sacramento-based “Correctional Workers Who Care,” all of Thursday’s proceeds went to the organization’s holiday party for children. The holiday party will include a wrapped gift and a picture with the legendary Santa Claus. With openings from Sacramento comic veterans E. Clark, Tristan Johnson and an even goofier Michael Calvin acting as Master of Ceremonies, the hysteria was absolutely inevitable. Although the venue was at capacity, empty seats scattered the front couple rows, with patrons crowding the outer perimeter instead. Only the brave sat front and c

If Daniel Handler had not become a very successful novelist, he could have easily become a stand-up (and sit-down) comedian. Wednesday night’s audience in the Mondavi Center’s Jackson Hall was treated to this side of Mr. Handler and responded enthusiastically. The event was titled “Daniel Handler: Why Does Lemony Snicket Keep Following Me?” referring to his alter-ego author of the hugely bestselling series of children's books, “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and the movie of the same title based on the first three of the books, staring Jim Carrey. Handler has also written three books for adults: “The Basic Eight,” “Watch your Mouth” and the recently published “Adverbs.” Handler is also

By Amy Serna It might seem hard to imagine making a successful career with puppets, but that is exactly what stand-up comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham has accomplished. His fame, however, wasn’t handed to him from the get-go. Dunham has been working with dummies ever since he was a kid, but now the puppets he brought to life have quickly become classic comic icons. Forbes magazine didn’t name Dunham the highest-paid comedian (along with popular comics Chelsea Handler and Dane Cook) in the United States for nothing. In the past year, the puppeteer earned up to $22.5 million, and Pollstar named him the top touring comedian for the second year in a row.  Dunham’s “Very Special Chris

What do Jay-Z, Jim Carrey, Jake Gyllenhaal and Sacramento comedian Mike E. Winfield have in common? They are all scheduled to appear this week on CBS's “Late Show With David Letterman.” "It was an AMAZING experience," Winfield said when asked to describe his recent appearance. Winfield is no stranger to performing his unique brand of standup on television. He’s been featured on Showtime’s “Comics Without Borders,” hosted by Russell Peters, “Comicview” on BET, “Comics Unleashed” with Byron Allen, “Last Comic Standing” on NBC and “Live at Gotham” on Comedy Central. Quite the resume for a man who, until recently was a grocery clerk working at the local supermarket chain. At AmericasComedy