Muse came to the Sleep Train Amphitheater in Sacramento Tuesday night to an almost sold out crowd. This was one of several stops in California to kick off their North American Tour. Band of Skulls opened for Muse. They were a great compliment to the headliners. The same old school rock and roll music quality that Muse has in some of their songs is mirrored in this band. The songs focused on instrumental solos and well played transitions almost as much as the lyrics. While this is a relatively new band, having only formed in 2009, I don't think it will be long before they are headlining their own show. They have a raw quality and a unity to their music that makes them special. Muse has be

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

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

Light up Midtown – the second annual event designed to bring holiday cheer to Midtown storefronts – crowned a winner on Dec. 14. Tres Chic Boutique, a dress store on J Street, claimed first prize for the second consecutive year. The runner-up was French Cuff Consignment, a secondhand store also on J Street, and third place was awarded to Cheap Thrills Costumes and Party Clothes, a vintage clothing and costume shop on L Street. Fifty participants competed in the contest to create “the most whimsical storefront,” which is three fewer than last year, said Heather Philpott, events and communications manager with the Midtown Business Association. For winning, Tres Chic Boutique has $1000 in

With the cover art pattern used on their seminal debut LP, "Highly Refined Pirates," as their backdrop, and a light show on acid, Seattle's Minus the Bear thrilled a packed house at Ace of Spades on Monday night. The band is wrapping up their 10 Year Anniversary Tour, celebrating a decade of music and performing “Pirates,” released in 2002, in its entirety. The popular math-rockers put on a tremendous performance for a very jazzed audience. Featuring guitarist Dave Knudson's signature complex finger-tapping guitar work - used on every song on “Pirates,” the band combined powerhouse indie band swagger with down-to-earth Northwestern charm. Songs like "Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Wa

The City will reduce electricity use by more than 50 percent in its parking garages by replacing the existing lighting with new light-emitting diodes known as LEDs. The lighting retrofit is expected to save the City more than $1.1 million over 11 years. The new fixtures are being installed at five of the eight public parking garages owned by the City. Making use of a federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) from the U.S. Department of Energy that acts as a revolving loan program, SMUD incentives totaling $181,000 and a $289,000 rebate from the Energy Technology Assistance Program (ETAP)* allowed the City to afford the $1.3 million up-front cost of converting to the hi

These photos were taken with an iPhone in the Elmhurst area (53rd street, S street, T street). Most of the homes had arches on the sidewalks made of PVC pipe and strung with lights.  My favorite house of the block was the one with the snorkeling Santa.                    This is the house with the snorkeling Santa! Santa lives in a Yellow Submarine.   A jellyfish, maybe?               A Christmas tree Snowman.

The Submarines are an indie-pop group comprised of married couple Jack Dragonetti and Blake Hazard.  Touring with drummer Jason Stare and new bass player "Scott," they passed through Sacramento on Wednesday night, playing a small show at Blue Lamp. If you don't recognize the band name, you would certainly recognize the music. Their songs have been featured in Nip/Tuck, Weeds, Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl, and in maybe the most well-known placement, the songs "You, Me and the Bourgeoisie" and "Submarine Symphonika" were used in Apple commercials for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. Originally working as solo artists in Boston, Dragonetti and Hazard played in each other's bands and were romant

An electric night parade will be held next weekend in Sacramento, reviving a 115-year-old spectacle copied by the Walt Disney Co. Plans are coming together to hold the city's first night parade since 1895. That parade lit up city streets during the Grand Electric Carnival, which heralded the arrival of electric power in Sacramento.  The Parade of Lights, planned for Saturday, Dec. 5, is expected to be short because organizing only began about a month ago. The parade, which will be held in Midtown, still has time to grow if more people get involved, said organizer Tassina Placencia, who owns Le Petit Paris, 1221 19th St., with her husband Ruben. With the continuing recession, Sacramento

The pedestrian warning lights installed last week at the intersection of 20th and K Streets are up and operating. Here's a photo or two...