The streets of Old Sacramento will soon be alive with the sound of music. The Sacramento Music Festival will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with a four-day event offering over 75 different bands and musical acts throughout Memorial Day weekend. Fans of blues, rock, jazz and country have crowded the streets of Old Sac for many years to share their love of music. Originally a festival focusing on jazz music, the previously-named Jazz Jubilee has expanded its offering to include other genres, evolving into the Sacramento Music Festival. The festival’s massive musical offering will include Los Lobos, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Ben Taylor, the Blasters, John Lee Hooker, Jr., the James Hu

The streets of Old Sacramento will be soon be alive with Asian culture and cuisine. The Pacific Rim Street Fest is returning on May 19th for its 11th annual event. The festival began in 1992 in response to restaurateur Frank Fat’s dream to celebrate the diversity and richness of the Asian Pacific community in Sacramento. This year’s festival theme is “Shoes of Asia and the Pacific.” Attendees will receive a punch card at the information booth which will be used in a shoe scavenger hunt. Pictures of various shoes will be hanging among the vendor booths, and guests can get their card punched after finding each shoe picture. Guests who find all ten shoes will be entered into a raffle. Conti

Friday, May 3, 2013 MIDTOWN: Suspicious Circumstances, 24th Street/P Street, 10:06 a.m. The victim reported that a suspicious parcel was delivered to her door. It was determined that the package was in fact sent from a known friend of the victim; however, the item appeared suspicious to her. Officers arrived and determined that there was nothing dangerous regarding the package and the currier was notified for further follow up. DOWNTOWN: Resisting, 7th Street/F Street, 12:46 a.m. Parker Caldwell, 24, was taken into custody for resisting arrest after officers contacted him in the area. Witnesses reported seeing Caldwell knocking on doors in the area and he became aggressive upon officers

Tequila, tacos, maybe some more tequila—these are but some of the tasty aspects of the quickly-approaching Cinco de Mayo. If you're lucky enough to spend this fifth of May in Sacramento, there's also comedy, music, and more to make your Cinco de Mayo celebration a festive one. In addition to the events below, find even more in Sacramento365.com's Holiday Events section. Laugh a lot: Sacramento Cinco de Mayo Festival: Sleep Train Arena; Sun 6pm Enjoy non-stop laughter on stage with the Latin Stars of Comedy, row after row of low rider cars on display, and Latin All-Stars Band playing all your favorite songs non-stop live. Cinco de Mayo Comedy Jam: Punch Line Comedy Club; Sun 7pm Come c

Yesterday, Sacramento Press contributor Tony Sheppard challenged fellow readers and contributors to share what they would do with a theoretical $250 million, in a way that might bring a greater return than a basketball arena. I started writing a comment but, as often happens, it ended up being an article in itself. So here it is. Step 1: Build the Downtown/Riverfront Streetcar: $130 Million. Streetcars are often called "development-oriented transit" because they promote growth of transit-oriented neighborhoods along their right-of-way. Portland is the canonical example of a new city streetcar line spurring growth in the "Pearl" District, a mostly vacant industrial district until installa

Spring has blossomed and Easter is almost here. Celebrate the season with all things eggs, bunnies, and flowers. In addition to the events below, find more in Sacramento365.com’s Holiday Events section. Hunt for eggs Easter Eggstravaganza: Fair Oaks Park; Sat 9am-1pm Come enjoy a free egg hunt for children, pictures with the Easter Bunny, or purchase a $10 wristband for unlimited carnival games and bouncers, one face painting, and one train ride. Also, adults can join in on the fun at the adult egg hunt for a chance to win gift cards and prizes. Spring Eggstravaganza: Fairytale Town; Sat & Sun 11am-3pm This popular, fun-filled family weekend features egg hunts, prizes, spring-themed ha

A colorful day of events transpired this past Saturday, March 16. Run or Dye is a 5K event that took place at McClellan Park in Sacramento. Run or Dye Billed as the world's most colorful 5K the event lived up to its billing and was attended by over 2,000 participants. Run or Dye has scheduled events that take it from coast to coast and is also open to participants of all ages. St. Patrick's Day Parade That same day Old Sacramento held its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade where green was the color most prevalent. Participants followed the beat of drummers and marched behind bagpipers as Sacramento celebrated St. Patrick's Day. Thousands of spectators lined the streets to watc

The 17th annual Sacramento St. Patrick's Day parade was held Saturday March 16, 2013 in Old Town Sacramento. Several thousand people watched as hundreds of marchers, floats, horses, clowns, and vehicles wound their way through the streets of Old Town. It truly was a sea of green with many parade watchers following the lead of the leprechaun and dressed in Irish spirit. Here are photos of the festivities, some of the marchers, floats, and parade watchers.                        Even the volunteers from Old Sacramento Living History got into the spirit.     City Council member Kevin McCarty added his greetings to the festivities.   Look Mom......   a clown!

Don your green and get into the St. Patrick's Day spirit this weekend! Sacramento celebrates everyone's favorite Irish holiday this Saturday and Sunday with a slew of entertaining events. In addition to the ones listed below, see even more selections in Sacramento365.com's Holiday Events section. Family-friendly fun: -17th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade: Old Sacramento; Sat 1pm Hundreds of colorful marchers dressed in green, along with Irish and Highland dancers, pipe and drum bands, historic re-enactors, and a variety of cultural organizations, will all join together to be a part of the 17th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. -St. Patrick's Day at the California Automobile Museum: Ca

There's a vacant lot on the corner of K and 24th streets that's overgrown with weeds and fenced off to keep homeless people from camping. The Golden Bear neighbors it to the right, and Ancient Future sits across the street in a former church. It's been empty for more than 10 years, but a local business owner is hoping to change that by bringing another German-style pub to Midtown. Dubbed "Der BierGarten," the project has been in the works for two years, but hasn't yet received the final OK from the city. That may change as early as next week, however, as Design Director Greg Taylor is set to decide whether approve the latest plans at a hearing on Thursday, March 21. While initially wary,

Old Sacramento is a tourist gem where history and entertainment collide. But resident Joe Gamble, 33, felt he and other residents had faded into the background. “I noticed after about six to eight months of living here everything around here is tailored to meet the needs of the visitors,” he said. “There’s no consideration for people living here for special occasions when it came to noise. After I started poking around, people said that’s the way things are. That was it.” Living in Old Sac for two and a half years, Gamble assembled a group of five residents in December to form a neighborhood association. They spoke when they saw each other on the boardwalk, but after the fatal New Year’s

I'm just a simple, hard working Sacramentan. I've worked for small businesses since I was 15 years old, so I'm mystified by all this talk of arenas and billionaires and commissions and hearings and plans and such. I'm too busy running a humble little bike shop with my dad to fully grasp the truth of the matter, and what it has to do with the price of bread. I grew up in Phoenix watching Kevin Johnson play for the Suns, and I've met him a few times and I've always liked the guy. He seems smart and reasonable enough, so if he says this Kings nonsense is good for the city, then fine – I'll go along with it. He is the mayor after all! But yesterday I learned that the city council has author

We’re on the cusp of an important week – not only is Valentine’s Day just around the corner, The Sacramento Press is gearing up for our Journalism Open 2013 Awards Celebration. You’ll be there, right? Don’t forget to order your presale tickets and RSVP so we know to save you a spot. But before you get to shopping for boxes of chocolate or a new ascot to impress your favorite Community Manager, make sure you haven’t missed anything awesome this week on The Sacramento Press. Check out our most-viewed content of the week. Community Contribution: 5. Obituary: Sheila was a regular presence in the central city and beyond by Bill Burgua -- 4. Old Sac Mardi Gras 2013 this weekend by Mike Ibe

Fascinated by railroading history? Interested in working on a train? Enjoy working with visitors, children and school groups? The California State Railroad Museum and Old Sacramento State Historic Park (SHP) are now recruiting adults (18 or older) who are interested in volunteering in early 2013 to help communicate the West’s fascinating heritage of railroading and the California Gold Rush.  The volunteer orientation will begin on Monday, February 11, but interested volunteers must apply and be interviewed in advance. Volunteer applications are being accepted now through Monday, February 4.  Community members are encouraged to get involved in this worthwhile program that offers an opportun

It’s time for the first Top Five Fridays of 2013! Scroll down for The Sacramento Press’s most-viewed articles of the past seven days. Community Contribution 5. New Year’s Eve fireworks in Old Sac | Photos by Kati Garner Making one of her regular appearances on Top Five Fridays, Kati Garner comes in at No. 5 with another great photo journal. 4. Django Unchained by Luke Soin This movie is HOT right now. In the words of Mr. Soin, “People are throwing the word masterpiece around this movie like they throw cigarette butts on the ground at a Depeche Mode concert, and rightly so.” 3. Tune up cycling skills with free Bikeology 101 Workshop by Bonnie Osborn Free bike info? Sign me up! Don’t wo

One hundred and fifty years ago – on January 8, 1863 – California Governor Leland Stanford turned a ceremonial shovelful of earth near the intersection of Front and K Streets in what we today know as Old Sacramento. This marked the starting point for the Central Pacific Railroad, one of two companies that together would construct America’s first transcontinental railroad.  To commemorate the inception of one of the United States’ most significant accomplishments, the California State Railroad Museum will debut a new sign at Front and K Streets on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. Following the sign unveiling, the nearby California State Railroad Museum will offer an afternoon of spe

UPDATE - On Friday, January 4, 2013, a male and female associated with Carlito Montoya were arrested for assault with a deadly weapon related to this incident. Amber Scholz-36 is believed to have instigated the altercation and her husband Charles Fowler-Scholz-34, was involved in the physical fight that preceded the deadly shooting. No further details are available at this time.   UPDATE - Suspect identification: According to a Sacramento Police update, the suspect, 22-year-old Carlito Montoya, is in police custody in an area hospital. Montoya is receiving medical treatment for multiple gunshot wounds.   A 22-year-old man wanted in connection with a New Year's Eve shooting in Old Sacra

Fasten your seatbelts – it's time for the final Top Five Fridays of the year. So who's popular this week? Barry Wisdom hit it big, making the list both with his piece on Big Idea Theatre's post-theft fundraiser as well as his review of Pamela Hayes' "The Nutcracker." However it was Wednesday's mall brawl, courtesy of local youth, that topped off the week.  Community Contribution: 5.) Pamela Hayes Classical Ballet Theatre to present fun, frothy, fantastical 'Nutcracker' by Barry Wisdom 4.) A wild shoot-out at Sleep Train Arena by Fredric Hayward, photos by Ron Nabity 3.) New Year's Eve Sky Spectacular in Old Sac by Traci Rockefeller Cusack 2.) Comic Louis C.K. coming to Sacramento by Jim

Following a popular tradition 13 years in the making, visitors to Old Sacramento will be treated to a free New Year’s Eve celebration along the historic waterfront.  Prior to the two dazzling firework shows scheduled to light up the night sky at 9 p.m. and midnight, the festive community event also features live music, food and drink vendors and a variety of live entertainment all evening from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.  There will be kid-friendly entertainment provided under the tent in the early evening at Waterfront Park stage followed up later by a crowd-pleasing 70’s and 80’s cover band. The free celebratory evening activities are produced by the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau and

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