The city of Sacramento declared itself the Farm to Fork Capital of America in October 2012 at a press conference at Cesar Chavez Park’s farmers market. The declaration has ignited Sacramentans like never before. In a town that has always shied away from its “cow town” moniker, embracing a vibrant food scene tied to first class dining seems more palatable. We like this Farm to Fork identity, and we all want to be involved. Yet, like anything cool, there’s an air of mystery surrounding Farm to Fork. Who is involved? How do I join? Where’s all the money going? “I’m not sure what people are expecting,” says Josh Nelson, co-founder of Selland Family Restaurants and of the Farm to Fork Capita

More than 30 of Sacramento's top restaurants will participate in this year's culinary week, showcasing three- to four-course dinners with wine pairings for a fraction of the normal price. Work up your appetite for the fourth annual Sacramento Wine and Dine Week, which runs from now until June 10. Mulvaney’s B&L and Ella Dining Room & Bar are three of the 35 participating restaurants this year, which are located in Midtown, downtown and the greater Sacramento area, and range in price from $35 to $50 per person. Pricing is based on the quality of the foods and wines served. A full list is on the event website. Educating locals on the restaurant scene while encouraging them to support local

October was officially declared as National Arts and Humanities Month by President Obama back in 2009. Artober is a month-long event starting Oct. 1 that highlights the talents and art resources in Sacramento and celebrates the meaning of the month. It will include local artists, businesses, art walks, festivals, workshops and other special events in Old Sacramento and the downtown area. Last year, Mayor Kevin Johnson announced that the For Arts’ Sake Coalition would be introducing a new action plan for the Sacramento area. A team of 20 artists and art enthusiasts worked to bring resources together such as getting organizations and businesses involved in the process of making the public a

It’s time to work up those appetites for Sacramento Wine & Dine week. Beginning on Friday and running until July 11, the 10-day event features three- to four-course gourmet meals and wine from Sacramento’s best restaurants for a discounted price. Produced by the Sacramento Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and sponsored by the California Restaurant Association's Sacramento Chapter, OpenTable.com and Fox 40, the celebration of good food and good wine allows diners a culinary experience for a portion of the normal price. A total of 39 restaurants from downtown and Midtown Sacramento, Woodland, Granite Bay, Davis, Folsom and El Dorado Hills are participating this year. During the event, dinner

While Sacramento County’s budget problems are likely to result in harsh cuts to public safety and social services departments, some of the smaller budget cuts are raising concerns among certain organizations. Sacramento County’s elected leaders are expected to decide this week whether to cut funding from several groups, including the Sacramento Tree Foundation and the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Board of Supervisors plans to approve the county’s budget Thursday or Friday. Hundreds of employees could lose their jobs as the supervisors address a $181 million budget gap. The Sacramento Tree Foundation, which promotes and administers tree plantings, may receive no funding

You may have already heard the New Year's Eve ball drop is off for this year. Norm Alvis of Edaddywarbucks.com, which co-sponsored the drop last year along with Paragary Restaurant Group, asked both the city and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership to pay a third of the estimated $100,000 for a ball drop. Neither agreed, so the event was canceled. One celebration that might compare to the spectacle of last year's celebration, which drew an estimated crowd of 12,000 to 20,000 people, is a city-sponsored event in Old Sacramento. Organized by the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, the celebration will feature live music, food and drink vendors and perhaps most importantly, a firewor

The Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau is promoting the city and county at fewer trade shows in part because of recent budget cuts from the county government, according to bureau spokesman Mike Testa. The county dedicated $244,000 to the bureau for the 2009 / 2010 fiscal year, down from $404,000 it allocated to the group last year. In 2007, the county gave $704,000 to the bureau, Testa said. The bureau’s main responsibility is to attract visitors to stay at hotels in the Sacramento area, Testa said. He pointed out that the county will receive less revenue as a result of its cuts to the bureau. Of its four funding sources, the bureau receives the lowest amount of funding from the c

Monday, Sept. 7 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Music 4 Autism Awareness will be holding a concert on the north steps and the surrounding lawn area. About 200 people are expected to attend. Tuesday, Sept. 8 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Sacramento Convention and Visitor's Bureau will be holding a press conference/concert to kick off Air Force Week. About 800 people are expected to participate in the event on the west steps of the Capitol.

The California Capital Airshow will bring more than Thunderbirds, Raptors and historic warplanes to the Sacramento area. The show is expected to draw at least 70,000 spectators and an estimated $7.4 million to the local economy, which would be on par with last year. The fourth annual airshow will be held Sept. 12 and 13 at Mather Airport, the former U.S. Air Force base. Organizers decided to schedule the event in late summer after last year's show was held on a cold, blustery March weekend. This year, Air Force Week. will be held in various locations around Sacramento the week before the airshow. Pilots and airplane enthusiasts aren't the only movers and shakers behind the airshow. The