Towels, toiletries, luggage needed for foster youth United Way’s Women in Philanthropy will be holding their annual Spring collection event to aid the foster youth in the community. The group will be collecting luggage, toiletries, and towel sets which will go towards the Sacramento County Emancipation Basket program. This program provides necessities to foster children who are aging out of the foster care system. United Way is making it pretty easy to donate. Anyone who wants to can do so directly through the United Way Women in Philanthropy wish list (link). The group will also be accepting donations at the event on May 16th. The Spring collection event for the Sacramento County Eman

More than 700 people planning to play with squirt guns in Southside Park Saturday were left high and dry when the event was cancelled by park rangers due to the lack of an event permit, prompting event organizers to reschedule and relocate the water fight to a larger, more remote area that doesn’t require permits. “Predictably, some parks neighbors got word and complained, and cops and park rangers decided 600 people was too big for that park, and worst of all, no permit,” event organizer Stephanie Rector said on her Facebook page after the cancellation. The water fight had been advertised on Facebook for weeks leading up to the event scheduled to take over Southside Park at 2 p.m. Satur

The Sacramento weather is not the only thing blazing this summer. The debate over food truck regulation has kicked up a few notches as well. Tune in Aug. 29 from noon to 1 p.m. for a Sac Press Live chat discussing whether cities have the right to regulate food trucks. Hear from Chris Jarosz, president of California Mobile Food Association (CalMFA), Matt Geller, CEO of Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association (SoCalMFVA), Daniel Conway, legislative and public affairs director of California Restaurant Association (CRA), and Sacramento  City Councilman Jay Scheiner.  The Sacramento-based CMFA is speaking with state legislators on drafting legislation allowing cities to regula

Forget the summer; it’s been a slow year for comedies. Besides 21 Jump Street and Ted there hasn’t been much of anything to talk about. That is unless you were going to talk about how awful That’s My Boy was. So it stands to reason that it shouldn’t be hard for Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis to deliver something funny if not hilarious, right? The Campaign opens with a montage of career politician Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) campaigning throughout the state of North Carolina for congressman with his wife Rose (Katherine LaNasa), his children, and his campaign manager Mitch (Jason Sudeikis). He runs unopposed and seems to have the perfect thing going. That all changes however when bumbling

I’ve only seen the original Total Recall once, and while I found it entertaining I was never smitten with it the way some people are. Maybe it’s the weirdness of the story, maybe it’s the weirdness of Paul Verhoeven’s direction. In any case, I was largely indifferent to the idea of a remake of the movie, especially if the director was going to be Len Wiseman, of Underworld fame. But when I saw the first trailer my interest was piqued, even if it was only because of the futuristic visuals. I’m disappointed to say that the visuals and the frenetic action scenes are the only reason this movie is watchable. In this second take on Philip K. Dick’s short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholes

Andrew Taggart of the Landsquids Sacramento Moped Army chapter sits smoking a cigarette with a tall can of PBR, warding off the early heat of a July morning. He wears a homemade shirt that reads “Bi-curious juggalo looking for same,” and is surrounded by his sleeping bag, coolers, and camping gear in preparation for the three-day Moped Army West Coast Chapter Bi-Annual Cali Rally which begins now. Founded in 1997 in Kalmazoo, Michigan, the Moped Army organization now consists of over 22 gangs nationwide all united by their semi-ironic devotion to 50cc or less. The bi-annual Cali Rally is one of many events that occur year round across the states but is mostly intended as a regional meet u

Grab a bike, blanket and popcorn. Organizers of new monthly event called Reel offer a “bike-in” movie theater with music and art at The Greens Hotel on Del Paso Boulevard from August through October. Reel co-organizer Chris Jarosz, who is also the co-operator of The Greens Hotel and the owner of the Wicked 'wich food truck, said he was tired of the same bar scene filled with the same people “totally bored out of their minds,” so he and Matt Chong developed Reel a free movie series that has a movie, DJ, mini art gallery, pop-up vendors, beer garden and food trucks. The “bike-in” theater is a modern take on a car-centered tradition. “That’s what the hipsters do,” Jarosz said. “They want t

As the month of July comes to a close, so does the 21st season of the Friday Night Concerts in the Park. The city’s longest-running, outdoor music festival will come to a close on July 27th. The final concert will be headlined by local favorites The Brodys, who will bring their retro-pop sound to Cesar Chavez Plaza in their 15th Concerts in the Park appearance. Opening for The Brodys are local bands WRING and Hero's Last Mission. The free, all-ages concerts will take place 5 pm to 9 pm this Friday night. “It’s been an amazing Concerts in the Park season,” said Annie Stuckert, DSP Senior Manager of Event Operations and Development, “We entered our 21st year with record attendance, hugely p

Sacramento favorite Jackie Greene will return to Fairytale Town for a fourth annual benefit concert on Saturday, August 18. Taking place on the park’s Mother Goose Stage, the outdoor concert supports Fairytale Town’s education programs and park improvements. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.fairytaletown.org. Concert tickets are $30 when purchased in July and $35 in August, while supplies last. Seating will be intimate and limited, similar to an outdoor music festival. Blankets are encouraged; low stadium-style chairs with legs 10-inches tall or less will be permitted. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Outsi

The Elly Award-winning Fairytale Town Troupers continue their fifth season with "Sinbad and Aladdin: The Arabian Knights!," an epic adventure filled with thrilling swordplay, monsters, mischief and magic. The show will be presented on Saturdays and Sundays, Jul. 14, 15, 21 and 22, at 12 and 1 p.m. “Sinbad & Aladdin: The Arabian Knights!” tells the lost tale of the heroic Captain Sinbad and his quest to free the beautiful Princess Scheherazade from the evil Sultan Natazz and his monstrous minions. Sinbad is joined by another famous hero—Aladdin—and together they search for a magical lamp to aide them in their adventure. "Sinbad and Aladdin: The Arabian Knights!" stars Elliott Herzer as Si

Performances, visual art shows and hands-on “funshops” will be featured at Very Special Arts Day on Saturday, July 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hosted by Fairytale Town and sponsored by I Can Do That!, Very Special Arts Day will bring together children of all abilities—those with disabilities and those without—to interact through, create and enjoy the arts. The highlight of Very Special Arts Day will be performances by Act On!, a children’s theatre camp presented by I Can Do That and Fairytale Town. Visual arts creations by Very Special Arts students will be on display. There will also be several hands-on workshops, called funshops, where children will be able to make flying saucers, rhumba

Sacramento favorites and up-and-coming musicians will rock Fairytale Town’s Mother Goose Stage this summer. Mumbo Gumbo brings their signature danceable sound—a mixture spanning rock to soul, afropop to lush balladry and zydeco to country—to Fairytale Town for a live performance on Wednesday, Jul. 11. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and the concert starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person and go on sale in June. Members receive 2-for-1 admission, and children 12 and under are free. Blankets and chairs are welcome, food and drink will be available for purchase. Jackie Greene returns to Fairytale Town for a fourth annual benefit concert on Saturday, Aug. 18. The outdoor concert supports Fairyt

Tahoe Park pool didn’t make the list for the Save Mart “Save Our Pools” campaign, so, faced with the possibility of a dry pool during a hot summer, neighborhood leaders joined forces with a city councilman, a county supervisor and the Sierra Health Foundation to plan their own rescue effort – and succeeded. “The neighborhood just wouldn’t take no for an answer,” City Councilman Kevin McCarty said. “I’m proud of everyone for that.” While Save Mart grocery stores were working with the city of Sacramento to raise $1 million to save six city pools from closure this spring, a contingent of Tahoe Park volunteers and neighborhood association leaders were diligently stuffing envelopes and knocki

For the third year in a row, budget cuts reduced programs and swim hours at local pools, but donations from generous neighbors – and a local rock ’n roll band – pulled together to give water-lovers in East Sacramento additional splash time at Glenn Hall Pool this summer. “It’s going to mean a lot to many people to have the pool to splash around in this summer,” Steve Harriman, River Park Neighborhood Association board member said Wednesday. “For some kids in the city, going to a pool is all they have.” The fundraising campaign will allow the pool to open for recreational swimming from 1 to 5 p.m. on on Fridays and Sundays, June 29 through Aug. 19. Open recreation swim times are also off

You do not need a passport to France to experience a taste of French culture this summer. The Sacramento French Culture Society will host the 11th annual Sacramento French Film Festival from June 15 to June 24 at the Crest Theatre. “Hôtel du Nord” is one of two classic French films shown this year. Produced in 1938, viewers watch a couple experience love, crime and tragedy at the Hôtel du Nord in Paris. Screenwriter, Jean-Louis Milesi, will present his social drama “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” on opening night. Jean-Pierre Darroussin plays a recently laid off social worker who heads off to Mount Kilimanjaro with his family and friends. Upon their return, they are robbed and his connection

From dusk till dawn, 200 individuals—including children, veterans, poets and teachers—will take to Fairytale Town’s outdoor Mother Goose Stage to present an all-night, nonstop reading of Homer’s great epic, “The Odyssey.” The park will open at 6:30 p.m., and the reading will start at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jun. 22 and conclude around 7 a.m. on Saturday, Jun. 23. Participants will read aloud pre-assigned passages drawn from a translation by Robert Fagles. This reading is presented in partnership with the Readers of Homer, an organization-in-residence at Bard College in New York. The Readers of Homer is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit literary event company that produces all-day or all-night audience

From Old Sacramento’s ‘prohibition style’ speakeasies, to the Man Men era of Downtown’s dueling politicos and backroom deals, Sacramento has a long history of working hard and playing harder. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership’s (DSP) new Cap City Sips happy hour promotion celebrates just that, the art of balancing business with a splash of pleasure. This summer, DSP and local downtown businesses have joined forces to create a budget-friendly happy hour promotion for the Downtown District. Each restaurant or bar participating in Cap City Sips will offer a happy hour menu every Wednesday from 3-7pm featuring $2 beers, $3 wine, and $4 cocktails. The deals will continue each week all summer

A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy, Fairytale Town’s popular fairy-themed fundraiser and ice cream social, will return on Saturday, June 9, from 6 to 10 p.m. Inspired by Shakespeare’s famous play, this enchanting evening features nonstop entertainment for the whole family, including costumed performers, fanciful arts and crafts activities, live music, food and all the Crystal Ice Cream one can eat. Celtic-rock band Tempest will perform throughout the evening. Since forming in 1988, the band has won rave reviews for their musical hybrid of high-energy folk rock with Irish reels, Scottish ballads, Norwegian influences and other world music elements. Based in the San Fra

Sacramento, Let's Play Ball! Dodgeball, that is.  And for a good cause! Metro EDGE, Sacramento’s premiere network of 40-and-under young professionals, is excited to announce the third annual “A Day on the EDGE” fundraiser.  This year’s event will feature a dodgeball tournament complete with great music, food, and drinks – all to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento. A program of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, Metro EDGE identifies and supports a local nonprofit organization through volunteerism and philanthropic giving every year.  For 2012, Metro EDGE is supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento, which works to inspire young people to dream big and reach th

Just in time for summer!  In addition to its fascinating Gold Rush past, the Sacramento area is rich with an amazing array of state-of-the-art museums and historic sites that offer visitors the chance to explore California’s fine art, history, science, and wildlife treasures all year long.   And while all the 29 participating local museums offer a wealth of experiences just waiting to be explored, a few museums offer specially-designed activities and programs perfect for inspiring and engaging children during the more leisurely summer months.  Outlined below is a sampling of available summer programs and activities coordinated by local museums: Four-Day Aerospace Summer Camp at the Aero