Nothing like a beautiful sunny day in Sacramento and nothing like the Sacramento Autorama to make use of such a wonderful day. The Annual Sacramento Autorama turned 61 this year and the show continues to enjoy great popularity. The title sponsor for the event was O’Reilly Auto Parts. Co-sponsors were Les Schwab Tires and Vintage Ford. Other sponsors were Meguiar’s, ARC Audio, Car Kulture Deluxe Magazine, Ol’ Skool Rodz, Hot Rod Hotline, Traditional Rod and Kulture, radio stations 98 Rock,96.9 Eagle and ESPN 1320. These sponsored helped the Sacramento Autorama hold another successful Autorama show. This year’s theme for the show was Route 66, the route is also known as the “Mother Road” o

“This helps me a lot.” Charmar Randle was grateful for the assistance she just received. She was one of 1,600 families to receive food and other essentials from the January 18 Feed The Children distribution at Cal Expo. “The economy is so bad and that’s why you see so many families out here,” said Randle, a Sacramento resident. “It’s good that they are having this (distribution) right now in order to help those who are in need.” Feed The Children, an international relief organization, delivered four semi tractor-trailers full of food and other products to the event. The distribution was part of Feed The Children’s Americans Feeding Americans Caravan, which has helped more than 200,000 f

As part of Maloof Sports & Entertainment's ninth annual "Season of Giving," Kings players Donté Greene and Samuel Dalembert and members of the Sacramento Kings Dance Team will be at Cal Expo today to help collect toy donations as part of the CHiPS for Kids Toy Drive. The public is invited to bring new, unwrapped toys or cash donations and meet Donté, Samuel and Kings Dance Team members at the Cal Expo Main Gate, (1600 Expo Blvd., Sacramento) from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Maloof Sports & Entertainment’s ninth annual “Season of Giving” consists of a series of charitable events and projects as part of an ongoing effort to make a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of children and families

The smoky scent of fresh-cooked food and blaring sound of Hmong music filled the air at Cal Expo Thursday through Sunday for the annual Hmong New Year celebration. Over the four-day period, more than 35,000 people swarmed the state fairgrounds to ring in the unofficial Hmong New Year, according to Sacramento Hmong New Year treasurer Mark Ching. In addition to the rows of music, food and clothing vendors, some activities of the celebration included a dance competition, Miss Hmong beauty pageant and the Hmong Idol singing competition. “This is part of my tradition, part of my culture, and also an identity of myself, so in a way it’s a part of me,” Hmong New Year enthusiast Ying Lo said.

The Sacramento International Auto Show kicked off its three-day run at Cal Expo on Friday with tons of vehicles from the past, present and future. With exhibits spread across the entire fairgrounds, there was something for car enthusiasts of all ages. All of the major manufacturers at the show were featuring some or all of their 2011 models, and visitors were free to sit inside many of the cars to get a feel for what’s to come. Among the exhibits looking back to the past, the Expo Center featured antique motorcycles such as a 1912 Excelsior and a 1914 Harley-Davidson. There was also an exhibit of pre-1916 cars, including a 1908 Reo Runabout and a 1915 Ford Model T. Ford’s main exhibit

Woodworkers and DIY enthusiasts will be in heaven this weekend.  The 28th season of The Woodworking Shows will be at Cal Expo.  The show feaures several seminars, a book store, and nearly 60 vendor booths.  Many of the booths feature demonstrations and seminars of their own.  There are also boths for local woodworking clubs.   The seminars cover several topics. Two of the local woodworking clubs present are Nor-Cal Woodturners and Sacramento Area Woodworkers (SAW).  Both meet once a month at the Hart Senior Center 915 27th Street, Sacramento.  Woodturners the fourth Tuesday each month 7-9 Pm (except Nov. and Dec.)  Saw the first Tuesday each month 7-9 PM   Nor-Cal Woodturners Sa

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson asked city staff Tuesday night to present new ideas on a sports and entertainment complex in mid-January. Johnson also said he would reconvene his Sacramento First task force, which has analyzed several arena plans in recent months. At their weekly meeting, council members briefly discussed pitfalls with efforts to build a new sports and entertainment center. A complex plan for a new downtown arena spearheaded by developers Gerry Kamilos and David Taylor recently failed. The plan called on Cal Expo to be a major partner, but Cal Expo decided not to join the effort.  Marni Leger, speaking on behalf of the Natomas Chamber of Commerce, urged the council to co

Arena plans submitted to the city last December will get a second chance after developers behind a complicated land swap didn't produce a viable proposal on schedule, a city official said Friday. At least one of the teams behind the other six proposals is still interested. The exclusive negotiating period granted to the Sacramento Convergence Team, led by developers Gerry Kamilos and David Taylor, ends Monday. At Tuesday's City Council meeting, city staff will propose spending the next few months determining whether any of the other proposals seem possible. "It's now time to regroup and touch base with our stakeholders – the NBA, for the most part, and Maloof Sports and Entertainment –

The developers behind a proposed downtown arena will get another month to present an alternative plan after state fair officials pulled out of the deal, the Sacramento City Council decided Tuesday. Cal Expo board members on Friday voted against being part of a three-way land swap to move the state fairgrounds to Natomas and allow private developers to sell the fair's current site in a deal to build an arena downtown. The Sacramento Convergence team, led by Gerry Kamilos and David Taylor, is now scheduled to present a new proposal at the Oct. 26 council meeting — a day after an already-extended exclusive negotiating period between the team and the city technically ends. "The only way we

California Exposition and State Fair officials said no Friday to being part of an arena land swap deal. At the end of a four-hour meeting, the board voted 7-2 against further study of a proposal by developer Gerry Kamilos and the Sacramento Convergence team to relocate the state fairgrounds to Arco Arena in Natomas and to develop the 350-acre Cal Expo site to help finance a new arena downtown. Board members said they want proceeds from Cal Expo's development to benefit the state fairgrounds and the state, rather than a private company and an arena. The Cal Expo board has already spent too much time studying ideas to modernize the fairgrounds by helping to get an arena built, they said.

The California Exposition and State Fair Board on Friday opted out of being part of an arena land swap deal. After a four-hour meeting, the board voted 7-2 to not continue studying the proposal by developer Gerry Kamilos and the Sacramento Convergence Team.  Kamilos said the arena project is not dead, but that he will try to find a replacement for Cal Expo. Reporting by Sacramento Press reporter Suzanne Hurt.

Following several setbacks, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said Thursday things aren't looking good for downtown's two biggest development projects, the Railyards and the arena. A downtown arena proposal involving a complicated land swap and the state fairgrounds has only an outside chance of happening. At the same time, it would be in the city's best interest if a suburban Chicago real estate investment company forecloses on Thomas Enterprises and its 244-acre Railyards project, he said in a press conference at City Hall. Johnson said he hopes California Exposition and State Fair officials will postpone a decision at a Friday board meeting and spend another month evaluating a deal for a

A potentially pivotal meeting on an arena land swap proposal and the state fairgrounds' future is set for Friday, when California Exposition and State Fair officials may decide on the project's fate. The agency's board of directors is expected to either vote on selling Cal Expo and swapping that fairground site for one in Natomas or postpone a decision to allow time to consider developer Gerry Kamilos' latest proposal, which includes privatizing operation of the new site. Cal Expo's board of 10 volunteer directors must decide how to upgrade the aging facilities for the state fair and events held by trade groups and others on the grounds. Richard Cuneo, Operations and Planning Committee c

Developer Jerry Kamilos has asked state fair board officials to give him 30 more days to develop elements of an arena land swap proposal that would relocate the fairgrounds to Natomas, a state fair official said Tuesday. Kamilos, who is proposing to build a downtown arena, asked the California Exposition and State Fair board late last week to postpone releasing a consultant's report on his proposal to sell Cal Expo and swap that fairground site for the Arco Arena site until Sept. 17, said Cal Expo Deputy General Manager Brian May. Cal Expo officials had planned to release the report Tuesday. Kamilos is requesting that they consider additional information before finalizing the report.  T

If you've been thinking you'd like to go to the State Fair at Cal Expo, best mark your calendar for sometime this week because Sun., Aug. 1 is the last day. I've been four times since it opened and still haven't seen it all. If I start out in a not so good mood, I lighten up as I travel around the rides and booths and see all the people. Cattlemen's Day pulled me back yesterday in the late afternoon. The Bullfest Ride show started off with a scramble to see who could be the first to saddle a horse. Of course, the horses were not agreeable.The cowboys took it seriously. One evades a bull (below). Standing on top of his horse, this cowboy from Mexico plays "jump rope" with his lasso.

There were brand new arrivals at the Fair today - new baby piglets and a calf. Perfect timing for Kids Day today (all kids 12 and under receive FREE admission all day each Tuesday). And the human kids were entranced looking at the brand spanking new critters. This 300 pound momma hog gave birth to six little ones early today. Their eyes were open and they were walking around the pen. This was a typical scene of how the kids were looking at the mom and new arrivals. Momma cow licks her new offspring as it tries to take its first steps. It got up on its hind legs several times and then had to rest. The Livestock Nursery will continue to be busy as more animal moms are expecting any day.

From dinosaurs to wiener dogs, lawnmower races to Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch rides, corndogs to chocolate covered bacon, the 157-year-old California State Fair has something for everyone. With roughly 40,000 people per day running through the fair, and numerous attractions to see, Norbert Bartosik, CEO and general manager of the State Fair, promises a “Passport to Adventure.” “It’s a new adventure every year,” Bartosik said. “The State Fair showcases what California is all about: its people. People showing off their talents, education, entertainment…It’s something you won’t find in a theme park.” Although the fair won’t be a theme park, the Cal Expo grounds were in fact designed

The Sacramento Kings will host auditions for the 2010-11 Sacramento Kings Dance Team on July 18 at the California State Fair at Cal Expo. Auditions will be open to the public and will take place on the Cal Expo Main Stage. Registration will begin at 4 p.m. and auditions will begin at approximately 5 p.m. All candidates are encouraged to visit Kings.com for additional information. All eligible audition candidates must be 18 years of age or older by November 1, 2010 and should wear a two-piece dance ensemble with nude nylons or tights and non-marking soled shoes. Applicants should also bring a copy of their resume and a current headshot to the auditions (photos will not be returned) and en

A few more details have emerged as part of an arena and land-swap plan currently being considered by city and state fair officials. A plan laid out by developers Gerry Kamilos and David Taylor calls for mixed-use private development of city-owned railyards land and the current state fairgrounds site. That development would help finance a $400 million sports and entertainment complex downtown and new fairgrounds in North Natomas, according to documents the city released late last week. The "Sacramento Convergence" development team, which includes Macquarie Capital, would invest $600 to $700 million in private equity and debt in the project. The developers also propose other funding mechan

Cal Expo and the State Fair hosted the 15th annual Grape & Gourmet wine event at the Sacramento Convention Center Wednesday. The convention center was a perfect venue for the largest showcase of award-winning California wines in the world. There were over 700 California wines from more than 200 wineries. Those who attended enjoyed unlimited food, wine, micro-brewed beer and music. Prior to entering the event, each “wino” received a free commemorative wineglass and wine tote to encourage sampling and purchasing. There were approximately 3,000 guests who attended, and, surprisingly, it was not overcrowded. There were booths and booths of wineries, many with gold, silver and bronze ribbons