Unsuspecting visitors to Old Sacramento this weekend were confronted with a man named Dr. Cornelius Poindexter claiming to sell miracle elixirs saying that they cure everything from measles to hair loss. “The cream, when applied to the skin, removes unwanted freckles, warts, boils, blemishes, carbuncles, what-cha-ma-goofers and thing-ma-bobs…whatever you wish to remove,” Poindexter said. “It’s a remedy for alcoholism, and it also cures terminal illnesses.” “It even cures baldness!” Poindexter shouted to a bald shopper. “I can grow hair on a rock!” Poindexter quickly disappeared, however, when an older man in a yellow scarf and wide-brimmed hat appeared, claiming to be Charles Crocker hi

Things will get a little batty in Old Sacramento Saturday when Trail Mix and a wildlife rescue group team up to educate people about bats. Corky Quirk, founder of Northern California Bats, will bring live, wild bats to help dispel some of the myths about these nocturnal creatures. She will also teach people about the benefits and habits of the mysterious winged mammals in a presentation from 1-3 p.m. at Trail Mix, a store selling outdoor merchandise for kids and parents at 116B I St., across from the California State Railroad Museum. Thousands of bats roost in the nooks and crannies of the city. In summer, a colony of 150,000 to 200,000 bats live under the Yolo Causeway and may be seen f

How low can you go?! Advance tickets for coveted “Old Sacramento Underground” tours are available now and can be purchased online at www.historicoldsac.org. Given Old Sacramento has the distinction of being the only city in California to raise its streets and interest is high in the new offering, additional tours have been added to meet the expected demand.   Coordinated by the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation (HOSF) and in partnership with the City of Sacramento, California State Parks, Old Sacramento Business Association and participating merchants and businesses, these educational and entertaining tours of the underground in Old Sacramento will be available Thursdays through Sundays

Against the backdrop of Old Sacramento's historic architecture, participating Old Sacramento businesses will celebrate local art, wine, music and food every Second Saturday, 4-7:00PM. I have always considered Second Saturday to be a Midtown event. However, over the years I have also heard a growing number of complaints that Second Saturday was becoming less of an art walk and more of a party. Now Old Sacramento businesses including the Artists Collaborative Gallery, Cafe Americain, Delta King, Fat's Catering, Firehouse Restaurant, Skalet Family Jewlers, Steamers Bakery and Cafe, Taylor's Art and Soul, and Ten 22 have teamed up to bring "Art and Wine" to those who may be disenchanted with

Our mission at Practical Cycle is to make cycling more practical for everyday people. To better serve this purpose, we have decided to expand our product line in an effort to make cycling more affordable. Practical Cycle is now proud to offer 3G Bikes starting at only $189. The world is shrinking and today's highly competitive, rapidly changing global economy demands that we quickly adapt to the marketplace and embrace change. As a small business, we feel that one of our greatest strengths is our flexibility and ability to think on our feet. Over the past few months we have learned that many people simply cannot afford a Made in USA Worksman or Pedego Electric Bike. (Probably because th

The River City Shooting Gallery is set to open its doors for tourists and locals looking for an old fashioned shoot-em-up good time when visiting Old Sacramento.   SACRAMENTO, CA (June 1, 2010) As the economy seems to be recovering, the owners of The River City Saloon in Old Sacramento have decided to keep building on the fun theme they brought to Old Sacramento by opening a new venture called The River City Shooting Gallery. Over the years, Sean Derfield has always felt that the Old Sacramento area was missing one thing: an old west themed saloon with a family friendly shooting gallery for the many tourists and families that visit the area. But after realizing that his saloon, that ope

(Click on image above to see a larger view) Warmer weather welcomed the thousands of guests at the 37th annual Sacramento Jazz Festival and Jubliee this weekend. Sponsored by the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, the Festival brings together a variety of musical styles, including traditional jazz, Zydeco, blues, Latin jazz and swing music. Over 2,200 volunteers work together to support the Festival. Photos by Ron Nabity

Snapshots from Saturday and Sunday at the 37th Annual Sacramento Jazz Festival & Jubilee   Sam Rocha, string bass and tuba,  Blue Street Jazz Band  accompanies the group as they played gospel music Sunday morning.   Sacramento's MICK MARTIN and THE BLUES ROCKERS Mick Martin, vocals and harmonica Jimmy Pailer, guitar Kyle Roland (above and below)  Drummer Bruce Pressley tunes his drums as a fan blows cool air. Kyle Roland was discovered by Mick Martin at the Jubilee four years ago at the ripe old age of ten as he was playing along on his harp during one of Mick's shows. Mick heard him and had him come up on stage to play along and was taken aback not just at his ability to p

Lloyd Meadows of Zydeco Flames strums his washboard while playing in the Riverfront Refuge this afternoon during opening day of the 37th Annual Sac Jazz Festival & Jubilee. A musician rolls her contra-bass on the pavement on the way to her next gig.   The guitarist (above) of Tom Rigney and Flambeau gestures to the crowd while playing in the Firehouse Lot. Rigney plays the electric violin (below). The Fulton Street Jazz Band plays to a full house in the Firehouse Courtyard. Bob Ringwald, pianist, started his jazz band in the 1960s and played at the first Sacramento Jazz Festival known then as the Dixieland Jubilee. Bob Sako plays the fugelhorn (below). Darrell Fernandez on the bass,

The 2010 Sacramento Jazz Festival and Jubilee has kicked off Memorial Day weekend in Old Sacramento and the Sacramento Convention Center area. Festivities will continue through Monday. According to the Jazz Festival's website, over 450 sets of live music will be performed this weekend. Featured artists include Arbors "Statesmen of Jazz," Molly Ringwald Quintet, Capitol Pops Concert Band and Mariachi Los Gallos. Tickets start at $25. For a schedule of events, visit the Jazz Festival's website. The Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band & Temperance Society performs. The Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band & Temperance Society performs. The Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band & Temperance Society

The 37th annual Sacramento Jazz Festival & Jubilee marched in today with a parade through Old Town Sacramento. The parade teased onlookers with a taste of the sights and sounds of this year’s Memorial Weekend event. Visitors to the festival can expect about 70 bands playing traditional Dixieland-style jazz, blues, mariachi, Latin jazz, swing, marching band music, zydeco, ragtime and rockabilly in more than 450 sets of live music, according to the event organizers. Advertised special events include a pianorama, Sunday Gospel service and, if you’re feeling that you can never hear enough ribbed metal percussion, there is even a Monday washboard concert.  

The largest storm in California's recorded history peaked in January 1862, turning the Sacramento Valley into a 250- to 300-mile-long inland sea. Since the previous winter, Sacramento had received 400 percent of its annual average rainfall. The storm moved as far inland as Tennessee, slowing down troop movements in the Civil War. After 10 inches of rain in December 1861, Sacramento newspapers declared Christmas canceled. By January 1862, steamboats sailed through what is now Old Sacramento, rescuing people from their homes, and boat-makers charged inflated prices to capitalize on the new demand. On Jan. 10, newly elected Governor Leland Stanford had to travel to the Capitol via boat for

The 18th annual Pacific Rim Festival took place today in Old Sacramento. Approximately 30 acts performed on four stages throughout the day. I’ve attended the festival every year since its inception and have noticed tremendous attendance growth through the years. As I walked around and enjoyed the festivities I talked to several people regarding the event. I learned that for some it was the first year they've attended and for many it has almost become a family tradition. This year’s event, as usual, was well attended and vendors filled the streets of Old Sacramento. The event began at 10:00 a.m. and officially ended at 5:00 p.m. The Opening Ceremony started at 11:30 although the entertainm

Sacramento County Historical Society Presents: Sacramento's Underground, a presentation by Heather Downey Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Location: 5380 Elvas Avenue (Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society Building), Sacramento All Ages--Open to the Public Before the long-anticipated Underground Tours kick off this summer in Old Sacramento, SCHS will host a talk about the origins and significance of the city’s underground sidewalks and raised streets. Sacramento is the only city in California with raised streets and the lingering architectural features known as the “underground.” On the surface, the raising of Sacramento’s business district offers accounts of misha

One can't help but wonder what brothers Charles and Francis Ebner would think, seeing their two hotels rising from the dust more than 150 years after they were first built. Construction to rebuild the historic, three-story Ebner Hotel/Empire House is less than two months away from being finished. It's no surprise, then, when Sacramento residents gawk at what appear to be two new Gold Rush-era buildings nearing completion in the heart of Old Sacramento. "People ignore it until it's all the way up. Then they're like — where'd this come from?" said Debora Fee, who's overseeing construction as project manager for Otto Construction. The Ebner Hotel and Empire House were built on K Street, b

Another thing to put on your list of new reasons to visit Old Sacramento: Café Americain and its new courtyard. Sacramento's only champagne and caviar house —which also features raw food cuisine — was created to capture the elegance and allure of a legendary restaurant once run by a notorious Bay Area madam. The owners, Mike and Natalya Wahba, are hosting a grand opening for their lunchtime courtyard this weekend. The restaurant opened for dinner in December. Starting Saturday, the brick patio courtyard behind the historic Booth Building will be open for lunch four days a week. Executive Chef Heather David will oversee preparation of innovative raw food dishes, while chef James Clark se

In 2006, my dad was doored while riding his bike on 15th Street. He broke his shoulder pretty bad, and ended up with all sorts of plates and screws holding him together. Life gave us lemons!!! We made lemonade though, and Practical Cycle was funded in part by the settlement from that accident. So I took great pleasure in hand-squeezing 35 locally grown, organic lemons to make lemonade for our Grand Opening celebration, the first annual Ride for Earth. Then I loaded a cooler on the back of our old Worksman tricycle and hauled it about ten miles to Practical Cycle. I believe that sometimes life's most difficult challenges can help us grow the most. Whenever I feel like things couldn't poss

A diverse crowd of people gathered in Old Sacramento on Thursday to celebrate Earth Day and the Grand Opening of Practical Cycle. Riders of all ages and from all walks of life were drawn together to be a part of the first annual "Ride for Earth." With a diverse crowd of people came a diverse crowd of bikes! Many riders brought their own bikes, and Practical Cycle let out its entire rental fleet of Made in USA and Electric bicycles and tricycles for free. There was even a Velocab and a high-wheeler replica! The ride followed the Sacramento River to its confluence with the American River in Discovery Park. Afterwards, fresh-squeezed organic lemonade that was delivered by an old Worksman tr

Practical Cycle is celebrating Earth Day its Grand Opening in Old Sacramento today. Tim Castleman and his son, Cassidy, are teaming up to sell, rent, and service electric and Made in USA bicycles and tricycles. After being shocked by the tragic events of 9/11, and inspired by a life threatening battle with prostate cancer, Tim set out to make a difference in the world. “I decided to put it all on the line and follow my heart, instead of just trying to survive.” "Practical Cycle is different than traditional bike shops,” says Cassidy, a 23 year-old business student and solar professional, “Our mission is to make cycling more practical for everyday people. No spandex… No funny shoes… No pro

From now on, Doug Koleada will be a law-abiding citizen when he rides his bicycle on the K Street Mall. The city of Sacramento has installed new signs on K Street that list rules for bike riding. Cycling can now commence legally on the Mall from Seventh to 13th Streets and in the tunnel between Second and Fourth Streets. Koleada was riding his bike near the Westfield Downtown Plaza Wednesday afternoon. He readily admitted to biking on K Street in the evenings; his nighttime rides will now be perfectly legal. The Pyramid Alehouse Brewery employee said he knew about the city’s former ban on bicycling on K Street Mall, so he didn’t bike there when police officers were in sight. Koleada al