EDITOR'S NOTE: Our Hometown Tourists visited Sutter's Fort on their most recent excursion.  The following blog includes two accounts by Janet Lewis and Carol Dabrowiak, detailing their visit to this Sacramento attraction.

Janet Lewis

Where can you time travel back more than 160 years without leaving town?  Maybe you know of a few places already.  But, how many times have you passed by the distinctive white walls spanning the blocks 26th-28th-K-L Streets in Sacramento without stopping and going in?  Well, you should re-discover Sutter’s Fort!

Cindy, Carol, and I did exactly that by visiting Sutter’s Fort one recent Thursday morning.  We arrived at the opening time of 10 a.m. in order to avoid August afternoon heat.

“When you walk through the gate of Sutter’s Fort you will be taking a step back in time and watching history unfold before you as the past is recreated...”  This key phrase is from the informational brochure each visitor receives upon entry along with a map of the Fort.  Sutter’s Fort also features an audio self-tour, which activated simply by leaning into each display room. 

For instance, in the cooperage I learned that for either dry or wet goods, it is easier to roll a barrel than pick up a box.  Hmmm, never really thought about that before, but it makes sense!  Then in the bakery, we heard that the residents of Sutter’s Fort ate mostly beef and bread (and vegetables when they could get them); and coffee was so scarce that they ground and roasted acorns to brew up instead! 

Fascinating as these auditory historical vignettes may be, the days at Sutter’s Fort when the costumed docent historical re-enactors are in attendance bring history to life even more!

Some highlights of our time travel excursion at this unique Sacramento museum included:

• The Pioneer Woman at a wagon in the shade of a tree told us about the journey west in a wagon pulled by yoked oxen.  She also played the hoop and sticks game called “Graces” with me and took it in good grace when I put the hoop up in the tree! 
  
• The Vaquero making tooled leather decorations explained how the Californio’s tradition of decorative arts differed from the Yankee-Puritan’s concept of plainness in all things, while the fur trapper, Sam, fashioned a leather strap to mend his suspenders. 
  
• Adrien explained and demonstrated the loading and firing of a French musket of the type used “back in the day” at Sutter’s Fort.  There is quite a story related to how the French muskets got there, but you will have to visit Sutter’s Fort to hear it!  Adrien also related the origins of several phrases used to this day, such as “flash in the pan” while showing how to load and fire the musket.  It went off with a satisfying loud noise and puff of gunpowder smoke!
  
• The Trade Store (where I bought a souvenir chunk of iron pyrite aka “fools gold”) offers an uncommonly good selection of books -- some about the historical period and some that are replicas of books actually in use during the 1840’s and 1850’s; such as George Washington’s Rules For Courtesy And Deportment; it could fit in anyone’s pocket and be useful even today.   The Trade Store also features various high quality toys, games, and craft kits that would be just as much fun for kids of all ages now as in the olden days.

After circling the fort with the audio tour and interacting with the costume docents, it was an actual surprise to come down the stairs from John A. Sutter’s office and see the modern skyline over the white adobe walls of the Fort!  In my imagination, it had been 1850 until that very moment! 

Then, capping off our tour at noon, we witnessed the cannon firing.  Wow!  It gave off even more loud noise and smoke, along with the fun of yelling out “fire in the hole!” to warn unsuspecting 21st Century passers-by outside the Fort’s adobe walls.

Fast-forward as Carol, Cindy, and I walked two blocks and almost two centuries into the present and enjoyed lunch at Centro restaurant, where we saw people at business lunches with laptop computers up on their table!  What a lot of changes have taken place since Sutter’s day.  We are very fortunate to have the Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park right here in the middle of downtown Sacramento, where we can get a glimpse of what it might have been like in the historical past and then enjoy some great downtown Sacramento dining!  My friends and I had a great time there.

Carol Dabrowiak

How many museums have you visited recently that fire off a replica of a pre-Civil War cannon during your tour?  That is one of the things that make Sutter's Fort a truly unique experience. 

It was a beautiful morning in Sacramento when my friends and I toured Sutter's Fort.  I felt like I was visiting the past nestled in the architecture of the future.  Walking into the Fort takes you back to the 1840s, before California was a state and it needed an adobe fort with cannons to defend it from enemy attacks.  But when you look back out to the horizon and you see high rise buildings and construction cranes lifting us into the twenty first century, the contrast is striking and a little jarring.

John Sutter built this fort as a way station for settlers who were heading west.  They needed temporary shelter and supplies to continue their journeys.  He befriended the travelers and provided them with lodging.  He even sent his workers to Tahoe to rescue the 47 survivors of the Donner Party.  He was California's first humanitarian.

A tour of Sutter's Fort is an interactive experience.   Docents in period costumes perform tasks that the settlers to Sacramento Valley would have performed.  A young man demonstrated how to load and fire a musket.  And he let the children hold the weapon after he fired it so they could feel the weight of it.  A woman in a long muslin dress and sun bonnet explained how families risked their lives to travel across the plains to get to California. 

A replica of the covered wagon they rode in is displayed at the fort.  The interior is about the size and shape of a pup tent, and the journey took about 4 months.  They frequently got lost or ran out of provisions. How did families survive such an experience?   I remember car trips with my siblings when we could barely be together for two hours before someone's life was at risk. 

The docent also had examples of toys and games that the children played.  These games consisted of wooden hoops and sticks and strings and involved throwing and catching -encouraging being outside.  She also played the games with the audience members.  No AA batteries needed here.  The blacksmith had children help him pump the giant bellows to fire up the coals and heat the steel rods.  He also let us examine the different tools the settlers made.

John Sutter is mostly remembered for the discovery of gold.  But gold was not discovered at Sutter's Fort.  It was discovered at Sutter's Sawmill about 50 miles east of the fort on the American River.  And it wasn't John Sutter who discovered it, but his employee, James Marshall.  After gold was discovered there was a "rush" of thousands of people coming to California to make their fortune.  Sadly, John Sutter didn't profit from it nor did James Marshall. 

There are lots of things happening at Sutter's Fort.  The docents were interesting and quirky.  They made sure everyone was gathered together for the highlight of the day.  They made us all yell "fire in the hole!" before they shoot off a large cannon that produces fire and smoke and shakes the ground.  Very Impressive!  Sutter's Fort is a fun place to visit and a fun thing to do in Sacramento.

This Week: Charm Yourself with Extraordinary Events
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		Theatre: Aliens with Extraordinary Skills B Street Theatre Ongoing-Feb 26 Tues 6:30pm; Wed 2pm & 6:30pm; Thurs & Fri 8pm; Sat 5pm & 9pm; Sun 2pm Based on true tales of immigration, this play explores the idea that we are all "aliens" in search for love, understanding, & a home.
		Film: Thurs 'Til 9: Film Frame: A Place Called Sacramento Crocker Art Museum Feb 2 Thurs 6:30pm Celebrate the 10 original, local short films that premiered at last Oct's Film Festival.
		Dance: Open Sky Benvenuti Performing Arts Center Feb 3-Feb 4 Fri & Sat 7pm Along with the usual showcase of tap, jazz, ballet, modern, and contemporary pieces, this production features a tribute to 9/11 choreographed by Jill Strippling.
		Special Events: Paula Deen Live Community Center Theater Feb 3 Fri 7pm Successful restaurateur, best-selling cookbook author, Food Network superstar, and multi-media personality Paula Deen comes to Sacramento for one night only!
		Sacramento Nightlife: Sacramento Valentine's/ Unvalentine's Party for Singles Hilton Hotel Arden West Feb 3 Fri 8pm-Midnight Enjoy DJ dancing, games, complimentary snacks, quality singles, & much more. Couples welcome too!
		Museums: Sacramento Museum Day 28 participating Museums Feb 4 Sat 10am-5pm This popular & fun cultural tradition encourages the community to experience the area's incredible wealth of art, history, science & wildlife--at little or no cost.
		Festivals: Sacramento VegFest Artisan Building Feb 4 Sat 11am-4pm Celebration raw, vegan, & vegetarian cuisines with exhibits, tastings, recipes, vendors, speakers, and more.
		Music: This Charming Band Blue Lamp Feb 4 Sat 9pm This Charming Band strives to make each show a celebration of unity in the love and appreciation of the music of The Smiths.
		Kids & Fam: Dino-Volcano Mobile Discovery Museum Feb 5 Sun 12:30pm-4pm Remember your day of exploring rocks, fossils, crystals, & dinosaurs in the Blast from the Past! exhibit by making a Dino-Volcano mobile.
		Sports & Rec: Super Bowl Party Arden Hills - Mangos Lounge Feb 5 Sun 3pm Complete with two big screen TVs, raffle prizes, drink specials & finger food favorites, you and your friends will enjoy the big end-of-season match-up in comfort and style.

 
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Forbidden Broadway debuts at Cosmopolitan Cabaret

 Read Sacramento365.com's review!

Sneak Preview! February's Featured Local Artist of the Month: Kristin Hartman

Learn about oil painter Kristin Hartman in her Featured Artist Profile.

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From start to finish, this show is sure to poke fun at all of your favorites including The Lion King, Little Shop of Horrors, West Side Story, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera and Chicago. Many memorable songs are parodied, such as Annie’s “30 Years Old Tomorrow,” Mary Poppins’ “Feed the Burbs,” and Hairspray’s “You Can’t Stop the Camp.”

Forbidden Broadway runs now until March 18 and tickets are still available. If you go, let us know how many shows were referenced in the production and what your favorite song is!

The 2012 Cosmopolitan Cabaret Season continues with Triple Espresso (May 30-July 22) and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Sept 26-Nov 18).

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Written by Sacramento365.com Intern, Aimee Steffen

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There are always lots of things to do in Sacramento California. Find these events and many more on Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Do you have an event coming up? Make sure it's on Sacramento365.com, the Sacramento Calendar of Events.

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This Week: Rendezvous All Week Through
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		Music: Allstar Weekend Ace of Spades Jan 25 Wed 5:30pm Pop rock group Allstar Weekend gained popularity from the Disney Channel television network & comes to Sacto with special guests The After Party.
		Theatre: In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play Capital Stage Jan 25-Feb 26 Wed 7pm; Thurs-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm It's the 1880s and for the wife of eminent scientist and inventor Dr. Givings, the vagaries of the medical field have never held much allure...until now.
		Film: Media Mentoring: Miss Representation Crest Theatre Jan 26 Thurs 6pm *Screening 7pm Mix with Sacramento's film makers & media professionals, watch Miss Representation, a documentary on how media affects kids and young adults, and engage in a panel discussion focusing on media literacy & how to get distribution without misrepresentation.
		Museums: Thurs 'Til 9: Open Art: William Eiland on St. Sebastian Crocker Art Museum Jan 26 Thurs 7pm A lecture examining imagery of St. Sebastian, a common figure in the paintings featured in the exhibition Florence & the Baroque, & its cultural meanings for LGBT viewers.
		Special Events: Pirates Rendezvous Sac. Marriott - Rancho Cordova Jan 27-Jan 28 Fri 5pm-Midnight; Sat 10am-Midnight Come play all day with the Pirates! Fri night is boarding night & Sat is Pirate family fun day.
		Food & Wine: Winter Wine & Food Fest Sacramento Convention Center Jan 28 Sat 5pm-7:30pm *VIP event until 10pm Enjoy a live and silent auction, live entertainment, and delicious food and drink from over 120 of Sacramento's best local restaurants and wineries. Proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Sacramento & Northeastern California.
		Special Events: Ladies Night Out 2012 ft. Danny Boy Guild Theater Jan 28 Sat 7pm-10pm Award-winning poet Terry Moore hosts Ladies Night Out, a night of recognition, featuring R&B crooner Danny Boy, plus many others. This is a fun and different way to take part in Sacramento nightlife.
		Comedy: 14-Hour Comedy Challenge Sacramento Comedy Spot Jan 28 Sat 10:30pm This one day competition requires participants to incorporate criteria given at the beginning of the day into their video sketch, live sketch or stand-up routine and perform it that night. Come see what's made!
		Music: Cold Eskimo Fox & Goose Jan 28 Sat 9pm Cold Eskimo is moody and eclectic, energetic and pretty, creating a full sound. See them play along with Golden Youth.
		Music: Hot Club of Cowtown with The Alkali Flats Harlow's Jan 29 Sun 7pm Hot Club of Cowtown are the most globe-trotting, hardest-swinging Western swing trio on the planet.

 
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Are you ready to Make It A Night?

Keep an eye out for Sacramento365.com's new feature launching next month, "Make It A Night," which lets users see restaurants, bars, and hotels nearby the event of their choosing.

Streamline events with a Calendar Widget
A Calendar Widget is a customizable, plug-in calendar of Sac365.com content for your website. All the usefulness of a calendar without all the hassle of managing it! For more info, email support@sacramento365.com.

Featured Local Artist of the Month: Alex Trujillo

Learn about multi-media visual artist & DJ Alex Trujillo in his Featured Artist Profile.

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Sacramento365.com does regular ticket giveaways on our Facebook fan page. Become a fan to be notified of deals, discounts, and the chance to win free tickets to events!

2011 was a particularly big year for Verge. Among many other achievements, they had a more-than-successful Kickstarter campaign ($9,165 raised on a $7,500 goal!), won the First Place award of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s Arts Innovation Fund, and Executive Director Liv Moe was named Arts Executive of the Year at the Arts & Business Council’s “Prelude to the Season” event.

This Saturday, engage in an alternative form of Sacramento nightlife by celebrating Verge’s 2011 successes and helping them “Verge Ahead” into 2012 at the “Verge Ahead Success Party” (6pm-Midnight at Verge, 625 S Street, Sacramento). If you have yet to check out this innovative local arts spot, there’s no better time than this!

In addition to exploring the studios of resident artists, you’ll be able to play “Art Golf” (each hole specially designed by a Verge artist), get your photo taken at the photobooth for instant sharing of the fun on your social media networks, see live performances by a multitude of bands (Mom, Christine Shields, Fine Steps, Gentleman Surfer, and Ganglians), and dance the night away to tunes spun by DJ Scott Soriano and DJ Hailey. If that’s not enough, arts collective Future Art Notables will take over the temporary gallery with their installation “Assorted Spaces”, which allows viewers to walk among the pieces, fully immersing themselves in the art.

And, don’t worry, tasty beer is provided for the evening by local brewers Ruhstaller, as well as coffee from Insight Coffee Roasters. With each $15 ticket including two refreshments, what’s not to love?

Plus, Sacramento365.com will be there participating in all the fun. Be among the first 50 guests to arrive and receive free giveaways, and stop by our golf hole to try for a hole-in-one!

Come enjoy this soiree and celebrate Sacramento’s burgeoning arts community.

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This marks the beginning of a monthly feature by Sacramento365.com on local arts organizations and businesses making a difference in the Sacramento community.

Have a group you think should be featured? Email support@sacramento365.com for consideration.

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Written by Sacramento365.com Assistant Editor, Alison Kranz

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There are always lots of things to do in Sacramento California. Find these events and many more on Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Do you have an event coming up? Make sure it's on Sacramento365.com, the Sacramento Calendar of Events.

Follow us on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook to get day-to-day scoop on Sacramento's happenings.

Email support@sacramento365.com to get the Top 10 Events Newsletter delivered to your inbox.

This Week: Crave Classical Celebrations
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		Sports & Rec: International Sportsmen's Exposition Cal Expo Jan 19-Jan 22 Thurs & Fri 11am-8pm; Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 10am-5pm ISE Sacramento is your one-stop place to get everything you need to be successful in the outdoors.
		Special Events: Arch Lighting Celebration Fox & Goose Jan 19 Thurs 4pm Celebrate the new arch and other improvements on R St--enhanced streetscapes, public art, bike racks, pedestrian archways, expanded public seating, and more.
		Dance: Diavolo Three Stages Performing Arts Center Jan 19-Jan 20 Thurs 7:30pm; Fri 8pm Comprised of a team of dancers, gymnasts, rock climbers, athletes, and actors, Diavolo and its large-scale interdisciplinary performances examine the funny and sometimes frightening ways individuals interact with their environment.
		Food & Wine: Taste Social: Craft Beer Tasting & Social Event Kupros Bistro Jan 20 Fri 6:30pm Asobuyo presents a great opportunity to start the weekend off right: socialize & learn some of the finer distinctions of craft beer while enjoying the ambiance, delicious food, diverse drink selection, & hospitality of Kupros Bistro.
		Theatre: The Wedding Singer 24th Street Theatre Ongoing-Feb 5 Fri & Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm Runaway Stage presents the always-enjoyable musical comedy The Wedding Singer, featuring New Jersey's favorite wedding singer, Robbie Hart.
		Festivals: Bacon Fest Sacramento Midtown locations Jan 20-Jan 22 Fri-Sun, times vary Bacon activities abound at Sacramento's inaugural Bacon Fest. From a Kevin Bacon-themed musical tribute to a Bacon Fest Chef's Competition, with many delicious, bacon-filled activities inbetween, you will be sure to leave this three-day event full and satiated.
		Special Events: Verge Ahead Success Party Verge Center for the Arts Jan 21 Sat 6pm-Midnight This Sacramento nightlife event is an exciting visceral experience featuring a massive art installation by Future Art Notables, open studios, Art Golf, live music, DJs, and more.
		Music: The Romantics Community Center Theater Jan 21 Sat 7pm Everyone enjoys (and deserves!) a romantic evening out. Let the Sacramento Philharmonic provide the passionate music for yours.
		Local Marketplace: Holistic Living Expo Crowne Plaza Hotel Jan 22 Sun 10am-6pm Shop here for many delightful products and services: items for healing & rejuvenation, sessions with holistic health practitioners & psychics, gemstone jewelry, stones & crystals, aromatherapy products, healthy coffee, & much more.
		Music: Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys Torch Club Jan 22 Sun 8pm-Midnight Hear one of the world's most respected practitioners of American roots music, western swing, rockabilly, and traditional country.

 
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Through this Wednesday, Jan 18:

Read our write up on this Downtown Sacramento dining event:
I got hungry just writing this: Dine Downtown Restaurant Week is in full swing.

Featured Local Artist of the Month: Alex Trujillo

Learn about multi-media visual artist & DJ Alex Trujillo in his Featured Artist Profile.

Want the chance for more discounts or free tickets to shows?

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Carol, Janet and Cindy set out to be Hometown Tourists of Sacramento.  They started their adventure with lunch at Ambrosia and ended it with the bear outside the governor’s office.  Here are comments from each on their adventure of the State Capitol building.

Cindy:
My first tour of the California State Capitol was in 1984, and I have visited several times since.  There is always something different to see each time.  Seeing the building when the legislature is in session is very exciting and the place is bustling with energy.  Seeing the building when the legislation is on break is just as wonderful.  It allows you to focus on the grand structure.  Each time I have taken the tour, I have learned something new.  This time it was about the governor’s painting that really was controversial at the time (hint: it isn’t Jerry Brown’s).  It became a real trend setter for future portraits.  See if you can you find it.

Carol:
My friends and I decided to learn some California history in a fun and factual way, so we took a guided tour of the Capitol Building.  I wonder how many times we drive downtown and actually look at things.  And by things, I mean Sacramento attractions like the Capitol Building.  I have it in my backyard, but I don't always see it.  I should appreciate living in the state capital. 

We met up with our guide in the beautiful, soaring, echoing rotunda.  By the way, our guide was a thirty-something man named Kyle.  I thought all guides had to be retired government workers who recite facts by rote.  Nope.  Kyle was fun and personable and interesting and informative.  He shared little known facts while giving a history lesson of the building.  It is a beautiful structure that has been painstakingly maintained and restored to its original wonder.  The legislature desks are the original desks from the early 1900s.  The staircases and rotunda railings are architectural treasures.   Every corner we turned we saw more beauty and history.  Even the tile floors have an interesting story behind them -- they were cut out, sent off to be cleaned and reset tile by tile.  Did you know they almost put the Capitol in Benicia?  Seriously?  It is a Sacramento wonder, and I plan to take all of my out-of-towners to visit and proudly show it off.

Janet:
Something else:  call me crazy but I guess that I didn't get enough of the Capitol, because I also took the 4:00 public tour of 45 minutes!  It was interesting to mingle with the other ("real") tourists, to hear the questions they asked, and to listen to more Capitol stories from our guide Tyson (also thirty something and from Stockton / Lodi area).  Tyson mentioned the difference in the floor numbers between the old and new parts of the Capitol.  That made me really glad that Kyle had actually taken us into the connecting staircase on our private tour!  The other neat thing for me about the whole experience is looking at my own town with fresh eyes.  I was very glad to be a Hometown Tourist - knowing my way around as I drove east along N Street, past the Capitol again and through Midtown then East Sacramento, to get home from town.  I'm looking forward to our next HTT adventure.  I'll get working on the arrangements soon.  Thanks so much for your company on this endeavor!  It's both interesting and fun!

Your motorcoach is essential to your group.  And it is also essential your motorcoach seamlessly fits into your scheduled itinerary.  Sacramento is a motorcoach-friendly destination with many options to ensure your motorcoach is staged, loaded, unloaded and parked with ease in reasonable time.  Here are five ways the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau can ease your motorcoach worries:

This Week: Explore the City with Ruthless Abandon
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		Food & Wine: Dine Downtown Restaurant Week Downtown Sacramento Jan 9-Jan 18 Daily during restaurant's hours Try out Downtown Sacramento dining at top restaurants with special three-course prix-fixe dinner menus!
		Sacramento Nightlife: Le Twist Dive Bar Jan 10 Tues 9pm-2am Partake in chatter and drinks as you listen to classy gems from the '60s to today, curated by DJs Sam I Jam, Adam J, and Taylor Cho. Enjoy the chance to sit around in a nice environment with friends, have a drink (at reduced prices!), & listen to eclectic music.
		Theatre: Ruthless! Sacramento Theatre Company Jan 11-Feb 19 Wed 6:30pm; Thurs 12:30pm & 6:30pm; Fri 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm; Sun 2pm Ruthless! is a story that proves when it comes to show business, the key to success is ruthlessness! With book and lyrics by Joel Paley and music by Marvin Laird, Ruthless! is a hilarious send up of several classic shows.
		Festivals: SacAnime Woodlake Hotel Sacramento Jan 13-Jan 15 Fri & Sat 10am-2am; Sun 10am-6pm Anime fans come to play at SacAnime, which features many activities to whet your palate.
		Special Events: Great Train Expo Cal Expo Jan 14-Jan 15 Sat & Sun 10am-4pm A fabulous event for the whole family, this show features operating model railroads, train dealers, collectors, hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, and more.
		Food & Wine: Welcome 2012! Beer Tour Begins from Pyramid Alehouse Jan 14 Sat 12:30pm-4:30pm Participate in Sacramento's rich beer history by touring the town and tasting what there is to offer at Track 7 Brewing, Hoppy Brewing, and Pyramid Brewing.
		2nd Saturday Activities: -Sacramento Writer's Brush: Sacramento Poetry Center, 5pm-9pm -Collage for a Cure Benefit: Brickhouse Gallery, 6pm-9pm -Ali: The Greatest: Evolve the Gallery, 6pm-10pm See more 2nd Saturday events>
		Comedy: Lewis Black: In God We Rust Community Center Theater Jan 14 Sat 8pm Lewis Black is the rare comic who can cause an audience to laugh themselves into incontinence while making compelling points about the absurdity of the world.
		Sports & Rec: Harlem Globetrotters 2012 World Tour Power Balance Pavilion Jan 15 Sun 1pm & 6pm The Harlem Globetrotters combine athleticism, theatre, and comedy into their basketball performance. On the heels of signing one of the most extraordinary rookie classes in team history, the Globetrotters bring their 2012 World Tour to Sacramento for a doubleheader!
		Special Events: The State of Live Music in Sacramento Time Tested Books Jan 15 Sun 7pm Four of Sacramento's most active music promoters discuss the trials and tribulations of hosting live music in Sacramento today and look at the future of music in the River City.

 
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Featured Local Artist of the Month: Alex Trujillo

Learn about multi-media visual artist & DJ Alex Trujillo in his Featured Artist Profile.

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This Week: Welcome 2012 with Pizazz
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		Music: Alice Wallace Fox & Goose Jan 4 Wed 7pm Sweet country artist Alice Wallace performs in support of her new album Sweet Madness. Also performing is Sacramento's Lovelorn Trio. Come have some Hot Spiced Cider and a Nutburger and enjoy the show.
		Film: Thurs 'Til 9: Film Frame: Sunset Boulevard Crocker Art Museum Jan 5 Thurs 6:30pm Director Billy Wilder's Academy-Award-winning classic connects Baroque drama with a modern medium. Film scholar Kristen Anderson Wagner will introduce the film and give the audience a sneak peek of Film Frame features to come in 2012.
		Comedy: Lavell Crawford Punch Line Comedy Club Jan 5-Jan 8 Thurs 8pm; Fri 8pm & 10pm; Sat 7pm & 9:30pm; Sun 8pm Famous for his "Can a brother get some love?" stand up on Comedy Central, Lavell Crawford will have you rolling on the floor clutching your chest from laughing.
		Festivals: California State Home & Garden Show Sacramento Convention Center Jan 6-Jan 8 Fri Noon-7pm; Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 10am-5pm Isn't it time to give your home a little TLC? Come have FUN as you learn money saving ideas for your home and garden.
		Special Events: Jazzy Cats: Mardi Gras Madness Doubletree Hotel Jan 6-Jan 8 Fri 5pm-9pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 9am-4pm Come admire the cats and take in the cage decoration contest & costume contes. There will also be an appearance by Trouble, the Guinness-certified World's Tallest Cat.
		Theatre: Chicago Davis Musical Theatre Co. Performing Arts Center Jan 6-Jan 29 Fri & Sat 8:15pm; Sun 2:15pm In the roaring twenties, Roxie Hart and fellow "Merry Murderess" Velma Kelly vie for the spotlight and the headlines.
		Sacramento Nightlife: Fishnet Friday with The Sizzling Sirens Dive Bar Jan 6 Fri 9:30pm Enjoy live teaser performances on the hour all night from the Sirens, dance with them to their favorite music, watch the beautiful mermaid as she swims above the bar, and take advantage of sizzling drink specials all night long!
		Special Events: Polar Bear Plunge McKinley Park Jan 7 Sat 10am-Noon Brave the cold weather & get wet! There are many fun ways to take the plunge, and there'll be a polar bear costume contest & cubs craft corner for kids.
		Special Events: "G" Hum Parade Bows & Arrows Jan 7 Sat 1pm-4pm The idea of the "G" Hum Parade is to tune enough guitars and other instruments together and play either sporadically or all together to create a large ambiance of "G".
		Dance: Inside the Director's Studio Sacramento Ballet Studios Jan 7 Sat 6pm-7pm Former Sacramento Ballet dancer Jared Nelson shares his unique view of Septime Webre's rock-n-roll influenced Fluctuating Hemlines both as a dancer and ballet master.

 
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Music fanatics rejoice!

We now have sub-categories for Music genres to appeal to music-lovers of all sorts.

Genres include: Jazz, Rock/Pop, Hip-Hop/R&B/Soul, Blues, Dance/Electronica, World, Classical/Opera, Acoustic, Americana/Bluegrass, & Country/Western. 

Featured Local Artist of the Month: Alex Trujillo

Learn about multi-media visual artist & DJ Alex Trujillo in his Featured Artist Profile.

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Sacramento365.com does regular ticket giveaways on our Facebook fan page. Become a fan to be notified of deals, discounts, and the chance to win free tickets to events!

Travel back through time with Broadway Sacramento's Rain, a Beatles tribute show that began as an offshoot of the Broadway production of Beatlemania. Rain ran on Broadway for 300 shows and 8 preview performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York City and has also been a hugely successful national tour for years. Together longer than the Beatles, Rain has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance.

This multi-media show begins by taking us away to a time when four young men stepped on stage at the Ed Sullivan show and changed music as we knew it. Rain chronicles the journey America took with the Beatles, showing us footage of screaming fans, interviews, and historical happenings that changed us all.

Looking around the room, I saw three generations of Beatles fans, all singing along, dancing, and screaming like it was 1964. When it came time for the last number to be performed, I didn’t want the show to end. And neither did anyone else, Rain went on to perform two encores.

This show is the next best thing to seeing the Beatles. Who knows, you might just learn a new song or two!

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles continues at the Community Center Theater through January 1. Show times: Wed 8pm; Thurs 2pm & 8pm; Fri 3pm & 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm; Sun 2pm.

The Broadway Sacramento season continues with West Side Story (Jan 24-Jan 29), Mamma Mia! (March 13-March 18), Million Dollar Quartet (April 17-April 22), and Wicked (May 23-June 17).

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Written by Sacramento365.com Intern, Aimee Steffen

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There are always lots of things to do in Sacramento California. Find these events and many more on Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Do you have an event coming up? Make sure it's on Sacramento365.com, the Sacramento Calendar of Events.

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This Week: Pay Tribute to the New Year
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		Museums: Common Diversions California State Railroad Museum Ongoing-Sept 14 Daily 10am-5pm *Closed New Year's Day Check out displays of toy trains & scale model railroads and learn the big differences between the two.
		Festivals: Kwanzaa Family Festival Crocker Art Museum Dec 26 Mon Noon-4pm *Free Museum admission 10am-5pm At this museum-wide festival, the Crocker celebrates its collection of African art with music and dance performances, a unique studio art workshop, storytelling, an arts and crafts marketplace, and much more.
		Performing Arts: Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles Community Center Theater Dec 27-Jan 1 Tues-Sat 8pm *Plus Matinees: Thurs/Sat/Sun 2pm; Fri 3pm This infectious multi-media concert will transport you to the era of The Beatles through Rain's mastery of every song, gesture, and nuance of the legendary foursome.
		Comedy: Dave Attell Punch Line Comedy Club Dec 29-Dec 30 Thurs 8pm; Fri 8pm & 10pm Dave Attell's caustic wit, rapid-fire delivery, and his choice of material that can best be described as "very adult" has earned him the reputation as a "comic's comic."
		Music: Wallpaper Ace of Spades Dec 30 Fri 7pm Wallpaper is the enigmatic onstage existence of Oakland music addict Eric Frederic, a pop-pushing kingpin interested in art as artifice. Get ready to get your dance on to Wallpaper's diced, digital beats and lyrics caricaturing the pop vernacular!
		Special Events: New Year's Eve Sky Spectacular Waterfront Park Dec 31 Sat 6pm-12:30am This free celebration features activities for the whole family to enjoy including fireworks shows, children's programming, live music, dinner specials, hot food and drink vendors, and a variety of colorful street entertainment.
		New Year's Eve: Music -Utz Year's Eve: Harlow's, 8pm -End of the World NYE: Luigi's, 8:30pm -Mother Hips NYE Party: Marilyn's on K, 9pm See more NYE Events>
		New Year's Eve: Sacramento Nightlife -Lipstick New Year's Eve: Old Ironsides, 9pm-1:30am -NYE 2012 Downtown Sacramento Celebration Massive: Capitol Garage, 10pm-2am -Old Hollywood New Year's Eve: Social Nightclub, 10pm-2am See more NYE Events>
		Sports & Rec: Walk in the New Year with the Sticks Pioneer House Dec 31-Jan 1 Sat 6pm-9pm; Sun Noon-3:30pm The Sacramento Walking Sticks are hosting 5K & 10K walks through Downtown Sac to get everyone's New Year's Resolutions on the right track. This is a family sport--parents are encouraged to bring their children out.
		Special Events: Black & White Purrball Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary Jan 1 Sun Noon-6pm Ring in the New Year with a new furry family member! These wonderful adult kitties will be "dressed for the ball" in their best black & white furry formal attire. Donate a can of cat food and the adoption fee for black & white cats will be waived.

 
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Happy New Year from Sacramento365.com!

Here's to a happy and prosperous New Year!

Still trying to decide how to ring in 2012? Check out our Holiday Event section & take your pick!

Featured Local Artist of the Month: Tracy Saville

 Learn about creative writer Tracy Saville in her Featured Artist Profile.

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As always, Sacramento steps up to the plate with holiday events of all sorts. At Sacramento365.com, we see a lot of events come through the site every day. Though there are myriad options in our Holiday Event section, we've narrowed down the list to 10 to get help you pick your Christmas Eve & Christmas Day festivities.

Christmas Eve Events:

Sure, the night before Christmas should be spent snuggled in bed waiting for Santa Claus, but why not get out and about during the day. Here are some options to keep you entertained around town:

 1. Free Admission at Fairytale Town & Sacramento Zoo: Zoo 10am-1:30pm, FTT 10am-2pm
Treat the kiddies to a day out while both Fairytale Town & the Sacramento Zoo offer free admission to all guests. The Zoo encourages participating in their pajama party, so you needn’t even change.

2. Downtown Holiday Ice Rink: St. Rose of Lima Park, 10am-6pm
Located outdoors near Westfield Downtown Plaza, the Downtown Holiday Ice Rink is the perfect holiday experience for the young and young at heart.

3. It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play: Capital Stage, 11am
Inspired by the classic American film of the same title, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play is performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast in front of a studio audience. 

 4. Holiday Film Screenings: It’s a Wonderful Life: Crest Theatre, 1:30pm, 4:30pm, & 7:30pm
If you can’t make it to Cap Stage’s live performance (see above), you can still catch the original film rendition live on the big screen at the historic Crest Theatre. 

5. Theatre of Lights: Old Sacramento, 6pm & 7:30pm
A symphony of lights, sounds, and visual effects will take the audience back to a time when the beloved poem "The Night Before Christmas" was first introduced in Sacramento in 1857.

Christmas Day Events:

Looking to entertain friends & family in town after your regular traditions are over? Or just looking to get out of the house after so much family time? Sacramento doesn’t disappoint. Here are a few options:

1. Christmas Brunch: Hyatt Regency, 10am-3pm
Enjoy this holiday season with all of the trimmings. Join for a bountiful buffet brunch featuring breakfast items and traditional holiday favorites.

2. Christmas Day Supper Cruise: Empress Hornblower, 3:30pm-6:30pm
Join Hornblower for Christmas Day with your family and celebrate the season with a delicious meal, relax and enjoy the holiday. The Cruise includes traditional holiday dishes, festive music, and beautiful views of the Sacramento River.

3. Bah Humbug!: MiX Downtown, 8:30pm-2am
Get out from under your tree and continue the holiday partying at this special Sunday Circus night. Spend the evening with your "other" family at Mix Downtown!

4. Christmas with Arden Park Roots: Harlow’s, 9pm
Join reggae/rock/punk band Arden Park Roots for a festive Christmas show.

5. Asylum: Barcode Nightclub, 9pm-1:30am
Featuring resident DJ Bryan Hawk, Asylum is a night of the best cutting edge goth, industrial, nu-darkwave, EBM dance music.

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This Week: Musical Merriment & Unexpected Revelry
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		Theatre: Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) Capital Stage Ongoing-Jan 1 Tues 7pm; Wed 7pm; Thurs-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm *Xmas Eve 2pm & 7pm A fast, fond, and furious look at the holiday traditions we all remember, and a few we'd like to forget.
		Special Events: Nite Brite Bike Parade M Street between 40th & 41st Streets Dec 21 Wed 7pm The 5th Annual Nite Brite Bike Parade in East Sacramento is a parade of lights and sounds through the Fabulous Forties--fun for the whole family. Decorate your bike with lights and holiday cheer!
		Music: The Golden Cadillacs Torch Club Dec 21 Wed 9pm The Golden Cadillacs share their honey-baked California country rock with anyone who's ever hung their head at a bar searching for answers at the bottom of a drink.
		Film: Holiday Film Series: Miracle on 34th Street Crocker Art Museum Dec 22 Thurs 4pm Bring non-perishable food items for the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services for entry in a raffle and enjoy a screening of the seasonal favorite, the original classic Miracle on 34th Street. Return later in the evening for a screening of the cult classic Satan vs. Santa.
		Music: Who Cares & Little Foxes Harlow's Dec 22 Thurs 9pm Who Cares, who play hip hop based in jazz, electro, and broken beats, and electronic band Little Foxes team up with Concerts 4 Charity to bring you a Christmas Party with proceeds going to charity in the Sacramento area.
		Music: Rock for Tots 6 Ace of Spades Dec 23 Fri 6:30pm Rock out to performances by Lonely Kings, Dogfood, A Single Second, I'm Dirty Too, and Street Urchinz. Bring a toy and receive a raffle ticket for prizes from local vendors. All toys go to the Sacramento Salvation Army.
		Nightlife: Blue Collar Burlesque Sterling Hotel Dec 23 Fri 8pm Celebrate the holidays Siren-style for a night of bawdy live entertainment. Enjoy live jazz & blues from the Harley White Jr. Orchestra, a Siren Burlesque Boutique, Isabella Corsetry "unwrapped" holiday fashion show, and free audience raffle giveaways.
		Kids & Fam: Pajama Party Christmas Eve Sacramento Zoo Dec 24 Sat 10am-1:30pm Celebrate Christmas Eve at the Zoo, and you don't have to change out of your pajamas--admission is free! Be sure to head across the street to Fairytale Town, too, where admission is also free for the day.
		Christmas Eve Events: Sat, Dec 24 -Kids & Fam: Coyote Tales: Effie Yeaw Nature Center, 10:30am -Food & Wine: Christmas Eve at Ten22: Ten22, 11:30am-10pm -Sacramento Nightlife: Xmas Eve Bash: District 30, 9pm-3am See more Holiday Events>
		Christmas Day Activities: Sun, Dec 25 -Food & Wine: Christmas Supper Cruise: Empress Hornblower 3:30pm-6:30pm -Sacramento Nightlife: Bah Humbug!: MiX Downtown, 8:30pm-2am -Music: Christmas with Arden Park Roots: Harlow's, 9pm See more Holiday Events>

 
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Join Sac365 on Twitter & Facebook to get the day-to-day scoop on Sacramento's happenings.

Happy Holidays from Sacramento365.com!

We hope you enjoy your holiday season!

If you are looking for things to do around town, don't forget to check our Holiday Event section.

Featured Local Artist of the Month: Tracy Saville

 Learn about creative writer Tracy Saville in her Featured Artist Profile.

Want the chance for more discounts or free tickets to shows?

Sacramento365.com does regular ticket giveaways on our Facebook fan page. Become a fan to be notified of deals, discounts, and the chance to win free tickets to events!