In case you didn't already know: it's a great weekend to be in Sacramento. In addition to the arrival of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) at the Convention Center, it's also the finale weekend of Sacramento Beer Week. Both were epitomized at Thursday's Art Bike Kick Off Party at Hot Italian.

Hot Italian was serving their Beer Week special--a Moretti in a glass you get to keep--and Sierra Nevada was on site giving out samples of their beers. Three Art Bikes were on display (have you seen the other nine around town?): a Trike (that you were encouraged to climb on for a photo opp), a Shark Bike, and a St. Patty's Day Bike. The crowd was asked to submit their vote for their favorite, and the St. Patty's Day bike--complete with rainbow ending in pot of gold (that were hidden speakers)--was announced the winner.

This event was certainly a teaser for the show this weekend--three great examples of creative bikes whetting the palate for NAHBS. If you want to get in on the action, attend the show (public hours are: Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm), get inspired by the vast array of creative bikes, and then decorate your own to bring to Sunday's Avant-Garde Bike Parade, which starts at 2pm from Fremont Park. The 2.5-mile ride meanders through town, eventually ending at the Convention Center, where you'll be able to display your own bikes at NAHBS.

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Find more detail on these events along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.