It’s that special time of year on Capitol Mall and Old Sacramento, Christmas lights are up inviting people to walk a few blocks and the Capitol Christmas Trees decked out in all its splendor. Over the last several years, it appears as if more lights have gone up to enrich the overall experience as an inviting destination to visit and enjoy. The Wells Fargo Center has done a fantastic job with a beautiful tree in the lobby and twinkling lights inside and out. Merry Christmas!  

A windstorm that destroyed the Christmas tree in Old Sacramento didn’t get the last laugh, as the company that provided the tree worked over several days to replace it out of pocket. “There is really not a good explanation for what happened to the tree,” said Chris McSwain, district manager for the Old Sacramento Business Association. “The immediate cause is wind damage. I’d say two-thirds to three-fourths of the needles blew off.” Last weekend’s windstorm might have turned a once-full tree to a skeleton, but that’s when the tree provider, Carlton Christmas Trees from the Redding area, stepped up to replace it. “They’ve never seen anything like this happen in 40 or 50 years,” McSwain sa

photographs by Barry Wisdom Wednesday's Grinchy wind storm may have turned the centerpiece of the South Natomas Community Center's holiday tree lighting into a slightly bent, Whoville caricature, but the shiny bright ornaments, entertainment, refreshments and neighborhood fellowship were straight-up festive. Emceed by Sacramento Councilmember Steve Cohn, the ceremony featured music by the drummer boys and girls of the Natomas High School Drum Corps, as well as the Natomas Middle School Choir and the Heritage Park Chorale. "Santa Claus" also made an appearance to lend an ear to the whispered wishes of the children during the event's post-lighting reception in the community center.

Give your Christmas tree the proper holiday send-off. Rather than toss it in the trash, recycle it. You’ll be doing our local landfills a big favor. Bring your Christmas tree to the SMUD Corporation Yard at 6100 Folsom Boulevard on Jan. 8 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. SMUD staff will mulch it for free. Please remove all tinsel, lights, tree stands and nails. Flocked trees will be accepted at all locations. There is a limit of five trees per vehicle. Christmas trees may also be recycled for free at the following sites and dates: In Sacramento Elder Creek Recovery and Transfer 8642 Elder Creek Road (Jackson Highway, south on Florin Perkins Road, left on Elder Creek Road) 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan.

Sacramento’s holiday lights will shine a little less brightly this season when Westfield Downtown Plaza goes without a giant Christmas tree for the first time in 30 years. Without a tree, the annual day-after-Thanksgiving tree lighting ceremony at the mall's Seventh and K streets entrance also won't be held. However, the plaza is likely to be the only place in Sacramento with a little snow this winter after artificial snow-making machines are set up in a children's play area. Sacramentans can enjoy two other Christmas tree lightings. Old Sacramento will light up its huge tree at 6 p.m. Wednesday at K and Front streets, followed by a light show and more to set the historic district sparkl

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver kicked-off the holiday season at the 78th Annual State Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony, themed A Season of Giving. Due to an earlier forecast of bad weather, the outdoor event was been cancelled and the ceremony was held in the State Capitol Rotunda, standing room only. Wyatt Iles (pronounced Isles), of Pomona, California, was selected from the more than 245,000 children and adults served by the Department of Developmental Services to help the Governor light the tree. Wyatt is an eight year old boy who at the age of three was diagnosed with Autism and began receiving services from the San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center. This w

A 1950s Lionel train advertisement shows a father, mother, little girl and boy peering into a window display featuring a model train going through a city, over a bridge and into the mountains. The father appears to be the most interested -- head cocked, hand on his chin, ready to help his child build the toy train set. An adjacent Lionel Train advertisement shows a father sitting on the ground assembling a train set, while his son sits in the background frowning. California State Railroad Museum's "Some Assembly Required" exhibit, which opened today, featured a somewhat similar scene. Many families were in the museum, but the historical toy exhibit seemed to strike the strongest chord wi

Monday, Nov. 16 Noon - 1 p.m. Sacramento Area Coalition Against the Death Penalty will be holding a noon-hour vigil in opposition of the death penalty on the north steps of the Capitol. 15 people are expected. Tuesday, Nov. 17 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Following a tradition which began 27 years ago, State Department of General Services employees will raise the California's official Christmas tree, a 55-foot fir, on the west lawn of the Capitol. After its delivery by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, it will be trimmed and adorned with 1,500 handmade ornaments created by developmentally disabled Californians. The Governor and First Lady's official tree lighting ceremony o

It took about thirteen extra seconds, but at the end of a rousing countdown Midtown got its own Christmas Tree. Here is the video of the countdown. Tonight the Midtown Business Association, The City of Sacramento, and California State Parks all helped light up the beautiful Christmas tree at Sutter's Fort on the corner of 26th and K streets. Vice Mayor Steve Cohn, California state assemblymember Dave Jones, and Mayor Kevin Johnson all had kind words for the crowd. There was plenty of cheer in the crowd. Sometimes living in Midtown it feels like there are no families or kids in the nighborhood, but at this event families and children were front and center. The kids running around playin