Nearly 100 regional artists and craftspeople will offer their unique creations during this year’s annual Holiday Art & Craft Festival. Presented by the Crocker Art Museum and the Creative Arts League of Sacramento, the festival is held at the Scottish Rite Center, located across from the main entrance of California State University, Sacramento, at 6151 H Street. This year’s offerings will include jewelry, ceramics, paintings, gourmet food, holiday items and more. Impress your friends and family with local handmade gifts while supporting local artisans and the Crocker’s exhibitions and education programs. Attendees can also enjoy delicious treats by Ambrosia Catering. For those who want t

Hundreds of people gathered at our state’s capitol Thursday night to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day. Voices rang proud and flags swayed high, as both the American and the Mexican national anthems were sung in tribute to the mixture of these heritages. Americans of all cultural backgrounds stood in solidarity, reveling in the significance of this day, when, 201 years ago, Mexico waged war against Spanish rule and tyranny. Still for many, the festivities were more than just remembering what happened two centuries ago, or eating too much of the amazing food provided by Sacramento’s mobile food trucks. Instead, they represented the struggle of Mexican Americans here in the United States

The best food in world does not come from five-star restaurants that take months to get a reservation and a month's salary when you finally get one. No, the best food comes from treasured family recipes lovingly handed down from one generation to the next. That beautiful tradition will be celebrated at the upcoming Jewish Food Faire sponsored by Carmichael's Congregation Beth Shalom on Sunday, October 16th, from 9 am to 3 pm. Savor stuffed cabbage, corned beef on rye, chopped liver and a dizzying array of Jewish style baked goods, among other iconic Jewish foods. "The best food comes from the heart," said Sheila Wolfe, Jewish Food Faire Chair. "That's what we want to convey with this year

Foodies and those who just love good food in a festive atmosphere will gather at Carmichael's Congregation Beth Shalom on Sunday, October 16th, for the 35th Annual Jewish Food Faire, featuring iconic Jewish deli items such as authentic corned beef on rye, bagels and lox and noodle kugel, plus a dizzying array of Jewish style baked goods. The Faire, located at 4746 El Camino Avenue (Mission), will be held from 9 am to 3 pm, but come early because the food does tend to go fast. This year's Food Faire theme is "Generation to Generation," recognizing the rich tradition practiced by many cultures in the Sacramento area of passing down family recipes from one generation to the next. Join us f

Land Arrows Productions is back for the 5th Annual Tejano Conjunto festival or Tex-Mex. festival, as some call it. This year one of the 3 Divas of Tejano music will be delighting the audience  with her catchy music, her sultry voice and her great sounds. Her music is s considered traditional Conjunto with a modern twist. Straight from San Antonio Texas, Elida  y Avante will be the headliners at this annual event. Elida does not claim to be Selena, the late Queen of Tejano music, but her  popularity has certainly soared reaching a large audience.  She recently won a Grammy for best Tejano female singer. As Elida steps onstage, you can hear the fans shouting in unison "Elida Elida" . She app

Show for all ages Day one of this year’s Norcal Noisefest was held on Friday, October 1 at Luna’s Café on 16th Street. About a dozen acts showed off their unique Noise (music) making abilities. Some of these acts, probably like people back in the Paleolithic Age, used any available material to construct music making instruments for their performance. Styrofoam, 10 gallon plastic water bottles, tin foil, bricks, soda cans, nails on a board, sticks, and other rudimentary noise making instruments were used to make rhythmic sounds. None of the shows I witnessed used the nails screeching down a blackboard but it would have been interesting. Traditional instruments played their part with some

For the past several weeks Sacramento has hosted many cultural events. This weekend the Veterans of Foreign Wars honored their comrades in a Carmichael Ceremony. The small hall was full and people were standing outside listening to the ceremony. Outside the veteran's hall a 21 gun salute honored the veterans and as if on cue a stealth fighter jet flew overhead as the ceremony continued. Up the road in Roseville the 21st Annual Polish Festival was taking place on Main Street. The festival was sponsored by the Polish American Club of Sacramento. Vendors were on hand to sell merchandise and some delicious food. Polish and American beer was being sold. It was a little too early for me so I by

 Whimsical ceramic characters that wink as you walk by, domestic and exotic animals who allow you to pet them, a fairy who paints a glittering swan on your face, and musicians whose songs are brand new each time they perform. These are only some of the imaginative artists and activities that await kids and adults at the 4th Annual CurtisFest on Saturday, September 11th. Presented by the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association (SCNA), Curtis Fest will be held from 10am until 4pm in Curtis Park, an eighteen-acre parcel of ground surrounded by quaint bungalows and shaded by heritage trees. CurtisFest was established in 2007 to give local artists a venue at which to exhibit and sell their work

On Sunday, July 25th, revolutionary artist Kevin Sandbloom will headline an event that integrates great music, easy relaxation and family fun as the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association presents this year’s second Music in the Park. This free summertime concert is part of the 2010 season of events from one of the most active neighborhood associations in the state. Each performer, activity and sponsor will reflect the event’s theme of “Health and Wellness.” This midsummer event will feature elements that are both familiar and new to the many residents and visitors who flock to the annual Curtis Park concert series. Children will race to the stage at the start of the evening to hear l

Explore the wonderful variety of ethnic Jewish food at the 32nd annual Congregation Beth Shalom Food and Craft Faire.  You will be able to purchase kugel, rugallah, mandlebrot, falafels with pita bread, chicken and vegetarian matzo ball soup and kosher beef hot dogs with dill pickles.  There will be breakfast items from 9:00 to noon, including bagels with trimmings and cheese blintzes.  Lunch items will be served from noon to 3:00 and include BBQ brisket.  There will be a coffee bar open all day and plenty of water and soft drinks.  All this and more will be available on OCTOBER 18TH, a Sunday, from 9:00 to 3:00.  Admission and parking are free at the temple, 4746 El Camino Ave in Carmicha

Dear Mayor:  Thanks again for calling the Film Community meeting at City Hall Thursday July 30, 2009. As I surveyed the room, I realized the 50 attendees represented many independent films and small festivals who came to life in the past 2-10 years..... each created independent of the others, designed to reach out to specific audiences and needs, each operating beneath the radar in our larger community. The many festivals (Place Called Sacramento, Music and Film, French, Jewish, Gay & Lesbian, Black, and International) have attempted cooperative meetings in the past. These meetings were successful in coordinating schedules and taking the edge off of "competing interests" but gathered litt

The fliers and advertisements promised big things: “Local arts, crafts and fashion vendors will descend upon K Street, transforming downtown Sacramento into a bustling creative district.” On Saturday, Sacramento News and Review hosted the inaugural Third Saturday Creative Block Party and nudged K Street in the right direction. Despite the scorching heat, more than 40 aspiring clothing and jewelry designers, artists and local businesses set up shop along K Street. “I think it’s wonderful of SN&R to have done this…it brings life to the downtown area. We’re so happy to be here,” said Ginger Wong, president of Transformations Makeup Institute, did makeup, hair and glitter tattoos. Both asp

The second annual In the Flow jazz festival brought music and art fans out to Broadway's hub with more than 30 bands, poetry readings and live painting. For $20, ticket holders were given wristbands that allowed entrance into all of the weekend's shows, which spanned five different venues along Broadway. For those who weren't wearing wristbands, several free performances were hosted at Records, Java Lounge and Records. The back-to-back schedules at the venues allowed for a constant stream of activity, and if ticket holders didn’t like one performance, they could walk down the street to the next one. The goal of the festival was to "showcase all of the different kinds of jazz you'll find

Guns and needles took over the Sacramento Convention Center Friday. Tattoo guns and needles, that is. The first day of the eighth annual Forever Tattoo’s All American Tattoo Festival kicked off the weekend with the best of the best in the ink industry, tattoo contests and circus-style side performer George the Giant. Sponsored by Tatt life, Tattoo Energy and Budweiser, the festival gave ink fans the chance to peruse and purchase the work of more than 80 tattoo artists from not only the United States but as far as Sweden (Living All Tattoo), Greece (Nico Tattoo) and Italy (Cherry Tattoo). “I usually go to the festivals in San Francisco, but this is the first year I’ve gone to one [in Sac

Tattoo artists from across the country and around the world will join local tattoo artists in offering their inking services to Sacramento for the eighth year in a row at the annual All American Tattoo Festival this weekend. The festival begins Friday and will continue through Sunday at the Sacramento Convention Center. The festival is organized in a joint effort between local promoter Alan Mahon and the owners of Sacramento's Forever Tattoo. Attendees can view over 100 art pieces, submissions of mainly paintings and drawings from the artists that won't include tattoo designs, on any of the three days of the festival, in addition to getting tattooed by world-renowned artists. “Fifty to 6

It has never occurred to me that Father's Day weekend always happens at the same time as the summer solstice. Is that by coincidence? The longest, sunniest day of the year falls on the weekend that we celebrate our Dad's. That's kind of cool! At least for those of us who celebrate them. Otherwise, think of it as an extended day for you to be having fun! This weekend is packed with family friendly events for the whole family to enjoy at budget friendly prices. There are a few things I've mentioned that are a little more pricey... but they sound so fun! Whatever your budget is and whomever you'd like to spend your time with, check out what this weekend has in store. Thursday 6.18 Class: Sm

It was a moment comparable to being at the circus, watching dogs large and small waltz by in bright, bulky and outlandish costumes, some complete with suspenders or patent leather doll shoes. The woolly mammoth, the lobster, the ballerina, the Lion King, the construction worker, the geisha, the bum, and the hippie — exceptionally well-costumed dogs — assembled in line for judges to determine which one would win this year’s dog costume contest. Zury, the 2-year-old Australian cattle dog dressed as a bum, was the first-prize winner, followed by Rudy placing second for his construction worker duds, and Klusso placing third as the Lion King. According to Lesley Kirrene, Sacramento SPCA direct

Midfest is happening this weekend after organizers won two permits early Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the event is scheduled to begin. But Sacramento city staff notified organizers that city employees will be on the lookout for code violations after neighborhood residents complained that a previous event wasn't adequately managed. The Bloc Concert Series permit was awarded to Paragary Restaurant Group for the festivities being held in Marshall Park, 915 27th St., from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. A separate permit was issued to the Midtown Business Association (MBA) and T & M Organization for the Arts for Sunday's Midfest Summer Celebration at the park. In the final hours bef

Neighbors’ concerns about the Midfest Summer Celebration and the recent Cinco de Mayo street party appear to be encouraging the city and organizers to take extra precautions to ensure fewer headaches for residents. Meanwhile, Midfest organizers are still trying to get a permit to host the new event in Marshall Park next weekend. Midfest is launching a series of Saturday concerts in the park at 915 27th St. (I and 27th streets), across from a block of bars and restaurants. A special events permit has not yet been issued to Midfest's organizers, Midtown Business Association (MBA) and T & M Organization for the Arts, said Hindolo Brima, spokesperson for the city Department of Parks and Rec

Watching the MC with the dreadlocks, the interracial couple, kids younger than 12, asians, blacks, whites and Hispanics congregated in the Washington Neighborhood Center all listening to the same music was a rare and inspiring sight. Today was the third and final day of the first Sacramento Hip Hop Congress Awareness Festival. The day was dedicated to a showcase of performances by open-mic artists, b-boys, DJs and street, conscious and hip hop MCs from Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as art displays. Bay Area musician Rahman Jahmaal and local musicians such as Skurge riled the crowd with their inspirational words. Jahmaal broke down the beauty in the art of hip hop. "