Christmas is a time of giving and receiving, but the former may prove challenging – especially when you need financially friendly ideas. Even when it’s the thought that counts behind a gift, you still need to look like you’ve thought about it, and socks don’t always leave that impression. To make this Christmas challenge a bit easier, The Sacramento Press looked at local stores in Midtown that have some fun options, each of them under $20. The Beat Location: 1700 J St. Store hours: Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. The Beat is an independent music store that sells all genres, new and old. Here, a unique gift can be bou

For anyone who is still looking for unique holiday gift ideas, the Northern California nonprofit INALLIANCE may have just the solution- tickets to the "Sacramento Chef Challenge" at 4:00 p.m. Saturday Friday , June 23, 2012. The well known culinary extravaganza features two live culinary competitions, food sampling, wine and beer tasting, live music, raffle prizes and more! But, the best part is-100% of proceeds go to programs that support people with developmental disabilities! "2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the Sacramento Chef Challenge, which means we will be pulling out all the stops and slashing ticket prices,” says INALLIANCE Executive Director Diana DeRodeff. INALLIANCE prov

Q: I am a struggling college student with more bills than income. Christmas is always a struggle for me because I don't have the funds I want to dedicate to present-buying. My family completely understands this, and we often choose names to limit the number of people you must buy a present for. However, my boyfriend’s family (we have been together several years) does not do that, and they are known for their extravagant gift-giving. The past few years that I have participated in their family Christmas, I typically end up over-extending myself on the gifts and putting more than I want to on my credit card. This year I don't want to do that, but it is embarrassing to show up with cheap gif

Mother’s Day is coming Sunday, and The Sacramento Press has a few gift ideas that are sure to let mom know how much you love her.   Gift idea No. 1: Send your mom on a relaxing getaway. Super Spa, located at 1722 J St., Suite 1, offers a variety of massage services. Relaxation or therapeutic massages range from $40 to $120 depending on the length of the massage. A warm stone therapy ranges from $90 to $140, and a head and scalp treatment for 30 minutes costs $40. Every 60 minutes of massage includes an organic aromatherapy steam. According to owner Suzanne Saunders, Super Spa's "Treat Mom to 90 minutes of bliss" special includes a L'initié facial care with Univera's super hydrating l

While most of us are still recovering from the delights of the “holiday season,” retail stores across the country are decking the halls with red ribbons and pink hearts. That’s right, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, which means men and women of all ages will begin their annual hunt for the perfect gift! If flowers and candy aren’t enough for your special someone, the nonprofit organization InAlliance has a unique gift that will temp your taste buds, tickets to the Celebrity Chef Challenge. This culinary extravaganza features six professional chefs in a live culinary competition with surprise ingredients ala the “Iron Chef” Television show, and tickets will get you and a guest

When searching for holiday gifts, local shoppers often think of malls and neighborhood retailers.  However, hidden treasures and unique items are available at various museums and historic parks throughout the Sacramento area as well.   Outlined below is a gift guide sampling of some of the unique, quality items waiting to be discovered at a few favorite historic destinations around town. California State Railroad Museum California Poppy Necklaces & Earrings -- Made exclusively for the Railroad Museum Store, fashion necklaces and earrings are available that showcase an elegant floral design taken from the Santa Fe Railway's "California Poppy" china pattern. This china pattern was used fo

The former Doubleday bookstore in Downtown Plaza has a new tenant in time for the holiday shopping season – JZ Toys & Gifts, which opened Nov. 12. “We sell toys for kids ages 2 to 3 and everything up to decorative knives and swords,” said Ali Mohammad, who helps his friend, store owner Zeba Alemi, by managing it. Mohammad said this is the first business venture for them, and he hopes it succeeds. In addition to toys and decorative reproduction edged weapons, the store also sells an assortment of ball caps, lamps, dishes and collectible dolls. About one quarter of the store is devoted to handmade Oriental rugs from Pakistan. “A family of two to three people will spend eight or nine mon

The story of Sacramento's rapid development from remote frontier city to hub of the modern Central Valley is rich and storied. It's easy to forget that 65 years ago trolley cars criss-crossed Sacramento's bustling streets. Not too long before that, areas such as East Sacramento and Land Park were unincorporated farmland. Since 1953, the Center for Sacramento History, the city and county's official archive, has collected and preserved artifacts that tell Sacramento's colorful story. But it's not just a repository. The center allows researchers to duplicate its vast collection of video, photographs and documents for a modest fee. Recently it partnered with Zazzle, an Internet company, to

In preparation for the Toy Give-Away by the Oak Park Neighborhood Association (OPNA), the community is invited to the Gift Wrapping and Pot Luck dinner on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 from 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services at 3333 3rd Avenue. All are invited to join the festivities, bring some food, maybe a gift and or wrapping and get into the season of sharing. Or just show up and eat some food, meet some new friends, and help with the wrapping. OPNA is collecting and will distribute gifts to Oak Park children for the 5th year. Each year, hundreds of children receive gifts and this year the number is likely to be even greater than previous years. The goal is t