A Watercolors and Hiking event will be held in Locke, Calif. on Thursday, September 15, 2011 starting at 10:00 a.m. The hike will be led by Martha Esch. Bring the kids and the grandparents; everyone is welcome!  Well-behaved dogs on leashes, okay. This is a mostly level 1.5 mile hike apart from one 20 foot long, somewhat steep, narrow path up a levee hill and some optional off-path routes along the way that are prickly and narrow. Locke artist and art teacher, Martha Esch, will demonstrate easy techniques to painting a quick, lovely, loose watercolor postcard of scenic spots along the hike. Next, participants will begin using watercolor kits, blank postcards and brushes that will be pas

2011 New Year’s Eve Wine Fest Sacramento’s Masonic Temple, 1123 J St. 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. $89 per person. No tickets will be sold at the door. 21+ Sacramento Wine and Nightlife Tours invites all wine lovers to ring in the new year with their favorite glass of red, white or bubbly. Held at the Sacramento Masonic Temple, this bash promises to be one of the biggest and most elegant new year’s celebrations in the city. Hosted in two rooms, the Wine Fest will feature a champagne toast, open bar with wine and beer, live music from performers Larry Ellis Jr. and Southwind, saxophonist Ava Lemert and DJ Rock Bottom. Appetizers will also be served, prepared by local chefs Anthony Brenes of Enotria Res

Most law-abiding citizens would rather not dabble in any business involving murder and mayhem, but Evangeline’s Costume Mansion finds a way to entice even its best-behaved visitors. A quick visit can turn into an entertaining hour of aimless milling around. But now customers can infuse some purpose into their wandering as they guide themselves through a murder-themed scavenger hunt, gathering interesting facts at stations throughout the store about some of history’s most notorious villains and gruesome killers. Evangeline’s store manager Jen Kossmann is responsible for organizing and implementing the hunt into the already-overwhelming layout of the store. Kossmann said the design for eac

The 37th annual Sacramento Jazz Festival & Jubilee marched in today with a parade through Old Town Sacramento. The parade teased onlookers with a taste of the sights and sounds of this year’s Memorial Weekend event. Visitors to the festival can expect about 70 bands playing traditional Dixieland-style jazz, blues, mariachi, Latin jazz, swing, marching band music, zydeco, ragtime and rockabilly in more than 450 sets of live music, according to the event organizers. Advertised special events include a pianorama, Sunday Gospel service and, if you’re feeling that you can never hear enough ribbed metal percussion, there is even a Monday washboard concert.  

I see the Sacramentopress as a great resource, that hopefully will spread beyond the boundaries of the fine city for which it is named after.  Just as I often come down to enjoy the many opportunities offered by Sacramento, conversely I hope many in the city  flatlands will take the time to head up the hill, to enjoy some of the opportunities available in the Foothills.  From time to time, I hope to shed some light on some activities, events etc.  This weekend rain or shine would be a great time to come on up.  One event in particular has a special interest to me, as I am helping to put it on!  Saturday, The Ridge Golf Course and Bar & Grill 2020 Golf Course Way, Auburn CA 95602 (530-888-