Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "santa"

Sacramento Santas of Christmas past

2011-12-29T06:01:41Z

Every holiday season, Sacramentans enjoy their presence in malls, churches, parties and other venues as they sit on their chairs and take pictures with kids eager to tell their Christmas wishes – they are the many faces of Santa and Mrs. Claus.

One of these Santa Clauses is Stefan Michael Philpott, 53, a painting contractor who lives in Yuba City. He has played the role during the holiday for three years. He worked as a Santa at a local Walgreens in his neighborhood in Yuba City and also for the Midtown Business Association at the MARRS building.

For Philpott, he said he tries to prepare himself for the questions kids might ask him about Santa.

Philpott said that kids have asked him, "Where is the real Santa?" to which he answered, "At the North Pole with the elves making presents for kids."

The best part of being a Santa though, he said, is when the kids think he is the real deal.

"My mom said I'm taking on a family tradition," Philpott said. His father did Santa work before for 25 years.

He said that some people he knows through his day job have not recognized him when he dons the beard, even when he approached and talked to them. It is partly because he uses his Santa voice, he said.

The kids’ wishes are much simpler this year, he said, compared to previous years when he had kids with multiple items in their list, such as a bicycle and an Xbox. This year, for most kids, wishes were for one item under $100.

For 40-year-old maintenance supervisor Scott Carpenter, working as Santa this year, he said he had the same experience with kids from low-income families requesting practical items. He said some kids did not ask for toys, but items for their rooms, such as a bookshelf or a lamp, while kids from higher-income families asked for more expensive items, he said.

"One thing that is similar and true ... is the children's excitement," Carpenter said. "I walked in the room, and it's like a rock star walked in the room."

Through Renoir Staffing Services Incorporated, he has worked as Santa at Christmas parties in apartment homes for two years.

Driving from his home in Davis to Sacramento already dressed as Santa, he said people have tried to get closer to his car and waved at him smiling trying to get his attention. He said that this helps him get in the mindset that he is Santa Claus for the kids he is visiting.

Carpenter said his sons, 10-year-old Max and 5-year-old Leo, enjoyed watching him dress up as Santa – walking around the house in his tank top and Santa pants while putting on makeup and a false beard.

"They understand that I'm working, and they understand that what I do and what Santa is are two separate things," Carpenter said.

He said working as Santa Claus not only helps with his expenses during the holiday season but is also a rewarding job with kids giving Christmas cards and drawing pictures of him.

Carpenter said now that his Santa work for this year ended, he misses hearing the kids' unpredictable questions and wishes. The toughest question he had was, "Why does your beard look fake?" to which he answered, "The more you believe in him, the more real I look."

Going back to his regular work, Carpenter said he carries with him the same skill set that he has working as Santa Claus: people skills.

Another person who donned a red costume, minus the beard, is Gail Nelson. She volunteered as Mrs. Claus for Girl Scouts Heart of Central California. This year is her third year volunteering.

She said that she wore her Girl Scout pin as well, to let the girls know that she was once a Girl Scout. Nelson is the secretary for the Girl Scouts Alumni Association.

Kids often asked the 72-year-old resident of Rocklin, when she was volunteering as Mrs. Claus, how she got down from the North Pole, to which she answered, "Santa has a few extra sleighs, so he enlisted one sleigh and driver to bring me down to Sacramento because the Girl Scouts had asked for a Mrs. Claus."

Nelson told the kids that finding Sacramento was not hard at all because the sleigh has GPS. She said, "The parents are funny. They get a kick out of this."

She said the hardest thing she had to explain was why she couldn’t let the girls see the sleigh she came down with. She just said it was being serviced.

To prepare for the part, Nelson said she did research on Mrs. Claus and read all that she could find on the character. She made sure that her red Mrs. Claus dress was pressed and clean, and she wore a perfume that smells like vanilla.

Now that Christmas has passed and the new year is a few days away, these men and women who played the vital role in the merriness of the holiday had to put their outfits back in their closets, and wait to wear them again for Christmases to come.

Photo essay: Cold Christmas nights and warm brightly lit Sacramento homes

2011-12-24T00:26:55Z

During the cold winter nights, the colorful Christmas lights on homes around town bring warmth to the hearts of passers-by. Each decorated house, big and small, has its own charm – front lawns filled with Santa Claus balloons and figures, brightly lit reindeer, colorful candy cane lights, and even cartoon penguins and bears. Some homes have lights overflowing their rooftops and trees, and some have their lights dance to the tune of Christmas carols. Cars slow down in amazement, smiles on their occupants’ faces, as they gaze at the festive decorations.

Here are the photos from some of the houses Kalyn Ruijters and I took around our neighborhoods – East Sacramento, South Sacramento, and Elk Grove.

On Kalyn’s walk and search for Christmas decorated homes Wednesday evening, she ran into a crowd of merry men and women all geared to brighten up the East Sacramento streets. It was 7 p.m. when, snowmen on wheels, Santa-sleigh tricycles and other Christmas-inspired bicycles paraded from 41st Street to 45th Street as part of the 5th Annual Nite Brite Parade. Here are some of the photos from the colorful event.

Trash Film Orgy at the Crest Theatre

2011-12-20T06:07:17Z

Little kids all over look forward with excited anticipation to Santa coming into town. They know he has a list that shows who’s been “naughty” and who’s been “nice.”

Saturday night several hundred “naughty” people attended Trash Film Orgy’s (TFO) showing of “Don’t Open Till Christmas,” a film directed by Edmund Purdom. The film was one of several films featured at the Crest Theater’s “Santa's Cool Holiday Film Festival.”

Doors opened at 10 p.m. for an 18 and older crowd that had been waiting outside the Crest Theater. Audience members dressed in costume were given a discount on admission.

Once inside the Crest Theatre, a Christmas tree was decorated and included gifts that were given to customers. Once the gifts were opened you were given the option of keeping the gift or exchanging it at the Shaggy Elephant Gift Exchange table. In the spirit of the 18 and over crowd, gifts were specifically geared toward that age group and included many naughty, adult in nature gifts.

Several other tables were set up to sell merchandise which included Midikat Boutique, Trash Film Orgy Productions and designer Carlyfornia Love. Trash Film Orgy also had tables set up for Santa’s Trash Workshop that included games and prizes.

A Mrs. Claus Holiday Workshop was also available for film goers to make their own holiday ornaments. Santa himself, with cigarette in mouth, posed for pictures as visitors sat on his lap. Elves dressed in scanty outfits also posed for photos.

The atmosphere of the lobby, although naughty in nature, was very enjoyable and guests appreciated what Trash Film Orgy had to offer. Once the curtain call was signaled guest entered the theater to enjoy a live performance of “Trash Santa.”

The Trash Santa performance was quite enjoyable and was geared for an adult audience. The performance featured a mean Santa who used profanity and featured elves who enjoyed their porn and who created the perfect toy, represented by a tough, gun wielding sexy robot.

The performance was greeted with much enthusiasm and included active participation from the audience. The participation exhibited by the audience from this point forward was very noticeable and it’s this kind of spirit that draws crowds to TFO performances.

Instead of going straight into the feature film after the first TFO performance, the audience sat through a series of bizarre, unexpected and entertaining film clips, cartoons and just plain weird visuals. The audience loved the previews and vociferously commented on what they saw.

I’m not sure how long the previews lasted but it was quite popular with the audience and gave people something to talk about during intermission.

After intermission TFO continued their entertainment by putting on a game of popping balloons by sitting on them. Several audience members participated in the event. Not only did participants enjoy this but audience participation gave everyone a chance to contribute to the enjoyment of the game.

The 1984 feature film, “Don’t Open Till Christmas,” followed. The British film was directed and starred Edmund Purdom and was written by Derek Ford based on a story by Al McGoohan. It’s not your typical Christmas movie and fits into the “Slasher” film category.

The film deals with a London psycho killer who goes on a killing rampage just before Christmas. The victims are people dressed in Santa suits that he encounters. The famous Scotland Yard has several detectives set out to find the killer. The killer must be stopped before the killing becomes another annual holiday tradition.

The morbid killings elicited outlandish remarks from the audience and actually made this an enjoyable movie.

As the audience was making their way out of the theatre I spoke with a couple. Martin George and Angela Stewart said they came to see what K Street looked like now that it was open to car traffic and decided to attend the performance after seeing the line outside the theatre.

“I thought I had outgrown Santa,” said George, “but tonight’s event just goes to show that you never really outgrow that. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and loved the elves, specially the beautiful female elves. Wow, this was great.”

The event for the evening showcased TFO entertainment at its best as audience members were encouraged to interact. Crest Theater and TFO provided a night of fun adult entertainment.

TV for the Holidays - Access Sacramento Channel 17

2011-12-19T18:53:44Z

Show the NBA you don't need their back-to-back B-ball to enjoy the holiday spirit. During those lulls in family "How have you been?" catching up, endless high calorie snacking, and playing (breaking?) the kid's brand new toys, enjoy local holiday programming made by your neighbors right here in Sacramento County. Here's the schedule of special events - a "snapshot" of our Christmas weekend programming on Channel 17 and streamed on our web site at www.AccessSacramento.org - ENJOY - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

“Celebration Of Lights” – 9:00am

“Kid’s Corp Christmas Special” – 11:30am

“Giving – Winter Wonderland & Raley Field” – 12:00Noon

“Terry Moore Christmas Special” – 12:00Noon

“Dancing With The Stars” – 1:00pm

“Veteran’s Day Parade” – 3:00pm

“Happy Rhythm 2011 Christmas” – 4:30pm

“LiveWire! Santa Christmas Special” – 5:00pm

“Sacramento Dances – Let’s Dance Ballroom’s 2011 Holiday Gala” – 7:00pm

“Club Karo’ky Xmas Show” – 8:00pm

“Christmas With Sister Swing” – 9:00pm

“The Crib (stage play)” – 11:00pm

Sunday, December 25, 2011

“LiveWire! Santa Christmas Special” – 9:00am

“Sacramento Dances – Let’s Dance Ballroom’s 2011 Holiday Gala” – 11:00am

“Club Karo’ky Xmas Show” – 12:00Noon

“Christmas With Sister Swing” – 1:00pm

“Agape Christian Fellowship Xmas Special” – 4:00pm

“Giving – USAF Band of the Golden West” – 5:00pm

“Happy Rhythm 2011 Christmas Special” – 7:00p

“Celebration Of Lights” – 7:30pm

“Chinese Culture 25th Anniversary Celebration” – 10:00pm

All cablecasts will be on Comcast/Surewest Channel 17 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, Pacific Daylight/Standard Time. What? You don't have those services? Not to worry, you can also view the programs on our website at www.accesssacramento.org, at the times listed above. Feel free to share this schedule with your friends! Most of the above programs are also posted on Comcast "On-Demand" channel 1 under "Get Local" and "Access Sacramento". Thank you for your support of local community and public access television in Sacramento County.

Disclosure: Ron Cooper is Executive Director of Access Sacramento

Pets invited to Santa’s Workshop in Midtown!

2011-12-16T20:24:29Z

Skip the crowded malls this Saturday and bring your wish lists and your camera down to the MARRS Building to visit Santa’s Workshop! Santa and his elves have opened up their workshop for the past two Saturdays and this Saturday they are inviting the whole family, even the pets!

Residents and visitors are invited to visit Santa’s Workshop at the MARRS Building from 11am-4pm. Pets are welcome to come down from 2pm-4pm. Grateful Dog Daycare will even be on hand to give the photogenic pooches a special treat.

The MARRS Building is located in the heart of Midtown at 20th & J Streets. MARRS retailers invite all, big and small, to join them at this festive event. Retailers at MARRS include Pete’s Coffee, Mr. Pickles, Sacramento Comedy Spot, Azul, Luigi’s Slice, Denim Spot, LoungeON20 and Asha Yoga.

“We are excited to offer Midtown families and visitors the opportunity to meet Santa here at the MARRS Building as part of their Holiday festivities,” said MARRS developer Michael Heller.

Families and their pets will have the opportunity to take their own photos or they can purchase an instant photo for $5 from the on-site photographer. Children are also encouraged to bring their letters to Santa and place them in Santa’s Mailbox for express journey to the North Pole.

Parking will also be FREE during all hours of Santa’s Workshop thanks to the City of Sacramento, who is providing Midtown with FREE Street metered parking all day on weekends and after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays through December 25th.

Please check out marrs-sactown.com for more information specific to each event.

Disclosure: Heather Philpott is the Communication Coordinator at the Midtown Business Association and is a producer of the annual Halloween festivities.

Small Train Holiday

2011-11-26T03:05:01Z

There’s something about toy trains that captures the imagination of adults and children alike. This year’s “Small Train Holiday” at the California State Railroad Museum is drawing a steady stream of wide-eyed admirers to its special displays of toy and model trains over Thanksgiving weekend.

Grown-ups and kids clustered around the working train displays run by avid toy train operators. Joe Montgomery’s train layout includes treasured trains from his youth. When he was a boy, his father traded several bushels of corn to a store-owner so that his son could have a pre-1950s Marx electric train. Montgomery played with the set for years until called into the armed services, and now he comes every year to the Small Train Holiday to share his love of trains.

Eight-year-old Nathan is a budding engineer, with a very practical bent. He constructed an entire Santa’s village out of Legos, complete with working trains, Santa’s workshop and a lunchroom and bathroom for the elves. Nathan, his grandma and mother were happy to point out the set’s features and to challenge folks to find the 15 Santas hidden in the layouts hosted by the Sacramento Lego Fan Club.

David Thomsen of the Toy Train Operating Society added movement to his village scene with sledders, skiers and a chugging train filled with miniature gift boxes. Another operator’s layout mesmerized children as they watched conveyor belts unload barrels of broccoli and brussels sprouts and load up on logs.

The event also included storytelling with Mrs. Claus, handcar rides, photos with Santa, a 1957 short film set to instrumental music titled “Toccata for Toy Trains” and a scavenger hunt.

Museum director Paul Hammond says the museum has been offering Small Train Holiday for about 15 years. This year’s event runs through Saturday.

Radio City Music Hall Rocks Arco Arena

2010-12-18T01:53:05Z

Fifteen semi-trailers for sound stage, all bedecked in red and white, brought Radio City Music Hall's Rockettes to Sacramento.

Wedensday, the Rockettes went out to dance in Sacramento for Christmas on a national 35-city tour. Right as the red curtains went up, the crowd started buzzing, and they were off, first the legs, then the whole row of dancers came out to give the crowd what it was waiting for.

With a cheesy Santa cheering up the crowd and the dancers dressed as reindeer in glowing antlers, the show began.

The sound stage and setup were two of the most spectacular parts about the show, from LED projection screens giving a history of the Rockettes and their time with Radio City Music Hall. From Santa's magic floor entrance to the panels the 50-plus Santa's came out of for the dancing Santa's number, this is a well-thought-out show.

A personal favorite part of the show was the nutcracker number, when all the dancers danced with large fluffy bears and dolls. These costumes must have weighted a ton, and must have been awfully cumbersome, but they danced light as air in toe shoes and made a number that might have been reserved for children light-hearted, playful, whimsical and fun.

Another crowd pleaser was the precision toy soldier number, which has been a part of the Christmas spectacular for as long as it has run. But knowing the crowd has changed since the 1920s, when the Rockettes started, there was a lot of new dance styles throughout the whole show, including zubma and hip hop in addition to the wealth of the classic leg lifts.

The show ended with a nativity scene, and the three wise men bringing their gifts, which then erupted in a singing sensation with snowflakes and streamers shooting out to the front-row crowds that were covered by the end of the performance.

Aside from feeling, it was slightly akin to a Christian rock concert at the end. It was a wonderful show and makes the watcher fully understand why the Rockettes have been around for over 76 years.

Photo credit: Kati Garner

Holiday Display at 10th & K

2010-12-09T21:06:04Z

Sacramento County Historical Society's holiday display at 1001 K Street formally opened on November 26, but its operation continues through the beginning of the New Year and it attracted attention from passersby even before the display formally opened.

The display uses figures originally built by the Gaffney Display Company in the 1950s, used in Breuner's Department Store holiday display windows. This tradition began in Sacramento in 1934, continuing until 1974. Gaffney figures were used throughout the Breuner's chain, but have been absent from K Street for decades. More information on the historic Breuner's displays can be found in this article:

http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/40096/Department_Store_Holiday_Display_for_K_Street

Construction of the display started in early November, utilizing the talents of a team of volunteers. Some were SCHS members with experience in museum display construction and art. Local artists involved with the "Matrix Arts" organization lent their talents. Some filmmakers from local film company TFO Productions took some time off from producing their new feature "Planet of the Vampire Women" to lend a hand. And some were just Sacramentans willing to help out. Mark Gaffney, owner of the figures and the still-operating Gaffney Display Company, provided the figures and his expertise in setting up the display. About 60 individuals, businesses and organizations contributed funds and materials to the display project, both through our online Indiegogo fundraising effort, solicited donations, and an appeal to Historical Society members.

The project, located in the dramatic corner window of Sacramento's landmark 1946 Roos-Atkins building, combines the historic figures with a newly designed setting entitled "Winter in the City." Set in approximately 1910, the display portrays a Sacramento streetcorner, with a department store and movie theater inspired by Sacramento buildings demolished long ago (the Edison Theater and Weinstock-Lubin department store that once stood on the 400 block of K Street.) A Sacramento streetcar, returning from Oak Park, is located on the K Street side. A family is transfixed before the store window, the parents appreciating the holiday lights while the kids detail which of the toys inside the window they want. A young couple exits the movie theater, hailing the streetcar for a ride home. A bell-ringing Santa, inspired by the "Volunteers of America" fundraising Santas, stands on the corner welcoming passersby. The display is intended to portray the era when K Street (and downtown Sacramento) was the shopping, entertainment and transportation hub of the Sacramento Valley, as well as a densely populated urban neighborhood that was busy day and night.

The display operates from 11 AM to 11 PM on weekdays, and on weekends the lights and animated figures keep running until 2:00 AM. The display will remain in operation until the first week of January 2011, when the figures will be returned and the lumber used to create the display will be donated to a local theater company.

This Saturday, December 11, the Sacramento Old City Association and SCHS will host the quarterly Preservation Roundtable across the street at 1000 K Street, inside the Cosmopolitan Cabaret. The Preservation Roundtable includes updates and information from local history and preservation organizations, and runs from 9 AM to noon. The featured speaker of this quarter's Preservation Roundtable is Mark Gaffney, who will talk about the history of the Gaffney Display Company and their involvement with the Breuner's animated window displays, as well as the story of this year's holiday display. The presentation will end with a visit to the display site at noon.

Sacramento Preservation Roundtable

Saturday December 11, 9 AM-12 PM

1000 K Street (Cosmopolitan Cabaret), Sacramento

(Photos 1 and 2 by William Burg. Photos 3-11 by M. Parfitt. Photos 12-14 by Gretchen Steinberg.)

"Theater of Lights" brings holiday charm to Old Sac

2010-11-29T03:40:27Z

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Old Sacramento, what with Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, stepping out onto the Shasta House balcony for readings of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and all.

Volunteer actors from the Old Sacramento Living History Program played the roles of Clemens, Santa Claus, and an anonymous sleeper roused awake by the loud crash of Santa’s sleigh in the holiday production “Theater of Lights.”

The quaint historic portion of K Street between Second and Front streets became the audience floor as a theatrical light show was presented from the balconies of buildings on either side Saturday night.

Production and inspiration for this event began last year by Stage Nine Entertainment Group owner Troy Carlson.

“We wanted to develop a Christmas program that was not only historical but also entertaining,” Carlson said.

Historical lessons of the night came from a narration provided by the Clemens character, who revealed that Sacramento was known in his time as the “city of saloons” and had a reputation for kindness.

“Our ultimate goal is to make this not only a regional but a statewide draw as something that people plan as part of their holiday celebration to come and see,” Carlson said.

With a team of decorators, scriptwriters and actors volunteering months in advance, the first show of this year began the day after Thanksgiving and will run two shows daily Thursday through Sunday at 6 and 7:30 p.m. through the first week of January.

Sound effects, provided by George Lucas’ Skywalker Sound, broadcast in stereo. The narration is enhanced by the lively sounds of jingle bells, holiday cheer and lights beaming to life.

“It’s the same type of sound you’d get when going to a movie,” Carlson said.

As the Polar Express steam train rumbled its way to a stop nearby, a sense of magic and nostalgia added to the night’s ambiance. A towering Christmas tree at the intersection of K and Front streets was lit up by Christmas stockings and sugar plum lights, illuminating in sequence with the narrator’s cues.

Roseville resident Kat Durr didn’t know about the event but happened upon it while enjoying an evening of shopping with a friend.

“It was cute, ” she said. “I liked the lights.”

Some 200 people stood in the middle of the street, mesmerized as the first of two 20-minute shows came to life around them. According to Carlson, about 20,000 people enjoyed last year’s production throughout the course of the holiday season.

Seattle resident Kelsey Ryland proved that it’s not only regional visitors who are enjoying the festive charm of Old Sacramento during the holidays.

“The lights were fabulous and it was so well orchestrated,” Ryland said. “I don’t always love the holidays, but this was awesome.”

Photos courtesy of Laurieann Cunningham

Unruly crowds? NOT

2009-12-24T02:54:50Z

Arden Fair Mall sported well-behaved crowds today. Last night a midnight sale for the new Air Jordan athletic was cancelled when potential shoe buyers rushed mall doors and started pushing others.

That sale was cancelled.

This afternoon the scene seemed like a normal, bustling shopping day right before Christmas: Parents and kids endured lines waiting for Santa pictures to be taken, shoppers traversed escalators and stores,lovers sneaked kisses, clerks and delivery persons carried on.

Here are some scenes:

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Skate with Santa Wednesday 6-8pm

2009-12-23T04:25:50Z

Join Santa at the Midtown Holiday Ice Rink for some Holiday memories on ICE!

Santa's official photographer will be there to snap that last minute photo for Grandma's fridge of Santa and your little ones on the ice at the Midtown Holiday Ice Rink.

Skate with Santa is from 6-8pm

The Midtown Holiday Ice Rink is located at 20th & J streets in Midtown.

For parking and additional information, log on to www.ExploreMidtown.org

The Midtown Holiday Ice RInk

2009-12-20T04:17:03Z

The Midtown Holiday Ice Rink is the place to be! School is out, Santa is near, the weather is great and the ice rink is HERE!

Don't miss out on some festive Holiday fun for the whole family!

The Midtown Holiday Ice Rink is open daily from 10am-10pm. Don't miss a special Skate with Santa on December 23rd from 6-8pm!

Photo courtesy of Tyler Waaler www.TylerWaaler.com

Pet Photos with Santa - in Midtown

2009-12-19T01:34:39Z

Santa welcomes his furry, feathered and scaly friends to join him for photos in his Midtown Toy Shoppe this Sunday, December 20th from 2-4pm.

Photos start at $10 and proceeds benefit the Friends of the Sacramento City Animal Shelter.

Santa's Midtown Toy Shoppe

1801 L Street, Suite 70 (between 18th & 19th)

It's a Crappy Christmas at Movies on a Big Screen

2009-12-16T23:02:55Z

Disclaimer: the contributor of this and his wife run Movies on a Big Screen (MOBS), Sacramento’s weekly screening series of documentaries, general independent film, classics and cult titles. The following is blatant self-promotion of a MOBS event.

According to Andy Williams' 1963 carol, "It's the most wonderful time of the year." Well this year, Movies on a Big Screen has decided to restore some balance to the equation by offering two Crappy Christmas shows!

On Sunday, December 20, Movies on a Big Screen will "present" the 1964 anti-classic, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, also known by the far more thrilling title, Santa Defeats the Aliens. Briefly, this "fun-filled romp" involves Martians (and their cardboard robot, Torg) kidnapping Santa and two Earth children and taking them on a cross-planetary trip back to their home base on Mars. When they (finally) arrive, Santa, with the help of the other abductees and a rather simple-minded Martian lackey, overcomes the Martians by bringing fun, happiness and Christmas cheer to the children of Mars. The "film" also features a young Pia Zadora playing a blank-faced Martian child, along with the most realistic (ahem) polar bear you'll ever see. You know you're in trouble when "Costume" is misspelled in the opening credits.

The following week, on Sunday, December 27, things just get crappier when MOBS takes any remaining good will you may have left and kicks it to the gutter by showing the 1959 Mexican film, Santa vs. Satan. This was shown at MOBS last year, and in a baffling development, is actually back by popular demand (?). The English language version will be shown (that should be read as, "with bad dubbing"). This year, the "motion picture" will be hosted by nationally syndicated late night horror host, Cinema Insomnia's Mr. Lobo. Crappy Christmas presents will be handed out to an unlucky few; there won't be presents for everyone just to make it even crappier.

About Santa vs. Satan:
Santa lives on a cloud floating over the North Pole where, rather than elves, children from all over the world help make toys -- and they're really more like enslaved laborers. Is this a Santa that you would want coming down your chimney? Not so much. He's pretty creepy with an overly sweet voice paired with a disturbing (and decidedly unjolly) laugh with insincere and sometimes vacant eyes staring at children through odd Sid and Marty Krofft-like devices. However, Satan is determined to undermine Santa so sends his minion, Pitch (a skinny guy in a cheap, red suit), to the surface to make the kids of the world hate Santa and engage in vandalism. Did I mention the vampiric mechanized reindeer? No? Or the interpretive dance in Hell? Hmm...

You know, it's not really a Christmas movie without dialog like, "There's a prowler out there -- he's come to kill your wife. And your children. He's going to murder you!"

It's best summed up by the following online review:
"How can a movie get everything so very, very wrong and yet be so very, very right? If you aren't the least bit familiar with this surreal trip into an extremely non-traditional view of jolly ol' St. Nick, perhaps the less known the better, as half the fun of this colossal mess is staring in dumbfounded awe at what is transpiring on the screen. It's a hoot. A damned scary hoot, granted, but certainly a hoot." - dvdinmypants.com

Details about the Crappy Christmas shows:

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Sunday, December 20, 2009
7:30 PM
Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
2828 35th St, Sacramento (at the corner of 35th & Broadway)
Admission: $5.00

Santa vs. Satan, hosted by Cinema Insomnia's Mr. Lobo
Sunday, December 27, 2009
7:30 PM
Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
2828 35th St, Sacramento (at the corner of 35th & Broadway)
Admission: $5.00

"All this trouble over a fat little man in a red suit" - Voldar, in Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.

http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com

Carnival of Lights | Westfield Christmas Tree lights up

2009-11-28T08:20:03Z

Sacramento's Carnival of Lights began with the lighting of the 50ft tall Westfield Plaza Christmas tree.

This holiday season, the Carnival of Lights will delight visitors with a dazzling display of lights throughout the Central City from the waterfront through Midtown starting the week of Thanksgiving through January 3.

The collaborative effort will feature architectural lighting, holiday décor, and holiday events including the Theatre of Lights in Old Sacramento and the Carnival at St. Rose at 7th & K streets.

Below, are scenes of the Carnival at St. Rose and the Carnival of Lights festivities:

The Carnival at St. Rose is 5-week holiday event that has transformed 7th and K streets into a festive winter carnival featuring a 30-foot Ferris wheel, classic carnival and arcade games, food vendors and more.

Even though it rained, folks enjoyed the Carnival at St.Rose while waiting for the tree to light up.

The view from the ferris wheel.

Umbrellas saved the day.

Lights adorn the front of buildings on one side of K Street, accross from Westfield Plaza.

This young girl gets excited waiting for the tree to be lit.

The crowd is entertained.

Santa arrives!

The holiday season has officially begun.

For more information, (916) 442-8575.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

'Some Assembly Required' features vintage toys, brings back memories

2009-11-21T03:16:02Z

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 with older men.

Filled with erector sets, trolleys and wind-ups, the exhibit shows vintage toys from the 1870s to the 1960s. The pièce de résistance is a layout, complete with a working Lionel Train set, that looks like the window display of Bullock's department store in 1956 Los Angeles.

For Jeff Hall, a 54-year-old who was born in Los Angeles, the layout brought back a lot of memories.

"I had a Lionel train set and looked forward to putting it around the Christmas tree every year," he said. Hall, the father of four daughters, said he brought home a train set for his children one year, but it wasn't a big hit.

"They were into other things," he said. Two were interested in horses and the other two were more into sports.

It was a similar story for another father, John Curtis, who also grew up putting a train set around the Christmas tree. While his 4-year-old daughter Emily likes riding real trains, Curtis said she doesn't really play with toy trains.

"(Emily) likes to play on the Nintendo DS, she's big on Barbies and she's all about Play-Doh," Curtis said.

Jeff Allen, a CSRM volunteer docent in his 50s, said he played with nearly every toy in the exhibit when he was younger.

"It really gives you an idea of what toys were like. I remember playing with most of these," he said. "When I'm working around these toys, it's like I'm 4 years old."

Allen said he played with toy trains as a kid, and still has two sets of operational model trains. He said that his love of trains led him to become a docent, adding that working at the museum "is a kick" because he can be around trains.

In addition to "Some Assembly Required," the permanent display of toy trains on the third floor is a must-see. The exhibit shows the history of the toy train, nearly every train size available from Z scale (smallest) to G scale (largest), and interactive toy sets and layouts.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, the museum's first floor also features a working toy train chugging around a Christmas tree.

Those who seek an additional holiday-themed train experience can sign up for Santa's Steam Train, Nov. 27-29. The steam train departs from the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot adjacent to the museum and riders also have admittance to the museum and the 13th Annual Toy Train Holiday Show.

The annual show, on Thanksgiving weekend, features local hobbyists displaying their toy and model train layouts in the museum. Tickets for Santa's Steam Train are $15, $7 for ages 6-17, free ages 5 and younger. The train departs hourly from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

California State Railroad Museum, 125 I St., is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Museum admission is $9, $4 ages 6-17, free ages 5 and younger. "Some Assembly Required" runs until Feb. 20.

All photographs are of "Some Assembly Required," except for image 5, which shows the Christmas tree display on the first floor.

No Force on Earth Can Stop One Hundred Santas!

2008-12-05T10:12:26Z

Holidaze got you down? Looking for something outside your regular routine? Your Local Union of St. Nick wants you to bring holiday cheer to your fair city!

About this time every year legions of Santa Claus visit cities around the globe bringing their own variety of holiday weirdness; Sacramento is no exception. Armed with holiday cheer, candy canes for the children, and demented gifts for the jaded, tens and hundreds of Santas have their last hurrah before returning north to complete the daunting task of preparing to deliver hand crafted toys to girls and boys throughout the world. As populations grow and the polar ice sheet melts, this time of year can be very distressing for the jolly old elf, so it’s understandable that he requires a little R&R to blow off some steam before the big day.

Santacon, or Sanarchy as it’s popularly known, had it’s humble beginnings when Santa Claus, a self admitted alcoholic, and the Kris Kringle Institute Class of ’94, descended on San Francisco for a little pre-holiday romp through the City. Welcomed everywhere like a rich uncle, the cavalcade of cacophonic kringles skipped from one holiday party to the next. Department stores, city parks, public transportation, unsuspecting dinner parties, strip clubs, nightclubs, and mosh pits played host to the merry melee; by the end of the evening an institution had been born.

Fourteen years later Santacon occurs on various days in December in nearly every state of the union, Canada, Germany, Bahrain, France, Sweden, Australia, South Korea, Austria, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, and mainland China. Sacramento is no exception having hosted Santacon since 2003. This year’s event begins (with the hopes of not ending) at the Sacramento County Jail from where the clan heads to the Amtrak station to welcome San Francisco Santas. From there it’s off to the Back Door Lounge for some twisted caroling at the piano bar followed by merry mayhem towards points east unknown.

For more information and how to participate visit http://santarchy.com