A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy, Fairytale Town’s popular fairy-themed fundraiser and ice cream social, will return on Saturday, June 9, from 6 to 10 p.m. Inspired by Shakespeare’s famous play, this enchanting evening features nonstop entertainment for the whole family, including costumed performers, fanciful arts and crafts activities, live music, food and all the Crystal Ice Cream one can eat. Celtic-rock band Tempest will perform throughout the evening. Since forming in 1988, the band has won rave reviews for their musical hybrid of high-energy folk rock with Irish reels, Scottish ballads, Norwegian influences and other world music elements. Based in the San Fra

Sacramento, Let's Play Ball! Dodgeball, that is.  And for a good cause! Metro EDGE, Sacramento’s premiere network of 40-and-under young professionals, is excited to announce the third annual “A Day on the EDGE” fundraiser.  This year’s event will feature a dodgeball tournament complete with great music, food, and drinks – all to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento. A program of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, Metro EDGE identifies and supports a local nonprofit organization through volunteerism and philanthropic giving every year.  For 2012, Metro EDGE is supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento, which works to inspire young people to dream big and reach th

Just in time for summer!  In addition to its fascinating Gold Rush past, the Sacramento area is rich with an amazing array of state-of-the-art museums and historic sites that offer visitors the chance to explore California’s fine art, history, science, and wildlife treasures all year long.   And while all the 29 participating local museums offer a wealth of experiences just waiting to be explored, a few museums offer specially-designed activities and programs perfect for inspiring and engaging children during the more leisurely summer months.  Outlined below is a sampling of available summer programs and activities coordinated by local museums: Four-Day Aerospace Summer Camp at the Aero

Southside Park swimmers should know in the next week whether a bold new plan to reopen the Southside Park Pool succeeds – if it does, it will make for a cool summer for thousands of central city swimmers. The plan hinges on a new partnership between the city of Sacramento and the Sacramento YMCA where the YMCA will operate the pool and provide staff and maintenance all year. “If we can accomplish this, the Southside (Park) Pool will be open for business seven days a week,” City Councilman Rob Fong said. “It would be an amazing asset for the community again.” The new plan includes swim lessons, an aquatics program and open swim times at the pool for families and kids who are out of schoo

It's that time of year again!                                  The time has come again!!!!! The Active 20-30 Club of Sacramento #1 is proud to announce its 44th annual Spring Party, Sactopalooza 2012. This years party is being held at a Sacramento landmark, The Sacramento Zoo, on June 16 from 5pm - 10pm. With a capacity of 2,500 party goers (21+ years old), Sactopalooza is promising to entertain with TWO top tribute bands to No Doubt and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, six bars, terrific food, mechanical bull riding, jousting, and DJ Rigatony performing on a separate dance area. - This is a Rain or Shine event and all attendee's must be 21 and over ( MUST have valid ID ) - Check in @ WILL CAL

On June 23, 2012, Sacramento will be treated to the Sacramento Chef Challenge, an annual fundraiser for people with developmental disabilities that features an "Iron Chef" style cooking battle, Cake War competition, gourmet food sampling, beer and wine tasting, live music and more! For $25 a piece, guests are treated to a culinary extravaganza beginning with fair from local restaurants, wineries and breweries including The Couch Sports Lounge, Two Rivers Cider, Terra d’Oro Winery and Morgan’s Restaurant. The first of two competitions will pit three professional chefs in a head to head battle for culinary glory. Chef Challengers will have three hours to prepare and sample an original menu

It’s almost summer, and with the season comes the return of Concerts in the Park. Sacramentans of all varieties came out to Cesar Chavez Park on Friday for the first in the concert series that will continue through July. The crowd swelled in size as the sun set and music filled the air. Stage performers included bands Storytellers, Island of Black and White, and Arden Park Roots. DJ Shaun Slaughter provided dance beats and announcer Danny Secretion rallied the concert-goers between sets. Check out the free concerts every Friday from 5 - 9 p.m. this summer at Cesar Chavez park.

When it comes to the most romantic day of the year, traditional gifts of roses and heart shaped boxes of candy still dominate the market, but for those ladies and gentlemen looking for a more unique way to show their affection, consider the gift of food and fun by giving your special someone tickets to the Sacramento Chef Challenge. Tickets are only $25 each and include: • Chef Challenge competition • Gourmet food sampling • Wine and Beer tasting • Cake War presented by Cakegrrl.com • Live Music • Raffle and Silent Auction Prizes “When you’ve celebrated 30 Valentine’s Days together it can be difficult to find a really special gift,” says Rancho Cordova resident Linda Allen, “I was truly

The Crocker Art Museum will present a French Impressionist-style Garden Party on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 5 to 9 p.m. Inspired by the exhibition “Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism,” the evening will feature Impressionist music, art activities, and more in the Museum’s picturesque E. Kendell Davis Courtyard. Guests can try their hand at “pétanque,” an outdoor game similar to horseshoes, or drawing “plein-air” style on studio easels. Artist Sarma Karsiere will lead drawing sessions and demonstrate Impressionist pastel techniques. Members of the Alliance Française de Sacramento, who are co-presenting the Garden Party, will also showcase poetry from the Impressionist era as well as ori

Since 1998 “One Book” projects have connected people through literature by encouraging an entire community to read one book and share the experience through public readings and discussions. The Crocker Art Museum is expanding the idea by adding art to the mix. The Museum has selected “Strapless: John Singer Sargent and the Fall of Madame X” by Deborah Davis as the focal point of the Museum’s “One Book/Many Perspectives” project taking place this summer in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition series “The Summer of Impressionism.” “Strapless” is the story behind John Singer Sargent’s infamous portrait of “Madame X,” in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New Yo

Snow cones are a seasonal favorite of the Osaka-Ya pastry shop and market, but it’s taken more than snow cones to keep the shop in business for almost 100 years. A vestige of Sacramento’s former Japantown, which sat in the area around L, N, Third and Fourth streets, Osaka-Ya still provides traditional Japanese sweets, hot food and other edibles near the corner of 10th and V streets downtown. “My mom and dad took over this business in 1963,” said owner Linda Nakatani. “A friend gave them the recipe for the snow cone syrup, and they used a hand-crank snow cone machine to shave the ice.” Her father installed a motor, and the snow cones have been a summer favorite at the business ever since

Beautiful sunny days are here and people are beginning to tuck away boots, coats and umbrellas until the next rainy and cold season. They are pulling out sandals, shorts and thinking about how to enjoy the sunshine. I went to the streets of Sacramento and asked people, “Where is the best public place to sunbathe?” Here is what folks had to say: Anna Vang, 26, is a student at Cosumnes River College from South Sacramento and works for a home day care. “I like to sunbathe at Sun Splash Water Park,” Vang said. Britanny Heines, 18, an employee at AT&T and Denis Myrick, 19, a student at Cosumnes River College are both from Galt. “We like to go to Mokelumne river to sunbathe,” Myrick said.

This Father’s Day take the whole family to the Crocker Art Museum’s "Free Family Fun Day.” On Sunday, June 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., enjoy a Museum-wide celebration of Impressionism and summertime with a host of family programs, including hands-on art making, interactive tours, dance and music performances, and much more. “Free Family Fun Day” is a unique opportunity to sample the Crocker’s family programs, such as Drop, Yak, Splat!, studio art workshops, and family-friendly art tours. Visitors can try their hands at creating landscapes, sculpting with clay, or crafting portraits of their favorite heroes. Artist Sarma Karsiere will lead a draw-along session focusing on landscapes. Clas

Sacramento families can jump-start their children's summer fun at the neighborhood Kids' Safety Fair taking place Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event will be held on the lawn of Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5625 24th Street in Sacramento (corner of Fruitridge Road and 24th Street). Among the free activities offered are a bounce-house, face-painting, crafts, music and helpful information from local family and safety resources. A free hotdog lunch will be served. A map and directions, plus a downloadable print-friendly flyer, are available. The safety fair is presented as a community service of Bethany Presbyterian Church volunteers. Bethany Presbyterian Church is th

Despite the intermittent rain and chilly winds of the past weeks, summer is ahead, and cold beverages and fresh foods are at their best.  The Sacramento Press asked locals what favorite drink or food they turn to to cool off in the summer heat. Zuleyma Hercules is a law student who recently moved from Modesto to Rancho Cordova. Hercules said she loves ice-cold Pepsi with three cubes of ice. “I’m very specific,” she said. Hercules also enjoys cherry Icees from Chevron and Haagen Dazs chocolate ice cream. Wincie Pierce, a construction worker from the Fair Oaks area, said, “I always drink water.” Pierce added that he enjoys eating fresh melons and barbecues in the summer.   “We barbecu

Readers of all ages will travel the globe this summer as the Sacramento Public Library presents the 2011 Summer Reading program, One World, Many Stories. Sacramento Public Library locations will offer more than 600 free entertaining and educational summer reading programs, between June 1 and through August 31, 2011, for school-age children, teens, adults, and families. “While One World, Many Stories makes reading fun for kids, parents and teachers appreciate that children’s participation in Summer Reading helps develop and expand reading skills, encourages lifelong learning habits, and fosters an appreciation of all the services and resources provided by our public library branches in the

The R Street improvements currently under construction from 10th to 13th streets are getting a few more amenities, as construction left extra funds in an approximately $1 million $1.5 million federal grant allocated to the project. The City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to approve 13 more pedestrian benches, 13 banners affixed to streetlights and a decorative arch that spans R Street at 10th Street and a pedestrian arch over the sidewalk on 12th Street and R Street, to be constructed by Teichert Construction, the main contractor for the project. “This will be the icing on the cake to R street and will make the area more pedestrian-friendly,” Sacramento Department of Transportation sp

What’s a sign that it’s officially summer in Sacramento? Summer is around the corner, and signs of the season are showing up everywhere in the city, the days are warmer and outside recreational activities begin to increase. The Sacramento Press stopped locals in the central city during the Second Saturday Art Walk, and asked, “What’s a sign that it’s officially summer in Sacramento?” Musician/singer Elijah Bell, 19, lives downtown and said he knows it’s summer when girls are walking around wearing less clothing. He added, “The days seem longer, and more songs come out on the radio.” Live music and local street performers are also more prevalent during summer on Second Saturdays. Stre

KVIE Public Television is seeking video submissions for You on the Road, a community video companion project to its Rob on the Road series hosted by Rob Stewart. This project is an opportunity for anyone to use public television to share their stories about the people and places that inspire them, and capture what makes our region an exciting place to live and work. Through Rob on the Road and You on the Road stories, you can help others experience our region in a new and inspiring way! From the submissions received, KVIE will select stories to be featured in a 30-minute special edition of Rob on the Road. The producers of the selected videos may also have the opportunity to be interviewe

As children are about to return to school and the temperature is about to drop, the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association invites everyone to Curtis Park for its last Music in the Park of the summer of 2010. On Sunday, August 29th from 6 - 8:30pm the eighteen-acre parcel at the heart of the Curtis Park community will play host to rock, rhythm and blues for adults, songs and games for kids, and an assortment of innovative health and wellness ideas. This free concert is part of the season of events of one of the busiest neighborhood associations in the state of California. Making his debut performance at Music in the Park will be singer-songwriter G-Whiz, who will present his unique line-u