During the hot summer months, Clunie pool, located in McKinley Park in Midtown Sacramento, is the place to be. But this past Saturday, swimmers could be seen jumping off the diving board and swimming in water during cold winter temperatures. Swimming during the winter months may seem crazy, but Sacramentans came out for a special cause. The city Department of Parks and Recreation has been making cuts in the aquatics department for several years now, increasing shutdowns of city pools. Sierra Voss, 27, who has been lifeguarding for 10 years, has seen firsthand the changes that have been happening recently. "Last year we had black out days, where once a week each pool had to be closed do

Two years ago, Camellia Waldorf School’s Winter Faire was hit by something unexpected: rain. It flooded the parking lots, turned a dry creek into a creek and threatened the good spirits of the day. Participants shifted into the school for cover, while vendors put up their canopies and served hot chocolate and soup. Despite the rain, it was one of the busiest fairs that school has hosted, with reportedly 1,000 visitors. “It didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s feelings,” event co-chair Sarah Rucker said. “It’s a reflection of the norm at Waldorf School. If it were snowing, we’d still have a blast.” This year, the Winter Faire began under a cloudless sky on Saturday, December 10th, on the school

Imagine yourself on a cold wintry night being transported back in time to a cozy, candle-lit parlor. Gentlemen play whist, ladies sip tea, and lute and flute musicians perform beloved Christmas carols. Such was the mood evoked by the Sacramento Baroque Soloists in their “Winter’s Eve” program. Over 100 patrons attended the concert held in the intimate sanctuary of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown Sacramento. The Sacramento Baroque Soloists, now in its 10th year, was founded by Lisa Marie and Michael Lawson. While the group’s focus is on music from the 17th to the 19th centuries, the “Winter’s Eve” program spanned over 500 years, including works from the Middle Ages, rearranged in

The Midtown Business Association is inviting businesses to light up Midtown by transforming their store windows into a winter wonderland this season with an opportunity to win a $1,000 advertising grant from the MBA. This is the second year the MBA has hosted “Light Up Midtown” in the hope of opening the doors of local businesses to more customers this holiday season. “We wanted to find a way to dress up the district and be festive and let people feel very involved in it,” said Heather Philpott, MBA communications and events coordinator. “Businesses can take ownership of the project and get an opportunity to be a part of making the district look great,” Philpott said Wednesday, “and bes

Sacramento County and City are working together with generous donors to coordinate winter shelter services for the homeless. “It’s imperative that the County, City and private interests work together to maximize available resources in preparation for winter shelter needs,” said County Supervisor Phil Serna. “We hope that individuals, businesses, labor organizations and others will continue to donate, volunteer and otherwise support the efforts of our shelter providers and our local faith community.” At last night’s Sacramento City Council meeting, the City Council approved $100,000 for the homeless motel voucher program. In addition, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, which

On Nov. 4, a festive Sacramento tradition will continue with the opening of the Downtown Plaza Ice Rink. 2011 marks the rink’s 20th anniversary of bringing locals together to celebrate the holidays on ice. “The rink will bring that New York City ice-skating feel (to) the heart of downtown Sacramento,” said Downtown Sacramento Partnership Marketing Director Lisa Martinez. The rink, located at 7th and K streets, provides locals with the feel of a big city winter. Martinez said that there is a painstaking process to turn St. Rose of Lima Park into a functional ice-skating rink. “It takes about three weeks, as long as the weather permits,” she said. The first step is to lay out a layer of

Changes to the City of Sacramento Water Conservation Ordinance go into effect on December 9, 2009. The changes to the ordinance include: □ After daylight savings time ends, watering landscapes and car washing is permitted one day a week, Saturday or Sunday only. Customers may choose which day to water or car wash on. □ Customers who utilize drip irrigation are permitted to water their landscapes using the drip irrigation system at any time during the day, on any day of the week, including during summer months. □ Limitations to how many times a violator may take the Water Conservation Class within a 24 month period to waive fines. “The City of Sacramento reminds all of its customers that c

One of the best kept secrets of the South Sacramento area is a small, private school tucked away in the Lanai Shopping Center on Freeport Boulevard, neighboring the Sacramento Executive Airport, where it has existed in rented space for 21 years. Over the years, most of the shopping center tenants have moved away. Meanwhile, countless hours of parent, teacher and student work have gone into transforming a run-down property into a school with colorful classrooms and playgrounds. It has an understated entrance, but Camellia Waldorf School is an oasis for children. The kindergarten yard is home to Mr. Mountain, a big pile of dirt, and Ms. Sandy, a big pile of sand. There are climbing struct

It's hailing outside! Or at least it was around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday.   According to the National Weather Service, the thunderstorms and hail could continue into this evening, however, I haven't heard any thunder, yet.  Does anyone remember the last time it hailed in Sacramento? Has it been very long? It feels more like winter since this storm has come through. Is anyone particularly happy that we're getting this rain? How do you think this will affect the Amgen tour, if at all?      

A great opportunity to save money on snowboard gearfrom 08/09 will be at De Veres bar (16th and L st) tomorrow. Come by around 1:00 and save lots of coin by purchasing next years gear at super low prices. Reps from 686, Official, and many other vendors blowing out there samples from the recent trade show season.    The first 25 people in the door get a free Official beanie! See you there!    

Turn off those heaters and bust out the tank tops. Sacramento is experiencing well above average temperatures this week after a long stretch of cold and fog. Yesterday, Jan. 12, 2009, Sacramento recorded a high temperature of 73° F. That crushed the previous high for the same date of 67° F set way back in 1980 (weather.com). This heat wave raises the question of that dreaded term, Global Warming (or Climate Change, or Green House Effect). Other questions arise as well: Are we really going to lose San Francisco to the rising ocean levels? Will Sacramento melt in extreme heat this summer? I dare not mention the sad fate of the beloved polar bear. Everyone has their own opinion on the topic

The first storm of the season started blowing in on Friday.  It is amazing how quickly the landscape can change in such a short time when the weather starts to cooperate.  The first blessed white layer covered everything in the first few hours, and for the next 3 days cloud after cloud dropped the precious, precious snow all over all of Tahoe.  By Sunday night we had a bonafide foot on the ground, and the snow shows no signs of slowing down, with big dumps on Monday and more forcasted for the rest of the week. Only Exhibition at Squaw is spinning right now.  Not even Exhibition actually, but it's the newly constructed midstation. Fritz Renner, who just walked in claimed "pow day" and "kne

 I was sitting in my car in the parking lot of Empire Events Center and had a familiar burn in my legs and a little head ache coming on. I had just drove down from Tahoe after riding opening day at Boreal. Most night after riding I make some dinner and go to bed but I had been waiting for about a year to see "Thats it, Thats all" the new Red Bull and Travis Rice two year film project shot in HD and 35 mm.  As the event started Arden Park Roots played to an anxious crowd all a buzz about the new season upon us and the chance to see this monumental movie. In the snowboard world videos come out every year and a few always raise the bar but I can not remember a movie ever having so much antic