On Saturday the Midtown Business Association is hosting its annual holiday celebration, featuring tons of fun events for Sacramentans of all ages and interests. Highlights include the IndieSacramento trunk show and craft bazaar at 24th and J all day featuring crafting and live music, an open house viewing of the Governor’s Mansion renovation, and a Ricky Berger and Sac Rag favorite Daisy Spot show at Bows & Arrows at 6pm. Tons of stuff for you crafter types, and kiddie activities all day at the Mosaic Salon parking lot at 27th and Jay. Here is a walking map for the event. (PNG image)
Tag: Christmas
The Great Sacramento Santa Hunt of 2008
I remember fondly going out to an annual breakfast with my dad, The Game Guy, Sr., one special Saturday in December for pancakes and then to a little mall full of non-chain stores to visit Santa Claus- who was the embodiment of ol’ St. Nick if I ever knew one. One of the benefits of being at such a mall was the total lack of crowds which allowed our Kris Kingle to be take his time and actually engage in a conversation with me. After I got done visiting with Santa, my dad and I would then go Christmas shopping for my mom (it wasn’t until many years later that I realized the Saturday alone was probably the greatest gift my Dad and I could have given her).
By the time my sister came along, we kept up this tradition for at least 10 years. And for 10 years, the same Santa Claus. No foolin’- it was the same guy every year, and after a few years, he started to remember my dad (something about the Scotch my dad would bring for him probably was the trigger).
So as I looking towards my first Christmas as a dad, I can’t wait to start this tradition with my own son, Game Boy. Naturally this begs the question: where, dear readers, is the best place in Sacramento for a pancake breakfast (please don’t say Pancake Circus) and an awesome Santa? My first thought was to search out non-chain-based malls to capture the Santa experience of my youth, but then quickly realized that meant Florin Mall which instantly terrified me. So, any other suggestions?
et tu, Santa?
Not only does Roseville have the better mall, but they’ve now even taken Santa from Sacramento:
The jolly old one will attend holiday events in Roseville on Saturday – including that city’s annual parade – but Sacramento’s annual Santa Parade has been canceled.
The event, always run on the Thanksgiving weekend, has been called off for the first time in the event’s 26-year history, said parade organizer Laurie Hensley.
The decision to cancel the privately organized event was prompted when organizers came up $15,000 short for stages, sound equipment and cash prizes for parade participants, Hensley said.
Sorry Sacto kids, but it looks like your Christmas Eve milk and cookies will go uneaten this year. Santa is off to more lucrative pastures.
In Roseville, however, the Sylvia Besana Annual Holiday Parade is ready to roll at 10 a.m. Saturday.
It will begin at Riverside Avenue and Douglas Boulevard and Vernon Street, proceed along Vernon Street and end behind the Roseville Square shopping center.
Really, Roseville, have you no shame?
UPDATE 11-24-2008: Sac-Eats called it, the Sacto parade is back on after a hefty donation from Mayor-elect KJ. One wonders if Santa was being held as an innocent hostage in some kind of parade-financing dispute.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
In the Sacramento area, people who hate Christmas hit ones of Nativity displays every year. What are they after? Baby Jesus, of course:
Baby Jesus was stolen from the nativity scene of an Orangevale family’s front yard.
The family did not notice that Jesus was missing right away because the thieves left everything else, the manger, Joseph and Mary.
The family was not just robbed of a figurine, they were robbed of a tradition.
Don’t be another “The family”. Introducing the CHRIST CHLUB! Lock down your Baby Jesus in this festively decorated kevlar-coated security lock, now available in Rudolf Red! Guaranteed indestructible and tamper proof. This tasteful anti-theft device has been designed with your Nativity scene’s – and your family’s – security in mind.
Don’t let those Grinches steal your Christmas! Secure your Baby Jesus with the CHRIST CHLUB, and save Christmas. Yes, little Timmy, it is Christmas time in Sacramento again.
Davis Ranch: the best tree bargain around
The Cool family are early Christmas tree people. We are also heavily into Thanksgiving, so care is taken to not go full-bore until Black Friday. But basically as soon as the dishwasher is loaded on Thanksgiving it is Christmas in my house (not that it was my dishwasher).
We are enjoy slaying our own tree, and this year we set our sights on Apple Hill. We missed peak apple season this year so we were excited to make the drive. While there are plenty of lots and a nice website to help you find them, once we got up there we realized the prices are considerably higher up there. Continue reading “Davis Ranch: the best tree bargain around”
Office XMas party reviews: R15 and Melting Pot
Young and old mix at R15, if by mix you mostly mean the old hitting on the young
We widget factory workers were “blessed” this year with two holiday parties, and as usual this gave me an opportunity to check out some local hot spots I normally wouldn’t frequent.
First up was Café Bernardo/R15, the latest venture in the Paragary empire. Our luncheon was served in an upstairs room, one of the areas set up with XBOX 360s with wireless remotes. The fare was fusion, which if you have ever read this blog before you can probably guess is not one of my favorite styles.
Continue reading “Office XMas party reviews: R15 and Melting Pot”
KLJ: The Perfect Stocking Stuffer
While driving back from a meeting in Turlock this afternoon, when I finally regained the signal to Capital Public Radio I was instantly engaged in a story being told on Insight. Continue reading “KLJ: The Perfect Stocking Stuffer”
‘Tis the season
It just wouldn’t be the holidays without a heaping helping of disheartening crime in Sacramento. While PS3 mayhem is so last week, never fear as we’ve had our first Salvation Army robbery.
Sacramento police are still looking for a group of teens who robbed a Salvation Army bell ringer at knife point during the noon hour Friday outside a grocery store.
That’s noon, people, as in post meridiem. I think that is what is really shocking about crime these days. There really is no safe time to be out and about…however, Continue reading “‘Tis the season”
The Sac Rag 
