THE GREAT GARAGE SALE IS OVER

On Friday when the State of California Garage Sale started there were no parking places and the line to get in the door to buy all the junk treasures snaked past the building for several blocks.  It was quite an event; there were people directing traffic, TV camera crews, vendors selling food and even porta-potties.  I wasn’t sure if I was at the wrong place and maybe I had wandered into the circus instead of a giant garage sale. 

I guess in these economic times everybody is looking for a bargain and a lot of people found one this weekend at the State of California Great Garage Sale.  Probably not even a dent in the budget deficit, but the big Garage Sale is over and the final results are in, over $1.5 million in sales.

•  $1.2 million in vehicle sales
• $237k in warehouse items
• $58k on EBay

You only thought “Cash for Clunkers” was over; the State of California sold a lot of clunkers pre-owned vehicles for a cool $1.2 million dollars cash at the garage sale this weekend.  Click on this link to see a list of cars and the sale prices.  The Governator signed the sun visor of a few of the vehicles hoping star power would up the price.  I heard a couple of people wanted a discount because of the graffiti in some of the cars; I’m not saying it had anything to do with signatures on sun visors but who knows. 

If you measure it by the amount of people who came then the Great Garage Sales seems like a Great Success.  If this isn’t enough to balance the budget maybe we could all bring our extra stuff and meet our state legislators over at Arnold and Maria’s house and have another one of these.  Everybody check your closets for extra stuff.

Greek Festival 2009

46th Annual Greek Festival sponsored by the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Sacramento will be held at the Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 J Street, Sacramento, CA.  The festivities start on Friday, September 4, 2009 at 11:00AM until 11:00PM, Saturday, noon to 11:00PM and Sunday, noon to 10:00PM. 

If you want to save a little money, come early because admission will be free for everyone on Friday from 11:00AM to 3:00PM.  After that admission is $5/$4 seniors/ children under 12 are free.  This is a non-box office event so tickets will be sold at the door only.

There will be lots of food, live music, and Greek Dancing that you can watch or join in because there will even be lessons.   

For more information, including sample menus, you can visit   sacramentogreekfestival.com or call (916)808-5181.

2009 Honda Accord EX-L

Power: 3.5-liter V6, 271 horsepower

Mileage estimate: 19-29 mpg                                  

Price: $30,905

Standard features include: antilock disc brakes; stability and traction control; leather upholstery; brake assist; automatic headlights; dual-zone automatic climate control; a leather-wrapped steering wheel; heated front seats; automatic dimming rearview mirror; satellite radio;

By Jeffrey Weidel

While midsize cars still represent a strong segment of vehicles sold in the United States, change has gradually occurred in regards to what people are buying.

No longer is this just a two-horse race between the always reliable Honda Accord and its Toyota counterpart, the Camry. Continue Reading »

Labor Day Weekend, September 4-7, 2009, is the 10^th annual Gold Rush Days festival.  More than 200 tons of dirt will be dumped on the streets of Old Sacramento transforming Sacramento’s historic district into a scene straight out of the 1850s. Costumed re-enactors, Wild West gun fights, music, and life during the Gold Rush will be highlighted during the four-day event.

There will be dancing, street dramas, pony and wagon rides, gold panning, storytelling, crafts, horse-drawn carriages and of course there will be food.

Admission is free and event hours are as follows:

• Friday, September 4, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Saturday, September 5, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, September 6, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Monday, September 7, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information about Gold Rush Days visit sacramentogoldrushdays.com or call (916) 808-7777.

Everything from Elvis to hula hoops and all the ice cream you can eat…..a birthday bash to remember.  Saturday, August 29, 2009, from 5:00PM to 9:00PM, Fairytale Town, 3901 Land Park Dr, Sacramento, CA, is celebrating its 50th birthday with a trip down memory lane all the way back to 1959.  For ticket info click on this link to Fairytale Town Event Tickets.  Be there or be square! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FAIRYTALE TOWN

The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus will be at Arco Arena Thursday, August 27, 2009, for its first performance at 7:00PM and will run through Sunday, August 30, 2009.  The ticket prices range from $14 to $85.  For more ticket info click on this link to ringling.com.

Have a look at the Zing Zang Zoom opening act courtesy of YouTube:

The State of California needs some quick cash.  So what’s a state to do?  They do just what the rest of us would do, raise the garage door, stick a sign in the yard, drag all the junk out and sell it cheap.  You know what they say, “One state’s junk is another man’s treasures”.  That may not be exactly how the saying goes, but we will all get a chance to find out for ourselves this weekend.

Starting Friday, August 28, 2009, from 8:00AM to 6:00PM and Saturday, August 29, 2009, from 7:00AM to 12:00PM the State of California is having a giant garage sale at 1700 National Drive, Sacramento, CA.  Cars can be previewed on Thursday, August 27, 2009, from 8:00AM to 4:00PM.  

For all the details visit the special website for the State of California garage sale dgs.ca.gov/garagesale

Winchester Mystery House in San Jose

Last weekend our family loaded in the car and headed out to San Jose for a day at the Winchester Mystery House.  I have heard lots of stories about this crazy house with stairs and doors that lead to nowhere, but I don’t think you get the full impact of all the quirkiness until you actually experience it. Continue Reading »

Just Between Friends Fall/Winter Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sale is happening Friday, August 28 - 30, 2009, in the Sacramento Convention Center Exhibit Halls, 1400 J Street, Sacramento, CA. The event benefits, in part, the Sacramento Food Bank Family Services. Admission is free.   Consignor registration is available on line at jbfsale.com, phone (916) 808-5181.

As of August 24, most City Pools and Play Pools have closed for the summer 2009 season.

• Cabrillo Pool recreational swim hours are 1-5pm Mon-Sun, 8/13-30.
• Clunie Pool in McKinley Park is open now, 3-5pm Tues-Fri, (closed Monday 8/24 & 8/31); Sat/Sun 1-5pm. Labor Day open 1-5pm.
• Pannell Meadowview Pool is open now through Labor Day. Hours are 3-5pm Mon, Wed-Fri; Sat/Sun 1-5pm, Labor Day 1-5pm.