Things to do in Sacramento

The gathering-of-superheroes movie "The Avengers" dominated the summer box office. Tonight, Sacramento State students -- and everyone else -- can see it for free on campus.

The University Union's UNIQUE program will show the film outdoors at 8 p.m. at Serna Plaza, on the university's campus (6000 J St.).

"The Avengers" is rated PG-13. The screening will include subtitles. Film fans are encouraged to bring beach towels or blankets to sit on the grass.

For information, see UNIQUE's website.

We were on the Monterey Peninsula recently and stopped by Earthbound Farm in Carmel Valley for a looksee. Hmm - impressive on many levels and well worth a visit.

Earthbound specializes in organically grown produce that's readily available in Sacramento-area supermarkets.

The on-site 20-year-old Farm Stand Market offers a wide array of fresh produce and a salad bar, plus prepared and packaged foods - all organic. Included are soups, sandwiches, pasta, chicken and turkey meatloaf. While you're there, taste the house-made raspberry frozen yogurt.

We strolled through the Cut Your Own Herbs Garden, the Aromatherapy Walking Labyrinth and the Kids Garden full of touchable foliage (and a teepee). Coming Sept. 29 will be a corn maze.

One of the reasons to return to Earthbound Farm is for its Saturday Events program. Special events will be held every Saturday from this Saturday, Sept. 1, through mid-December. They include cooking lessons, garden workshops, fall decorating tips, garlic-braiding, food samplings and much more.

For the complete calendar, go to www.ebfarm.com. Click on "Our Story," then on "Our Farmstand."

The Farm Stand is open year-round at 7250 Carmel Valley Road, 3-1/2 miles east of Highway 1. Information: (831) 625-6219.

Will Power makes the 100th start of his IndyCar racing career Sunday, and there's no place he'd rather do that than Sonoma.

The Australian driver will attempt a three-peat in the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. Power won both the 2010 and 2011 Sonoma races, each time from the pole.

Currently the points leader in a tight race for the 2012 IndyCar championship, Power hopes Sonoma can give his Penske Racing team an edge.

"We're trying to put it all together," said Power over lunch in Sacramento on Thursday. "This has been the most competitive season since I've been (in IndyCar). We have five guys going for the championship. It could go down to the last race (Sept. 15 at Fontana). It's great for the fans - but nerve-wracking for us."

With three races to go, Power leads Ryan Hunter-Reay by five points (379 to 374) with Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and James Hinchcliffe within striking distance.

For this race, Power helped tweak the track at Sonoma, which modified three turns on its 12-turn road course.

"Turn 11 was my suggestion," Power said. "Dario (Franchitti) suggested Turn 7. Turn 9 - who knows? It was a committee. But all the additions are good."

Under Power's suggestion, the entry into Turn 11 was lengthened 200 feet before the hairpin corner.

"The new track configuration will make it better for everybody," said Power, who tested at Sonoma last week. "We'll see a lot more passing. The hairpin is very difficult. But that's what makes it fun."

Practice starts Friday at the former Infineon Raceway. IndyCar qualifying will start at 2:30 p.m. Saturday for Sunday's GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma.

Tickets are still available. Click on www.racesonoma.com/indycar or call (800)870-7223.

Would you like a complete backyard makeover - for free? The makers of the popular DIY Network show, "Yardcore," will be cruising the aisles Saturday morning of Sacramento's Green Acres, looking for homeowners in need of a brand new backyard.

The landscaping brother team of Jake and Joel Moss will do the makeover later this year. But here's the catch: They work on intuition.

According to coordinating producer Wendi Fontes, the Moss brothers never meet the homeowners until they are ready to reveal the makeover. Instead, they spend five minutes alone inside the chosen home, gathering clues about its owners' lifestyle and design preferences.

"Jake and Joel come up with the design during an unsupervised visit with only cameras in tow as they inspect the home and exterior for clues about what the homeowners would really dig in the way of a new backyard," Fontes explained. "The homeowners get sent away to a hotel and Jake and Joel return with crew and materials to create a brand-new outdoor space in two days. Homeowners and the brothers finally meet when it's time to reveal the finished yard."

The "Yardcore" casting call will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Green Acres Nursery, 8501 Jackson Road, Sacramento.

For more details or directions, click on www.idiggreenacres.com or call (916) 381-1625.

You can walk, you can run or you can cheer from the sidelines and urge on the crowd of serious (and not-so-serious) walkers and runners.

You choose your own speed at Saturday's 14th annual Race for the Arts, beginning with a 5K run-walk at 8:30 a.m. Saturday (timed by D Tag), followed by Kids Fun Runs at 9:30 a.m. Registration opens at 7 a.m. at shady William Land Park, 15th Avenue and Land Park Drive. Or stop by Fleet Feet for an entry form (2311 J St., 916-442-3338). Cost is $15 to $30.

After the walking-running is over, stay for the arts festival featuring music, continuous entertainment, assorted munchies, and 40 interactive booths centered around drama, live music, dance and art. Look for a special performance by the band AZUAR. Check out the Instrumental Discovery Zone, make a hat, get your face painted and learn some new dance steps. Also on site: Drewski's Hot Rod Kitchen food truck, and the Sacramento Public Library's bookmobile.

Race for the Arts is a fund-raiser to benefit California's non-profit visual, performing and cultural arts organizations, and school music, drama and art programs. Choose which organization you wish to benefit from your pledges. Pledges are not required to participate in the race.

This year, the Sacramento Philharmonic will dedicate its Musical Petting Zoo to the memory of musician and volunteer Marlene Grass.

For more information: (916) 933-4056, www.raceforthearts.com.

By Richard Chang

rchang@sacbee.com

Have you ever wanted to experience Peru, but didn't have the time or money to travel there? Here's your chance to experience the picturesque South American country without leaving Sacramento.

The 8th annual Peruvian Food Festival will take place Sept. 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ben Ali Shriners Center: 3262 Marysville Blvrd., Sacramento.

"It's an opportunity for people to experience some of the best Peruvian food," said Ernesto Iglesias, vice president of Club Peru, the event sponsor.

In addition to various delicacies and desserts, there will be a Peruvian horse show. The festival is extremely popular. "Last year, we had to turn away 400 people," Iglesias said.

Admission is $3 per person; parking is an additional $2.

This fall the Sacramento Baroque Soloists enter their 11th season with a 2012-13 season opening concert Oct. 13 and 14 titled "Musick in the King's Court." That concert brings music from the courts of Louis XIV, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Christina of Sweden to the concert stage.

The Soloists' four-concert season continues Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and 2 with performances of its popular "Winter's Eve" concert, celebrating the musical traditions of the Winter Solstice.

On Jan. 26 and 27, cellist Michael Lawson and harpsichordist Ellen Defner perform an evening of Baroque cello songs and sonatas, featuring works by Berteau, Marcello, Geminiani, and Vivaldi.

For talented young classical musicians with an interest in becoming orchestral musicians an important deadline is looming.

Recently Carnegie Hall announced the formation of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States. The new initiative, created by Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute, begins in summer of 2013, and brings together talented young orchestral players, ages 16-19, from across the United States under the baton of conductor Valery Gergiev, with special guest violinist Joshua Bell.

The application deadline is Sept. 7 (however those who apply have until Nov. 1 to submit audition materials).

Laugh, dance and help families coping with seriously ill children.

On Aug. 26, Old Sacramento's Laughs Unlimited will host a music and comedy fund-raiser for Hope 4 Harlow, a non-profit fund to pay for special medical equipment.

The fund is named for Harlow Crisamore, the daughter of Iraq war veteran Sgt. James Crisamore. Harlow, now 19 months old, has cerebral palsy. The toddler is blind, epileptic and requires special care.

While dealing with their daughter's medical needs and expenses, James and Rachael Crisamore of Citrus Heights decided to reach out and try to help other families in similar situations.

"We want to provide equipment for other children," James Crisamore said. "(With this event), we're hoping to provide a wheelchair for a young boy. They're very expensive. The one Harlow needed cost $7,000."

Crisamore also is accepting items for a raffle during the Laughs Unlimited event. To donate, call him at (206) 353-7420.

This is the second comedy night for Hope 4 Harlow following a successful February show.

"It turned out to be a real good event," said Crisamore, who was severely injured while on duty overseas. "We had lots of families turn out. Skip (Cappawana, co-owner of Laughs Unlimited) has been wonderful."

The upcoming fund-raiser starts at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, with live music and a family atmosphere. At 7 p.m., the comedy show begins for an audience age 17 and up.

Laughs Unlimited is located at 1207 Front St. in Old Sacramento. Tickets are a $15 donation and available online at www.laughsunlimited.com or by calling (916) 446-5905.

Add a touch of mystery to your life - and some tips on how to write your own book - when New York Times best-selling author Laura Lippman appears Thursday night for the Sacramento Bee Book Club.

The multi-award-winning mystery and psychological-suspense writer is a former Baltimore Sun journalist who traded her daily 9-to-5 job to become a novelist.

Lippman's new title is "And When She Was Good." In it, a suburban soccer mom leads a double life as the owner of an escort service. Her past catches up with her, and murderous evil comes knocking. The book received a starred review in Publishers Weekly magazine.

This is Lippman's seventh stand-alone novel, though the reading public identifies her more readily with the 11-title Tess Monaghan series. That character is a former reporter who becomes a "reluctant P.I." with the closure of her newspaper, the fictional Baltimore Star. Monaghan made her debut in 1996's "Baltimore Blues."

Lippman will give a presentation, answer questions and autograph books at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, 828 I St., Sacramento. The event is free.

Barnes & Noble will be there to sell "And When She Was Good" for 30 percent off the retail price (William Morrow, $26.99, 314 pages).
Other books by Lippman also will be available. Visit her at www.lauralippman.net.

Through Thursday, these stores will offer a 30 percent discount on the title: Barnes & Noble, Avid Reader at the Tower in Sacramento, Avid Reader in Davis, Time Tested Books, Underground Books, Carol's Books, Hornet Bookstore at California State University, Sacramento, the UC Davis Bookstore and the Bookseller in Grass Valley.

For information about the Bee Book Club: (916) 321-1128.

Local musicians are doing their part to rebuild the McKinley Park play structure partially destroyed in July by an arson fire.

On Friday, several acts will perform at a fund-raiser at Shine coffeehouse (1400 E St.). Lindsey Pavao, from NBC's "The Voice," leads the lineup. Hero's Last Mission, Joshua Krage, Jason Weeks and Mat Sertich of the Generals also will perform.

The show starts at 7:30. The admission price is whatever you want to donate to a fund that goes toward rebuilding the structure. To donate online, go to www.rebuildmckinley.com.

Can there be enough food-and-wine events? Not if you love sampling and sipping. Two more chances are happening this Saturday. Start at one, transition to the other.

We're talking about the 17th annual Grape & Gourmet, and the 14th annual Off to the Races.

Grape & Gourmet will feature pours (and sales) from the 200 wineries that won medals in the California State Fair Wine Competition. Nosh on award-winning cheeses and samples from 20 area restaurants.

Grape & Gourmet will be 3 to 6 p.m. in Buildings A and B at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento. Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door. Online group sales of 10 or more are $35 per person. To buy tickets and get more information: (916) 263-3636, www.calexpo.com.

After Grape & Gourmet, more goodies await at Off to the Races. Line up for hors d'oeuvres from Bella Bru Cafe, Fabian's Italian Bistro, Monsoon, Roxy's, Ruth's Chris, Splendid Gourmet, Sutter Street Steakhouse, Mandarin, and Zac Jack Bistro. Sip wines from Napa Cellars, St. Supéry, Andis, Mount Aukum, Sean Minor, Shadow Ranch and the Hess Collection.

Off to the Races will be emceed by KCRA news anchor Edie Lambert. Accompanying will be live entertainment.

The event will be 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the courtyard at Pavilions center on Fair Oaks Boulevard (east of Howe Avenue), Sacramento. Tickets are $40 at the door or in advance at (916) 933-4056.

Off to the Races is the kickoff event for the 14th annual Race for the Arts, Aug. 25 at William Land Park. Both "Race" events benefit arts groups and arts programs throughout California.

For more information: www.raceforthearts.com.

on Sunday, August 12 during

Last night SARTA (Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance) announced the list of 2011-12 Elly Nominees for awards in regional community theater. Over 400 nominees for productions in a 70 mile radius of Sacramento during the 2011-12 theater season were announced at Roseville's Tower Theatre. The 30th annual Elly Award winners will announced at two ceremonies in September. The Youth Elly Award ceremony will be Sunday, September 16 at 7 p.m. at Folsom High School. The Adult Elly Award ceremony will be Sunday, September 23 at 7 p.m. at the Crest Theatre.

For the past season, 244 shows were submitted by 78 theatres, with 61 theatres and 125 productions receiving nominations. Receiving the most nominations were Sutter Street Theatre with 32, Roseville Theatre Arts Academy with 29) and Runaway Stage Productions with 25.

The award categories are Comedy, Drama, Musical, Original Works, Education- Musicals, Education- Plays, Young People's- Musicals and Young People's- Plays.

Individual Awards are given in categories including Lead and Supporting Actor and Actress, Director, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Set Design, Overall Production, Musical Direction and Choreography. following categories: Elly Award nominations include Lead and Supporting Actor and Actress, Director, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Set Design, Overall Production plus Musical Direction and Choreography, if applicable. The nominations are announced for productions in the following categories: Comedy, Drama, Musical, Original Works, Education- Musicals, Education- Plays, Young People's-Musicals and Young People's- Plays.

The awards are judged by volunteers who are required to see all the entries in the particular category they judge. The Ellys are named for the late Eleanor McClatchy, the former publisher of the Sacramento Bee, a committed patron of theater and the arts. Professional theaters do not participate in the awards. A complete list of nominees and wards is online at www.sarta.com.

Pop songstress Cher Lloyd is currently on a Northern California publicity tour befitting a 19-year-old with a legend's name and experience on Simon Cowell's original, British "X Factor."

Lloyd is hitting local radio stations and at noon today, will perform a few songs at the Roseville Galleria, 1151 Galleria Blvd., Roseville.

UPDATE: Our information about a Friday night show at Splash nightclub in Sacramento is incorrect. The show is not open to the public, only winners in a 103.5 FM radio contest.

The Galleria show will be up close for contest-winning fans, but the general public is welcome as well.

Summer is running out at Lake Tahoe, but not just yet. Make plans to catch the annual North Lake Tahoe Historical Society's Historic Bus Tour and see some highlights around the lake, without the hassle of driving in traffic.

Lake Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin will deliver an informative commentary and answer questions during the seven-hour journey.

"I will talk about the history and legends of the region, (relate) anecdotes and tidbits about the lake, and discuss environmental issues," McLaughlin said this morning. "I'll (address) whatever subjects are appropriate to where we happen to be at the time."

Right now, the tour itinerary is a work in progress. The half-dozen or so stops along the route likely will include Emerald Bay, the Lake Tahoe Visitors Center at Taylor Creek, and the Tallac Historic Site. "There will be some walking involved," McLaughlin said.

The bus will leave at 9 a.m. Aug. 24 from the Gatekeepers Museum, 130 W. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City. Tickets are $70 and include a picnic lunch. Buy tickets at the door or in advance at (530) 546-5612. More information: www.northtahoemuseums.org.

For scholars, historians, buffs and re-enactors nationwide, the Civil War lives on.

Now the California State Library has assembled 60-some rare Civil War-era artifacts and documents for its free "California During the Civil War" exhibit.

The display includes a "Dixie First Reader" textbook (once a schoolroom staple for children in Southern states), a Colt pistol once carried by a Union soldier who later settled in California, and a copy of the 1863 edition of the Vicksburg Daily Citizen printed on wallpaper (there was a paper shortage).

There's more: books, tintypes, photos, California ballots for the presidential elections of 1860 and 1864, and a roster of 100 California volunteers who fought for the Union.

The California State Library, founded in 1850, regularly displays archival materials from its vast collection. The Civil War showing is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 31, in the library lobby at 900 N St., Sacramento. Information: www.library.ca.gov.

Admit it, you've been wanting to get some of Pregnant's music on vinyl-and now is the time do it.

The student-run, community and independent freeform radio station KDVS based in Davis will be selling some of its music stock this Sunday including music by San Francisco Watercooler, Dead Western, Boss the Big Bit, compilations, and other recordings.

Food, t-shirts, bottle openers, older records and 45's will also be for sale.

Placerville is much more than just a drive-through town on the way to Lake Tahoe. Pull off Highway 50 and take a stroll along historic Main Street.The eclectic shops and restaurants are housed in architecturally interesting brick-and-beam buildings dating to the mid- and late-1800s, when the gold rush "built" what used to be called Hangtown.

The Placerville Downtown Association does a good job of bringing special events to town. Like the 16th annual Crafts Faire, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 12. More than 100 artisans will display and sell their wares - from jewelry and pottery, to hand-made candles and decorations for the garden. As usual, vendors will sell food and drink, and parking and admission will be free.

Look for more special events at www.placerville-downtown.org, including the Hangtown Car Show (Aug. 23), Oktoberfest (Sept. 22) and the Antiques Street Faire (Sept. 30).

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.

Or, as the case may be, crack open another brewski to cool off and watch others rev up the hot rods.

Yes, if this is August, it must be time again for Hot August Nights in the Tahoe-Reno area.

Friday through Sunday, Hot August Nights convenes in South Lake Tahoe. Then, the show moves to Reno from Aug. 7-12.

Among the highlights will be the usual array of "classic cars," drag races featuring eardrum-obliterating hot rods and music, headlined by the Village People. One new attraction is "Ride & Drive," which gives spectators the opportunity to do a ride-along with speedy "professional drivers" in souped-up Fords and Chevys.

For more information and directions, click here.