Father's Gift Ideas

Defintely, the iPad or the new iPhone 4, would make awesome Father's day gifts.  Apple is offering a 6 month early upgrade for existing AT&T customers to get the upgrade price on the new iPhone, $199 for the 16gb or $299 for the 32gb.

Best Buy has great financing offers on iPad purchases.  You could have an iPad for less that $30 a month interest free!

Don't want to spend that much?  Check out these SUPER DEALS!!!

Dads love to eat!  Take him out to dinner, or lunch, or breakfast for 80% off!  Right now through June 10, 2010, get a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate for only $2!!!  WOW!  Use the code: SAVE at checkout.  after June 10, use code: FATHER and get 70% off!





Is dad a sports fan?  Why not get him tickets to the game?

Our Appologies

Holiday Haps has been MIA and we are very sorry about that.  We are not gone, though!  Still got plenty of inof to blog for the upcoming summer holidays: Father's Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, etc.

Please stay tuned, an update is coming in the next few days.

Thans for your patience.

~Holiday Haps

Mother's Day Ideas: Brunches, Cruises, Wine Tours, Theater, and More!

What to do for Mom this Sunday?  How about brunch?  Mom has made you more meals than you could ever count, so this Mother's Day, treat her to brunch. Below is a list of suggestions for brunch in the Sacramento area.  If you know of some good spots not on this list, please comment about them.  Gather up the whole family and say, "Mom, let's do brunch!"


33rd Street Bistro
Bottomless Mimosas, Assorted Salads and Pasta, Prawns with Cocktail Sauce and Lemon Aioli,
Beef Tenderloin and Ham, Omelet Bar and Desserts, and Much Much More!
$24.95 for Adults $12.95 for Kids 12 and Under
Reservations recommended: 916-455-2233

Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch at Basil's by the Lake (Radisson Hotel)
Featuring our spectacular buffet from 10am-2pm. $32.95 per adult and $16.95 for children (5 years old and under are free). Call for reservations: (916) 920-7348.

Brew It Up! Mother's Day Brunch
Sacramento's Best Value for Mother's Day Brunch, at Brew It Up! Brewery & Grill!
9am - 2pm  Complimentary roses for all the Moms too! Just $19.99/person! All you can eat, with $3 mimosas, $3 bloody mary's and $3 10oz drafts of the regions best brewery fresh beer!  Call for reservations: (916) 441-3000.

California Café (Arden Fair Shopping Center)
Mother's Day Brunch Buffet from 11am to 2:30pm
View Mother's Day menu online here: California Café Mother's Day Brunch Buffet
For reservations call (916) 925-2233

Fat City (Old Sacramento)
Serving Mother’s Day Brunch 10am to 3:30pm & Dinner from 5pm to 9pm
Enjoy Old Sacramento and Fat City this Mother’s Day. Brunch menu offers a wide variety of items including eggs benedict, hamburgers, sandwhiches and salads.  A children’s menu is also available.
Call for reservations and pricing: (916) 446-6768

Fat's Aisa Bistro (Roseville)
$33 per person. Kids 12 & Under $12.95, 5 & Under Free!
Fat’s features Asian cuisine of cold and hot entrees and dim sum. Menu items include Alaskan crab legs, sushi, shrimp cocktail, jasmine pork shu mei, chicken pot sticker, shrimp har gow, prime rib, honey walnut prawns, short rib and assorted desserts.  View Menu

Frank Fat's (Downtown)
$26.95 per person
Fat’s features Asian cuisine of cold and hot entrees and dim sum. Menu items include Alaskan crab legs, sushi, shrimp cocktail, jasmine pork shu mei, chicken pot sticker, shrimp har gow, prime rib, honey walnut prawns, short rib and assorted desserts. View Menu

Firehouse Mother's Day Brunch Buffet
Brunch: 10am to 2pm
Dinner: 5pm to 9:30pm
Reservations required: (916) 442-4772

Marriott Sacramento (Rancho Cordova)
Join us for our traditional Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch Buffet in our ballroom on Sunday, May 9, 2010. There will be seatings from 10 AM to 2 PM. 
$36.95 Adults, $29.95 Seniors, $16.95 Children (5-12)
Call 916-251-9955 or 916-638-1100

Mimi's Cafe
Very reasonably priced.  See website for even more money-saving promotions.

Morton's Steakhouse
Mother’s Day menu includes a choice of single cut filet mognon, broiled salmon or filet Oskar. Meal includes salad, side dish and dessert.
For reservations call (916) 442-5091

RedHawk Casino
Mother's Day Champagne Brunch at the Waterfall Buffet
The price is $21 per guest (Rewards Club members pay just $14.99 with card), Children 6 to 12 $14.99, 5 and under eat free.  Includes breakfast specialties, raw seafood bar, omelet station, carved prime rib and your choice of champagne or sparkling cider. Champagne Brunch is served from 9am to 3pm.

Rio City Cafe
View Brunch Menu

Scott's Seafood
Brunch Buffet 9am-3pm See Menu
Dinner 5pm-9pm See Menu

Slocum House
Mother's Day Brunch Buffet
$34.95 , Children 12 and under $14.95
See Menu
Reservations call: (916) 961-7211

Thunder Valley Casino Feast Buffet
Adults $24.95, Children 5 - 12 $15.95, Children under 5 eat free
Tower Cafe
Brunch served 8am to 2pm

View more suggestions at the following sites:

opentable.com

local-restaurants.net

gayot.com


And here are some things to do AFTER brunch:


Celtic Woman: Songs From The Heart
Sunday, May 9 2:00 pm
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
Madstone presents the return engagement of Celtic Woman, "Songs from the Heart"
Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda -- Homage to Worst & Best of Mom's and Dads
Saturday, May 8 5:00 pm
Pop-Up Gallery@R25, Sacramento
Keith Burns, collector extraordinare will showcase and sell more than 600 ties for Fathers day, plus Lawrence Fox, and other regional artists have created hand-painted aprons for Mom plus paintings

Sacramento River Cats vs. Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Sunday, May 9 1:05 pm
Raley Field, West Sacramento

Sacramento Opera: A RUSSIAN AFFAIR
Sunday, May 9th 8 p.m.
Community Center Theater
Single tickets on sale now: Fri/Sun $133-$75
http://www.sacopera.org/
916-808-5181

7th Annual El Dorado Hills Art & Wine Affaire
Sat/Sun 10am - 5pm
http://www.eldoradohillsartaffaire.com/




Other things to do with Mom:

Mother's Day Cruise on the Island Girl Yacht (Walnut Grove)
Set sail from the Ryde Hotel and enjoy a delicious brunch on this cruise through the Californina Delta. Boarding begins at 9:30am for 10:00 am departure and returns at noon. $65.00 per person.
For reservations, call (916) 682-9323
http://www.foxriverevents.com/


Old Sacramento Mother's Day Champagne Brunch Cruise
Presented by Hornblower Cruises & Events
Adult $53.00, Senior/Military $47.70, Child $31.80
Morning cruise from 10 - 12 (boards at 9:30am)
Afternoon cruise from 2 - 4 (boards at 1:30)
Call: (916) 446-1185


Mother's Day Artisan Fair in Susuin
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Suisun City Waterfront (Suisun City)


Mothers Day in the Hills Wine Tour  (Placer County)
May 8th and 9th
Get more info at http://www.placerwine.com/

Did you know today is National Day of Prayer?

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

Learn more at http://nationaldayofprayer.org/

In Sacramento, you can celebrate this holiday by attending the 59th Annual National Day of Prayer at the State Capitol
05/06/2010
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Join other believers praying for our nation on the steps of the California State Capitol Building.

For more info, contact Pam Beane at (916) 256-2010

Cinco de Mayo in Sacramento

Below is a list of the hottest Cinco de Mayo events in the Sacramento area:


2nd Annual Zocalo Tequila Festival starting May 3rd
Tickets are $20

May 5: The Party (No cover)
The party continues through May 5th with the big celebration that overflows on to the sidewalks. Enjoy live music, mariachis, and folklorico dance performances. Mariachis will play at noon and 9 p.m., Folklorico dancers will perform at 6 p.m. and the local Mexican band Los Tré will play tamborazo music at 8 p.m.

Tres Agaves' Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!
Cinco De Drinko!
Tres Agaves in Roseville
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
5:00pm
$5 cover

Party inside the restaurant AND in the Cinco de Mayo Plaza with Mexican wrestling, DJ and salsa dancing and margaritas all night long!  For more info call (916) 782-4455


Cinco de Mayo with B.O.B. at Azukar
Wednesday, May 05, 2010

8:00pm - 2:00am

Enjoy latin performances and B.O.B. up close and personal performing the hit song "Nothing On You". Ladies are FREE before 11pm. For more info cal (916) 410-5958.

16th Annual Cinco de Mayo Outdoor Festival
Centro Cocina Mexicana (28th & J Streets)
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

4pm - 10pm, Centro and Blue Cue open till 2am
Entrance will be located on 28th Street, between J and K streets.

For many years this has been one of the biggest Cinco de Mayo parties in Sacramento. 28th Street near J will be shut down and blocked off at 4pm for the outdoor fiesta filled with live music, dancing, delicious Mexican food and equally delicious margaritas!  

Headline performance by The Cheeseballs
Opening performance by The Hits
Mexican food court
Multiple outdoor bars serving specialty margaritas, select cocktails and draft beer
Access to Centro and Blue Cue

Hot 103.5 Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
Wednesday, 5-5-10, 3:00pm - Thursday, 5-6-10, 2:00am
Fugu Lounge
2071 Natomas Crossing Drive

Sacramento, CA 95834
$15 cover
Performing live on outdoor stage:
B.O.B. performing smash hits "Nothing on You" & "I'll be in the Sky"
Mike Posner performing hit single "Cooler than me"
Showtime: 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Party: Till to 2:00 am

HUGE OUTDOOR MARGARITA & BEER GARDEN IN BLOCKED OFF PARKING LOT FOR THE 21+

Additional performances by:
MC Magic: Founder & Producer of NBRIDAZ "Sexy Lady" "Mrs. Delicious"
Frankie Quinonez: Chicano Kings of Comedy, (Improv & Punchline)
Mariachi: Los Gavilanez
Spanish Rock Band: La Sabina

Vallejo's Cinco De Mayo Block Party
11 and O streets
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
$5 cover
The street party kicks into full gear at 5 p.m. with a Los Angeles band called Marcos Rojas y Su Banda, Sacramento DJ Enrique Suavé and Luis Salinas' Sacramento Latin Touch Dance Band.  Arturo Vallejo is throwing his 10th annual street party in front of the Capitol. The outside beer garden will fill most of the block with live mariachi music and food and drinks, including margaritas, tequila shots and beer served by beer girls. For more info call (916) 498-1744.

Pay It Forward Day

Most people have seen the movie or read the book “Pay It Forward”. For those who have not, it's a story about a boy who commited to doing 3 good deeds for others in need. They only thing he asked in return, was that they each pass on the good deed, by doing something good for 3 more people in need, thus keeping the cycle going.

It's amazing what one good deed for someone in need can create. With everyone doing it and continuing the cycle of giving and kindness, the world can become a better more peaceful place. What a concept!

Blake Beattie is founder of International Pay It Forward Day. Below is a message from his site, http://payitforwardday.com/:

"Pay it Forward Day is a brilliant concept by Catherine Ryan Hyde from her book of the same title. Some people were originally quite skeptical of the whole idea: they said that it was good in theory, but not in practice. I challenged this point of view believing that people are genuinely giving by nature, but many get caught up in the hustle and bustle of every day life. April 29 is a time when each of us can get to experience the ‘Power of Giving’ and a massive, positive ripple effect continues as Pay it Forward cards travel around with each good deed that is completed."

The next “Pay It Forward Day” is set to be:

Thursday 29th April 2010

Happy Earth Day!

Here are some great ways to celebrate in the Sacramento area:

(From sacbee.com, see URL noted at bottom of this list)

The 40th-anniversary Earth Day will be celebrated Thursday, and a variety of festivities will be part of the observation. Here is a list of activities beginning Thursday and running into the weekend.

On Thursday, read Debbie Arrington's rundown of key players, interesting sidelights, and must-know facts about Earth Day and its origins. The story will appear in The Bee on page A1 and on sacbee.com. And check out Arrington's look at how to volunteer to help the great outdoors; that will appear in The Bee on page D1 and on sacbee.com.


EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES

Earth Day at the Capitol

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, south steps of the Capitol, 10th and N streets. Co-hosted by CalRecycle and Keep California Beautiful, this free event makes the most of trash culled from the fourth annual Great American Clean-up.

Students will display art made from garbage found during the recent Sacramento County Creek Week. And along N Street, CalRecycle will conduct the "Just Check It" tire sustainability fair with information on how a little air can help motorists go a long way for less.

For details, click on www.calrecycle.ca.gov.

City Hall celebration

The city of Sacramento hosts an Earth Day celebration from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 915 I St., and across the street at Cesar Chavez Park. Sponsored by Mayor Kevin Johnson and the City Council, this free Earth party offers entertainment (a magic show, Radio Disney, a theatrical performance and Harlem Globetrotter Wun "The Shot" Versher) as well as information on composting, recycling and cleaner air. For details, call (916) 808-6525.

At the movies

• "Oceans," a G-rated documentary from the Disneynature label, opens Thursday at local theaters. The stunningly beautiful, 84-minute film is narrated by Pierce Brosnan. Directors Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud take audiences to all five oceans and remind us of the importance of protecting our underwater expanses and creatures.

Plant a tree

• Apropos for the "City of Trees," the Sacramento Tree Foundation hosts several events this month, including guided tree tours and tree plantings. (For a full list: www.sactree.org.)

• On Saturday morning, volunteers will plant trees and restore habitat at the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge near Elk Grove. To sign up, call (916) 924-8733, ext. 122.

Save energy and money

• On Earth Day, the California Energy Commission officially kicks off its Cash for Appliances rebate program, including up to $200 on energy-efficient refrigerators, $100 on washers and $50 on air conditioners. For details and forms: www.cash4appliances.org.

Help to clean up

• The Sierra Club has organized trash cleanups and service days. For example, the Sierra Club Placer Group will hold a trash pickup starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. Meet at the Auburn City Hall parking lot, 1225 Lincoln Way. To register, call (530) 889-9392.

Earth Day in Loomis

• Find plenty of Earth-friendly ideas at the free Loomis Earth Day celebration, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Loomis Train Depot, Horseshoe Bar and Taylor roads in downtown Loomis.

More than 40 community groups will take part. Learn about wildlife (including wolves and reptiles) as well as water conservation, bike trails and much more. For more information, call (916) 652-8606.

Learn to help the Earth

• Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships combines conservation with creative fun by mentoring young people interested in environmental stewardship.

Catch the "Trashion" show -- featuring wearable art made of discarded paper, plastic, and other material -- put on by the Truckee High School Envirolution club during the Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Village at Squaw Valley.

For details: www.tahoetruckeeearthday.org or www.4swep.org.

Make a donation

• On Thursday, people can visit American Eagle Outfitters stores in the U.S. to donate $1 to Student Conservation Association (SCA) programs that help young people to participate in conserving the environment.

American Eagle stores will match every donation dollar for dollar. In addition, AEO is partnering with SCA on an Earth Day sweepstakes, featuring a $500 shopping spree at American Eagle, plus other prizes.


http://www.sacbee.com/2010/04/21/2695343/earth-day-celebrating-by-participating.html