Your 2017 To-Do List for Folsom and El Dorado Hills
Dec 30, 2016 10:56AM ● By Sharon Penny
Photo courtesy of Sac State Aquatic Center.
Have you made a 2017 to-do list yet? Is it full of things you should do, but don’t really want to do, like “exercise more” or “breakup with Peanut Butter M&M’s”? Is it kind of chore-y? Here at Style, we think a to-do list should inspire and get you excited about the coming year, so we’ve compiled a number of fun, enriching activities that you can do locally in 2017. Whether it’s competing in a triathlon, taking a class, exploring local history, or eating something really huge just for fun, the list that follows is zero-percent chores and 100-percent fun. (Besides, Peanut Butter M&M’s are good.) Here's to a great year!
If you’d prefer to look down your nose at kayakers (literally), try stand-up paddling. It’s like being a gondolier on a surfboard…sort of…but cooler. Sac State Aquatic Center offers small-group classes designed for all skill and ability levels to master this unique skill. Classes are three hours and run from March through October; register early, as they fill up fast.
Twenty-seventeen is already shaping up to be an exciting year for movies, with the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Kong: Skull Island, X-Men spin-off Logan, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales all bound to make a box office splash. Make Tuesday your movie day with $5 Movie Tuesdays at Century Folsom and the Palladio 16 Cinemas. Remember: The cheaper the ticket, the more money you have for candy and popcorn! (Note: I am not a professional financial advisor.)
Make a difference in the lives of others by volunteering at Mercy Hospital of Folsom. Volunteers might greet visitors, work in the gift shop, support patients and families in the surgical waiting room or nursing units, or assist at health fairs; there are endless ways they’re utilized, but you must be 18 or older. Visit the website for more information and to download an application.
The best thing about setting the bar high is the personal pride in reaching it. Set your bar for the sixth annual Folsom Lake International Triathlon on May 13, held at Granite Beach on the shores of Folsom Lake. The Super Sprint Triathlon returns for the speed devils (400-yard swim, 6.5-mile bike, two-mile run) and starts at 7 a.m.; at 8 a.m., the triathlon (1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run) begins, followed by the Aqua Bike (1.5K swim, 40K bike) at 8:12 a.m. and the Open Water Swim (1.5K) at 8:15 a.m. Find details and registration at this link.
El Dorado Hills Arts Association members teach a variety of classes to the public—from oil painting and watercolors to printing workshops, there’s plenty of creativity on offer for almost any age or skill level. Visit this link for a list of current offerings on tap and learn at the feet of some of our talented local artists!
Are you “pho” real or “pho” sure? Take Pho Bac Hoa Viet’s Pho Challenge: If you can put away over two pounds of noodles and two pounds of beef (i.e., a bowl bigger than a human head) in an hour you’ll get your photo on the wall of fame and a “Pho King” T-shirt. (And then head home “pho” a food nap.) Pho Bac Hoa Viet, 3110 Bradshaw Road, Sacramento, 916-361-3888.
Participate in local government and attend a Folsom City Council Meeting on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers located at Folsom City Hall (50 Natoma Street). Agendas are available online, as well as on the bulletin boards located outside the courtyard, on the front entrance of city hall, and on the bulletin boards located within the city hall foyer.
Experience living history at the Pioneer Village in Historic Folsom, run by the Folsom Historical Society. Try your luck panning for gold, explore a miner’s cabin or a genuine Southern Pacific Railroad caboose, see a working blacksmith forge, and walk through the Nationally Registered Historic Folsom Station. Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pioneer Village, 196 Wool Street, Folsom, 916-985-2707.
The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary is a truly special part of Folsom; plan a visit and see for yourself. It’s a safe haven established to care for animals—former “pets,” “problem animals,” or injured creatures—that cannot be released back into the wild. See black bears, wolves, coyotes, cougars, tigers, bobcats, squirrel monkeys, peacocks, parrots and more—all who’ve been given a new home with the best care possible! Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, 403 Stafford Street, Folsom, 916-351-3527.
Got 32 miles in you? Why not bike the entire American River Parkway Trail (aka, Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail). Everyone bikes a section, sure, but this year could be the one you take on the whole enchilada from Folsom to Old Sacramento. Oh and feel free to take Light Rail home (we won’t judge). For maps and more info, visit this link.
Make 2017 the year for “kayak and chill.” Rent a kayak from the Sac State Aquatic Center and join the legions of chill kayakers out on Lake Natoma this year, as you give the waterfowl a run for their money. Canoes, stand up paddles and hydro bikes are also available to rent; all rentals are on a first come, first serve basis and charged by the hour. Everyone 18 and older must have a photo ID and one set of car keys for the deposit. Sac State Aquatic Center, 1901 Hazel Avenue, Gold River, 916-278-2842.
Take an art class with a member of the Folsom Arts Association, some of the best local artists working in the region. Whether you’re interested in oils, pastels or watercolors, there’s bound to be a local artist offering lessons in your medium. There’s also art camps, monthly artists’ demonstrations every third Thursday of the month, workshops and more. Check out this link for info.
Don’t wait ’til Fourth of July. Load up the car with marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars…oh and I guess a tent would be smart…and go camping now! Off-peak camping is a great way to remember why you love it—no crowds, less mosquitoes, more peace and quiet, and you don’t have to share your marshmallows. Check out Beal’s Point and Peninsula on Folsom Lake, Negro Bar at Lake Natoma, and Sly Park Campground in Pollock Pines. The more intrepid may want to explore the two “hike-in” environmental campsites at Avery’s Pond; while the glampers should head to Inn Town Campground, sited amongst the towering pines just under two miles outside of Nevada City, and featuring a communal building full of comfortable amenities like showers and foosball, and deluxe canvas tents with electricity, real beds and linens.
With 123 miles of trails, 15 trailheads, 130 alpine lakes and nearly 64,000 acres of jaw-dropping granite majesty, Desolation Wilderness is one of the must-see jewels in the crown of El Dorado County, located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50. To make the most of Desolation Wilderness make sure you plan ahead of time. This is a protected reserve and all visitors, including day use and especially overnight stays, must obtain a permit. Quotas are in place during the summer to help protect the wilderness from overuse.
Instead of asking “I wonder what kind of bird that is?” learn the gentle art of birdwatching. The Sacramento Audubon Society isn’t just for experienced birdwatchers—they often host field trips for beginners and families throughout the Sacramento Region, as well as the American River Parkway. Visit Sacramento Audubon at this link and check out their activities page.
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen; but if you think spice is nice, try Buffalo Wild Wings’ Blazin’ Wing Challenge. For $12, you get a dozen of the chain’s chicken wings bathed in their aptly named “Blazin’” sauce. If you can eat them all—sans sauces and napkins, without anything to drink—in less than six minutes, you’ll get your photo on their wall of fame and a T-shirt. If you don’t mind watery eyes, burning lips and a sweat-filled face, these wings just might be your thing. Buffalo Wild Wings, 2759 East Bidwell Street, Folsom, 916-496-8700.
Expand your horizons, get creative or get moving with one of the many year-round classes offered by El Dorado Hills Community Services District. Learn guitar, take dancing lessons, get into cooking, or check out one of their many senior classes offered for ages 50+. Little ones, ages 3-4, will love Creative Movement, where beginning dancers are introduced to coordination, stretch exercises, rhythm and basic terminology through music, dance and dramatic exercises. The sky’s the limit! To register, call 916-933-6624, stop by the EDHCSD office at 1021 Harvard Way in El Dorado Hills.
Get rhythm from one of the many talented music teachers at Nicholson's Music in Folsom. Choose from guitar, bass, ukulele and mandolin or trumpet, saxophone, flute, cello, violin, piano and more. Rates begin at $100 per month for four private sessions; or drop-in to Nicholson’s MusiCafe next door and take part in one of their regular Friday night open mics or free Saturday ukulele lessons. Nicholson’s Music, 636 East Bidwell Street, Folsom, 916-983-0763.
Win some hearts and minds with your newly acquired cooking
skills this year. Murer House and Learning Center offers a mouthwatering range of cooking classes specializing in Italian cuisine. This year’s offerings include homemade gnocchi, polenta, cooking with honey, handmade fettucine and more. Murer House and Learning Center, 1125 Murer Court, Folsom, 916-985-3250.
Mark your calendars for the return of El Dorado Hill’s Clarksville Day on May 6, celebrating the rich history of El Dorado Hills. Clarksville was a former mining town that faded in the 1960s and became the southern part of El Dorado Hills. The first Clarksville Day was held in 2007 and went on hiatus after 2012, but is now set to return to full glory with reenactments, music and fun for the whole family.
Located on prison property in cozy house No.8, the Folsom Prison Museum is truly a part of Folsom history. Learn the stories and relics from staff and notorious inmates of the past, as you peruse a mock cell, an inmate-constructed Ferris wheel made entirely of toothpicks, and enough Johnny Cash memorabilia to satisfy even the most rabid fan. The museum is a non-profit charitable organization, and is fully staffed by retired corrections officers. Folsom Prison Museum, 312 3rd Street, Represa, 916-985-2561.
The Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at UC Davis opened in November and the flagship exhibition Out Our Way celebrates the first generation of artists who put the UC Davis Department of Art on the map from 1957 through the early ’70s: heavy hitters like Wayne Thiebaud, Robert Arneson, Manuel Neri, Roy De Forest, William T. Wiley and Roland Petersen, among others. The exhibit contains 240 paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints, and will be on view through March 26. Admission is free. Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 6 p.m.; Thursdays from noon to 10 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, 254 Old Davis Road, Davis, 530-752-8500.
Got the post-Christmas blues? Wish it could be Christmas year-round? Take a trip to the Museum of Wonder and Delight in Historic Folsom. The Christmas Dreams section would bring a tear to the eye of old St. Nick himself. Dolph Gotelli’s awe-inspiring collection features 19th and 20th century toys, global folk art, ephemera, games, dolls, books and much, much more. You’ll quickly see why Gotelli’s nickname is “Father Christmas.” Museum of Wonder and Delight, 905 Leidesdorff Street, Suite 100, Folsom, 916-985-4871.
Capture a beautiful moment forever, and get a professional family or pet photo by Amber of Shoop’s Photography. She has years of experience and is a wizard at capturing those candid “you” moments that create true mementoes for life. Shoop’s Photography, 803 1/2 Sutter Street, Folsom, 916-804-8578.
Golden 1 Center is proving to be Sacramento’s newest crowning achievement (yes, that was an intentional Kings pun). Mark your calendar for these exciting upcoming concerts: Twenty One Pilots on February 11, Bon Jovi on February 28, Ariana Grande on March 26, Eric Church on March 30, March Madness from March 17-19 with Rounds 1 and 2 of the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Championship, and of course you can always show the Sacramento Kings some love by attending one of their regular home games!
“Can’t Fight This Feeling”? Maybe you’re “Hooked on a Feeling”? Or it’s serious and now it’s “More Than a Feeling.” Whatever you feel, find yourself at Relish Burger Bar for karaoke every Thursday from 8:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Get your liquid courage with craft draft beers; and come early for a tasty burger! Relish Burger Bar, 1000 White Rock Road, El Dorado Hills, 916-933-3111.
Get into the spirit of…spirits! Take a tour of Dry Diggings Distillery in El Dorado Hills and learn how they make their small-batch craft spirits like Diamond Springs Vodka, Bodie 5 Dog White Whiskey, 31 N 50 Bourbon Whiskey, and Rubicon Rye Whiskey. Tours are Fridays at noon and 4 p.m., and at noon and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Or just drop by the tasting room and sample the good stuff. Dry Diggings Distillery, 5050 Robert J Mathews Parkway, Suite 850, El Dorado Hills, 916-542-1700.
See what’s hopping with local brews at some of the area’s best breweries. Visit Mraz Brewing Company in El Dorado Hills and check out their delicious Belgian and American-style ales; or visit Lockdown Brewing Company in Rancho Cordova and sample some of their fine ales. Mraz Brewing Company, 2222 Francisco Drive, Suite 510, El Dorado Hills, 916-934-0744; Lockdown Brewing Company, 11327 Trade Center Drive, Suite 350, Rancho Cordova, 916-358-9645
Dream of being a flying superhero? Make your dream a reality with the help of indoor skydiving! iFLY in Roseville can get you two flights for $69.95—all the way up to party packages of 24 flights for 12 people (now that’s a party!). No equipment, no parachute—just you and the wonders of physics. Oh, and a certified instructor (who will hang with you every step of the way, from suiting up to taking flight). Get airborne! iFLY, 118 Harding Boulevard, Roseville, 916-836-4359.
Tap your feet, bob your head, and get swept up in the artistry at Harris Center’s exceptional 2017 season of shows and events. “Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes…” You know you’ll sing along with the RENT 20th Anniversary Tour from February 2-5. See the Russian National Ballet Theater direct from Moscow on February 8-9, or go “Walking in Memphis” with acclaimed singer-songwriter Marc Cohn on April 30. Harris Center, 10 College Parkway, Folsom, 916-608-6888.
“Up where the air is clear…” Wine tasting in El Dorado County is a fantastic way to sample nature’s bounty and give you a new appreciation for our beautiful region. Start in Placerville and work your way up to Camino, or tour Somerset and Fair Play—just know that whatever route you pick, you’ll want more time. With dozens of wineries in the region to choose from, multiple winery tours are definitely in your future! Visit this link for maps and more info.
Join a local book club! Folsom Library holds monthly book discussions on the first Tuesday of the month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. or the third Thursday of the month from 1-2 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room. January 3 and 19 will be 1997 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Martin Dressler: Tale of an American Dreamer by Steven Millhauser. Check online for even more upcoming discussions. Folsom Public Library (Georgia Murray Building), 411 Stafford Street, Folsom 916-355-7374.
Old or new? How about a little from column A and a little from column B with Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera’s 2017 series, featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on January 21, Verdi’s immortal opera La Traviata on April 29, The Music of David Bowie: A Rock Symphony on January 14 at 8 p.m., Pet Sounds Live: A Beach Boys Celebration on April 8 and so much more. All shows take place at the Sacramento Community Center Theater.
Man oh man, those Folsom cats are real gone! The young cats in the Folsom High School Jazz Band that is. Take it from the rest of the state: They’ve taken first place at a number of high-profile jazz festivals throughout the region. Get hip to their jive and watch this award-winning band of musical wizards perform at the Folsom Jazz Festival on January 28, or at the annual Folsom Wine and Jazz event on March 11—and check the schedule for other performances throughout the year.