What: The Best of Sacramento Party, a fundraiser for the March of Dimes, presented for the 10th year by Sacramento Magazine.

When and where: Dec. 4 from 4:30 to 10 p.m. at the Sacramento Convention Center; $75 in advance, $95 day of event; call the March of Dimes at (916) 922-1913 or the Community Center box office at (916) 264-5181, or visit www.sacmag.com.

Need to know: Tainted Love will play for dancing from 9 to 10 p.m.; Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty from Talk 650 will be emcees; Deirdre Fitzpatrick and Chris Riva from Channel 3 are co-chairs; you must be 21 or older to attend.

Of interest: More than 200 restaurants and wineries, plus businesses voted "the best," will be featured. Thunder Valley Casino will donate a dime for every dollar raised through ticket sales to benefit the March of Dimes.

Ultimate goal: To raise $500,000 for the March of Dimes' mission of improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature births and infant mortality. For sponsorship information, call Joe Chiodo at (916) 452-6200, ext. 3039.

Featured volunteer: Kevin Cohee believes his love of food inspired him to investigate helping out at the Best of Sacramento party. "No one can recall how I ended up here," said Cohee, but he has made the rounds of volunteer duties for the party. "I helped with a big display one year, and the next was the balloon bouquets – that did not last too long.

"Then I helped straighten up the silent-auction tables. Now I manage all the other silent-auction volunteers and help with deliveries that show up that day and with the necessary paperwork."

Cohee loves the excitement and what the party does for Sacramento. "I am happy to be along for the ride, but the forces to be reckoned with for the party are Joe Chiodo of the magazine and Annie Blade at MOD," he said.

Cohee's business, Do An Event, was responsible for the memorial service for Robert Mondavi in Woodbridge.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Crocker Art Museum. The 2008 Crocker Ball will be Dec. 6 at the Sacramento Executive Jet Center, with black-tie festivities beginning at 6 p.m. Moroccan- influenced hors d'oeuvres will precede the four-course dinner executed by Paula LeDuc Fine Catering. Kelly Brothers will preside as emcee and auctioneer. Napata and the Kisses will play for dancing. Exclusive auction items will include a private dinner event catered by Paula LeDuc, a men's ensemble from Julius at Pavilions, paired with a week at Deer Valley, Utah; jewelry from Hamilton's Jewelers; and a shiny new ride from Niello Co. Renee and Dale Waters have made possible the donations, along with sponsors. The Crocker Ball is $600 for patrons, $500 general; $6,000 for a sponsor table seating 10. Contact the Crocker at (916) 808-7843.

• Junior League of Sacramento. The JL Sustainer Poinsettia Luncheon will be next Wednesday at the DoubleTree Hotel, with a social hour beginning at 10:30 a.m., lunch seating at 11:45 a.m. On the program for the 22nd event will be fashions by Macy's, modeled by Sustainers. Proceeds benefit JL community projects.

• Contractors Caring for Kids. The 13th annual toy drive and fundraiser will be from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Roseville Sports Complex, 1545 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville. Designed for the entire family, the event will include the popular pie toss at city and county building inspectors, a silent auction, prizes, food, refreshments, a LEGO design contest and a visit from Santa. Organizations benefiting will include Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, WEAVE, UC Davis Hospice, Children's Receiving Home and WIND. For information on participation, call Michele Zumwalt at (916) 978-9600.

• Friends of Meals on Wheels, Yolo County. The Dickens in the Valley holiday home tour will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6, with six homes on the tour. Tickets are $25 per person; $20 per person for a group of 15 or more. On tour day, the fee will be $30. Shuttle service will be offered between homes; coffee and holiday treats will be available. For information, call the Elderly Nutrition Program at (530) 662-7035.

• PEACE for Families, Placer County. The Destination Diva Shopping Party will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Blue Goose Event Center, 3550 Taylor Road, Loomis. Wine and food sampling, mini-makeovers, hairstyling tips, massages and holiday shopping items are on the program. Proceeds from the raffle and admission donations will benefit PEACE for Families. Anne Vassion and Isabel Bishop of Annabella Innovations are presenting the event. Call (916) 300-3121 or e-mail destinationdiva@hotmail.com.

• Kiwanis Club of Carmichael. "An Evening of George Gershwin" will be presented at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Sacramento Association of Realtors building, 2003 Howe Ave. The Jason Myers Trio will perform at the show, which will include an intermission dessert bar and dancing. A no-host bar will be available. Tickets are $30, with proceeds benefiting the Carmichael Aquatic Center. Call (916) 481-8904.

• Mercer Veterinary Clinic for the Homeless. The UC Davis Veterinary Students will sponsor Santa Paws Pet Photos with Santa from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Arden Animal Hospital, 1823 Fulton Ave. The suggested minimum donation of $20 includes a CD or a picture; $25 gets you both. Mercy Veterinary Clinic, a nonprofit run by UC Davis veterinary students, holds monthly clinics at Loaves & Fishes to provide examinations and preventive medications. The Mercer Clinic works to reduce pet overpopulation and requires all patients be spayed or neutered at a clinic run by Mercer. To make an appointment for a Santa Paws photo, call Arden Animal Hospital, (916) 485-5412.