Things to do in Sacramento

Bluegrass specialist Robert Bowden is opening a music studio in Sacramento's midtown.

Called "Stick To Picking", the studio is located at Urban Hive at 1931 H St..

Private lessons will be available at the studio Tuesday through Friday. Group lessons will be available Saturday mornings.

Bowden will teach Banjo, Fiddle and Mandolin, in both Celtic and Bluegrass styles. Beginning and intermediate guitar will also be offered

For more information, call (916) 804-3485 or visit www.StickToPicking.com

The Bee received hundreds of entries in response to its Sacramento Poetry Day challenge in which we asked for verse that sings about our region.

We published seven of our favorite submissions Oct. 26 and those seven authors have been invited by Bob Stanley, Sacramento Poet Laureate, to read at the Sacramento Poetry Center Jan. 4.

The writers are Bill Gainer, JoAnn Anglin, Jim DenBoer, Arthur Butler, Roberta Alexander, Judy Brim and Katrina Hays. Each will read for a few minutes.

The free event will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the center, 1719 25th St. in Sacramento. Bee Staff Writer Carlos Alcala, who created and ran the challenge for the paper, will do a brief introduction for the reading.

The winning poems can be found here.

Fans of the San Francisco Opera will get the chance to listen to streamed radio broadcasts
of the Company's Spring and Fall 2009 seasons via live streaming at www.kdfc.com.

The broadcasts will air the first Sunday of each month at 8 p.m. Some in the area may be able to access the broadcasts via regular radio by tuning into 102.1FM KDFC.

The broadcasts begin on Jan. 3 with Verdi's "Il Trovatore" conducted by Nicola Luisotti (pictured, right) in his inaugural season as San Francisco Opera music director. The cast features soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe and baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky.

The broadcast line up includes:

Feb. 7, at 8 p.m.
"Il Trittico"
- featuring soprano Patricia Racette in her Fall 2009 debut as the heroine in each of the opera's three one-act operas--"Il Tabarro", "Suor Angelica" and "Gianni Schicchi."

March 7 at 8 p.m.
Listener's Choice
-An opera that listeners have voted on as their favorite from the preceding year will be broadcast on this date. For vote information visit: www.kdfc.com.

April 4 at 8 p.m.
Verdi's "Requiem
-Former music director Donald Runnicles conducts this special gala performance of Verdi's choral masterwork. The Spring 2009 performance features the Sacramento Opera Chorus and soprano Heidi Melton, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, tenor Stefano Secco and bass Andrea Silvestrelli.

May 2 at 8 p.m.
"The Abduction from the Seraglio"
-Soprano Mary Dunleavy and tenor Matthew Polenzani head a solid cast that includes soprano Anna Christy and tenor Andrew Bidlack in this Mozart comic gem wherein a Spanish nobleman is bent on rescuing his beloved from the clutches of a tenacious Turk. Conducted by Cornelius Meister last fall.

California Musical Theatre will again offer on stage seating. As they did for "Spring Awakening" CMT will put seats on the stage at the Community Center Theater, this time for "Xanadu." The musical opens next Wednesday, December 30 and runs through January 10, 2010. Tickets for the seats are only $25. The stage seats are only available through the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office, 1419 H Street, or by calling (916) 557-1999.

Sacramento businessman Fred Teichert has been named Exemplary Leader for 2010 by the Mountain Valley Chapter of the American Leadership Forum.

He will receive his award during the organization's annual dinner on April 28.

"Every year, we honor a leader from our region," says ALF spokesman Scot Siden. "The selection committee, made up of our board of officers and past award winners, takes a look the person's body of work. It's a time to recognize someone for all that they've done in the last 20 or 25 years."

Teichert is executive director of Teichert Foundation, which awards grants to charities and community organizations. He was instrumental in founding Sacramento's first Boys and Girls Club. His community work includes People Reaching Out, the Marguerite Home Foundation and Mayor Kevin Johnson's Policy Board to End Homelessness.

Earlier this year, Sacramento State awarded Teichert a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree.

Among past winners of ALF's Exemplary Leader award are Pat Fong Kushida, chief executive officer of Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce; Lina Fat, executive chef at California Fats, and Michael Ziegler, president and CEO of PRIDE Industries.

Tis the season at Movies On A Big Screen.

And to celebrate it, the alternative presenter will screen the obscure and surreal seasonal cult film "Santa vs. Satan."

Shown at MOBS last year, the film is the dubbed English language version of the 1959 Mexican import.

In this film Santa doesn't live at the North Pole, he lives on a cloud in a space castle. His voyeuristic tendencies come in the form of spying on the earth's children through a bizarre telescope with an eyeball at its end.

A true classic of the most dubious kind!

Best of all, MOBS will hand out what it terms "crappy Christmas presents" to an unlucky few at the screening.

When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Guild Theatre, 2828 35th St., Sacramento
Tickets: $5.00
Information: www.moviesonabigscreen.com

United Methodist Church in Rancho Cordova will hold a living nativity scene from 6-8 p.m. today, Wednesday and Thursday. The event marks the 28th time the church has done so

Where: 2101 Zinfandale Drive.
When: 6 p.m. thru Thursday
Information:, (916) 635.2319 or (916) 635.4242.

Casting has been announced for three new shows opening in Januray. Peter Sinn Nachtrieb's "boom" which opens on the B Street Theatre Mainstage features B Street Acting Company members Jamie Jones as Barbara and Peter Story as Jules with B Street newcomer Sarah Aili as Jo. Michael Stevenson directs the show which begins previews on January 9, 2010 and opens January 10 running through Sunday February 21, 2010.

The B 3 Series at B Street unveils Rolin Jones' "The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow" on January 17, 2010 with previews on January 16. The cast features Sylvia Kwan as Jennifer Marcus and Mayette Villanueva as Jenny Chow). Greg Alexander, David Pierini, and Joe Styron, will play a variety of roles with Los Angeles based director Marianne Savell directing. "Jenny Chow" runs through February 13, 2010.

Cosmopolitan Cabaret has announced casting for their new production of "My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra" at The Cosmopolitan Cabaret. "My Way" begins a 15-week run on January 26, 2010 with three preview performances before opening on January 29, 2010 continuing through May 9. The musical features 58 songs made famous by the iconic vocalist. The four-person cast includes Michael G. Hawkins, Karole Foreman, Laura Dickinson and Jeffrey Christopher Todd. Hawkins has often been seen at the Music Circus over the last 20 years performing in a variety of roles from Adam in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," to Judge Turpin in "Sweeney Todd." Foreman made her Sacramento debut last year as Muzzy in the Music Circus production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie." CMT artistic director Glenn Casale directs with Chris Schlagel as the musical director and on-stage accompanist.

One thing I look forward to at this time of year is sitting in front of a television snuffling into some Kleenex as George Bailey looks up to the sky and says "Atta boy, Clarence!" Frank Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life" never fails to enrapture me with its mix of drama, pathos, and hopeful fable.
This year as a special fund raising event Capital Stage will present "It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play." The adaptation by Joe Landry stars Cap Stage regulars Stephanie Gularte, Peter Mohrmann, David Harris, Janis Stevens, and Jonathan Williams playing all the characters from the film. They will perform the show as if they're doing a 1940's radio broadcast of the show complete with period forties clothes on stage. There are only two performances - one on Monday, December 21 at 7 p.m. and another on Thursday, December 24 at 2 p.m. aboard the Riverboat Delta King, 1000 Front Street, Old Sacramento. Tickets are $25. For more information go to (www.capstage.org) or call (916) 995-5464.

If you prefer Frank Capra's film version with James Stewart and Donna Reed it's playing at the Crest Theatre, Wednesday and Thursday December 23 and 24 at 1, 4, and 7 p.m. Admission:$9.50 - $6. Tickets available at tickets.com and information at www.thecrest.com or (800)225-2277.

- Marcus Crowder

Looking for a way to keep the kids' minds (and hands) off the pile of presents under the tree?

How about a ride through Yolo County on the Christmas Train?

The scenic Sacramento RiverTrain ride includes a visit from Santa Claus, elves, a special gift for children, strolling musicians, storytellers, hot chocolate and cookies.

Children and adults can even wear their pajamas.

Unlike the California Train Museum's popular Polar Express Train Ride, which has been sold out for months, tickets are still available for several of the Christmas Train rides in the coming week.

"... Many people incorrectly think my 'Christmas Train' is the same railroad and that we're also sold out," Chris Hart, president of the Sacramento RiverTrain, wrote in an e-mail to The Bee. "The Polar trip is very similar to what I've been offering for years and I'd like to think that we do a better show, but I'm certainly biased!"

The Christmas Train started in 1992 with Santa giving out free gifts to children as the train rolled through West Sacramento and Woodland.

Five years ago, the railroad began charging for the trips, but added entertainment, new passenger coaches, treats and gifts for passengers.

Tickets are $32 for adults and $24 for children ages 3 through 11 years old. Children 2 years old and younger are free. Tickets can be purchased through the Sacramento RiverTrain's Web site or by calling (800) 866-1690.

The RiverTrain also is offering a New Year's Eve Dinner complete with champagne and danching for $95 plus tax and service. Visit the website for more information.

Have you ever riden the Christmas Train? What was your experience like? Post your comments below.

RENEW DENIM

There's one more day - Thursday - to donate to Renew Denim's jeans drive. I got an e-mail from Samantha Ballard, co-owner of the boutique in Davis, saying they surpassed their goal of collecting 100 pairs of jeans last Thursday - the first day of the drive.

"We received 108 pairs of jeans and have our final drive this Thursday," Ballard says. "We're so grateful to everyone who donated." She even sent a photo (above) of the jeans collected.

Donations of men's, women's and children's jeans will begiven to the Clothing Closet in Davis to be distributed to those in need, especially the homeless and families at or below the federal poverty level.

If you want to make a denim donation, go to Renew Denim between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. Thursday. It's at 222 D St. (between Second and Third streets). Customers who bring in jeans will receive 50 percent off regularly priced merchandise in the store, and all sample apparel is priced at $30.

For more info: www.davisdowntown.com/events/share-the-joy.

A capella groups featuring three local women passed their first tests in Monday night's first round of NBC's "The Sing-Off."

Sisters Courtney and Katie Jensen of Elk Grove moved on to tonight's second round with their Brigham Young University women's group, Noteworthy. Kelley Jakle, a Sacramento product of Loretto High School, also made the grade with the SoCals, a coed group from the University of Southern California.

For their showcase tunes, Noteworthy performed Aretha Franklin's "Think" while the SoCals sang Queen's "Somebody to Love." Both groups earned praise from celebrity judges and will perform again tonight.

The show continues tonight, Wednesday and Monday at 8 p.m.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is looking for local heroes worthy of its coveted Citizen Service Above Self Honors.

Anyone can nominate an eligible hero, defined by the Society as "a U.S. civilian who has clearly demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice for others, whether through a single act of extraordinary heroism at risk to one's life, or through a prolonged series of selfless acts."

The nomination period runs through Feb. 12, 2010. Find the nomination form at www.CitizenServiceAboveSelfHonors.org

A finalist will be selected from each state, and from those 50 individuals, a panel of Medal of Honor recipients will chose three people to receive a Citizen Service Above Self Honors.

The three will be honored on March 25, 2010 - National Medal of Honor Day - in a ceremony that will take place near the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

The Citizen Service Above Self Honors, formerly called Above & Beyond Citizen Honors, is one of this country's highest civilian awards.

For more information: www.cmohfoundation.org

Courtney and Katie Jensen, sisters who attended Sheldon High School, are performing on "The Sing-Off," the NBC talent show for a capella groups which opens a four-night run tonight at 8 p.m..

Courtney, 22, and Katie, 19, both sing in the Noteworthy Ladies, a women's group at Brigham Young University that was the 2007 winner of an international a capella contest.

The Jensens bring the number of locals on the show to three. Sacramentan Kelley Jakle of the University of Southern California SoCal VoCals is also on the show, in which eight groups from around the country view for $100,000 and a recording contract.

The Jensens both sang in musical theater as teens, said Cindy Jensen, their mom. Neither is set on a musical career, though Courtney has a performer's personality, her mother said. Katie is interested in a career related to social work.

After the NBC show, which concludes Monday, all three girls will return home. Jakle will perform Dec. 26 at Crystal Basin Cellars in Camino.

LORI DOM

The Sacramento-based International Academy of Design & Technology is mixing fashion with philanthropy with an upcoming celebrity-filled event that benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northern California.

The event, which is free, is from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the school, 2450 Del Paso Road, Suite 250. That means your monetary donations that evening will be all the more appreciated.

So who is coming to this Haute Holiday Gala?

Ambreal Williams, who appeared on Cycle 9 of "America's Next Top Model," will host the show, which will feature the work of two internationally known fashion designers - Cesar Galindo and Traver Rains (pictured).

Galindo, a native of Houston, has been designing since the 1980s. His work has been featured in the Calvin Klein women's collection, Dolce & Gabbana and Levi Strauss. Galindo also has an impressive celebrity clientele.

Rains, who helped launch the global fashion brand Heatherette, has worked with Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Britney Spears and Sarah Jessica Parker. For this event, Rains will also show off his skills as a photographer.

Attendees will get to meet and greet the guests and see their work.

For more info: (916) 285-9468

It's a classic tale of "ask and thou shalt receive".

That's what happened when the The Los Angeles Opera asked for, and got, a whopping $14 million emergency bailout from Los Angeles County on Tuesday.

The loan, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, allows the ambitious company to stay afloat through the middle of 2010. The company is currently $20 million in debt.

The bailout sets a precedent in Los Angeles, and nationwide.

For Angelenos, it's the first time the county has given such a loan to the major resident company of the county-owned Dorothy Chandler Music Center (pictured, above).

For Sacramento, the bailout raises a whole bunch of thorny questions. When seeking a bailout, what arts groups will be considered "too big to fail"? Who gets to ask? And what arts groups will be turned down and left to die?

Luckily, most Sacramento arts groups are more or less financially stable. But many are struggling through the effects of the economic downturn. That said, the implications of the bailout may be mild.

But one thing is certain: it's no longer a far-fetched notion for an arts company to ask the public for a sizeable bailout.

Metallica front man James Hetfield reached out to first-time Metallica concert goers Tuesday night, assuring them they were just as much part of "the family" as veteran fans.

Hetfield and company immediately followed this lovely gesture by playing "Broken, Beat and Scarred" and "Cyanide," two songs from Metallica's 2008 album "Death Magnetic."

Warm, fuzzy and familial mean different things to different people. To Metallica fans, they mean a wall of sound barreling toward them at 90 miles per hour and lyrics full of conflict, isolation and desolation.

To these fans, Tuesday night's sold-out concert at Arco Arena was mother's milk.

There is just something soothing -- at least in that head-banging, devil-horn-throwing sort of way - about Metallica's repetitive, cavalry-is-coming riffs, just as there is comfort in knowing the band's "power ballads" eventually will become more like Hoover Dam ballads.

The Bay Area band is so dependably hardcore and nihilistic that it almost seemed unnecessary when Hetfield, in first addressing fans from the stage, promised to make everybody happy. The 15,000 or so people in the crowd -- many of them male and clad in black -- already were being made happy by lead guitarist Kirk Hammett 's frequent solos.

Moving from dirge-like to Dick Dale in an instant, Hammett tore up "All Nightmare Long" from "Death Magnetic," the album that returns the 2009 Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductees to their thrash-metal roots. Songs from "Magnetic" dominated Tuesday night's set list and allowed Hetfield, Hammett, bassist Robert Trujillo and drummer Lars Ulrich to show why their band is without rival in built-for-speed musicianship.

Metallica was solid while playing more melodic hits from the 1990s such as "Enter Sandman" and "Nothing Else Matters." In general though, the faster and heavier the song, the better the band sounded.

Powerfully precise, the foursome maintained a musical unity despite a concert-in-the-round format that allowed fans greater access but separated the musicians by positioning them at various points on the stage.

Hammett and rhythm guitarist Hetfield only occasionally jammed face to face. The in-the-round format also limited the crouching bassist/goateed front man interactions of Trujillo and Hetfield. Trujillo's center of gravity is so low that his electric bass almost becomes an upright.

The Lyon Opera Ballet's North American tour is the latest victim of the economic downturn.

The France-based company announced today that it has canceled its 2010 North American tour, which includes a March 2, 2010 appearance at the Mondavi Center.

In a written statement, the company's tour manager, IMG Artists, said: "As is the case with many dance companies, it has become increasingly difficult to make touring financially viable, given the challenging global economic climate, and without the kind of funding subsidies once available."

Those holding tickets for the March performance can get refunds automatically issued beginning Jan. 4, 2010.

Patrons can exchange their tickets for any other Mondavi Center presenting event. Tickets for upcoming dance performances by Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company (Jan. 25,); Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE 25th Anniversary Tour (Jan. 30); or the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (April 9) are available for exchanges.

Patrons not wishing to exchange their tickets will automatically receive their refunds the week of Jan. 4.

For further information on exchanges and refunds, please contact the Mondavi Center Ticket Office at 530-754-2787 by Dec. 18.

The Powerhouse Science Center will open three years from now in the old Beaux Arts-style power plant north of downtown, and the robots will be more than ready to move in.

Thanks to a $25,000 grant from AT&T presented today to the Discovery Museum Science & Space Center - along with previous assistance from Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Otto Construction and Sacramento city council member Sandy Sheedy - work continues on a robotics laboratory for the new space.

It's the first original program designed for the Powerhouse Science Center and will be operational by the end of the school year at the Discovery Museum Space & Science Center on Auburn Boulevard.

"This cooperative effort demonstrates the confidence and commitment of our community to the Powerhouse Science Center project," said Michele Wong, co-chair of the Powerhouse steering committee, "and represents the kind of forward-looking programs the Powerhouse will offer."

The robotics lab program targets middle- and high school students interested in pursuing careers in math and engineering. The lab will accommodate 40 students at one time, all doing hands-on work.

The description of "Living in Emergency" sounds like a war story, but the new recruits stranded in a remote area or struggling in a shattered capital are doctors, instead of soldiers.

The documentary film looks behind the scenes at field operations of Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres in the Congo and Liberia.

It will be screened in nine theaters Monday, accompanied by a high-profile panel discussion and town hall recorded earlier that day in New York City.

The panel features Sebastian Junger, author of "The Perfect Storm," two physicians who appear in the film and Sophie Delaunay, executive director of the U.S. branch of the Nobel Prize-winning humanitarian group.

The panel will be hosted by Elizabeth Vargas, anchor of ABC News 20/20.

The film will be shown a 8 p.m. Monday in the following theaters:

Cinemark-Sacramento Stadium 14, 1590 Ethan Way, Sacramento
Cinemark-Folsom 14, 261 Iron Point Rd, Folsom
Cinemark-Laguna 16, 9349 Big Horn Blvd, Elk Grove
Cinemark-Roseville 14, 1555 Eureka Rd, Roseville
Cinemark-Sacramento Downtown Plaza 7, 445 Downtown Plz, Sacramento
Cinemark-Sacramento Greenback Lane 16, 6233 Garfield Ave, Sacramento
Cinemark-Yuba City, 1410 Whyler Rd, Yuba City, Yuba City
Kerasotes Showplace Theatre-Showplace 16, 848 Lifestyle St, Manteca
Regal-Natomas Marketplace, 3561 Truxel Rd, Sacramento
Regal-Stockton City Centre Stadium 16 with IMAX, 222 N El Dorado St, Stockton

To purchase tickets ($12-15, depending on location), or to view a trailer of the film, go online to www.fathomevents.com/doctorswithoutborders.

American River College's Arthur Blank will lead a 3-hour workshop Saturday on the what, why and how of biodiesel fuel at the California Automobile Museum.

Participants, who must be at least 16, will get the chance to make a batch of fuel during the workshop. (Minors must be accompanied by an adult.) Class fee is $20 and it will go from 9 a.m. to noon.

For more information or to sign up, call the museum at (916) 442-6802 or go to www.calautomuseum.org.

QVC

Fashionistas who love a great look at a great price were none too happy when designer Isaac Mizrahi (pictured) and Target parted ways back in 2008. Count me among the disappointed!

But the host of Bravo's "The Fashion Show" is back and even more accessible than ever. He's launching an exclusive clothing and accessories line on QVC. Heck, I got an e-mail about the line and already purchased his twill oversized scarf for - get this - $34. It comes in great jewel tones and also black. And Isaac is offering cashmere sweaters, jewelry, shoes, even a holiday plaid cheesecake that's too pretty to slice.

Tonight, from 5 to 8 p.m. on the shopping channel (Channel 9 on Comcast), Isaac will join QVC host Lisa Robertson for a show called "Posh in the Park." It's being beamed from none other than the world's fashion capital, New York's Bryant Park. Lisa will share her holiday wish list featuring what she calls "affordable indulgences."

Shoppers will get a look at Isaac's new collection plus items from Rachel Zoe, Joan Rivers and more. It's three hours of jewelry, accessories, clothing, beauty and, yes, there will be food!

If you'll be doing some holiday shopping closer to home, check out this event: Serendipity Boutique's Roseville venue will host a trunk show from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday featuring designer Donna Asch and her fun collection of magnetic jewelry. The store is at the Fountains at Roseville, 1182 Roseville Parkway.

Five-time NBA All-Star and former Sacramento King Chris Webber will be the keynote speaker at the 11th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Jan. 9, 2010 at the Sacramento Convention Center.

Webber, who now heads the philanthropic Chris Webber Foundation to bring educational and recreational opportunities to youth.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui is the honorary chair of the event. She will present the Robert T. Matsui Community Service Award to Velma Stokley Flournoy, Founder and Executive Director of the Miss Black Sacramento Scholarship Pageant, according to a press release from the organizers Domino Events.

The event dinner benefits local organizations through MLK Committee grants, said Tamara Williams of Domino Events.

Past grant recipients include the Roberts Family Development Center, Families First, Sacramento Police Foundation and the WIND Youth Center and Closing the Gap.

For information on the event, or for tickets, go to www.iplanevents.com/MLKcelebration2010 or call Williams at (916) 737-1499.

Cheron Burns of Citrus Heights will appear on Wheel of Fortune (KXTV 10) Tuesday.

Burns acknowledged being the real "Wheel" type: bubbly, vocal and active. "My friends say I'm the loudest person they know," she said. On the show, contestants are told to shout. "They didn't have to tell me twice."

Burns may have "Wheel" in her genes. Her father Ron Burns was on the show in 1976, winning a trip to Bermuda, which ended up his honeymoon with Cheron's mother. Cheron (pronounced like Sharon) Burns has always wanted to follow him onto the show.

Burns admits to being surprised at how seriously the show takes the audition process, but said she kept it all lively, down to the end. "It was so much fun."

But she can't tell us the final results. She's mum on that until the show airs Tuesday at 7 p.m.

There's no doubt about it, the San Francisco Symphony will forever be known as a master interpreter of the Mahler repertoire.

That much is self evident with the orchestra nominated for Grammy awards for its recent release of a live concert recording of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8 and the Adagio from Symphony No. 10.

At the upcoming 52nd annual Grammy Awards, the orchestra will be vying for awards in three categories: Best Classical Album, Best Choral Performance and Best Engineered Classical Album.

The three nominations are but the latest achievement in this orchestra's hugely successful cycle of Mahler recordings - which include all of his symphonies.

To date, that cycle has received a total of nine Grammy nominations and four Grammy awards.

These include the orchestra's recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 7, which won Best Classical Album and Best Orchestral Performance in 2007, and its first recording of the cycle - Mahler's Symphony No. 6 - which won the Grammy for Best Orchestral Performance of 2005.

The casting team for ABC's Supernanny show has returned to the region to try to find families for the sixth season of the show featuring nanny Jo Frost advising parents with problems.

Last year, Supernanny came to West Sacramento. They return to cast in the Tahoe/Truckee area Wednesday.

They're looking for pretty much the same thing as last year, according to a release: "families with unique interests; parents who have ordinary and extraordinary circumstances; teen moms; parents with mean girls or bullying boys; culturally diverse parents; and blended families where both sides are seeking help."

An open casting call will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the KidZone Museum, 11711 Donner Pass Rd. Truckee, CA 96161.

Families can also apply via www.supernanny.com or call the casting department at (877) 626-6984.

David A. Carter, the Auburn author of dozens of pop-up books, will make a final appearance at Blue Line Gallery Dec. 19 in connection with a show of his pop-up art.

Carter, also slated to appear on Martha Stewart's show Friday, will autograph copies of his Red Dot Series books at the gallery from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 19. The gallery also offers hands on paper art activities for kids during the same time frame from 1 to 4 p.m. that day.

The Stewart show is on KCRA 3 at 11 a.m. The pop-up show continues until Jan.9 at the Blue Line Gallery, 405 Vernon Street, Suite 100, Roseville.

For more information, see www.rosevillearts.org.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tonight is truly a night to embrace your DVR - for several reasons. You could record President Obama's speech at 5 p.m. if you know you won't get home in time. And you could set your timer for 9 p.m. on Channel 13 when the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show returns to prime time. (It's on an hour earlier here become of KOVR's sked.)

The word "underwear" is in the headline for this posting but, if you've ever lingered on the lingerie shown on this particular runway - complete with angel "wings" - it's anything but a union suit. Several years ago, during one of my son's season-ending soccer games, a mom lamented that her high school-age son was watching the parade of legs and lace and she thought it was highly inappropriate - at that time of the night. On prime time.

She's probably got a point. The show isn't selling bras and panties; it's selling sex appeal. Duh!

But there's a twist this year. The show, which was taped Nov. 19, will feature a "fresh face." That's code for a new Victoria's Secret model. For months, 10 young women have been vying to win a spot on the show. The two finalists are from California: Jamie Lee Darley, 23, of Carmel and Kylie Bisutti, 19, of Simi Valley. They're pictured above with the other competitors. Kylie is in the top row, far left; Jamie Lee is in the front row, second from the right.

I don't know who won. The winner was selected by online votes. Am I watching? No. And it's not because I'm anti-thong. The thought of seeing how fabulous Heidi Klum looks in skimpy underwear after just having another child is not good for the psyche. I'd rather watch Chevy Chase try to staple 60,000 lights to his house over on AMC.

As for the young kids at your house? Read them a book!