Sacramento

Sacramento
It is the capital and the seventh most populous city in the U.S. state of California. According to US census 2007, its population was 467,343. Greater Sacramento is the core economic and cultural center of its four-county metropolitan area, including Placer, El Dorado, Yolo and Sacramento counties.

Sacramento receives a Mediterranean climate with dry hot summers and mild winters. Rain falls only between November and March. The town has been regarded as one of the five most livable regions in America. During the California Gold Rush, Sacramento was a main commercial and agriculture center, a distribution point, and a terminus for all types of transport.

Sacramento became a city as a result of the efforts of James W. Marshall and John Sutter. The city grew more rapidly due to the protection of Sutters Fort, established by Sutter in 1839. The ancient part of the town besides Sutters Fort is Old Sacramento, consisting of some historic buildings and cobbled streets. Buildings have been preserved, restored, making district a substantial tourist attraction.

The Big Four Building was home to the offices of Collis Huntington, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins and Charles Crocker. Also of historic interest is the Eagle Theatre, a reconstruction of California's first permanent theatre in its original location.

In Sacramento, there are several big theatre venues. The Sacramento Convention Center governs both the Memorial Auditorium and Community Center Theatre. The Sacramento Opera, Sacramento Ballet and Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra perform at community center. The most recent addition is the Wells Fargo Pavilion. Adjacent to that, is the McClatchy Main stage, initially built as a television studio, providing seating for only 300.

There are numerous Theatre companies with professional standing. California Musical Theatre and others brought many performers and directors from the Los Angeles and New York area to work in their productions at the Wells Fargo Pavilion.

The Sacramento Theatre Company features non-musical and top quality productions in the McClatchy Main stage. The Sacramento Shakespeare Fest provides a wonderful entertainment experience under the stars every summer.

There is an organization in the city named The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission which provides several arts programs including Arts Education, Art in Public Places, Grants and Cultural Programs, Arts Stabilization Programs and Poet Laureate Programs etc.

Sacramento Second Saturday Art Walk is a program of local art galleries that provides an exclusive experience for the visitors to view original art as well as meet the artists themselves. The galleries remain open into the late evenings every second Saturday of each month.

Sacramento also owns several major museums sharing Californias rich history, art and culture through vibrant exhibits. The Crocker Art Museum is one of the best. Also of significance is the Governors Mansion State Historic Park. This outsized Victorian Mansion was home to 13 of Californias Governors.

The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts is a cultural rich spot telling its unique influence on the world of innovation, ideas, art and culture. The Museum also offers various inspiring educational programs to thousands of school children.

The region is home to many dynamic musical groups that aspire to bigger things. Many have made their mark in music scene and gained mainstream popularity. Sacramento hosts the Sacramento Music Awards- the Sammies annually and Sacramento Jazz Jubilee every Memorial Day Weekend.

Performances and Events are organized in multiple locations throughout the city. Sacramento is also home to the Sacramento French Film Festival. The festival is held annually in July featuring classic masterworks of French cinema and U.S. premiers of French films.

Golden Classical music is widely available in all venues. The Camellia Symphony, the Sacramento Philharmonic, the Sacramento Youth Symphony and the Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra each present a full season of concerts.

Sacred Heart Church and All Hallows Church are the two local churches known for featuring extraordinarily sophisticated classical music programs. All Hallows organizes its music programs around the theme Transforming the Inner-city Through the Beauty of Art.

In sports, ARCO Arena is home to top class basketball teams: the Sacramento Monarchs of the Womens National Basketball Association and the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association. The Monarchs became the first major, professional sports team in Sacramento after winning the WNBA Championship in 2005. The Sacramento Solons is a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League but has played in Sacramento during several periods.