Until August 1, the Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento is transformed with canival rides, exhibits, entertainment, food and more. With a huge variety of activites, you’re sure to find something for you.

Live musical performances from Martina McBride, The Village People, “Weird Al” Yankovic and everyone in between. See Howie Mandel’s comedy show, get hypnotised in front of the audience or claim your 15 seconds of fame in the Karoake contest.

There will also be many demonstrations, livestock shows and exhibits (my personal favorite is the Fur and Feathers Exhibit where you can see see chicks hatching from eggs right before your eyes).  Days of Dinosaurs, a new exhibit this year, features more than a dozen life-sized dinosaur robots, skeleton replicas and interactive areas. Check out all you can do at the fair at www.bigfun.org.

Tickets are $12 general/$8 kids 5-12. Don’t forget parking at $10 a car. But if you buy your tickets online by Friday, you can save some serious money.

Galleries typically hold openings between 6-10pm. Especially if you are driving, arrive early, park, and get on foot as soon as possible. Or better yet, take lightrail. Midtown is usually un-drivable by 7pm.

Folsom has caught on to Second Saturday fun and hosts its own Art Walk the second Saturday of each month. Stroll Historic Sutter Street and enjoy art, live entertainment, wine tasting and more from 4-9pm.

Busy this Saturday? Roseville has their Saturday Art Walk on the Third Saturday just for you!

May is National Bike Month

Work in Sacramento? Swing by the Capitol Bike Fest on the West steps of the State Capitol between 11am and 1pm for dozens of booths with everything you’d like to know about bicycling, staffed by cycling organizations and bike shops. You can enjoy music, ice cream and free bike safety checks on your lunch break. There will even be bike valet parking!

Live further from a bike trail? You and your family can still participate. From 6 to 10am, Sacramento County Regional Parks is hosting a Park ‘N’ Ride. They will waive parking fees at four American River Parkway locations to encourage people to try parking and riding along the beautiful American River Parkway. There will also be energizer stations at some locations with free coffee, bagels and juice and a chance for riders to purchase an annual pass to parks and be entered in a raffle to win a custom-fitted bike! Check out the online flyer for all the details.

Want to see how it’s done? Check out the Tour of California before it ends on May 23rd. The race was here earlier this week, but is moving down south. As my husband is an avid cyclist, he was there to catch all the action and took this video of the peleton riding through El Dorado Hills.

I was fortunate enough to see part of the race up close and personal. As I was sitting on the patio at Starbucks in Sacramento writing an offer for a client,  the cyclists rode right past us.  It was very exciting! Even if you missed it in person you can still watch, their website is impressive and allows you to watch the race live. 

We are lucky to have so many beautiful trails; take advantage of them this month!

Good news for the luxury home market! “Amenity-laden properties at the top of the market continue to command just as lofty prices” according to a Forbes article this week. 

“Two of last year’s homes [from their most expensive home list] have been sold–no small feat in a down economy. But neither commanded anything near their sky-high asking prices. The massive Bel Air mansion Le Belvedere, which went on the market in early 2009, was quickly reduced from $85 million to $72 million. The discount worked: It is currently in the escrow stage of a sale for an undisclosed price.”

While most of us are not looking to buy or sell triple-digit million dollar homes, luxury homes are beginning to sell again in our area too. As a member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, I posses the skills and experience necessary to sell your luxury home or help you buy the home of your dreams.

At the very least, it is always fun to look at the fanciest home in America

www.facebook.com/FolsomsFavoriteRealtor

Remember there’s no apostrophe when you tell your family and friends.

1. Karen’s Bakery
705 Gold Lake Drive #340, Folsom, CA 95630
Breakfast Hours: M-F, 6-11am, Sat 7-noon
A Folsom staple, Karen’s Bakery offers a huge selection of homemade baked goods and breakfasts. My recommendation is the Granola with Vanilla Yogurt and Fresh Berries, although it’s hard to go wrong with much on the menu. Slightly pricy and certainly not a traditional breakfast (they only serve eggs scrambled), Karen’s has a gourmet feel and plenty of charm. They even have great coffee and espresso drinks!

2. The Purple Place
363 Green Valley Road , El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Breakfast Hours: 7-11am daily
Yes, I know this is technically in El Dorado Hills, but it so close (and delicious) that it makes the cut. Better known as a Biker Bar, The Purple Place has a café that serves a mean breakfast. I’ve heard raves about their Ooey Gooey Coffee Cake, but I prefer to stick to the basic eggs and toast (and occasional mimosa). The most traditional diner on the list, the staff is always friendly and the food is very reasonably priced.

3. Early Toast
25075 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom, CA 95630
Breakfast Hours: 7am-2pm daily
If you’re looking for an international inspired breakfast (albeit, Americanized), look no further than Early Toast. They have a nice selection of crepes and Mexican inspired fare (the owner also owns Mexiquite) and is the only restaurant in Folsom where I order an omelet (Vegetable Omelet, sans Sour Cream). They have large portions and heavy food, so make sure you go hungry!

4. It’s a Grind
2770 E. Bidwell Street and 189 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom, CA 95630
Breakfast Hours: M-F 6am-10pm, Sat-Sun 6:30a-10pm
I must admit, if there is anything that I find lacking at most breakfast places, it’s the coffee. So when I want a great cup of coffee to go with my breakfast, I head over to It’s A Grind. Surprising as it may seem, the Folsom locations have delicious homemade quiche, and I absolutely love their Vanilla Nut coffee. Comfy chairs and free Wi-Fi make this a surprising, but very worthy, breakfast choice.

5. Mary’s Gold Miner Café
426 E. Bidwell Street, Folsom, CA 95630
Breakfast Hours: M-F 6am-2pm, Sat-Sun 6am-3pm
Gold Miner Café has all the basics and then some, my favorite being the Buckwheat Banana Pancakes. This place is kid-friendly and always packed. If you’re looking for a traditional, small town diner, this is the place for you. It’s a bit of a greasy spoon and a little more expensive than you’d expect, but it seems to be the place to see and be seen by Folsom residents. Christina Mendonza is a regular

Did I miss your favorite? Let me know where you like and why so I can check it out. Like I said, I’m always looking for a great breakfast.

Thanks Chris, Tom and Chelsey for all you do! The office is a better place because of you!

Day 7: CONSIDER CURB APPEAL

Make the most of your home’s appearance without breaking the bank. You can add value and appeal to your home with just a few simple ideas. While repainting your whole house may be out of the question, painting the door and retouching the trim can give your entire house a face lift.

You don’t have to go crazy with landscaping to add appeal to your yard. Simply cut back overgrown shrubs and bushes and remove old patio furniture. De-cluttering and cleaning the yard can make a big difference.It is also a good idea to thoroughly clean patios and walkways of dirt and debris. Renting a power washer from your local hardware store or using a diluted bleach solution and a scrub brush  can make your patio and walkways look refreshed. Go a little further and plant a few colorful flowers to add value and appeal to your home without spending a lot of money.

Missed a day? Look back on all the great, money-saving ideas to give your house a face lift you can afford!

Day 1: GET STARTED IN THE KITCHEN

Day 2: MAKE A MEMORABLE ENTRANCE

Day 3: UPDATE THE BATHROOM

Day 4: LET THERE BE LIGHT

Day 5: MAKE THE OLD LOOK NEW

Day 6: DE-CLUTTER AND CREATE STORAGE

Day 7: CONSIDER CURB APPEAL

Old and historic houses are notorious for their lack of closet space. If you have cramped storage areas, add do-it-yourself wire and laminate closet systems to bedrooms, pantries and entry closets. Companies such as ClosetMaid allow you to measure and redesign your closets online. You can also get design details and parts for these systems at many large home-improvement stores, like Home Depot. Most closets can be updated in a weekend or less. In the end, your closets will be more functional while you’re living in the house and will make your home look more customized to potential buyers if you ever decide to sell.

Check Back Tomorrow for…

Day 1: GET STARTED IN THE KITCHEN

Day 2: MAKE A MEMORABLE ENTRANCE

Day 3: UPDATE THE BATHROOM

Day 4: LET THERE BE LIGHT

Day 5: MAKE THE OLD LOOK NEW

Day 6: DE-CLUTTER AND CREATE STORAGE

Day 7: CONSIDER CURB APPEAL