Pocket Life
By Corky Mau
December 2024
All Aboard
Volunteers make Polar Express a treat
Imagine hopping a train to the North Pole while enjoying hot chocolate and Christmas carols. Once you arrive, Santa comes aboard and hands out sleigh bells.
Welcome to the magic of The Polar Express.
The Polar Express is an Old Sacramento holiday tradition since 2007, helping support programs for the California State Railroad Museum. The route along the Sacramento River runs through Dec. 22.
Pocket resident Alexa Mark is events coordinator for the California State Railroad Museum Foundation. “Polar Express will run four times daily for 28 days,” she says. “Each train has a capacity of 372 guests. We’ll probably sell out, entertaining almost 42,000 guests this year.”
About 125 volunteers help spread the fun. They greet guests, serve cocoa and treats, and perform for passengers.
“Riding in decorated century-old train cars takes you back to a bygone era. For a couple of hours, you can forget about world issues,” Pocket resident Bob Boughton says. He loves working The Polar Express “It’s priceless watching the kids ring their sleigh bells on the trip home.”
To volunteer, email polarvol@csrmf.org. For train information, visit californiarailroad.museum.
PROJECT WARM WISHES
Spread holiday cheer for homebound seniors. Donate winter items or money to Meals on Wheels Project Warm Wishes. The annual campaign provides blankets, scarves, socks and other items to 1,500 seniors.
Drop donations at the Meals on Wheels office at 7375 Park City Drive. Or order items on Amazon via the Meals on Wheels website at mowsac.org. For information, call Michelle Bustamante at (916) 444-9533.
LIBRARY BOOK SALE
The Robbie Waters Library bookstore conducts another “Everything is Half Off” sale through December. Proceeds fund library programs such as Saturday Storytimes Hour. The bookstore is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
LIGHT UP THE CANAL
Grab your neighbors and help hang holiday lights along the Pocket Canal Saturday, Dec. 7, 9:30–11:30 a.m. Sign up at tinyurl.com/canal-lights or contact Will Cannady at willcannady@gmail.com.
CAKE DECORATING
Learn to decorate holiday baked goods like a pro. Shanna Spinola, owner of Through the Looking Glass Cakes, offers special classes.
Cookie decorating classes are Friday, Dec. 6 and 20. Cupcake decorating classes run Friday, Dec. 13, and Sunday, Dec. 15. Cost is $75 with materials provided. Plus, you take home the baked goods. For information, call Spinola at (510) 677-6990.
PET PORTRAITS
Artist Carrie Posey teaches how to paint pet portraits. Class is Sunday, Dec. 8, 2–5 p.m., at Device Brewing Company on Rush River Drive. Sign up on eventbrite.com (Carrie Posey). Send a pet photo to Posey by Dec. 5, and she will pre-sketch your pet on canvas.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Dance the year away Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Elks Lodge No. 6. Tickets at $75 per person include a prime rib dinner and dancing to The Midnight Players. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. For tickets call (916) 422-6666. Note that this annual event usually sells out.
Corky Mau can be reached at corky.sue50@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
