Calaveras Grape Stomp

Amador Community Events

Rick Wise | Photographer

Rick Wise

Rick Wise spent over 50 years as a Bay Area cinematographer before moving to his current home in Amador City. Since relocating, he has turned to fine art photography as his medium. Wise, however, has created his own variation, using multiple images to produce a new artwork. He will be featured at Sutter Creek Gallery in November, with an opening reception on Saturday, November 4, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Each piece most frequently begins as a group of related photographs taken by the artist. With a blank canvas in Photoshop, Wise brings in individual shots to play with. He moves them around, excludes some elements, distorts others, and adjusts the scale until the parts combine into a new whole piece. He then plays with filters and additional masking to bring new life to the image. “At some point,” he explains, “a kind of shock goes through me, telling me this image is now complete.” The process for one piece might take from 5 to 50 hours.

Currently Wise is working on a series based on spheres, such as Sweet Potato Window. Visitors enjoy trying to parse some of his images, as in the case of Tamale Dreams, which may require a bit of study. The artist also offers his unique take on self-portraits or portraits of a loved one, calling them “Uncommon Portraits,” which can be ordered from the artist. Rick Wise is one of twenty-two local artists exhibiting at the gallery located in the heart of Sutter Creek at 40 Main Street. Besides original paintings and photography, the gallery offers affordable prints, cards, jewelry, pottery, scarves, and glass art, as well as framing services. The gallery is open Thursday through Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For additional information, call 209-267-0228.

Big Crush | Amador County Wine Association

by Writers Workshop

Big Crush Harvest Wine Festival

Wine - Food - Music - October 6th - 8th, 2023

The Big Crush Harvest Festival is the perfect time to see the harvest in action. It takes place amongst the rolling hills of Amador County. At each participating winery that you visit, you can expect to see the crush of the grapes.

Each year, Amador County celebrates the grape harvest by inviting frends and to join them in the festival. Each winery that you visit, you will be welcomed to the scenic foothills of Amador County.

For more information, contact the Amador Wine Association.

Frozen JR. | A production that warms your heart

by Writers Workshop

Frozen Jr Cast

FROZEN JR. | A production that well warms your heart
Sierra Rep is ecstatic to bring SRT Jr’s production of Disney’s Frozen JR. to Summerville High School Theater from July 28 through 30.

The spectacular 60-minute musical, designed for school-aged performers, is based on the 2013 Disney film and the 2018 Broadway adaptation. The SRT Jr cast includes 43 students led by SRT Guest Artist Charlie Munday, with music director Scott Viets.

Do you want to build a snowman? You’ll love this fanciful and heartwarming stage adaptation of the top-grossing animated film of all time! Join Anna, Elsa, and all of your favorite characters as they embark on an epic, ice-filled journey of self-discovery, camaraderie, and the real meaning of true love. Adapted for young performers, this musical includes favorite Frozen songs such as “Love Is an Open Door,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?,” and “Let It Go,” as well as wonderful new songs from the Broadway production.

With its empowering message of love and understanding, Frozen JR. is sure to melt your heart! For information on purchasing tickets, please call 209.532.3120 for reservations.

Sandra Campbell | Featured Artist for August

by Writers Workshop

Tiptoeing Through the Tulips

Sutter Creek Gallery Artist for August - Sandra Campbell’s pastels and collages will be featured in August at Sutter Creek Gallery. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, August 5, from 2 to 5 p.m. Please join us to see her work and enjoy refreshments. Mountain Stream and Undersea Fantasia are pastels; the other images are collages. Thank you for helping to publicize this and all the Sutter Creek Gallery events.

Campbell didn’t envision becoming an artist until much later in life. Like so many children she enjoyed drawing, coloring, and painting. In college, Campbell discovered that she had some technical ability but still did not pursue it.

The desire to make art remained dormant until she retired and enrolled in a few classes in a variety of media. This led to a three-year stint studying pastel painting with master pastelist Thelma Davis of Placerville. She enjoyed the vivid colors and the control the sticks provided as opposed to working with brush and paint. Later, “I discovered collage which fired my imagination with the variety of papers to be used on any number of surfaces. And it can be combined with watercolor, acrylics, ink, pencils, and all sorts of things to create mixed media pieces.” Her subjects include landscapes, sea views, florals, still life, and animals in both media.

The artist joined the gallery in 2013 and is active in the Amador County Artists Association. Since the beginning of the year, she has taught a monthly class in college under the auspices of the Amador County Arts Council. Campbell is one of 20 local artists represented by Sutter Creek Gallery, located in the heart of Sutter Creek at 40 Main Street. On display are original paintings of all types, photographs, prints and cards, jewelry, pottery, and gourds. Custom matting and framing services are also available. For additional information, call 209-267-0228.

A Black Irish Band Concert | At Railtown 1897

by Writers Workshop

The Black Irish Band

A Black Irish Band Concert at Railtown
July 22, 2023

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park and the California State Railroad Museum Foundation are proud to present "Legends & Lyrics: A Black Irish Band Concert" on Saturday evening, July 22, 2023. The unique musical experience performed by the popular progressive folk band will take place between two giant steam locomotives in the historic Roundhouse. The acoustic set will feature music unique to the railroad, Tuolumne County, and more.

A multi-talented five-member band known for Irish Folk and Gold Rush music – both traditional and original -- the Black Irish Band is focused on presenting acoustic music in a compelling and upbeat way that celebrates the rich stories of immigrants and those who built America. The strong vocals and up-tempo instruments breathe new life into old songs, and the band presents exciting original material with a distinctive flair. This accomplished band has headlined for many major historic events around the world and recorded nearly 100 original songs that appear on many of the band's CD recordings. For more information, contact Railtown or The Black Irish Band.

Grounds Restaurant | The jounary and story of Chef River Klass

by Writers Workshop

Grounds Restaurant - Grounds began as a coffee, pastry, and sandwich shop, as one of the first places to move into the old Murphys downtown district. At that time, Murphys was still a few years from a full-blown revival and we were lucky that the community took to us right away.

Soon after opening, people started asking for more, so they expanded the menu to include a full bar. Within a year of opening, Grounds had become a local favorite serving breakfast, lunch, and dinners.

They are closed Monday & Tuesday and are open in Murphys, California the rest of the week. They were established in 1993 as a California coronation.

River Klass - River Klass loves horses. He was raised in Connecticut and learned to eat great food in Paris. His first job at age 14 was in a small café in Westport, Connecticut, and was his first restaurant job. He has worked in restaurants ever since. His travels have taken him through college, Paris, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.

In 1992 at twenty-nine, he opened his first restaurant called Grounds in what would become the great village of Murphys, California. While cooking at GROUNDS, River prepared many quick dishes for the kitchen staff. These delectable dishes became the fire behind the next restaurant, twenty feet from the first) Firewood opened in 2000. He has spent the past 25 years walking through the same door. River's continues to learn, adapt and deliver the finest experience to every guest.

Donna Blesi | A glass artist

by Writers Workshop

Striped Candle Holder or Planter

Donna Blesi, who is a glass artist is featured at Sutter Creek Art Gallery. She discovered fused glass art after decades of working in the telecommunications industry. She creates her art in a home studio.

Donna's pieces feature movement functionality and texture. Her one-of-a-kind artworks include sushi platters, bowls, wall hangings, and her large (dream catchers) and vessels that can function as candleholders or planters.

She works with fused glass made from separate pieces of colored glass melted together in a kiln at high temperatures. The glass is melted multiple times to achieve the perfect, smooth edges and uniform shape. The melting process makes the glass pieces very strong.

For more information about Donna or her work, contact Sutter Creek Art Gallery at (209) 267-0228.

Imperial Hotel | A step back in time

by Writers Workshop

The Imperial Hotel

Staying at the hotel is a step back in time to 1879 when the Gold Rush was in full swing, Amador City was a bustling mining town and the Imperial Hotel opened its doors to prosperous Victorian hotel guests. Today the miners are gone, the traffic is gone and Amador City retains its rich historic characters, charm, and the beautifully restored Imperial Hotel. This location still offers a warm and gracious welcome to visitors visiting the Shenandoah Valley and the wineries ad vineyards of Amador County.

Described as “both elegant and whimsical” the Imperial Hotel is a place where time still lets you slow down. Local residents and visitors mingle over cocktails. Hotel guests sip a glass of wine or cup of tea on the balcony overlooking the town or on one of two native stone patios. A book or magazine selected from the hotel library leads to an afternoon of lazy inactivity.

The Imperial Hotel is a cozy place to stay and the beds are very comfortable. This place is great for a quiet weekend. It has a great restaurant downstairs where you can enjoy your morning breakfast, lunch, or a fine dinner.