The Camellia Symphony, among Sacramento's preeminent musical organizations, is leaving its midtown Sacramento performance home after decades and will feature a world premiere its in 49th season.

The new season will begin Sept. 24 and end April 21, 2012. The season's conclusion will feature an evening of opera arias, and it will be the orchestra's only performance at the Memorial Auditorium.

The remainder of the season's performances will be held at The Center at Twenty-Three Hundred. It's located at 2300 Sierra Blvd. in Sacramento.

The move to the new location, according to a report in the Sacramento Bee, was prompted by a need for better parking and a more "intimate facility."

A world premiere performance by jazz and classical music composer, Julian Waterfall Pollack, son of conductor Allan Pollack, will be be held Feb. 25.

Subscription tickets are now on sale; single tickets will be available Aug. 1.

For more information and a complete season schedule, phone: (916) 929-6655 or visit: www.camelliasymphony.org.

Sacramento has a long history in athletics. Several track and field Olympians began their careers in the area's junior and high school programs. Likewise, several renowned local facilities have hosted national high school and NCAA Championships as well as the Summer Olympic Trials.

Sacramento will add to its legacy as a track and field city July 6-17 when it hosts the World Athletics Masters Championships.

Competition will be held in 29 events -- the 100-meter run to the marathon, the javelin to the steeplechase. Competition is open to men and women at least age 35 and advancing in five-year age groups age 100 and older.

Events will be held primarily at the A.G. Spanos Sports Complex at Sacramento State University, Hughes Stadium at Sacramento City College and Beaver Stadium  at American River College.

To date, an estimated 3,0000 athletes have registered, and now is the last chance to do so. Registration closes April 24.

To register and for additional competition information, visit:

http://www.wma2011.com

Related websites:

http://www.world-masters-athletics.org

http://www.masterstrack.com

Sacramento has its share of coffee shops, many locations of the well-known franchises as well as family owned locales tucked into side streets and alleys.

I recently discovered a new coffee shop in River Park, the hamlet across the railroad tracks from East Sacramento and within a mile or so of the entrance to Sacramento State University.

The coffee shop is called Wizard's Pond Cafe, and it shares an adjoining open-air wall with the specialty toy shop, Wizard's Pond. Both locations are owned by José Luis Villegas, a long-time, award-winning photographer at the Sacramento Bee, and his wife.

My maiden voyage to the cafe was to see its manager, Morgan Ong. A fellow journalism student at Sacramento State more than 30 years ago, Morgan is also a gifted photographer and was the photo editor at several news services and metro daily newspapers.

Morgan and I had a nice time reminiscing, and during my hour stay, he knew every customer by first name.

Wizard's Pond Cafe, opened since November 2010, offers a full complement of coffee drinks, pastries and a varied, casual lunch menu. It's a morning hangout for River Park residents and it offers free WiFi, a welcomed extra for Sacramento State students seeking a quiet location to study off campus.

Wizard's Pond Cafe is located at 5493 Carlson Drive (Suite D), Sacramento. Tel. (916) 476-3019.

Image © James Raia

About a week after Zipcar, Inc., debuted in Sacramento, the world's largest car-sharing service has also arrived on Wall Street with its recent initial public offering on the Nasdaq stock market.

In Sacramento, City and government workers, residents and local business owners can use the 10 cars stationed downtown, including near City Hall and the Capitol.

Two cars are available at all locations: I Street and 9th, L Street and 11th Street, J Street and 16th Street, 18th Street at Capitol Ave. and 28th Street and J Street. The cars have reserved parking spaces.

Based in Cambridge, Mass., Zipcar has about 560,000 members and 8,000 vehicles in major cities and at universities around the country. Zipcar is currently available in nearby Davis, but is also expected to debut at Sacramento State University this fall.

To use Zipcars, users must pay an annual membership fee as well as an hourly use and registration rate. Gas, reserved parking, insurance, roadside assistance and up to 180 miles of use per day are included in the fees.

Zipcars cars can be reserved for as briefly as one hour ($8.50) or for as long as four days at a fee of $66 per 24 hours.

To read about how Zipcars are being used in other cities, visit:

Zipcars in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Zipcars in Pittsburgh, Pa.

For more information about Zipcar, visit: www.zipcar.com.