I’m dreaming of a green Christmas 🌲

Recycling your Christmas tree in Sacramento

The Christmas tree at the Old Sacramento Waterfront.

The tree at the Old Sac Waterfront probably won’t fit in a yard waste bin. | Photo by @tiffnic06

Sure, the holidays are all fun and games — but if you celebrate Christmas, you know that sooner or later you have to deal with that “Night of the Living Dead” tree in the corner.

That doesn’t mean it’s dumpster-bound. Instead, we have some tips on how to put an old tree to good use.

🌲 Curbside pickup

The City of Sacramento will recycle your tree for you: all you have to do is bring it out to the curb for your neighborhood’s usual pick-up day. To make sure it gets properly recycled, you’ll need to remove the tinsel, garland, tree stand + ornaments before bringing it out.

🌲 Drop-off recycling

Maybe you just can’t wait for curbside pickup or don’t receive service from the City. Drop the tree off yourself at Sac County recycling centers/yard waste drop-off centers. Be sure to properly secure the tree to your car if you opt for this route. Bonus: Your holiday boxes, tissue paper + non-foil-lined gift wrap also can be dropped off at these same recycling centers.

🌲 Natural feeders

Give back to Mother Nature by making a natural bird feeder. Get creative with edible ornaments (think: orange-apple garlands and peanut butter pine cones), then set the tree out for birds to eat and take shelter. If your property includes a pond or lake, you can toss in the tree to make a natural reef, giving local fish a home.

🌲 Make your own mulch

When you take a tree to a recycling center they turn it into mulch anyway. So, why not use it for your own yard and spring garden? Ideally, you could shred the tree (for example, Home Depot has mulchers for rent), but usually by the time the holidays are over, the needles will already be falling off. You can spread them in garden beds or over the lawn.

Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, Dec. 19

Hanukkah Pop-Up Bar | Monday, Dec. 19 | 3 p.m. | SMIC’s Bar, 1200 K St., Ste. 8, Sacramento | Free | Enjoy festive decor along with specialty cocktails and food options.
Sacramento Kings vs. Charlotte Hornets | Monday, Dec. 19 | 7 p.m. | Golden 1 Center, 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento | $10-$185 | The Kings look for another win over the Hornets following their Halloween Day victory in Charlotte.
Lindsey Stirling - Snow Waltz Tour | Monday, Dec. 19 | 8 p.m. | Hard Rock Live Sacramento, 3317 Forty Mile Rd., Wheatland | $36-$126 | The accomplished violinist, songwriter, and dancer comes to Sacramento.

Tuesday, Dec. 20

Improv Playground: Improv for Everyone | Tuesday, Dec. 20 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Holistic Light House, 401-B, Vernon St., Roseville | $10 | Learn improv in a supportive environment and get your first lesson for free.
“The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley” | Tuesday, Dec. 20-Saturday, Dec. 24 | 7 p.m. | Capital Stage, 2215 J St., Sacramento | $25-$47 | This play expands the stories of characters from Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”
Tipsy Tuesday Trivia | Tuesday, Dec. 20 | 7-9 p.m. | Flatstick Pub, 630 K St. Ste. 120, Sacramento | Free | Come thirsty for knowledge and have fun racking your brain with your team of two to six people.

Friday, Dec. 23

The OffDaChange Show ft. Steph Sanders + friends | Friday, Dec. 23 | 8 p.m. | Punch Line Sacramento, 2100 Arden Way, Ste. 225, Sacramento | $23 | Experience the comedic brainchild of Steph Sanders, plus his friends, special guests, and more of the next big names in comedy.*

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

7 common mistakes when hiring a financial advisor 👀

SmartAsset matches you with vetted financial advisors in your area. | Photo by SmartAsset

Life should be a balance of adventure and relaxation — not balancing finances. Enter: Working with a financial advisor. But choosing the wrong one could potentially wreak havoc on your retirement and investments.

Avoid these 7 common mistakes when hiring a financial advisor so you can get back to the balance that matters most.

Pro tip: For simplicity, try this free tool to get matched with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area.*

GET STARTED, SMARTIE

Weather

51º | Mostly cloudy | 8% chance of rain ⛅️

Canceled

Old Sacramento’s New Year’s Eve fireworks show has been canceled for the third year in a row. The city cited the lack of a viable launch site, among other “logistical challenges,” for the cancellation. 🎆 (ABC10)

Feel Good

The El Dorado Hills Fire Department honored six-year-old Matthias Gross with a Civilian Life-Saving Award last week. Matthias called firefighters after his grandmother suffered a diabetic episode and was unable to breathe. 🏅 (FOX40)

Development

A local developer has proposed the construction of four new apartment buildings along the American River. Dubbed American River One, the complex would include 826 apartments ranging from studios to two-bedrooms. 🏗 (Sac Bee)

Sports

The Kings won Friday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons, 122-113, bringing their record to 16-12. Three Kings players scored 20 or more points in the contest. (ESPN)

Shop

Give the gift of a quality shave month after month with a Harry’s trial set and blade subscription. Choose your handle color, refill frequency, and let the good shave days roll in for as little as $5 on sign-up (yes, you heard that right). 🪒*
If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for someone on your list, look no further. Let us introduce you to gift cards from our SACtoday shop, Six & Main. Purchase a gift card today. 🎁

Job

We’re hiring a Sales Executive to lead our advertising relationships across all 25 of our cities. This exec would lead prospecting initiatives, maintain a full and active client pipeline, and prepare and deliver sales presentations — all while earning a competitive salary with unlimited PTO. Learn more + apply.

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Who’s hungry? 🥞

Time for brunch: Our favorite spots for a mid-morning meal in Sacramento

A plate of breakfast tacos topped with eggs and veggies sits on a brown wood table on the patio of The Mimosa House restaurant in Sacramento. Next to the plate, there are two pink-hued mimosas; across the table, there's another breakfast dish resembling a benedict.

Brunch at The Mimosa House is always a good idea. | Photo via @themimosahouse

In this town, brunchin’ ain’t easy but it’s necessary. Whether you’re on the hunt for fluffy eggs, fried chicken and waffles or mind-blowing Bloody Marys, the options can get as overwhelming as the lines at times. 🍳

Luckily, you have us to scout things out. We listed a whole bunch of brunch options), along with menu recs, pro tips, and an interactive map to track ‘em.

Note: All times listed are brunch-only.

Weekend musts

🍳 Tower Cafe, 1518 Broadway | Saturday + Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | One of the city’s most iconic eateries, the eclectic decor extends to a menu that is sure to have something for everyone. What we’re ordering: The Thai steak and eggs or Santa Fe blueberry cornmeal pancakes.

Weekday wonders

🍳 Sibling by Pushkin’s, 1813 Capitol Ave. | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | 100% all-natural + 100% gluten-free, Sibling even boasts a separate menu of vegan-friendly items. What we’re ordering: A goat cheese omelet. You can thank us later.

FEED ME MORE BRUNCH SPOTS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Jordan.

Editor’s pick: I had so much fun seeing Emo Night Brooklyn at Goldfield Trading Post on Friday. If there’s one thing we all know about emo music, it’s that it’s not a phase — it’s a lifestyle.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? We shared our top five stories of the year.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Jordan Radach, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Julie Brown | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?