• Sacramento State vs. Cal Poly | Thursday, Dec. 21 | 11 a.m. | Sacramento State, 6000 J St., Sacramento | $5+ | This contest marks the final women’s basketball game before the start of Big Sky Conference play.
• Kristen Brown | Thursday, Dec. 21 | 5-8 p.m. | BurgerIM, 4040 Sunrise Blvd., Ste. 100, Rancho Cordova | Free | Enjoy live music from this local country singer + contestant from “The Voice” Season 24.
• Artisan Cheese Pairing | Thursday, Dec. 21-Friday, Dec. 22 | Times vary | Bailarin Cellars, 720 K St., Sacramento | $60 | Enjoy a private tasting led by an experienced host + learn all about artisan cheese and in-house wines.
• Bardic Improvisation | Thursday, Dec. 21 | 8 p.m. | Sacramento Comedy Spot, 1050 20th St., Ste. 130, Sacramento | $8 | Don’t miss this Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying improv night, no experience necessary.

• Cookies + Crafts | Friday, Dec. 22 | 4-5:30 p.m. | The Hive, 1221 Harter Ave., Woodland | $25 | Join in a winter wonderland for all ages for cookie decorating, holiday-themed crafts + bottomless hot cocoa.
• The Verge | Friday, Dec. 22 | 6-8 p.m. | Torch Club, 904 15th St., Sacramento | $10 | Enjoy live music and dancing with special guests Bongo Furys + Willow Snags.
• Parents Night Out | Friday, Dec. 22 | 6-9 p.m. | Recreation Center, 2801 Jefferson Blvd., West Sacramento | $10+ | Reserve a spot for your kids + enjoy an adults night out (or in, we know the vibe).

• “Elf” | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 1-3 p.m. | Crest Theatre, 1013 K St., Sacramento | $10 | A big elf in the Big Apple, what could go wrong — or right?
• The Emo Night Tour | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 8 p.m. | Harlow’s, 2708 J St., Sacramento | $18+ | You’ll want to bust out the bangs + black nail polish for this one.
• Idlewild on the Blvd | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 8-11 p.m. | 1913 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento | $30+ | Enjoy jazz and funk music + poetry with a VIP mixer at TAP Wine Lounge beforehand.

• Sacramento International Airport anticipates a return to pre-pandemic holiday travel levels this season. While there are fewer departure flights scheduled, more than 100,000 passengers are expected to pass through SMF between Monday, Dec. 18, and Tuesday, Dec. 26. (Sac Biz Journal)

• The sun may set at 4:47 p.m. today, but good news is on the horizon — literally. Today is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs when the North Pole is tilted the furthest from the sun, resulting in the shortest day of the year — which means the days will start getting longer.

• Sacramento city leaders wrapped up efforts to beautify parts of Alhambra Boulevard on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Murals, bike racks + planters were implemented throughout the area to create a more welcoming and vibrant environment for both businesses and visitors. (KCRA 3)

• A memorial sign for Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Detective Vu Nguyen was unveiled in the Little Saigon District earlier this week. Nguyen died while on duty in 2007. (FOX40)

• Eighty-nine home lots in Folsom Ranch recently sold for $29 million across two separate transactions — with records indicating that Utah-based Woodside Homes was behind both purchases. Currently, Woodside has five neighborhoods underway in Rancho Cordova, although no plans have been revealed for the new lots. (Sac Biz Journal)

• Kings players Domantas Sabonis, Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter, Keegan Murray, and Javale McGee used a day off this week to give back. Community dinners, Raley’s gift cards + donations to local food banks were part of the team’s “Season of Doing Good.” (FOX40)

• The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab released their snowfall totals after Tuesday’s storm this week, reporting 2.4 inches of snow before conditions warmed + transitioned to rain. The snow lab team predicts colder weather + more snowfall as we near the end of December. (FOX40)

Travel reminders ✈️

• TSA | According to the TSA’s website, it takes ~5 minutes to get through during off-peak hours + ~20 minutes during peak hours (4-6 a.m. and 12-2 p.m).
• Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
• Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.