Capay Valley's Almond Festival is back in Esparto Saturday, Feb. 26 and Sunday, Feb. 27 after skipping last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 107-year-old tradition of celebrating almond production in the valley started in 1915 with a parade on Saturday and continue Sunday to include other typical festival activities, according to its website.

Since then, the Capay Valley has celebrated the almond blossom during the Almond Festival.

"This year the Almond Festival is coming back from a short break better than ever," the website stated. "All the activities you have come to expect and love on Sunday will return. In addition, we will be bringing back the Saturday parage in Esparto, showcasing the newly crowned Almond Queen, followed by food and music in the Esparto Park."

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Berryessa Gap Vineyards in Winters introduced its new Legends Wine Collection that includes Fénix, The Sire, and Her Majesty.

The new wines are available at either Berryessa Gap location and showcase the vineyard's "curated selection of unique and extraordinary blends," according to its Facebook post.

"Each 2019 vintage blend is a distinct, evocative wine worthy of its legendary name," the post stated.

Visit berryessagap.com to learn more about the new wine collection.

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Father Paddy's Whiskey Pairing Dinners will return Tuesday, Feb. 8, with six different whiskeys and a five-course meal.

"After almost two years of exile, Father Paddy's is proud to re-start our whiskey pairing dinners," the event's Facebook page stated. "This Whiskey Society dinner will feature whiskeys from Glendalough Distillery in County Wicklow, Ireland."

Donal O'Gallachoir, national brand manager, co-founder and head bottle washer at Glendalough Distillery, will be a special guest and educator for the night.

The event is limited to 60 participants and costs $125 per person with an 18% service fee that will be charged in lieu of a tip. Reservations in advance are required along with a $20 deposit.

Email the restaurant at fatherpaddys@gmail.com or call them at 530-668-1044 to make reservations.

Father Paddy's Public House is located at 435 Main St. in Woodland.

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West Sacramento's La Crosta Pizza Bar —located at 330 3rd st. — and Winters' Lester Farms Bakery — located at 606 Railroad Ave. — have both closed this month.

The pizza bar faced the challenges of having only recently opened prior to the pandemic and dealing with the negative consequences of that. It opened in October 2018 and has been serving up specialty pizzas to West Sacramento residents ever since.

Lester Farms has been family-owned and operated for 30 years and had dozens of people commenting on its Facebook post announcing its closure with stories of people who grew up going to the bakery and who have made countless memories there.

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Woodland's CTB Hair Studio was recently mentioned on Good Day Sacramento as a "new place to get a fresh cut."

The new barbershop is owned by local and Pioneer High School Alumnus Christian Contreras who said he started cutting hair when he was 14-years-old out of his garage.

"I wanted a job but I couldn't apply anywhere because I wasn't 16," Contreras said during the interview. "I always was in the barbershop and I always thought it was so cool to cut hair."

He started practicing cutting hair on his brother and then he started offering haircuts to his soccer team, which led him down the path to where he is now.

The barbershop is located at 702 Main St. and is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and is closed Sunday.

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