So much to do...so much to see

Ah, yes....the holidays are upon us....Turkey and tree lighting this week and of course all the goodies to get on Black Friday.  A stay in Placerville is always the perfect gift, and we are happy to provide gift certificates in any denomination for you.  We also have robes and mugs for sale, and for a special treat our super comfy sheets.

Some of what is happening in our neck of the woods....

NOVEMBER 25th, Festival of Lights
Festival of Lights 5:30PM – 8PM on Historic Main Street in Placerville. The old-fashioned festivities will close Historic Main Street and begin around 5:30PM at various locations up and down Main Street with music, entertainment, visits with Santa, stagecoach rides and the tree-lighting at 6PM at the Courthouse. 

NOVEMBER 25th & 26th, Merchants Open House
Merchants Open House, Extended Hours. Historic Main Street merchants welcome visitors with coffee, cider and seasonal goodies. Enjoy hometown holiday shopping and hospitality in one convenient setting. Free parking, entertainment, stagecoach rides and visits with Santa.

DECEMBER, WEEKENDS, Stagecoach Rides
On Historic Main Street, Placerville, Davey "Doc" Wiser and his crew will be providing FREE rides (in good weather) at the Bell Tower on these dates: November 25th (4-6:30PM); November 26th (12-4PM); December 10th & 11th (12-4PM); December 17th & 18th (12-4PM).

DECEMBER 4th, 34th Annual Christmas Parade
1PM on Historic Main Street. This big parade takes place rain or shine and starts at the Mountain Democrat parking lot on upper Broadway in Placerville and continues down Main Street. This year's theme is "There is Magic in Believing."

DECEMBER 5th-16th, The Twelve Days of Christmas
Shoppers will have a chance to enter a drawing for a chance to win one of 12 Main Street gift baskets valued at $100 each and one Grand Prize. The Grand Prize winner will receive a large, beautiful Benton Studios photograph of Main Street, mounted on canvas. Drawing tickets will be given for purchases over $15 at participating merchants between November 25th and December 15th. Get your shopping done early and win a great gift basket from Historic Main Street.

White Christmas Tickets – Available Now

Fun costumes, wonderful music, and a delightful theatrical experience await your family at Imagination Theater this December.  The holiday favorite, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas opens December 2.  Make your reservation now for the best seats. Ticket prices are adult ($17), senior ($14), and children ($10).  Tickets can be purchased at www.it-tickets.org or by calling 530-642-0404.    

Friday, December 2, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 3, 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 8, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, December 9, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday December 10, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 11, 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 15. 7:00 p.m.

Friday, December 16, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 17, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 20, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 21, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 22, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, December 23, 7:00 p.m.

Yep, Inns are better than hotels, resorts, etc.

Love this write up...it is stuff we have been saying for years about our inn and others....we really are a "better way to stay"...  Great!

The more you pay for a hotel the less you get Posted: 20 Sep 2011 07:25 AM PDT BetterWayToStay.com | The more you pay for a hotel the less you get I was amazed to read recently in an article on CNN.com entitled Internet Fee Irritates Hotel Guests, that three quarters of the “luxury” or upper scale hotel chains charge for Internet access, a fee that rubs travelers the wrong way.  “It’s something that drives me and a lot of my clients relatively insane,” said Janice Hough, a travel agent who writes for the blog Consumer Traveler.  According to the CNN story, Janice says “They feel nickled and dimed. They feel frustrated. If you’re paying $500 for a hotel room, you can probably afford $15 or $20 a day for the Internet. But it leaves a bad taste in people’s mouth.”  Studies by BedandBreakfast.com and Professional Association of Innkeepers International have shown that more than 92% of inns and B&Bs in the United States offer free wi-fi access to guests.  In fact, when coupled with complimentary breakfasts (often gourmet), free afternoon or evening refreshments, beverages, and parking, the amenities add up to as much as $150 per day savings at properties equivalent to the luxury hotels. The CNN.com article goes on to explain that most travelers — business or otherwise — view Internet access in their room as essential to their stay as a comfortable bed to sleep in and a hot shower in the morning.  In fact wireless Internet access is one of the top five “must-have” amenities for hotel guests, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study, also outlined on CNN.com.  Ironically, breakfast is in the same category as free wi-fi.  The more you pay for the hotel room, the less likely you are to find breakfast included in your room rate.  According to a secondCNN.com story entitled Appetite Grows for Free Hotel Breakfast, only 4 percent of the properties in the higher end hotel category offer a complimentary breakfast. “They have a restaurant, and they want you to pay for your breakfast,” said Daniel Mount, associate professor at Pennsylvania State University’s School of Hospitality Management to CNN. “And at places like that, I don’t think free breakfast is necessarily important.” Yet travelers who’ve heard from their Mom that breakfast is the most important meal of the day want that free breakfast and are willing to choose a lodging property that’ll offer it.  When asked what they like most about inns and B&Bs in BedandBreakfast.com surveys, inngoers have consistently answered that the complimentary breakfast is among the top reasons they choose to stay at a B&B. Recently, when staying in a boutique hotel (which will go unnamed) which did not offer a complimentary breakfast, the waitress asked if we’d prefer REAL maple syrup to imitation. Of course we answered we’d like the real maple syrup, only to find an additional $2 charge on the breakfast bill.  This inngoer, accustomed to enjoying real maple syrup on my complimentary breakfast at every inn and B&B she travels to felt particularly nickeled and dimed there. Yet it’s these added fees that have travelers rubbed the wrong way, and which have the same travelers looking to discover a better way to stay.  According to a recent study by Peter Yesawich of the Y-Partnership, 79 percent of travelers are interested in visiting an inn or B&B in the upcoming year.  They are looking for a better way to stay and they’re finding it when they visit inns or B&Bs. We know we’re preaching the B&B advantages to the choir here.  Help us to spread the word.  Pass this on to your hotel-going friends and family who are looking for distinctive hospitality, delicious breakfasts and complimentary wi-fi, snacks and beverages when they travel.  Show them the better way to stay is also the value way to stay. Thanks. BetterWayToStay.com - Experience Today's Inns and B&Bs

Ahh Spring!

So nice to finally be having awesome weather again!  Looks like this weekend will be a great one to go out and taste wine, enjoy a picnic in a vineyard, explore Marshall Gold Discovery Park, go geocaching, walk the dog, work in the yard, or a combination of all of the above!

How will you spend your weekend?

Look what our friends at Zia's Gelato have in store : and they are just steps away from out Bed and Breakfast in Placerville!


 Great Music Every Weekend!

Zia's musical showcase for the weekends of
July 30th & 31st and August 6th & 7th will be as follows:

Starting this FRIDAY, JULY 30th,
from 7 to 9 PM,
Michael Connor will be playing in Zia's living room.
This guitarist/vocalist/storyteller will entrance you with his beautiful guitar work, and his heart touching renditions of great vocal classics.

SATURDAY MORNING JULY 31st,
from 10:30 AM to 1 PM,
Tamra Godey will be playing in the courtyard
Tamra's smooth, soothing sounds and amazingly heartfelt vocals will be an amazing start to your day!!

SATURDAY EVENING JULY 31st,
from 6:30 to 9 PM,
The Vespertine Project will be playing in Zia's living room.
 Be Bop and Modal Jazz talents The Vespertine Project...great things bloom at night! Join Jonny on guitar, John on stand up bass, and Phil on drums as they bring back a by-gone era from the 40's and 50's....late night jazz clubs, imaginative riffs, and talent in the vein of Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Wes Montgomery and Miles Davis.

NEXT FRIDAY, AUGUST 6th,
from 7 to 9 PM,
Tamra Godey will return to play in Zia's living room.

NEXT SATURDAY, AUGUST 7th,
from 11 AM to 1:30 PM,
All On Seven will be playing outback in the courtyard!
Alternative-Country duo based out of Sacramento, consisting of singers/songwriters Evan Palmer and Kayla Schureman. The duo performs a combination of original and cover songs with both sharing vocal and guitar duties.

NEXT SATURDAY, AUGUST 7th,
from 3 PM to 6 PM,
Aftershock will be playing outback in the courtyard!
High-energy music mixed with "up-tempo" funk, hip-hop, R & B, Blues and a little bit of rock. From the very first song, "AfterShock" sets the table for an evening of dancing and high energy fun.
Visit our Facebook page for more details. =)

312 Main Street Suite 101
Placerville, CA 95667
530.642.ZIAS (9427)

Check our reviews...we are the place to stay in Placerville, CA bed and breakfast or hotel!

"We are not "meal at breakfast" people but the food was wonderful" - BedandBreakfast.com ... "The rooms are comfortable, decor inviting" - tripadvisor.com ... "Exceptional service and outstanding dining" - BedandBreakfast.com ... "I was blown away by the food" - BedandBreakfast.com ... "We had a great time, Rita & Steph are wonderfull hosts" -BedandBreakfast.com ... "Comfy beds too!" - tripadvisor.com

Summer time in Placerville

Hey, You out there. What are your plans for the summer? How about spending some time in Placerville at the Albert Shafsky House B&B? We have some wonderful wineries to visit, delicious restaurants to try, and for the adventurous there is rafting the white water on the American River. Let's make it happen!

Costs you do NOT pay when you stay with us

Another reason that a stay at a bed and breakfast beats a hotel (at least our bed and breakfast):
you do not pay for amenities, early departure fees, internet fees, telephone fees, wine fee, corkage fee, cookie fee, breakfast fee, electricity fee, resort fee, baggage fee or baggage holding fee for guests leaving luggage on early arrival.....

Consider an inn "Fee Free".  You pay for your stay (and the local occupancy tax) that is it.  Not a hidden fee anywhere.....

So next time you are looking to get away for a restful stay, stay at the fee free inn, the Albert Shafsky House B&B in Placerville, CA>

Who wants breakfast?

Rita loves to create in the kitchen...so who wants breakfast?

This is a picture of her Apple Pancake breakfast.  Yummy!!!  Breakfast is always a treat at our Placerville bed and breakfast.  Book today for your next breakfast with us.  The whole month of February we add a special bit of romance with petals (upon request).  And if you are looking to add champagne, flowers or chocolate, just ask us!  We will take care of it....along with dinner or massage reservations.

June is here! Time for a bunch of events

Aw where to begin. Somehow it got to be June, not too sure where May went. Our friend finished her dissertation and became Dr. Carolyn, the kids are out of school in El Dorado County, rafting is here and it has been warm enough to go already and we have several events coming up that might be of interest/or you may find us there.

June 13th --- Wagon Train and Placerville Founders Day. Celebrate Placerville's 155th birthday on Historic Main Street all afternoon with us. Placerville was founded 155 years ago, just a few miles from where gold was first discovered in California. To celebrate, Historic Main Street in Placerville closes to welcome the Highway 50 Wagon Train and host the Founders Day Street Faire with living history exhibits and re-enactments, gem-panning, fire engine displays, pony rides, costume contests, music, a decorated banners display and more from 1PM to 5PM. Free to the public.

June 18th-21 - The El Dorado County Fair comes back to town! This year's theme is "Hooves to Horsepower" and promises as much fun as always.

June 27th
Bell Tower Brewfest, 6PM to 9PM
This popular Placerville event will be hosted again by downtown merchants and will include a street closure for added enjoyment and safety for all patrons. Entertainment will feature the Bill Magee Blues Band, the Mark St. Mary Zydeco Band, and Trac 7 in different locations on Main Street. If you are interested in sampling over 40 different micro-brews, tickets will need to be purchased for patrons over 21 years of age. Tickets are limited and expected to sellout before that evening, so plan on getting them early. They will go on sale in late May for $30 at River City Bank, Tony Matthews The Wine Smith and Placerville Brewing in Placerville. Or, tickets can be purchased onl-ine with a credit card. For more info on this big fundraiser, please contact the Placerville Downtown Association at (530) 672-3436.

More fun at the Fairgrounds.....
July 4
Family Blast
Main Lawn Area – Gates Open at 4:00 pm
Live Music by Bad Iron
Fireworks, Kids Activities. Food and Beverage available for purchase.
For more information, call 530-621-5860

July 4
Placerville Speedway
Pits open @ 3:30 pm, Gates Open @ 5:00 pm, Qualifying @ 6:30 pm.
Admission - Adults $ 15.00, Juniors $ 10.00, Children $ 5.00
Parking is $ 5.00 per vehicle.
For more information http://www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com/placerville/

July 5
Flea Market
7:00 am - 2:00 pm
For more information, call the Fair Office at (530) 621-5860 or eldoradocountyfair.org/flea.html

July 5
Placerville Speedway
Pits open @ 3:30 pm, Gates Open @ 5:00 pm, Qualifying @ 6:30 pm.
Admission - Adults $ 15.00, Juniors $ 10.00, Children $ 5.00
Parking is $ 5.00 per vehicle.
For more information http://www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com/placerville/


All this to do and the summer is just beginning! Hope to see you soon!

A little Geocaching in Coloma, El Dorado County

Some of you may know that I have been geocaching near our Placerville bed and breakfast for a while now. I blame my Aunt and Uncle who recently innsat for us for getting me started.....in fact, I found one in Florence while they were innsitting the B&B! So, our pals at the American River Conservancy (great group) are holding a class this Sunday for more information.

Geo Caching-Add Adventure to your Hike
Because of rain, this program was rescheduled to...
Sunday, April 5th 9 am - 12 pm

If you were unable to attend this in March, you'll be happy to know it's been re-scheduled due to rain.

The class will start with about a 20-minute lecture and then off to find your first cache. You will learn about how a GPS works, what kind of caches there are, and some techniques on how to find them. At each cache you will stop for few minutes to learn something new. Walter Cullop, ARC volunteer and GPS enthusiast, will be teaching this informative program. This is a 3-mile moderate hike for ages 12+. Please call to sign up and for meeting location (Pilot Hill area) 530-621-1224 or contact julie@arconservancy.org.

FREE/Members, $5/non-members.

Passport event this weekend in Placerville, CA - El Dorado County

Spring has sprung in Placerville CA, though you might not have known it on Sunday when we had sunshine, snow, hail and sleet all within just a few hours! Nevertheless this is the start to the El Dorado County wine growers big weekends: Passport at our El Dorado County wineries. For the first time in over a decade they have not yet sold all the tickets to this wonderful weekend (next weekend too).

We feel very lucky to have so many wonderful wineries in our Placerville "backyard" - Boeger, Wofford Acres, Madrona, Mount Aukum, Venezio and Gold Hill to name just a few....

And since we just returned from Italy--spot the real Venice!

SCA Feast in Placerville near the B&B this weekend

The local chapter of the SCA is holding the second annual Emeritus Feast at the Shakespeare Hall just down the streeet from the Albert Shafsky House Bed and Breakfast in Placerville this Saturday, February 28. The hall will be decorated to suit the period and there will be belly dancers, a wandering lute player, choral performances, recorder music, song and poetry. In addition to the costumes and entertainment, dinner promises to be a special event as well with several mouth-watering coursed to work through.

-Tickets are $20 for SCA members , $25 for the general public, and $15 for those 6-15 yrs. old.
-Available on-line right here by selecting "Purchase Now" and at mountainsgateshire.org
-Voicemail: (530) 663-8428 for a call back to place an order.
-If you need further information: (530) 622-0784, or (530) 306-9585 before 10pm.
-Autocrat - Geoffrey of Clan Fergus, (530)306-9585. gatekeeper@mountainsgate.com

Fun Theater in Sacramento

This weekend had a chance to go see a wonderful production in Sacramento of Cinderella--very, very funny and not just for little ones!

Below is a portion of the SacBee about the show.

"The Sacramento Theatre Company's production of "Cinderella," which opened during the weekend and continues through Jan. 4, is the perfect kind of holiday entertainment – fun for the kids and not just endurable but actually fun for the adults as well.

Performed in the British panto style with men playing some women's roles, it's anything but a drag. Cinderella is still a lovely young lady (Morgan Cook at the performance reviewed here but played by Hilary Wells at other times) – nobody would mess with that. But the stepmother and two stepsisters are played by men."

Not a bad drive from our Placerville bed and breakfast and it was so good we might have to make it an annual trip just for this show. Click here for tixs.

Murder Mystery Weekend January 24 and 25

Imagine spending a quiet weekend in Beautiful Historic Placerville “Hangtown” located in California’s Gold Country.

All of a sudden you find yourself in the middle of a murder!!! It’s up to you to solve the crime before any else!

Who was the victim? Who wanted them dead? What is the history behind the brutal murder? What are the facts that will solve this case? It’s up to you to find out!!!!

Are you up for the challenge?

Murder Mystery Weekend Placerville, Ca
A Weekend of Mystery in California’s Gold Country.
The Murder Mystery Weekend starts January 24, 2009. Your ticket will include the Friday nights “Murder Mystery Dinner”, Saturday nights dinner, ice cream social on Sunday where the murder is solved and the best sleuth of the murder mystery weekend is announced. And two nights stay at either the Albert Shafsky House B and B or another of the local B and B’s or hotel is also included. This package is $395.00 and covers 2 people.

For Reservations, call our pals at "What's The Scoop?" Ice Cream & More 530 - 621 - 4400

Apple Hill adventures in October

 Headed to Camino (about 10 minutes from the Albert Shafsky House B&B) to go to Apple Hill with some friends today.  First stop was Rainbow Orchards for the wonderful Apple Cider Donuts....yummy...

Also went to Denver Dan's and watched the apple peal and core machine work it's magic.

Apple Hill is open for the season

The time for apples is here!  Cooler nights and warms days in Camino means that the apple orchards are now ready to serve donuts, cider, turnovers, pie slices (whole one's too), etc.  I am going to head up this morning and have a dozen apple cider donuts at Rainbow Orchard---just because they are open today and they are located just about 15 mins from the inn.

Rainbow Orchards (#10)
2569 Larsen Drive
Camino, CA
530/644-1594
Season: September 1 - December 11 (Fri., Sat., Sun.) 9am - 5pm
September 16 - November 13 (Daily 10am - 5pm)

For more great places to shop and fill you car with apples and other fruit, click here.

Cool nights means the Apples are coming.....

There has been a definite cooling trend at night here in the foothills, but the days are still warm and sunny.  So nice that we rafted last weekend with our friends and webfolks, Wowizowi.  They had never been down the American before so we all did the "Gorge Run" of the South Fork.  Everyone of course got wet!  Hope to have a photo from Carolyn and Roby soon, showing how much fun it was.

But back to the cooling off in the foothills....it means that Apple Hill season starts soon--Labor Day weekend and there will be apple everything to tempt you.  I know I can't wait for the first apple cider donut up at Rainbow Orchard!

Reviews can equal reservations--here are some recent ones.

Some recent reviews of our B&B...

"I stay at the Albert Shafsky House any time I am in the area (which is usually twice a year).  I have been going for at least 8 years.  The innkeepers are fabulous hostesses, the rooms are spotless and wonderfully decorated and the food is delicious!  I go back every year and feel like I am visiting old friends.  I always recommend the Albert Shafsky House to friends and family."

"Rita and Stephanie are the greatest hosts. We were greeted with a wonderful wine tasting when we checked in and the rooms were cozy, comfortable, clean and nostalgic. We took our parents who stayed in the larger suite and they too were truly impressed by the warm welcome and cozy atmosphere. Breakfast was delightful and the other guests were as pleased as we were at this charming B&B."

"We had a lovely time and a great stay at Shafsky House B and B. Hope to return."

It is comments like this, that make running a bed and breakfast the best profession one could have.