A tale of too tipsy

It’s October, and autumn temperatures continue to drop on a nightly basis. There are several options to deal with this situation: turn on the heater, light up a fireplace or wear warm flannel pajamas. Or another (and my favorite) option: consume alcoholic beverages. Luckily, that's something that can be done while socializing. This week offers two fun events great for warming the belly with libations (note: Alcohol doesn't really warm a person up, so don't forget to bundle up during chilly evenings).

Sacramento Turn Verein, where, according to its website, “folks with German ancestry and people with an interest in German culture congregate,” will host its annual Oktoberfest celebration this weekend. Friday and Saturday night, it'll fill its halls with music, food, beer, wine and folk dancing. Admission costs $20 for adults, $15 for college students with ID and $5 for children 12 and younger. It happens from 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday, October 11, and from 3 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, October 12, at 3349 J Street. Visit www.sacoktoberfest.com for more details.

There's plenty of sake to warm oneself up with this week, too, at the ninth-annual Northern California Premium Sake Fest. It's on Tuesday, October 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Sacramento at 2001 Point West Way. The festival will serve up more than 100 types of sake, shochu (a Japanese liquor) and Japanese beer. There will also be taiko drummers, a sushi contest, an auction and food from local restaurants. Tickets cost $60 in advance and $70 at the door. For more information, visit www.nafdc.com.