Professional Services in Dixon

Once upon a time, Swanson's Cleaners technicians would begin their days by firing up irons, stirring starches, and strapping on roller skates. The business was once one of the largest dry-cleaning facilities west of the Mississippi, the epicenter of Salvin Swanson's vast dry-cleaning empire—an empire packed with Sacramento's laundry, even the chain mail of its knights. To get the job of all this weighty laundry done, staffers needed their own wheels, plus wheels for their hampers.

Now helmed by the third generation of Swansons, the business has grown to 15 locations. In these locations, the team launders and dry-cleans garments with the eco-friendly Revive system, which uses a gentle, odorless, and antibacterial solution made from organic ingredients. Ever mindful of the earth and the community, Swanson's Cleaners recycles its hangers and plastic bags and has collected more than 27,000 coats for local children in need through its Coats for Kids program.

Husband-and-wife team Ryan and Angie Bates man the shutters at Ryan Bates Photography, where Ryan draws on 15 years of experience as he snaps images that bring out individual personalities and family dynamics in every shot. Professional lighting shines down on subjects as they say cheese, eat cheese, or impersonate cheese in the boutique studio, and the natural light of the outdoors illuminates on-location shoots held amid trees or at the shore. Captures of candid smiles, playful interactions, and motion shots celebrate timeless family moments, and senior-portrait sessions—viewable afterward on a private online gallery—yield prints worthy of relatives' mantels or wallets. Ryan also occasionally leads basic to advanced workshops, where pupils learn to manipulate their own DSLR cameras with coy winks and promises of mink-lined camera cases.

More than 20 years of photography experience grants PhotoArts Marin's Glen Graves more than just an eye for an ideal snapshot. His skill with traditional film cameras, lighting, and composition elements imbues his photos with a quality that has drawn the attention of such clients as Ford, US Air, and Architectural Digest. When not capturing boudoir portraits or smiling families during photo shoots, Glen can be found in the classroom teaching aspiring photographers the tricks of the trade, from using dynamic angles to frame a subject to how saying “cheese” banishes spirits intent on photobombing.

Before sending garments through the eco-friendly cleaning process, the staff at Sac Green Cleaners looks out for loose buttons, broken zippers, and tags that detail specific cleaning instructions. This is par for the course for them, and one of many examples of how they strive to keep their customers satisfied and looking sharp. For a few more examples, look no further than the pre- and post-cleaning spot treatments and complimentary pickup and delivery service. Before bagging garments to send off to homes, the staff meticulously removes all lint from sweaters and presses dress shirts. They can also perform alterations, extract the smell of cigarette smoke from jackets, and repair ties used as ziplines to escape boring office meetings.

The growl of lions and tigers will be replaced by the growls of guitars as the Sactopalooza Spring Party lights up the Sacramento Zoo with music from tribute bands and DJ Rigatony. No Duh blasts a high-energy pop set based on the music of No Doubt with a number of visuals, costumes, and props from the band’s music videos. Nominated for Best Tribute Band at the 2010 San Diego Music Awards, the Red Not Chili Peppers fill the air with classic funk-rock melodies and the four-chord password that grants entry to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to the concerts, attendees can partake in hands-on activities such as mechanical bull riding and gladiator jousting with foam poles.

The Sactopalooza Spring Party is the largest annual fundraising event for the Active 20-30 Club of Sacramento. This group of 20- to 30-year-old volunteers works year-round to improve the lives of local children with special needs. In addition to raising funds for children, the group organizes hands-on events to interact with children at an annual picnic, winter clothing drives, and a holiday party at the UC Davis cancer center. Proceeds from the party helps support these events and the organization’s work with children throughout the region.

Started in 2005 as a way to capture tearful reunions between military members and their families, Pink Butterfly has expanded to portraiture, event, fashion, and boudoir photography that has been featured on CD covers and in press features. Debbie Torres, a certified photographer and member of the Professional Photographers of America, captures the heat in the room with her tasteful boudoir photo shoots in her cozy studio. A variety of flirty themes and concepts, such as holiday pinup and "fun around the house," guides Torres' photo sessions, which can also be held outdoors in the early morning, or in the evening before the sun goes down. The seasoned photographer, with more than 15 years of experience, also offers specialized boudoir shoots for athletes and dancers.

Torres's goal while she’s flashing her camera is to create a fun, comfortable atmosphere for her subjects. She welcomes all body types to her boudoir sessions. Using her sharp eye for detail, images of guests bloom under her direction as she expertly composes and captures each shot. Afterward, clients may choose favorite retouched photos for printing and to receive in digital form, allowing them to share framed versions with the mantel or brighten the day of a lonely laptop.