Local business

State Fair Gets Weird, Wild and Wacky

2009-08-21T02:57:27Z

The 156th annual California State Fair will open its doors Friday.

The fair has evolved steadily since its inception, and this year is no different. Among old favorites, this year's run will feature many new exhibits and attractions. The theme of the fair is Weird, Wild and Wacky, and the zone by the same name is the center for most of the new attractions.

The new events at the Weird, Wild and Wakcy Zone (WWW) include an exotic bird show hosted by professional bird trainer Nancy Kobert, a fire pixie performance featuring fire eating, breathing and dancing and the Optical Oddities & Illusion show that will focus on the wonders of human perception. Las Vegas magician and "Master of Variety" Will Roya will perform his one-man show daily at the WWW and PG&E's Solar Stage, which will not only provide power for the other stages in the zone, but also bake cookies for kids.

Also in the WWW is the Floriculture -- A Garden of MAGnificent Proportions, where attendees can experience what life would be like if they were the size of a bug.

"The Floriculture is something we have every year, but we attach a new and different exhibit to it each time," said Norb Bartosik, CEO and general manager of Cal Expo. "The entrance of the Garden will be set up like a giant magnifying glass that makes everything larger than life."

"You also don't want to miss Candy Nation," Bartosik said. "It's an exhibit that gives a walk-through history of American candy, and there's a 20-foot-tall rock candy mountain people can walk on. Just something to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth."

Butler Amusements Inc. is the new carnival operator at this year's Magnificent Midway, which will offer three of the rides from Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch.

"We had to get them after our old ride contractor had prior commitments in Pomona," Bartosik said. "The owner of Butler actually bought the rides last year. We felt we would do something special to honor Michael."

The three rides are the Balloon Samba, which simulates a hot air balloon, a swing ride called the Wave Swinger and the Jeep Ride, which gives riders the experience of driving in a 4 x 4 vehicle.

Bartosik also added that the first 5,000 people through the fair's gates every Friday will get a ticket to ride one of the rides for free.

The tractor pull will make its first appearance in 20 years at the fair. "We figured since our theme this year is Weird, Wild and Wacky, it would be a good time to bring it back," Bartosik said. The event will take place on the first Saturday of the fair at the Miller Lite Grandstand and will feature supercharged tractors competing by pulling weights.

As for other live performances, Frank Olivier will host his "Twisted Cabaret" at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. daily. The show is a wild mix of vaudevillian comedy including juggling, magic and knife throwing.

"He puts on an incredible show, and it will probably be some new material and classic stuff," Bartosik said. Olivier's show is known for its large cast of characters, mostly played by the star himself. Mimes, psychics, yoga masters, cross-dressers, pickpockets and whatever else Olivier decides to add in are sure to amaze the audience.

The lineup for concert performers is as diverse as it has been in past years. David Cook, winner of American Idol's seventh season, will kick off the festivities on opening night of the fair. The Beatles cover group The Fab Four and MC Hammer are among the other dozen acts set to perform during the fair's two-and-a-half-week run.

"There will be something for everyone who comes in," Bartosik said. "I know I've walked through the park five times now, and I still haven't seen everything!"

For more information, visit bigfun.org

Keith Lowell Jensen and Friends Hit the Punch Line

2009-08-28T02:55:37Z

If there is a lesson to be learned from Keith Lowell Jensen’s headlining set at the Punch Line, it’s to never solicit religion at his door, lest you wish to be treated to an all-nude male revue starring the local comic.

The hypothetical situation was one of the older bits that made it into KLJ’s hour-long routine on Aug. 26. The show was in celebration of his first album of stand-up, To the Moon… Live at Luna’s.

Hosting the night and warming up the crowd was Marcella Arguello. At 6 feet 2 inches tall, the hard-hitting San Franciscan towered over her male counterparts, a fact she didn’t shy away from.

“I can kick all of your asses if you back-talk me,” she joked before introducing the first comic of the night, John Ross.

The original Christian comedian on the Coexist? Comedy Tour, Ross played off his awkward demeanor and nerdy looks. “I’m like the gayest-looking Mormon ever,” he commented about his well-kept appearance. He also admitted that he likely lost his religion after Coexist?’s run, which brought loud applause appropriate for the night honoring a staunchly atheist comedian.

Ray Molina’s dry, deadpan humor was next. While many of his jokes would be offensive if they were told by a more energetic performer, the fact that he delivered them with a straight face made the bits that much more disturbing and hilarious. Few stand-ups can make people laugh uncomfortably at controversial subjects like abortion and social justice like Molina.

The self-described “lewd and crude” Kelly Price brought the energy back to the crowd with her decidedly adult-oriented act. Somewhere between Lisa Lampanelli and Roseanne Barr in terms of influence and style, Price had everyone in tears with detailed explanations of her exploits as a newly divorced woman in her 30s looking for love without all that pesky romance that goes along with it. None of her jokes are fit to print here, so seek her out next time she’s on a bill if you’re in the mood for dirty jokes told by someone who wouldn’t look out of place driving a van full of kids to soccer practice.

After Price finished her set, the time had finally come for the man of the night. Keith Lowell Jensen took the stage with punk music blaring in ironic contradiction to the finely pressed suit he was wearing. Aside from the aforementioned bit on answering the door in the buff, KLJ mostly riffed on newer material he had been working on since he recorded his album in April, plus a few from the CD itself.

Jensen’s biting commentary on religion and the way society perceives it was still prevalent in his act, but it was interspersed with bits on his imminent transformation into a father in October and why he is “hella gay at being straight.”

Also included was his now-standard observation on the world of pornography and why there isn’t a sub-genre just for him called “Not F****** Disgusting.”

By the time the night ended, the audience had been hit with a solid three-hour block of comedy, which wasn’t too shabby for $15 ticket price and a free copy of KLJ’s CD.

Ten 22 holds soft opening last night, opens today

2009-11-13T23:59:29Z

After months of careful planning, countless focus groups and likely many sleepless nights, the big day is finally upon Terry Harvego. Today Harvego opens his new restaurant, Ten 22. So with every obstacle overcome but today’s first day of business, one wonders how Harvego feels.

“I’m not nervous — I’m very confident and I just want to do this now,” Harvego said at Thursday evening's soft opening. “Sure, there will probably be some mistakes the first day, but it is what it is. I know it will be great."

Ten 22’s soft opening the night before its grand opening the next day was a laid-back affair, with the 100 or so attendees inside the restaurant’s simple, refined interior fully living the business’ motto, “Eat Drink Relax."

Waiters moved from the standing groups of chatting people that dotted the softly lit main room, taking drink orders and shuffling trays of appetizers along the way. Salmon and cheese served on toasted baguette slices, open-faced pulled pork mini sandwiches and thin-crust margherita pizza were some of the more popular platters making the rounds.

“We will have about 20 to 30 items on the daily menu," executive chef Andrea Reiter said. “This is the first brand new restaurant I’ve ever worked on, so I’m really excited. One of my favorite dishes is the braised short ribs because they have a really unique taste that’s unlike anything I’ve ever had before."

With the menu generally falling under what Reiter calls “American cuisine with a twist,” Ten 22 is family-friendly without being “kiddy."

While kids are most certainly welcome, Ten 22 has an impeccable variety of adult beverages. As expected, the bar area’s tap selection rivals most actual bars in town, with 24 beers available on draft and four in the bottle.

"I can’t wait until we open tomorrow," bartender Rich Miramontes said. “I start at 4 p.m. and the bar is open until 11 p.m. I love this place because there’s really nothing like it in Old Sac."

Ten 22’s uniqueness is what drew general manager Richard Beyerl to the restaurant, as did a little help from the Web.

“I actually found out about Ten 22 on careerbuilder.com,” Beyerl said with a laugh. “I had a restaurant elsewhere in the Central Valley but when we close I decided to look for something in Sacramento since my wife owned a restaurant here and we only saw each other on weekends. This restaurant is in you’re in Old Sac but you don’t feel like you are."

Among those in Old Sac Thursday evening were Mayor Kevin Johnson, who stopped by to say a few words about the new establishment.

“We are very thankful for this family,” Johnson said of the Harvego’s, including Terry’s father, Lloyd, who owns The Firehouse on the next block. “Sacramento is a city that emphasizes strong family values and a sense of community, and they truly represent this."

When asked before his speech if Ten 22 will become the new hot spot for Johnson and his fellow politicians, he replied, “Well, I have to try the food first, so we will see!"

Johnson and the rest of Sacramento will finally get a taste of something new now that Ten 22 finally opened its doors to the public at 11:30 a.m. today. Go try it for yourself at 1022 Second St.

Photo credits to Jonathan Mendick.

Fat's Turns 70

2009-09-11T06:28:49Z

The booming drums and clanging metal of a traditional Chinese lion dance kicked off the 70th anniversary of Frank Fat’s, Sacramento’s oldest operating eating establishment.

A red and white lion, each moved by two dancers inside the costumes, moved to the rhythm, winding around the sidewalk in front of the restaurant and the Motor Inn Garage next door where the party was being held. After a few dances, the lions led a procession inside the garage to signal to all in attendance that the night had officially begun.

Jerry, Frank Fat's youngest son, opened the night by inviting all members of the family on the stage.

“I don’t think anyone could have seen this location becoming the seed of the entire franchise,” Jerry said of the first restaurant on 806 L St.

Jerry’s sister, Linda, organized the event to give the profits from the $125 tickets to the Sacramento Crisis Nurseries and also decorated the garage with festive red sashes and flowers.

“The values my father instilled in us were simple: work hard, get an education, always be respectful to others and give back to the community,” Jerry said.

After his introduction, Fat turned the stage over to Mayor Kevin Johnson, who remarked on not only his love of the restaurant's food, but also its importance to Sacramento’s history.

“We have made a resolution marking September 9th as Frank Fat Day,” Johnson said.

Former KCRA and KOVR news anchor Stan Atkinson was the host for the evening. Atkinson proceeded to speak of the history of Fat’s and the significance of the day.

“I hope you all feel the essence of karma today,” Atkinson said. “Frank, Mary and Wing must be smiling right now at the chosen date. Nine is a very important number in Chinese culture, and to celebrate the anniversary of this place is a definite sign of good luck.”

Chairman of the California Democratic Party John Burton explained that “so many deals were made at Fat’s.” He also spoke about the famous Napkin Deal, which celebrates its own anniversary a day after the party.

The 22-year-old deal is considered a major turning point in California politics, prompting a truce between insurance companies, trial lawyers, doctors and manufacturers in return for their support in changing California’s civil liability laws. Democratic Senator Bill Lockyer mediated the discussions and scribbled the stipulations of the agreement on a white napkin. A copy of the napkin exists in the form of a large poster hanging in Fat’s.

Councilmember Robbie Waters presented the official resolution for Frank Fat’s Day to Jerry Fat before the night’s band, Clean Slate, took the stage.

As a few brave partygoers danced to funk-infused covers of “My Girl,” “It’s Not Unusual” and “Good Times,” the rest helped themselves to choice selections from the numerous restaurants in the Fat chain.

Among the offerings were eggrolls, potstickers and numerous types of sushi. Pork was definitely the dominant flavor of the night, as nearly every food station featured a dish made with the meat, ranging from pulled pork sandwiches to deep fried pork dumplings. One table even featured a full roast pig which had been cubed for people to easily place hunks on their plates.

No occasion featuring food from Fat’s would be complete without the restaurant’s signature banana cream pie, and this night was no different. The famous dessert was served bite sized in miniature tart dishes with a generous helping of whipped cream on top.

The two bar tables offered about a dozen wines, a few different beers and an array of liquor for mixed drinks. Attendees happily sipped their drinks and moved from one platter of delectable samples to another.

The night ended as people slowly filtered out of the garage's three massive doorways, everyone's stomachs a much more full and the Crisis Nurseries' funds likewise.

Ten 22 to Bring Stylish, Reasonable Eating to Old Sac

2009-09-05T01:35:55Z

The exclusive preview tasting at Ten 22 on Wednesday, Sept. 2 found myself, fellow Sacramento Press reporter Jonathan Mendick, and members of our local media peers Sactown Magazine, Capitol Public Radio and Sacramento News & Review happily sipping on sweet, summery cocktails on the balcony of a posh loft above the skeletal framework of the soon-to-be restaurant and bar in Old Sac. Conversation and laughs were exchanged as owner and host extraordinaire Terry Harvego gave us a preview of the tasteful upholstery of the restaurant's interior. But how did we get here?

The evening started out innocently enough as Harvego led our party of eight into the cluttered expanse of what will be the restaurant’s main room.

“This place will be 6,900 square feet,” Harvego, who also owns The Firehouse, said. “There will be seating for 16 to 18 at the bar alone. We’re also trying to get seating outside on the boardwalk, but Old Sac does not allow that at this time.”

Ten 22’s bar will be the focal point for passersby on the street.

“It’s tough to see inside the stores from the street, so we’re hoping that people will walk by and see activity in the front area of the restaurant,” Harvego said. “But if we didn’t have the thin, tall doors, we wouldn’t be part of Old Sac.”

As for the bar’s focus, it is mostly beer.

“There will be 24 beers on tap,” Harvego said. “And aside from your standard choices, most of them are local or from Northern California.”

The same goes for the wine, too, but Ten 22’s quantity of tap beers alone already rivals or completely decimates every other bar in the area.

Harvego also decided to put in a 55-person banquet room. The secret behind that number, he said, is that tour buses hold that many people. In terms of seating, it seems Ten 22 is ready for anything.

This all brings us back to the reason we were really there: free food and drink.

We retreated from the humid Sacramento air and finished our cocktails in the climate controlled dining area of the as-yet-unrented apartment that doubled as party central for the night.

Harvego’s consulting executive chef, Irie Gengler (also from The Firehouse), brought in a few bowls of freshly roasted assorted nuts, and the two asked us whether this should be a permanent substitution in lieu of bread. Opinions differed on that subject, but everyone agreed that the nuts themselves were well-prepared and excellent. The saltiness was just the right compliment to the aforementioned sugar-dipped cocktails we were greeted with, called Vanilla Slides.

As we sat around the table and looked over the evening’s menu, Gengler disappeared and Harvego produced an array of bottles from the refrigerator, one of which was a 22-ouncer of Rubicon IPA. Harvego graciously poured each person’s desired wine and beer, and we soon received our first course, baby spinach salad with roasted pecans and Granny Smith apples.

The dressing was noted as “seeming simple but quite complex in taste” by a few of the guests. The tangy juices of the apples meshed with the sweetness and the pecans added a hearty crunch to each bite. Small clumps of bleu cheese dotted the plate, rounding out a great beginning to a meal.

Our next course was a beef au jus sandwich, the aroma of which had everyone’s immediate attention. The texture of the beef was superb, just tender enough to chew easily but thick enough to be a “man pleaser,” as one of our constituents called it. A quick soak of the bread in the au jus before each bite made the dish a definite hit, and the portions were perfect for a quick but filling lunch for a worker on the move.

For our final entrée, we were treated to coriander-dusted halibut in a light leek sauce. The fish sat on top of a generous helping of mashed potatoes, which helped absorb the sauce for extra flavor. Everything was prepared to perfection and loading up my fork with a hunk of halibut, a dollop of spuds and a little dab of sauce was a joyful endeavor that combined a beautiful spectrum of flavors.

Every sip (or rather, gulp) of my beer was a joy. I’m a huge fan of IPA and the spicy hops they assault one's taste buds with, and Rubicon’s take on the style is no exception. To say it has a hop presence is an understatement. It doesn’t so much taste of the flower as it does coil a few shoots of it around a bat and whollop you over the head with it. And it’s got a finish like the Sahara. If these sound like unwanted characteristics, you probably aren’t a hophead, much like the people in the test groups before us who voted against the inclusion of Pliny the Elder on the beer list. Russian River’s flagship beer is a complex double IPA and is, in this humble beer nerd’s opinion, the finest in its class.

Nine o’clock rolled around and we realized that we had been eating, drinking and talking for an hour past the evening’s initial end-time, definitely a good sign. We piled in the elevator and headed out on the quiet boardwalk, all a little warmer and certainly more full than when we had arrived. Ten 22 is slated to open its doors on (when else?) Oct. 22, and if you want to do your part in helping our city’s burgeoning restaurant scene along, head over to 1022 Second St. and welcome another great eatery to the family.

Photo credits to Jonathan Mendick.

Sacramento Comedy Spot to Relocate to Bigger Building

2009-10-22T03:23:36Z

Since 2005, the Sacramento Comedy Spot has offered unique improv, sketch and standup comedy at its original location at 1716 Broadway. Come Nov. 6, the venue will not only be moving, but making a significant upgrade in facilities.

That Friday will mark opening night for the club at its new location at the MARRS building at 1050 20th St.

"We started talking to Michael Heller, the owner of the building, in the middle of the summer," said Brian Crall, former member of the Upright Citizens Brigade, managing director of the Sacramento Comedy Spot and instructor of the improv classes there. "It was around September when we finally decided to make the move."

The new space is considerably larger than the previous building, Crall said.

"Right now we are only able to fit about 40 people in our current location, but the MARRS building will allow about twice that," he said.

Almost everything about the new building gives Crall and his business partner, Ron Dumonchelle, the ability to double their artistic endeavors.

"Our old place can only fit one class at a time, but now we have two rooms, so we can even have a show going in one and teach a class in the other," Crall said. "And now we can schedule four shows a week, where we used to only be able to do two."

All of this means not only new business opportunities for Crall and Dumonchelle, but exciting new options for Sacramento's burgeoning comedy scene.

"Sketch comedy classes have been moved from Saturday to Thursday night, so we hope more people can make it out since it won't be taking up their weekend," Crall said. "There will also be a new advanced standup class for people who are ready to take that next step."

Improv classes will still be offered for $19 per month for people to attend as many as they can on Wednesday and Thursday nights, according to Crall.

"All of our classes are great because we have this awesome core group of people who all hang out together and generally enjoy learning about comedy," Crall said.

The new schedule of shows is as follows:

Friday 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 p.m.: Anti-Cooperation League.

Sunday 8 p.m.: Amateur shows for anyone who wants to sign up. ("You are guaranteed time to perform," Crall said.)

Thursday 9 p.m.: standup comedy showcase.

"Saturdays will be the biggest for us," Crall said. "We will also host a late-night show called Dare and Dare at 11 p.m. Basically, it's like truth or dare but without all the boring truth stuff."

The Sacramento Comedy Spot will also aim to attract bigger names with its expanded space.

"We are trying to get mid-sized comics to appear, people you have seen on TV and movies," Crall said. "Overall, we're looking to bring alternative comedy back and give it a better home."

Old Ironsides ends month-long 75th anniversary celebration in style

2009-11-23T23:07:32Z

To commemorate the end of a month-long celebration of its 75-year existence, the historic bar Old Ironsides held a final party on Sunday.

The Sacramento institution melded new and old, representing the vast changes in culture from its 1934 founding though the rest of the 20th century.

“Old time” drinks from each decade were back on the menu to give patrons a taste of what past generations enjoyed. Obscure concoctions such as the Moscow Mule (a 1940s drink with vodka, lime and ginger beer) were suggested alongside more popular fare like the Harvey Wallbanger (1970s) and the Washington Apple (2000s).

A few waiters kept a constant rotation of sampler platters circulating the two main rooms. Modern sandwiches like sun dried tomato garden burgers mixed with classic crinkle cut French fries and hamburger patties on toasted sourdough to provide a balance for partygoers old and young.

Nostalgia ruled the day, fueled mostly by a flat screen TV in the barroom running a slide show of photos spanning every decade since Old I’s inception. Crisp, digital images from the not so distant past were bookended by fuzzy Polaroids of heavily sideburned patrons from the 70s and black and white, magnesium lit windows to Sacramento’s bar scene a half century ago.

In the second room, a DJ spun classics from each decade, switching CDs between each tune to ensure a variety of eras. Frank Sinatra’s iconic rendition of “Let’s Fly Away” clashed with funk numbers like “Brick House” and Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be the Day” had people breaking out their best malt shop moves. The patrons, perhaps fueled by the irresistible $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon deal, danced with equal energy to every track.

There was a fairly consistent flow of attendees the entire afternoon, many staying for all five hours. If the crowded dance floor, packed booths and innumerable empty martini glasses and beer bottles were any indicator, this local hangout will stay afloat for another 75 years.

Drexel University Offers Veterans Free Education

2009-08-27T02:36:20Z

Starting this fall, the Sacramento branch of Drexel University will offer any of its graduate programs free of charge to veterans who qualify for admission.

Titled the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, the act was put in effect by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). It is targeted to veterans who have served in the armed forces since 9/11. Any veteran who has served 36 months of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001 is eligible.

The stipulations of the offer were discussed at a meeting for prospective students on Aug. 25 at the university. Tobey Oxholm, senior vice president of Drexel, hosted the meeting.

“For any of you who are certified veterans, we will make sure your cost is zero,” Oxholm said.

Drexel's Director of Veterans Services Jeffrey Linskens spoke to the 10 veterans present via video chat from his office in Philadelphia. Oxholm "beamed him in" using a computer screen and microphones to demonstrate the technological capabilities of Drexel's classrooms.

Linskens discussed the more specific numbers. Veterans will be eligible for full scholarship 15 years after the end of active duty. They will get stipends of $1,000 a year in books and $1,700 per month for housing.

“I am not aware of any school of Drexel’s caliber that has allowed admission to all of its programs for the Yellow Ribbon Program,” Linksens said.

For students who wish to take some courses online, Drexel will still pay for their education as long as they take one course in person.

To qualify for the program, veterans must meet the admission requirements and obtain a certificate from the VA.

Drexel University of Sacramento is located at One Capitol Mall, Suite 260.

The main campus of the university was founded in 1891 in Philidelphia, Penn. by financier Anthony J. Drexel and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The Sacramento campus, which focuses exclusively on graduate studies, opened its doors on Jan. 5, 2009. It ranked 6th in U.S. News' list of "Schools to Watch" last year.

Application deadlines differ for the various graduate programs, which can be found here.

More information on the Yellow Ribbon Program can be found here.

Sweetwater Reopens in New Location

2009-08-11T02:38:34Z

Sweetwater Restaurant and Bar will have its grand reopening Tuesday, Aug. 11.

The eatery stood on 57th and J Streets for nearly five years before relocating to 19th and S. Owner Brad Ross said he is excited for the opportunities the move will bring.

"Our lease ended on the old location, and, though we loved the place, we thought it was time to move," Ross said. "The people in the new area dine out more, and it really is the next hot spot in Midtown because it is still developing. People move down here for the great places to go out."

One of the major differences between the restaurant's old location and its new spot is the layout of the main area, Ross pointed out.

"The original place was partitioned off into three different areas, but our new restaurant is one big room," Ross said. "It will be much livelier," he added with enthusiasm.

As for the new business opportunities, Ross said that while catering was never a major focus, he and his partners will have many more options because of the "huge amount of business in the area."

"Catering used to be word of mouth, with people wanting to have our food at their event after coming into our restaurant and trying it for themselves," Ross said. "We will draw much more attention being in an area where thousands of people work."

By far the biggest change at Sweetwater will be its new value-driven menu.

"We're adapting to the economy by not having any item over $17," Ross said. "Also, there will be no time restrictions on the menu. You can have a burger for lunch or dinner. We're honestly just happy people are coming in."

The new Sweetwater on 1901 S Street will open its doors at 5:00 P.M.