Events in Sacramento

Old Sacramento Ghost Tours Offer Fun and Fright

2009-10-15T06:24:19Z

If family-friendly fright is your preference for Halloween fun, look no further than Old Sacramento Ghost Tours. Presented by the Old Sacramento Living History Program, the annual tour of haunted locales is now in its ninth year of humor and horror. Throughout its run, the tour has evolved to keep patrons coming back.

“Every year the script changes--all new ghosts and all new stories. Even the tour route is different this year,” said Janessa White, Public Programs Coordinator for the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation, via e-mail. “For the first time, the tours will begin in the Eagle Theater, a replica of California's first theatre."

Tour-goers will be led through an hour’s worth of spooky buildings trusted with the tales of "gunfights, lovers' quarrels and business deals gone bad,” according to the event’s press release. Additionally, actors will embody fictional characters from the Old West to create scenes for the audience.

“I would have to say the shootout or the commentary of the Grunnett brothers, a pair of very amusing morticians, [is the most popular part of the tour],” West said.

The tours run Oct. 16-17, 23-24 and Oct. 30. Tours start at 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Entrance is $15 per person or $12 for children under 12. Not recommended for children under the age of six. Maximum people for one group is 20.

Comedian Bill Burr to begin a series of shows at The Punchline tonight

2009-12-10T23:44:32Z

Employing a style he has dubbed “uninformed logic,” stand-up comedian Bill Burr has spent the better part of two decades refining his sardonic outlook on everyday life. An L.A. resident by way of Massachusetts, Burr lived in New York City for nine years before heading west to further his career in television and film. He is set to record his second one hour stand-up special for Comedy Central at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco on Dec. 17, but will first do a string of performances at The Punchline in Sacramento Dec. 10-13.

“I’ve been working on the new material since the night I said goodnight on my last special, which was November of 2007,” said Burr from Los Angeles International before hopping on a plane to Ohio, where he was scheduled for a few warm-up dates. “The second you tape it and you know it’s going on TV, you know that the hourglass has been tipped over and you have a certain amount of time to write basically another 45 minutes.”

Most of Burr’s act is comprised of his own personal opinions, which, he admits, are not based on any concrete facts. His comedy is a refreshingly simple alternative to many comics’ well-researched observational humor.

A running theme in Burr’s act is overpopulation and the effect of humans on Earth’s ecosystem, a heady subject tackled in layperson’s terms.

“The thing I’m struggling with right now is that you have compassion as a human being, right?” said Burr. “And you contemplate death and all that type of stuff, but the world is overrun with human beings. There’s too many of us.”

Burr’s onstage persona works because it isn’t a persona at all. Rather, his stream-of-consciousness observations give the audience the feeling of simply watching a normal person explain his viewpoints without any pretense.

“You really get into that whole mindset of ‘I can’t say that, that’s not me.’ Like, you get a guy who’s decided he’s going to work clean," he explains. "And then he’ll say the most foul and hilarious, f***ed-up joke in the Green Room, and the other comics at the show are on the ground laughing. I think [my onstage persona] is basically who I am. I mean, I’m not yelling and jumping around as much, but there’s always the entertainment factor you have to take into consideration.”

On June 8, Burr brought his stark, Darwinian observations to “The Late Show With Conan O’Brien,” becoming the first comic to perform on O'Brien's new late-night program.

“That was a huge compliment for me as a comedian,” said Burr. “I ended up being the guinea pig though.”

After a pair of appearances on “Chappelle’s Show” and a few bit parts in other television shows, Burr finally got his first speaking role in a major feature film alongside Tina Fey and Steve Carell in “Date Night.” Though his character, Detective Walsh, only has nine lines in the film, Burr was enthusiastic about being on set. And he realizes fame takes time.

“Usually when I’m in a movie my character doesn’t even have a name,” said Burr. “So at least I have a last name."

Though Burr’s career has grown exponentially steadily in the past few years, from brief features on stand-up showcases to numerous appearances on Comedy Central, his new material will show just how much he has come to know himself.

“I’m more coming to terms with my anger and I also have more paranoid thoughts than in the last special,” said Burr. “I would like to maybe go three years between this special and the next one. By then, I figure I will be married and have a kid, so it will be totally different."

“I would never tell an embarrassing story about my kid to make his going to school horrific,” said Burr. “I’ve done some stuff about my family but I’m always conscious of the fact that I’m the one who made the decision to get into the public eye. I don’t think it’s fair to drag people in who just had the unfortunate luck to be related to you.”

Whether the happiness and challenge that comes with being a parent will make his comedy lighter or that much more tense is something fans will just have to wait for. Until then, you can hear a childless but no-less-frustrated Burr Thursday-Saturday at The Punchline.

The Punchline is at 2100 Arden Way Sacramento, CA.

Eat Wings for a Good Cause

2009-09-04T03:20:55Z

Looking for an excuse to chow down on some buffalo wings? Hooters will be holding its first Wingfest at 11 a.m.Saturday, Sept. 5 at William Land Park. The event isn’t just to see which people can stuff the most spice into their mouths; it’s also a fundraiser for the George Mark Children’s House, a hospice program for children with terminal illnesses.

“I remembered hearing about a wing-eating contests in Buffalo, which is where the dish is from originally,” said Frank Chopski, owner of the Hooters restaurants in Sacramento, Natomas, Rancho Cordova, Fresno and Honolulu. “We’ve done so many other events, like golf tournaments and motorcycle shows, and I thought this would be great to try. This is our first one, but we're hoping it will be annual.”

William Land Park was the ideal location for the event, not just because Chopski knows the people who run the golf course, but also because of the natural shade it provides.

“There are always just a lot of people around there on the weekends anyway, so hopefully they will be drawn to it even if they didn’t know about it," Chopski said.

The main event of the day is the wing-eating competition, which will feature all local contestants.

“No professional eaters are allowed to compete,” Chopski said. “We held contests at all three Hooters locations every Thursday in August, so we have a dozen competitors who have made it the finals. The first to 30 wings is the winner.”

The champion gets a trip for two to Honolulu and a free meal at the Hooters there.

Eaters and spectators will be treated to three live-music acts throughout the day.

“Our lineup is a Tom Petty tribute band called The Refugees, a Lynyd Skynyrd tribute band called Gator Alley and Guitar Shorty, who is a great blues guitarist and is also Jimi Hendrix’s brother-in-law,” Chopski said. “If you like Stevie Ray Vaughn and really great blues rock, you’ll love him.”

The day will also feature an amateur wing sauce competition, where judges will vote on the best Buffalo-style concoction.

“That contest’s winner will get a trip for two to Las Vegas and $200 in gambling money," Chopski said.

Hooters will generate hype for the event with a race at RPM Race Place Motorsports n the night before.

“We will have 16 teams of four racing in go carts,” Chopski said. “The catch is that every lap they have pull to the pit area and someone has to eat five hot wings before they can get back in the race. Each team paid $400 to compete in the race, and RPM will give all of that to George Mark.”

Anyone looking for a day of good music, food and beer should head to William Land Park at 11 a.m. to kick off the day’s festivities. Tickets are $10 and available at all three Sacramento Hooters locations. The event is all ages.

California Hall of Fame to honor its fourth group of inductees

2009-11-30T03:40:49Z

For the fourth year, the California Hall of Fame will induct a group of individuals who have changed the state for the better. The ceremony will be held on Tuesday at the California Museum, the site of the hall of fame. The 13 inductees are:

Carol Burnett (comedienne and actress)

Andy Grove (former chairman and chief executive officer of Intel Corp.)

Hiram Johnson (California governor and U.S. senator)

Rafer Johnson (Olympic gold medalist in decathlon)

Henry J. Kaiser (industrialist and founder of Kaiser Permanente and the Kaiser Family Foundation)

Joan Kroc (philanthropist and widow of the founder of McDonald's)

George Lucas (director and producer)

John Madden (NFL player, coach and commentator)

Harvey Milk (politician and gay rights activist)

Fritz Scholder (Native American artist)

Danielle Steel (New York Times bestselling author)

Joe Weider (body builder and founder of numerous fitness magazines, competitions and organizations)

General Chuck Yeager (test pilot, and first to break the sound barrier)

“The inductees don’t necessarily have to be born in California,” said Ashley Robinson, curator and press liaison at the museum California History Museum, 1020 O St. “They do have to have been successful in their careers or done their best work here."

The hall of fame was founded by Maria Shriver, wife of the current governor and a former journalist, in 2006 to honor remarkable achievements of people in California.

“When Gov. Schwarzenegger was elected in 2003, she began a mission to tell the story of our state,” Robinson said.

The museum inducts about a dozen people each year, and “generally shoots for less to make it more special," she added.

Possible inductees are nominated by the public in January and voted on by a special committee over the next few months.

“We start with a list of about 20 and whittle it down, and then Gov. Schwarzenegger and Mrs. Shriver vote on the final choices,” Robinson said.

Shriver will talk at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, and the ceremony will start at 6 p.m.

An exhibit honoring each person will be on display at the museum for a year, displaying artifacts and items related to the inductees’ work. Examples include costumes and memorabilia from “Star Wars” for Lucas, artwork by Scholder and documents related to Milk’s work in San Francisco.

These pieces aren't always easy to come by.

“It’s tough to put some of those exhibits together,” Robinson said. “A few of our honorees don’t have any living relatives, and for others it was difficult to find some of the items we have on display."

Sacramento Horror Film Festival Offers Four Days of Fright

2009-10-21T19:18:09Z

As Halloween looms over us like a full moon on a blustery autumn eve, we find ourselves in the mood to curl up in front of our favorite slasher film for a healthy dose of murder and mayhem.

But if you dare to leave the comforts of home and celebrate the seasonal bloodlust with likeminded souls, the Sacramento Horror Film Festival is here to provide the scares. Now in its third year, the four-day event will be sure to fill your every dark desire.

“The city of Sacramento didn't have anything resembling a horror film festival," said Tim Meunier, founder and festival director. "And with my past experience I decided it was time to give the city what I felt it needed. I grew tired of going out of city and state to visit sub par horror film festivals and give them my tourist dollars. I felt I could provide a better experience back in my home town."

Meunier founded the festival in 2007. It was an immediate success, drawing horror icons such as Tony Moran (the unmasked face of Michael Myers in “Halloween”) and Tony Todd (the title role in “Candyman”) to sign autographs, take pictures and participate in Q & A sessions.

This year will feature WWE wrestler Chris Jericho, who stars in “Albino Farm,” on Friday, Oct. 23. The creators of “Repo! The Genetic Opera” will attend Saturday’s marathon. On Sunday, Oct.ober 25, William Lustig will be in attendance to voice his commentary on his slasher film “Maniac."

The event has not only attracted celebrities, but filmmakers from all over the world.

“We are an international film festival,” Meunier said. “We screen films that originated from Brazil, France, Japan, all the way back home coast to coast. We are screening more than 50 independent films and out of those 50, 13 are local."

Meunier’s said his preparations for the festival are grueling, beginning with a call for entries and the subsequent reviewing of the films for about 10 months.

“I do a survey among fans and peers and decide on which film to attempt to acquire for our 'retro' screening,” Meunier said. “Once we have some ideas, I contact the actors and directors of that film and attempt to book an appearance at the festival for them to do a live commentary of the film."

When asked which of the films he has seen are his favorite, Meunier refused to play favorites.

“Being asked that is like being asked which child is your favorite," Meunier said. “They all are special. I had to review hundreds of films over the past year to select the 50 best of the best and so I really enjoy all the films we screen."

Meunier realizes that even the most rabid horror fan may not be able to sit through the festival’s proposed gauntlet.

“The live commentary is a very popular program at our festival,” Meunier said. “We then begin contacting local bands that fit within our horror demographic as well as potential other forms of live entertainment to help break the monotony of film viewing for the patrons at the festival."

Average audience turnout for last year’s three-day event was 2,100 people, but Meunier expects more this year given the extra day to make room for even more films.

There’s no rest for the wicked, and Meunier lives the adage to make sure he can put together the best string of scares he can.

“Our third annual event hasn't even gone underway yet and I'm already planning exciting things for our fourth annual event,” Meunier said. “I'm always thinking ahead. It’s a challenge, so at minimum it's a year's worth of dedication."

The festival runs Oct. 22-25 at the Historic Colonial Theatre. Tickets are available at R5 Records and at the theatre's box office during the festival. Four-day all-events passes are $50, but individual day tickets are available as well.

One Scary Nite a rowdy, spooky good time

2009-10-31T02:05:29Z

The irony of Flavor Flav hosting a Halloween party is that people actually dress in his everyday outfit for a celebration of this most dark of holidays.

The Public Enemy hype man and unlikely reality TV phenomenon arrived at the red carpet for the One Scary Nite Halloween party at the California Auto Museum with business partner Deon Taylor and retired Kings star Bobby Jackson. The trio hammed it up for the row of photographers, Flav flashing his gilded grill and trademark clock necklace while costumed party-goers yelled “Yeah boy!” as they filed into the horror-themed interior of the museum.

"I loved to go trick-or-treating when I was younger, but now I have kids so I take them," Jackson said. "I was gonna dress up as the hunchback but my costume was a little snug. I don't really have a favorite candy, but I do love Wathamacalits."

Inside, strobe lights cut through the darkness of the entrance where hired, professionally detailed ghouls with “Monster Staff” signs pinned to their backs dragged themselves around the room. Jason Vorhees sneaked behind unsuspecting victims and held his blood-drenched knife to their throats for photos while Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers rounded out the classic horror flick posse, aided by a small army of zombies in various states of decay.

A haunted hallway separated guests from the real action in the main room, where a massive dance floor lay in front of a stage equipped with a state-of-the-art DJ rig pumping club hits like Lady Gaga’s “Pokerface.” Werewolves and other such beasts shook their furry moneymakers with Playboy bunnies while go-go dancers grooved on three raised platforms on the floor.

Aside from the standard gruesome fare, more adventurous partiers traded comfort for creativity. The Master Chief from the wildly popular “Halo” video game series patrolled the room in full armor and weaponry, a Russell Crowe-style gladiator looked for combatants and a man with a huge stack of dollars with eyes on the top balanced on his shoulders was “the money you could be saving with Geico."

Co-host of the evening and “Good Day Sacramento” entertainment reporter Mark S. Allen stopped the party to say a few words.

“For a long time Sacramento needed a party like this,” Allen said. “Now we have one and it’s all thanks to you guys!"

Deon Taylor’s local enterprise bearing his name used a large screen hanging behind the stage to loop preview clips of the company’s “Nite Tales” TV series, a new horror program that will feature Flavor Flav essentially playing the same role as the Cryptkeeper from the classic “Tales From the Crypt” show.

The clock finally struck midnight and everyone converged on the center of the dance floor for what was promised to be a very special surprise performance. A red-suited Michael Jackson moonwalked onstage for a tribute to the sorely missed pop icon. Classics like “Billy Jean” and “The Way You Make Me Feel” were performed flawlessly, but the real highlight was a fitting rendition of “Thriller,” with the entire monster cast joining for the song’s famous choreographed dance sequence.

After the special entertainment exited, all eyes were directed up at a plastic bag full of $5,000 attached to the rafters of the museum. The bills rained down on the crowd in a flurry of green and were snatched out of the air and then scrambled for on the floor until the music kicked back on and everyone danced into the night with a bit more cash in their pockets.

Photos 1-7 by Jonathan Mendick.

Photos 8-14 by Cindy Saechao.

Interview quotes and press organization by Tina Armour, who got us on the red carpet.

Dia de los Meurtos at Zocalo

2009-11-04T04:35:48Z

For the third annual year, local Mexican restaurant Zocalo hosted its Dia de los Muertos celebration on Monday, Nov 2.

The holiday (which in Spanish literally translates into “day of the dead”) celebrates the life and death of loved ones who have passed on over the past year. It is largely celebrated throughout Mexico, America and Canada.

As with any festival, celebrating Dia de los Muertos properly requires an exacting eye for tradition. Much like its food, Zocalo saw to it that its party was as authentic as possible.

Burning candles illuminated the large shrines in the center of the entrance to the restaurant, allowing patrons to read the names on tags hanging from numerous trees around the altar.

While dozens of such tags in honor of family members were on display, photographs of many celebrities who died recently also stood around the heavily-decorated table.

Images of Sen. Ted Kennedy, Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson were among the recognizable portraits on display.

Skulls (calaveras in Spanish) could be found all over Zocalo. Most of the waiting staff and numerous attendees even wore black-and-white face paint to embody the dead and represent skeletons.

A traditional fire dance by Martina Lopez began on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant and led a procession in a square around the premises and back to the entrance.

Lopez swung two burning globes attached to chains around her body in varying patterns, the flames tracing orange arcs through the cool autumn night.

“It’s sort of scary when you first start doing it,” Lopez said. “But then you get burned a few times and you just get used to it!"

Those burns were well worth it, she said, as Dia de los Meurtos was a lively celebration.

Some Assembly Required will show vintage toys at Railroad Museum

2009-11-18T05:29:48Z

If you miss the childlike innocence of Christmas, your chance to be a kid again will begin Friday.

The California Railroad Museum’s "Some Assembly Required" exhibit begins Nov. 17 and runs until Feb. 20, 2010. The event will showcase a variety of toys in its main lobby room.

“It’s not like our past exhibits because it doesn’t just focus on trains,” said museum librarian Cara Randall, who also researched the history of the toys on display.

Most of the toys are from the 1950s, with a few from the early 1960s and the oldest from the 1870s.

“Our oldest toy is a puzzle set that a shoe company gave away to customers as a promotional deal when they bought a pair of $3 shoes,” Randall said. “It is all made of wood and the idea is to put it together in order to make a train."

Aside from a few board games and puzzles, "Some Assembly Required" will focus on moving toys and vehicles, much like the modern Tonka manufacturer’s trucks.

“These are all from the 1920s-50s, and most are made from steel,” Randall said of the heavy equipment toys. “They will be in our ‘sandbox’ display, which is a place we made to replicate how kids would have played with them in the original time period they were made."

Though they may be sturdy and built to take a beating, the toys are strictly off limits to attendees.

“Many of these toys are so old that we’re afraid they may break if we let people play with them,” Randall said.

In time for the holiday season, the exhibit will also feature a window display from a Bullock's department store dating back to 1956. Bullock's stores were mostly located in California, with some in Arizona and Nevada.

“We decided to kick off Thanksgiving weekend with this display to put people in the holiday mood,” Randall said.

“The window display will feature toy trains running on tracks much like those seen in films from the time. I think we’re just trying to keep this exhibit as lighthearted as possible."

Preparations and research for the exhibit began in September.

“I learned so much about toys in a really short time,” she said. “It was my job to read about the history of what we have on display so we could match the time periods and make it uniform."

With all the research and work by Randall and the other employees, "Some Assembly Required" promises to be an entertaining experience for kids who may not play with toy trucks anymore to adults who looked forward to unwrapping them during the holidays, Randall said.

“It will be fun to show some younger people what toys were like before the video game era,” she said.

Benefit for Camp Courage at Greens Hotel

2009-09-22T22:46:18Z

Camp Courage, a two-day training camp for activists seeking to fight for gay rights, will be receiving a sizable boost in funds thanks to a fundraiser benefit at the Greens Hotel on Thursday. The camp was inspired by the "Camp Obama" program that taught community organizing strategies to supporters of the president's campaign last year. The camp's goal is to prepare for a campaign for gay marriage in 2010, hoping to reverse Proposition 8, which passed in 2008 and declared: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."

"This is the first Camp Courage to take place in Sacramento," said Cynthia Dall, the fundraiser for the city's branch of the camp. "We really need to get Sacramentans out there for their support."

The fundraiser will feature a no-host bar, appetizers, a five-course dinner, DJ and live music and speakers from Camp Courage, who will explain what the program is all about.

Sponsors include Darrell Steinberg, Sacramento Young Dems and The Coffee Garden.

Food will be provided by Joshua Ploeg, also known as "The Traveling Chef." Ploeg is the author of numerous vegan cookbooks, including his latest, the Proustian "In Search of Lost Taste." For the event on Thursday, Ploeg's plates will be vegetarian with some vegan focus as well.

Musical guests are varied, and, like the chef, are providing their services for no profit.

Aside from DJ Larry Rodriguez, the other music acts are Dog Party, Christine Shields and Phil Franklin, Thomas Bixby, and a possible appearance by Willie Winant, who is practicing to perform with John Zorn.

The strangest act in the lineup is Dog Party.

"They're a two-piece sister act consisting of an 11-year-old on drums and a 14-year-old who sings philosophical lyrics," said Dall. "I first saw them at another event, and thought of them when I was planning for this one. Their content is really deep, like 'Do you see what you think you see?'"

Artists are encouraged to bring their work to hang and even sell that night. To have pieces put on display, they must bring them to the hotel by 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

"We promise to take good care of them," Dall said with a laugh.

Prices will be on a sliding scale from $30-$65, depending on how much the attendee can afford. Kids 12 and under get in for free.

Artists can contact Rebecca at 916-852-7409.

The Camp Courage event will take place from Nov. 7-8 at the Elks Lodge on 11th and J streets.

Anyone interested in signing up for the camp or finding more information can do so at http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/campsacramento

The Greens Hotel is on 1700 Del Paso Blvd.

Witchapalooza Combines Costumes, Rides and Fantasy

2009-10-12T03:40:50Z

The second day of Witchapalooza brought rows of vendors to a small covered section of Cal Expo on Sunday.

With Halloween quickly approaching and fall already in full swing, most of the booths focused on costumes and items for the spooky event. It seemed that each vendor was dressed for the occasion, whether as a wizard, witch or other horrorific character.

Local all-girl pop rock act Adhara opened the festivities, playing covers and original songs. High schoolers and other fans swayed to the squeaky-clean sound and soulful inflections of lead singer Athena Marie. Danceable and melodic, the band’s tunes began the day on a bright note, in contrast to more edgy tone of the main area.

A running theme seemed to be steampunk, a subgenre of fantasy culture that focuses on Victorian-era fashion with a futuristic, science fiction emphasis on technology. Many booths featured clothing and accessories appropriate to the style, while those running them wore goggles, top hats, vests, pocket watches and even holsters carrying model flintlock pistols. Novels that influenced the genre, such as Jules Verne’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” also were for sale, as was an assortment of jewelry and trinkets.

Numerous vendors featured costumes and merchandise from “Harry Potter” and its latest successor, the wildly popular “Twilight” series. Calendars adorned with glossy photos of Edward Cullen and other vampires and werewolves sat across from wands, hats and cloaks in a clash of the fantasy titans. Bearded men dressed as professors from Hogwarts School tended the booths.

In another connection to the film world, two actors in the horror genre appeared at the event. Malcolm McDowell, famous for his portrayal of Alex DeLarge in Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation of “A Clockwork Orange,” sat behind a table stocked with production stills awaiting signature.

Kristy Swanson, mostly known for playing the title character in the 1992 movie “Buffy the Vampire Slayer," sat next to McDowell with her husband and "Skating With Celebrities" partner Lloyd Eisler. Swanson signed autographs on wooden stakes and posters of "Buffy" and posed for pictures with families. She seemed surprised when one fan commented on her bit role in “Dude, Where’s My Car?” responding with a smile, “Oh, yeah, I did do that one!"

For kids, the biggest attractions were the rides. Bungee cords attached to a V-shaped pole swung riders into the air and pulled them back like a rubber band. The more adventurous thrill seekers did flips in mid-air, screaming at their weightlessness.

That sound should make those who put together Witchapalooza in this, its first year, very happy.

Everyone Is German on Oktoberfest

2009-10-05T21:25:48Z

It’s tough to tell if Prince Ludwig and his wife Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen would approve of a dueling beer bong performance at the 199th anniversary of their wedding, but the first night of a two-day Oktoberfest party at the Turn Verein in Sacramento was home to this unlikely of concerts.

For 42 years Sacramento's German community has been celebrating its heritage with anybody who wants to join in. The $10 admission allowed attendees to partake in traditional German music, dancing and great company.

Food and beverages were distributed using tickets, with one dollar buying a single meal ticket. Beer and sausage were just three tickets, potato salad was two, and some of the larger meals, such as roast chicken or the authentic pig's knuckle, were nine. Economy was the key, and $10 for two German beers, a sausage and a side was an unbeatable deal, especially for the quality.

In typical Oktoberfest fashion, the beer was the biggest draw. It isn't often one can sample the products of world famous breweries like Spaten and Hofbrauhaus, and even more rare to do so for only $3 a pint, but all of the major German beers were present and accounted for.

While Spaten's flagship pilsner flowed through most of the taps, several Oktoberfest styled beers were also on the menu. Richer than the pilsners and with a reddish copper hue to reflect the changing of the seasons, these beers are heavy on the malt and thus are perfect for the cooler months.

And the purveyors take pride in what they do, evidenced when one of the pourers tapped a new keg of Paulaner Oktoberfest and gave yours truly the first beer from it on the house on account of the inevitable foam that builds when fresh beer runs through the line.

Like all annual festivals, the central theme to Oktoberfest is tradition, and our local take on the biggest party in the world stuck pretty close to its roots. Men in lederhosen and women in dirndls performed German dance numbers as a modernized polka band played waltzes to accompany them.

Whenever the hundreds of people in the main hall quieted down from the dull roar common for most of the night, the band's singer would raise his Maß (liter) mug in a proust, shouting the phrase popularized by "The Man Show" -- "Zicke, Zacke, Zicke, Zacke, Hoi, Hoi, Hoi!" -- before leading everyone in taking massive gulps from their cups, glasses, and, in one true partyer's case, a massive glass boot.

The cuisine was as authentic as it gets. Bratwursts on kaiser rolls were the most popular (and reasonable) item, but the huge helpings of chicken most closely emulated the dishes served at the real thing 5,500 miles away. Those who really wanted to get traditional went one step further and ordered the pig's knuckle, though only the hardiest of hearts actually dined on the steaming platter of skin and gristle.

There was absolutely no Americanization in any of the food; no compromises whatsoever. Weisswurst, a type of sausage made with veal that is far less popular than its darker cousin, was even available for those who weren't feeling like pork that night.

All of the beer and meals could be bought on both floors of the Turn Verein, with the second floor featuring a rock band performing covers of The Beatles and other popular fare, while music act on the main floor was far more traditional, right down to their clothing.

In short, the gathering at this year's Oktoberfest was absolutely massive. Like the party in Munich, getting from one side of a room to another required strategic planning and execution by way of weaving through throngs of very contented people. If Ludwig and Therese had been there that evening, the smiles, food and ample beer supply would surely be enough to satisfy them.

The State Archives to Offer Free Open House Saturday

2009-10-01T05:30:41Z

October marks Archives Month in most of the states in the union, and for the sixth consecutive year, California will be participating. To celebrate, the State Archives will be hosting an open house at 1020 O Street on Saturday, Oct. 3, starting at 4 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m.

Stephanie Hamashin, an archivist who will be working the event, spoke about what attendees can expect.

"The most important part of the exhibit will be both of California's constitutions," Hamashin said. "We haven't had the 1849 one on display in five years, and the one from 1879 is about the same. What is major is that both have never been shown simultaneously."

Due to the fragile nature of the documents, special lighting will be used to show them in their protective cases. A California Highway Patrol officer will guard the room. Both are written on animal hide, allegedly from goat, according to Hamashin.

"Our archivists will be here to answer questions about the artifacts and documents," Hamashin said. "They include students, interns and actual archivists."

Twelve organizations will be at the archives showing pieces from their collections.

"People from repositories like the Society of California Archivists, U.C. Davis and Sac State will be there," Hamashin said.

Hamashin said an added bonus is that anyone interested can get a behind-the-scenes tour where they will see where the documents are stored and how the displays are cared for.

"Dr. Thomas Clark, who is a professor at Sac State, will speak about the history of the constitutions at 5:45 p.m.," Hamashin said. "They are vital documents to our history because they represent the birth of the state itself."

Oct. 10 will see another major event for the archives, Family History Day.

"That day we will be showing people how to do research about their lineage and genealogy from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.," said Hamashin. "Both of these Saturdays are the biggest exhibits of the year for us."

Entrance to the State Archives is free on both days, as is parking around the building. More information on the archives can be found here. You can also call the archives at (916) 653-7715.

San Francisco Mime Troupe Brings Biting Satire to Sac

2009-09-30T03:54:15Z

Leave it to a performance collective from San Francisco to deem our nation’s current economic state to be a subject for parody.

The city’s half-century-old Mime Troupe (which, as one of our other writers Tina explained in her preview, has actors who actually speak) gave its last show of the season to an audience of 100 or so locals at Southside Park on 2115 6th St.

Titled “Too Big to Fail,” the almost two-hour long play was a wry commentary on how America got into its financial crisis, told through a style mimicking African parables.

The main story followed newlyweds Filije (Adrian C. Mehia) and Jeneeba (Velina Brown), who don’t have much money and are in need of a loan. After the marriage, Filije is approached by a witch (BW Gonzalez), who offers him “the best magic in the world: credit,” which he accepts.

The couple is forced to give the goat (Lizzie Calogero) they received as a wedding gift for collateral after they default on a mortgage on their house. Filije decides to travel to the big city to erase his family’s debt, while Jeneeba stays in their hut to deal with the increasing greed in their hometown. The tale is split in two, narrated the whole time by the energetic character credited only as the Storyteller (Michael Gene Sullivan).

References to pop culture and satirical comedies abound. A spoof of the Knights Who Say Ni! scene from the classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail appeared near the beginning of the play, where the people in the city can’t say the word “share,” much like the knights in the film, who can't say "it." The Storyteller used call and response with his audience, prompting phrases such as “Save us, for we cannot save ourselves.”

Filije finally reaches his first city and finds that everybody wears special glasses that make objects around them green, thus they see money instead of reality. They initially label him a “freedom hater” and a “communist” after he tries to explain that not everything can be privatized.

When Filije finally gets them to take their glasses off, the citizens see that their entire infrastructure is in shambles while the corporations get bigger.

Eventually, Filije escapes and crosses the ocean to the big city. There he finds a blue collar worker who accompanies him on his quest to find the credit company’s building. The pair make it to the main office but find no one is there, and it is then that the worker reveals himself to be the demon Kodo the Great (Ed Holmes), the boss of the firm.

Kodo offers Filije a job and, after taking it and changing into the suited businessman he and his wife always hated, he returns to his hometown. The story ends happily, though, when Filije arrives just in time to save his wife from being burned at the stake by the other villagers after she is labeled a witch.

Filije and Jeneeba get their goat back after they right the wrongs in the town and challenge everyone to live within their means instead of going into debt because of overuse of credit cards.

“Too Big to Fail” proved to be a profound, intelligent commentary, with double meanings and allegories in nearly every scene. It’s disappointing we will have to wait until the next season for more shows. More people need to see this play and hear its message sooner rather than later. The troupe travels around California performing free shows, so make sure to look for a new show next year. Information can be found at its website.

Another group of California's finest honored at the Hall of Fame

2009-12-03T05:14:51Z

It must have been a surreal experience for those on the RT at 10th and O streets to spot the likes of John Madden, Carol Burnett and George Lucas walking down the red carpet in their awards-show best at the California Museum for History, Women and the Arts.

Anyone who actually got off at the stop may have caught Burnett's signature Tarzan call or had a chance for Lucas to sign any surface capable to be written on. Dozens of others, however, thought ahead and brought glossy “Star Wars,” “Terminator” and sports stills for Lucas, Gov. Schwarzenegger and Madden to sign, respectively.

The occasion for this "who’s who" of California’s best, 13 in all, was their induction into the state’s Hall of Fame (Schwarzenegger and first lady Maria Shriver were hosting, not being inducted). Before the evening’s ceremony, the honorees received a justified red carpet treatment for their accomplishments.

Bestselling author Danielle Steel’s gold jewelry glowed in contrast to her simple, black outfit. Burnett was just as warm and funny off camera as she has been since the mid-1960s, even taking time to joke with a group of young girls carrying signs reading “I love Carol."

General Chuck Yeager, being one of the bravest American men in history, was remarkably down-to-Earth considering he’s spent so much of his life thousands of feet above it. Though Andy Grove looks like any other conservatively dressed businessman downtown, he is responsible for every major advancement in computing and technology in the past half century with his invention of the silicon-based chip.

Rafer Johnson could have easily beaten his fellow inductees down the carpet in a footrace, but instead chose to saunter along with the confidence that can only come with being one of the greatest Olympic athletes in history.

Lucas brought massive amounts of cheers from both the journalists lined behind the press area to get pictures and rows of fans, including a kid on his dad’s shoulders holding a lightsaber. Madden was even bigger in person than on his numerous television gigs, with a broad smile stretched across his face amidst the camera flashes.

A few of the inductees were honored posthumously, with a relative or someone knowledgeable about their body of work accepting the award on their behalf. Joan Kroc’s daughter, Linda Ardell Wendfelt; Harvey Milk’s nephew, Stuart Milk, and numerous California pro gay rights politicians; Fritz Scholder’s sister, Sondra Clark; state historian and expert on Hiram Johnson Dr. Kevin Starr; and Henry J. Kaiser’s granddaughter, Carlyn Kaiser Stark represented their corresponding person of honor.

Once inside the museum’s auditorium, the people of the evening took their seats onstage.

“When I first moved to California my parents thought I had lost my mind,” Shriver said, opening the ceremony. “They thought nothing serious happened here, but I made the Hall of Fame to show everyone that amazing things are done here. This is where people can dream big and imaginations can run wild."

Shriver’s husband was next, appropriately introducing the first inductee of the evening, bodybuilding guru, Joe Weider.

“We don’t give up and we don’t give in,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger. “That is what I love about Californians. This man gave me the opportunity to come over to America when I was 21 and he is the reason I am here today."

Shriver spoke about Joan Kroc, whose philanthropy helped numerous organizations.

“Joan made sure my mother’s work with the Special Olympics would continue with her generous contributions,” Shriver said.

Each inductee got a chance to speak about another person before hanging a medal around the recipient’s neck.

Madden delivered his speech on General Yeager in his trademark rambling game-calling style.

“Only in California can a guy who doesn’t fly induct the greatest pilot ever,” said Madden. “He famously popped in a piece of Beeman’s gum before he took off when he broke the sound barrier in his jet. I mean, here’s a guy who is about to be the first person to travel faster than the speed of sound, and all he needs is a stick of gum."

Yeager himself spoke of why he did his best work in California, saying, “I flew there the most because they didn’t have airfields in West Virginia, where I was raised."

George Lucas spoke about Andy Grove, giving him his respect for his effect on modern technology.

“The cell phone, video games, computers, TVs, modern automobiles and anything else that operates with a processor, he made it all possible,” Lucas said. “Of course this means that expressions such as 'lol,' 'btw' and 'ttyl' are all partially his fault. He became successful by thinking big, creating small and bringing people together."

Burnett was honored by Stuart Milk, who spoke of the legendary entertainer’s influence on his adolescence.

“My Saturday nights as a young gay man questioning himself were brightened by her,” Milk said of Burnett. “Even though many male entertainment stars played one on TV, there was now an actual woman in their realm. She was the first queen of variety television."

Burnett closed the evening by speaking about her own experiences as a struggling actress working in a movie theater in Hollywood.

“I was a good usherette,” Burnett joked in her patented comedic delivery. “It was the manager who was nuts! But when it came time to place my star on the Walk of Fame, guess which building I decided to put it in front of?"

Live Band Karaoke at Marilyn's a great way to spend a Tuesday night

2009-11-12T08:00:01Z

If your friends have ever tried to get you to sing karaoke but you’ve been intimidated by the fear of being onstage alone, Rockstar Live Band Karaoke has eliminated your last excuse.

Every Tuesday night at Marilyn’s on K, a live band takes the stage to provide backup for anyone who’s had enough liquid courage to sign their name to the sheet and belt out a selection from a growing list of more than 200 popular songs. The band, who also performs as a cover band by the name of Johnny Favorite, is made up of:

Adam Donald: guitars and vocals
Scott George: lead guitars
Gerry Pineda: bass
Larry Shiavone: drums and vocals
David Van Dusen: keyboards and vocals

After a few warm-up tunes beginning at 9 p.m., the band finally kicks into the real set, drawing from a massive repertoire of songs from every genre of music.

Tuesday, Nov. 10 alone yielded such club singalong classics as Steve Miller Band’s “Joker,” Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” and Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” the last of which had the brave singer’s friends arm in arm on the dancefloor swinging their pints to the rhythm.

The house band isn’t afraid to branch out, either, offering Tool’s brooding “Sober” and Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb,” the former sung by a stalky 20-something with a shaved head, and latter being a new addition for the week.

Donald, the band’s unofficial frontman, raises his glass between each song, giving a mandatory “cheers” to everyone in the bar and encouraging the more timid patrons to find a favorite tune and get on the list.

“Chickening out” is highly frowned upon and results in the would-be performer’s name being unceremoniously crossed out from the list.

With no cover charge or commitment to actually participate in the festivities, Live Band Karaoke is just about the most fun you can have on an otherwise uneventful Tuesday night.

Lebowski Fans Gather at Capitol Bowl

2009-09-01T01:59:54Z

Every cult film worth its weight deserves a convention for fans to get together and celebrate their love for all things related. The Coen Brothers' classic noir spoof The Big Lebowski got its due with Lebowski Fest, which started in Louisville, Ken. in 2002 and has since gone national, sparking events in major cities across the United States.

Last year, Capitol Bowl in West Sacramento decided to get in on the action and held its first party in honor of The Dude and Walter's misadventures, and the party returned Sunday, Aug. 30.

"Two of my friends, Lori and Michael Blanchard, wanted to hold an event to raise money for a few charities they were part of," said Brandy Benten, bartender, talent booker and organizer of the first Big Lebowski Party at Capitol Bowl. "I decided it would be fun to tie that in with the movie because I'm a huge fan."

According to Benten, last year's event drew 150 people, many of whom dressed as their favorite characters from the film. The turnout this year was significantly less.

"I think the economy has something to do with it," said Capitol Bowl Manager Chris White. Despite the advertisements on the radio, in newspapers and on the Internet, only about 25 people gathered for the costume contest, bowling and trivia.

The movie itself was played on a screen inside the bar this time, as opposed to being shown on all of the televisions in the alley as it was last year."

"Everything sort of happened at once during the first one," White said. "Everybody wanted a little more structure this time, so we decided to separate the contests to make sure we could get more people involved."

The $20 admission fee got attendees two hours of bowling and entries in costume and trivia contests for a chance to win prizes such as bowling shirts, drink mixers and apparel from Capitol Bowl.

"I think the event is great because it kind of says that bowling is cool again," White said. "It kind of has this reputation of being something that only old men do, but I play in a league and I'm pretty sure everyone there is younger than me."

While this year's event didn't bring as many people as the first one, most who came were in costume. Several Dudes battled it out for best lookalike, as did two impressive Walters and many minor characters, including a dead ringer for enigmatic porn director Jackie Treehorn. In the end, the opponents made peace and laughed over a few White Russians just as the real Dude would have wanted.

"We wanted to make the event part of the actual Lebowski Fest this year, but it was too late," White said. "But next year we will make sure to be a part of the big deal. It will be much better."

The Dude would most certainly abide to that.

Local Businesses Celebrate Mexican Independence

2009-09-16T03:36:37Z

Sept. 16 marks the anniversary of Mexican Independence Day, the date in 1810 when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Mexican priest, held an early morning mass and rang the bell of his church to encourage his people to fight against Spain for their freedom. The call signaled the official beginning of Mexico's war for independence. While Hidalgo was captured and executed the next year, Mexico won the war a decade later and became its own country.

The event is often confused with Cinco de Mayo, which is more popular in America. This date commemorates the Battle of Puebla, which the Mexican army won against the French on May 5, 1862. It is mostly celebrated in the state of Puebla, and though some other regions recognize it, Mexican Independence Day is the true nationwide holiday for Mexico.

To acknowledge the most important moment in Mexican history, several Sacramento restaurants and businesses will be holding their own festivals. Many are celebrating the event all week long. Here are a few activities happening in our community to in honor of Mexico's Independence:

Popular Mexican restaurant Zocalo is hosting a celebration starting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

"We're starting the party then because the holiday falls on a weekday and we know people have to go to work the next day," manager Gabriel Rodriguez said of the night's expected liveliness.

Zocalo is also hiring a mariachi band, a band playing norteño-style music, and folklorica ballet dancers performing traditional numbers.

"There will be a professional jimador [a farmer who harvests and prepares agave plants] from Mexico who will do a demonstration on how to carve agaves and produce tequila," said Rodriguez.

The main event of the night is a tasting hosted by Herradura, which will feature the maker's top-shelf tequilas. Tickets for the event are $10. Tasters can also sample other brands from Zocalo's selection.

Ernesto's Mexican Food is celebrating from Monday through Wednesday. The downtown eatery is having drink specials and live mariachi performances on the day of the event. Margaritas made with Cazadores tequila are $7.

"We will also have girls from Tecate who will be handing out free prizes like shot glasses," said general manager Mel Barzola.

"While we are offering the drink specials those days, Wednesday is the major party with the music and dancing," said Barzola.

The restaurant has been celebrating Mexican Independence Day for almost all of its 18 years in business.

"It seems like most of the places are sort of doing their own thing and not really having one big festival together," added Barzola.

The local art scene is also joining the festivities. Private collector Larry Hoover will be opening his exhibition on Tuesday to coincide with the date. Hoover will be showing 30 masks from his his collection of 150 at La Raza Galeria Posada, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. ending on December 31.

The exhibit, called Sacred & Shared, will also host numerous programs for the public, including workshops and demonstrations by master mask makers and lectures about their craft.

The masks are from all over Mexico, demonstrating the diversity and widespread importance of the medium to the nation's culture.

Spike and Mike Test the Limits of Taste at Sac State

2009-09-26T03:38:50Z

If there's one thing "The Simpsons," "Family Guy" and "South Park" have taught us, it's that cartoons are not just for kids. While audiences in other countries have known this for quite some time, it wasn't until Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation premiered in 1990 that America received its first wake-up call in the form of shocking, perverse and all-around hilarious hand-drawn shorts.

The marathon has introduced a slew of new talent in the years following its inception, bringing a slew of depraved choice cuts to a following looking to engage in this annual reverie of irreverence.

On Thursday, the 90-minute compilation was screened free of charge to a few hundred brave viewers who congregated in Sacramento State's Union Ballroom. Of the 28 clips, here are a few that got the most favorable response from the crowd, and are thus recommended a click on their respective hyperlinks attached to the titles. Note: I couldn't find many of them, you'll just have to wait for a DVD or another tour.

"A Peach for the Teach"
By Erica Pitt

An anthropomorphic peach competes with an apple for a teacher's attention, only to react in horror to its opponent's fate. It helped that the peach had cute anime-style eyes that showed tons of expression. Drew tons of "awww's" from the audience until the unexpected ending.

"Frog"
By Chris Conforti

This is a smoothly hand-drawn story of a frog who is chased into a pool, and his Homeric journey back to the marsh he calls home. It's funny to trace how he gets from one place to another. The end essentially starts his quest over again.

"Rats on Cocaine"
By Apocalypse Cartoons

The title is literally the only thing about this cartoon that's fit for print. It pretty much says it all. Lots of drug use and other — much more disturbing — situations, all involving a male and female rat, made this early short the first shocker of the night.

"Willowz"
By Plug Ugly Films, Michael Sladek

Timelapse video was taken from an overhead camera of the animator drawing on pages of a notebook and ripping them out to tell the story. The medium was a simple pencil and crayon combination, but the message was a biting commentary on the repression of individualism. The last frames were brilliant.

"Lapsus"
By JP Studio

This was my personal favorite of the festival. By using the contrast of black and white, a nun is shown crossing over a screen cut in half by the two colors. The shapes she transforms into are unpredictable and very creative.

"Happy Tree Friends, Can't Stop Coffin"
By Mondo Media, John Evershed

Mondo Media presents another installment in the infamous series featuring cute woodland creatures meeting graphically visceral demises while a cutesy soundtrack plays in the background. This got the most cheers from the audience even from its opening music. Compared to previous episodes, this one was actually tame.

"Yellow Sticky Notes"
By Jeff Chiba Stearns

The only short that was touching instead of funny. Stearns tells a self-reflective flip book-style story using pen on its titular writing material. One segment on 9/11 brought a complete silence to the ballroom.

"Dr. Tran"
By Lone Sausage Productions

A continuation of an established series, this was hilarious as always to those who have seen the previous videos but lacked context for anyone in the audience who was new to Tran's bizarre story. Essentially, the whole series is about a young boy who is a worldwide star, but he continues to deny his popularity even when people recognize him and a disembodied movie trailer-esque voice in his head shouts random slogans championing his abilities.

"Puppet"
By Patrick Smith

Smith tells a dark tale of a man who creates a hand puppet that comes alive and attacks him, making him hit himself. The puppet gets stronger and more creative as the film goes on. It's one of the longer clips, but deservedly so.

And there you have it. Go find these and watch with anyone who has an open mind. Enjoy the much underappreciated world of animation aimed at people who grew out of Nicktoons years ago.

And if anyone who was at the showing is wondering why I didn't include "Chirpy Returns," the answer is simple: It's the single most disgusting cartoon I have ever seen. I can't even give a hint as to what it's about because every aspect of it is vile and wrong. Some people laughed, some cringed, but most just stared in disbelief. This short alone pushes the festival's description to its limits. I won't post a link, so research at your own risk.