Food and Music

'Reefer Madness' lights up on stage

2010-04-05T01:32:32Z

Artistic Differences theater company opened a monthlong run of the hit musical "Reefer Madness" Friday evening. According to director Christine Nicholson, the company's largest cast ever is putting on this Capitol Stage musical production about a 1936 murder trial.

"The subject is also especially worth exploring, considering the upcoming California ballot," she added.

The story is based on the original musical appeared Off-Broadway in 2001, which in turn was based on the B-movie cult classic. Nicholson said she thinks this is the area's first performance of "Reefer Madness." The musical features many of the same characters as the film: Mae, Sally, Ralph and Jack. Mary Lane and Jimmy are in love, until Jack and Mae introduce Jimmy to "evil marihuana."

Nineteen songs are sung over two acts, with a 15-minute intermission. The 17 members of the cast make the most of the small stage. Singing and dancing across the stage and up a flight of stairs takes coordination and talent. The hard work was paid off through the audience's laughter.

"The show was hilarious," said Joy Gee. "The cast did an excellent job."

The show pulled no punches. Appearances were made by rockin' Jesus, who stole the show, and President Franklin Roosevelt, sitting in a wheelchair, his legs covered by a blanket.

"The performance was super clever. I loved the set and choreography," said Marcy Goodnow. "The cast was great, very strong ensemble."

"Reefer Madness" runs through May 2, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased on their website. Capitol Stage is at 2509 R St.

Photos by Matthew Ceccato

Everyone is Irish for a day

2010-03-16T08:11:35Z

Dye the rivers green and dance in the streets, Saint Patrick's Day is here. A day when everyone is Irish and people takes to the streets for music, food and green beer. Below is a collection of restaurants and bars in Midtown and downtown offering specials on food and drinks and even hosting a block party or two.

de Vere's Irish Pub, 1521 L Street, is hosting their second annual St. Patrick's Day Block Party, closing off L Street between 15th and 16th. The street party will feature music by '80s cover band Tainted Love and the California Fire Department Pipes and Drums. Sandwiches, brats and other food will be sold to soak up the alcohol from the two outdoor bars and whiskey tent. Advance tickets are $20, $25 at the door. 21 and up. The party starts at 8 a.m.

St. Patricks R District Pub Crawl, 1400s of R Street, is hosting a pub crawl along the bars and restaurants of R street. Participating places include Shady Lady, Venue, R15 and Burgers & Brews. $4 Jameson and Guinness specials are available at every place, with pints of Guinness costing $3. Irish food is also available. The fun begins at 11 a.m. and there is no cover.

The Flame Club, 2130 16th Street, is offering their famous corned beef and cabbage to customers again this year. Prepared in-house by a trio of lovely ladies, the meal is delicious. A full bar is also available. Food starts at 12:30 pm and runs until the food is gone. Food is free, tips always appreciated.

Check out this event at Brew It Up!

Bistro33 also has specials for St. Patrick's Day.

Where pigs fly on a beer run

2010-02-25T05:33:05Z

Sacramento's Beer Week is in full swing.

Bars and restaurants all over the city are celebrating by offering special dinners, drinks and events. Mulvaney's Building and Loan hosted its Pigs-n-Pints event Tuesday evening. Guests were treated to a delicious five-course meal, family style, in the events room at the corner of 19th and L Streets.

The packed room of men and women came from all over the Sacramento region. Business professionals, civic leaders and students all sampled the beer and food.

The meal was prepared under the watchful eye of owner Patrick Mulvaney with the entire kitchen crew pitching in. The first course consisted of fresh asparagus with country ham and Vega farm eggs paired with Firestone's Double Barrel Ale.

That course was followed by Pasta Dave's Agnulotti. Pasta Dave prepares the pasta for several local restaurants from scratch. Each course was paired with a beer of a similar flavor profile. The Agnulotti was paired with Ryan's Folly by Langunita's, a "mistake beer" that is only available in Sacramento this week. Ryan, a brewer at Langunita's, accidentally added crystal malt to the beer instead of the chocolate malt the recipe called for. The end result is an incredibly complex and smooth beer.

The entrees didn't disappoint. The Cache Creek Chicken with roasted potatoes was moist and delicious. Bledsoe Pork Shoulder with creamy polenta was one of the highlights. Paired with Russian River Supplication, the sourness of the beer blended perfectly with the spicy pig.

Topping off a perfect evening, the first strawberries of the season covered Nena's sticky buns with pecan brittle. Rubicon Brewery provided their winter wheat wine that complemented the cinnamon angluse poured over the top of the buns.

Friends and strangers came together over glasses of IPA or pale ale, united by Mulvaney's love for food and beer. A perfect meal with fresh, local ingredients and delicious beer is the best way to celebrate Beer Week.

To view the schedule for the rest of the week's events and specials, visit www.sacramentobeerweek.com

Photos by Matthew Ceccato

Photo #1: The sign outside Mulvaney's B&L
Photo #2: Owner Patrick Mulvaney
Photo #3: The chicken and lamb before plating
Photo #4: Chefs plating the Agnulotti
Photo #5: The beer
Photo #6: More beer
Photo #7: The Next Door dinning room
Photo #8: The menu board
Photo #9: Hor'derves being served during cocktail hour before dinner

Enjoy a romantic weekend at the Sacramento Ballet with Sinatra and others

2010-02-13T03:02:24Z

This is not your traditional ballet. Gone are the tutus and stuffy elevator music, replaced by colorful costumes and toe-tapping music in what is called Pop Ballet.

At the Community Center Theatre on Thursday, hundreds of people strolled through the grand entrance, cocktails in hand, ready to enjoy an evening of ballet. Thursday through Sunday night, the Sacramento Ballet is performing sections from three ballets: "Nine Sinatra Songs," "Second Before the Ground" and "Frankie and Johnnie."

Each ballet ran about 30 minutes, separated by an intermission. The first ballet of the evening, "Second Before the Ground," featured African drumming. Sixteen dancers performed African dances choreographed by Trey McIntyre, with steel drums and maracas providing the beat.

"Nine Sinatra Songs" was clearly the crowd pleaser. As the night's top bill, it did not disappoint, with songs such as "My Way," "All the Way" and "Strangers in the Night."

The set was simple: car-sized disco ball projected dancing light across the walls and ceiling of the three-story theater. Couples danced to each song, clad in ballroom gowns and tuxedos. It seemed they were dancing across the clouds.

"Their movement is so beautiful," said Sal Cruz, a first-timer to the ballet. "It's all so moving for me. If someone doesn't experience this firsthand, they will never know what they are missing."

American classic "Frankie and Johnnie" closed the evening. Modeled after a 1920s folk song, this once-banned ballet was captivating. Dancers wearing orange, purple and other bright colors moved with grace. Frankie and Johnnie's tragedy came to life in the midst of spinning tables, an expansive bar and a surprise backdrop. Frankie's graceful movements and facial expressions thrilled the audience, who felt her love and fear and experienced her eventual revenge.

"I love going to the ballet," said Sacramentan Sharon Helmar. "How can you not like the colors and music? It's an important part of culture."

The ballet is hosting a special party Saturday night in honor of Valentine's Day. After the performance, ticketholders will be invited onto the stage for wine, dancing and food with the cast.

Tickets are available at the Community Center box office or the Sacramento Ballet website.

Eating for two this Valentine's day

2010-02-10T06:15:21Z

Love is in the air but more importantly, so is butter. Although Valentine's Day is fast approaching, don't worry. There is still time to book a romantic evening. Restaurants all over town have special menus to mark the occasion. Below are menu samplings from several local restaurants:

Paragary's, 1408 28th St., and Cosmo Cafe, 1000 K St., are having a special weekend prix fixe menu in honor of Valentine's Day.

Paragay's menu will include an appetizer, entree and dessert. Entree choices are petrale sole or beef short ribs braised in red wine. Cosmo also will offer three courses, with an entree choice of roasted lamb loin chop or grilled Hawaiian swordfish. After your meal at Cosmo, keep the mood going by bringing your special someone to next door to The Cosmopolitan Cabaret for "My Way," a Frank Sinatra tribute show. Both restaurants will be charging $40 per person.

Mason's, 1116 15th St., is celebrating Valentine's Day with a special menu all weekend.

Their $65 three-course prix fixe menu will include appetizers such as Dungeness crab salad or sweetbread ravioli. Four entree choices will include seared dayboat scallops and pinenut-crusted rack of lamb. Mason's will close Sunday and reopen in about a month with a new concept, menu and decor. The new restaurant will be called Cafeteria 15L. The Park will remain open.

58 Degrees and Holding Co., 1217 18th St., is offering a four-course, wine-paired menu for $75 per person.

Each course will be paired with a wine that complements the meal. Entrees choices will include diver scallops and Niman Ranch grilled filet mignon. The beef entree will be paired with a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, while the scallops will be paired with a French red wine. Lemon beignets top off the meal, paired with an Italian wine. This prix-fixe menu is available only on Valentine's Day. There are three seatings: 3:30, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., reservations required.

Capitol Stage and the Pilothouse Restaurant, Delta King, 1000 Front St., have combined for a special weekend.

All weekend, a special menu can be accompanied by tickets to the play "Fiction." The four-course dinner at THE PILOTHOUSE will include seared ahi tuna or a duck breast. There is a separate menu for a twilight seating from 4 to 5:30 pm. The menu and show are available separately. For a longer stay, the Delta King is a hotel with views of the river. Reservations are recommended. Dinner begins at $49 per person during the twilight seating, $75 after 6 pm.

Photo #1: Paragary's restaurant
Photo #2: Mason's restaurant sign
Photo #3: Mason's restaurant
Photo #4: 58 Degrees and Holding Co.

Photos courtesy of Matthew Ceccato

Black Francis performs solo, Pixies classics

2010-02-09T04:11:33Z

Imagine having the chance to see one of your favorite artists play a solo acoustic show walking distance from your apartment. Now, realize that day is Super Bowl Sunday.

This was my predicament as I walked toward the Blue Lamp, 1400 Alhambra Blvd., to see Black Francis of the Pixies. Licking the buffalo wing sauce from my fingers after putting on a jacket over my "I Love New Orleans" shirt I walked inside.

Inside Blue Lamp, the excitement was contagious. An estimated 60 people were anxiously waiting for the show to begin. Most were passing their time smoking cigarettes out front or drinking by the bar. Since I don't smoke, I went to the bar. With a beer in hand, I felt the show could begin.

Taking the stage first, opener and Orangevale-native Noah Nelson set the tone for the rest of the evening with his smooth, husky voice and strong guitar skills. Singing about life in Orangevale and drinking, Nelson accomplished what few opening acts achieve:capturing the audience's attention.

Nelson made good music, but there was no question who people were there to see.

"I came here to see Black Francis," Sacramento resident Chad Seely said. "I've been listening since the early '90s, so I'm pretty excited right now. I've never seen him before."

The young and old crowd mixed more than most shows. Older and younger people talked about the Pixies, life and beer, waiting for Francis to take the stage. The Pixies formed in 1986and have since created a large fan base.

"I like to say I came late to the party," Sacramento resident Richie Collins said. "I started listening to the Pixies only within the past 10 to 12 years. Since then I have seen (Francis) many times, even at Freeborn Hall in Davis."

Standing on the stage, sweating under the lights, Francis stood looming over his microphone. An electric guitar with frayed edges (I like to imagine the scars are from wild and crazy nights after gigs) was the only equipment he needed to entertain the crowd.

He played material from the Pixies' and Frank Black and the Catholics' catalogues, singing for over an hour. Hits such as "Where Is My Mind?" and "Monkey Gone To Heaven" drew crowd sing-alongs as Francis' voice cut through the verses like a man on a mission. His raw vocal talent is enough to be the envy of most people, but when combined with the hard strumming, the outcome creates a rare sound.

"His voice is as strong as ever," local resident Armando Rivera said. "I've seen the Pixies before and his voice sounds just as good as it did many years ago. Tonight was a great show."

Rivera took the words from me. Rocking on stage most of the night, Francis capped off a great day. As I walked home, I though about how full of chicken wings, guacamole and great music I was.

Italian food Biba style

2010-01-14T07:58:41Z

Dine Downtown is back with stomachs and wallets rejoicing. Restaurants across the grid opened their doors, welcoming patrons with tantalizing three- or four-course dinners for $30. I decided to eat at Biba Tuesday night for the first time.

As a lifelong resident of Sacramento, the aura of Biba is undeniable. From her now classic cooking show, Biba's Italian Kitchen, multiple cookbooks and award-winning cuisine, Biba Caggiano is a powerhouse in Northern Italian cuisine. With so much hype resting on the meal, I'm happy to report it didn't disappoint my high expectations.

The antipasto offered a choice of Polpette di Granchio e Cappe Sante (crab and prawn cake) or Barbabietole Arrosto (beet salad).

I chose the former. My cake was filled with chunks of crab and prawn and rested upon a bed of peppers and capers. Though delicious, the cake, when compared to the rest of the meal, was just alright.

My dining partner was extremely happy with the beet salad. Expecting a bed of greens with scattered beets, the plate was a pleasant surprise when it contained just beets and a few slivers of onions and cheese. I don't like beets, but these were delicious, marinated in olive oil.

For the second course, we both chose the Gnocchi di Ricotta con Gorgonzola. The gnocchi were especially creamy and melted in my mouth. Resting upon a Gorgonzola cheese sauce, the 10 gnocchi reminded me of why I wanted to eat atBiba. The elegance of the gnocchi combined with the simplicity of the cheese sauce created an exciting buildup before each bite. After the gnocchi is devoured, the sauce sits puddled at the bottom of the bowl begging to be soaked in bread to be enjoyed again.

If a gluttonous death awaits each diner, then the coup de gras is the third and final course. I attacked the Stinco di Angello con Cannellini e Pomodoro (oven-braised lamb shank) with joy. As the meat melted off the bone to fall to the plate, it was rescued by the delectable sauce of white beans and grilledpolenta. My partner raved about the sea bass. Though not on the website menu, this non-meat choice was a pleaser. The poached fish sat upon a bed of roasted peppers and eggplants.

Though the Dine Downtown menu technically ends there, who could leave without dessert?

After careful consideration we chose the Zuccotto Fiorentino. Hard to pronounce and a chocolate sin to eat, but worth every minute of future repentance. A rum pound cake sits on top of whipped cream, hazelnuts, almonds and chocolate chunks. The entire dome is covered in rich chocolate that protects the fragile, creamy inside.

Dine Downtown is an amazing experience that every foodie (amateur or self-described professional) should enjoy. Leading Sacramento area restaurants are offering an opportunity to enjoy food that excites all palates. Dine Downtown continues until Jan. 17. For a complete list of participating restaurants, visit their website.

X, marks the spot

2009-12-31T20:01:28Z

The crowd screamed louder with anticipation Wednesday night at Harlow's as X took the stage in front of a packed house. For a band that hasn't released a new album with original material in over four years and hasn't performed in Sacramento for over two years, the crowd surprisingly sang along to most songs.

For over an hour, including an encore, singer Exene Cervenka, singer-bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom and drummer B.J. Bonebrake performed over 15 songs from their albums including two Christmas songs, Jingle Bells and Santa Claus.

Fans from all over Sacramento came for the X show. Sacramentan Craig Russell has seen X countless times beginning in the early 1980s when he lived in Los Angeles.

"I love X," he said. "Their sound is so unique and I think Excene is hot."

He wasn't alone. Several men and women professed their love for Excene as she performed. Keeping true to her punk roots, she would smile and snicker, then break out into the next verse of the song.

Ted Lattoff has been an X fan as long as he can remember.

"Ever since I saw them in 'Decline of Western Civilization: The Punk Years,' I was hooked," Lattoff said. "It's the distinct sound of Billy Zoom's guitar. Nobody sounds like him."

X formed in Los Angeles in 1977 on the forefront of the first wave of American punk. They released their first two albums to critical acclaim but not commercial success. They released 11 more albums, all failing to break the Billboard charts. They did, however, receive radio play for singles along the way. The most successful single was called "Los Angeles" from the album of the same name. Their 1982 album, "Wild Gift", was named Rolling Stone's album of the year.

With over 30 years of live performances, X has fans of all ages. Carol and Roger Berry are longtime fans.

"We have never seen them live before," Carol Berry said. "This is a big deal for us. I remember listening to them when we were younger. We dont usually come to shows, but you can't miss this."

After the encore, the crowd was still going crazy. They kept clapping and screaming, "We want X!" These punk rock scene veterans knew how to handle the crowd— always leave them wanting more.

Photo#1: X performing live on stage at Harlow's
Photo#2: X performing live on stage at Harlow's
Photo#3: Singer/bassist John Doe
Photo#4: Legendary guitarist Billy Zoom

Photos courtesy of Matthew Ceccato

Guitars+Drums=Math Rock

2009-12-24T00:54:47Z

I don't claim to be a math genius of any kind. I'm terrible at math. So, when my editor handed me the story of a math rock show, I was understandably apprehensive. Not knowing what to expect, I slipped my calculator in my back pocket, grabbed my notepad and headed out the door to The Lion's Den on Wednesday.

Math rock is characterized as erratic and unpredictable. According to Wright, several genres are merged to create math rock: punk, blues, jazz, funk and heavy metal to name a few. The traditional rock rhythm of 4/4 is thrown out the window. Imagine hearing what is traditionally only the guitar solo, all the time. Guitarists work the fret board with insane finger dexterity to create complex sounds. Well-known math rock bands include Hella from Nevada City and the Blood Brothers from Seattle.

The Lion's Den has been operational since November 2008. It's a venue in Midtown that has it all. "We record bands here, they practice here and we even screen-print band shirts here," explained part owner of The Lion's Den and guitarist of DMV, Jeff Wright. "All shows here are free. Donations are accepted for touring bands, but the local ones play here for free because they want to relax and give back."

There is a small but loyal following at The Lion's Den. The performance space has room for a crowd of 80, packed in like sardines. Around 30 people were corralled into the basement last night for the math rock show. Three bands performed: DMV from Sacramento, The Speed of Sound in Seawater from Elk Grove, and Buff Clout from Jacksonville, Fla.

The Speed of Sound in Seawater evoked the most laughter while setting up their equipment. Drummer and Sacramento native, Fernando Oliva engaged in witty banter with the crowd. He performed a mock "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" as audience members picked the characters and scenes. Oliva would enacted a 2-minute improv as he assembled his drum kit.

The Speed of Sound in Seawater and Buff Clout put on amazing shows. It turns out math rock has nothing to do with actual math. No one sings about equations or long division. The math is in the arrangement.

"I would call it complicated guitar playing mixed with above-average drumming," Wright said. "In a musical sense, we try to put together trigonometry or calculus problems for the ear of the listener."

"Artists are more laid back and can have a fun time," said attendee Ben Whiacek as he danced in a group. "I love coming here. No one judges you. Dance all you want, how you want."

Hopefully no one noticed my calculator.

New Years Eve Show at The Lion's Den
Dec. 31, 8 p.m.
Featuring Sacramento bands Sea of Bees, Chelsea Wolfe, Early and Often
The show is Free, donations accepted

Photos courtesy of Michael A. Ramirez

Photo#1: Jeff Wright
Photo#2: The Speed of Sound in Seawater
Photo#3: The stage
Photo#4: The Speed of Sound in Seawater
Photo#5: People waiting for the next show