City staffers are moving forward on the project to bring cars to K Street, saying Wednesday that the street will see its final days as a pedestrian mall in the fall. Nader Kamal, a senior projects manager for the city, said the street may be ready for cars by November. People will be able to drive between Eighth and 12th streets once the project is complete. Cars have been barred from K Street since the 1960s, when the city turned it into a pedestrian mall. “It seemed to be the trend at that time,” city Transportation Department spokeswoman Linda Tucker said, referring to pedestrian malls. Thursday, the Law and Legislation Committee — composed of four City Council members – will examin

Sacramento’s Local Roots Food Tours are a fun way to experience Sacramento’s culinary scene by sampling different restaurants and learning new recipes, like homemade pasta noodles. The tours began in February, and were created by Lisa Armstrong who is the owner and only tour guide at the moment. “My first experience on a food tour was in Seattle,” Armstrong said. “After coming home from Seattle I couldn’t stop thinking about how much fun I had and what a great idea it would be to put together a tour for a city like Sacramento.” At 11:15 a.m. on a Tuesday, Armstrong conducted her first official three hour tour with a group that included eight people. “We are hoping to attract anyone who

The economy is finally showing signs of dragging itself out of the quicksand.  This slow but steady comeback has sparked some pleasant surprises throughout downtown over the last few months. Like a chain reaction, specialty businesses are popping up in some rather unexpected places, encouraging more to follow suit, as rents are becoming more affordable and creative spaces more available. Sugar and Spice Specialty Desserts, 1201 F St., is a valuable oxygen source to the span of 12th from D through H streets. For the last six months, that area had stretches of blocks with no tenants as “for lease” signs littered the windows. Now, change has come. I pass by that location every night on my wa

Sacramento's famous little vintage diner, Jim-Denny's, is about to quietly change hands. Regulars and history buffs can breathe a sigh of relief: The buyer plans to keep the 76-year-old landmark restaurant operating right where it is, said broker Dave Herrera of Colliers International. An investor who values the diner's history is purchasing the business and the property at 816 12th St. It's expected to close escrow in the next two weeks. "He had a lot of interest because of the history that the building and business have had, and the impact it's had on all the locals," Herrera said. An agreement was reached within about a week of when the historic diner and restaurant business was mar

The only sound in the studio at 1200 S St. Tuesday morning was the scratching of pencils and charcoal on paper as a small group of artists looked past their easels to study the live nude model on the stage. S12 Studios and Patris Studio Gallery is home to a thriving artist community with an emphasis on painting life, whether it be still life or live models, said owner Patris Miller, who goes solely by Patris. “I need to draw the figure to keep my skills up,” said professional artist Philippe Gandiol. “That is the most difficult part, and there are lots of live sessions here.” Gandiol said he has been going to the studio for about three years and calls it a special place. “There’s reall

Sacramento landmark Jim-Denny’s went up for sale Monday. The Lane family has decided to sell the historic white and red diner after five years so Patsy Lane, the heart and soul behind the counter, can retire to Montana. The restaurant has served breakfasts and burgers for 76 years – first at 16th and J streets, where Jim Van Nort initially opened the restaurant. Van Nort moved the business to 816 12th St. after returning from WWII. The Lanes struggled with the decision even before the diner was featured on the Travel Channel show Man v. Food in late September. Lane just turned 60, and she's ready to take it a little easier, said her daughter, Joanna Lane, part owner along with her mothe

Jim-Denny's has gotten lots of local attention in 76 years of grilling burgers and serving breakfast. Now travelers and foodies throughout the country have a chance to learn about the little white and red diner when Jim-Denny's is featured on the Travel Channel show “Man v. Food” Wednesday night. After finishing a batch of chicken corn chowder Tuesday morning, co-owner Patsy Lane said she's a little stressed about the show and a viewing party they're throwing Wednesday night. Lane will make food for the party, to be held from 7-10 p.m. at Butch N Nellie's, 19th and I streets. Everyone in the community is invited, Lane said. "I'm nervous," she said. The show will air at 9 p.m. For the e

Tequila is to Mexico what wine is to France, and restaurateur Ernesto Delgado said he will use tequila to showcase Mexico’s rich culture when he opens Tequila Museo Mayahuel later this year. The “tequila museum” will include a restaurant serving traditional Mexican dishes and a wide array of between 50 and 100 types of tequila with a museum and gift shop reminiscent of Napa Valley wineries. “The concept is to showcase Mexican culture through tequila, its history and the process of making it,” Delgado said. With so many Mexican restaurants and tacquerias in Sacramento already, Delgado said he knew he had to come up with something unique. “My whole idea here is to create a new spin,” Del

 The light rail station at 12th and I streets closed Monday for renovation work and will reopen Sept. 7. The most noticeable improvement will be the installation of an elevated ramp to replace the old wheelchair lift, making access to the train for people in wheelchairs much more efficient and quicker, said Alane Masui, spokeswoman for Sacramento Regional Transit. “This is a major improvement for this station,” she said. Other improvements include repainting, new seating and redone landscaping, Masui said. Light rail users questioned Tuesday were in favor of the improvements. “It’s hard for me to climb up the steps onto the train,” said Danny Frias, who walks with a cane and rides lig

A San Francisco development firm hopes to start work this year on a $28 million housing and commercial project at a downtown Sacramento location. The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency has struggled with the proposed project's site for years. Domus Development wants to build commercial buildings, parking and affordable housing in the space between D and E Streets bordered by 12th Street. More affordable housing would be built at the other site of the project, between the C Street Alley and D Street at 12th Street. Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency staffers are strongly supporting the project. SHRA officials note in a March 2 report that the agency and three separate d

People commuting into the city from Highway 160 can expect to experience traffic delays on 12th Street starting next month as another phase of the city's aging water main replacement gets underway. People using 13th and 6th streets will face delays starting in two to three months when similar work begins there. The city is replacing nearly century-old pipes to prevent the kind of water main explosion that created a big sinkhole and surface flooding on Q Street in the mid-1990s, said Dan Sherry, the city's supervising engineer who manages the water design and planning section. Replacing pipes that currently run beneath 12th Street from H to Q is expected to cost $2.6 million, he said. O