It was a beer can that gave cold case detectives the evidence they needed to make an arrest in a 1987 homicide on Friday. Detective Peter Willover spends his time poring over homicide and rape crimes committed before DNA became a routine part of police work. He is a reserve officer who previously spent 40 years as a detective with the Sacramento Police Department. “I’ve probably reviewed close to 100 cases,” he said Wednesday. “We focus on cases that may provide DNA evidence.” One of those cases was the 1987 stabbing death of 52-year-old Richard Schultz in an alley near 21st and K streets. At the time, homicide detectives had a vague description of a man who had allegedly stabbed Schul

Lily Ann Lam grew up in two worlds. Her Chinese parents instilled traditional Eastern values in her, while her upbringing in Sacramento exposed her to American culture. She said the mix comes together in her Midtown salon – Hanami, which opened March 1. Hanami (HAH-nah-me) is a Japanese word that describes the beauty of cherry blossoms, and Lam said it was a natural fit for a salon. “The cherry blossoms are the result of a process,” she said. “They’re beautiful for two weeks ... and that’s like hair. It goes through a process, and then it’s beautiful for a couple of weeks.” Hanami is the first salon for Lam, who has been styling hair professionally for three years. Before that, she put

What is one to expect when going to a place called a gastropub? Typically, a gastropub concentrates on quality food while still providing a pub-like atmosphere, but critics say it takes away from the traditional pub feel. This is a larger concept to brand your restaurant with, and when John Gurnee came to town, that's what he was looking to create. A recent post by Girls on the Grid depicting how wonderful the Kupros Bistro is created a far different image in my mind than what I experienced. I sat down at the bar with my food friends, including an experienced fromager, drinkers and a sous chef at one of the Sacramento area’s leading restaurants. We found a quiet neighborhood bar wi

A gastropub called Kupros Bistro is expected to open next month in a 100-year-old Midtown house that underwent a costly renovation. Owners Stephen and Sharon Tokuhama are opening a restaurant and bar after nearly rebuilding the formerly purple house that held a costume shop, Cheap Thrills, for 40 years at 1217 21st St. The remodel cost more than $750,000 because the building went through a structural retrofit, restoration and a restaurant buildout. The business got its liquor license from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Tuesday. Building inspections are complete. The couple hopes to open Saturday, Aug. 14, once final health and fire inspections are held, which may

A couple with Northern Indian roots have opened Bombay Bar & Grill, featuring food from their homeland. Inside, the back of a 16-foot turquoise marble bar is shaped like the ancient gates to Bombay. Nekhbir "Nek" Bhandal, 48, and his 40-year-old wife, Satwinder, said they hope their restaurant serves as a gateway to the world of Nepali and northern Indian food. The restaurant opened in April at 1315 21st St. The busy Midtown location was the right choice for their latest restaurant, with its high visibility and plenty of nearby residents, said the couple, who also own Katmandu Kitchen in Davis. "We like this area," Nek Bhandal said Friday as he sat near the bar with his wife. "It has ni

From the Sacramento Police Department: The Sacramento Police Department will conduct a sobriety and drivers license checkpoint on Friday, May 29, 2009, at 21st Street and Broadway. It will begin at 9:00 p.m. and run for 4-6 hours. Traffic flowing through the checkpoint will be contacted by uniformed officers, who will be checking for alcohol and/or drug-impaired drivers. Officers will also check to make sure all drivers have a valid driver’s license. The purpose of the checkpoint is to promote public safety; increase awareness of the dangers associated with drinking and driving, and serves as a deterrent to potential impaired and unlicensed drivers. Funding for this program was provide