The R Street streetscape improvement project that broke ground in 2010 finished in the fall, and several other changes to the R Street corridor signal it as an up-and-coming district heading into 2012, with more improvements on the way. Improvements to R Street between 10th and 13th streets came in at less than the allotted funding, allowing the city to add a few more amenities, including 13 more benches for pedestrians. Other improvements included creating uniform sidewalks, new pavement and new streetlights. Rail lines were left in place in a nod to the area’s history. The construction stayed on schedule, coming to a close in the fall. Completion of the first phase is just one step i

Sacramento International Airport's nearly $1.1 billion Central Terminal B complex is expected to open this fall – months earlier than originally scheduled. When construction began in 2008, the terminal project was expected to cost $1.27 billion and was scheduled to open in spring of 2012. The project will open months ahead of that because of changes in construction plans due to the recession. Plans for a hotel and new parking garage were dropped to save money. A new garage will be built once there is enough need. Other cost savings were found during a simultaneous design and construction phase, , airport spokeswoman Gina Swankie said. The construction schedule was later revised to refle

De Vere’s Irish Pub, a locally owned downtown business founded in the midst of the recession, will open its second location at the end of the summer in the space that was formerly the home of Soga’s in Davis. “We’re excited,” said co-owner Simon de Vere White. “We’ve been eying Davis for a long time.” The new space, at 217 E St. in downtown Davis, is 4,800 square feet, about 1,000 square feet bigger than the Sacramento pub. His brother, co-owner Henry de Vere White, said the expansion is a risk, but one he hopes will prove as successful as the current location on 15th and L streets in Sacramento. “I think we filled a niche here in Sacramento," Simon de Vere White said, adding that the

Sacramento usually sees large crowds on Second Saturday. But Wednesday, it looked more like Dublin as thousands of green-clad Sacramentans attended block parties, drank green beer and celebrated everything even remotely Irish. The following is a photo essay, depicting some of the Wednesday evening festivities. The first seven photos are from the de Vere's St. Patrick's Day Block Party. Outside the de Vere's St. Patrick's Day Block Party on L Street, this dog dressed for the occasion in a green sweater. The party drew thousands of people to the 1500s block of L Street. Kings mascot Slamson showed up to the block party on stilts and showed off his shamrock-covered blazer. He was a crowd p

R Street can thank Philippe Masoud and Derar Zawaydeh for contributing to the new blast of life that has been pumped into it in recent days. After successfully opening Burgers and Brew on the corridor, the business partners opened frozen yogurt spot Top This late last week. The pair are also the owners of Sacramento's Crepeville and the first Burgers and Brew in Davis, widely popular among the area's college students. They have been behind similar eat-and-drink places in San Francisco as well but have sold them to members of their family. The two businesses are right next door to each other, which Masoud explains is an advantage. There is a walkway between the two space, and if needed w

In the alphabet soup of bars and restaurants to choose from in Midtown, a lot more R's will be popping up. Or at least there will be a lot more to choose from on R Street. Magpie Catering, which is owned by Ed Roehr and Janelle Inouye, had its grand opening last Thursday, April 2. Swing in for a sandwich or salad. The daily menu for Friday, April 3 (pictured above), featured Niman ham and camembert cheese on ciabatta, a Petaluma chicken salad sandwich on a baguette with roasted peppers and paprika, black rice and grilled asparagus – among many other choices. Magpie is open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The time has finally come for the opening of The Shady Lady saloon

The corner of R and 15th Streets will no longer be a stop for just bar-hoppers and club-goers. Come early March, Philippe Masoud, owner of Crepeville, will open the second Burgers and Brew in Northern California. The first Burgers and Brew opened in Davis about a year ago. Its success in Davis has created consistently long lines, which concerned Masoud. He said it was good for people walking by to see that it was always crowded at the restaurant, but that it was not good for those standing in line waiting for a table. The Davis location expanded the building to allow for more tables, but the small fix did not alleviate the crowding. Fortunately, the Sacramento location has more space,