Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "business"

Hearts for the Arts

2012-02-09T17:43:04Z

Beating human hearts and artistically painted hearts in all forms filled the Alex Bult Gallery to raise funds to help kick off the Any Given Child program.

Sacramento was chosen by the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC as the very first site in the country to pilot the Any Given Child program which seeks to ensure that every child in every K-8 school has access to quality arts experiences.

17 pieces were auctioned off by David Soborn Auctions. A silent auction followed.

According to their FaceBook page this morning "Hearts for the Arts was a smashing success last night! Amazing art, music, food and a live art auction with lots of creative friends all partying together - and supporting Any Given Child, a very worthy cause."

Event photos are after artists and sponsor recognition.

These artists and sponsors, according to this website, made it possible:

Artists

Chloe Evans

Christian Cinder, cinderartist.blogspot.com
Chris Cabaldon, cityofwestsacramento.org
David Lowe, kvie.org
Daniel Mendoza, mendomas.com
Deidre Daughtry, artbydeidre.com
Gabrielle Summers
Gayle Rappaport-Weiland, grappaport.com
Heather Olson
James Cooper, seeart.org
Janet S Regan, regan3.com
Jared Konopitski, jaredkonopitski.com
Jill Allyn Stafford, jillallynstafford.com
Joe Strickland, joestrickland.com
Judith Monroe, judithmonroe.com
Kanika Marshall, KanikaMarshall.com
Kelly O'Connell
Kelly O'Neill
Kristin Marshall, gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com
Mayor Kevin Johnson, kevinjohnson.com
Lani Woods, LaniWoods.com
Maren Conrad, marenconrad.com
Milton Bowens, milton510.com
Rachel Smiley, smileyphotography.net
Raphael Delgado, artbyraphael.com
Shane Grammer, sgstudiosinc.com
Tanya Bermudez, BermudezArts.com
Tim Collom, timcollom.com
Tony Natsoulas, tonynatsoulas.com
Trisha Rhomberg, trisharhomberg.tumblr.com
Micah Crandall-Bear, micahcrandallbear.com
Patris Miller, artist-patris.com
Pattie Moreno, hot1035.com
Steve Hamm, urban-now.com

Sponsors

Trenton Bahr Fine Portraiture
Sacramento365.com
Advantage Presentations
Radio Hot 103.5
International Academy of Design & Technology
In Full Bloom by MJL
Wes Davis Imaging
DBI Beverage Distributors
Hot Italian
Sacramento Region Community Foundation
University Art
Hilton San Francisco
Ruhstaller Beer
Sweet Bohemian Life
Nugget Markets
Michelle Alexander
Clemon Charles
Deborah Edward
Tracy Saville
Jill Allyn Stafford
Michelle Wong

Here are some photos from the event:

Major League Baseball returns to Sacramento in March

2012-02-09T01:10:39Z

Before the Sacramento River Cats begin the 2012 season in defense of their 10th division title in 12 years, one of the most successful American professional sports franchises will host one of Major League Baseball's most storied champions.

For the first time in half a decade Major League Baseball will be played in Sacramento as the River Cats host their parent affiliate Oakland Athletics on March 31, 2012. Following a successful 2011 season, in which Sacramento won its 10th Pacific Coast League South Division title, the River Cats kick off the 2012 season against some familiar faces who have found success at the Major League level.

The River Cats will host the four-time World Series champion Oakland A's for a fifth time – the first four were sellouts – at Raley Field in West Sacramento.

Since moving to Sacramento in 2000, the River Cats have been one of Minor League Baseball's most successful franchises – winning two Triple-A Championships (2007, 2008), four PCL Championships (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008) and drawing more fans than any other Minor League team over the past 12 seasons.

The roster of former Sacramento River Cats who had successful careers with the A's and the rest of Major League Baseball is an elite one.

Sacramento has graduated more than 200 players to the Majors, including 2002 Cy Young Award Winner Barry Zito, 2002 American League Rookie of the Year Eric Hinske and Dallas Braden, who famously pitched the 19th perfect game in MLB history for the A's on May 9, 2010.Braden, pitcher Brett Anderson, shortstop Cliff Pennington, catcher Kurt Suzuki and second baseman Jemile Weeks are among current A’s players who passed through Raley Field.

The March 31 exhibition game will be the first time a Major League team has played in Sacramento since the River Cats last hosted the A's in 2007. In 12 years, Raley Field has hosted eight Major League games – four between the River Cats and A's (2001, 2003, 2006, 2007), twice against the San Diego Padres in 2001 and the Colorado Rockies in 2004.

The A's will hit the bags at Raley Field against the River Cats just two days after a five-game tour through Japan.

For more information visit www.RiverCats.com/Oakland

Disclosure: Brett Ransford is a Media Relations intern with the Sacramento River Cats.

Council: Parking lease issue won't reach June ballot

2012-02-08T22:01:48Z

The push to put a city parking lease to a vote fell flat Tuesday as the City Council rejected a motion to put the question on the June ballot.

It was City Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy who first suggested in November that the voters should have a say in whether the city leases its parking inventory to an outside company.

She conducted a city-wide poll on her website in October, which indicated that
70 percent of respondents favored a public vote on a potential 50-year lease, according to Sheedy.

“The (arena) plan hinges on leasing the city’s parking for 50 years,” Sheedy said Tuesday. “I think such a massive public investment warrants a public vote.”

Still, after almost an hour of public discussion, the council voted 5-4 Tuesday not to place the issue on the ballot.

Sheedy and Council members Kevin McCarty, Darrell Fong and Bonnie Pannell voted in favor of the measure.

Council members Angelique Ashby, Steve Cohn, Rob Fong and Jay Schenirer and Mayor Kevin Johnson voted against it.

The City Council is pursuing the possibility of leasing the city’s parking assets as part of a financing plan for a new entertainment and sports complex.

Opponents of a public vote on the issue said a ballot measure would occur after the March 1 deadline for the city to have a solid arena plan – without one, Sacramento Kings’ owners have threatened to relocate the team.

“We owe the NBA an answer by March. The election is in June. In the effort of being timely, I don’t think we should send it to ballot,” Ashby said.

Another point of opposition was the message a possible vote would send to the 13 companies that have expressed interest in leasing the city’s parking inventory.

“If the leasing of parking assets is put on the ballot it would send a signal to the NBA, AEG, and to the business community across the country that this council is indecisive and it would sabotage efforts to this point,” said Sacramento resident James Battle during public comment.

“It’s impossible to separate this issue from the impact of the vote,” City Councilman Steve Cohn said. “Let’s be clear: it would kill the arena deal in its tracks. If that’s what you want to do, then vote for it.”

Johnson said the list of 13 interested lessees would be reviewed and narrowed down to three or four before a financing agreement would be created.

“The goal is to have that term sheet in place before the March 1 deadline,” Johnson said at his weekly press conference Tuesday.

“We are doing all we can to make that happen,” he said.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Trash Film Orgy fundraising event

2012-02-08T07:30:37Z

Sacramento’s Trash Film Orgy Productions (TFO) is preparing to make a new feature film this spring. In an effort to bring the film to the big screen, TFO will hold a kickoff fundraising event this Friday, February 10 at Sacramento’s On the Y.

TFO is a Sacramento-based film production company that specializes in creating high quality, low budget horror films. TFP also produces the annual Trash Film Orgy Midnight Movie Film Festival. The Crest Theatre has been home to the event since 2001.

Friday’s Super-Special Fundraiser Show will feature a special screening of TFO’s hit, “Monster from Bikini Beach.” The film, shot in Sacramento, includes clips of several Sacramento landmarks.

The 2008 film is an entertaining carnage and mayhem B-movie meant for an over 21 crowd. The movie combines B-movie elements of other beach party films such as “Beach Blanket Bingo,” 1950’s monster movies, slasher type elements and some awesome humor to bring a truly amusing local indie film to the screen.

The monster lives in the river banks and caves of Camaroville and comes out in search of bikini-clad beauties. Elsewhere in Camaroville, a nightclub go-go contest takes place, a crooked cop and mobsters try to fix a drug deal gone wrong while a local news team looks into the current crime wave.

TFO Productions continues to bring fun events to various Sacramento sites giving audiences a chance to participate in different contests and entertainment. The TFO team of Darin Wood, Christy Savage and Amy Slockbower understand what local fans want and strive to bring that type of entertainment to town. TFO is also commonly credited with inventing the ever-growing Zombie Walk in 2001.

The Pyronauts were featured in the movie and will be playing live music on Friday night. A go-go dance-a-thon will be part of the evening’s fun events as well. As usual, when a TFO event is brought to the Sacramento stage, audience participation will be encouraged.

The go-go dance-a-thon will give participants a chance to win some exciting prizes and a go-go queen will be crowned.

Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show begins at 9. Tickets are $10 and the event is for the 21 and over crowd. Monster drink specials will be featured and will include live drinking games and Bikini Beach Bingo. Proceeds from the event will go towards TFO’s new movie production.

Come to On the Y, located at 670 Fulton Avenue, and partake in the screening of Monster from Bikini Beach. Enjoy an evening of fun, dance, live music and entertainment while supporting TFO’s next film.

Family Circus workshops

2012-02-08T05:09:00Z

On Sunday morning at the University of California, Davis Mondavi Center, Kevin O’Connor, Slater Penney, Christine Germain and Emily Leap led two free workshops on rope climbing, juggling, building human pyramids and using the trapeze. Each 90-minute workshop accommodated 60 very lucky participants ranging from age 4 to adult. More than 300 people could not be accommodated.

Kevin O’Connor, an MFA choreography candidate and graduate of the National Circus School of Montreal, was the event’s organizer. O’Connor invited three other trained professionals to lead the four simultaneous workshops sponsored by the new UC Davis Institute for Exploration in Theatre, Dance and Performance.

The morning workshop buzzed with energy from participants, and a passion for teaching was exhibited by Slater Penney, an educator in physical theater and Emmy winner who opened the event and led the group through a series of warm-ups that included stretches for legs, torso and hands.

Other exercises included spatial awareness activities that required each participant to find a person to follow and to keep that person on their right. The catch here was not to tell the other person. Penney then directed the participants to locate another person and keep that person on the left. The key was to keep the original person to the right and add the second person.

After warming up and learning more about spatial awareness, Penney broke the group into three smaller groups of about 20 participants each for the first of three rotations of juggling, human pyramid building and aerialist work. Each group spent time in each of the three areas. The aerialist work was divided between rope climbing and trapeze work.

Penney led the group in juggling colored scarves and tennis balls. Scarves were wadded and dropped and participants were asked to perform while the scarf was floating to the ground. A waving of arms, dance moves and jumping took place before the pink, blue, orange, green and yellow scarves landed. Scarves were tossed high and caught on heads and juggled before participants were given tennis balls – first one, then two.

Penney refers to himself as a “Jack of all trades” and said that he loves teaching. His passion for teaching and for the circus arts shone as bright as his orange shirt. He leads programs for children from 5-10 years old at the International House in Davis.

The group next to Penney, led by Christine Germain, a dancer and an MFA student, worked on partnering skills and trust as they held hands and leaned back or placed themselves back to back and moved from standing to a squatting position and back. Germain told the group as she led them through the building of a small human pyramid that the lizard becomes the rock. Weight distribution was discussed, and no one fell over during the morning workshop.

Along the back wall, O’Connor led the third group through rope climbing. Perhaps the only disappointed participant was Katrina Hernes, an avid tree climber and gymnast, who was told that she would not be permitted to climb to the top of the ropes for safety reasons.

Rope climbers also worked with aerialist and dancer, Emily Leap, on the trapeze where she first demonstrated a spin and then guided participants, holding firmly to the small children.

Each group worked for approximately 20 minutes with each leader, and the time seemed too short for most when the 60 participants were reassembled for cool-down exercises led by O’Connor.

“As part of my upcoming MFA thesis presentation,” said O’Connor as he explained the reason for the workshops, “I wanted to activate the Mondavi space with a whole cross range of the surrounding Davis community. I wanted to bring people into the space to play, learn, meet each other and share ideas. I think more of these types of workshops could happen here so that the Mondavi center has a felt sense of being a creative space and force in the community.”

O’Connor, with collaborator Leap, will present dis/connect, a show that explores the idea of place, at the Mondavi Center for two weekends beginning February 16. The show will feature four additional dancer/circus artists and three vocalists and will be, according to O’Connor, “an interactive event that will move between a performance and audience participation,” with a soundscape featuring live vocalists.

Many attendees and several workshop leaders expressed a desire for more workshops like those presented Sunday where children and adults, and friends and family came together to learn more about themselves, about circus acts, and to enjoy themselves.

Nonprofit organization reaches fundraising goal

2012-02-08T02:07:02Z

La Raza Galería Posada, a local nonprofit Latino arts organization, succeeded in reaching its fundraising goals to stay open after Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna helped fill the funding gap with a music event Saturday.

In November, the center announced that it needed to raise $25,000 or face closure.

“We are extremely grateful for Supervisor Serna for his beyond-the-call-of-duty support,” said Marie Acosta, executive director of La Raza Galería Posada. “It’s very rare when an elected official will go out of their way and walk the talk for a nonprofit in need of funding.”

Funding sources for the art gallery and cultural center, located at 1022-1024 22nd St., have been in steady decline since 2005, threatening the existence of the 40-year-old center.

Saturday’s event, titled “Phil Serna Music on a Mission,” raised $30,000, which was split between La Raza Galería Posada, Cottage Housing, Women Escaping a Violent Environment and Roberts Family Development Center, according to a Monday press release.

While the extra push was needed over the past year, Acosta said Tuesday that there are several new funding sources opening up for the center this year, and the organization will apply for funding from places such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Sierra Health Foundation, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation.

“We are very hopeful that we will be able to receive funding from those sources, but we will always need support from the community, and now more than ever,” Acosta said.

New venue The Cave to host live music, comedy, other events

2012-02-08T02:04:31Z

The Cave is a new music and multi-use venue coming to Stockton Boulevard, moving in next door to the Colonial Theatre.

Formerly a shoe store, The Cave is currently used to hold wrestling events put on by Total Wrestling Federation, and starting Feb. 24, it will be opened to live music, standup comedy, art exhibits and other uses, said Mike Flanagan, who books the venue.

“We want this to be a public space where people can come and see a show, hear some comedy or see an art exhibition,” he said. “We have no intention of getting a liquor license, because we want this to be an all-ages place.”

Flanagan, who owns Bad Current Records and has been involved with the local music scene, said he wants to make the roughly 1,000-square-foot space available to neighborhood kids after school as well.

“I have a friend who refurbishes old arcade games, so we could have some of those, and they could come in here and play them for basically free, and they would have a place to go instead of getting in fights and that kind of thing,” he said.

Flanagan said keeping the cover charge down between $5 and $10 is key, and he wants to provide another venue for local musicians at a low cost. A tentative rental rate of $200 for a day is planned to make it affordable for local acts to get exposure.

The grand opening party Feb. 24 will include music from four musical acts including local singer Autumn Sky, two local comedians and photography exhibits from local photographers. For more information on the event, click here.

While the venue is still waiting on final inspections, Flanagan said he hopes to be able to fit about 100 people into the space in addition to the bands and other performers, who will be on a raised stage.

Total Wrestling Federation will continue to hold training and events at the space, with a removable wrestling rink brought in when the space is not being used for other events.

“I’m excited to be able to expand it,” said TWF owner Jake Sherman. “It’s going to be great to get live music in here, and I really think we can do a lot with the space.”

Flanagan said he wants to be able to offer light refreshments at the place, but it does not have a kitchen or food preparation facilities. Working with local food trucks to provide eats and drinks on event nights is something he said he wants to pursue.

A recent talk at Time Tested Books about the state of Sacramento’s music scene touched on the need for more venues, and while Flanagan said that most agree more medium venues are needed, he hopes to be able to expand the possibilities for local artists and those interested in seeing music shows in more intimate settings.

For more information about The Cave, visit the Facebook page.

The Cave is located at 3512 Stockton Blvd. Shows are anticipated to be held from 8 p.m. - midnight. For booking information, email Flanagan at indiehelpsindie@gmail.com.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Lube & Roses at Marilyn's

2012-02-07T17:01:51Z

Recently I made my first visit to Marilyn's on K St. The show was Lube & Roses: A Night of Bare Bellies and Drag, a fundraiser for The Gender Health Center (GHC) in Sacramento.

Information about The Gender Health Center follows the photos of the fundraising evening.

The show ran the gamut from silly to raunchy:

"GHC is a non-profit agency that provides counseling/therapy services to anyone who expresses the need, as well as anyone who self- identifies or is perceived, to be gender variant," Ben Hudson explains.

Their services are accessible to the most underserved communities, including the LGBTQQI ( Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Intersex) community and focusing on the "T" or transgender.

Co-founders Ben and Rachel Hudson are longtime Sacramento residents.

Rachael, Operations Manager, is a transwoman who has lived in the Sacramento area since 1978. In 1999 she began her search for others like her and discovered the Sacramento Gender Association (SGA).

Ben, Executive Director, has served on the board of the SGA and is co-founder of the Sacramento Transgender Coalition and TransFamilies Sacramento.

Clinical Director David Nylund is an expert on transgender mental health care and is a full-standing member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), Hudson explains.

Supporting gender identity transitions are at the heart of their core services.

"Counseling staff can also support family members and friends of transgender men and women," Rachael said.

The transition of Chaz (Chastity) Bono has offered the public a peek into the life of a transgender person.

Willie's Burgers launches food truck

2012-02-07T08:04:11Z

The locally owned Willie’s Burgers plans to launch a food truck – the Willie Wagon – in Sacramento this week, carrying burgers, chili burgers and fries.

“We’ve always thought a food truck was a good way to get the product and what we do out to people,” said Bill Taylor, owner of Willie’s Burgers. “I’d started developing the idea of a Willie Wagon since 1995, but it’s been in the back of my mind.”

Willie’s Burgers opened at 16th and Broadway in 1991, and a second location opened in Carmichael in 2004. Now, taking the burgers to offices and events with the food truck is proving a good addition to the business, Taylor said Friday.

“It’s been terrific,” he said. “We follow basically the same menu we have downtown, and we will be bringing in shakes once we get the milkshake machine.”

The original idea behind Willie’s Burgers was to bring some of the burger culture from Los Angeles to Sacramento, including staying open late, Taylor said. Currently, Sacramento’s mobile food ordinance requires the trucks to finish serving at 6 p.m., but it is moving to 8 p.m. in April, and Taylor said getting the laws changed is a priority.

“Having a downtown food truck roundup would bring more people downtown, and to the streets, and that would make the streets safer,” he said.

Another benefit to the food trucks, he added, includes giving some local chefs the chance to start small with a cheaper venture to showcase their creations – making a name for themselves without having to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

Prices at the Willie Wagon will be between $7 and $10 for a burger, drink and fries, and a few dollars more with a milkshake or chili fries.

Managing the food truck is J.J. Wakamiya, who said Monday that he wants to use the truck to encourage more people to explore the diverse areas of Sacramento.

“I want to encourage people to get out and try new foods and look for new things,” he said.

Final inspections with the city of Sacramento were scheduled for Tuesday morning, and Wakamiya said he planned to start running a downtown route this week.

Currently, the truck is licensed to operate in Rancho Cordova and Sacramento County.

“We’ve done a few events, like a rugby tournament and some office gatherings in Rancho Cordova,” he said. “We’d like to do more events like SactoMoFo 4 on April 21.”

He said that while the main goal is to sell burgers and spread the Willie’s Burgers name, the truck is part of a campaign to change the controversial ordinance that constricts food trucks to operating for only 30 minutes at a time within city limits.

“We want to support the mobile food industry and enhance it from a generic taco truck or roach coach to a branded truck with specialized menu,” he said.

To find out where the Willie Wagon will be, check the truck’s Facebook page.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

The Red Rabbit opens on J Street

2012-02-07T01:47:39Z

The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar is now open in the space that used to hold Red Lotus in Midtown, and a grand opening is scheduled for Friday.

The restaurant and bar aims to bring affordable food and drinks with an international flair to the block and see the same successes that other businesses – Harlow’s, BarWest Burgers & Wings and Centro Cocina Mexicana – have seen, said co-owners Matt Nurge and John Bays.

“We’re going with the globally inspired concept,” said Bays, who is the restaurant’s chef. “We’ve got a little Vietnamese, a little American – a lot of braising going on, and we’ve got some Hawaiian.”

An assortment of cheeses – including Spanish Manchego – will be on the menu, and while those come from overseas, much of the rest of the food is locally sourced.

“We try to get everything from local suppliers whenever we can,” Bays said.

Bays said the food prices are still being tweaked, but he plans on offering salads for around $5 - $7, and entrées range from around $11 - $15, with appetizers falling in between.

The menu itself is still being finalized, but some items, such as the “Bastard Banh Mi” – a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich with lemon chicken, pickled vegetables and chillies on grilled bread – are essentially finalized.

Vegetarian items are included as well, and Bays said it was important to build them from scratch, not just have them as an afterthought.

“These are vegetarian and vegan meals,” he said. “They’re more than just a side of vegetables.”

One of the vegetarian items is the “Earth Burger,” which has beans, rice, almonds, carrots, zucchini, onions and a goat cheese spread on an egg bun.

Brunch – including a Bloody Mary bar – will be held Saturdays and Sundays starting Feb. 18.

Nurge said house cocktails will be about $7, and well drinks such as a gin and tonic will be $4.

Currently, the restaurant is waiting on its liquor license, but all draft beers will be California brews.

“The ABC doesn’t tell businesses when they will get their licenses, but we’re hoping it’s soon,” he said.

“Everything we’re doing is simplified, but with high-quality ingredients,” Nurge said.

The theme of simplification is carried through with the décor of the restaurant, which is markedly different from Red Lotus, but those familiar with the former business will notice some of the same features, including the circular bar inside the doorway and the back patio.

“We were looking at the space, and a lot of it was really nice,” Nurge said. “On the patio, we took out the bamboo, and we really liked what we had left.”

The back patio is an all-weather patio with a roof, gas heaters for the winter and water misters for the summer. A front patio also runs along J Street, and Nurge said the whole restaurant can hold about 150 people comfortably.

One facet of the restaurant that pertains more to the approximately 30 employees than customers is a monetary incentive. A percentage of the restaurant’s profits will be doled out to the workers each quarter, and they will share in the profitability of the business.

“We open the books to them, and they can see exactly how we’re doing financially,” Nurge said. “It’s absolutely transparent, and we want them to feel like they’re more than just workers. We want them to feel like they’re a part of our success, because they are.”

The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar is located at 2718 J St. It is scheduled to be open from 11 a.m. - midnight Sunday through Thursday, until 2 a.m. on weekends, Nurge said. When brunch begins later this month, the restaurant will open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. For now until Thursday, it will open at 6 p.m., and then will follow normal business hours.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Intro to Photojournalism Workshop Feb. 21

2012-02-07T01:08:27Z

Photographs are an important part of storytelling and can often tell a story on their own. After a brief workshop hiatus, our first Sacramento Press workshop for 2012 will be on photojournalism. (The Journalism Open workshop wasn't a typical workshop for us.)

John Hernandez will teach an introductory photojournalism workshop from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Sacramento Press office called "Introduction to Photojournalism."

Hernandez is a Sacramento-based photographer. He has professional experience in wedding, portrait and social documentary photography as well as various multimedia platforms, including audio slideshows. He has freelanced for ABS-CBN, a Filipino American news channel, and interned at The Sacramento Press. He has a journalism degree and Asian American studies minor from San Francisco State University.

He will discuss photojournalism – what it is and what it isn’t. Hernandez will also talk about equipment, tips for shooting and demonstrate how to make an audio slideshow.

Our office is located at 431 I St., Suite 107, in the Sacramento Valley Station station. We are in the same building complex as Starbucks.

We recommend you find parking on the street, bike or take light rail, as the Amtrak parking lot charges, and we cannot cover the cost of parking.

To RSVP, email workshops@sacramentopress.com. If you RSVP and decide later not to attend, please send us an email to notify us that you will not be coming so we can have an accurate head count.

Thanks, and we hope to see you here!

Sacramento's Gone to the Veggies

2012-02-06T22:45:52Z

On Saturday, the third annual Sacramento VegFest was held at the Artisan Building on Del Paso Boulevard.

Hundreds of visitors came to explore the world of vegetarian and vegan lifestyle alternatives, to check out new products and ideas, and to attend presentations by some top chefs in the healthy food movement.

It was a happy crowd wending their way through the booths and displays on a sunny afternoon. Both guests and vendors were eager to share their enthusiasm for all things vegetarian.

The Sacramento Vegan Society had an information booth. So did the Sacramento Vegetarian Society, and representatives from both groups were careful to emphasize their particular focus, cautioning us not to confuse one with the other.

They are not rivals, or competitors; they are certainly friendly, recognizing that both groups are promoting a more healthful way of eating. But there are philosophical and practical differences between vegans and vegetarians, and the distinctions are important to both groups.

Vegans are ultra-vegetarians. They do not eat any animal products at all, including eggs, honey, or milk. Many vegans also eschew any other use of animal products, including leather, animal fat used in soaps or cleaning agents, or shampoos which include egg solids.

Vegetarians may be vegans, but in general they do not consume flesh or fowl—no fish, burgers, or chicken. But many vegetarians are likely to include eggs and dairy in their diets on a regular basis.

Mary Rodgers, a board member of the Sacramento Vegetarian Society, was pleased to point out that her organization is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. “We work with the Grange, which is a wonderful organization. We were the first vegetarian advocacy grange in the nation.”

Both vegan and vegetarian options were well represented in the displays and vendor offerings at the VegFest. In fact, one very popular station, sponsored by caterer Mama Kim Cooks, offered tasty samples of foods prepared both ways: the crostini with pistachio-crusted goat cheese topped with an heirloom red beet salsa was also available without the cheese—and was absolutely delicious either way. Their red kuri squash soup was delightful plain, yet when topped with frothy maple cream, it was heavenly.

Not all of the displays offered food. Michelle McCarty operates Wonder Wormin’ Vermicomposting systems, promoting the use of compact, efficient home composting systems which use the services of red wiggler worms to turn your household scraps into high-potency plant food.

Jillena Hernandez operates Eat Well, Live Free, a vegetarian food blog, and was handing out some very tasty chocolate oatmeal cookies from her mother-in-law’s recipe. “Our blog hopes to inspire people to eat more meatless meals and to support businesses who cater to our positive food choices,” Hernandez said.

V-Dog creates and sells healthy vegetarian dogfood. Never Felt Better is a midtown Sacramento store which sells grocieries, cookbooks, and other products in support of the vegan lifestyle.

The event was a success with both vendors and visitors. Said Lisa Chapman-Sorci, a teacher of mindfulness meditation , “People are exploring more than just the practice of vegetarian eating, it’s about the way you think about your food and your body. People here are very open, very curious and willing to learn.”

Veg Fest was sponsored by the Del Paso Boulevard Partnership. For more information about the participants, including links to their websites, visit http://sacvegfest.com/ .

Ask the County Law Librarian -- Law Library Closing for Move; Re-opening March 1

2012-02-04T18:04:01Z

Q. What’s going on at the Law Library? There is yellow caution tape across the stairs to the second floor, which is closed to the public, and there’s a whole lot of banging and clanging going on up there!

Ted D.

A. Sorry about the noise and disruption, Ted! We’re doing our best to keep it quiet, but the sound you hear coming from the second floor is the result of having workers dismantle our rather large shelving units--we’re preparing for our move to a new facility about two blocks on the other side of the courthouse.

The Law Library and Civil Self-Help Center will be closed starting at noon on Friday February 10. We expect to open in our new location at 609 9th Street (corner of 9th & “F”) on or about March 1, 2012. Until February 10, if you need any material on our second floor, please don’t hesitate to ask a reference librarian—we’d be happy to run upstairs and get it for you!

While we’re closed, you can still visit our website at www.saclaw.org for a wealth of information, including sample forms and instructions for navigating a variety of common legal procedures. Our website may be down for a couple of days while we move our computers, but you can “like” us on Facebook or “follow” us on Twitter for the latest details on when that might happen, and exactly when we will re-open.

You may also visit the Witkin State Law Library of California or the Yolo County Law Library, which are the two nearest law libraries open to the public in the Sacramento area. The Yolo County Law Library has graciously volunteered to remain open an extra hour, until 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday for the month of February to accommodate our patrons.

Again, we apologize for any disruption in service, but we sincerely hope you will visit us in our new location and that the many amenities of 609 9th Street (including abundant street parking!) will make you think it was worth the wait!

Do you have a question for the County Law Librarian? Just email sacpress@saclaw.org. If your question is selected your answer will appear in next Thursday's column. Even if your question isn't selected, though, I will still respond within two weeks.

Coral Henning, Director
@coralh & @saclawlibrarian
www.saclaw.org

The Republic opens

2012-02-04T08:07:30Z

The Republic Featuring Drewski’s opened downtown Friday, bringing a combination lounge, sports bar, video arcade, pool hall and food truck menu to one location.

“I’m excited we pulled it off,” said Andrew “Drewski” Blaskovich, owner of the popular food truck Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen. “I’m 100 percent confident in our staff here, and I know our kitchen crew, wait staff, bartenders and everyone will help make this happen.”

The 6,500-square-foot space opened at 5 p.m. Friday, and it is scheduled to stay open until 3 - 4 a.m. on the weekend nights.

Customers filtered in the doors – including a glass-paneled garage door that opens onto a patio – from 5 p.m. onward Friday, and they quickly took to the arcade games even as workers were on the other side of the building putting the finishing touches on an elevated stage that will be used for live music.

“It’s great. I see this place taking off,” said 37-year-old Scott Abraham of Sacramento. “I love the garage door. It’s one of those concepts that’s really taken off lately, and it reminds me a little of how they do things in Hawaii, with the sliding doors. It’s perfect for Sacramento in the summer.”

One of the anticipated features in the space is a pair of skee ball games.

“It’s huge on the East Coast,” said Andy Duong, a marketer for the establishment. “We also have four pool tables, eight video games, and we brought in some board games – Jenga, Connect Four and Battleship.”

TVs will show sporting events, including mixed martial arts on Saturday and the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Duong said the space doesn’t fit the mold of a sports bar, lounge, restaurant or pool hall, and he referred to it as a “party bar.”

“We’re going to start with some small music acts, and then maybe expand to larger ones,” he said. “We’re here across from Memorial Auditorium, and it’s going to be a great location.”

In addition to entertainment, the space will see the expansion of the menu Sacramentans are familiar with from Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen.

“We’re going to be doing a lot more with the food,” Blaskovich said.

A buffalo chicken melt called the Roadrunner will be added to the menu, and another one will be the Chevelle, which features tri-tip, bell peppers, onions, sauce and provolone cheese on flatbread.

The Republic Featuring Drewski’s is located at 908 15th St.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Keeping it local on L Street

2012-02-04T05:14:41Z

Wednesday was ladies’ night at the Goodies and Glam event, hosted by Face it Salon, Spa & Boutique on 18th and L streets. Patrons were invited to taste wine from Revolution Wines and cake and cookies from TreyBCakes. They shopped, got their makeup done and even scored a quick facelift.

Owner Sherie Scalzi, 30, said this was the first event that was broadcast to the public, and that they will continue to have monthly events.

Face it Boutique, which opened seven months ago, houses designs from local artists and students like jeweler Caroline Hearn from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Sacramento.

“I have really, really loved working with local designers, so we try to get a lot of local people here,” Scalzi said. “We work with people at events and at our store to help everybody’s business, so it’s fun.”

Scalzi opened Face It Salon on 19th and L streets two years ago, just around the corner from where the boutique is now. She started carrying her friend’s Me and D clothing line, and when the boutique outgrew the space, she opened a store that now caters to both men and women.

Scalzi, who grew up in Sacramento, studied aesthetics at Citrus Heights Beauty College so she could take care of her acne.

“I had major scarring on my face, my chest and my back,” Scalzi said, “so I went for my own personal needs and desires. That grew into my business, which grew into permanent makeup and massage and waxing.”

After her grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, Scalzi learned how to apply permanent makeup so she could help.

“She went to have her eyebrows done at a permanent makeup studio,” Scalzi said, “and they messed her up. So I ended up going to school for permanent cosmetics to correct her eyebrows.”

Scazli worked in local salons for 11 years and said she finally opened her own because she was fed up with the lack of customer service.

“I pride myself that my staff makes me feel really comfortable from the moment they walk in,” Scalzi said. “It just kind of stems from that. I finally felt like I had learned all the do’s and don’ts and went out on my own.”

Customer Serena Kirk has visited the full-service salon for two years and she said she comes back for the customer service and all that they offer.

“Their staff is just really friendly,” Kirk said, “and I trust that they will make me look good.”

For Scalzi, it is more than the returning clientele that keeps her motivated. She said that she wants to prove to her family that all this hard work was worth it, and she wants her three children to know they can also achieve their dreams.

“I want them to have and be and do whatever they want,” Scalzi said. “I don’t ever want them to do something that they don’t love. I can honestly say I love what I do.”

To find out more about Face It, visit the website.

Bike theft, Its flourishing and prospering in Sacramento

2012-02-03T15:40:53Z

They come into the bike shop with eyes darting from corner to corner. You can actually feel their fading hope that at any moment the stolen bike that gave them so much pleasure or secured them a swift passage to their livelihood will miracuosly show up. Then without a hello or how are you, the tragic mental record of loss unfolds. With their face quivering they often confess of the ommision of forgetting to lock up their trusty steed.The carelessness and absent mindedness is afterall a part of modern day life.

If the loss makes them just plain mad the next reaction is to get another bike to make up for the loss but this time its going to be invisible to the common bike thief. the uglification insues as the pain of loss is too great. In hopes to fool the thieves, one often camouflages their next steed by buying a black bike with low grade components or plastering it with so many loud angry stickers that the idea of stripping off all that vinyl would waste the bike theives time and delay the next hijacking of someone elses prized steed.

I dont have the figures of bike theft in Sacramento as they are not attainable. You see 9 out of 10 people never file a police report. Perhaps it is just apathy or a hope if they just forget the loss quickly the pain and aching will go away. But I do know the figures from my shop and I will tell you they can reach as many as 5 in a day. My passion is to get people on a bike and to eliminate car trips from the city streets and replace them with happy trips via the bicycle. That said you can understand how this crime collectively takes a serious toll on not just me but all of us who see Sacramento a better place to live when bicycling becomes a common way of life.

This week alone 2 people I know had 4 and 3 bikes taken at the same time out of back yards and garages. We may have a very organized effort here in strip mining Sacramento of its biking way of life.

As a community we must get tireless about locking up our bikes with not 1 but 2 locks, a cable AND a Ulock of quality. Here is a good article on how to lock up to keep bike thieves moving on to the uneducated fellows "at risk" bike.

http://www.sfbike.org/?theft_locking

It is the hope of this writer to create a tight knit community that puts the bike thief into his own apathy until he gets the help he needs to contribute on a positive level.

Disclosure: yes! I shamelessly sell bicycle locks at Edible Pedal Bike shop and delivery.

Film Review: Big Miracle

2012-02-03T07:41:41Z

Big Miracle
Directed by Ken Kwapis

One film this week has noteworthy political content and the most surprising thing is which film it is. From a casual distance, “Big Miracle” looks like a very generic animal rescue story, essentially “Free Willy” x2.5, as assorted people try to help two adults and one juvenile whale escape from behind an ice barrier in the Beaufort Sea. It’s based on a true story of an event that captured national attention in 1988, and the film makes use of news footage from that period, with every major network anchor commenting on the situation as it unfolds.

It also embellishes the story with various formulaic characters and circumstances, including a love story, a somewhat precocious local boy, and an evil “big oil” tycoon. The basic storytelling is no less unsubtle than the recent “The Muppets,” for example. However, what’s surprising, and where the movie manages to shine on some level, are the moments during which several of the major players’ motivations are explored.

It would have been very easy to show involvement from the White House as being a matter of national pride or jingoism, especially in a movie aimed mostly at kids, but it’s described as much more of a compromise of conflicting interests. This was the end of the Reagan administration and we’re given staff who want to send Reagan out with an episode that might help cover for a bad environmental record, while also boosting (the senior) Bush’s election chances, but only if it won’t go bad and cause an even larger stain on the legacy. Similarly, we’re shown conflicts involving the use of a Russian icebreaker ship (in reality there were two) and standoffs between the political interests and Greenpeace (as embodied by an activist played by Drew Barrymore).

Another episode depicts the oil company boss (Ted Danson) being manipulated by his wife into realizing that he can appear friendly to the environment in a way that will probably make it easier to rape it later. It’s a retrospective, narrative example of ‘greenwashing’ a company’s image at a point in time that’s almost as early as the phrase was coined.

This might actually be a good movie for kids, not just as predictable entertainment, but as a way of educating them about how the media and various political interests operate. We see rival television outlets and personalities more interested in ratings than the story, and clear conflicts between local and wider cultural perspectives, along with the other interests already outlined. The film also delivers little after-the-fact nuggets, like the quadrupling of Greenpeace's membership following the incident.

As a story, it offers relatively little that hasn’t been done multiple times before, although this time there might be a little nostalgia for those parents who remember the story. But as a surprisingly nuanced examination of questionable motives, especially for a children’s movie, it exceeds expectations.

SARTA Program Honors Sacramento Region’s Best Medical Technology Innovations

2012-02-03T02:00:28Z

SARTA MedStart is now seeking nominations for the third annual Claire Pomeroy Awards for Innovation in Medical Technology. The awards recognize individuals in the Sacramento region whose innovative and high-impact inventions, products or designs have transformed some important aspect of the practice of medicine or the delivery of health-care services by improving efficiency, safety, efficacy or accessibility.

“The Sacramento region is establishing itself as a national leader in medical technology innovation and development,” said Meg Arnold, chief executive officer of SARTA. “This awards program recognizes not just individual company achievements but also the invaluable role that Dr. Pomeroy has played in so dramatically supporting and advancing this increasingly important sector of our regional economy. The awards send a strong signal that SARTA and the region’s business community value innovation and are ready to help.”

MedStart created the awards to recognize and celebrate successful innovators in our region. The Award is named for Claire Pomeroy, Chief Executive Officer, UC Davis Health System, Vice Chancellor, Human Health Sciences and Dean, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis. Pomeroy is a highly regarded health-care leader and enthusiastic and inspirational supporter of high-tech research and its translation through commercialization into daily use in medicine and health care.

“I’m proud to be involved with MedStart’s efforts to develop a thriving medical technology industry in the Sacramento region,” said Pomeroy. “Through the award program we hope to encourage others to become catalysts in transforming medicine and health through innovative technologies.”

The 2011 Pomeroy Award winner was Dr. Richard Wampler for his work on the hemopump and HVAD Heart Assist Device. 2010 award winners were Philip H. Coelho, BioArchive System by Thermogenesis; Edward A. Smeloff, Smeloff-Cutter Heart Valve; Warren D. Smith, PK Factor for assessing consciousness of patients under anesthesia; and Richard K. Wertz, Autoscan Automated Microbiology Diagnostic System.

“There are a growing number of successful medical technology innovations being created in our region,” said Cary Adams, chair of MedStart. “By highlighting these dedicated individuals and their creative innovations through the Claire Pomeroy Awards, we’re encouraging further economic development in our region, and greater opportunity for our talented area workforce. We’re highlighting for everyone that these successes can and do occur here repeatedly.”

To be considered for the awards, the nominee’s invention or product must be in commercial use or approved use by the medical industry. The awards committee may take into account benefits generated for SARTA’s nine-county region, which includes the Counties of Butte, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba. Other award criteria include:

• Brilliance or ingenuity in solving problems and designing solutions
• Impact on the lives of patients
• Size of the populations affected
• Extent of the impact in its market
• Impact on the institutions and processes of care delivery
• Economic impact on the health-care system

Self-nominations or nominations of a colleague for the award are invited. The nominee’s name, the nominator’s name, the device or product name and a brief description as to why it meets the criteria should be sent to awards@sarta.org by Friday, April 6, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. The entire nomination may not exceed two and one half pages. Downloadable nomination forms are available through the SARTA MedStart web site.

The award committee consists of Dr. Pomeroy; Mr. Cary Adams, founder and CEO, Proximal Ventures and MedStart chair; Professor Kyriacos Athanasiou, distinguished professor and chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering at UC Davis; Mr. Don Chigazola, Director of Western Region Facility Operations for Medtronic; Dean Emir Macari, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at California State University, Sacramento; Mr. John Maroney, managing member, Delphi Ventures; Mr. Robert Medearis, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Silicon Valley Bank; Dr. John Mesic, chief medical officer, Sutter Health, Sacramento Sierra Region; Dr. Christian Renaudin, managing partner and CEO of The MarkeTech Group; and Professor Warren Smith, Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, California State University, Sacramento.

For information on the Claire Pomeroy Awards, Med Tech Showcase or MedStart, visit www.medstart.org. Winners will be notified by April 27, 2012 and honored at the Sacramento Med Tech Showcase on June 5, 2012 at the Woodlake Hotel..

Disclosure: Laura Good is Director, Programs and Operations at SARTA.

Sacramento job search website to expand nationally

2012-02-02T01:27:50Z

Local job search engine Sacjobs.com is expanding despite the economy and job sites such as Craigslist and Monster, and it launched Sackjobs.com Jan. 2, with plans to expand nationally.

“We’ve got about 1,200 local listings right now, and then our next step is to focus on the Bay Area and Southern California, so we’re going to take our thrust from Sacramento and hopefully by next year take over the West Coast,” said Sackjobs.com owner Ian Coltoff, a 40-year-old Sacramentan.

The site launched in 1999 as Sacjobs.com as an homage to Sacramento, and Coulter said he added the K to appeal to a national audience, with the tagline “Your next career choice is in the bag.”

And to be clear – typing “Sacjobs.com” and “Sackjobs.com” will take job seekers to the same place.

Coltoff said he thinks the site fills a niche in job search engine options by providing as much information to job seekers as possible, not inundating them with advertisements and adding a function that will allow job seekers to comment on postings.

The startup saw initial success in 1999 by charging less than other job search websites to post advertisements, and it brought in more than $30,000 in the first month, Coltoff said.

When Craigslist became popular, it cut deeply into the business, and Coltoff said he had to innovate to stay relevant.

“We’re providing a service,” he said. “You have to keep innovating and coming up with new ideas, and I don’t think Craigslist is innovating. It looks pretty much the same, and sometimes it’s hard to tell what company is posting about a job, or even if it’s a scam.”

Before starting Sacjobs.com, Coltoff ran a roommate referral service that proved successful, and he attributed the same type of innovation to that success that he said he hopes will carry Sackjobs.com forward.

“We let people post on whether they did drugs, their sexual orientation, their cleanliness and those sorts of things,” he said. “That wasn’t something you’d see in The (Sacramento) Bee, or anywhere else.”

After that came Campus Cash, which started as a coupon book for colleges, but employment advertisements generated the most money, and he decided to make an online job search site focused locally.

At the time, he didn’t know what an email was, and he said he is still not exactly tech-savvy.

“I am an idea guy,” he said with a laugh. “I have ideas, and I don’t wait a lot of time to figure out all the details. I just get going. When I need help with something, I find someone who knows how to make it work.”

Coltoff said he is currently in talks with investors to generate funding that will allow him to move forward faster, and a redesigned website is scheduled to roll out next week.

Andrew “Drewski” Blaskovich, owner of Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen and one of the people behind The Republic Featuring Drewski’s – a sports bar and restaurant set to open Friday at 908 15th St. – said he found Sacjobs.com to be the best resource for finding help at the new restaurant.

“Three of my guys I hired – chefs for my kitchen – I hired them off Sacjobs.com,” Blaskovich said Tuesday. “It seems like I got more attraction off of there because it’s local. Craigslist is good, but Sacjobs is more personable.”

Coltoff said he hopes that employers find that to be the case as the website expands.

“I like doing this,” he said. “It sounds cliché, but I like providing the service and helping people. It’s rewarding, and it really feels great.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

I Have a Website and a Facebook Page, Am I a "Social Business"?

2012-02-01T19:51:15Z

We’re all aware of social media and the impact it has had on how we market our service or product and value to customers. The ability to deliver real-time marketing messages, at low or no cost via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social platforms has enticed businesses to embrace social technology for a large percentage of their outreach endeavors, and has changed the entire marketing and advertising landscape.

Today, most businesses have done the work to embrace and brand themselves via social media. As a result of this shift, savvy companies are applying their social media technology and experience to streamline many of their internal programs and optimize organizational transparency. This evolution is what is known as Social Business. The Social Media Examiner reports “Social business is not a trend; it’s a forced evolution. A social business deals with the internal transformation of an organization and addresses key factors such as organizational dynamics, culture, internal communications, governance, training, employee activation and much more.”

“Organizations need to get smarter, acquire new technologies, intelligence, talent and motivation to become more open and transparent. They need to create processes and establish governance models that protect the organization, yet empower their employees.”

By investing in and applying social media to the business structure, internal and customer communications are eased, and equally important, visible by key departments within the organization. Employees are enabled to chat freely and quickly with each other, management, and key departments. Customer and product issues are responded to and resolved immediately before they become problematic. Marketing and Development teams gain valuable insight from internal teams and customers.

The ultimate result of adapting social business technology is cost savings. A social business sees impressive reductions in time to market, greater product development success, increased productivity, as well as improved customer and employee satisfaction.

How can your business streamline communications and processes utilizing social networking technology? What communities can you activate to become raving fans of your products or services? What do you need to know to become a social business?

C7group is proud to present the 2012 Business Thought Leadership Webcast Series featuring foremost experts with leading perspectives about the social tools, technology and changing workflow in business today. Registration is FREE.

2012 BUSINESS THOUGHT LEADERSHIP WEBCAST SERIES FEATURED PRESENTERS (AS OF FEB 1, 2012):

Jason Falls, Founder, Social Media Explorer
February 7, 2012 – 10:00 a.m. PST
Moving the Needle: Using Social Media to Advance Your Business
Jason Falls will discuss developing a strategic plan for social media, case studies of companies using social media for business purposes and tying the “conversation” with the “conversion”.

Euan Semple, Director, Voice and euansemple.com
Thursday, February 23 – 3:00 p.m. PST
The New “Business as Usual”
Euan Semple will talk about about driving business by leveraging social media to change culture, re-design workflow and grow profit.

Halelly Azulay, CEO, TalentGrow
Tuesday, March 6 – 9:00 a.m. PST
Social Learning and Employee Development
Halelly Azulay will discuss the realities of employee development, leveraging social networking and media for learner-driven, learner-generated learning

Jon Ferrara, CEO, Nimble
Wednesday, March 21 – 10:00 a.m. PST
Social Media and Sales Relationships
Jon Ferrara will offer tips about how to work as an effective team by tracking and managing contacts, prospects, and activities. Specifically, how to maximize marketing impact, make more revenue in less time and the benefits of unified communication.

You can Register at www.learnsocialbusiness.com.

Do you have thoughts or questions you’d like our featured presenters to answer? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter @C7group!

You can also email learn@c7group.com if you have a request or recommendation for thought leaders that should be a part of the 2012 Business Thought Leadership Webcast Series.

Disclosure: I am a marketing consultant for C7 Group.

The American Dream?

2012-02-01T07:12:14Z

Free enterprise is the basis of the American Dream but what happens when there isn’t a large enough demand?

Sukhwinder Aujla owns KMM Cab Company, the second largest taxi company in Sacramento, and has been driving for ten years.

“Sacramento isn’t that busy. There’s not very many local customers. Our business depends very much on cab fare from the Convention Center.”

Fredrick Pleines Jr. owns Yellow Cab Co. of Sacramento, the oldest taxi company in Sacramento, and has a different view.

“Our bread and butter is shorter runs,” Pleines continues, “We try to operate leaner and meaner.” Typical fares might include someone who needs to get home from a dental appointment or has a daily commute to work from home.

A cab driver in West Sacramento who wishes to remain anonymous has been working in Sacramento for 22 years. “I don’t waste my time downtown… It’s too crazy. That’s why I do the airport.”

In 2010 the US Census put the city population of Sacramento at 466,488 while last year 452 taxi vehicle permits were issued from the city. This means there is currently about one taxi for every 950 people.

Last May the Law and Legislation Committee recommended limiting taxi permits by issuing a moratorium on new vehicle permits to the City Council.

“You see five taxis on one side of the street waiting and ten on the other,” This from the West Sacramento driver again.

A large part of the issue surrounds where a customer needs to go. Here’s an example: a person stays downtown at the Citizen Hotel and needs to get to the Capitol Building in the morning. The driver, however, may have been waiting in queue for two hours for their turn.

The ensuing exchange ends up leaving both parties unhappy with the service and the exorbitant price of the fare.

Yellow Cab has had a central dispatch system in one form or another since 1917.

“Well over half of the companies don’t have a central dispatch system,” Pleines again. “The rest rely on taxi stands.” Yellow Cab replaced the check stand model with two-way radio technology in 1946.

So what’s the best solution for the city? Is it legislating even higher regulation or is there a better solution?

Whatever the solution, the mantra "innovate or die" comes to mind.

Disclosure: After only a few years as a cab driver in Chicago, Illinois, my grandfather changed careers.

No turning back: Redevelopment transition begins

2012-02-01T05:45:11Z

The City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to take over responsibilities for the non-housing functions of the city’s former redevelopment agency – but chose not to take over its housing assets and project management functions.

The city – as “successor agency” to the now-defunct Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency – will be responsible for winding down more than $787 million of outstanding obligations over the remaining life of prior redevelopment projects, which varies by project from a few years to nearly three decades.

The city Housing Authority will take over the housing assets and functions – including $81.7 million in assets and managing $80.6 million in outstanding loans receivable.

The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency will provide administrative and staffing services for projects currently managed by SHRA during a transition period that extends to June 30.

“This is very complicated, and it’s not going to be an easy process,” SHRA Executive Director La Shelle Dozier, told council members Tuesday.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Corti Keeps Tradition of Balsamic Vinegar Alive

2012-02-01T04:04:25Z

Darrell Corti, owner of Sacramento’s beloved Corti Brothers, is an old fashioned and trusted shopkeeper. He is an expert in the production and history of the food and beverages he sells in his artisanal grocery and ensures that his staff is well trained to carry that knowledge to the customer.

Corti handpicks the majority of his specialty products in his extensive travels and during biweekly wine tastings. He also utilizes his relationships with local artisans.

Sebastian Bariani, co-owner of Bariani Olive Oil, is an artisan producer in Sacramento who has known Corti for 19 years.

"We have a long relationship with Mr. Corti. Corti Brothers was the first retailer to buy our olive oil," said Bariani, "he was an influential factor for us to keep producing. We could not wish for a better friend to represent my family's olive oil."

Corti is not just any local shopkeeper. Rick Mindermann, store director and personal assistant to Corti, explained that Corti is world renowned for his contributions to the food world. Such accomplishments include the introduction of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale (Traditional Balsamic Vinegar) to the United States.

Corti was able to find a producer in the late 70’s after selling Mr. Mossimo Violi, a collector of rare spirits, a prescription bottle of prohibition era whiskey. Massimo turned out to be a hobbyist and maker of traditional Balsamic Vinegar and Corti began importing the Violi family vinegar in 1982.

The type of balsamic vinegar that the majority of Americans buy today began emerging on the market in the mid to late 1970's and is known as industrial balsamic vinegar. This vinegar is made by combining grape must (crushed grapes), wine vinegar and often times, sugar. Although these vinegars have a purpose in the modern American kitchen, they are all an imitation of true balsamic vinegar.

Traditional balsamic vinegar has been produced since ancient civilizations. It is remarkably different from industrial vinegar and is identified by its thick syrupy density, caramel flavor and balance of sweet and sharp acidity.

Today the product is made largely by hobbyists under strict monitoring by the Consortium of Producers of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar. The product is made in only two geographical regions - Modena and Reggio Emilia, according to the Consortium’s website.

Due to the intensity and long production time required to make traditional balsamic vinegar, an estimated equivalent of between 2,482 and 2,758 wine bottles are distributed each year in 3.5 oz. bottles, according to Mindermann. These bottles sell for anywhere from $100 to $500 and beyond.

The vinegar is made by boiling down grape must to about 50 percent of the original bulk. It is then aged in a series of barrels constructed from a variety of woods. At the end of each one-year cycle, the emerging vinegar has reduced, and a portion is distributed to the next consecutive barrel until a small amount is removed from the final barrel after a minimum of 12 years, the minimum time of production for certification.

On the production of the vinegar, Mindermann notes, “The most important age is the age of the barrels. It is a blending of old and new material, imparting flavor to the product that is passing through.”

The final vinegar is bottled in consortium owned glass so that the product is protected from fraud. When consumers buy the vinegar in these bottles with the certification seal, they know it is the real product.

By educating the consumer and selling this precious elixir, Corti Brothers has played a pivotal role in the protection of this product and many others, earning Corti the Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana by the Italian Government in 1992, the Italian version of knighthood.

The vital factor in the protection from fraud for both the consumer and the product is having a shopkeeper like Corti making the delivery. Not only do many consumers trust the verification of the products, there are opportunities to experience alternative trusted products without the high cost.

The Violi family also makes three vinegars named "Paseone," which is constructed in the traditional manner. It is not certified, but there is a clear option to trust that the product is a close sibling to the certified version that they produce because Corti himself has personally inspected the manner of production and the barrels themselves.

“We are shopkeepers; we want to teach if our customers are interested in learning... A shopkeeper knows the realm of his business. It is something that has kept us in business for a long time,” said Mindermann.

After tasting the 12 year vinegar made by the Violi family, it is abundantly clear that it is a unique privilege to have this knowledge in our city.

Below is the complete interview with Rick Mindermann.

Click here for audio.

Disclosure: Jillena Hernandez is the author behind Eat Well, Live Free (www.eatwelllivefree.com) a Sacramento based vegetarian food blog.

Super Bowl hot spots in Sacramento

2012-02-01T03:40:48Z

For football fans still suffering from the San Francisco 49ers’ devastating loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game, the Super Bowl may have lost some of its sparkle. But with Sacramento’s great bar scene, one can’t help but be drawn to the festivities.

The Giants face the New England Patriots in Sunday’s game, a rematch of the Super Bowl game four years ago in which the Giants ended the Patriots’ perfect season. The Sacramento Press found these spots to celebrate – or drown your sorrows.

BarWest Burgers & Wings
2724 J St.
476-4550
19 flatscreen televisions, one 10-foot projection screen

At BarWest, the festivities start at 9 a.m. with an eating contest. The brave can take on the “Hot Mess,” a concoction that General Manager Ryan Pierini said has only been conquered once before.

Contestants have 30 minutes to finish the plate – English muffins piled with six eggs, six slices of bacon, six sausage links and country potatoes, covered in Hollandaise sauce. Participants must sign up with the bar by Saturday.

Winners do not have to pay for their food, and they will receive a gift certificate. Anyone who attempts the feat, Pierini said, will receive a consolation prize – a “Super Bowl shot” of their choice.

“We hope to make this an annual tradition,” Pierini said.

Bud Light and Coors Light Girls will be on hand, passing out “bar bucks” good for $1 off beer.

Ink Eats and Drinks
2730 N St.
456-2800
Four televisions

If beer isn’t your thing, perhaps Ink Eats and Drinks will draw you in. The restaurant and bar is running margarita specials on Sunday as part of a promotion with Jose Cuervo Platino tequila.

The Platino Girls will be on site from 3 - 5 p.m., said Jocelyn McGregor, marketing and promotions manager for Ink Eats and Drinks.

In addition to $3 appetizer plates, various fruit-flavored margaritas will be available for $5, and a Jose Cuervo Tradicional “touchdown shot” for $3. For $6, patrons can have a Pabst Blue Ribbon with a shot of Jose Cuervo Tradicional, McGregor said.

Monkey Bar
2730 Capitol Ave.
442-8490
Two televisions

Get started early with Monkey Bar’s happy hour special, ending at 2 p.m. A bottomless mimosa for $10 and Absolut Bloody Marys for $5 are available, and various drink specials will be available throughout the game, Manager Stacey Stell said.

The Depot Video Bar
2001 K St.
441-6823
34 televisions

The Depot Video Bar may have the best shot at a great view for the game with 34 televisions. Each one will show the game, said employee Tim Shaw.

The bar will run happy hour specials throughout the day, including $1 draft domestic beers and $3 pitchers of Miller, Shaw said. Pizza and peanuts will also be on hand.

Streets of London
1804 J St.
498-1388
Three televisions, including a big screen behind the bar

The typical happy hour fare will be offered during the game at Streets of London, Manager Brooke Tachibana said. Customers can enjoy a 20-ounce beer for $4 or get a pitcher for $11. Well cocktails are available for $3.50.

R15
1431 R St.
930-9191
14 televisions

If football alone isn’t enough, R15 will have the Budweiser Girls on hand to give out T-shirts and hats, said Manager Chris Randone.

“We’re going to have some beer,” Randone said. “The game will be shown on every single one of our TVs.”

R15 will also offer its usual bar appetizers, including pizzas, sliders and quesadillas.

Alley Katz
2019 O St.
442-2682
Seven televisions

Starting at noon, Alley Katz will offer happy hour pricing for patrons. Bartender Jon Alford said to arrive early for the best shot at staking out a spot. The bar has seven booths, and extra cocktail tables will be brought in to accommodate the Super Bowl crowd.

“We’ll have our $30 beer towers,” Alford said. “They are a yard tall and have their own taps – kind of fun if you have a group.”

Alley Katz has more than 200 different beers available, as well as a full bar and a variety of appetizers and sandwiches available for under $12.

The Golden Bear
2326 K St.
441-2242
One television

Many northern Californians had hoped to see a local team playing on Sunday, but San Francisco 49ers fans still have a place to watch the game.

“What we’re really hoping to offer is a safe haven for disappointed 49ers fans,” said co-owner Kimio Bazett, a lifelong fan. He added that a surprise drink special will be available for anyone who comes in wearing 49ers gear.

The Golden Bear’s football fare will be a general, all-American barbecue party, Bazett said.

“Our chefs are whipping up something crazy,” Bazett said, and added that they’ll offer $1 off Miller High Life, to keep with the American beer theme.

Where will you watch the game, and which team do you want to see take the win?

Co-op eyes new grocery store location

2012-02-01T01:45:33Z

The Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op is looking at the possibility of moving its store from the current site at 1900 Alhambra Blvd. to a larger location with more than double the parking at the block that borders R, S, 28th and 29th streets ~~24th and S streets~~ .

Members will vote on the potential move toward the end of March or early April, and if approved, the new store could open in 2014, said Wendy Hoyt, an urban planer who works for the new site’s developer, Separovich/Domich Real Estate Development. Ravel Rasmussen Properties is also part of the development team.

Co-op General Manager Paul Cultrera said Tuesday that the proposed move would be advantageous for a number of reasons.

“Our current site is too small, the retail space is cramped and parking is inadequate,” he said. “I’ve been talking about this for a number of years.”

He added that the co-op board and management began seriously looking for a new site about two and a half years ago, and they wanted it to be close to the current store and have more parking.

“Parking is a major complaint we get from our customers,” Cultrera said. “We have 56 spaces for about 2,800 customers coming in every day.”

If approved, the new site will include 61 parking spaces in front of the store and another 55 on the ground floor of a four-story parking garage. Currently, the site is a parking lot, and for the building to be constructed, will need to be moved, as they are used by state workers. The other three floors of the garage would be for them, but open to co-op shoppers on nights and weekends.

The store itself will be able to carry more products, and Cultrera said more space would be added to adequately stock them, though not likely bring in entirely new product lines.

“We certainly could expand the produce market,” he said. “We’d like to feature more local farmers.”

Other areas for expansion include the cheese department and, most notably, the meat department, which was added about five or six years ago.

“The deli is also very busy, and when it was laid out 14 years ago, it was doing $20,000 per week in sales. Now it’s doing about $50,000,” Cultrera said, adding that all the deli products are produced in a small kitchen behind the deli area, and a larger one is needed to keep up with demand.

Another asset to the proposed new space would be consolidating the co-op’s five buildings into one, allowing management offices, administrative departments, the learning center and the grocery store to all be together.

Hoyt said the administrative portion would be on a second-floor mezzanine, and the overall retail space would – under the current preliminary plans – grow about 38 percent from 16,000 square feet to 22,000 square feet. The total building will be about 40,000 square feet.

The developers are planning to spend approximately $15 million up front, and the co-op will spend an additional $6 million on improvements such as refrigeration units, and will then sign a long-term lease for the building, Hoyt said.

~~The total project cost is estimated to be about $15 million, Hoyt said, meaning it will have to be approved by the co-op’s membership.~~

Since the money needed to be borrowed is more than the company’s net worth, co-op members will need to OK it with a simple majority.

Cultrera said that members – who are also owners – will vote on a ballot that will be sent out to the entire membership.

Hoyt said informational meetings will be held with the members and the neighbors starting in March.

The move will not be the first for the co-op, which had its first major store on Freeport Boulevard and moved to the current location in the late 1980s. A second store opened in Elk Grove in 2005, but it shut down in early 2007.

If the membership approves the move to the new site, Cultrera said, the building will be done as sustainably as possibly, but it is not likely that the co-op will seek certification by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

“Everyone knows the standards, and we want to build it to meet the standards, but the certification is $70,000 or $80,000,” he said.

The former Elk Grove store was built to be energy efficient, and the electric bills were about 50 percent less per cubic foot than the current co-op site, Cultrera said.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Editorial Note: Corrections were made to this story after it was published. The incorrect information was struck out and the correct information added.

LivingSocial shuts down 'Adventures' in Sacramento

2012-02-01T01:34:26Z

The daily deal company LivingSocial decided last week to stop offering its “Adventures” program in Sacramento and an unspecified number of other markets, but company officials stressed that the daily deals and other programs will not be leaving the Sacramento area.

“Adventures are curated activities that you do with friends around you, like a day where you go tubing on the mountain and then have a beer tasting afterward,” LivingSocial spokesman Brendan Lewis said Tuesday.

He said a few dozen markets across the country offered “Adventures,” and it was in the Sacramento area for approximately one year.

“Daily deals will continue to be there,” he said. “Families, At Home and Escapes will be there as well. We remain committed to Sacramento.”

The final local event in the program is a skydiving event scheduled for this weekend.

The scaling back was “during the ordinary course of business staffing decisions,” Lewis wrote in an email, and he said that two full-time employees staffed the “Adventures” department in Sacramento, bolstered by a number of part-time employees.

“Those employees were released,” he said. “I’m not sure the number of part-time employees, but for us, it’s two full-time, which is a very small percentage of our total workforce.”

The company, based in Washington, D.C., launched about two and a half years ago and employs 5,000 people worldwide, according to Lewis.

One of the employees laid off was part-time Experience Coordinator Drew Garrison, who told The Sacramento Press Tuesday that he and other staff were notified of the decision via a conference call Thursday afternoon.

“There really wasn’t any warning, but I don’t think there’s ever a good time to tell people they lost their jobs,” he said, adding that about 15 part-time employees worked for the Sacramento LivingSocial Adventures department.

“They said we all did a great job, and there was great customer feedback, but the possibility for future profitability just wasn’t there,” he added.

Garrison said LivingSocial closed 17 of the 28 “Adventures” departments across the country.

“Sacramento gets knocked a lot for not being a profitable market, and you hear that with the Kings stuff going on, but they cut places like Dallas, too, and that’s a huge market,” he said.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

No thanks, but maybe a hiss.

2012-01-31T17:34:27Z

It’s early Sunday morning in January. Cars pull into the lot in an industrial section of South Sacramento. What would possess people to get up this early on a cold, dark winter’s day? It’s not a swap meet, big sale, concert tickets, or church. These people have come to the Sacramento SPCA feral cat clinic to get the cats they’ve trapped spayed or neutered and vaccinated as part of a program called TNR: trap neuter return.

Why do they do this? It’s a problem that has to be dealt with.

“When feral overpopulation causes a problem, people get annoyed with all cats – ferals and pets. They don’t discriminate,” trapper Mary said, summarizing a common sentiment. “Cats get run over, poisoned, abused and killed. Getting feral cats fixed and vaccinated gives them a chance at living a long and happy life and reduces suffering for all cats.”

Mary and other feral caregivers asked to be identified only by their first name, to prevent people from dumping or killing cats in their area.

Trap Neuter Return, or TNR, is the process of trapping free-roaming un-owned cats, vaccinating and fixing them, marking them by removing the tip of the left ear, and returning them to where they were trapped. It saves money and cats’ lives, and best of all, it works.

At the Sacramento SPCA feral cat clinics, cats are fixed, vaccinated, given flea drops, and "ear tipped" for a total cost of $15. Clinics on the first Sunday of the month are sponsored by the Coalition for Community Cats. The Sacramento SPCA sponsors a clinic on the 3rd Sunday, and a recent ASPCA grant sponsors a clinic on an additional Sunday. Clinics are by appointment only, each takes up to 125 cats. Even so they fill up quickly. Appointments are often scheduled a month in advance.

According to Dr. Laurie Siperstein-Cook, chief of shelter medicine at the SSPCA, nearly 7500 cats have been TNR'ed via these clinics over the past four years, and clinic capacity continues to increase. At some clinics 90 percent of the female cats have been pregnant.

Inside the clinic, feral cat caregivers wait patiently with their caged charges. “if (euthanizing feral cats) was going to work, it would have worked already.” veteran trapper John said. John has spent considerable time and expense combating cat overpopulation in Sacramento County, designing a special trailer for transporting and recovering 50 cats at a time. His business card lists him as a “Cat Transporter.” He has TNR’ed over 1,200 cats, with the expenses coming out of pocket.

John has brought 15 trapped cats to this clinic. Some people have brought one or two, others eight or more. There’s a mix of first-time trappers and seasoned veterans.

Each cat gets registered and a traveler tag attached to its trap. Sex and identifying markings are noted. Traps are covered to help the cat inside remain calm. Shrouded traps fill the waiting rooms and line the hallways. At today’s clinic, 90 cats will be altered and vaccinated.

You would think the noise would be tremendous, with 90 cooped-up cats yowling to be let out. The only sound is soft conversation and the rustling of paperwork. These are true feral cats, untouchable and unaccustomed to humans, not pampered and demanding pets. They are in survival mode: terrified, silent, motionless, invisible inside their covered cages.

This is the first and last time these cats will see a veterinarian. Each cat is given a thorough examination. The veterinarians and technicians volunteer their time, for training or to keep sharp on spay and neuter procedures. They run their hands over each animal, palpating to look for tumors, broken bones, or other internal issues. Matted fur is clipped away. Ears, eyes and teeth inspected. The majority of cats are in reasonably good health, as most feral cats are.

After surgery the cats are returned to their trap or a recovery carrier and placed in a quiet area until their caregiver picks them up. They will hold the cat overnight and release it the next day. The trauma of being caged is higher for a feral than is worth the risk of infection or ripped stitches after release.

The program is already seeing results. "At a defined area where we did concentrated mass trapping until almost all the cats were TNR'ed, we saw a drastic decrease in kitten litters." Dr. Laurie said "They used to find a dozen litters per year. After we mass TNR'ed, there have been zero to one litter per year. The caregivers are on the alert and round up any new litters and the mom for TNR and adoption. Since it's a rare occurence, they find it managable to take care of. We fixed about 200 cats, plus many kittens that were rehomed."

She has these suggestions for how you can help cats in your neighborhood:

Visit alleycat.org or coalition4cats.org to learn more about feral cats, and how to tell a feral from a stray.
If you’re feeding free-roaming cats, make sure they’re all fixed and vaccinated. Free and low cost programs are available.
Don’t let your pet cat become part of the feral population. Get your cat fixed and micro-chipped. Call (916) 808-SPAY or visit sacanimal.org for a list of low cost spay and neuter resources in your area.
If you’re unable to care for your pet cat, surrender it to the SSPCA or other adoption program.

Dr. Laurie had this to add "None of (our TNR clinics) would be possible without the feral cat caregivers and the many many hours of exhausting work they put in, with no recompense except the knowledge that they are doing their part to help the cats have a better life...and maybe a thankful hiss or two."

Disclosure: Lisa Farr is a volunteer for the Sacramento SPCA, working for the feral cat program.

Read this or the kitten gets it.

2012-01-31T03:48:23Z

There’s a war being waged in Sacramento. The dead are strewn in street gutters like dirty rags, or wind up in dumpsters and garbage cans. Even though the casualties are all on the other side, the humans are losing.

The battle is to control our stray and feral cat population, currently estimated to be 350,000 cats in the Sacramento region. The cats are losing, too. There are no winners in this war.

Recent news stories about a pet cat shot with a crossbow, teens killing cats for "fun" and a cat mauled by neighborhood dogs underscore the tragic results of a lack of respect for free-roaming cats. An out-of-control feral cat population contributes to the perception of cats as a nuisance and an easy target.

Most of us have experienced jolting awake from the loud yowling of cats fighting or mating. Noise, spraying, feces and litters of kittens make feral cats unwelcome neighbors. What can we do when a pet becomes a pest?

The answer, up to now, has been to trap and euthanize abandoned and un-owned cats.

Part of the problem is telling the difference between a feral and a scared stray. Feral cats are unaccustomed to humans and can’t be touched. They will run or freeze when a person is near and avoid eye contact. A scared stray may stay in the area and even approach with a raised tail. Strays and young feral kittens can be adopted as pets. Adult ferals are best left to live outdoors.

Because they can’t be adopted and have no owner to claim them, feral cats entering local shelters have a 100 percent euthanasia rate. Determining if a cat is feral or stray takes time, space and resources away from lost pets and community services.

Local shelters and rescue organizations are adopting a new feral cat management method called TNR: trap, neuter, return. TNR is the process of trapping free-roaming un-owned cats, vaccinating and altering them, marking them as a feral by removing the tip of the left ear, and returning them to where they were trapped. Instead of a multiple-day stay at the shelter ending in euthanasia, a feral is TNR’ed and released the next day, resulting in significant cost savings and freeing up shelter space for lost pets.

Rome, Italy, has had a well-documented TNR program in place for more than 10 years. The program significantly reduced the cat population within the city, even with additional abandoned and lost pet cats joining the feral population.

"Trapping and euthanizing feral cats is not a proven method to effectively control the feral population,” says David Dickinson, interim director of the Sacramento Department of Animal Care and Regulation. “TNR has been proven over time to reduce the population in a given area if the efforts are there to follow it through.”

Sacramento Animal Care and Regulation along with the Sacramento Area Animal Coalition provide free spay, neuter and vaccinations for feral cats via a voucher program, available by calling (916) 808-SPAY or visiting sacanimal.org.

"There have been shelters that have seen 60 percent drops (in feral intake) after just two years,” Dickinson said. “I hope we can come close to those stats in a year or two. We will continue the programs as long as we can fund them from the fines we collect from owners with loose strays, unaltered and unlicensed pets, along with grant money we apply for."

Dr. Laurie Siperstein-Cook, chief of shelter medicine at the Sacramento SPCA, agrees.

"TNR is the most effective and humane method of controlling the cat overpopulation problem and decreasing euthanasia in our shelters,” she said.

The SSPCA hosts feral cat clinics on the first and third Sunday of the month. Cats are fixed, vaccinated, given flea drops and ear tipped for $15. A recent grant from the ASPCA sponsors an additional feral clinic each month. Reservations are required, and even with 125 cats per clinic, they often fill up more than a month in advance. To make a reservation, call (916) 540-2818 and leave a message or email feralcats@sspca.org.

The SSPCA takes walk-ins Monday through Saturday from 7:15 to 8 a.m., one cat per trap and one cat per day. The cost is $45 for spay and $30 for a neuter and includes vaccinations, flea drops and ear tipping. Coalition for Community Cats issues vouchers via their website that brings the walk-in price down to $15.

Kittens can be spayed or neutered at two months old or if they weigh two pounds. Female cats can be spayed even if pregnant, or nursing as long as the kittens are 6 weeks old.

Most feral programs require that the cats be brought in a humane trap and that the cat must be ear tipped to mark it as a fixed feral. Veterinary technicians use a special tool to hold the cat against the side of the trap, giving it a shot to knock it out without having to remove the cat from the trap. This reduces the stress on the animal, prevents escapes and protects the techs from injury. Mandatory ear tipping discourages owners of pet cats from taking advantage of funds earmarked for homeless cats.

Traps can be rented from Western Feed and Supply or Bradshaw Feed and Supply. Trapping instructions can be found online at alleycat.org. For help with trapping, visit alleycat.org/response and request a list of Feral Friends in your area, or join the C4CC or SAAC email lists.

After TNR, true ferals live out the rest of their lives without human intervention. Because they don’t spray, fight, mate, have kittens, or spread disease, they aren’t the nuisance they used to be and can again peacefully coexist among their neighbors.

Each cat TNR’ed is a placeholder, keeping other unaltered and un-vaccinated cats from entering its territory. It takes up resources that non-TNR’ed ferals would use to create more nuisance cats.

By taking care of feral cats, we reduce suffering for all cats and eliminate the sad casualties in the war on cat overpopulation.

Disclosure: Lisa Farr is a volunteer for the Sacramento SPCA working with their feral cat program.

Arena, green tech, education: State of the City highlights

2012-01-31T02:20:44Z

A new program to raise $10 million for arena financing and turning Sacramento into an “Emerald Valley” were two key points in Mayor Kevin Johnson’s State of the City address Monday.

Johnson’s speech focused on boosting the local economy in three areas: building an entertainment and sports complex, green-sector jobs and reforming public schools to create a more competitive workforce.

“The economy is bad everywhere, but it’s worse here,” Johnson told the nearly 1,000 people in the audience.

“We have to take bold actions,” Johnson said. “We have to make the impossible possible.”

The mayor delivered the 20th annual speech at the Sacramento Convention Center in an event hosted by the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Johnson introduced a new program aimed at raising $10 million toward the cost of building the entertainment and sports complex.

The “Brick-by-Brick” program will allow individual supporters to buy bricks with their names engraved on them to be placed in the entryway of the new complex.

Johnson said after the event that the program is in the early stages and costs for the bricks have not yet been determined.

The first three honorary bricks were given to City Councilman Steve Cohn and two young Kings fans, Jack O’Brien, 11 and Gil Vechner, 12. The two boys caught Johnson’s attention when they started a lemonade stand last year to raise money for the arena.

“It’s time to finish what we started. It’s crunch time,” Johnson said, referring to the March 1 financing plan deadline to prevent the Kings from relocating.

Johnson turned the discussion to employment concerns, saying he believes one of the biggest problems Sacramento faces is a dependence on state government and real estate for jobs and revenue.

“This sets us up to be the hardest hit in a financial crisis,” Johnson said.

Bringing green technology and green industry jobs to the region is one solution to that problem, Johnson said.

Among the goals Johnson outlined for 2012 are plans to raise $100 million to retrofit schools to make them more energy-efficient and “green,” and joining the Edible Schoolyard Program to bring school gardens, cooking classes and healthy eating to local schools.

“Becoming the Emerald Valley is within our grasp,” Johnson said.

Although he doesn’t have a direct relationship to local schools as the mayor, Johnson said improving education has long been a focus for him – and it should be a focus for the city, he said.

As a way to keep schools accountable to parents – and to make it easier for parents to decide which schools are best for their kids based on performance – Johnson said he is working to establish “report cards” for local schools.

The new rating system will assign a letter grade to every school in the county based on a range of performance criteria including student test scores and whether the schools are meeting academic standards.

Johnson said his office will not be responsible for consequences to a school for getting a low grade – the consequences will come from parents who withdraw their students or choose not to enroll them in low-grade schools.

Some business and civic leaders at the event had a positive reaction to the mayor’s address – former State Assemblyman and current president of the Sacramento Metro Chamber Roger Niello said it was “completely on point,” and County Supervisor Don Nottoli said it was “very well-delivered.”

“I think (Johnson) was absolutely right about the region needing to diversify its economic base,” County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan said after the event.

“I think that’s the most important point he made,” she added.

Michael Ault, Executive Director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said the mayor did a good job of breaking down what needs to be done for the city into smaller, achievable goals.

“You just can’t have 30 priorities for the coming year. We have to narrow it to a few legitimately reachable goals,” Ault said.

“The sports and entertainment complex is clearly something we think needs to be accomplished in the short term and I think the mayor really highlighted that,” he added.

The current city charter does not require the mayor to give a state of the city address. Johnson has delivered the speech each year he’s been in office – four times.

If the mayor’s charter reform proposal gets on the ballot and is passed by voters, an annual state of the city address would become a requirement for future Sacramento mayors.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Converting Freeport Blvd into a 'complete street'

2012-01-30T23:45:35Z

The City of Sacramento Transportation Department is considering a redesign of traffic lanes along Freeport Blvd between Sutterville Road and 4th Avenue. This part of the roadway is scheduled for resurfacing in 2013 and last August the city approved a Bike Lanes Project to study options for redesigning Freeport Blvd into a "complete street" as part of the resurfacing effort.

From the National Complete Streets Coalition website: "...a complete streets policy ensures that transportation planners and engineers consistently design and operate the entire roadway with all users in mind - including bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities."

This section of Freeport Blvd currently has two traffic lanes in each direction, some on-street parking and no bicycle lanes. The designated speed limit is 30 MPH and an estimated 21,000 vehicles travel this street each day. Sacramento City College and C.K. McClatchy High School are located along the section, along with residences, small businesses, restaurants and a senior residential facility.

The city planners are considering these redesign options for Freeport Blvd:

3 Segment Design Concepts (Sutterville to Vallejo)
- Bike lanes, parking on both sides, no middle turn lane, one lane north and one lane south
- Bike lanes, middle turn lane, parking on east side 13th to Bidwell, one lane north and one lane south
- No bike lanes, no parking on either side, two lanes north and two lanes south with lane widths increased

4 Options (Vallejo to 4th)
- Signed southbound bike route
- Southbound bike lane/bike route with push button
- Southbound bike lane with signal control
- T intersection

Students, residents, business owners, cyclists, pedestrians and commuters are showing interest in the project. Tom Buford, Senior Planner with the City of Sacramento, says community interest is healthy. In a telephone conversation, Buford said, "It's an important street in the community and we've seen the kind of interest that we would expect from discussions of changing the way a roadway is working."

Anyone interested in this project is invited to provide comments and suggestions to the draft Environmental Impact Report that is being developed by the city transportation department. Comments and suggestions may be submitted in writing until 5:00 PM, February 13, 2012 to:

Dana Allen, Associate Planner
City of Sacramento, Community Development Department
Environmental Planning Services
300 Richards Blvd., 3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (916) 808-2762
Email: dallen@cityofsacramento.org

Questions may be directed to Linda Tucker, City of Sacramento Transportation Department Director at (916) 808-7523 or email her at ltucker@cityofsacramento.org.

Disclosure: Ron Nabity is an avid cyclist, Sacramento City College student and resident near Freeport Blvd. Ron is also a regular contributor to the Sacramento Press.

When things fall apart

2012-01-30T09:40:37Z

Every morning 1,800 employees enter the California State Board of Equalization Building. Past the sliding glass doors, security, then up the elevators to get to work. Most never notice the 2 by 5 signs taped to the glass doorways upfront.

Warning: Chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm, may be found in the facility. California Health and Safety Code Section 25249.6

Though it's not only harmful chemicals, that has plagued the safety of the buiding in the past. Two weeks ago, on January 11, pieces of broken glass fell eight stories to the sidewalk on 5th and N Street.

The sidewalk is still blocked with caution tape and orange cones although the gaping hole between the 8th and 9th floors has been secured with plywood according to the Department of General Services.

Sooner or later the cones and yellow tape will also go away and the employees won't remember a thing. They will go on with their lives, remaining apathetic because, they're just too busy to think about it.

After all, a day without work means no revenue for the State of California. The staff is there to complete the work, not to complain about their environment.

"It's dangerous, really dangerous," exclaimed Phillip Robinson, an IT professional who has worked in the building for more than 8 years. "In the past, they had scaffolding on all four sides. I'm surprised they only blocked off the side where the window fell off."

He glances up at the high rise pointing to where the piece fell off. There were more random pieces that fell down in the afternoon. This prompted the guards not only to close the sidewalk but also the traffic lane adjacent to the building on 5th Street to close.

"We don't know if other debris will fall. There's no guarantee. Watch your head, " a security guard warned.

Tax professionals slaving away at their desk received an email from the union in the afternoon to encourage letters of concern to media.

"No one wants to say anything. Most are afraid to be fired if they did," states Luz Susa who works in the returns support unit. Silence is golden for the golden state.

While it is true. Management does have every intention to move the employees out of the place, they just do not have the funds to do so. The money for relocation would come from the general fund because the owners of the building is the Department of General Services.

With California holding the bag for a $17.5 Bilion deficit, and already cutting jobs and social service programs, there is just no room to renovate the building to code.

Even if civil servants end up with tumors after serving their time, it looks like management will still be at this gridlock.

Historically, the building has had it's string of flaws. People have reported getting trapped in elevators, plumbing breaks leading to floods on the 9th floor, and front glass sliding doors coming loose almost falling on innocent bystanders. Other red flags wave at poor air quality, freezing temperatures that force employees to work with their winter coats on, mold scares, and strange odors that forced entire floors to close.

Still, the managers, tax representatives, and support staff continue to work in hazardous health and safety conditions like it's not any more dangerous working in the BOE building than Fukushima.

Why do they do it? They do so because they have hungry families to feed, because they have no other place to go, and the State of California urgently needs this money. This money that they can't even touch.

The irony is that state workers file in to work with more pressure to collect needed tax dollars so California can be restored to a fully functional budget, not factoring in their own risk in the equation.

After all, is it worth losing a job when your family, sanity, and long term health is really what is at stake?

Maybe we should take the action of the vendor who used to run the cafeteria's example. One day , they just up and left without notice to the Department of General Services.

If it looks dangerous, it probably is.

Run away, really fast. DGS obviously does not care about the people who work in the building. In fact, they're careful to make them stand under more danger while they wait for their lunch to cook.

Disclosure: Author is a civil servant. She also worked in commercial and residential real estate for 7 years prior to joining the state.

Blackbird to open by end of February

2012-01-28T01:37:16Z

Replacement of a gas line is postponing the opening of the downtown seafood restaurant Blackbird Kitchen & Bar from Valentine’s Day to Feb. 21, but the restaurateurs are still able to work inside, and the iconic graphic on the front is complete.

“The buildout is being done right now, and the menu will be available in a couple of weeks,” said General Manager Shayne “7evin” Iles.

“We’re going to open when PG&E finishes the work, so hopefully it’s sooner, or at least on time,” he said.

Officials from Pacific Gas and Electric did not return messages left on Friday.

Blackbird Kitchen & Bar is located at 1013-1015 Ninth St.

"The Grey" - Part 2: Interview

2012-01-27T09:23:33Z

INTERVIEW: DIRECTOR JOE CARNAHAN AND ACTOR FRANK GRILLO

[NOTE: THE INTERVIEW CONTAINS SOME MILD PLOT SPOILERS FOR “THE GREY”.]

Recently, in San Francisco, I had a chance to chat with co-writer and director Joe Carnahan and actor Frank Grillo about their new release “The Grey” which opens this week. The film, which is reviewed in a separate article, tells the story of a group of oil workers whose plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness, where they find themselves stalked by a pack of almost mythically large wolves. Joe is a Sacramento native and we’ve known each other for several years through the local film community and the Sacramento Film and Music Festival.

As we were setting up for the interview, Joe happened to make a self-deprecatory joke about his own intelligence, which led to an interesting opening:

Tony: You see I would counter that right away. I watched “The Grey” a few weeks ago - I don’t like to read production notes before seeing a film and I knew virtually nothing going in – but I knew it wasn’t going to be “Alive” meets “Cujo”… [they both agree] … because I don’t think you’re capable of writing a script that’s that one dimensional.

Joe: Right. You may hate it for its other dimensions but it won’t be mono-dimensional.

Frank: [laughs]

Tony: The other things you’ve written – even a film like “Smokin’ Aces” which is a ‘shoot-em-up’ has a very intricate story.

Joe: “Smokin’ Aces” to me, the construct, was Iraq. I based the movie on Iraq. It starts with misinformation, it leads to this kind of heedless violence, a bunch of people who shouldn’t die do, they make a better deal at the end, and it’s over – that’s it.

Tony: Let’s come back to the war topic later. As I said, I watched “The Grey” knowing nothing about it and had to write my comment for the studio, and I said this isn’t a film about men and wolves, this is a film about life and death, and going out on your own terms.

Joe: Yes. 100%.

Tony: So, I was intrigued as to whether when you read the short story if it came out of nowhere and grabbed you or if you were already thinking of this as a subject you wanted to tackle.

Joe: No, you know what Tony, I responded to the short story because I was on “Mission Impossible 3” and I was going to quit before I was fired. I had run my course on that and here I was presented with this very simple, spare, kind of bare bones survival story - versus where I was at that moment which was a big star, big franchise, big studio, with a big budget at 33 years old and feeling I didn’t deserve any of that….

Frank: No, by the way you do.

Joe: …at the same time “The A-Team” represents me finishing that business on “MI3” – doing a big popcorn movie. So it [“The Grey”] appealed to me in every way that it could, because its simplicity was beautiful to me. But then Ian [Ian Mackenzie Jeffers who co-wrote the screenplay and wrote the short story “The Ghost Walker” on which it is based] did a draft of his own short story and I took that, and over the next 4-5 years rewrote it, fashioned it, and fine-tuned it.

[Joe continued by describing how, with the passage of time, topics which might not have developed quite so readily in a more rushed circumstance, including religion and spirituality, evolved as the story became more polished.]

Tony: So, you guys met on “Pride and Glory” [for which Joe co-wrote the screenplay]?

Frank: A little before that.

Tony: [To Frank] When this first came to you, did you see the script first or was it still an idea? How close was it to the final script?

Frank: I think it was fairly close to what we actually shot by the time I saw it.

Joe: Yes, I gave it to you in September and we were shooting in January.

Frank: Yeah. He had seen some of “Warrior” and I had said to him “I want to work with you, just whatever it is, find me something, I’ll do anything – I’m a huge fan” and he sent me this script. He said to me “January we’re shooting this movie and that’s the role!” And he could have had anybody he wanted for the role, obviously, and he said “It might take me some time but you’re doing the movie – January – don’t take a job!” And I said “Joe, I can’t…” He said “January, don’t take a job! Go gain some weight, beef up, this is what we have to do.” And there we were in January.

Tony: Although underneath something like three parkas…

Joe: Yeah – I had three parkas on but Frank didn’t!

Frank: [laughs]

Joe: You said you wanted the role pal!

Tony: It’s such a neat story and neat characters. I was interested in what drew you to it. The Ottway part [Liam Neeson’s character] is interesting – he’s watched somebody who didn’t have the opportunity to go out on her own terms and he respects that opportunity when it arises. There’s a scene in the wreckage where a guy is dying and the others are saying “You’ve got to do something” and he goes over and says [paraphrased] “You’re going to die – but that’s OK” You don’t see that often.

Joe: No. You see a lot of people killed but you don’t see a lot of people die.

Frank: In the original script – and at first I was kind of upset that we took it out – but when he says that to him, my character says “What are you doing?” But there was such a rhythm, there was such a gorgeous poetic rhythm to the connection that these two guys had that if I had interjected, interrupted, and taken it away from that, it would have destroyed the scene. And that’s my favorite scene in the movie.

Tony: It reminds me - and I don’t think this is a comparison you’ll dislike [to Joe] given that you say you don’t see people die very often - it reminds me of Giovanni Ribisi in “Saving Private Ryan.”

Joe: Which is a brilliant death scene.

Tony: It’s the best scene of the movie.

Joe: And he says “Tell me, tell me what’s wrong” and the blood is almost black and he’s asking for his mother.

Tony: And he basically instructs them to overdose him on morphine. He’s a medic….

Joe: Right, he’s a medic, he knows he going to die. But that’s … anytime there’s a Spielberg comparison, I am firmly in your camp.

Frank: I got a chance to work with him and he said when he saw that scene he actually went back and wrote more for Giovanni earlier in the movie, so there would be more of him in the movie.

Joe: Oh, wow!

[The three of us then went off on a tangent for a minute or two about Giovanni Ribisi’s career starting as a child actor in the sitcom “My Two Dads.”]

Tony: In “the Grey” it seems to me that there were at least quadruple threats: There’s the location that they’re in, there’s the lack of any kind of supplies they would need to survive in that location, the climate obviously, and the wolves. But this isn’t about the wolves, the wolves are just part of that.

Joe: Tony, you see that – but you’re literally one of the only people that has ever said that, right there.

Tony: It’s an obstacle, of which part just happens to be the wolves. They could have just been eyes in the distance and mysteriously, every now and then somebody dies and you never know how they die. It’s almost a MacGuffin.

Joe: Right – they’re as close to a MacGuffin as a traditional film like this would have. Because essentially it’s a plotless movie.

Tony: In fact, to some extent, the whole bundle of obstacles: location, supplies, climate, wolves altogether are a MacGuffin.

Joe: Absolutely

Tony: It’s just there to cause these people to think about the meaning of life.

Frank: Exactly. That’s an accurate reading of the script. You asked what attracted me to the film. As a middle-aged man – this is what I think about all day.

Joe: And also that the wolves are just a force of nature – like the cliff, like the blizzard, like the river.

Tony: Have you been following the news – the timing is really interesting.

Joe: Oh – OR7 – the wolf that’s crossed into California. Yeah, I invited him to the premiere. It’s a very elaborate joke, a very elaborate stunt when he shows up and around his neck he’s got a little pass, a VIP pass.

Frank: It’s a great story

Tony: You clearly wanted something more profound than an action film and you succeeded. But do you worry about the apparent dichotomy between what films are and how films are marketed?

Joe: You know what, Tony, I don’t because what I would like, in fairness to an audience, this is something where I’d like them to cast as wide a net as possible – to get people who are even casual genre fans, who are casual Liam Neeson fans into the theater. Because I swear to God it will become the water cooler talk for days to come. I really believe that. What I’ve said about this film, my ultimate goal, is that it plays for you for longer than the two hours it took to watch. That’s what I want – because I think so much of movies today are just disposable experiences.

Tony: I guess my question is that we’re sitting here saying this is a profound movie about life and death and the human experience….

Joe: Right.

Tony: …so do you worry that the people who do in fact want to see a profound movie about life and death and the human experience are not going to come and watch “The Grey” based on the trailer somebody’s cut of the film that makes it look like “Alive” meets “Cujo”?

Joe: No. Unfortunately, if those people you just described were in the majority, we wouldn’t all be about to speak Mandarin in the next ten years. You know what I mean? If we had that level of engagement or that level of high mindedness, without trying to sound snobbish or arrogant about it, if those kinds of people were in the majority then I think it would be a radically different marketing angle.

Tony: If you think of film classics like 1936’s “Modern Times” or 1957’s “12 Angry Men” – those were mainstream films because you didn’t have studios, indies, direct to cable, and all those kinds of things, so those were films people were going to watch. They were deep films – but they were either social satires or social commentaries. We’ve had this conversation before – now you see things like “Lions for Lambs” [written by Joe’s brother Matthew Michael Carnahan] which is a brilliant piece of writing and “In the Valley of Elah,” and films like “The Company Men” about unemployment and layoffs. I’ve heard it said that folks on the left don’t want to go and see these stories and be reminded of what they already know and folks on the right don’t want to go and get lectured by Hollywood.

Joe: Yes.

Tony: So, do you think there’s a political divide – is it that we’re telling the wrong stories or are we telling the right stories but telling them too soon?

Joe: Well listen, you mentioned “Lions for Lambs” and “In the Valley of Elah” – those are movie about hot button issues. My brother had written “The Kingdom” which in a lot of ways to me was a knock on the Saudis and the Saudi royal family. It was meant to be, not a condemnation but he was certainly taking a shot – it wasn’t just this kind of prosaic look at a different culture – he was going after them. But if you don’t mix in gunfights it becomes this almost geopolitical…whatever. I found, and I got this from my benefactor Ridley [Scott] – I loved the filmmaking in “Black Hawk Down” but it became very jingoistic. And the part about the Somalis and what they were dealing with … and I understand why that was jettisoned. I get it, but it was also a case of looking at how much more money that made than a film like “Lions for Lambs” which was more about talking points.

Tony: If you get me on “Black Hawk Down” we’ll be here all day. But “The Kingdom” and “Lions for Lambs” are an interesting comparison because they’re both good scripts and they both have a lot to say politically….

Joe: Yes.

Tony: ...and I don’t remember the box office….

Joe: “The Kingdom” made a lot more money.

Tony: “The Kingdom” has a lot of shooting and action and “Lions for Lambs” is more like a play

Joe: Yeah, it’s a three act play. It’s a play.

Tony: So if you want to have political content and you want to get something out there and you want to hit a mainstream audience….

Joe: Good luck

Tony: …do you have to disguise it as something else?

Frank: I think you do.

Joe: Oh, absolutely.

Frank: You have to, not sneak it in, but you have to….

Joe: It’s everything short of sneaking it in. It’s very difficult to come straight at somebody with that kind of argument being that political, spiritual, whatever it may be that you’re trying to tackle. In this country more so than any other in the world – we love to slap labels on as quickly possible. And if you’re doing that it’s a “specialized” kind of film.

Tony: [To Frank] In the film, you’re the tough guy’s tough guy. It reminded me of this kid I knew at summer camp who was tough and would never let his guard down – and then I saw him break down completely riding a roller coaster.

Frank: That’s a great analogy.

Tony: Did you know those guys growing up or were you that guy?

Frank: I wasn’t that guy – I was on the other end of it. But I did know those guys and I also spent some time visiting some jails around New York because I wanted to talk to some guys on the other side of that reality. And they all seemed to be the same – you’re right – it’s the big bully who goes on the roller coaster and that was my jump off point. It’s such a cool journey that this guy makes and we all know those people. And how did I get to the point where my hands are always up and I’m threatened all the time. When you’re afraid you get angry and Diaz [his character in the film] is angry all the time. Why? Because he’s afraid all the time. And it was a gift to me as an actor to get to explore this character.

Tony: The amazing thing about “The Grey” is that I don’t think there’s a weak link in the film. The problem with an ensemble movie is that there’s often a character that you want to get eaten by a wolf early on in the movie just so that you don’t get to see him for the next hour. And this movie doesn’t have that.

Joe: I think you really do come to fall for those guys and you appreciate those guys and you pull for them. And that’s as it should be.

[At this point we discussed several characters and their unusual paths in the movie, including specific outcomes for some of them.]

Joe: But there’s bravery and heroism that isn’t always obvious and that you don’t see coming from a mile away

Frank: But we can talk about this all day – this guy [his character] finally got a chance to be part of something. That’s the beauty of it.

Joe: Yeah – absolutely man

Tony: What’s next for you Joe?

Joe: If I get any real run off the Grey, if it allows me to do something else, I’d like to put all those chips toward “Killing Pablo.” For me that particular project is like this vastly undernourished orphan and I need to get this kid a meal.

Tony: That’s Pablo Escobar?

Joe: Yes. I’ve been to Colombia three times, I’ve been to Medellin three times and I love it – as attrition goes it getting pretty close. Somebody asked me why do you want to make that project so badly and I was interviewing this 78 year old man who was there at the time it happened, and I asked him if he remembered anything that day, when they got Pablo. And he said “I was sitting in my house and I thought it was an early winter thunder storm” because the level of gunfire was such that the guy couldn’t discern individual shots and I thought “I’m ****ing making this movie!”

Tony: And anything back in Sacramento – are we going to see you back in town?

Joe: Tony if I could just get, and I’ve said this before – what you need is a full time film commissioner and we need to quit dicking around. And in that City which is one of the great untapped shooting locations – in two hours you can be in the snow, you can be on the river….

Tony: And the neighborhoods can be anywhere.

Joe: Dude, the Fabulous 40’s – all you have to do is switch the cars out and you could be in the 1950’s. I would love to do it. I think the City has to get a lot more aggressive about what it wants to do. You know Kevin Johnson kept the Kings – and that would not have happened with Heather Fargo, they would have been gone. So if he can apply that kind of determination to getting movies shot there….

Tony: You know the “For Arts Sake” manager just left, this week.

Joe: Really? Well you know I’m looking for a job!

Disclosure: The author is co-director of the Sacramento Film & Music Festival and Joe Carnahan is a former special guest of that event.

Mediterranean food coming to K Street

2012-01-27T01:07:29Z

Influences from the Andalusia region of Spain such as Moorish arches and water features will be the architectural highlights of a Mediterranean/American restaurant coming to 925 K St.

The restaurant does not yet have a name and won’t be open until at least June, but Gene Hopkins, the superintendent in charge of the buildout, said it will be a combination buffet and full-service restaurant that will feature Mediterranean cuisine as well as some American dishes.

Formerly Farley’s Soup and Salad, the building has been vacant for about six years, and work began on the new business at the end of last year, Hopkins said.

Customers entering the 4,200-square-foot ground floor will be greeted by a waterfall on the right side, recalling the Moorish architecture prevalent throughout Spain. Two more waterfalls are planned to divide the buffet area with the seating area, and Moorish arches will serve as accents.

“It’s definitely going to be classy,” Hopkins said. “It’s going to fit in with some of the other businesses that are here or going in around here. We’ve got the restaurant and bars down the street (Dive Bar, District 30 and Pizza Rock), and we have Sharif Jewelers coming in across from us.”

While it will likely come after the restaurant opens, a facelift of the façade is planned. At the least, it will be repainted, but if plans are approved, one option is to carry the arch theme to the front of the restaurant and add pillars to accent the doorway.

The menu is still in the early stages, but Hopkins said it will include traditional Mediterranean fare such as hummus and pita sandwiches. No pork will be served, and it’s not yet determined whether alcohol will be served.

The owner, Sam Abukhdair, is from Palestine, Hopkins said, adding that he is bringing the inspiration for the cuisine.

The building itself is historic, and Hopkins said he sees it as a blend of 1820s and 1970s design.

As part of the city that was originally at a lower level, what is currently the basement used to be at street level.

“The entrance to the shop was set back, and if you go down there, you can see where the doorways and windows used to be,” Hopkins said. “They’re concreted over now, but the hinges are still there.”

At one point, the building served as a bank, and a heavy vault door Hopkins estimated to weigh at least a ton will be the new entryway to the walk-in refrigerator.

“There’s no way we can move that out of here,” he said with a laugh.

Despite the historic elements, the interior design will be more modern.

“The wall behind the buffet is going to glow,” Hopkins said, adding that LEDs will be placed behind frosted Plexiglas. The bathrooms are walled and floored in marble tile, and granite countertops will be installed.

A removable stage might be incorporated into the back end of the restaurant to allow for live music, and exterior seating along K Street will be built if plans are approved, Hopkins said.

The second floor of the building is being renovated as well, and it might be used to house events, while the third floor is being built out as offices.

The business, when it opens, will be another in a recent wave of businesses opening along the once-dreary K Street.

“It’s been a huge change here over the past six months, even,” Hopkins said, noting that new businesses and other changes to K Street have brought increased foot traffic to the area. “This is totally turning around.”

Esther Son, who opened Estelle’s Patisserie at the other end of the 900 block about a month ago, said she is happy to be on K Street, and added that she thinks another business will only add to the success she is seeing.

“It’s definitely an aid,” she said. “It’s synergy. I want neighbors. That will bring more people down here, and we’re building a community.”

Son said she wants to see more retail stores open as well as restaurants, but she has gotten support from local workers and customers that she said she is happy for.

“I enjoy being there,” she said. “I’m doing really well, and we get pretty busy during lunchtime. People come in, and they say they’re happy to have more businesses, and they want us to succeed. It’s been really good, and I think more (businesses) need to open up.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

The Art of Fashion

2012-01-26T09:41:55Z

The fashion industry continues to grow in Sacramento. Trunk shows, boutique openings, fashion shows, fashion students exhibiting their designs from San Francisco to Sacramento continue to wet the appetite of fashionistas in northern California. Next month will also bring Sacramento Fashion Week to the Elks Tower Ballroom. These events will make an impact in our local economy.

This past Friday night "The Art of Fashion" was hosted by Lounge ON20. The event included a fashion show and was also a mixer benefit event for Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of the greater Sacramento area.

A new campaign was launched by BBBS “100 Men, $100,000, 100 Days” that seeks to raise critically needed funds. The campaign is looking to put males in the lives of 107 young men waiting for a big brother. BBBS hopes to match a big brother to a kid that can benefit from a relationship with their mentor and create awareness of how BBBS improves our community. Ticket sales and donations during the event went to BBBS. A table was also set up for guests to view more information about becoming a big brother or big sister.

Donations for this worthwhile cause can still be made at their 100 Heroes Wanted donation page.

The Art of Fashion featured three local designers who continue to make an impact on the Sacramento fashion scene. Designs from Electrik Trice, Samuel Parkinson and Faatui Toele were showcased on a red carpet runway.

Electrik Trice was the first designer of the evening and presented her Romance in Paris Collection. The collection showcased the great talent of the designer and the passion and beauty of her impressive designs. Her elaborate designs included several exciting evening dresses. Electrik's designs also included elegant pant suits as well as one and two piece outfits for an evening out on the town.

Several of her outfits solicited shouts of approval and applause from the audience. Part of the Romance in Paris Collection featured glamorous form fitting outfits. Electrik’s designs were accentuated by exquisite accessories.

Electrik’s new 2012 collection was a big hit with the crowd. One member of the audience was very excited about a red outfit saying, “I want that one!” and as she turned to her companion said, “Honey, please get that one for me.” I don’t know if they bought the dress but several of Electrik’s outfits evoked similar comments.

Samuel Parkinson’s Woodsy Scholar line was showcased next. Parkinson’s KingsTribe Clothing has become a popular brand in Sacramento and his talent has been showcased at several fashion shows in the area including last year’s Designing Dreams.

The Woodsy Scholar line was inspired by letterman jackets and were accented with wool and leather. KingsTribe Clothing continues to bring men’s fashion to the runway and the Art of Fashion event showcased the designer’s versatility and sense of fashion.

KingsTribe Clothing continues to emerge in the Sacramento scene and Parkinson’s outfits continue to live up to their motto: “Made with pride to be worn in pride.” Parkinson’s designs will eventually bring Sacramento fashion pride to our area.

A lively performance by singer and songwriter Tia Ferrera was included as part of the show. During this intermission performance Ferrera, along with dancers Divina and Talissa, entertained the crowd and kept things moving. This was the first time I’ve seen or heard Ferrera and her energetic performance impressed the audience.

The last designer of the evening was Faatui Toele whose 2WEE designs have graced many fashion shows in Sacramento. Toele’s Fall in Love 2012 Spring/Summer Collection included various trendy and sexy outfits. The fashions showcased were eye-popping and included some amazing trends for evening wear.

The Fall in Love line showcased several red and black outfits that received loud applause from the audience. Several outfits were very ornate and detailed and were well complemented by accessories worn. Models also wore some very exotic hairdos.

These three designers have collaborated together in other fashion shows and all have attended Sacramento’s Academy of Design and Technology. Their exquisite designs are available for sale and they continue to grace the fashion scene in Sacramento. Don’t be surprised when one or all of them become well known designers in the larger fashion markets of California and the nation.

These types of fashion shows not only help local designers receive recognition and exposure but designers in turn work to give back to the community by partnering with charities and the Sacramento community. These events also showcase the talents of photographers, models, entertainers, clubs, hair and makeup artists and help foster economic growth in the local economy.

Best Doughnuts in Sacramento

2012-01-26T04:21:04Z

Chocolate frosted. Glazed old-fashioned. Powdered jelly. Maple iced.

Just naming doughnut flavors triggers thoughts of warm, comforting, yeasty smells. Doughnuts are well-known as “one of the best comfort foods around,” according to the Perishables Group, a food consulting firm.

The executive chef for Dunkin’ Donuts says a doughnut “puts you in a calm place, if even for a short time.”

Clearly, the humble doughnut warrants further attention, and I made it my mission to discover the best doughnut shops in Sacramento.

Sacramento has many doughnut shops, so I needed to narrow the field. I explored multiple websites for their “best doughnut” listings and I consulted friends and family. From these sources, I identified the best of the best for my firsthand research.

For the survey, I enlisted the expert help of Brian and Alice Bunch, who were in the doughnut business for 40 years, including many years in their own Bay Area store, World’s Fare Doughnuts. If anyone knows a good doughnut, it’s them.

I asked for their advice on the type of doughnut I should sample to get the best shop-to-shop comparison. Brian said raised glazed are the best choice because they take the most technique to make. Raised doughnuts must be kneaded and allowed to rise before cooking, similar to bread-making. In contrast, cake doughnuts are made from a batter mix and poured out for cooking, like pancakes.

Raised glazed refers to yeast doughnuts coated in a crackly sugar icing.

Baking Management magazine reports that glazed donuts are the most popular, “Glazed still tops among donuts.” Nearly 74 percent of grocery store yeast doughnut sales are glazed, according to a study sponsored by Dawn Food Products.

In addition to raised glazed, I chose devil’s food cake doughnuts (with chocolate frosting) for the survey. Brian informed me that devil’s food was a “poor choice” because anyone can make them. He says most shops use the same packaged mix. Although the quality of the mixes can vary, the variations are small. However, devil’s food are my favorite, so I blithely overrode his objections.

The “hard” part came next. A doughnut tasting companion and I traveled and tasted our way through 11 shops. We then whittled the number down to the top six shops and brought samples to the doughnut experts for the final test. We considered taste, texture and appearance in our evaluation.

Months of research (and 11,500 calories) later, I can finally share the survey results with you.

As it turns out, there is not one overall winner. No single shop scored highest in both the raised glazed and devil’s food categories. Even a tiebreaker chocolate-frosted old-fashioned did not help establish a clear winner. Rather, we identified winners for each of the two sampled doughnuts.

Best raised glazed: Baker Ben’s Donuts (3465 Watt Ave.)
Baker Ben’s raised glazed had a nice yeasty smell and pleasing taste. The texture was soft and tender but held up well when eaten. Although the glaze was a little too white, the doughnut was overall a crowd pleaser.

Best devil’s food: Sweet Dozen (5207 Madison Ave.)
At all shops, the devil’s food doughnuts were a bit disappointing. The cakes had very little chocolate flavor and they all tasted similar. I guess my expert Brian was right. In most cases, it turned out to be the quality of the icing that made the difference.

Nevertheless, we found that Sweet Dozen had the best devil’s food. The doughnut’s appearance generated “ooh’s” and “aah’s” and “that’s a beauty” from the judges. The cake had the perfect amount of crispy crunchiness on the outside and tenderness inside. Sweet Dozen’s chocolate icing was thick, dark and flavorful and elevated their devil's food to the top of the list.

Sweet Dozen also scored highest among the finalist shops with its chocolate-frosted old-fashioned.

In addition to Baker Ben’s and Sweet Dozen, we visited Marie’s Donuts, Donuts Plus, Broadway Donuts, Stanely’s Donuts, Golden Doughnuts, Donut King, Donut Star, CK’s Donuts and Yum Yum Donuts.

If your favorite shop didn't make it to the top, don't despair. An important finding of our study was that most doughnuts tasted pretty darn good and that it was only when we did side-by-side comparisons that the subtle differences were exposed.

Disclosure: personal relationship with the Bunch family

Redevelopment winds down, city must decide next step

2012-01-26T01:49:24Z

Mere days before the Feb. 1 deadline to end redevelopment, the City Council is faced with two important decisions: what role the city will take in the aftermath, and what will happen to agency staff when redevelopment ends.

Although the City Council did not take any action at the meeting Tuesday, City Manager John Shirey outlined the next steps for council members as the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency winds down.

Shirey is the former executive director ~~president~~ of the California Redevelopment Association.

SHRA is the agency responsible for redevelopment in Sacramento County and the city.

An important factor in the process is figuring out what responsibilities the city will take on, and which ones will be taken over by other agencies, Shirey said.

In August, the City Council agreed to take over the non-housing functions of SHRA.

The city is responsible for managing current construction projects and making required payments on bond debt and other financial obligations.

With redevelopment being disbanded altogether, though, the housing assets and activities of SHRA have to be disposed of as well.

The city could assume that responsibility – or it could allow the city’s Housing Authority to take it over, which is what Shirey encouraged the City Council to have the city do.

If the city Housing Authority assumes those responsibilities and they continue to be managed by the SHRA, Shirey said, Housing Authority staff would have the benefit of the expertise of SHRA staff to administer the ongoing housing activities and assets.

Another problem the city is faced with is how it will handle staffing.

Currently, SHRA provides staff for all redevelopment programs in the city and the county.

Once the redevelopment agency is disbanded Feb. 1, staffing duties will have to be transitioned from SHRA to whatever entity takes over.

There are nearly 100 employees working on various projects at this point, Shirey said, and not all of those people will be needed in the transition.

That means layoffs for a majority of those employees.

Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy said Tuesday that she is concerned about potential layoffs.

“I hope that if any layoffs occur, that management is included and it’s not just the workers who take the hit,” she said. “I’ve seen that happen too many times.”

Bernadette Austin, a housing finance analyst with SHRA, spoke to the council on behalf of staff members who have worked behind the scenes on redevelopment projects such as the La Valentina housing project.

“I couldn’t do my job without (those staff members),” Austin said. “They helped create projects that really mean something to the community.”

Austin urged the council to keep as many current staff members in place as possible throughout the transition.

Shirey said attempts are being made in the Capitol to extend the dissolution deadline from Feb. 1 to April 15, but it’s not certain that legislation will make it to the governor’s desk in time to make a difference.

Redevelopment dissolution will be on the agenda at the Jan. 31 meeting, and the City Council is expected to take action then.

Editorial Note: A correction was made to this article after it was published. The incorrect information has been struck out and the correct information added.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Mikuni celebrates 25 years

2012-01-26T01:12:52Z

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar will celebrate a quarter century in business May 15, and co-owner Taro Arai said that after the touch-and-go nature of the first five years, the business has come a long way.

“The first five years, the more we worked, the more money we lost,” he said. “I still cannot believe it’s been 25 years. We’re so lucky to have all the support we’ve had.”

Now with nine restaurants in the greater Sacramento area, Arai said the business will be expanding in 2012, and while more brick-and-mortar restaurants are likely in store, the next thing people will see is a food truck.

There is no set timeline for rolling out the food truck yet, but Arai said he and his family have already started shopping for a truck.

“If it takes a year, I’ll be pretty upset,” he said.

“We’re working on the menu,” he added. “That’s the exciting part. I think we’re going to change the menu every week to see what people want and what works out there.”

Fitting the menu to be something the customers want and come back for has been key to staying in business for the past 25 years, he added.

When the first restaurant opened in Fair Oaks in 1987, it was due to a miracle, Arai said.

Working in a family member’s Japanese restaurant, Arai’s father was approached by a man who asked for his bank account information. Trusting the man, Arai’s father gave him the information.

A few days later, $300,000 was deposited into the account, and the man said to pay it back whenever it was possible.

“He gave us a no-contract loan,” Arai said Wednesday. “It was crazy.”

That loan enabled the family to open Mikuni, which translates as “kingdom of God.” The family planned to feature sushi, but there was one problem – Arai didn’t know how to make sushi. To remedy that, his father sent him to the bookstore.

“I needed, like, ‘Making Sushi for Dummies,’ ” he said with a laugh. “I learned how to do it, and we kept making new rolls for the people. My father told us to never stop making new rolls.”

Starting as a family of five who arrived from Japan with little more than a dream and the earnings from Arai’s paper route, there are now 17 family members involved in the restaurant, with Arai’s four children working during the summers and for special events.

“Its nice that it’s still a family business,” he said.

Despite success, the restaurant was not immune to the financial troubles brought about during the recession.

“We did struggle from 2007-2009,” Arai said. “My brother-in-law took over as CEO, and he’s just turned everything around, and we’re coming back strong now. He’s done a great job, and my brother is executive chef, and my sister is working in marketing.”

The Sacramento restaurant, located at 1530 J St., was part of the revitalization of the area when it was developed in 2003, said Downtown Sacramento Partnership spokeswoman Lisa Martinez.

“That was a historic renovation of a building that was not the best site before then,” Martinez said Wednesday. “Mikuni and P.F. Chang’s moved in, and it was kind of a turning point for the district. That year and the following year saw a big transformation in a lot of places downtown, and they were on the cutting edge.”

Martinez added that since the restaurant is on the border of downtown and Midtown, it helped create a bridge between the two districts and aided in making the area become more pedestrian-friendly.

“It’s been nine or 10 years since that development, and now downtown is known as a great location to go out and eat,” Martinez said. “Downtown really is the hub, and I think Mikuni and that development really strengthened the district.”

Arai said that being in business to make money is important for the 650 employees and their families, but it isn’t the end goal for the company.

“We’re committed to give back,” he said. “We’ve just reached $1 million in donations to breast cancer research, and we want to make a difference. We want to continue to help the charities in town. That’s another goal we have, and we keep pushing it.”

As part of the anniversary celebration, Mikuni is having contests and promotions that include a trip for two to Las Vegas, and someone will win a Honda Fit. For more information, click here.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

New Show "Sactown Famous" Highlights Local Talent and Culture

2012-01-25T22:28:53Z

Local producer and businessman Tony Savo announced today he will be hosting "Sactown Famous" a new reality show set to begin production in the Sacramento region late next week. The show will be produced by Savo's Coalition Media Group in association with One Mil Records and will spotlight the areas local talent, events and nightlife as well as feature exclusive interviews with the Capital city's biggest names.

Tony Savo says: "Sacramento's a very diverse and dynamic city and I think it should be celebrated. We got the Kings, the River Cats, the UFC's Urijah Faber and the Maloof's Global Skateboarding Initiative just for starters... there's a lot to take pride in if you call this place your home."

Savo a long time native of Sacramento first made a name for himself as the CEO and Producer of Coalition Fight Music a local band that has been featured on ESPN, Sky Sports (Fox Sports UK) USA Today and Tapout magazine for sponsoring World Champion UFC fighters Nick and Nate Diaz and Jake Sheilds. Last month Savo launched Coalition Media Group after announcing via his twitter account (@statecyde) that he had recently inked a deal with Samsung Web enabled TV and Europe's top fight promotion UCMMA to provide mobile MMA content to over 20 million smart phone subscribers around the globe. For more info contact sactownfamous@gmail.com

Disclosure: Danny Murphy is affiliated with Sactown Famous

New Orleans fare coming to Broadway

2012-01-25T07:28:14Z

Original PoBoys will open Friday at Broadway and Alhambra Boulevard, bringing what owner Eric Crawford said will be an “oasis for anyone from New Orleans.”

Crawford said the restaurant will offer authentic New Orleans food served in a fast food setting, and everything served – from the signature shrimp po’boy sandwich to the beignets – will be something found on menus throughout New Orleans.

“It has that smell you only get in mom-and-pop shops down south, and it has a Mardi Gras ambiance,” he said.

Three generations will work at the restaurant, as Crawford and his wife, Zena, have six children of their own, and Crawford’s mother, Alice Thiel, will help out.

Eric Crawford’s background is in construction, which helped the family save money when preparing the restaurant to open.

“I worked in construction here, but then the housing market fell apart,” he said. “That helped when it came time to open the restaurant, though.”

Originally from New Orleans, he met Zena Crawford in San Francisco, and they have lived in Sacramento for close to a decade. He said the current restaurant, at 3119 Broadway, is the first in what he hopes will be something he can franchise.

The signature sandwich is the shrimp po’boy, which has a medley of Cajun spices mixed in with the breading, but not so much that it overpowers the taste of the shrimp, which he said is what shines on the sandwich.

Sandwiches come “dressed,” which means they are topped with lettuce, tomatoes and pickles.

Sandwiches start at about $4 for an 8-inch smoked sausage and range to about $16 for a 16-inch soft-shell crab po’boy. Most 8-inch sandwiches fall in the $5 - $9 price range.

Those who don’t eat meat won’t be left out. A full salad bar with two types of lettuce, cucumbers, eggs and other toppings will be offered, and a po’boy sandwich with a vegetable patty will be on the menu.

“It was really important for us to have a vegetarian and vegan option,” Zena Crawford said.

A double-roasted beef sandwich is the most complex sandwich, Eric Crawford added. The meat is baked for three hours, then eventually shredded, and beef gravy is poured over it in a process called “debris cooking”. It all then goes back in the oven for another three hours of baking.

But the meat isn’t what makes the sandwich authentic.

“When people hear about a New Orleans po’boy, the first thing they want to know about is the bread,” Eric Crawford said.

Unable to find a supplier that makes the French baguettes to the perfect consistency for a po’boy, he took matters into his own hands and bakes the bread on-site. While he said it isn’t exact, it’s close enough so even those familiar with the real deal will be happy.

Zena Crawford said the restaurant – which will be open from 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. – will have an all-you-can-eat cereal bar, with a bowl running $2.60. Twenty-four pastries will also be available, including beignets, brownies and cookies, and a full range of Seattle’s Best coffee will be available.

All pastries are made in-house, and cereals will include Captain Crunch, Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Special K, Apple Jacks and Fruit Loops.

Waffles, sausages and grits are available for breakfast as well.

Soft-serve ice cream and milkshakes are served as well, and she said ice cream sundaes will likely be available in the summer.

“Anywhere you go in New Orleans, you can get a beignet and a coffee,” Eric Crawford said. “We want to be a part of the community. We’re here at the gateway to Oak Park, and it’s going through a change we want to be a part of.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services opens new education and technology center

2012-01-25T05:36:43Z

Families and individuals in need will have access to computers and educational services at the new education and technology center, which hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday. The center, located at 3308 Third Ave., will be open for classes on Feb. 21.

According to Communication Director Kelly Siefkin, the new facility will serve 2,500-3,000 of the 15,000 people the program serves each month. The new center allows for space to divide the groups based on learning levels.

Siefkin said she hopes that the expansion of available programs and training will have a positive impact on unemployment in Sacramento.

“I hope people know they can do everything here to improve their lives through education,” Siefkin said. “That’s what we’re here for.”

The 22,500-square-foot center is more than triple the size of the original 7,000-square-foot facility and will house 120 computers and 11 classrooms, more than double the original 40 computers and five classrooms.

Adjacent to the Center is a 7,600-square-foot garden, which will be used for food supply, and children and adults will use it to grow their own food.

“There will be a kitchen in the garden,” Siefkin said. “The students will be able to grow their produce and see how they can turn it into something they can eat.”

The SFBFS received a loan from the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, a $100,000 technology grant from State Street Foundation and one-time federal and county grants to build the $3.5 million building.

Fourteen-year-old Maria Garcia benefited from the youth education program at the original education center and helped cut the ribbon at the ceremony. She started the program when she was in the second grade and is now enrolled in a private high school and works once a week at McClellan Air Force Base.

“The Youth Academy taught me how to read and write,” Garcia said. “It also helped me catch up with my classes and (taught me) how to get a love for reading.”

After completing the youth academy, she attended the computer clubhouse, which he said taught her how to use the Microsoft Office programs, including Excel and PowerPoint.

The youth academy and computer clubhouse have been combined with the existing PlayCare to make up the youth education program. Separate adult and parent (formerly mother-baby) education programs were also added.

Twenty-two-year-old Cassandra Smith, enrolled in the parent education program, has been attending programs since 2009 and was playing with her 2-year-old son, Orion, in the new 5,000-square-foot recreation area.

Smith, who was eight months pregnant with Orion when she started the program, met with Parent Education Program Manager Lorena Carranza, who she said helped her get settled.

“She provided a care package for moms in the last trimester,” Smith said. “It was really helpful because I didn’t have any of the items.”

Smith said she receives points for each class which go toward her necessities. She added that with the new programs, the points per class will double.

“My stroller broke on the way to class once,” Smith said, laughing. “I was able to purchase a new stroller with 15 points, which was an amazing feeling.”

Smith said that the program not only helps her, but it helps her son as well.

Siefkin added that anyone can attend the program and that the old zipcode restrictions, which prohibited certain programs to specific areas, are no longer in place. While there are paid staff members, the teachers are all volunteers and help with anything from English as a second language (ESL) to computers and parent education.

“We have unbelievable volunteers,” Siefkin said. “They allow us to offer services at no cost.”

According to Siefkin, volunteers, materials and resources are needed immediately to prepare for the opening in February.

“We want to make sure everyone knows the community is welcome to get involved,” Siefkin said.

For more information, visit the website.

Bonsai Forever Stamps Unveiled

2012-01-25T00:24:53Z

The Capital City Bonsai Association and the Sacramento Bonsai Club hosted the Commemoration of the Introduction of the USPS Forever® Bonsai Stamps at the Iva Gard Shepard Garden and Arts Center.

These five new stamps are forever equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate..

The event was packed for the unveiling.

Art Director and stamp designer Ethel Kessler worked with artist John D. Dawson on the Bonsai stamps. Dawson's art has been featured on previous year's stamps. He was unable to attend the ceremony.

Five common styles of bonsai are featured on these new stamps:
1) a Sierra Juniper in semi-cascade style:

(2) a Trident Maple in informal upright style:

(3) a Black Pine in formal upright style:

(4) an Azalea plant in multiple-trunk style:

(5) a Banyan in cascade style:

During the dedication, Jeffrey C. Lelevich, Postmaster, Sacramento explained that new subjects for stamps and postal stationery are suggested by the US public.

They receive 10,000 proposals, all of different topics, a year.

"This is really a treat to have the post office dedicate their stamp here because the Center is the home of Capital City Bonsai Club" said Edzard Schroeder, Treasurer and Budget Director for the Center.

This Club has four other Bonsai groups associated with it.

Ronald Krause, Sekiyu Kai Bonsai Club, gave everyone a good tip: how to say the word Bonsai:
"give the dog a bone and make him sigh": Bonsai sounds like Bone-sigh.

"Bonsai is a combination of two Japanese words
Bon meaning "shallow tray or pot" and sai meaning "plant or tree". Put them together and you get Bonsai.

Bonsai originated centuries ago and the Japanese perfected the art, says Krause. It's not real clear where it began.

In 1909, the first major exhibit of Bonsai was in London, by a group of Japanese artists.

The earliest presence of Bonsai in the US was in Long Island, NY in 1925. A nurseryman amassed a large collection and gave it to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden a gift of 32 potted plants.

It was a challenge taking care of them and by the 1940s only 11 of them survived.

Krause continues, explaining that it wasn't until after 1945, thanks to WWII, that Bonsai began to grow.

In 1976, to commemorate the US bicentennial, a collection of 53 Bonsai were donated to the people of the United States by the Nippon Association in Tokyo to the National Arboretum.

Krause said he and his brother luckily saw them right after the donation was made. Within two years half of them were dead.

A Japanese Sensei was soon hired to oversee the collection, which now thrives.

"Bonsai is now among the most radically developing leisure pastimes in the US and its popularity grows worldwide," Krause said and then asked "what is the oldest Bonsai club in California?"

The answer is Sacramento Bonsai Club.

Krause says "not only is it the oldest club in California, it's the oldest in the country."

It was founded in 1946.

Sacramento is the only city in the US with four Bonsai clubs.

In 1999 these four clubs joined together to form the Capital City Bonsai Association. It holds its fall show every October at the Iva Gard Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park.

NAG meeting tackles big issues

2012-01-24T21:44:11Z

Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group members cautiously welcomed the new leader of the Midtown Business Association Monday evening at their monthly meeting and took the opportunity to express their frustrations with the organization.

About 40 residents, business leaders and presenters attended the meeting – a high turnout, according to Bill Burgua, attendee.

Elizabeth Studebaker, the new executive director of the Midtown Business Association, said her first focus is on trash removal, and that aggressive changes will be made. She also addressed concerns about the growing number of bars and restaurants in Midtown.

“There’s a very strong perception that the neighborhood has been taken over by the hospitality industry,” said Burgua. “You are up against a really dim view from the people in the neighborhood.”

Studebaker said she’ll work hard to repair the relationship between residents and the MBA, but she asked for time and assistance from the community.

She also announced the search for a maintenance manager to oversee the removal of trash, graffiti and the overall appearance of the business district.

In regard to the proliferation of liquor providers in the area, Studebaker said she’s in search of a healthy balance of businesses, with a focus on small businesses.

“MBA can’t decide who opens a business here, but we can be a communication tool,” Studebaker said.

David Brent, interim director of the city’s Department of Utilities, presented proposed increases to water and waste water rates. The increases would fund a program to replace or rehabilitate the aging infrastructure.

The water treatment plant on the Sacramento river is operating with the original pumps from 1920. Many miles of pipeline are more than 100 years old and are in danger of failure, Brent said. He added that it’s a necessary investment to avoid the risk of flooded houses, closed businesses and sewage backups.

“All our lives, we’ve turned on the water or flushed the toilet without any thought as to how it gets there or where it goes,” Brent said.

The proposal included a 10 percent increase for each of the next three years to unmetered water rates, and an average 15 percent increase to waste water rates. The total increase would add approximately $20 to the average customer’s bill each month by the final increase in 2014, according to Brent’s proposal.

The proposal goes to the City Council on Feb. 21.

Sacramento Police Department Lt. Bill Champion and Norm Colby with the Department of Transportation addressed the growing incidences of copper theft around Sacramento. Some of the hardest-hit targets have been street lights, traffic signals and parks.

“For every foot we put in, they pull out three,” Colby said.

Champion and Colby asked residents to be vigilant and to contact police if people are seen in electrical boxes that don’t seem like they belong. Also, the public should note any missing access covers, as they likely indicate a theft has occurred.

Colby said he’s working to replace the current electrical access covers with locking lids. So far, 400-500 have been purchased, but with 80,000 lids in Sacramento, it is a long, expensive project.

The cost to replace the missing copper is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Champion said cameras have been set up to catch thieves, but a better way to tackle the problem is with recyclers and scrap metal dealers.

“If they have nowhere to take it to sell, it becomes worthless,” Champion said, adding that dealers should be required to check identifications and take thumbprints from sellers.

Central city parking was addressed by Greg Sandlund, associate planner with the city of Sacramento. Sandlund said efforts are being made to modernize parking requirements for new businesses and housing developments. He said his office is looking to provide alternative, smarter ways to provide more parking in the neighborhood, such as scooter or bike parking.

Residents voiced frustrations about the current parking situation and said the city needs to incentivize business owners to share private parking, particularly at night when many lots sit empty.

“Old neighborhoods are dense, and this creates an issue where residents at night can’t get anywhere near our houses,” said Karen Jacques, member of NAG. “It’s a convenience issue and a safety issue.”

Teresa Jackson, with the Department of Parks and Recreation, presented proposed changes to the ordinances that govern special events. Jackson said current codes haven’t been updated since 1995, and the Special Event Ordinance Committee was formed to streamline the process.

The committee is a collection of business owners, event planners and neighborhood representatives.

The proposed updates will make it easier for event planners to understand the “do’s and don’ts” in Sacramento.

Among the changes is a proposal to increase the time needed to file an application from 20 days before the event to 60 days, a process that will allow for better community notification, Jackson said.

The decibel level of special events was also addressed. The acceptable levels would be increased, but the Special Event Ordinance Committee wants to require event planners to pay for an event attendant to monitor sound, Jackson said. She added that police officers now carry decibel meters, and planners will be fined if city resources are used to close down an event.

The next agenda committee meeting will take place on Feb. 6, and the next general NAG meeting will be Feb. 21. Meetings are usually held at the Hart Senior Center, located at 915 27th St.

Financial literacy program expands with United Way

2012-01-24T02:01:59Z

The City Council approved an agreement Tuesday merging a local financial literacy program with the United Way in an effort to expand the program and offer the services region-wide.

Bank on Sacramento is a collaboration between local nonprofit organizations, banks and credit unions to help residents who don’t have bank accounts – or historically have not used mainstream banking services – to get access to low-cost accounts and financial advice so they can begin saving money and building credit history.

According to a city staff report, the merge allows the United Way California Capital Region to administer the program and expand the services to residents of Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties.

“It makes sense to have one organization (administering the program) for the whole region,” Steve Heath, president of United Way California Capital Region said Monday. “It’s been a success in the city (of Sacramento), and we want to build on that.”

Heath said there are an estimated 30,000 households in the region that do not use mainstream banking – basic savings or checking accounts – and instead rely on check-cashing businesses for “payday loans,” or use cash for every transaction.

But cash transactions and those types of loans don’t help a consumer build credit or assets or save money, Heath said – or learn to wisely manage finances, a necessary skill in today’s complex financial world.

Payday loans – also called cash advance loans or check advance loans – are common, and the average annual percentage rate on a typical short-term loan can be steep, Heath said.

According to the Center for Responsible Lending, payday loans are usually made to people who need money right away and plan to pay it back with their next paycheck. Lenders offer amounts up to $500 for short periods of time – one to four weeks – and loan fees range between $15 and $70, depending on the loan amount.

“Some people spend in excess of $1,000 a year on fees at check-cashing places,” Heath said, “versus about $15 per month at a bank. That’s money wasted.”

Heath said the Bank on Sacramento program is designed not only to offer financial literacy education and access to low-cost banking services, but also to find people who need more intensive financial services and refer them into other, more detailed programs.

“The goals of Bank on Sacramento are well-matched with our goal of teaching financial stability here at United Way,” Heath said.

Sacramento has a significant number of check cashing and payday lending businesses strategically placed in economically challenged areas that provide a significantly more expensive alternative to traditional financial institutions, according to the staff report.

Fees from payday lenders total more than $16 million per year. Without a bank account, the average person will spend 5 percent of his or her income on money orders and in payday lender fees each year.

“Right now, where we are in recovery from financial troubles in the nation,” said Jim Allen, a representative of Safe Credit Union in Sacramento, “there are a lot of people out there who need to improve their financial literacy.”

Safe Credit Union is one of nearly 20 organizations involved locally in the Bank on Sacramento program.

Allen said the program is intended to help people who might otherwise not be able to get a bank account, are skeptical of banks or traditionally don’t use banking systems.

“We want to help set aside preconceptions and help people learn how to use a bank and how to manage their finances to actually build something for themselves,” Allen said.

The Bank on Sacramento program operates on grant funds transferred from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to the City of Sacramento, according to the staff report.

Through the program merge, all remaining grant funds will be administered by the United Way. There is no commitment to spend city funds other than staff time, the report states, and city staff will not engage in fund raising for Bank on Sacramento.

According to the report, the Bank on Sacramento program assisted more than 45,000 residents to establish bank accounts – substantially surpassing the one-year program goal of 10,001 residents.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter with The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Sharif Jewelers to open new location on K Street

2012-01-24T00:45:38Z

Sharif Jewelers is the next locally owned business to take a chance on K Street, with a new store expected to open in the former Breuner’s Department Store at 1001 K St. in June or July.

Like the company’s Howe Avenue and Folsom locations, the downtown location will be a full-service jewelry store, with new and pre-owned jewelry, watches, repair and service, said co-owner Mahmud Sharif.

“We have been looking into going downtown for the last three or four years,” Sharif said Monday. “We had the chance to invest in that corner, which we believe is the best corner in downtown.”

He added that he believes people who work downtown and near the Capitol will provide a strong customer base to the store because it is more convenient to the area than the Howe Avenue location, which hosted its grand opening in November after moving to a larger space.

Erica Clark, sales manager, said customers at the Howe Avenue location have given positive feedback, which encourages the company that the downtown store will be a success despite the economy.

“I would consider the space the heart of downtown, and that’s a part of the metropolis,” she said. “We feel very confident it will be a thriving business.”

She added that the development on K Street over the past year reaffirmed the decision to open a store in the area.

“The reopening of K Street to cars solidified us,” she said.

The business will occupy the 5,000-square-foot ground floor of the building, which has, in years past, been home to historic holiday window displays.

Sales of new jewelry will likely be the “driving force” of the store, she added, though repair, modification and custom jewelry will be important as well.

As with the other stores, Turkish coffee and baklava will be offered to customers, Clark said.

Sharif Jewelers has been in Sacramento for more than 30 years, and Sharif’s son, Omar Sharif, said he plans to continue with the business that started with his great-grandfather in Palestine.

“With the jewelry market and industry itself, most families shop at the same jewelry store for generations, so it’s nice to have a jewelry store run by the same family and the same people and always be there,” he said. “People tend to like it, and we get to know our customers that way.”

He added that he grew up in and around the store and is currently studying business administration at Sacramento State.

“Downtown is going to grow, and we hope to grow with downtown,” he said. “I think, personally, that everything is starting to move away from Midtown and back into downtown, and K Street is the heart of that area.”

Store hours have not yet been set, but it will likely open around 10 a.m. and close between 5 and 6 p.m., Clark said.

“We are very excited,” Mahmud Sharif said. “Truly we are blessed, blessed to have that location and be downtown.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Sacramento Fashion Week Press Party

2012-01-23T00:19:17Z

Mayahuel Tequila Museo hosted an elegant evening of fashion on Thursday night. Designers scheduled to participate in the Designer Showcase were on hand to celebrate a Sacramento Fashion Week Press Party.

This year’s Sacramento Fashion Week will take place the week of February 21. Several events are planned for the event including two Designer Showcases with the final show on February 25.

Several Sacramento Fashion Week staff members were on hand to meet and greet guests at the event. Producer and Executive Director, Duane Ram, introduced the event and other staff members. Creative Director, Will Rodriguez, also said a few words to start the sixth year of production for Sacramento Fashion Week.

Designers arrived at Mayahuel and mingled with guests. Models arrived later aboard a stretch limo and posed for photos in front of the Tequila Museo before making a grand entrance.

There are 13 designers scheduled for this year’s runway fashion show. Two nights have been set aside to showcase their creativity in fashion and share their designs with the ever growing Sacramento fashion scene.

The International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT) will host a training workshop at their campus during the second day of Sacramento Fashion Week. The workshop, Model Boot Camp, will be open to the public and will be helpful for aspiring models.

Sacramento State Student Fashion Association (SFA) will host a Fashion Forum on February 23. The forum will be held at the Hinde Auditorium at Sacramento State University. This event will feature industry professionals who will bring their perspective and knowledge in their profession. Different career fields within the fashion industry will be shared with students and others in attendance.

Representatives from Make-A-Wish Foundation of Sacramento and Northeastern California were also on hand. Make-A-Wish will be the beneficiary organization of Sacramento Fashion Week for the second straight year.

Guests were offered delicious appetizers from Mayahuel’s kitchen and a multi media presentation played in the background creating a lively atmosphere.

I was able to talk to two of the designers and their models to ask them about the upcoming fashion show. The designers I spoke to, Julian Gutierrez and Vasily Vein will be featured in the Designer Showcase on February 25.

Julian Gutierrez is originally from Sacramento but now lives in San Francisco attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM).

The Sacramento Press: How did you hear about Sacramento Fashion Week?

Julian Gutierrez: Well I’ve been an intern for Caren Templet for about two years. Sacramento is a tight niche community and word gets around. I did a collection in high school that was well received. I just started college at FIDM this year and this will be my third quarter so I’m really excited that I can participate in this show.

SP: Do you know any of the other designers here from FIDM?

JG: Actually many designers are close and they know and help each other and we’re all trying to help Sacramento perhaps become the fashion capital of California.

SP: When will your fashion line be showcased?

JG: I will be showcasing on Saturday night.

SP: Do you have family in Sacramento?

JG: Yeah my family is here. I have some family in Texas but my immediate family is in Sacramento, I grew up here.

SP: What advice, if you had any, would you give someone who may be trying to get into design?

JG: You need to take every opportunity that’s offered no matter how small. Try to find someone in the industry and network with them and really show your interest and your enthusiasm. Tell them you really want to be where they’re at in the industry. That’s what I did at Templet and I went beyond things I would ever be able to learn in school. As I’m getting older I’m starting to see things that are happening to me that I never thought would happen. I’m very impatient so I thought that this would never happen but it does. I know people that have motivation and really want to do something but at this point they don’t have the skills and are impatient like I was. I would give them advice to follow anything in their life they really want and dedicate themselves to it and follow through to really achieve what they want.

SP: How old where you when you realized you wanted to be a designer?

JG: Maybe when I was in junior high when I was about 13. When I moved to my apartment my mom gave me this mural where I did a fashion sketch when I was about four and I had no idea that I even did it. I used to go in front of the TV and pause it and draw whatever interested me. So in my mind I’ve been designing forever. I find fashion to be beautiful and necessary in my life.

SP: How would you describe your style?

JG: At this point in my life I just really want to make things that are simple, silhouette and basic and that are comfortable but have beautiful detail. I’m inspired by Alexander McQueen and Chanel and the beauty of it is that their clothing is so simple and silhouette and so form fitting in the right places and yet not being vulgar. I find it a lot sexier when a girl or anybody is actually covered up kind of modest and has the sense of formability but still not letting anybody take advantage. I really want to make clothes for people who want change and are always trying to change their life for the better.

Model Danielle Birum wore a Julian Gutierrez design and I asked her a couple of questions to get a model’s perspective on the event and to find out a little more about her.

SP: How long have you been a model?

Danielle Birum: I’ve been a model for a total of five years now in the Sacramento area.

SP: How did you become involved with Sacramento Fashion Week?

DB: I emailed my friend Maria when I heard about Sacramento Fashion Week and asked if I could be in it and at the last minute I was able to get in. I had done a show with Maria before.

SP: Have you done any other runway shows before?

DB: Nothing really big.

SP: Are you from the Sacramento area?

DB: Yes, I’m from Sacramento and right now I go to American River College. I’m transferring in the fall and I will be going to Monterrey Bay to study Marine Biology.

SP: Do you think you’ll also continue to pursue a modeling career?

DB: It just depends, I really would love to have a career in modeling but school comes first. I should mention that Julian’s fabric choices are amazing they feel awesome they’re amazing and gorgeous.

SP: Who is your favorite model?

DB: I like Heidi Klum and Marisa Miller.

A designer who was part of the last Designing Dreams fashion show Vasily Vein was also present and I was able to ask him and his model some questions. We spoke through a Russian interpreter in order to make sure we understood each other.

SP: I notice you do most of your work in San Francisco but how did you become involved with Sacramento Fashion Week?

Vasily Vein: I love their organization system and the Sacramento Fashion Week team. I had a part in the Designing Dreams fashion show last year and I think they’re one of the best fashion teams in the area.

SP: How long have you been a designer?

VV: All my life, since I was 12 years old.

SP: What or who inspired you to get into fashion?

VV: I’ve always wanted to be involved in fashion. As I thought about what career I wanted to pursue I realized that I wanted to be involved in fashion. Fashion has always been my passion.

SP: I read somewhere that you designed for several Russian rock stars can you tell me who?

VV: I was involved in designing outfits for Russian entertainers. I was a designer for Russian pop and rock stars. I worked with Russian singer Linda for about 10 years. Linda is very famous in Russia and Greece.

SP: When did you come to America and why?

VV: I came to the U.S. three years ago. I like risk and love to experiment and America offered a great challenge.

SP: Have you been to Sacramento before for any shows?

VV: I was in Designing Dreams in August of last year.

SP: Do you have any parting words for Sacramentans coming to the show?

VV: Please come and see my designs. I will try to have a fun presentation for the public.

SP: How would you describe your style?

VV: I try to make beautiful outfits and try to make them for everyone. My creations are not just for the runway but are also made for casual and formal wear.

Maria Kondrakhanova wore a gorgeous red dress designed by Vein. Their interpreter indicated that Kondrakhanova is a top model in Russia and hailed from the Russian city of Nizhniy Novgorod.

SP: How long have you been modeling?

Maria Kondrakhanova: I’ve been a model since I was 16 years old. I’ve been a model in Russia but not in U.S.

SP: What inspired you to become a model?
MK: I love beautiful things, outfits, people and other things and fashion makes me like it’s a dream. I enjoy showcasing beautiful designs.

SP: When did you come to America?

MK: I came to America three years ago for the first time

SP: Who is your favorite model and designer?

MK: I love the beautiful designs of Vasily. My favorite model is Natalia Vodianova because we’re both from the same hometown.

The evening provided a great setting for fashion designers, models, advertising and modeling agencies, photographers, make up artists, hair stylists, media and other fashion industry people to enjoy the beginning of this year’s fashion extravaganza. Tickets for Sacramento Fashion Week are now on sale and this year they’re expecting to sell out.

10 Reasons Why a 50-Year Parking Agreement is Bad for Sacramento

2012-01-22T00:54:57Z

As our City leaders continue to debate how to finance an NBA-size arena in the downtown, climaxing with a final City Council vote in the next few weeks, here are ten reasons why I believe financing a new area with a 50-year "parking lot fee" agreement is not good for the financial and emotional well-being of our great City of Sacramento.

(1) Fifty-year agreements encourage abuse and escalation of fees. If the capitalist system depends upon free enterprise and competition, 50-year agreements are an invitation for corruption and exploitation. Immediately or gradually, we will all curse the day this deal was done, every time we park downtown.

(2) If you can afford $200-$500 for a family to see an arena-sized rock show or an NBA basketball game, an additional $15-$25 for parking doesn't seem like much. But if you have a "movie-theater-ticket-and-a-drink" budget, you go to the suburbs where the parking is free or at least affordable. Vouchers help big time for these thousands of consumers. Read between the lines of the contemplated parking fees - The City negotiators are desperate to "do the deal" and if free parking vouchers stand in the way, say good-bye to vouchers.

(3) Does anyone foresee a time in our great-grandchildren's lives (or fifty years?) when Sacramento becomes a center for corporate headquarters and major commerce? Not me. Given the current rules for NBA and major league sports arena financing, corporate underwriting is critical to the ongoing success of major league franchises. We don't have money for corporate "luxury boxes" now and we won't have enough in the future. Our biggest publicly owned company (a waste disposal firm) recently announced they are moving to Texas. I can't decide what part of this sentence bothers me the most. (a) As a City, are we not good enough for a company that hauls garbage? or (b) Why does a garbage truck company choosing to move to Texas makes such a big deal to our economy? Could this be an omen?

(4) The best "naming rights" deal the Maloof Family could come up with was a company that sells rubber bands for $30 and is currently sliding into bankruptcy. 50-year contracts for jacked-up parking fees sound more "cow-town" than 10,000 cowbells at a Lakers game.

(5) In the past decade, "silly money" mortgages were sold to good people with dreams bigger than their ability to pay. Selling the parking rights, for all of downtown, for the next fifty years, smacks of the same "Don't you want to aspire to enjoy a better life?" crap used by "vacation time share" salespeople. Once we do this deal, they will never stop calling. What will be the next proposal? Charging an admission to Old Sacramento?

(6) We are great as a "farm team" City. We love our AAA minor league River Cats with ticket prices we can afford. We love Friday night high school football. Our list of "home-grown" great ball players rivals any city in the nation. In Sacramento, we GROW great athletes –men and women - with tolerance, a solid work ethic, and excellent coaching. Let other cities bankrupt themselves chasing "parking lot dreams". We are smarter than that.

(7) Yes, a big league area would be good for local professional sports commentators. To move up to ESPN stature, you must have at least one major league sports team in your town. Do you now understand the motivation behind Grant Napear and others in "talk sports" radio, TV, and print? For the handful of big league sports commentators, this is a “jobs-bill” helping them each further their careers. Without the Kings, they would have to move too much more expensive cities to pursue their profession. How many of you are pro sports commentators wanting to work in New York or Los Angeles? I rest my case.

(8) Let’s organize ourselves and build a smaller downtown arena – one we can afford. Instead of 150 nights per year, let’s fill it up 300 nights with 12,000 music fans, families who love the circus, monster truck smash-ups, ice-skating clowns, high school volleyball championships, evangelical Christians, political conventions, and - your favorite affordable event. Why is building an arena big enough to keep the Kings in Sacramento - at any cost - the sole criteria for downtown improvement? Yes, this is a priority for Kings fans, our Mayor, the sports broadcasters, the Maloof family – maybe 20,000 local people, tops. Let’s do the math, re-prioritize, and adjust our planning.

(9) Wouldn't you rather have 300 nights of hustle and bustle downtown? Imagine, piling the family into the car, buying affordable event tickets, parking inexpensively within walking distance, eating out at great restaurants, dancing at diverse music clubs, and having more fun with fewer overpaid seven-foot millionaires to block the view? Now that's a town that pays its bills, raises great kids, and lives within its own skin.

(10) Financing an arena by collecting parking fees for fifty years just sounds cheap. Talk about a "nickel and dime" approach to big time sports. How about if we required City leaders and the Maloof family to stand on street-corners with a cardboard sign pleading with motorists "Spare Change for the Kings?" No, why would we ask them to do that - for the next 50 years - when we can install parking meters to achieve the same goal.

In conclusion, I really don't care what Charles Barkley and Phil Jackson think of us and neither should our community leaders. Grow up, Sacramento. Be bold and enjoy living within your means.... Isn't that the lesson of the Wall Street financial collapse? Make a budget and live within that budget. Be yourself, not what others think you should be. Live life in the moment and don't mortgage your future. These are the hard lessons we should have learned since 2008. Have we been paying attention?

City Council members, I ask you - 50 years - really? You are creating financial obligations for your great-grandchildren. In the year 2062, when they curse you for paying to park by the minute and for an arena that was demolished 25 years earlier - is this how you want to be remembered? Now that, my Sacramento friends, is a legacy I would rather avoid.

Disclosure: born in Sacramento at Mercy Hospital

CA State Managers Failed to Shut-Down Unlicensed Care Home

2012-01-21T17:18:25Z

Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) is responsible for regulating care homes for people who are unable to care for themselves. This story revolves around a care facility for the elderly, that was not licensed. All care homes in CA must be licensed with the CA Dept of Social Services (CDSS). If a care home is operating without a license, the owner is fined and put out of business. Well, that is the so-called state mandate, anyway.

In summary, here are the chain of events which occurred from 2007 to 2010, in the small farm town of Fall River Mills, CA.

Owner of the elderly care home "Riverview Residential" was cited in July 2008 for running a facility without a license. The owner was given two chances to complete the required state application, return it and get a license. She failed both times. The state inspector (known as a Licensing Program Analyst {LPA}) in charge of the Fall River Mills jurisdiction, attempted to shut down the facility. The care of the people living at Riverview was extremely negligent, several residents died and there were numerous complaints about the health and safety of the clients living there.

The LPA continued to report the horrid conditions of Riverview to the CDSS management in Sacramento. The LPA met with Adult Protective Services, The Ombudsman and the Shasta County Sheriff on numerous occasions to attempt to shut down Riverview, The CDSS managers ignored the requests for assistance in shutting down Riverview. On November 9, 2009 the LPA went to Riverview and was accompanied by a sheriff's deputy. The LPA delivered a fine to the owner of Riverview in the amount of $20,000.00 for operating without a license. In order for a fine (known as a Civil Penalty) to be validated, it must be signed by a regional manager. The LPA sent the document to the regional manager for signing. The manager never acknowledged the document and it was never signed.

On November 17, 2009 the LPA was notified that a resident was found deceased and wedged between a wall and a mattress. The LPA notified the CDSS managers immediately. The LPA also requested permission to contact CA Department of Justice Elder Care Division (DOJ). On November 18, 2009 the LPA received an E-mail from the CDSS managers which ordered the LPA to not contact DOJ. It is common practice to notify DOJ in this type situation. The LPA called the director of APS, provided a direct line to an agent of DOJ. DOJ then got involved in the case. The LPA was interviewed by a supervisor from DOJ. The DOJ supervisor asked why the CDSS managers ordered the LPA to not contact DOJ. It was unknown why the order was given.

The LPA continued to press the CDSS managers for assistance and request that a manager sign the document for the $20k fine. All requests were ignored. On February 10, 2010, the LPA was pulled off the case, revoked from working in the field, reprimanded to work solely in the office and denied the scheduled step pay- raise. The LPA resigned in April 2010 as a result of the situation.

This story was published in the Mt. Echo Newspaper on January 17, 2012, by editor, Walt Caldwell. I provided a link to the article. The article gives names, dates and places. Very well written and based on factual, documented evidence.

http://rcfereform.org/news/Mountain_Echo_Reports_CCLD_Misconduct

Disclosure: Yes. I was the Licensing Program Analyst mentioned in the story.

Round-up: Recent changes in local news outlets

2012-01-21T02:05:23Z

In a world where nearly everyone has a smartphone or an iPod and news flashes are delivered in 140 characters or less, the landscape of news media is rapidly changing. Here is a quick roundup of recent changes in the local news outlets:

Sacramento News & Review: Looking for a new editor

The Sacramento News & Review has been a print publication since 1989, and Melinda Welsh has been the editor for most of that time. About a week ago, she decided to step down, and now the News & Review is conducting a nationwide search for her replacement.

“I love the job, it’s the coolest job,” Welsh said Friday. “But it’s been long enough. Eighteen years as an editor? It’s time to do something different.”

Welsh said the nationwide search began as soon as she announced her plans to leave, and ads for the position have been appearing in local outlets and across the nation.

Welsh said, so far, there have been some responses to the ads, but the hiring office at News & Review is not yet to the point of conducting interviews.

“We’re targeting other alt(ernative) weeklies and looking for someone with experience in what we do,” Welsh said.

Although the search for an editor is open nationwide, Welsh said the News & Review would prefer someone with ties to Sacramento – especially since the paper focuses on local stories.

Welsh said the News & Review has gone through a number of changes over the years – but that’s the nature of media.

“It’s a time of change,” Welsh said. “I don’t think we’re behind the eight ball. The News and Review is thinner than it’s been, but our readership has increased. It’s just the ever-changing landscape of media.”

Capitol Weekly: Leaving print behind, going to online-only

Jan. 12 saw the print edition of Capitol Weekly – a newspaper devoted solely to politics and governance in Sacramento – delivered to offices in the state Capitol for the last time.

According to the Jan. 17 announcement in Capitol Weekly, the newspaper suspended its print edition in favor of an online-only presence.

Calling it “an essential element of the reorganization of our company,” Editor John Howard said in the announcement that the move was prompted by “challenging economic times coupled with the need for new technologies” to expand the company’s capabilities.

The switch to online-only came with employee layoffs at the newspaper – something
Lilly Fuentes-Joy, former photo editor with Capitol Weekly, said many people hoped would never happen.

“Financially the paper was going through hard times,” Fuentes-Joy said Friday, “but we all thought the paper would pull through.”

Fuentes-Joy said about 10 people were let go from the paper when it halted its print edition.

Howard said in the announcement that “the economy, changing readership habits and increasing demand for speed and access” spurred the change, and the company wants to focus on how to meet the needs of its readers and advertisers.

“I’ve seen Capitol Weekly go through so many changes,” Fuentes-Joy said Friday, “but not keep up with the changing times.”

The social media aspect of journalism has been key to the struggles of Capitol Weekly, Fuentes-Joy said.

“People still like print media,” she said, “but they want quick fixes – immediate news – but there’s no real depth.”

Capitol Weekly will continue to produce a conference series, special events and its television show, “Politics On Tap,” according to Capitol Weekly Publisher Arnold York.

Capital Public Radio: Moving jazz to sister station, focusing on news

Jazz and music lovers will no longer find their favorite music on KXJZ 90.9, because Capital Public Radio is making some changes to its format.

“Over the last several years, our research has shown a growing demand for news information,” Capital Public Radio General Manager Rick Eytcheson said Friday.

“The way people consume music has been evolving, and that rate of change is accelerating. People have so many options, and a lot of radio stations are struggling,” Eytcheson said.

In response to listeners’ requests and research that the organization did, Eytcheson said, the station moved its popular "Excellence In Jazz" program and several other music programs from KXJZ 90.9 to its sister station at 88.9 KXPR to allow more airtime at 90.9 for news and information programming.

“The news side continues to grow on public radio,” Eytcheson said, “and we’ve seen robust ratings growth. We want to build on that.”

Eytcheson said about two years ago, the station started to stream jazz music online, and managers were pleasantly surprised to see the number of people tuning in. Soon, the station began to simultaneously stream classical music to reach a larger audience.

With the newest format changes, Eytcheson said, he hopes no one loses out: Fans of news and information will get full-time programming on one station, and music lovers will get full-time programming on another station.

“Jazz isn’t going away,” Eytcheson said. “It’s just moving down the dial.”

In addition to the format changes, Eytcheson said, the news station will add new shows including, “The Splendid Table,” “Q” from Canadian Broadcasting Company, “Marketplace Money” and others.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Editorial Note: Spelling corrections were made to this article after it was posted.

County's Green-Yellow-Red Restaurant Rating Program Marks 5-Year Anniversary

2012-01-21T01:07:03Z

If you’ve gone out to eat at any restaurant in Sacramento County you probably noticed the color-coded sign posted near the entrance with results of the establishment’s latest health inspection. January 2012 marks the 5-year anniversary of Sacramento County’s Green-Yellow-Red food facility rating program.

Since the program began, food facilities receiving a green or “Pass” placard increased from 88 to 94 percent, said Val Siebal, director of the Environmental Management Department. At the same time, major health risk violations that could potentially cause foodborne illness have decreased. Restaurants are inspected three times a year and other food facilities twice a year. Routine inspections are unannounced.

“The program has been well-received by food facility owners and operators, and is popular with restaurant patrons. The color-coded placards give consumers an instant message about the establishment’s food safety inspection record and compliance with State and local food safety laws,” said Siebal.

The Green-Yellow-Red retail food safety program is modeled after a similar successful program in Toronto, Canada, and was the first program of its kind in the United States. Columbus, Ohio has now adopted a similar program.

Restaurants, markets, bakeries, school cafeterias and other retail food establishments in Sacramento County are required to display a green, yellow, or red placard at or near the entrance of their facility. A placard is posted by the inspector upon completion of a health inspection. A green or “PASS” sign denotes a high level of compliance. A yellow or “CONDITIONAL PASS” sign is posted when two or more major food safety violations are found and corrected before the inspector leaves. The business will remain open and a re-inspection is conducted, usually within 48 hours, to assure continued compliance. A red or “CLOSED” sign is posted when an establishment is closed for an imminent health hazard that cannot be immediately corrected.

Get inspection results for your favorite eateries on the go
A food inspection results website and smart phone apps were recently made available. Visit m.ffi.saccounty.net with your smart phone or tablet and view the inspection results for food facilities in your immediate area. Free apps can be found in the Android Market and iTunes app stores by searching for ‘Sac Food.’ Visit our mobile web & app page for more information.

Food safety education is a major component of the program
A major part of the Green-Yellow-Red restaurant rating program focuses on operator education and outreach. To enhance this, EMD recently produced a video to teach food facility owners and workers how to pass a health inspection to get a green or “PASS” rating. The 25-minute “How to Get a Green” training video is available in four languages (English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Vietnamese). It can be viewed online at www.emd.saccounty.net/EnvHealth/FoodProtect/FoodVideoTraining.html.

Does your home kitchen get a green?
In time for the 5-year anniversary of the Green-Yellow-Red restaurant inspection program, there is now an online Home Kitchen Self-Inspection Survey to make sure you know the basics of food safety – and get a green “PASS” sign to display at home. Take the quiz at www.homekitchensurvey.saccounty.net.

For more information about the County’s retail food protection program, call (916) 875-8440 or visit www.emd.saccounty.net/EnvHealth/FoodProtect/RetailFood.html.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kerri Aiello is a Communications and Media Officer for Sacramento County. She can be reached by telephone at (916) 874-4667 or email Aiellok@saccounty.net.

Will leasing city garages ruin parking validation?

2012-01-20T18:50:13Z

As the city pursues a potential lessee for the city’s parking inventory, there is an important question to ask: Could the city parking validation program end? If it does, is there a risk of damaging existing businesses – some of which have struggled in the downtown area for years?

According to city parking services manager Howard Chan, Sacramento currently validates parking at city-owned garages for many local businesses and venues, providing an incentive to business owners: They buy the parking at a discount, and they have something to offer patrons as a courtesy.

Merchants buy discounted parking tickets worth $5 of parking for 50 cents each, and the validation is good in any of nine city-owned downtown and Old Sacramento parking garages.

Depending on which garage a shopper uses, that comes out to about two hours of free parking.

In the downtown area, 116 businesses took part in the parking validation program in 2011, according to Chan, bringing in roughly $100,000 in revenue to the city.

Tony Sheppard, co-director of the annual Sacramento Film and Music Festival, said several arts and cultural events that are hosted at venues like the Crest Theatre might be threatened if patrons were not offered validated parking.

“It’s difficult with some arts and cultural events to get people to come from long distances,” Sheppard said Thursday.

“Depending on the time of day, or day of the week, the cost of parking changes,” Sheppard said. “If parking rates go up, validation becomes even more important.”

In an economy where businesses struggle and many come and go, parking validation can be an important incentive for shoppers to go downtown.

If downtown loses the benefit of parking validation, are we championing the cause of one business – an arena for the Kings – at the expense of others downtown?

Assistant City Manager John Dangberg said it’s premature to ask that question.

“In a parking monetization, you go through a lengthy discussion period on the concession agreement,” Dangberg said. “It deals with everything from rates to special events to non-competition – all those get wrapped up in the agreement.”

Once the city gets into those discussions, Dangberg said, then details such as parking validation programs are considered.

Dangberg said, however, that it’s important to remember that any concession agreement is subject to existing agreements – such as parking validation contracts some businesses have with the city already.

“Those are legally binding contracts,” Dangberg said. “They don’t just go away.”

Lisa Martinez, spokeswoman for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said Thursday that the DSP is concerned with maintaining strong customer service for the businesses in the downtown core.

“Parking validation is something that supports the businesses and provides a perk for customers,” Martinez said.

Martinez agreed with Dangberg that it’s too early in the process to know what impact – if any – a parking lessee might have on parking validation programs in the city, but it’s a good idea for business owners to stay aware of the situation.

“There will be opportunity for businesses to weigh in on the process,” Martinez said, “and we encourage them to do that. We’ve also been advocating for (city officials) to consider all the impacts on a private business owner.”

Raelene Trumm, general manager for Westfield Downtown Plaza, said that if the city leases its parking inventory – which would include the parking garage at Downtown Plaza – it would have no real impact on the mall.

“It doesn’t affect us at all,” Trumm said. “We’re covered under contract with the city (for parking validation) until about 2055.”

Trumm said that any change in parking operations at the city level would need to incorporate the plaza’s legally binding contract.

Not all plaza businesses have parking validation as part of their lease, Trumm said, but most permanent tenants in the mall do participate in the validation program.

Other local business owners who take advantage of the city’s validation program say losing it might make a difference in their business.

Nathan Sorgenfrie, a staff member at Chef's Mercantile in Old Sacramento, said that roughly half of the people who come into the store want parking validation – although not all customers knows it is available until it’s offered to them.

“We ask everyone,” Sorgenfrie said Thursday, “and some are surprised by it. But only the first time. When they come back, they usually ask right away.”

Sorgenfrie said that he doesn’t think parking validation is really what drives people to visit Old Sacramento – but it could be the reason they return for a future visit.

Connie Carlson, manager at G. Willikers Toy Emporium in Old Sacramento said her store gives out at least 100 validations a month during busy months – but not every month is that busy, and not every customer needs parking validation.

“I think losing (validation) would make some difference,” Carlson said, “but over time it would be forgotten. It’s a small percentage of our customers.”

While the city is going through the “request for qualifications” process, Dangberg said his office is compiling questions received from interested parties about the city’s parking inventory.

Interestingly, none of the questions received to date address parking validation programs.

It may be too soon to tell what the city’s parking validation program will look like if the city finds a lessee parking operator.

“The question should still be asked,” Sheppard said. “It should at least be on the radar.”

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

News Release: SMUD to host Sacramento Regional Inclusion and Diversity Conference

2012-01-20T00:43:33Z

Join your peers at the Sacramento Regional Inclusion and Diversity Conference "Building Bridges" scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2012. The event is sponsored by VSP Global, Anthem Blue Cross, CalPERS, America at Work, Kaiser Permanente, My Sister's House, Wells Fargo, Delta Dental, Microsoft and the City of Elk Grove.

The conference provides businesses the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from Northern California inclusion leaders and innovators. Keynote speaker, Dr. Steve L. Robbins, is a powerful communicator, insightful facilitator and inspiring motivator who can simultaneously challenge and encourage people with a dynamic use of story-telling, humor and extensive knowledge of pertinent issues and concepts. His life experiences as a Vietnamese immigrant growing up in poverty to a passionate advocate of justice and inclusion create a rich foundation of insight and inspiration.

"Building Bridges" will be held at Arden Hills Resort Club and Spa in Sacramento from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. Admission for the daylong event is $150 per person and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Group discounts are available.

For additional information or to register, visit sactoid.com.

Disclosure: Disclosure: Becky Repka is employed by SMUD in Corporate Communications.

Local businesses collaborate on coffee-infused beer

2012-01-19T02:02:34Z

A small-batch, coffee-infused India pale ale is the result of the collaboration of Old Soul Co. and Rubicon Brewing Company. The month it’s spent on the taps at both businesses has brought good reviews, the business owners said.

“We’ve done coffee beers before, but they tended to be darker beers – the stouts and the porters,” said Rubicon Brewing Company Brewer Aldred Griffin. “We almost scoffed at the idea of doing an IPA, but after trying it the first time, it surprised us, and it was really pleasing.”

Griffin said the bitterness and hops in the IPA complemented the roastiness of the coffee.

Old Soul Co. co-owner Tim Jordan said the coffee used in the beer is Ethiopian Beloya, which is one of the rare reserve coffees.

Griffin agreed, saying, “It’s almost kind of a trick when you’re drinking it and smelling these aromas and seeing the color not really matching up with what you’re drinking.”

“We cold-brewed it, and we picked it because it had a little bit of floral character we thought would complement the hops,” Jordan said. “We’ll do this IPA as long as it makes sense for them to have time to do it in their fermenting tanks.”

He said the beer has a little bit of richness to it. The scent of coffee gives the drinker the impression of a sense of warmth inside.

The beer is offered at Rubicon and the Old Soul locations with beer taps: Weatherstone at 812 21st St. and 40 Acres at 3434 Broadway.

A pint runs $4.50, and Jordan said Old Soul pours legitimate 16-oz pints.

“We’re a cafe and coffeehouse first and foremost,” he said. “We’re not trying to make a bunch of money off alcohol. We like to carry artisanal and craft brews.”

Rubicon Brewing Company owner Glynn Phillips said he enjoys working with Old Soul Co.

“They are a great account of ours that has a very local spin on it,” he said. “We buy a fair amount of their coffee and serve it here at Rubicon. I like the way they run their business.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Why we are against SOPA

2012-01-19T01:32:15Z

As an owner of Macer Media, publisher of The Sacramento Press, I have never made a political statement on this site. Today I will, out of self-preservation, and a concern for what is just and good for this site, and the people of this community in general.

Wikipedia went black Wednesday due to its strong opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Google also voiced its opposition with a link on its homepage. Many other Interenet companies took similar steps.

So the first question is: What is SOPA?

SOPA is a piece of proposed legislation in the House of Representatives aimed at, you guessed it, stopping piracy. The main proponent of the bill is the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and is sponsored by Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas). The bill has both strong bipartisan support and strong bipartisan opposition. In other words, this is not at all an issue divided down party lines. Last weekend, the White House came out in opposition to the bill due to concerns about national cyber-security. A very similar bill is to be voted on in the Senate on Jan. 24, called the Protect IP Act (PIPA).

The bill’s proponents claim that the bill is aimed at stopping the piracy of American intellectual property by foreign agents. The Wall Street Journal has an excellent FAQ covering most of the basics of the bill.

So what’s the harm?

Free speech, due process and commercial viability of Internet sites who accept user-generated content are all at risk due to this legislation.

The trouble is in the wording of the bill, which gives the government and copyright holders enormous new powers to stop sites they believe are violating their intellectual property. And while the bill is targeted at foreign agents, nebulous wording would allow for significant compliance and liability costs to be passed along to organizations such as ours. This burden could easily put an organization such as The Sacramento Press out of business.

Even the well-known constitutional lawyer Floyd Abrams, who was paid by the MPAA to write a letter touting the bill, admits that, “When injunctive relief includes blocking domain names, the blockage of non-infringing or protected content may result.” Censoring a little free speech can’t hurt that much, right?

Why SOPA?

That’s a good question and one of my biggest problems with the bill. The bill is premised on the idea the piracy is rampant AND that it causes material harm to the United States in the form of lost jobs and lost revenue. The question is, where’s the proof? Tim O’Reilly, owner of O’Reilly Books and a successful digital and print publisher (owner of lots of intellectual property) says it best:

“There's no question in my mind that piracy exists, that people around the world are enjoying creative content without paying for it, and even that some criminals are profiting by redistributing it. But is there actual economic harm?”

I believe that it should be the burden of the proponents of the bill to prove economic harm before seeking a legislative solution.

There has only been one significant independent study done on international piracy concerns, and one of the conclusions it makes is, “…we see little reason to think that changes in IP protection or enforcement will significantly affect (international piracy).”

This is bad legislation that restricts our rights, is aimed a problem that possibly doesn’t exist and will likely do little to prevent what piracy does.

For these reasons, our company strongly opposes SOPA and PIPA.

I’m happy to answer any question and concerns you might have in the conversation below. Here is a link to the full text of the bill.

Disclosure: I contribute $10 a month to a lobbying effort known as Demand Progress. It currently lobbies against SOPA/PIPA. For more info, visit demandprogress.org.

Second Saturday art and events

2012-01-18T20:49:33Z

Midtown’s first Second Saturday event of 2012 saw smaller crowds this weekend. The smaller crowds however made it easier to talk to artists who exhibited their work.

A number of establishments also appeared to have closed down or moved from Midtown's J Street and surrounding area since last month. This situation has created a new environment where several businesses are collaborating to bring events to a storefront during Second Saturday.

This Saturday, Dragatomi, Metro PCS, tokidoki and Unseen Heroes teamed up for a Metro PCS and tokidoki Phone Release Party.

Unseen Heroes Events Coordinator, Maritza Davis, described the event saying, “This is a tokidoki and Metro PCS release collaboration that brings new phone technology to Sacramento. These events are typically done in Los Angeles and larger cities but because we have an established vinyl toy store here in Sacramento, Dragatomi, they were willing to let us link up with them so that we could feature the phone and introduce it to the public.”

The event ran from 5 to 9 p.m. and a line formed to receive free swag bags that included a tokidoki t-shirt and other goodies. Customers were also given the chance to buy the exclusive phones and sign up for a prize drawing. Several yet to be released phone cases were also available for purchase.

Roshaun Davis, creative alchemist, at Unseen Heroes highlighted the fact that only three launches have been done for the tokidoki phone release and they chose Sacramento as one of the sites. The first release was in New York, the second in L.A. and then Sacramento.

When Metro PCS and tokidoki first partnered they celebrated the partnership by introducing the phone at the New York Comic-Con which is the largest POP culture event on the East Coast. The launch on Saturday night coincided with the SacAnime Convention in town and several visitors who passed by Dragatomi had the SacAnime badges still hanging from their neck.

Inside Dragatomi an art exhibit by Martin Hsu had several of his “Dragon Boy” series art work. The Hsu exhibit will run until February 4.

Down the street at the corner of K and 22nd Street artist Conrad Lawrence had a street art exhibit of bikes and metal art work. Lawrence also created a bicycle powered art mechanism that allowed people who passed by to create a “swirl” art piece that Lawrence hopes to soon have on display. Other finished pieces lay on the ground.

Intrigued by his bicycle art idea I asked how he came up with the concept. “It was inspired by Burning Man. I did a show with tall bikes. In June I had 20 of them and I asked myself how else can I make the bikes interactive? So this idea came up and I built it. Then I thought of the shrink stand over there making everything interactive art.”

Another piece was created by Lawrence’s mother and people could pass by and fill in the unfinished piece. Lawrence said, “The project here is just to fill it in with whatever in order to finish this unique piece of art."

A separate area had a Peanuts comic strip style psychiatry booth called Lucy’s Shrink Shop. The station would allow people passing by to take either the psychiatrist or patient role and initiate conversation between two people. I thought this to be a clever idea and probably one that many corporations could install in a break room or something similar. Street art at times seems to offer more but January’s Second Saturday offered both.

Gallery 2110 and the Sacramento Art Complex had their gallery open for a showing of James Mullen’s work and several resident artists were on hand at their studios. Clare Bailey, Gallery 2110 owner, introduced me to Mullen and showed me some of his work.

Mullen is a Grass Valley artist whose work will be featured at the gallery that runs through February 3.

His artwork was truly fascinating and when I asked him how long he’s been an artist I got an answer that I was expecting after walking around the main hall admiring his work. Mullen said, “For as long as I can remember. Before I went to kindergarten I knew I was going to be an artist.” I’ve talked to other artists who have said similar things indicating they knew they wanted to be an artist going back to grade school. I often wondered if that’s the case only with artists or if extends beyond that. To me it’s astonishing to know someone that young can have that drive. It’s especially amazing since as I’ve become older I still don’t know what I want to be.

Mullen operates a studio out of his home in Grass Valley. His exhibit opened on Thursday and will run for approximately a month. He indicated that much of his work on exhibit goes back to 2005 and more recent work was also on display.

His work, on a smaller scale, reminded me of the Watts Towers that were close to where I lived growing up in Los Angeles. Mullen’s artwork is made up of materials found around where he lives. When asked how he gathered his materials for his artwork Mullen said, “I stop by places near home that I know. I like fencing and I like rusted sheet metal and copper so when I ride my bicycle and I see someone has a bunch of rolled up fencing in their pasture I knock on the door and say, hey you want to get rid of this? A lot of times they say yeah, so I haul it away and take it home.” Mullen said he works with those materials and stretches them out, cuts it up and reshapes it to make his brand of art.

Mullen is always looking for pieces and his friends know that and they too gather up these items and give them to him. He’s been primarily involved in this form of art for the past four to five years and before that he worked with clay for many years. He hears from friends and friends of friends who see his work and they approach him saying, “Hey I have a box of junk you’re going to like and they bring him a box of stuff.” It just goes to show that art is everywhere and discarded items or “junk” with the right imagination can be turned into great pieces of art.

Mullen’s creative art pieces occupy the main hall at the 2110 Gallery and can be great inspiration to students and established artists. The materials he uses come not only from the Grass Valley area but he’s also acquired items from a Navajo reservation in New Mexico and when he has a concept in mind he may search eBay for items in other places.

Live music at the 2110 Gallery was provided by Sean Paul Mee and his music was great ambiance for the event.

Eateries and "Drinkeries" wanted for Sacramento Chef Challenge

2012-01-18T19:00:41Z

2012 marks the tenth anniversary of our region’s premier culinary competition the Sacramento Chef Challenge, and organizers are inviting local restaurants, wineries, breweries and specialty shops to showcase their fare at the June 23rd event.

The Sacramento Chef Challenge is a culinary extravaganza featuring two live cooking competitions, lavish food, wine and beer sampling, live music, raffle prizes and more. The event is expected to draw a crowd of over 1000 guests in celebration of INALLIANCE, a local nonprofit that has provided support to people with developmental disabilities for 60 years.

“Our vendors draw a huge crowd each year by providing a variety of samples to our guests,” says INALLIANCE Executive Director Diana DeRodeff, "It is a great way for both fledgling and established companies to connect with community members, while supporting the organization.” Most event booths are free of charge, and vendors have the opportunity to win prizes.

The Sacramento Chef Challenge will see some exciting changes for 2012, including live entertainment and a new venue. The event will be held outdoors at INALLIANCE, where both vendors and guests will have a little more room to move. “We have just outgrown our old venue,” says DeRodeff, “And, we are eager to share our beautiful campus with the community.”

INALLIANCE has been in the Sacramento area since 1952, but few people know about the nonprofit’s work, because they tend stay in the background promoting the abilities of their participants. The programs INALLIANCE provides to people in the community focus on independence, quality of life and choice. “People with developmental disabilities are very capable. When given the opportunity they flourish, and that makes for a happier and a healthier community,” says DeRodeff.

The Sacramento Chef Challenge will be held on Saturday, June 23, 2012 beginning at 4:30pm, and tickets are only $25. If you are interested in becoming a vendor or purchasing tickets, visit www.chefevent.com or call 916-381-1300 x 170.

Disclosure: Jessica Bean is an employee of INALLIANCE

Winter 2012 SacAnime

2012-01-18T07:44:55Z

The Woodlake Hotel, located on 500 Leisure Lane in Sacramento, hosted this weekend’s Winter 2012 SacAnime convention. Formerly known as the Radisson Hotel, the Woodlake Hotel opened its doors to over 5,000 visitors who came to see several of their favorite voice actors and celebrity panels, enjoy Café Hoshi, play games, and attend how-to workshops, music video contests, and live concerts. Most important of all was the time spent enjoying each other’s company.

The event began on Friday morning and had many well organized activities for the thousands of fans that attended.

The multi-talented Vic Mignogna was the first guest to participate in a question-and-answer (Q&A) session with polite fans who waited in anticipation of their voice actor heroes. Mignogna is well-known for his roles as Vega in Street Fighter II, Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemists, Dark in DN Angel, Kurz in Full Metal Panic, Broly in Dragonball Z, Hikaru in Macross, Takanaga in Wallflower and many other roles.

Presently, Mignogna is involved with the new Iron Man and Wolverine series on G4. His impressive résumé in the anime world is well-known. Mignogna is also a music composer, singer and producer. As the SacAnime Concert Series opened on Friday night he was the opening act and sang a few songs to commence the concert.

During his Q&A, a fan gave Mignogna a phaser from Star Trek II and a hand written script modeled from the Real Fans of Genius web series.

In describing the Real Fans of Genius Mignogna said, “Steve Blum and I decided that we were going to make a bunch of parodies about Real Men of Genius similar to the Bud Light commercials. We made a whole bunch of them that were based on the kind of people you would meet at an anime convention. Steve Blum did the narration and I did the singing parts and I even created the music track underneath it. It sounds exactly like the originals, they’re all on YouTube.” Mignogna noted that the fan had written him an email that he had written another parody. After they finished Mignogna said, “That was awesome. Thank you!” and hugged the fan.

Mignogna’s interaction with his fans was quite remarkable and made his fans feel appreciated. Fans asked for suggestions on voice acting, asked questions about his other live and anime works, and other personal questions. He answered them all in kind, patient and encouraging words.

“I never even planned to be a voice actor. I have been acting ever since I can remember and I was involved doing church plays, school plays, Community Theater, drama camps and anything I could do to build up that skill because I loved doing it. I never even thought about voice acting. What’s funny to me, now that I look back on my life, is when I was 15 or 16 years old my friend and I were running around all the time imitating characters from Speed Racer. How surreal that many decades later I would be a voice actor sitting in a chair beside the guy that voiced Speed Racer and be working in the same industry that created Speed Racer and Kimba the White Lion and the things that I loved as a kid. I never planned to be a voice actor that was never my intent. “

Mignogna shared how he became involve in voice acting saying, “I’ll tell you exactly how it happened. I had done all this theater work, my minor in college was theater and I was always acting in something or another and then I was working for a video production in Houston, Texas and a friend of mine that I was working with said, ‘You’ve done a lot of acting haven’t you?’ I said, ‘Yes, a lot.’ ‘You have to go to this place and audition. There’s this company in Houston called ADV films and they buy these Japanese animated shows and they dub them into English and they need actors.’ ‘I was like, you’re kidding, that sounds fun.’ I didn’t ask how much it paid; I didn’t ask anything about that it just sounded like fun. It was another opportunity to act. Voice acting required a different set of skills but it sounded like acting to me. I auditioned and I got cast as Vega in Street Fighter II and that was the first thing I ever did.”

As Mignogna continued to share his voice acting training he said, “For those of you interested in voice acting, acting has 30 percent to do with your voice and 70 percent with acting. Every one of the people you’re going to meet this weekend and 99 percent of the voice actors that I know have huge backgrounds in theater; in acting they’re all actors who got an opportunity to voice act so if you’re interested in voice acting get into acting, drama and theater classes and audition at your schools, universities, community colleges, churches, any place that you can develop those skills.”

Mignogna shared that the markets for voice acting are in Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Vancouver and New York. He also shared that voice over opportunities done mostly for commercials can be found anywhere.

Mignogna does not have an agent and shared that everyone else at the convention has one.

“My understanding is that when an agency takes you as a client they want you to make them money. They’ll send you scripts, radio, commercials, voice over as well as video games, animation. I don’t want to do commercials. I’m afraid, and I know this for a fact, you do what they tell you. Your job is to make money for both.”

Pixar, Simpsons and Family Guy roles are spots Mignogna says he probably won’t get without an agent. Without an agent he knows he’s limiting himself in getting certain roles.

“God has been so good to me that I can hardly stand it.” Mignogna said and continued, “I’m so thankful, I am so profoundly grateful for the opportunities in my life. If nothing else happens I have been more than blessed. I am so grateful for the things I get to do and yeah, I would love to do bigger things but it doesn’t drive me, I’m not obsessed with it.”

According to Mignogna, being rich is overrated.

“I know people who are multi-millionaires who jump out of windows. I know people that hate their lives and they have yachts and houses all over the place; that is not the answer. It’s a lie. It’s cool to have money but at the end of the day when you put your head on your pillow and you’re alone with yourself there is a sense of satisfaction you have and no amount of money can change that.”

Following Mignogna’s Q&A the Gaia Online Variety Hour ensued. Chris Castagnetto, also known as DJ Helsing, hosted the event. During the Variety Hour fans participated in interactive games and it allowed everyone in the audience to participate in at least one event. One of the things that makes SacAnime such a popular event and that keeps fans coming back is the feedback that’s solicited from the audience. In the Gaia Online the host made a point to ask the audience which games they liked in order to bring them back, and which ones to replace.

SacAnime brings people of all ages to the convention. The devotion of fans is tremendous, not only to the characters they dress up as, but also to the celebrities that attend. Many fans stand in line an hour or longer to get autographs. The actors that attend and sit in Q&A sessions and panels are just as devoted to their fans and show their appreciation as they interact with guests.

One of the most apparent things about SacAnime Winter 2012 was the amount of people who attended the panels, Q&A sessions, gaming, workshops, Artist Alley, Sac Café, Sac Club Raves, the Vendor Hall and other gatherings around the hotel. People on hand made up a large all-ages crowd. Many of the attendees were dropped off by parents and I was pleasantly surprised and somewhat astonished as to how well they got along. I think that parents who may worry about dropping off their kids can rest assured that their kids are well behaved and are in good hands with the SacAnime staff.

SacAnime’s Director of Programming, Jodon Bellofatto, hosted the opening ceremonies that were held after several Q&A events in which Vic Mignogna, Quinton Flynn and Tara Strong participated. Bellofatto went over the weekend program and encouraged the audience to visit the gaming rooms and check out the tournaments, attend and participate in the art contest, and view the arts and crafts created by artists.

Bellofatto answered questions and shortly thereafter the AMV contest took place with three categories open for voting: drama, romance and comedy. He noted that winners would be announced on Sunday. One fan asked if they would post the entries online and Bellofatto indicated that they would like to do that if it’s possible.

Friday night’s Sac Anime Concert Series had three acts on hand. Vic Mignogna opened the concert series by singing on the floor with the audience. He never set foot on stage. Mignogna played a couple of songs and introduced Kazha and Lemon Drop Kick.

Kazha is a Japanese band and its spokesperson is Kazuha Oda, who has a history of working with different performers. Earlier in the day I spoke with Oda and asked her a few questions. I learned they are from Tokyo, Japan and it appeared she was the only member of the band who had a command of the English language. Her personality was very pleasant. The other members happily signed autographs and tried to answer questions but relied on Oda to translate.

When asked if they were going to be playing both concerts (Friday and Saturday) she said, “We’re going to be here for the full convention but we’re going to perform tonight and tomorrow night.”

Kazha is made up of four members and has been performing for two years. They have previously performed in the U.S. and have played at other anime conventions but this was their first performance in Sacramento.

With guest drummer Mike Kim, Hideki Matsushige, Shintaro Kasahara and Kazuha Oda took the stage to bring their brand of rock to the concert. They began their set with a melodic pop tune, “Close to You,” that was brought to life by Oda’s smooth vocals. One thing that’s quite noticeable is how well the music moves to the rhythm of Oda’s singing.

Fans were delighted by the Kazha set. After their first song, Oda addressed the audience.

“It’s our first time being in Sacramento and we are so happy. Thank you very much. We are from Tokyo, Japan. Are you guys having fun at SacAnime?”

Fan reaction made Oda smile and she thanked them.

The last act of the night was Lemon Drop Kick. They are based out of Los Angeles and are described as a Japanese rock band influenced by different musical influences and cultures. They energized the crowd and invited several audience members to the stage as they performed.

Lemon Drop Kick had the audience jumping up and down and moving. Their beat included several genres of music including rock, pop, metal and others. They were a great choice to end the evening’s concert series.

A swap meet, a club rave, open gaming and karaoke contests kept the evening alive for guests, who gathered at different spots throughout the hotel to chat about their experiences and share stories.

A designer that I have met before known as Carlyfornia had a station set up to showcase her designs and new items. When asked what new items she was showing at the convention she said, “I brought a lot more steampunk stuff. I brought a lot of fun stuff including furry ears like little kitty stuff, doll clothes and more dolls.”

Carlyfornia will be exhibiting more of her work at the upcoming Animation on Display (AOD) in San Francisco February 18-19. When asked if she had a store front Miss Carlyfornia noted that she doesn’t have one because, as she put it, “I don’t have a storefront because I can’t keep up merchandise because I sell, sell, sell so fast and I’m at a different city almost every weekend. “

One of the last panel events I attended at the convention was “From Fan Art to Creator: How to Make and Publish Your Own Comic.” The panel was hosted by Heather Jaeger and Melissa McCommon.

McCommon and Jaeger were quite enthusiastic about hosting the panel and offered numerous pointers to help the comic publisher want-to-be’s. They covered the various common drawing programs used to create comics as well as the various tablets used to illustrate.

Their passion for comic book creation was quite evident and their knowledge was quite immense, giving audience members a wealth of information to get started and insights into what can make comic publishing a good experience.

Low budget tools, programs and tips were also discussed and they mentioned several programs that are free.

The tips and information passed on by McCommon and Jaeger also included a section called the Language of Panels and what it takes to be successful at sketching, coloring and making story bubbles as well as printing and publishing. The advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing were also discussed and their valuable insight was well received.

The passion for anime comic drawing and illustration as well as passing on their knowledge was priceless. Jaeger and McCommon emphasized the need to draw on a regular basis, motivate yourself, not give up, write, and practice as much as possible.

There is always a lot to do and see at the SacAnime conventions and the staff is to be commended for the topics they choose, the guests they bring in, the panels they put together and the feedback they solicit from attendees. Organization continues to make SacAnime a great event year after year. Fans are the best ambassadors for conventions such as this, and if they continue to follow and attend SacAnime it helps the community grow and flourish.

Bellofatto hosted the closing ceremonies where the AMV winners were announced. Third place went to Yosef Ghiassy for Manly Tears, second place was Erinn Thompson for Say Good-bye to Yesterday and first place went to Shelby Nickles for Oran I’m Sexy and I Know It.
Volunteer positions for the next convention were discussed. Bellofatto also solicited comments from the audience as to what worked and what did not work during the convention and he made note of the comments on a laptop set up on the stage.

One of the final announcements was that because of the large crowds that came to the convention (breaking the 5,000 mark) it was decided that a larger venue was necessary to accommodate the growing crowds and that the 2013 Summer SacAnime was going to be held at the Sacramento Convention Center.

More photos from the SacAnime Winter 2012 convention can be found here.

Arena headlines State of Downtown discussion

2012-01-17T22:43:22Z

San Francisco Giants President and CEO Larry Baer compared Sacramento’s efforts to build a new arena to the campaign to build Pac Bell Park in San Francisco, telling a collection of businesspeople and government officials that there is “tremendous opportunity” for Sacramento going forward.

Baer’s remarks were part of the 2012 State of Downtown address at Memorial Auditorium Tuesday morning, in which Mayor Kevin Johnson, State Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg and other officials stressed the “why” of building a downtown entertainment and sports complex.

Baer said efforts to build the downtown ballpark in San Francisco were under way as early as the 1960s, with four attempts at using public funds defeated by voters. When ground broke on the project in 1997, it was for a privately funded stadium.

If Sacramento uses the resources of private enterprises such as the Sacramento Kings and other corporations along with some public funds that do not impact the city’s general fund, Baer said, it can get support.

The March 1 deadline to have a workable arena plan to present to the National Basketball Association is less than two months away, and Johnson said he is confident.

“We’re going to figure out a way to pull it off,” he said. “I think we’re closer than we’ve ever been.”

Key to any plan that will have both political will and the will of the people, he added, is making a plan that protects taxpayers, the city’s general fund – which has recently been plagued by shortfalls, necessitating layoffs for the past several years – and ensuring job growth.

“If we want to accept and live up to the identity of Sacramento, you’ve gotta have a strong downtown core,” he said.

Baer noted that the area around Pac Bell Park was markedly different just eight years after the ballpark opened.

The area around the park previously held disused land, warehouses and some residential neighborhoods. Today, he said, it is a hive of mixed-use activity including more residential, ground-floor retail and corporate offices.

Some of the notable corporate offices within 10 blocks of the park include the headquarters of Twitter and Zynga as well as the San Francisco offices of Google.

Another aspect of the arena that has worked well in San Francisco and can work in Sacramento, Baer said, is making use of the planned intermodal transit hub that is slated for the downtown railyards, next to the proposed arena site.

Half of the visitors to Pac Bell Park drive, but the other half take public transit, walk, bicycle or come by boat, he said.

Sacramento City Councilman Kevin McCarty spoke to The Sacramento Press after the event, saying that while the two projects have some parallels, there is still much to consider.

“It really has transformed that area of San Francisco, so if we can get that kind of energy here, of course the devil is in the details, but it certainly shows that a venue like that can make a major difference as far as being a catalyst,” McCarty said.

He pointed out that the San Francisco ballpark was privately financed, whereas the Sacramento plan relies on an expected 50/50 public/private partnership.

“We are still trying to figure that out as far as if it is a good decision for the city of Sacramento,” McCarty said.

One of the major decisions for the City Council will be whether it should lease control of the city’s parking for the next 50 years.

The event was hosted by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, and Executive Director Michael Ault commented on a variety of successes in the downtown core over the past year.

Long-term projects such as bringing cars back to K Street and beginning redeveloping the 700 block of K Street happened in 2011. Additionally, 40 new businesses opened downtown, and the ice rink at St. Rose of Lima Park drew an all-time record of more than 30,000 skaters.

Another example of success in the downtown core was the recipient of the annual Visionary Innovators in Building Excellence (VIBE) award: California Musical Theatre Executive Producer and CEO Richard Lewis.

Ault said in a press release that Lewis and CMT are instrumental in attracting hundreds of thousands of people downtown each year, which provides economic activity.

During his acceptance speech, Lewis pointed out that 2012 will be another strong year, with “Wicked” almost sold-out already – only 5,000 tickets remain to be sold of the 75,000 originally available, and he said they will sell quickly.

Photos by Ron Nabity.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Editorial Note: A correction was made to this story after it was published.

Free job search programs at Sacramento Public Library branches

2012-01-17T17:25:07Z

The Sacramento Public Library is presenting free, job search programs to help community members find employment.
The Job Seeker programs are scheduled through June at select Sacramento Public Library locations.
“With local unemployment nearing 12 percent, the Sacramento Public Library is providing our helpful resources as learning tools to search for jobs, improve interview skills, refine resumes, and more,” said Rivkah K. Sass, library director. “We care about our community residents, as many are our library card holders and others who frequent our 28 library locations. We are all in these tough economic times together.”
For more information, telephone the Sacramento Public Library at (916) 264-2920 or visit www.saclibrary.org.

Arcade Library, 2443 Marconi Ave., Sacramento

The Complete Job Search: Wednesdays, February 1 to March 7, 10 a.m.
A six-week course teaching the steps of the modern job search from planning to interviewing. To get the most from this course, you will need basic computer skills including how to use Windows, MS Word, e-mail, and the Internet.

Library Job Search Tools: Wednesday, March 28, 10 a.m.
Find out what the library has available to assist you in finding – and landing – your next job.

* * * * * *

North Highlands-Antelope Library, 4235 Antelope Rd., Antelope

The Job Search Online: Friday, January 20, 10 a.m.
An Oasis computer class taught by library staff.

Your Resume: Friday, February 17, 10 a.m.
An Oasis computer class taught by library staff.

Your Personal Brand: Wednesday, March 7, 9 a.m.
Learn how to present yourself – from your resume to the interview – to stand out from the crowd.

Get the Job You Want, Tuesday, March 13, 3 p.m.
Learn skills for resume writing, job interviewing, writing thank-you letters and considering job offers. Registration is required by calling the library at (916) 264-2920.

* * * * * *

North Natomas Library 4660 Via Ingoglia, Sacramento

Get the Job You Want: Thursday, February 16, 4 p.m.
Learn skills for resume writing, job interviewing, writing thank-you letters and considering job offers. Registration is required by calling the library at (916) 264-2920.

Job Searching with LinkedIn: Thursday, February 23, 1 p.m.
Use the professional networking site, LinkedIn to improve your job search with social media.

Job Searching for Teens: Tuesday, March 20, 3:30 p.m.
Improve your resume, learn interview skills and how to dress for success.

True Colors Career Assessment: Tuesday, March 27, 3 p.m.
This is a tool to help you better understand yourself, identify compatible careers and environments, and improve interpersonal communications.

* * * * * *

Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento

Develop a Resume for the 21st Century: Wednesday, January 18, 3 p.m.
In this 90-minute course, learn what will make your resume stand out from the crowd. If you have an existing resume, bring it with you. Registration is required by calling the library at (916) 264-2920.

Effective Job Search Strategies: Friday, February 10, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 23, 1 pm
Learn useful information for creating an effective approach to job-hunting. Registration is required by calling the library at (916) 264-2920.

Interviewing for a Job: Thursday, March 8, 3 p.m.
Get information to ace the interview and hands-on practice to sharpen your interviewing skills. Registration is required by calling the library at (916) 264-2920.

* * * * * *

Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library, 7335 Gloria Drive, Sacramento

Tips for Interview Success: Wednesday, February 8, 11 a.m.
Helpful tips from a former human resources professional on how to interview for a job with confidence and make a great impression.

I Lost My Job - Now What?: Wednesday, March 14, 11 am
If you’re having trouble keeping up with the bills, join us to learn what steps you can take to avoid a financial disaster, including budgeting, credit counseling and a tool called “cost/benefit analysis.”

One-on-One Computer Help: By appointment, during open library hours.
Book a one hour session to learn basic computer skills, get help with online job searching, learn how to format your resume, and use social networking sites to help with your job search. All computer skill levels are welcome. Registration is required by calling the library at (916) 264-2920.

# # #

Disclosure: Don Burns is the Sacramento Public Library's public information coordinator

Drewski's combines food truck fare, sports bar

2012-01-17T01:24:21Z

After less than a year on Sacramento’s streets, local food truck Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen is adding a brick-and-mortar establishment at 908 15th St. that blurs the line between sports bar and food truck.

The Republic Featuring Drewski’s is set to open the week before the Super Bowl (Feb. 5), and Drewski’s owner Andrew “Drewski” Blaskovich said he’s excited to be part of the growth in downtown Sacramento and to offer a late-night food and entertainment spot, closing around 3-4 a.m. on the weekends.

“It’s going to be a sports bar,” Blaskovich said. “We’re going to have 12-15 TVs, pool tables, video games and – we’re hoping – skee ball.”

The four pool tables will complement old-school video games such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, and entertainment will be provided by live bands as well as DJs.

Moving to add a traditional restaurant and bar is something many food truck owners aspire to, but Blaskovich said he has no plans to rein in the food truck aspect of the business.

“The trucks are my babies,” he said.

And that is trucks – plural.

“We’re going to be adding another truck, and we’re shooting for about two months,” he said.

One of the biggest problems that comes with operating the trucks is solved by opening the brick-and-mortar establishment, Blaskovich said.

“For the truck, I don’t have any storage, so I have to shop every day,” he said. “Now, I have a place to prep all the food, take deliveries and store it so I have to shop only once a week, plus I can save money by getting discounts on things in bulk.”

Blaskovich is partnering with a bar operator, whose name he is not yet releasing, and he will focus on the food.

The cuisine will include the menu from the food truck, but the full kitchen will allow an expanded menu.

“We’re going to have some street tacos, and we’re doing a variety of burgers, different hot wings, chicken sandwiches and all kinds of good stuff,” he said.

Meals will run about $10, he added.

Appetizers, including garlic rosemary tater tots, will be included, as well as salads and other sandwiches. A variety of sauces such as Thai peanut sauce, a tangy barbecue sauce and others will accentuate the dishes.

Plates won’t be used, with all the food served in the cardboard boats with paper linings that those who frequent the food truck are familiar with.

Those who want to challenge themselves will have the option of facing down a massive burger, getting their photo on the wall and a T-shirt if they’re up to the challenge.

The 18-Wheeler will be a 4- or 5-pound burger that Blaskovich said will be a meal for about three people, but anyone who finishes it in a set time, possibly 20 minutes, will earn a spot on the wall.

Formerly Dream Ultra Lounge & Restaurant, The Republic Featuring Drewski’s is getting a facelift with black ceilings, a roll-up door facing Memorial Auditorium that leads to one of two patios, and interior décor of faux brick and wood molding with either mirrors or stained glass artwork.

Downtown Sacramento Partnership Marketing Director Lisa Martinez said it’s unique to see a food truck open a brick-and-mortar establishment in Sacramento, and the location should be a successful one.

“They’re in the middle of an entertainment district, and it’s a great amenity,” she said. “I think the beauty of it is they already have a successful following, so the business is coming in with an established clientele.”

Across the street from Memorial Auditorium, the business is close to the Torch Club and not far from the Wells Fargo Pavilion, the newly opened Maydestone apartment building and the future site of Coyote Tap House.

Blaskovich said he is looking to appeal to the after-work happy hour crowd, opening around 4 or 5 p.m., as well as anyone looking for late-night eats and entertainment, or people leaving Memorial Auditorium after a concert. Sunday brunch will be served and will likely feature a dish of waffles and fried chicken, which is growing in popularity.

“I’m from Sacramento, and I’ve always been a big supporter of downtown Sacramento and the growth we’ve experienced in the past,” Blaskovich said. “I want to be a part of that, and this gives people downtown the chance to have Drewski’s if the truck is out in Roseville or Elk Grove or something.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

EasyRiders and their Hogs in Sac

2012-01-15T07:37:51Z

"The Biggest, Baddest Bike Show In North America" fills Sacramento streets this weekend.

It proclaims to be "all about amazing motorcycles- Americans and metrics, revived classics to tricked out customs, and from some of the worlds top bike builders to enthusiasts restoring or building bad ass bikes out of their garage."

The show includes motorcycle and motorsports manufacturers' exhibits and their reps to answer questions, live music, the Purrfect Angels, and vendors. And the opportunity to meet Chibs and Lyla from Sons of Anarchy, a drama on the American TV network FX.

This afternoon I happened upon the event. Driving on J St in front of the Convention Center I gawked at the bikes filling both sides of the street, as wel as side-streets.

And they roared touring through midtown and downtown!

So, I became a motorcycle groupie for the second time this week.

Here's some photos:

Check it out for tomorrow

J Street Yummy Yogurt Cafe on hiatus

2012-01-14T00:06:57Z

The Yummy Yogurt Cafe at 19th and J streets closed Dec. 1, and though it was expected to reopen by the end of the year, owner Jason Yee said it will remain in hiatus for a while longer.

“Right now, we’re working on a new plan, and we just really haven’t gotten to the point to expose the plan yet,” Yee said Thursday, adding that he is still looking for ideas or anyone who wants to partner with him for a new concept.

The idea is to have the space up and running again in a couple of months.

Yee said he didn’t shut down the space because of lack of sales, but because he wants to revamp the store itself to provide something more than frozen yogurt.

“It’s a great location, and that’s part of why we decided to close,” he said. “The location is great, so we want something greater in there. We want something more unique.”

The original Yummy Yogurt Cafe in Westfield Downtown Plaza remains open, and there are no plans to close it, Yee said.

California's new wine country: Sacramento

2012-01-13T06:33:55Z

Sacramento’s wine industry received a boost last month with the approval of an ordinance that promotes agricultural tourism, a move local wineries said they are excited to see.

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in December to adopt new zoning code amendments that will potentially foster growth of Sacramento’s wine industry. The changes will take effect in just a few days.

Among other things, the ordinance provides the grape growers of a certain size the right to produce and bottle their own wine; gives wineries the ability to open small tasting rooms in agricultural zones; and eliminates the requirement for conditional use permits for private events, with restrictions based on the size of the property.

“It promotes people growing local and buying local,” said Don Nottoli, supervisor for district 5.

The presence of wineries in Amador, El Dorado and Yolo counties increased dramatically in recent years, but Sacramento county’s growth has been minimal, a fact the Board of Supervisors addressed with the ordinance.

According to the Sacramento Bee’s SacWineRegion.com, there are 43 wineries in Amador County, 54 in El Dorado County and 16 in Yolo County, including industry giant Bogle Vineyards. Sacramento County has just 13.

“We feel this is an important step to encourage economic growth, job creation and keep tourism dollars in our county,” said Nottoli in a press release on Dec. 14. “By reducing regulatory obstacles, we can help Sacramento County become an important part of the wine tourism industry.”

According to the Sacramento County 2010 Crop and Livestock Report, more than $92 million in wine grapes were produced in the region that year, the most valuable agricultural commodity in the county.

These amendments allow for a more streamlined process and will save businesses thousands of dollars and as much as two years in permitting time, Nottoli said. The money, previously spent on permits, can be invested into growing the businesses.

“One of the things we’ve seen is that Sacramento’s culinary tourism has increased dramatically,” said Mike Testa, senior vice president at the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau. “If we put the same attention into our wine industry, the tourism package is something we can certainly sell.”

Testa added that groups attending conferences in Sacramento often make day trips to wine country, and Sacramento should be making every effort to keep them here.

Revolution Wines, at S and 29th streets in Midtown, is an urban winery, said owner Gina Genshlea. In addition to the tasting room and bistro that serves snacks and small plates, the grapes are crushed, pressed and fermented on-site.

Genshlea said she thinks it would be great to have more wineries in Sacramento because it would give visitors to the area a reason to stay in Sacramento rather than travel to Napa or Sonoma counties to taste wine.

“One of the reasons we expanded is there isn’t a wine trail in Sacramento,” said Craig Haarmeyer, winemaker and co-owner of Revolution Wines.

The winery will mark its second year on S Street this spring. Several varietals are produced at the facility, including an award-winning port and a zinfandel, with grapes sourced from Amador County.

“It’s part of our model to highlight local fruit,” said Genshlea, adding that they produce approximately 2,500 cases of wine annually, along with another 2,500 that they bottle for clients.

Frasinetti Winery in south Sacramento, established in 1897, once had its own vineyards, but grapes are now sourced from the Central Valley, Monterey, Napa and Sonoma counties, said Gary Frasinetti, winemaker.

Frasinetti said he would welcome the increase of local wineries because it would make Sacramento more of a destination.

In the mid 1980s, the family converted the old winemaking facility into a restaurant and banquet venue, a process that took several years.

Today, Frasinetti Restaurant has the capacity to host events for up to 200 guests, and many of the restaurant’s dining tables are located in some of the 12 converted square, concrete fermentation tanks of the original winery.

“The restaurant is a vehicle to get people out here,” Frasinetti said. “If they come out here to eat, they can taste our wines.”

The tasting room offers free wine tasting and a large gift shop. The winery produces 10,000 cases annually, and Frasinetti said the chianti, cabernet sauvignon and merlot are the winery’s most popular varietals. Wines are only available for sale at the winery.

Scribner Bend Vineyards, located in the Sacramento Delta, has been open for eight years.

Owner Mark Scribner said the ordinance will give the region’s wine producers the opportunity to sell their appellation to the public.

Scribner Bend’s best-selling varietal is the tempranillo.

Scribner added that the ordinance will help to create a coalition of vintners and growers who can better represent the industry.

“If you look at all the other wine-growing regions, they have multiple wineries,” Scribner said. “That’s what creates the magic.”

Groundbreaking for new mixed-use development in Midtown

2012-01-13T01:49:29Z

Ground broke on a new mixed-use retail and residential development in Midtown Thursday, and work is set to be complete on two vacant former state lots at 16th and O streets by mid-2013.

“We’re going to get 84 market-rate apartments, 13,000 square feet of retail, and we’re going to have another chunk of Sacramento with a nice infill, pedestrian-friendly development,” said City Councilman Rob Fong, whose district contains most of downtown and Midtown. “It’s the kind of live-work space that really is a nice fit for the city.”

The project – with one four-story and one five-story, mission-style building – is a partnership between the Capitol Area Development Authority – a joint powers group between the state and city formed in 1978 – Ravel Rasmussen Properties and Separovich/Domich Real Estate Development.

The approximately $24 million project includes $1.5 million in funding from CADA, which also provided the two lots. The developers brought in $5 million and financed another $17 million, said Scott Rasmussen of Ravel Rasmussen Properties.

“We’re hoping to get some small public improvement grant money from SMUD as well,” he said.

Across the street from the Fremont Building and a few blocks away from Fremont Park and the popular restaurant Hot Italian, Rasmussen said the location is a prime spot.

“It’s a dynamic location, and it may be kind of the new center for downtown and Midtown,” he said.

The 84 apartments are expected to rent for between $1,200 and $1,500 and will be one- or two-bedroom units. The 13,000 square feet of retail space will likely house between five or six tenants, Rasmussen added.

Rasmussen declined to comment on the nature of the tenants, saying that while some outreach to businesses has been made, it is too early to speculate on which ones will eventually be a part of the project.

“I hear one of the retail users is going to be some sort of restaurant with patio dining,” Fong said, adding that it’s too early in the process for specifics.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui was in attendance at the groundbreaking, saying the project shows progress for the city.

“It shows that we’re doing things in Sacramento, and we know that we’ve had a hard time, but things are getting better slowly,” Matsui said. “It’s going to provide a livability and a sense of community.”

She added that the new plan in urban development – reverting to plans from a century ago – is to make living and working space that is walkable and easily accessible to bicycles.

“I think that by next year, we’ll find real progress,” Matsui said. “People (will be) walking around and enjoying themselves here. That’s the goal.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Coyote Tap House to take old Brew it Up! spot

2012-01-13T00:27:46Z

Coyote Tap House, a new bar and restaurant serving Asian cuisine complemented by 50-60 beers on tap, is in the works to take the spot at 14th and H streets vacated by Brew it Up! last year.

“It’s going to have a full bar and live entertainment,” said Valerie Mamone-Werder, business recruitment manager for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.

The owners, brothers Ken and Ming Le, own and have run Oshima Sushi and Fugu Lounge in Natomas since 2004, Mamone-Werder said.

“They’re really good operators,” she added. “We met with them when the news came out that Brew it Up! was leaving the space. It didn’t take long to have a lot of interest. They’re going to be a fantastic addition for that area.”

The Music Circus is located nearby, and Mamone-Werder said the new tap house will complement the area by providing a place where she expects a crowd of those in their late 20s to their 40s will frequent.

“We want everybody to continue to succeed in that area, and having someone come into the vacant space helps,” Mamone-Werder said.

The Le brothers were not available for comment Thursday afternoon. Mamone-Werder said she expects that the pair will make improvements to the interior, and possibly the exterior of the space, and that she hopes to see the business open by spring or summer, depending on how long it takes to make the improvements.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

How do bookstores survive in the digital age?

2012-01-12T04:44:15Z

From increasing availability of digital content to online shopping and a still-sluggish economy, independent bookstores are finding it harder to survive. The Sacramento Press checked out three central city bookstores to see what is working for them.

When Borders Books and More closed last year, emails to the store’s Borders Rewards members cited surges in electronic readers as one of the major reason’s for the bookstore giant’s collapse. Locally, Newsbeat – a Midtown indie newsstand – shut down in November, with the owner pointing to the availability of digital content.

Beers Books, The Book Collector and Time Tested Books – all located within the grid from 24th and J streets to Ninth and S streets – emphasize selling used books.

“We buy and sell as many used books as possible,” said Bill Senecal, manager of Beers Books, located at 915 S St. “We haven’t focused on new books in a long time.”

What new books are sold at Beers are typically ones that are sought after or popular new releases, but 90 percent of the store’s sales come from used titles.

Peter Keat, owner of Time Tested Books, located at 1114 21st St., said that while he sells some used books, the secondhand books give him and his staff greater control on pricing.

“Given the fact that people price check on Amazon.com and other Internet sites, we really have to be pretty careful with our cost and the price of our books,” he said.

Sales have been steady for the past year at Time Tested Books, but Keat said that translates more to “hanging in there” than prospering.

While Beers Books and Time Tested Books carry a mix of new and used, The Book Collector, located at 1008 24th St., only carries new books when they’re from local authors and poets.

“Our focus is still on being an inexpensive, general-use bookstore,” said owner Richard Hansen. “We sell used books and focus on the overall pricing to stay competitive.”

Hansen said the main goal in staying competitive with discount online or secondhand booksellers is to price books to compete with the cost of the title and the shipping.

“People will buy a book for 99 cents and then pay $3.99 in shipping from Amazon,” he said. “The sellers are making their money on the shipping, since it only costs them $1.50, but it’s still costing the buyer $5 to get it to their door.”

Senecal, Keat and Hansen all said the reason they don’t focus on new books is because they can’t compete with nationwide chains, but nationwide bookstores aren’t the biggest reason.

“The big box stores will kill you,” Senecal said. “You’re up against Costco, Target and Walmart.”

Hansen said the markup on new books is so slight that it makes it impossible to compete with the larger stores, which can often negotiate better deals with publishers by buying in bulk.

Each store has its own strategy for staying relevant and profitable in an era dominated by digital media.

“For us, it’s partially the mix of books that we have and the level of customer service we provide, and also the general atmosphere with high ceilings and a lot of light,” said Keat of Time Tested Books.

Keat said one of the strategies Time Tested Books uses is searching for books that customers are looking for, even if it means buying them online.

“It’s a matter of getting what the customer wants in terms of condition and the proper edition,” Keat said, pointing out that online sellers might have a different idea of what “excellent condition” means than a reader.

“We assume the risk for the customer if they aren’t happy with it,” Keat said. “That means they’re not stuck with something they don’t want.”

Keat also hosts regular events, such as author appearances and book signings.

Beers Books keeps customers coming back with competitive prices, a high turnover rate of books and weekly sales – including storewide sales during every Second Saturday Art Walk.

“I think the wide variety of merchandise is really important,” Senecal said. “Some people come back every few days to see what’s new, and also, not every book is on Kindle (and other e-readers).”

Senecal, of Beers Books, and Hansen, of The Book Collector, also mentioned the bookstore’s role in being a place for the “serendipitous find” that only a bookstore can offer.

“When you go to a bookstore, you get the experience of browsing,” Hansen said. “You see things you otherwise wouldn’t look for, and you find new authors that way.”

Hansen said he draws customers into the store with books out front on sale for 25 cents or $1, and hosting events featuring local authors and poets are popular as well.

“We’re going to have a book art workshop here later this year,” Hansen said, adding that the bookstore is not just a place to sell books, but a venue for book-related events.

Another way the bookstores keep in business is by selling online through various outlets, including ABE Books.

All three booksellers mentioned that having a bookstore in an urban area is one of the key ways of keeping culture alive and allowing people easy access to an environment where they can leisurely peruse books, and all three mentioned that the number of bookstores is dwindling.

“It remains to be seen what will happen to the physical book,” Senecal said. “I hope there’s a place for the physical book in the future.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Window falls off downtown high rise

2012-01-11T19:18:05Z

A window fell off the 8th floor of the State Board of Equalization Building on N and 4th Street. The cause is still under investigation. A section of the street was closed off at 10:30am.

Photo essay: Track 7 Brewing Co. now open

2012-01-11T01:39:50Z

Gallery photo is exterior shot

Track 7 Brewing Co. opened Dec. 31, and co-owner Geoff Scott said he knew Sacramentans embrace new businesses, but the 1,000 people who showed up opening day – causing a line out the door for three hours – surprised him.

The microbrewery and tasting room is located at 3747 West Pacific Ave. in Curtis Park and currently serves beer in the 30-seat tap room at the front of the brewery. The owners are working on partnerships to serve it at other local restaurants and bars.

“There’s definitely a growing awareness for specialty and craft beers,” Scott said. “People like to experiment with the different beers.”

Beers are brewed in seven-barrel batches – 200 to 220 gallons – and there are four mainstay brews with two rotating seasonal brews.

The four beers are the Alkali Wit, a Belgian-style white beer; the Daylight Amber, an American amber; the Big 4 Strong Ale, named after the four railroad barons of Sacramento; and the Soulman Stout.

The brewery only serves beer, but Scott said he and Graham are looking at partnering with food trucks, which can park outside. A garage door can be opened in good weather for easy flow in and out of the establishment.

“We wanted to pay tribute to Sacramento’s railroad history, and my family has been here since the early 1900s," Scott said. "We wanted to pay respect to the history and the community. The second part is track seven is the furthest from the main line, and if you’re stuck out on track seven, you’re having a bad day. So now, if you’re down, come over to Track 7 and cheer up.”

Local artists including Skinner and Jesse Baggs designed the labels for the beers, larger images of which are hanging on the wall in the tasting room.

The railroad-based bar – with actual railroad rails – was created by René Steinke, a local artist and glassblower.

Beers are available in 3-ounce tastes, half-pints and pints, and the 64-ounce growlers will be available in three to six weeks.

The Big Four is sold in half-pints for $3.50 due to its 10 percent alcohol content, Scott said. All other pints cost $4.

The beer is heated with a steam sleeve setup during the brewing process, which heats the beer more evenly than a burner on the bottom, similar to a large stove, Scott said.

Track 7 Brewing Co. is open from 5 - 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, from 2 - 9 p.m. Saturday and noon - 4 p.m. Sunday.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Editorial Note: A spelling correction was made to this article after it was published.

Work finishes on The Porch

2012-01-11T01:28:25Z

The namesake of The Porch, a southern-style restaurant and bar that replaced Celestin’s Island Eats & Cajun Cuisine, is now finished.

Completed last week, the front patio area seats 16, and a back porch is planned, though construction likely won’t begin for at least a month, said Olivia Pinto, a host at The Porch.

The restaurant, located at 1815 K St., opened in December. To read more about the restaurant, click here.

Journalism Open Workshop Jan. 17

2012-01-11T01:13:59Z

Need a push getting started on your article for The Sacramento Press Journalism Open 2012? We've got a workshop for that.

Bring your story ideas and questions about the writing contest to our Journalism Open workshop Tuesday, Jan. 17.

We will go over how to enter photos: standalone or accompanying, judging criteria, past winners and how to develop your stories by including sources and doing research.

The workshop will be from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at The Sacramento Press office.

Our office is located at 431 I St., Suite 107, in the Sacramento Valley Station station. We are in the same building complex as Starbucks.

We recommend you find parking on the street, bike or take light rail, as the Amtrak parking lot charges, and we cannot cover the cost of parking.

To RSVP, email workshops@sacramentopress.com. If you RSVP and decide later not to attend, please send us an email to notify us that you will not be coming so we can have an accurate head count.

Thanks, and we hope to see you here!

Hyatt Regency Sacramento Completes Multi-Year, Multi-Million Dollar Renovation

2012-01-10T22:01:36Z

Historically, the travel and tourism industry has proven to be resilient. In good news for hoteliers, strong growth will continue in 2012 proving there’s a method behind the long-forecasted, now completed renovation work at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, and a reason to celebrate the Hyatt’s achievements as the hotel hosts VIPS at its Renovation Celebration, Thursday, January 12, 1209 L Street, downtown Sacramento, across from the State Capitol.

The Hyatt began the long-awaited $3 million Phase II renovation last summer, finishing the hotel’s “public spaces," including the lobby floor, Amourath lobby lounge, Vines Restaurant, second floor meeting space and the 15th Floor Capitol View Room—featuring the region’s most spectacular 360 views of Sacramento and the State Capitol.

In late 2009, the Hyatt Regency Sacramento completed Phase I of a multi-million dollar renovation of its 503 guestrooms spanning 12 floors. Stately elegance served as the inspiration for the hotel’s design, incorporating a rich color palate and a host of modern, efficient amenities that the 21st Century traveler has come to appreciate.

A creative endeavor of Austin, Texas-based interior design firm Looney & Associates, the Hyatt’s elegant and minimalist lines including wall treatments, furnishings and artwork is designed to enhance the hotel’s public space and provide a comfortable retreat that reflects the appeal of the outdoor environment. The guest check in area has also been redesigned with today’s traveler in mind—gone are the harsh and expansive counters which have been replaced by “guest pods” that allow hotel staff to walk around to greet guests, creating a more personal and friendly relationship.

The 15-story Mediterranean-designed Hyatt Regency Sacramento was built in 1988 amid much civic fanfare; a stunning achievement and important investment in the redevelopment of the central downtown business community and a critical partner in the future of the local convention and tourism industry. It features over 500 guestrooms, 28,000 square feet of meeting space, a roof top banquet room with the most spectacular views of Sacramento, as well as two award-winning restaurants--Dawson's and Vines Cafe.

“This multi-year renovation has long been planned, despite the economic circumstances we faced when we began this process in 2009,” stated Scott Vandenberg, Hyatt Regency Sacramento General Manager. “Now that we’ve finished, we’re well positioned to grow our business and continue to influence the economic development of downtown Sacramento’s core.”

Historically, the travel and tourism industry has proven to be resilient. Hotels will continue to see strong growth in 2012, primarily driven by steady demand for hotel rooms expected to increase through third quarter 2012 (www.TravelClick.com). Occupancy rates across the country are up 3.6 percent with business travel continuing slow but positive gains each quarter. With corporate travel playing a key role in driving overall growth of the travel industry, the hospitality industry is poised to gain brand loyal clientele based on prompt and friendly staff and amenities that enhance business traveler efficiencies (Deloitte business traveler survey, December 2011).

Additionally, guest profiles, preferences and travel history will assure that the hospitality industry continues to provide personalized attention to its guests. (Hospitality Trends) The alluring design and enhanced comforts of the newly renovated Hyatt Regency Sacramento will leave guests well-rested, re-energized and ready for their destination adventure in Sacramento.

To mark the Hyatt’s celebration, officials announced that the Sacramento Hyatt is one of only 27 Hyatt properties worldwide to be awarded a grant for a local non-profit organization aligned with the Hyatt’s philanthropic goals. Hyatt Sacramento officials will present a $15,000 check to their nominated non-profit organization, Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center, to enhance their community programs.

Disclosure: Karen Bakula is President of Karen Bakula & Company, Inc., which has a consulting relationship with the Hyatt Regency Sacramento.

How you can help a local business recover from a recent burglary

2012-01-10T16:32:38Z

Last week I shared a story about a burglary at a Downtown Sacramento workshop which left a talented artist and craftsman without the tools he needed to produce his eco-friendly furniture. Unfortunately, I cannot report that the thieves who made off with over $6,000 of Reclamation Art + Furniture’s tools have been caught. I can report, however, that business owner Steven Tiller is not letting this event hinder his momentum, and is in fact moving forward with a new purpose on a Kickstarter project that he hopes you will become a part of.

For those of you who may not know, Kickstarter is a website that offers creative people a way to fund their projects through crowd-sourcing. Visitors are encouraged to commit funding towards projects they would like to see come to fruition, and if the Kickstarter campaign reaches its predetermined goal, the money is released to the project creator.

Tiller has designed a new product he calls “The Bike Valet”, and promotes it as a great way to store a bicycle in a small apartment, or anywhere else for that matter. The “Valet” is a piece of 1/8” steel that is cut by lasers and bent by hand before being powder coated for long-lasting durability. You then install it on your wall to keep your bike from taking up too much space in your living quarters. You can also hang a messenger bag or purse on it from a built-in hook towards the bottom. All told it’s stylish, functional, and locally made.

If you can help support this Kickstarter project, you’ll be doing much more than purchasing a neat piece modern furniture. You’ll also be helping a Sacramento business overcome from a regrettable transgression by turning a negative into a positive. If you have a chance, consider checking out the Kickstarter project for yourself here.

Mongo Mongo Mongolian BBQ opens in Midtown

2012-01-10T06:52:12Z

Mongo Mongo Mongolian BBQ restaurant at 19th and J streets opened Saturday, and owner Jonathan Ng said he is pleased with the customer turnout.

“It’s been good, we’re really excited to be open,” Ng said Monday.

Much of the interior design still needs to be finished, Ng said, but getting the restaurant open and focusing on the food was the top priority.

“It’s kind of barren, but we’re working on it,” Ng said, adding that interior décor details are being worked out.

In order to keep the garage doors installed when the business was Garlic Shack – which shut down after only three months – Ng said a unique setup had to be made to meet health department regulations that stipulate the kitchen can’t be open-air.

Customers walk in along the left side of the restaurant, go through sliding glass doors and prepare their bowls for the chef. The chef then cooks the food on the Mongolian barbecue – a circular device originating from the shields used by Ghengis Khan’s army – and customers can go to their tables, to have the food delivered when it is completed.

Dinner bowls cost $10.95, and lunch bowls – weekdays until 4 p.m. – are $7.95. The restaurant takes cash only, but an ATM is inside.

The enclosed kitchen allows the garage doors to be opened when weather permits, and customers can sit on the patio once the furniture is installed.

Jenifer Estrada, a 20-year-old Sacramentan who works in retail, said Monday that she enjoyed the food, and it stacked up well against other Mongolian barbecue restaurants she has tried.

“It’s my first time here, and I really liked it,” she said. “The food was very good, and I hope they stay around longer than the last places that were here.”

Estrada said she had pork with noodles, vegetables and teriyaki sauce.

Another Sacramentan, 35-year-old construction worker and musician Chris Orozco, agreed with Estrada’s take on the restaurant.

“It’s pretty good, and I think the fact that they stay open late is nice,” he said, referencing the 3 a.m. closing time for Friday and Saturday nights.

“It’s fresh, and everything was crisp,” he added. “People need to make it out here and support the new local eateries.”

Mongo Mongo, located at 19th and J streets, is open from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Favorite sandwiches star in new food truck

2012-01-10T03:09:38Z

Coast to Coast Sandwiches – Sacramento’s newest food truck – brings what the owners say are some of their favorite sandwiches from across the country, including a South Philly cheesesteak and a Reuben.

Co-owners Robert Ramos and Sean Figueroa – not able to find an exact match of their favorite sandwiches from east of the Mississippi – decided they had a niche, and they looked to open a business.

Both graduated from culinary school, where they initially came up with the broad strokes of the Coast to Coast Sandwiches idea. Ramos was born in New York and lived in Florida, while Figueroa’s family is from Louisiana, and the Louisiana po’boy sandwich is his mother’s recipe.

“The Reubens here don’t compare to the ones in New York, and the cheesesteaks aren’t the real thing, not that we’ve found,” Ramos said. “We had both lived in different parts of the U.S. and loved the foods from those areas but could never find an exact match out here.”

Initially, the plan was to open a restaurant, but Ramos said lenders weren’t willing to take a chance on loaning money to a couple of chefs without restaurant ownership experience.

“I went four to five months looking for a location,” Ramos said. “It was pretty frustrating.”

Finally, the pair decided to focus on an idea that was originally an offshoot of the brick-and-mortar store: a food truck.

“We found a truck, went through the hurdles the city and county like to put in front of you, and in November, we started doing small engagements and gatherings,” Ramos said. “We started going out on the streets right before Christmas.”

As the name implies, the fare focuses on sandwiches. There are five types, and each is $7.

Sandwich types include a South Philly cheesesteak, Louisiana catfish po’boy, NorCal BLT, New York City pastrami and a Reuben.

The sandwiches are served on rolls or sliced breads, and both hot and cold options are offered.

Two sides are available – sweet potato fries and bacon macaroni and cheese – and a combo meal includes a sandwich, a side and a drink for $10.

“I really like the staff,” said Angela Marbay, a 42-year-old Sacramentan who is a manager for the state. “They’re very nice and personable.”

Marbay bought a Reuben sandwich on Monday near the DMV offices, saying that the quality of the food the first time the truck came by brought her back, and she is happy to have the food truck option in the area.

“The South Philly cheesesteak is really, really good, too,” she said. “I like when the food trucks come by, and I think people should support the small businesses.”

John Glaeser, a 48-year-old association manager from Sacramento, said Monday that he recently took an interest in local food trucks and wanted to try Coast to Coast Sandwiches.

“I like that you can get in and out fast at lunch,” he said.

Ramos said the ultimate goal is still to build a traditional restaurant, with a much-expanded menu.

“We don’t have the space on the truck to do everything we want to, and there’s a lot more we’d like to offer,” he said. “Right now, we’re hoping to build our brand, and the truck is a great moving billboard for it.”

The side of the truck is decorated with graphics of the Golden Gate Bridge meeting the Brooklyn Bridge above the Gateway Arch from St. Louis. Ramos said it shows some of the different parts of the country that the food comes from.

To keep up with Coast to Coast Sandwiches’ whereabouts, check its website, which has a schedule of appearances as well as a live Twitter feed.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

The Porch Previewed

2012-01-09T22:16:40Z

Walking up to The Porch people are visually enveloped with a crisp white exterior. Upon entering one will be met with warm shades of brown and cream. The more subdued tones of grey and black provide a strong juxtaposition.

The focus of The Porch for Dine Downtown is Southern fare.

“We offer a specially prepared menu for Dine Downtown,” co-owner Jerry Mitchell said. “The fare we offer here is from Charleston, S.C., injected with California. I just felt it was right for here.”

Hungry patrons start off with the Porch salad, a light buttermilk bleu cheese dressing over roasted beets, apples, pecans and mixed greens.

In the second course, enjoy buttermilk fried chicken, shrimp and grits or blue crab cakes. My dinner date, Melanie Dinos, had the crab cakes on her last visit to The Porch.

“The crab cakes have just enough breading to use as a binder, and they aren’t over-breaded,” Dinos said. “I could put the remoulade on everything."

For those who aren’t sure what remoulade is, think tartar sauce, but better.

With the shrimp and grits dish, micro greens and carrot ribbons add crunch to perfectly cooked shrimp and creamy grits that pair amazingly with crab gravy, wild mushrooms and ham cubes. Bell peppers are prepared in a spicy mixture to add more dimension to the dish.

Finally, the third course wouldn’t be complete without the black bottom crème brûlée. A blackberry sauce is drizzled over fresh whipped cream and the two-tone brûlée. After cracking into a vanilla top layer, chocolate awaits beneath.

Food sustainability is important for the owners of The Porch.

"We try and use as much local product as possible," Mitchell said.

Interested individuals can see where The Porch sources its food from on their website.

Make reservations through Dine Downtown for this and the other 28 participating restaurants.

Dine Downtown kicks off the New Year

2012-01-09T21:59:16Z

The holiday’s are over — now what? How about starting January off right by sampling the best of Sacramento’s dining scene?

Starting today, hungry foodies and food nerds can dine in some of downtown’s favorite hot spots, including the newly opened The Porch Restaurant and Bar, during the annual Dine Downtown Restaurant Week.

Nearly 30 restaurants will offer $30 three-course meals throughout the grid during the next 10 days.

“Dine Downtown gives patrons a chance to relax and treat themselves to a leisurely and delicious three-course meal, at a price that doesn’t break the bank,” said Megan Emmerling, Downtown Sacramento Partnership marketing manager.

“Capitol Garage is known for brunch and lunch,” Capitol Garage and The Porch co-owner Jerry Mitchell said. “We are known for being low brow, but last year we saw a 40 percent increase during Dine Downtown.”

Restaurant owners have found a new challenge in the general population’s interest and knowledge of food.

“It used to be just feed people good food,” Mitchell said. “Now it’s more complicated. People are more aware about sustainability, so it makes it more difficult. We try and use as much local product as possible.”

Last year about 1.3 million dollars was generated in revenue during Dine Downtown.

“Dine Downtown provides restaurants a huge boost at the start of the new year,” DSP executive director Michael Ault said. “We estimate that the event generates just over $1 million in restaurant sales and parking revenue in just 10 days.”

Disclosure: Look for The Porch preview article.

Those Jazzy Cats

2012-01-08T04:28:14Z

Most are familiar with the saying "Dogs have masters, Cats have staff."

At the cat show Jazzy Cats - Mardi Gras Madness today, the two-legged staff of all the adorable balls of fluff were scurrying to get their favorite felines to their judging stations.

Sponsored by The International Cat Show (TICA) it continues through tomorrow from 10am - 4pm at the DoubleTree Hotel across from Arden Fair Mall. I discovered today it's a popular show. The big ballroom was packed with cats, their accessories and staff, plus plenty of cat lovers.

Here are some photos from today:

Disclosure: I am the staff of Hershey the cat!

Selland's Market-Café expands to El Dorado Hills

2012-01-07T01:15:34Z

East Sacramento’s popular Sellands Market-Café restaurant is expanding to El Dorado Hills, with an opening in the posh Town Center shopping area set for Jan. 30.

“It’s exactly the same format as our Selland’s Market-Café in East Sacramento, and it’s a bigger space,” said co-owner Randall Selland.

The 4,200-square-foot location is 1,000 square feet bigger than the Sacramento store, and it can seat 100 people inside and an additional 50 on the patio.

“It’s basically got food my wife grew up on,” Selland said. “You’ve got meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, different chicken dishes, roast pork, pulled pork and pizzas out of a wood-fired oven.”

Also available are cookies and other desserts, and Selland said everything is made fresh daily.

One of the most popular options at the Sacramento location will also be a staple at the new space: dinner for two and a bottle of wine for $25.

Wine will be offered on draft, coming out of 5-gallon kegs that Selland said are new to the market, but that numerous wineries are already embracing.

The restaurant is family-friendly, something Selland said is integral to all the restaurants he owns.

“We’re a family, and whether it’s Selland’s or Ella or anything, we make sure it’s a place we’d want to go with our family – with our children and grandchildren,” Selland said.

Chef Jordan Davis will run the kitchen, and Selland said he is a veteran of Animal in San Francisco and another restaurant in Mill Valley.

“We want to have a chef at each location, not a corporate chef,” Selland said, adding that he and his family believe that investing in an individual chef will help maintain quality food and diversity at the various restaurants.

The Selland family has been thinking about opening another restaurant for a few years, Selland said, adding that unlike some corporations that look at demographics, income levels and other factors, he and his wife, Nancy Zimmer, make their decisions based on the space.

“This one just happened to work out really well for a number of reasons,” Selland said. “The biggest thing, though, was we just saw the space and said, ‘Yeah, that’s it.’ ”

He said the shopping center has a European feel, which fits with the restaurant’s décor and ambiance, and it is westward facing, so it has a good view of the setting sun. Just off Latrobe Road, the Town Center is one of the first areas visitors encounter when they enter El Dorado Hills from the freeway, and anyone going to the nearby movie theater will drive right past the restaurant.

“It’s wonderful to have them here,” said Debbie Manning, president and CEO of the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce. “They’re already involved in the area, and we are hearing nothing but good things – people are so excited about them.”

Manning said she thinks Selland’s Market-Café will draw in people familiar with the Sacramento location and expose them to all that El Dorado Hills has to offer – including a number of new restaurants and bars.

“It’s a win-win because the El Dorado Hills community is excited and wants to support them, and they are going to bring in traffic because of their name, and those people will now get to see El Dorado Hills,” Manning said.

The El Dorado Hills Town Center is located at 4364 Town Center Blvd. Selland's Market-Café will be open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Burglars hit Downtown Sacramento sustainable furniture studio

2012-01-06T23:18:57Z

A Sacramento businessman is searching for clues that will hopefully lead to the return of his tools after thieves broken into his Downtown studio overnight and made off with thousands of dollars worth of equipment.

Sometime between 6 p.m. Thursday night and 6 a.m. Friday morning, an unknown number of bandits cut a hole in the north side of the building that Reclamation Art + Furniture uses as its studio. Once inside, the burglars grabbed the table saw, nail guns, angle grinders, and other small construction tools that the business owner, Steven Tiller, uses to craft his beautiful and one-of-a-kind functional furniture pieces, mostly out of old and discarded materials.

Tiller is hopeful that someone with information about where the tools are now will hear about this story and do the right thing. Anybody who may be able to shed any light on this case is asked to call the Sacramento Police Department and refer to case #12-4950, or to contact Tiller directly.

G Hum Parade through Midtown, Southside Park

2012-01-06T01:26:56Z

Southern Midtown will be its own “G” Street Saturday as an experimental musical event composed of an expected 100-plus people all playing the G chord on various instruments winds its way from Bows & Arrows at 19th and S streets to Southside Park.

Daniel Trudeau, a 26-year-old musician from Placerville, said he wants to create a community and play a pleasant sound walking through Sacramento, calling it the G Hum Parade.

“It’s basically just for our ears,” he said. “Ambient noise is pleasing to the ear, and when you’re part of the energy of what’s going to be going on, it’ll be really special.”

He said he’s had the idea since he was a teen, thinking it would be a funny experiment, and in the age of Facebook, where an event can be created with a few mouse clicks and keyboard strokes, he decided to make it happen.

“The G chord was the first chord that came to mind,” he said. “It was the first chord I learned, and it’s the first chord most people learn.”

Starting in Bows & Arrows, the group – toting guitars, clarinets, battery-powered keyboards and anything else its members want to carry – will play the G chord for 15 or 20 minutes before heading off to Southside Park.

The continuous sound won’t be directed, so it is expected to be an ongoing hum, Trudeau said.

“It’s going to be played as sporadically as possible,” Trudeau said. “It’s a rising tide. It’ll rise, and we’ll hear how it sounds in Bows & Arrows, then we’ll hear how it sounds on the move, then we’ll hear it stopped outside at Southside Park.”

Bows & Arrows co-owner Olivia Coelho said the event fits with the store’s idea of unifying people into a community around art.

“I like the route,” she said. “It’s a beautiful part of Midtown that is under construction right now, so it’s sort of being born into its new identity, and there’s lots of amazing businesses already located there, even though other parts of Midtown have been getting more attention.”

Coelho said she thinks events like the G Hum Parade are necessary to bring people together in an era where they are increasingly separated by technology.

The parade starts at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bows & Arrows, 1815 19th St., and is scheduled to end at 4 p.m. in Southside Park, 2115 Sixth St. The timeline is loosely set, with the first 15 or 20 minutes taken to gather and get things going at Bows & Arrows, and some time at the end in Southside Park. For more information and to sign up, click here for the Facebook page.

“It’s totally artsy,” Trudeau said. “It’s going to just be about how the people are feeling about it.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

The SPCA & kennels of camp kindness

2012-01-05T23:46:03Z

My long lived neighbor and companion, Timothy Murray, adopted his first dog "Maxwell Smart" from a shelter none other than God's SPCA, Church of Christ. Un doubly he has never needed him more each day. After two years with this special companion; the wired haired terrier and him has never felt more an item.

It was no non-sense considering an adoptive pet request program offered by the little church of Rio Linda. Evidentiary, the Pet Programs were suitable for SPCA torts reform and due process; because it was easy to cleave to dog repair and salvation. I welcome those opinions of who maintain advertising still is needed in this system to keep a steady and consistent draconian function.

At camp kindness adults, seniors, and the disabled have opportunities to enrich their experiences through Hodge podgy with animals so they can draw on the natural qualities of interbreeds.. Yes, open door shelters are continually seeking animals in need. Liberally avoiding euthanasia they are more than a kennel; they’re a home.

The society for the prevention of cruelty to animals surely made me thoughtful. At last there were animals that found placement in counties of Sacramento; including Placer, Yolo, & El Dorado and even stories of success of its adopter’s over our charitable networks.

My Deacon has auspiciously prepared me to choose from an established variety of Pets required by the SPCA to offer more hope for the way of the world and the perfunctory of evidence of co-commitments during dog redemption. But, success of matching recipients to adoption pet programs is the best way to foster and alert children to the benefits of learning with animals.

The Business of Animals
Animals out in Flock
Seek out only stares from dark
Hoping for a Knowles too fake
There Business is keeping their Tone.

Many people today, have trouble communicating without the help of “salt”, implicitly meant to add seasoning to our filtered lenses. My Medical Doctor, Bill Eng M.D., states though rather subjectively, “all pets enhance the sense of well-being and in many people with health related issues.”

Truth of the matter, Life is always fair and it always matters. That’s why we should fix to stay in important company. I do notice the change in wealth associated in a Pet Companion! For practical purposes, the dog is a good listener.

In only 2012, we will have more access to Estate Planning, Micro chipping, Licensing, Spaying, Neutering, & even Vaccinations; a quandary begins in estate planning. Aggressive animals can’t be micro chipped, licensed, or vaccinated. But animals which are altered as though spayed or neutered are to be tagged for census practical purposes. A Cornell University Lab suggests that some vaccinations help protect dogs from kennel cough.

Love is defined as in wikipedia as a emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. Love is also a virtue representing all of human, kindness, compassion, and affection; and "the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another." Animal nabbing is safe, innocuous, and like the kennel cough; it’s a notice to revelation in a troubled mind.

With the abridging of the gap between virtue and kindness; my perspective is maintained through the objectivity of my lens often placed in authority by an Administrative Law Judge, henceforth Joseph L. Russell, Sr. I can willingly give value when I say “He as a church Deacon provides services for our social climate and engineers miracles pursued by the pet return, pet kindness, and pet repair fortunes.”

Disclosure: I have several friends with adoptive pets and take value of the reward they receive from the fellowship of great companion love fettered by the mate of a phyla breaded.species.

Kings fire Head Coach Paul Westphal

2012-01-05T20:22:00Z

The Sacramento Kings fired Head Coach Paul Westphal Thursday, citing a record of 51 wins and 120 losses in a little more than two seasons, team officials said in a press release.

“I want to thank Paul for all of his effort on behalf of the Kings,” said Geoff Petrie, chief of basketball operations. “Unfortunately, the overall performance level of the team has not approached what we felt was reasonable to expect. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Westphal will be replaced by Assistant Coach Keith ~~Kevin~~ Smart, but Kings officials did not say whether the appointment is permanent.

“I would like to thank the Maloof family for the incredible opportunity they gave me to participate in the attempt to bring the Sacramento Kings back to prominence,” Westphal said in the release. “While the job is far from finished, I am proud of the strides we were able to make.”

The season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 26 was a resounding victory for the Kings, but lackluster performances followed, and a tiff played out in the media between Westphal and the Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins over an alleged request from Cousins to be traded, to much criticism from fans.

“Geoff Petrie and his staff have been nothing but honest and supportive throughout my time here,” Westphal said in the release. “They are first class in every way, and I wish them nothing but success. My hope is to see the fans of the Kings and the city of Sacramento rewarded with many years of great basketball.

“Finally, I want to thank my loyal staff and players for their efforts in attempting to climb out of the hole we shared. Nothing comes easy in the NBA, and I know they will not rest in their efforts to rebuild this team.”

Editorial Note: A spelling correction was made to this article after it was published.

Ask the County Law Librarian – Providing For Pets In The Event of Death or Incapacity

2012-01-05T19:14:51Z

Q. I am trying to get my affairs in order and I am concerned about what will happen to my three dogs should I die or become incapacitated. Can I leave money in a will or trust for my dog's care?

Suzy

A. You cannot leave money or other kinds of property directly to your dogs because the law says that animals are property. I know most people that have pets consider them to be family members, but the law sees it differently, therefore your pets cannot be a beneficiary in a will. There are a number of things you can do to make sure your pets are provided for when you can no longer care for them.

You can choose a new owner for your dogs and make it a legally binding decision by including it in your will. A provision like: "I leave my three dogs Caldonia, Eli and Keeva to my friend Jennifer Lynn. " Obviously, you should talk to Jennifer before including such a clause in your will. Also consider leaving this new owner some money to go toward the costs of caring for your pets.

You can set up a Pet Trust which names someone, a trustee, in charge of managing and spending the property you leave for the benefit of your dogs. The trustee follows a written set of instructions that you provide. One advantage of a trust is that it takes effect before your death. The provisions in a will don't have any legal effect until you die.

For sample will clauses and other related information the New York City Bar Association has an informative website:
http://www.abcny.org/media-aamp-publications/brochuresbooks/556#Introduction

The law library has two books published by Nolo: Nolo's Simple Will Book, and Plan Your Estate both by Denis Clifford which can help on this topic. Also a great resource for all things related to dogs is Every Dog's Legal Guide, A Must-Have Book For Your Owner by Mary Randolph which is also published by Nolo. This website has a number of articles reprinted from Every Dog's Legal Guide: http://doglaw.hugpug.com/doglaw_073.html

When you are drafting your will or trust consider a contribution to rescue groups, humane societies and other non profits. A gift can help many animals. If you need help on the wording or have other questions the organization will be more than happy to provide assistance.

Coral Henning, Director
@coralh & @saclawlibrarian
www.saclaw.org

Photo essay: Sacramento's stunning public murals

2012-01-05T04:01:22Z

In a city that boasts a thriving community of locally owned businesses, artists, musicians and writers, it’s no wonder that Sacramento has a stunning array of public art displays that have taken the form of murals on the sides of buildings throughout town.

The works are concentrated in Midtown and downtown Sacramento, where the eclectic collection of stores and businesses creates the ideal canvas for some of the most visually impressive pieces of public art.

Local artist Skinner – born Warren Davis III – said he thinks Sacramento needs more work like the mural he painted on the side of the Java Lounge on 16th Street near Broadway. Skinner said he’s commissioned to do work all over the world – including a project he’ll begin in May in Japan – but it’s difficult to get permission for work in Sacramento because he thinks the people who approve the work, like the City Council, are too conservative.

“I’d paint for free, because I want Sacramento to be more beautiful,” Skinner said. “I’d like to see more support for our local art scene.”

Skinner named the mural at 24th Street and Broadway as one of his favorites in the city. The piece was done by Alex “Cabron” Forster, said Skinner, and depicts “Ishi,” a Native American believed to be the last member of the Yahi people, holding a gold nugget in each hand.

At 1700 Capitol Ave. is an old-fashioned grocery store scene that has become the identifying mark for Grocery Outlet. Store owner Mindi Admire said people refer to her store as, “You know, the building with the mural,” and that when she purchased the business, she wanted to be sure the mural would stay.

“It’s really important to the community,” Admire said, adding that the work was recently restored by one of the original artists, Michael Stanford.

Dimple Records on 16th Street at Broadway boasts artwork by Shaun Turner and Dan Osterhoff, who did the piece in 2008 for the store’s previous inhabitant, R5 Records. The mural depicts music legends Miles Davis and Billie Holiday.

The California Conservation Corps on 24th Street has a mural that faces the light rail station. According to Susanne Levitskey, public information officer for the CCC, it’s a great location, because it catches the eye of young people on the train and gets them interested in the corps.

“The mural not only showcases corps people, but it advertises what we do here,” Levitsky said, adding that artwork like theirs has become a tradition throughout the organization in California.

The work was done in the late ’90s by a group of CCC members.

Mary Kawano, owner of Sugar Shack Boutique on J Street, said she wanted the look of graffiti art on her shop because it went well with her fun, edgy store. She chose Anthony Padilla to paint her mural a few years ago, in part to give back to the community by supporting local artists.

Kawano said she thinks her storefront might inspire other business owners to support spray-can artists and give them a canvas for their work without defacing any buildings.

She said she hopes to have Padilla come back to update the mural with new outfits on the girls in the image, with one who represents Kawano herself and the other being a “Midtown edgy girl.”

The Masonic Temple building on J Street near the Lincoln Highway was the home of a mural done by Stephanie Taylor, but was destroyed by weather and time. Taylor’s piece, copied from original artwork on display at the Crocker Art Museum, “Sunday Morning in the Mines,” has been digitally reproduced and is back in place on the Masonic Temple.

Jack’s Urban Eats on 20th Street near Capitol Avenue in Midtown is the home to this mural. Unfortunately, no one could be reached at the restaurant for comment.

Michael Brown, owner of Capitol Dawg on 20th Street near L Street, said he had the mural on the back of his building done just about a year ago. Most of the work was done by Shaun Turner.

“I asked him for a little color, a little nostalgia, and to have the words ‘Capitol Dawg’ on the piece somewhere,” Brown said. “I let the artist do what he wanted. I think he winged it.”

Brown said he’s really happy with the piece, and added that an unexpected benefit has been that the mural has been untouched by taggers. The blank wall on the backside of his restaurant had previously been a popular spot for graffiti, but he said he thinks taggers respect the artwork.

The Alhambra Theatre may be closed, but this Midtown mural pays homage to “the showplace of Sacramento,” located off of 25th Street near J Street.

This piece on HR Sports Cards at the corner of 10th and W streets is still in progress. Artist Irubiel Moreno has taken the project on with a collection of other artists. The mural depicts figures from various religions, including Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, and was intended to create a message of unity.

Fox 40 covered the first stages of this mural project in August.

The Art in Public Places program, as part of the Sacramento Metro Arts Commission, works primarily with public projects in new construction, said program director Shelly Willis. Upcoming projects include the Elkhorn Tower in north Sacramento and a test project to paint a large utility box at 20th and J streets.

Willis said the review process for any public piece is extensive, since the program is funded with public money. She said that while her focus is on public work, she is also a resource for artists and business in the private sector who wish to commission artwork.

In 2009, the Art in Public Places program put together the Franklin Urban Plein Air Project, a temporary art project on Franklin Boulevard. The 22 pieces were painted on storefronts by as many different artists, but unlike most of the city’s mural work, these are on a much smaller scale.

“These murals were purposefully meant to engage people at the pedestrian level,” Willis said, adding that Franklin Boulevard was once voted the ugliest street in Sacramento, but is gradually becoming a more beautiful place.

Do you have a favorite mural in Sacramento? Please share below in the comments.

Elizabeth Studebaker leads MBA

2012-01-05T03:45:10Z

The Midtown Business Association kicked off the new year with a new executive director: Elizabeth Studebaker, who took over the position that has been vacant since Rob Kerth left in October.

Studebaker, 33, officially took the helm of the MBA on Monday, with an operating budget of about $650,000 per year. Most recently, she spent almost five years as executive director for a similar organization in San Diego, the North Park Main Street Business Improvement District. The Sacramento Press caught up with Studebaker to ask her some questions about what she has in mind for Midtown.

The Sacramento Press: What are your immediate goals for Midtown?

Elizabeth Studebaker: My immediate major goals are pretty much all focused on the sidewalks and street appearance. I think they are in pretty dire need of increased attention. We need the installation of new trash cans, more aggressive litter removal and graffiti abatement. We also need increased nighttime security patrols.

I have meetings set with several of our contractors already to get a more thorough explanation of what we get from them. I will then determine if they are the right fit or if we should go with someone else. I’m in the process of doing a complete organizational overhaul, revamping and retooling where I see the need.

SP: What are some of your long-term goals?

ES: One of my next priorities is creating stronger relationships with our counterparts in neighboring districts. There are lots of economic development groups, including the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, the Metro Chamber, River District and Broadway District. There are a lot of lessons that we can learn from each other.

SP: Some have said there is an “us versus them” mindset between Midtown and downtown. What are your thoughts on that?

ES: I think the identity of Midtown is pretty obviously different from that of downtown. As adjacent neighbors, we’re better-served if we’re working together and in close communication. If nothing else, I want to be attending their meetings, and I hope they’ll be coming to mine and meeting with each other’s staff on a regular basis. A lot of learning comes from peer-to-peer communications. I had a lot of success with that in San Diego, where we all met on a monthly basis.

SP: What drew you to Sacramento and Midtown?

ES: I moved to Sacramento as a result of my husband being offered a new job. We moved up here a few months ago, and the timing happened to be pretty good in terms of the position opening at MBA. The district I was the director of in San Diego had about the same number of businesses, with 500 small- to medium-sized businesses and very few national chains and corporations.

I am also very excited about the history and nature of the district and its buildings. The character of Midtown is one of the most exciting things, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the trees. Coming from San Diego, we had a very unhealthy tree canopy pretty much everywhere. I still get giddy when I go for a walk in Sacramento under all those trees.

SP: Some longtime neighbors have been at odds with restaurants and bars that put a heavy emphasis on alcohol sales. How do you plan to balance business activity with residential livability?

ES: The MBA does not have the authority to set (alcohol) licenses or set conditions on those licenses. From the perspective of an organization like the MBA, I was in a similar situation in San Diego. I would hope I have a similar relationship here in Sacramento, with regular and aggressive education for business owners and staff about being a good neighbor. I need to meet with resident groups, and those are some of the meetings I will be having soon. I’ve requested to be on the NAG (Neighborhood Advisory Group) agenda, and I’ve met with a few of the residents. It’s still too early to say anything direct about how I’m going to work with the residents.

Basically, I want to keep the lines of communication open. If there are specific problems that need to be addressed, I’ll do my best to address them. I understand this is an area densely populated with residential and commercial uses, and we all need to get along.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

River Cats to hire about 200 people

2012-01-05T01:31:20Z

The Sacramento River Cats organization is hiring for about 200 stadium jobs starting next week, and unlike previous years, this year’s jobs are being filled online – not at a job fair.

“There’s a wide variety of positions we’re hiring for,” said River Cats spokesman Nick Lozito. “They’re all positions that involve interaction with our fans, so we’re looking for people who are friendly and people who can help maintain what we’ve created here.”

Positions include grounds crew, ticket sales, in-game promotions crew, kid’s corner attendants and parking attendants.

Applicants don’t need to be experts on baseball, but they must be at least 18 years old, Lozito said. Before hiring, applicants will be drug tested and given a background check.

“The most important thing we’re looking for is someone who will fit in with the environment we’ve created here over our first 12 seasons,” Lozito said. “It’s a family environment, and we want someone who enjoys interacting with the community and helping others create a fun place.”

All jobs will be at Raley Field in West Sacramento, and none of them involve traveling with the team for away games. The first home game of the season is April 13. While there is no set deadline to apply, Lozito said the positions tend to fill up fast.

This year doesn’t bring any significant change in the number of positions open for the season, he added.

The creation of 200 positions – even though temporary – represents “an economic shot in the arm,” said West Sacramento Economic Development Coordinator Diane Richards.

“It’s a great entry-level job, and it’s a great asset to have Raley Field and the River Cats, especially with unemployment being so high,” she said.

Yolo County – where West Sacramento is located – has an unemployment rate of 12.2 percent, according to the most recent numbers, Richards said. West Sacramento itself has 18.6 percent unemployment. She added that unemployment in Sacramento County is 11 percent.

“These are tough times,” Richards said. “During the season, a lot of economic activity is centered around Raley Field. We have people from all over the region come here, and it’s definitely great to capture those dollars here.”

To apply for a position with the River Cats, visit the team’s website and click on the employment opportunities tab.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Sacramento: Is there an app for that?

2012-01-04T05:09:07Z

I downloaded five Sacramento-specific mobile apps to review to find out if there is truth to the famous slogan "There's an app for that." I had a mixed bag of results, with some useful and some novelty.

Midtown Sacramento
Price: Free

The app encourages its users to explore Midtown, helping them find parking, taxi service, restaurants, boutiques and other needs. It also keeps users up to date with neighborhood events, sales and friends' updates and tweets through an in-app tab for Twitter and Facebook.

Upon opening the app, I was pleased by the clean outline showing 12 different icons representing the different options to choose from: events, eats and drinks, entertainment, galleries, health and beauty, nightlife, shopping, specials, parking, transportation, banks and ATM, and services.

The events feature of the app shows past, current and future events in the Midtown area, with descriptions, photos, ticket prices, contact info, driving directions to the venues, and what I liked the most: the option to integrate an event to the users' calendars.

Have one too many to drink and no one to drive you home? This app lets the users, through its transportation option, easily pick a cab service, complete with addresses and contact information of the companies.

The parking feature of the app shows public parking in the area on a map. It also allows users to get directions to the parking lot through the phone's GPS. This is one of my favorite features of the app, although I would want to see the following improvements: display parking hours, number of parking spots and price information.

I was disappointed that most of the stores featured in the app do not have descriptions other than their addresses and phone numbers. It would be nice to know the different services or unique items the stores have to offer before heading down to visit. Most of them have "Description to come" as their description.

Pros: It's free and has tons of features on everything in Midtown.
Cons: It lacks information on most stores, there’s no Yelp integration with stores or a way to review them.
Bottom line: Get it, it's free! It is very helpful in finding things to do in Midtown to live, play and party.

Ease of use: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Practicality: 4/5
Interface: 4/5

Ibreathe: Sacramento
Price: Free

Ibreathe displays air quality information for 15 areas and cities in the Greater Sacramento region. Users can toggle from a map to list view of the areas with their corresponding air quality grade for the day's and week’s forecast. Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails and the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District provide the data for the air quality ratings.

The app shows a map of Sacramento and surrounding areas. The user has an option to view particulates or ozone rating for the 15 areas and cities divided, which are divided in 10 different sections. Each section is represented by a color representing air quality: Green is good, yellow is moderate, orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups, red is unhealthy, purple is very unhealthy, and magenta is hazardous. This information is all included within the app, and it gives a complete description on what each color or warning means.

I find this app to be very useful for people who have asthma or other health conditions where air quality is a concern. It also gives do's and don’ts for people with respiratory problems if they are in an area of unhealthy air quality level.

The feature I like the most is the ability to program the app to send its users notifications if air quality for the areas they have picked reaches a dissatisfactory air quality level.

Pros: In-app information is extensive, from health effects to tips on how to spare the air.
Cons: Lack of in-app ability to tweet or forward advisories to contacts.
Bottom line: Get it. It's free and helps users be aware of the air quality.

Ease of use: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Practicality: 4/5
Interface: 4/5

Traffic Sacramento
Price: 99 cents

The description of the app says it "displays the traffic cameras provided by the California Department of Transportation." Through this feature, the app aims to shorten commuting time for Sacramentans by allowing them to view traffic for more than 30 freeway and street intersections.

It is true that the app displays the traffic through the cameras. It is just a shame that it is not a live video feed, but a still image of the freeway. The app developers were careful not to indicate this information on their app description, because for most, like myself, it is a dealbreaker between a novelty and a useful app.

The photos displayed are usually a minute or two off current time, with some, such as Interstate 5 at 25th Avenue being delayed by days (The photo showing is time stamped Dec. 18, 2011 as of Tuesday.)

The app also crashed twice in five days of use.

Pros: You have an app that takes pictures of freeways.
Cons: No video feed.
Bottom line: Do not buy unless developers make live video feed available.

Ease of use: 2/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Practicality: 1/5
Interface: 2/5

Iradar Sacramento
Price: 99 cents

The app provides a map of the Sacramento region with animated radar readings provided by the National Weather Service, similar to what TV news reporters use to tell the weather forecast.

It claims to be an easy way to see the weather on the app description, but I find this untrue. A regular Joe is better off with the built-in weather app provided on most smartphones, which is straightforward in giving the weather forecast for the day and the week.

If you are interested in meteorology, the app does provide graphic and color-coded dBZ or decible measures of reflectivity provided by the radar. The color represents degree of rainfall. What those numbers mean is not included in the app. The users have to Google search them themselves.

The lack of information on how to use the app makes it really frustrating. I even checked the developers’ website for information on how to use the app, but to no avail.

Pros: Great graphic interface.
Cons: No instructions on how to use or interpret readings.
Bottom line: Stick with the built-in weather app on your phone unless you know how to read weather radar.

Ease of use: 2/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Practicality: 1/5
Interface: 4/5

Transit Guru Sacramento
Price: $1.99

The app provides schedules for the Sacramento Regional Transit District's rail and bus routes, provides an offline map of Sacramento with bus and train information.

The app provides departure and arrival time for the chosen route. I like that it not only tells the users how many stops the bus will make from departure to arrival, but also shows on the map the locations of each stop, the user’s current position and the option to set an alarm for a certain number of minutes before arrival time.

The users can also favorite a route for quicker access. Two offline maps are also provided: a central city map, showing routes within downtown, and a system map showing routes for the rest of the city. These two maps are useful to have just in case a cellular network is not available or for iPod touch users with no data service.

Another great feature of the app is quick access to train advisories by selecting the advisories tab. Unfortunately, there is no automatic notification option for this feature. Users have to manually check for advisories. These advisories can be information on delayed train arrivals, which is always good to know.

The only problem I came about using the app is with its Yelp integration. The feature is supposed to find nearby restaurants, boutiques and other attractions from the user’s current train station. When it works, it’s great, but when it does not, the stores featured can be as far as Massachusetts.

Pros: Offline and online map availability.
Cons: Yelp integration needs work.
Bottom line: For $1.99, if you use public transit daily or twice a month or more, this is a must-have.

Ease of use: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Practicality: 4/5
Interface: 4/5

If you have a Sacramento-specific mobile app, please let us know on the comment section below.

Midtown gets its long-awaited Squeeze Inn

2012-01-04T01:43:01Z

A long line of eager Sacramentans arrived at 17th and K streets Tuesday looking for the perfect skirt. But it wasn’t apparel they were after – it was the “cheese skirt” that cloaks the meat patties on burgers at The Squeeze Inn.

Owner Sabrina Nicola said this is the eighth Squeeze Inn location, and the first day of business went well.

“Everyone seems to be really happy,” she said Tuesday afternoon. “I think we had about 150 people for the lunch rush, and they’re a lot of locals and nearby workers who are happy to see us.”

Nicola, who previously worked at the original Squeeze Inn on Fruitridge Road, said she wanted to bring the feel of the original space and combine it with contemporary artwork.

To read more about Nicola's efforts to open the restaurant, click here.

Pricing is about the same as the other locations, but varies slightly due to taxes being included in the list price. Single burgers range from $6.25 to $8.75.

Customers eating lunch on Tuesday said the new location measures up to their expectations.

“I’ve been to the old one, and I’m happy this one is here,” said Ann Monson, a 58-year-old state worker from Sacramento. “My office is right next door.”

She said she’s been anticipating its opening for the past few months and described the cheeseburger as “outrageous cheesy goodness.”

Another local happy to see the restaurant open was 29-year-old KC Caitano, who works at the Artistic Edge art gallery, 1880 Fulton Ave.

“I couldn’t be happier that they’re in Midtown,” he said, adding that he lives nearby. “To finally have one here and close to home – I’ll probably be in here every day.”

He said he was happy to see an option on the menu that appealed to his Hawaiian roots: a Squeeze with Cheese with spam.

“If you’ve never tried (The Squeeze Inn) before, you’ve got to,” he said. “It’s one of the things you should do before you die.”

The restaurant can seat about 55 people at a combination of tables and a counter, and a railed-off front patio will be added to the seating area when the weather warms up, Nicola said.

Midtown’s Squeeze Inn is located at 1630 K St. It is open from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday. It is closed Monday.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

The Sacramento Press on 'Insight'

2012-01-04T01:10:43Z

On Capital Public Radio’s “Insight” program on Tuesday, host David Watts Barton and I talked about new laws in effect for the new year, businesses scheduled to open in the near future, the upcoming elections and other local issues.

The beginning of the year typically brings in a number of new laws, and 2012 is no different. Some of the notable changes include mandatory child booster seats in cars for kids under age 8 or shorter than 4 feet 9 inches, the banning of openly carrying unloaded handguns and a new law that states police can no longer impound a vehicle at a DUI checkpoint if the only offense is the driver not having a license.

Click here to read about those and other laws that went into effect Sunday.

Also new this year will be several businesses. A sports-themed restaurant and bar, Mongolian food’s arrival on the grid and a new bicycle share program have all been covered by The Sacramento Press in the past and will soon be open for business in the central city.

To read about some of the new businesses coming in the next few weeks and months, click here.

If the mayor’s office has its way, it won’t be business as usual in Sacramento’s political future. A charter reform proposal could be on this summer’s ballot, and it would reshape the way Sacramento’s government works. An executive – or “strong” – mayor, an independent redistricting commission and an ethical review process are all parts of the reform measure being discussed at City Hall.

It’s a big year for Mayor Kevin Johnson, as he and the City Council members from even-numbered districts campaign to keep their seats in this year’s elections. While some districts – including District 4, which covers the central city – are full of competition, others currently only have a couple candidates, and Kevin McCarty currently has no challengers to his District 6 seat. But the deadline to enter the political race isn’t until March, so the competition could heat up even more.

One of those in the running for a City Council seat is Rob Kerth, former executive director of the Midtown Business Association. The MBA position was filled by Elizabeth Studebaker on Monday, and The Sacramento Press will follow up with her to learn what plans she has in store for Midtown.

The California Supreme Court’s upholding of Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to eliminate redevelopment agencies – and its dismissal of legislation that would allow them to continue with significant payments to the state – mean many projects in blighted areas of Sacramento won’t get done, and those that haven’t been finished might be in jeopardy too. Look for Sacramento Press reporter Melissa Corker’s latest update on redevelopment Wednesday.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Sacramento Moving Company Honored by US Commerce Association

2012-01-03T18:52:09Z

Sacramento, CA — The U.S. Commerce Association recently recognized Tony’s Sons Moving & Storage with the “Best of Rancho Cordova Award” in the Moving Company category for the 2011 business year.

According to company owner, Bruce Fasolo, receiving the award was a great way to finish up a good year in 2011. “It’s an honor to be recognized as being the best at what you do in your community, said Fasolo. “Our company is looking forward to trying to earn this award again in 2012, which marks our 47th year of helping Sacramento residents and businesses with their relocation and storage needs.”

Fasolo’s father, Anthony Fasolo, started the family business in 1965. Over the years, Tony’s Sons Moving & Storage has built a reputation for friendly, reliable service. The company has been a Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited business since the year 2000, and currently maintains an A+ rating.

“One of the keys to our success is that we get a lot of repeat business,” Fasolo said. “We have customers that we’ve moved four or five times over the last couple decades. We even move multiple generations of families. Customers that we’ve helped moved in the past, often refer us to their kids or even their grandkids.”

Promptly responding to customer calls and providing affordable estimates helps keep Tony’s Sons Moving & Storage ahead of its competition. “I handle the majority of our sales and provide in-home estimates that are usually much lower than our competitors,” Fasolo said. “Having the owner of the company show up at your home or business to complete the estimate establishes a lot of trust for the customer. No job is too small. If someone lives in a one-bedroom unit, I have no problem going to their home to provide a fair and accurate estimate for their move.”

Tony’s Sons Moving & Storage currently has 15 employees and averages approximately 150 moves per month. Second-generation owner, Bruce Fasolo assumed management duties of the company when his father retired in 1995. The company maintains memberships to a variety of housing and apartment associations in the Sacramento area and donates boxes to the Rancho Cordova Fire Department each year. For more information, call Bruce Fasolo at (916) 638-1888 or visit Sacramento Movers.

Photos: New Year's Eve with Mickey Avalon

2012-01-03T07:10:46Z

Hollywood rapper Mickey Avalon headlined a New Year's Eve show at Ace of Spades on Saturday.

Supporting Avalon on the bill were 2ME, Richard the Rockstar, and producer Big Chocolate.

Photos by Steven Chea.

Wallpaper. at Ace of Spades

2012-01-03T02:48:13Z

A couple hundred people wanting to get an early start on 2012 partying headed down to Ace of Spades on Friday, where Oakland musician and frequent Sacramento visitor, Wallpaper., headlined an eclectic bill.

Starting the show was Chaotic Fusion, a drummer and DJ duo. DJ Oasis spun radio hits – "Teach Me How To Dougie," "Ghosts 'n' Stuff," "Last Resort" – while Radio 94.7 on-air personality Casey Lewis drummed along to the beat.

Performing next was Oakland-by-way-of-Panama Latin rap duo Los Rakas. Rhyming in Spanish over dancehall and hip-hop beats, the up and coming young pair were well-received by the slowly growing crowd.

Headliner Wallpaper. took the stage next, with the men of the group dressed to the nines in cheap tuxedos.

Wallpaper. is the solo project of Eric Frederic, who performs as Wallpaper. vocalist Ricky Reed.

Frederic received a music degree with a focus in composition from the University of California, Berkeley and now creates poppy party songs with lowest common denominator lyrics.

"That's a grown ass woman with a grown ass," is one example from the song, "Butt2Butt” (feat. Too $hort).

Although his two LP’s are called "Doodoo Face" and "#STUPiDFACEDD," the songs are well-produced and have sharp hooks. MTV uses Wallpaper. songs on shows like Jersey Shore, and sometimes this type of music resonates with everyone (see: LMFAO).

Kicking things off with the song, "Shotgun," Reed worked to establish a connection with the Sac crowd early, referencing past visits to the city.

"We're gonna take you right back to Press Club, Town House, Luigi's!"

Flanked by two drummers, a standing percussionist in the back and a female vocalist/dance partner, Reed and Wallpaper stayed hyphy the whole set and made sure the crowd did too.

At one point Reed lamented the fact that it was the day before New Year's Eve, and had the crowd do a mock countdown before performing the catchy, "Okay."

Later it was a short cover of Prince's "1999," played with a ukulele, before another sing-along ditty, "FUCKING BEST SONG EVERRR."

After Wallpaper. came back on stage for the encore, Reed let the crowd know that the band has a tradition where they finish a bottle of Jameson before coming back on.

Stupid, but fun.

Not bad for New Year's Eve eve.

Photos by Steven Chea

Kwanzaa Love Train opens new year

2012-01-02T22:34:03Z

It's the beginning and the end. The alpha and the omega.

The final day of Kwanzaa welcomes the new year with the principle of Imani, faith in a play based on "One in the Spirit" written by Ione Murchison and adapted by Rebecca Davis, Rosanna Herber, and Michael Pollock.

The performance featured original hip hop soundtrack by sixteen year old Isiah White and dances by the Fenix Drum & Dance Company.

Afterwards, a feast was served for the annual diversity gathering at Center for Spiritual Awareness in West Sacramento.

On it's ninth year running, this is largest attended so far with over 170 people said organizer Rebecca Davis.

The church provides three turkeys, drinks, and bread for the potluck with the community pitching in with side dishes and dessert to share.

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach after the Watts riot in Los Angeles. Dr. Karenga searched for ways to bring African-Americans together as a community.

The play unites all with the song love train moving into the new year as illustrated in this original1973 video.

Amtrak train stops on I Street Bridge

2012-01-02T05:19:07Z

A west bound Amtrak train suddenly stops on the I Street Bridge on January 1, 2012 at 12:35 p.m. The train was detained for twenty minutes then was pulled back to the Sacramento train station. A few minutes later, the bridge swiveled over to let a Hornblower cruise ship past through.

To see the train being rolled back, click video.

New 'To Catch an Error' contest starts today!

2012-01-02T00:04:11Z

The Sacramento Press’ “To Catch an Error" contest has ended for the month of December. We are excited to announce our winner, Steven Chea!

Chea received a total of 46 points for catching minor spelling and grammar errors in stories by community contributors and editorial interns.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

If you missed last month’s contest, it’s time to start hunting again. Beginning today, we will wipe the slate clean and start our January contest. January’s winner will receive two tickets to see Paula Deen in the meet and greet section. One runner-up will receive a $15 gift card to Monsoon.

The deadline for entries will be midnight on Jan. 31.

See below for complete rules. If you have any feedback or questions about the contest, please email support@sacramentopress.com.

What is the contest all about?

"To Catch an Error” is a monthly contest that we hope will improve the quality of content on our site. We know mistakes are inevitable, but we want to do our best to eliminate as many as possible.

That’s why we're asking for your help to catch errors in articles on The Sacramento Press! Each month, we want you to submit any spelling, grammar or factual errors you catch to contest@sacramentopress.com.

Errors will be accepted until midnight on the last day of each month (unless stated otherwise). Throughout the month, errors will be evaluated and corrections made to articles at our discretion.

At the beginning of each month, we will announce the winner from the previous round along with the errors he or she caught, wipe the slate clean and start all over!

Errors will be assigned different values, using the following point system:

* Minor grammar and spelling error = 1 point
* Misspelling name of person = 3 points
* Factual error = 5 points
* Error in editorial intern story = 3 bonus points
* Error in staff reporter story = 5 bonus points

Note: The Sacramento Press follows Associated Press style for most spelling and word usage.

Each month, the person with the most points will receive a prize, a merit badge on his or her profile and a little bit of social media love. Prizes will vary from month to month.

Official contest rules

Eligibility: To be eligible, contestants must be registered as a user on The Sacramento Press.

Note: The same person cannot win two months in a row.

Deadline: All errors must be submitted by midnight on the last day of each month, unless otherwise stated.

How to enter: You can enter as many times as you like each month, and multiple entries can be submitted at the same time. Entries must be submitted by e-mail and will not be accepted through social media or as comments on articles.

To submit an error, send an email to contest@sacramentopress.com with the following:

* Your first and last name, along with your Sacramento Press user name
* A link to the story where you found the error
* Copy and paste the entire sentence or paragraph as it appears in the article, along with the error

If clarification is needed, a Sacramento Press staff member will follow up with you. When an error is submitted to us, a reply will be sent, verifying the number of points earned within 24 hours.

Submit errors as soon as you catch them! If an error has already been caught and a correction issued, points will not be given for the error.

Corrections: Errors will be verified by the Editorial and Community Outreach departments, and normal editorial correction policies will be applied. We will edit minor spelling or grammatical errors. More serious errors, such as factual inaccuracies, will be investigated on a case-by-case basis. Please note, we are under no obligation to issue a correction for every error submitted.

Note: The Sacramento Press has the final say in all errors being submitted.

Prizes: Prizes will change every month, and we reserve the right to change a prize at any time without notifying contestants.

Good luck!

A thank you to our talented community contributors

2012-01-01T02:19:45Z

Another year has passed and it’s time for reflection. The Sacramento Press has been lucky to form new relationships with some very talented contributing writers and photographers while strengthening our relationships with contributors who have been with us all along.

Our region had many notable events that will forever ingrain 2011 in Sacramentans’ minds.

When the “99 percent” occupied Cesar Chavez park and when Gus Vina left his post as City Manager, our community contributors were there to report. When the first cars inched their way down K Stree t and when the Sacramento City School Board considered relocating campuses, our community contributors were ready with notepads and cameras.

Our community contributors live and breathe the issues that impact our region and are truly the essence of The Sacramento Press.

This year, we reached a milestone that we are very proud of. In September, the 10,000th article was posted on our site. It would not be possible to reach that accomplishment if it weren’t for our dedicated community contributors.

Earlier in the year, some of our best contributors were recognized in short videos.

As one more small token of appreciation, we have put together digital showcases of articles and photographs posted by our Top Contributors.

Below are the community contributors who have gone above and beyond, working closely with us and submitting high-quality content that we are proud to recognize.

We hope you’ll take a moment to see what they have accomplished throughout the year! Click on the names below to see individual splash pages.

Aaron Davis played a significant role in helping us reach 10,000 articles this year. Aaron briefly worked in the Community Outreach department, supporting our contributors while continuing to contribute himself. He is a man of many talents, writing about everything from Osama Bin Laden’s death and the infamous Kings relocation debacle (yes, in the same article) to playing April Fool’s jokes on our readers. We can’t wait to see what he will write about next.

Alejandra Gonzalez is a woman about town who has embraced the essence of Sacramento. This
year she captured everything from wine-swirling at Grape Escape to tutu-twirling of the Sacramento Ballet. Whether it’s tea parties, fundraisers or concerts, Alejandra is our go-to gal for all things culture.

Amabelle Ocampo delves deep into important issues affecting our region, such as the Occupy movement. She isn’t afraid to explore delicate subjects like foster care or cancer and manages to write about them eloquently.
She balanced the seriousness by perfectly capturing the playful spirit of events like Wanderlust and Fashion’s Night Out.

Barry Wisdom has an eye for theater photography, which is almost guaranteed to come with a list of shooting restrictions. However, given a few minutes or only a dress rehearsal to work with, Barry always manages to capture the heart and emotion of every performances, putting the viewer right in the moment. His photo essays tell stories better than any article can.

Bill Burgua has truly honed his skills as a theater reviewer this year, and his passion for theater is simply contagious. He has a standing invitation to review performances at the many theaters he frequents, where we are proud to send him on our behalf. His reviews are often
boasted proudly on theaters’ websites.

David Alvarez’ talents run the gamut. Whether it’s a somber parade honoring our soldiers, a lively cultural festival or sporting event, David knows how to capture the perfect shot to convey the energy of the moments he shoots. He often serves as both the writer and photographer at the events he covers, which can be a difficult feat, but he manages to do it well.

Elaine Johnson’s feisty MidLife GridLife article series has given us an exclusive and intimate peek into her personal life. This year her readers have been privy to her first date mishaps, her relationship highs and lows and her thoughts on being called a “cougar.” We never know if we’ll laugh or cry while reading Elaine’s work and are always left wanting more.

It is almost impossible to describe the enthusiasm Kati Garner has for photography with just a couple of sentences. Her passion for the subjects she shoots run deeps and her photos speak to our readers. She kicked off the year with a stunning image of the Wells Fargo Center and ended it by lighting up our site with images of local holiday displays. In between, she treated us to the shots of the zoo and Fairytale Town’s newest critters, moving tributes on 9/11 and frame-worthy images of local scenery. Kati is unstoppable!

Much to our delight, Mary Nares has become our go-to writer if there is a choral performance in town; we know we can count on her. She often teams up with Kati Garner to review choral performances and together they make a dynamic duo. A member of a local choir herself, Mary has been welcomed with open arms to local groups’ performances who enjoy her writing as much as we do.

Mark Needham is an expert on all things black and purple. His devotion to the Kings is infectious, and we know we can always rely on Mark to go where the action is happening. This year, he took that enthusiasm to Raley Field, where we proved to be an equally fantastic River Cats writer. We’re grateful that he has chosen The Sacramento Press to express his enthusiasm for local sports.

If you’ve ever driven by the scene of a crime or an accident and wondered what’s happening, it’s almost guaranteed that the Maverick Photography team, made up of Ed Fogle and his team of photographers can tell you. The talented team live and breathe breaking news and are always at the forefront of the action. The Maverick team has filled an important gap on our site.

Patricia Willers’ passion for two topics became apparent this year: She loves beer and music. She reviewed notable concerts like Cake and American Idol Live! and sipped brews at Oktoberfest and the California Brewers Festival. This year, we were lucky enough to have Patricia become a copy editor for our community contributors. Her talents have helped developed the skills of our contributors’ and we’re happy to have her as part of our team.

Randy Miramontez was on fire covering big-name acts this year. While photography is his area of expertise, he collaborated with himself (writing and shooting) on close to 20 concerts at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort and a
handful of others at Power Balance Pavilion. Despite his packed concert schedule, Randy somehow finds the time to operate a local blog, Sac and Beyond (http://sacandbeyond.com/). He has grown his impressive portfolio immensely as both a writer and photog since we first met him.

Rik Keller's photos are a treat for the eyes. He has a knack for turning ordinary shots into exquisite pieces of art that make you stop and stare. Whether it’s a mobile food truck festival or a subdued protest rally, Rik has a knack for finding the beauty in every scene. He has given us a whole new appreciation for local surroundings.

Ron Nabity started out the year by impressing us with his drool-worthy shots of Dine Downtown menu items. Ron spent the rest of 2011 exciting us with his action shots of our local sports teams, the Capital Airshow and the Amgen Tour of California. He conveys the exhilaration of the moments he captures through his still shots, putting our readers right at the sidelines with him.

Rorie Oliver built an impressive archive of articles this year, covering everything from the legendary Beach Boys at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort to the community events like Picnic Day and the Sacramento International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Rorie gives every story, no mater how small or large, the same amount of dedication and enthusiasm.

Sandy Thomas is new to our pool of Top Contributors and we are lucky that she found us. She often collaborates with writer Trina Drotar and the pair have proved to be a very gifted duo. Together they have tackled powerful stories like poetry readings and a holiday blues concert fundraiser benefiting children in need.

To say Steven Chea’s photos are stunning is an understatement and, in fact, it might be impossible to find an adjective that appropriately describes his work. While he produces top-notch photos every time, his concert photos are the true gems in his portfolio. Steven is on his way up to big things in the photography world.

Trina Drotar’s words have helped delivered the impactful messages of the local poets and artists she has covered. While writing is not her full-time job, she gives every story her all as if it were. We are looking forward to seeing what the pair will collaborate on next year.

Last but certainly not least, we can’t forget about our weekly columnists. They have continued to educate us and give us something to look forward to on a weekly basis.

The “Pet of the Week” series, written by the Sacramento SPCA’s Julianne Byer, has helped place the local animals featured in loving homes.

“Real Relationships” is an article series dreamt up by contributor Janna Haynes, has helped solve readers’ relationship dilemmas and has weighed in on important issues many are dealing with but are hesitant to talk about.

The Sacramento Public Law Library’s weekly article series, “Ask the Law Librarian”, has proven to be a valuable resource for readers facing legal dilemmas.

Officer Michelle Lazark has put a friendly and welcoming face to law enforcement, inviting readers to ask her questions in her weekly “Ask Officer Michelle” series.

We would also like to give a shoutout to Ann Freeman Clement. It didn’t make sense to lay out a page with events that already passed, but we want to thank you for never missing a week of posting your thorough local guide to all things music.

Thanks to every single contributor who has posted an article in 2011. You are the very foundation of The Sacramento Press, and we can’t thank you enough for all that you do.

Happy new year to everyone from all of us at The Sacramento Press!

2011 roundup recap

2011-12-31T01:12:24Z

Throughout the year, The Sacramento Press compiles roundup articles to let readers know where they can score anything from vintage clothes to coffee to comic books.

Where do you go for your favorite cup of Joe? The Sacramento Press checked out the central city’s coffee bar selection in October, compiling a list of caffeinated hangouts. Whether for studying or hanging out with friends, there’s something for everyone.

In addition to those mentioned in the roundup article, Insight Coffee Roasters opened in Southside Park in December.

Fashionistas looking for something from a bygone era might want to scour the clothing racks in Sacramento’s thrift and vintage clothing stores, listed here. From charity storefronts to local boutiques, shoppers can find classic fashion or a hipster’s paradise.

One area where digital media hasn’t made many inroads is the comic book market, and Sacramento has enough options that it took two articles to gather them all. Some shoppers might be surprised that the stores aren’t full of guys resembling the cast of “The Big Bang Theory.” Click here for part one and here for part two.

Those looking to spend their weekends in relaxed culinary heaven need not cook their own breakfasts: sleep in and, when getting out of bed doesn’t seem like a bad idea, head out to brunch. The Sacramento Press looked at a number of local restaurants’ brunch offerings in this article.

For anyone looking for food from foreign shores – be it for a new dish or something to recall a homeland or vacation destination – The Sacramento Press searched out some of the area’s ethnic grocery stores, listed here.

Anyone looking to show off knowledge of the inane, the obscure or just have fun might look to pub trivia night events. Local watering holes provide an array of options for trivia competitions, and this article outlines many of them.

New businesses coming in 2012

2011-12-30T04:51:12Z

As 2012 approaches, there are several new businesses preparing to open, from much-anticipated restaurants to a privately funded bicycle share program. Below is a list of some of the new businesses Sacramentans can expect to see in the new year.

Those who frequent the downtown area will have a new place to eat and drink in late February or early March as the Firestone Public House opens with 60 beer taps in what the owners said will be a new take on the sports bar theme.

The Wong family – which runs Mix Downtown, Cafeteria 15L and the Park Ultra Lounge – is teaming up with the de Vere White family – of de Vere’s Irish Pub – for the new business that will replace the old California Pizza Kitchen spot at 16th and L streets.

Midtown will be getting a Mongolian barbecue restaurant, with Mongo Mongo Mongolian Barbecue due to open in the next few weeks. Previously the home of the ill-fated Garlic Shack, owner Jonathan Ng said he plans to stay open for the late-night crowd that frequents the area.

Also in Midtown is a restaurant that will be replacing Hangar 17, at 17th and S streets, which closed earlier this year. The owners of The Golden Bear restaurant and bar are opening Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co., which co-owner Kimio Bazett said will be a “grown-up” version of The Golden Bear.

Brian Mizner, formerly of Hot Italian and L Wine Lounge, will be the chef at the restaurant, and Chris Tucker, from The Golden Bear and Shady Lady Saloon, will be the beverage manager, Bazett said Wednesday.

The restaurant is expected to open in late March or early April.

Red Lotus Kitchen and Bar, an Asian restaurant at 2718 J St., closed in September, allowing Shady Lady Saloon bartender Matt Nurge and his business partners to open their own space, which will serve peasant-style food from multiple cultures.

Named Red Rabbit – partly inspired by the new artwork at the airport – the restaurant will share profits with its employees. That aspect is something Nurge said he believes will help show the workers they are valued as well as give them an incentive to keep working there, saving costs on training new staff in an industry that has high turnover.

City Hall Garage will be getting a new restaurant: Big Joe’s BBQ, which will replace Fog Mountain Cafe at the corner of 10th and J streets. Fog Mountain Cafe closed in April, and Big Joe’s is expected to open early next year.

The beer business in Sacramento will have a fresh face next year as well, with the New Helvetia Brewing Company expected to open in late February or early March on Broadway.

Owner David Gull said he will initially open as a brewery and tasting room, and a restaurant may be added to the space about six months later, though there is no set timeline on it.

Bicycle enthusiasts won’t need to bring their own set of wheels to Midtown once The Last Mile launches in the first quarter of 2012. The Last Mile is a privately funded bicycle share program owned by Aaron Zeff, who also owns Priority Parking.

With the new business, cyclists will be able to rent bicycles by the hour for a little more than $1. Zeff, a board member for the Midtown Business Association, said that most programs of the kind are funded with public dollars, and The Last Mile won’t have its bills footed by taxpayers.

Are there more businesses opening next year that you know about? Share them in the conversation below.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Editorial Note: A spelling correction was made to this article after it was published.

Year in review: Food vs. government

2011-12-29T02:23:45Z

Two city ordinances regulating food were the subject of debate in Sacramento in 2011, and while backyard keeping of egg-laying hens was allowed, the other, more volatile issue rages on – the controversial ordinance governing food trucks.

The ordinance limiting food truck operation within city limits to 30-minute intervals has been a source of contention for more than a year, but it heated up in 2011 with the inaugural SactoMoFo mobile food festival in April.

At the festival, Fremont Park was occupied by thousands of foodies who dropped by for a taste of gourmet on the go, and it achieved its goal of bringing widespread awareness to the issue.

Owners of “brick-and-mortar” restaurants were split on the issue, prompting a series of talks between them, restaurant advocacy groups, city officials and mobile food vendors.

The issue came before the City Council’s Law and Legislation Committee most recently in November, but the issue was postponed.

City Councilman Jay Schenirer, chairman of the Law and Legislation Committee, said Wednesday that while the issue will be on the agenda in 2012 – and he hopes it will be in the first quarter, there are no firm plans on when that will be.

In the meantime, regular food truck gatherings are held outside the city limits, because the county has no ordinance limiting operators to 30 minutes.

Backyard chicken keeping was allowed in the city in 2011 after a long discussion and series of public meetings, with advocates writing about it on The Sacramento Press as far back as 2009.

Those in favor of keeping chickens for egg-laying purposes argued that they wanted to have control of their food supply, ensuring food to their standards, and they pointed out that numerous other cities already allowed chicken keeping.

People opposed to allowing backyard chicken keeping said they feared the chickens would be noisy and possibly be conduits for avian flu.

The issue was almost killed in 2010, but City Councilman Steve Cohn walked out of a meeting to prevent what would likely have been a vote to end it.

The ordinance, which went into effect Nov. 1, did not please everyone, as it placed several restrictions on keeping chickens in backyards, including limiting the number to three and keeping them at least 20 feet from an adjacent residence.

The ordinance only allows the keeping of hens – as roosters don’t lay eggs and also crow, and it remains illegal to slaughter chickens in backyards. A $15 licensing fee per chicken is collected to pay for enforcement of the ordinance.

Gina Knepp, manager of the city’s animal shelter, said Wednesday that only about 20 chickens have been licensed in the past two months, but far more than that live in the city.

“We just cited a gentleman who had 30 chickens in his yard,” she said, adding that there has been no decrease or increase in calls since the ordinance passed.

“It’s still premature to tell,” she said. “I plan to go back to the council after six months and recommend some changes to the ordinance.”

Some of the recommendations she said she is considering include a flat licensing fee so owners don’t license each chicken as well as the ability to pay licensing fees online, which she said is probably discouraging some people from licensing their chickens.

Another change in food laws was the state-mandated food handler card, which requires most restaurant workers to pass a state test on food safety before being allowed to work.

The law went into effect July 1, though enforcement was delayed to allow time for restaurants and their workers to get the cards and come into compliance.

The state government got involved in funding garden boxes this year, with the local nonprofit organization Ubuntu Green working with low-income families to build boxes where they can grow healthy foods.

Community gardens were also a part of Schenirer’s WayUp Sacramento program, which promotes healthy living. It was launched in Oak Park in October.

Even schools got involved in small-scale farming this year, as Sacramento City College started a city farm project to “teach with dirt.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.