Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "downtown"

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.

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.

Ask Officer Michelle - Officers Using Cellphones While Driving

2012-02-05T20:08:43Z

Posted by cyd evans

I saw an officer talking on a cell phone while driving a marked car yesterday. Don’t the same rules apply to police officers as the general public regarding only using hands free devices?

Dear cyd evans,

Police officers are to abide by the same rules of the road as citizens. However, there are some exceptions to these rules – for instance, when talking on a cell phone while driving, California Vehicle Code Section 23123 (d). This section does not apply to an emergency services professional using a wireless telephone while operating an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in Section 165, in the course and scope of his or her duties. This translates to, if the officer is using the phone for official business then this law applies. If they are talking to their spouse about non-police business for example, then they are in the wrong.

Police do a lot of business on their cell phones, and our cars are like our offices. We use the computers and cell phones for every call for service. We coordinate with other units, with dispatch, records, get additional information from victims, talk to citizens, Deputy District Attorneys, supervisors, and coordinate with outside agencies all on the cell phone. Thank you for your post.

Officer Michelle

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.

Stuck In The Middle

2012-01-31T21:15:09Z

Recently there have been many restaurants closing in Sacramento for different reasons, most due to the down economy. Somewhat new to the scene is Blue Prynt Restaurant and Bar located at 815 11th street in the downtown area of Sacramento. Blue Prynt occupies the space formerly known as Sofia, one of the culinary casualties of our area. While this restaurant has its own entrance it is unfortunately connected to a Best Western Motel.

Upon entering I was excited to see the grand transformation that had taken place. I noticed new paint, furniture and light fixtures. The carpets seemed the same but I could be mistaken. I don’t judge restaurants by how beautiful or tacky they look (not 100% anyway), I take into account food and service.

Upon peering over the menu I thought I might start with an appetizer but the section consisted of five items. I was looking at things like shrimp cocktail and calamari which honestly bored me to tears and frankly seems somewhat lazy. Don’t get me wrong, I like shrimp cocktail, I like calamari, but in order for items like these to stand out there has to be something with an essence of culinary creativity in the menu item description. Horseradish and cocktail sauce can only be so good.

Moving on to the entrees - things looked promising. Items like quail stuffed with a chorizo chicken mousse and king salmon with basmati and wild rice pilaf gave me hope. My guest and I both ended up ordering the special which was a steak sandwich with mushrooms and feta cheese. I asked our server Hannah if the kitchen was asking for temperatures for the steak. When she told me no temps were being taken I asked how the steak was cooked and was told it would be somewhere in the neighborhood of medium. When we got the sandwiches the mushroom and cheese went nicely with the steak but the meat was cooked to a disappointing medium well to well done.

I will go back and visit Blue Prynt again on a weekend for dinner to see how the experience is. If there is a significant difference complete with wow factor I will post an actual review of the restaurant. At this point what I see is a tremendous opportunity being missed by a restaurant which I feel has the potential to do great things.

As a place that moved into the space of a former restaurant which was somewhat dated I would think the owners at Blue Prynt would want to work hard to make people forget about what was there and died. I think Sacramento as a whole has too many restaurants in the realm of being just okay. With expendable income being limited these days for many people, dining out has become an amenity. Our community will only frequent eateries that leave a strong and positive impression. Whether the impact is made on the food or service side, it still needs to be there. Restaurants need to treat every day as if everything is at stake because quite frankly it is. Those who do not make their mark and stand out with an impressive and more importantly consistent product are doomed to fail. This is the part of my article where I cut it short. I could easily go on and describe everything not being done at Blue Prynt. The fact is I would just be reapeating myself and at some point be perceived as being unnessesarily cruel and anyone who has read my articles will tell you I am nothing if not fair.

Andy Soto

Traces of a Native Son: Searching for Clarence Glacken

2012-01-30T16:27:04Z

Clarence James Glacken (1909-1989) was a Sacramentan whose 1967 magnum opus, Traces on the Rhodian Shore: Nature and Culture in Western Thought from Ancient Times to the End of the Eighteenth Century, was one of the most widely influential contributions to environmental scholarship in the 20th century. Despite professional success as an academic geographer, after suffering a series of mental and physical health crises, he destroyed his highly anticipated sequel to Traces. He died in Sacramento soon after, convinced his life’s work had been futile.

Glacken was a third-generation Sacramentan, a fairly unusual trait for someone born in 1909, given that in his grandmothers’ generation the state’s population was barely 10 percent women. His paternal grandmother moved here in a covered wagon as an infant in 1854, his maternal grandmother was born in Sheldon (near Elk Grove) in 1865, both his grandfathers settled here as young men in the 1870s, and both his parents were born and raised downtown. Glacken grew up at 1830 T Street with his younger brother, mother (his parents divorced sometime between 1913 and 1920 and his father moved to Vallejo), uncle, and maternal grandparents.

In his 1983 autobiographical essay, Glacken attributed the earliest impetus for his book to growing up here: “Looking back in later life on the earliest years, one must be careful to avoid a teleological view…there were, however, several interests in early life which I later perceived to be geographical and historical. Sacramento…is an historic city, perhaps not by Old World standards, but certainly by American ones.” His essay affectionately and elegantly describes how gold rush mythology, streetcars, the western terminus of the Central Pacific railroad, Sutter’s Fort, the Capitol building, and the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers collectively sparked a early passion for geography and history.

He attended Sacramento Junior College (now Sacramento City College) for two years, where he was encouraged by his English instructor to study with the historian Frederick Teggart at UC Berkeley. Glacken did so and became enthralled: “Teggart’s course, The Idea of Progress…was a revelation, because I then realized the importance of the history of ideas…I have often been asked whether in these undergraduate years I took any geography courses. I did not. I had heard of Carl Sauer [Glacken’s future boss], but I had no time for anybody but Teggart.” He received his BA with highest honors in 1930 and his MA in 1931, both from the Teggart-chaired Department of Social Institutions.

It would have been a much more typical career path at that time for a male graduate, particularly one whose burgeoning passion seemed relegated to library research, to enter directly into a doctoral program. But the economic climate limited his options—“The early 1930s were bleak years for young people, and the details of my life then are of little relevance here”—and as it turned out, his atypical career path and life experiences proved ideal fieldwork for enriching Traces.

For the first five years after graduation, Glacken worked for the newly established Farm Security Administration, reporting on migrant labor camp conditions from Redding to Bakersfield. He next fulfilled a lifelong dream by traveling around the world for a year: “In retrospect, I look upon my travels as a species of field work…I do not think I would have ever developed my intense enthusiasm for the history of ideas without it. It would have been a world of abstractions.” After his travels, he returned to the FSA for another four years. In the introduction to Traces, he wrote, “The early stimulus to study these ideas came also from personal experience…as I worked with resident and transient families on relief, with migratory farm workers who had come from the Dust Bowl, I became aware…of the interrelationships existing between the Depression, soil erosion, and the vast migration to California.”

In 1941, three months after Glacken’s first wife died, he was drafted into the Army and served for six years. During his service, he married Mildred Mosher (b. 1913 in Pomona, CA) and had two children. Following his release from the Army, he decided his true calling was to study how human relations with the environment had been interpreted throughout history. In 1949, at the age of 40, Glacken entered the Isaiah Bowman School of Geography at Johns Hopkins University.

His dissertation, The Idea of the Habitable World, looked at how the history of ideas could reframe contemporary debates about population growth and natural resources. He finished his Ph.D. in 1951 and snagged a short-term position working on an ethnographic study of Okinawa for the Pacific Science Board of the National Research Council. After returning to his family in Berkeley, he visited Carl Sauer, who offered him a position in the Cal geography department starting in the fall of 1952.

Thrilled to be immersed in his calling at last, Glacken was poised for inspiration when he attended a groundbreaking conference in 1955. The international symposium “Man’s Role in Changing the Face of the Earth” was the first academic conference on anthropogenic environmental change—seven years prior to the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and 15 years before the first Earth Day. Glacken later wrote: “I was most grateful for this opportunity…I will never forget the symposium.” The experience crystallized his past experiences and catalyzed his investigation into how manmade environmental changes had been interpreted since antiquity.

After more than a decade of research, Glacken concluded that there had been three major ideas in the history of Western environmental thought: the idea of a divinely designed earth (both ecological theory and the intelligent design argument are direct descendents), the idea of environmental influence on people (similar to the environmental determinism popular in early anthropology), and the idea of human influence on the environment.

The various incarnations and intersections of those three ideas from antiquity to the end of the 18th century constitute Traces’ intimidating scope. Probably the book’s most remarkable feature is its depth and breadth, without any padding. Glacken’s colleague David Hooson wrote that Traces “was originally planned an introductory chapter to a major work on these themes in 19th and 20th century thought…[Traces], however, stands on its own as one of the most scholarly books written by a geographer, or by a historian of ideas, in this century.” That “introductory chapter” ended up more than 700 pages long, literally able to stand on its own. At the same time he was writing, Glacken simultaneously researched environmental thought of the 19th and 20th centuries, and actually began writing the sequel as soon as Traces went to press.

Its publication coincided with the dawn of the modern U.S. environmental protection movement. As Hooson put it in his tribute to Glacken: “Ideas about the human relationship with, and responsibility for, nature [were] commonplace, but they were often half-baked and lacking in depth. Glacken’s writings gradually came to be recognized as supplying vital historical and intellectual foundations for the new environmental and conservation movements.”

Traces cemented his stature as a scholar, earning him wide accolades and the Association of American Geographers Citation for Meritorious Contributions to the Field of Geography in 1968. It was not a runaway bestseller, but it remains in print and periodically crops up in “best-of” lists and anthologies. It did not seize the popular imagination on the same scale as other environmental tomes of the same period, but it become a staple in courses across multiple disciplines.

Despite its reputation as a classic, many people have never heard of Traces. Geography’s decline as an academic field in U.S. higher education has probably contributed somewhat to the book’s obscurity. Additionally, it's not an easy read. The three ideas are analyzed in minute detail (and a microscopic font size), with sources quoted in the original Greek, Latin, French, and German. Consider the following from the introductory essay to Part One:

“Theophrastus’ Enquiry into Plants is a product of this increased knowledge of the world’s vegetation. Who can read the fourth book, ‘Of the Trees and Plants Special to Particular Districts and Positions,’ without being aware that such knowledge was based on gathering from the Mediterranean and Egypt to the Indus? One can agree with Bretzl that plant geography starts with Theophrastus.”

It can sound almost satirically pompous to modern ears, but he was writing during a time when most of his peers, students, and readers had a serviceable familiarity with the ancient Greek canon. Nevertheless, absorbing the book in its entirety is a long hard slog.

Glacken had earned full tenure in 1964, became Chair of the department just two years later, and after Traces was published, went to Europe on a Guggenheim fellowship for a year. But his professional success coincided with a period of intense political turmoil, both within the field of geography and on the Berkeley campus.

All published accounts and oral interview subjects described Glacken as particularly sensitive and conflict-avoidant—a personality ill-suited for coping with, much less managing, the battles raging within his department and on campus. After two years of struggling with escalating faculty rivalry and student protests, Glacken had a nervous breakdown in the spring of 1970 and a physical breakdown in the following fall. He took six months of sick leave, and occasionally showed signs of recuperation over the next few years, but he never fully recovered. He had a heart attack in 1974, after which his teaching career essentially ended. Carl Sauer, who was a close friend as well as a professional mentor, died in 1975. Five years later, his wife Mildred had a serious stroke.

Despite these tragedies, his spirit was still sustained by his labor of love, the sequel to Traces: “The deeper I studied these [three ideas], the more intertwining relationships came to the surface. I find this to be even more true in the work I am now engaged on. I have always been interested in works of synthesis; there is a certain security in them; they reverse trends to atomization, give one a feeling of interconnections, hence, of reality.”

Soon after writing those words in 1982, he submitted his final manuscript to UC Press, but they returned his manuscript. Whether or not they would have accepted a revised version is unclear, although given the success of Traces, it seems unlikely that it was an outright rejection. Nevertheless, Glacken was crushed and destroyed all remaining copies. Only a handful of chapters survive in the Bancroft Archives at UC Berkeley, some finished and some handwritten drafts. Mildred died around the same time or soon after, and Glacken’s health deteriorated completely.

One former colleague shared a story of Glacken being taken into custody by campus police in the mid-1980s, for wandering a Berkeley neighborhood in his pajamas and throwing rocks at windows while shouting incoherently. The colleague sadly recalled how, upon arriving at the police station to vouch for Glacken’s identity and take him home, he found Glacken in tears over his life's work. Around 1987, Glacken moved back to Sacramento, where his daughter (the writer Karen Kijewski, best known for her Kat Colorado mystery series) took care of him until his death on August 20, 1989.

Forty-five years after its publication, Traces is more relevant than ever for its ability to place any environmental debate in a deep historical context. The ideological and intellectual parameters of contemporary debates, from anthropogenic climate change to fracking, can be traced directly to the three ideas Glacken recognized and analyzed like no other scholar before or since. Neither polemical nor partisan, Clarence Glacken’s magisterial work is useful for anyone interested in environmental issues.

Thanks to Nora Hansen and the UC Berkeley Department of Geography faculty and staff for their assistance with research and photographs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

City celebrates R Street project completion

2012-01-20T05:30:18Z

The first phase of the R Street beautification process was dedicated Thursday with a reception and lighting of the new arch at 10th and R streets in front of the Fox and Goose Public House.

“It’s a renaissance of renaissances,” said Jerry Way, director of the city’s Transportation Department.

“It means 150-plus years ago, this place got started, and today we’re celebrating the brand-new R Street in a way that everyone can celebrate, with artwork and features,” he added.

Completion of the more than $6 million project from 10th to 13th streets on Thursday was celebrated with a lighting of the streetlights and the iconic arch at 10th and R streets.

Way added that the draw to the new R Street is that it’s attractive, and be it artwork, more street lighting or a revamped, pedestrian-friendly streetscape – “everyone can find something to come down here for,” he said.

The next phases of construction down the corridor – beyond 13th Street and continuing to 19th Street, are being lined up for community design grants. The next phases include the R Street Market Plaza, which will open up an area for businesses. To read more details on the plaza, click here.

It’s unclear, however, how the loss of redevelopment funding will affect the upcoming projects, Way said.

“The redevelopment scab, if you will, hasn’t formed over yet, and we’re waiting to see how that will pan out,” he said.

In the meantime, Sacramento designers celebrated the installation of the art, which was designed by a local business.

“We wanted to make sure it matched the historical nature of the buildings already on R Street and kind of reinvigorate the area,” said Brent Rector of Fuel Creative Group, the Midtown design studio that designed the arch.

Fuel Creative Group was also responsible for the signage and menus at Hot Italian and the signage at the McGeorge School of Law.

Rector said it was a team of three that worked on the arch, and it was collaboration with the Capitol Area Development Authority (CADA) to use older steel power poles as inspiration, which recalls the R Street corridor’s industrial past.

“With redevelopment funds getting eaten up, it’s probably one of the last projects like this that you’ll see in Sacramento, which is a shame,” he added.

Way said that the city expects to see the revamped R Street as a more attractive place for the mixed residential, industrial and commercial growth planners expect to come to the area.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ask Officer Michelle - What To Do About a Friend Who's Using Drugs

2012-01-08T19:02:36Z

Posted by MartinM

Hi,I suspect that my friend Is using drugs,I am almost sure he is using some kind of drugs.Should I report him? After all I am not 100% sure,but he has had some problems before.

Thank you.

Dear MartinM,

It sounds like you have some concerns about your friend using drugs. You may be right. Have you discussed this with your friend? He may need help and police involvement may not be the best route. Your friend may need some intervention from friends and family. There are many drug and alcohol clinics in Sacramento and in the outlying region where your friend may seek help.

If your friend is selling drugs or furnishing the drugs to others, then you should call the police. Being under the influence of a narcotic or drug is a misdemeanor in this state. If they are operating a motor vehicle, or are involved in caring for children while under the influence, it could be a felony, especially if it your friend gets into an injury accident.

If your friend is on probation or parole, his agent should be notified. It is a violation of the conditions of the probation/parole if the subject uses illegal drugs during the time they are on this status.

Your friend may also have a mental condition such as bi-polar. People with this condition may act strange, have mood swings, have disrupted sleeping patterns, and change their social behavior which may present much like a person on drugs. They may distance themselves from their friends and family. I am not a physician, but I do work with people with mental illness every day, and have been working with them for 21 years, so I do have some exposure.

Several years ago, I did a series on our blog entitled, "Drug Trends and Teens." I laid out some the different types of drugs that are often abused. Attached is the link: http://blog.sacpd.org/2007/02/09/drug-trends-and-teens-2/ You may want to read the article and familiarize yourself with the different types that fit the behavior of your friend. I hope you will be able to help your friend. Keep me posted.

Officer Michelle

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 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.

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.

Year in review: Business comings and goings

2011-12-29T02:18:58Z

The past year saw quite a bit of businesses come, go and expand in the central city area, and The Sacramento Press covered many of those happenings. Below are some of the major expansions and changes as well as some of the most-viewed stories on businesses closing.

A favorite Sacramento lunch spot changed hands this year as Chef Daniel Pont handed over ownership of La Bonne Soupe Café in late April. The 72-year-old chef said he still enjoys cooking, but running the one-man shop by himself was too much. He has since opened another restaurant, this time in Folsom, where he has a staff to help run it.

New owners Ed Stoddard and Leah Brown reopened the restaurant in the same location in May.

The popular Bows & Arrows vintage clothing store closed its spot at 17th and L streets in April and moved across from Safeway on 19th Street. As part of the move, owners Olivia Coelho and Trisha Rhomberg partnered with Davis-based Fat Face Cafe to add food and drinks to the new spot as well as art shows and musical performances.

Curtis Park’s Pangaea Two Brews Cafe expanded its business from being a taphouse and cafe to include a bottle shop. Owner Rob Archie said he wanted to offer locals the chance to grab individual bottles of less-common brews at to-go prices.

The Downtown 24 Hour Fitness club completed an extensive remodel in October, a $10 million project that added 31,000 square feet to bring the total to 50,000, which now includes a basketball court, a racquetball court and new cardio machines.

A couple who started a donut business called Doughbot Donuts from home in May 2010 added a Southside Park storefront in September. Owners Bryan Widener and Dannah O’Donnell said they sold 700 donuts on the first day and 1,000 the next.

Temple Coffee was a fixture in an old bookstore on 10th Street between J and K streets since 2005, but it moved a block east in September, reopening in a larger location. Owner Sean Kohmescher said the new, more open space allows for more conversation and personal engagement.

The owners of Tuli Bistro opted for a downtown location, opening Restaurant Thirteen on the ground floor of the Sterling Hotel at 1300 H St. in March. The new restaurant is intended to have an atmosphere similar to a fine-dining establishment, but without the stigma, said Chef Adam Pechal.

Shoki Ramen House also opened a second location in May, this time bringing the Japanese noodles to R Street. The ramen is all made from scratch in-house.

Despite many restaurants doing well in 2011, there were some that closed – with closures due to retirements, a bad economy or any number of other reasons.

Newsbeat, a newsstand that stocked a wide range of hard-to-find magazines, closed its doors in the MARRS Building in Midtown in November. Co-owner Terrence Lott attributed the closure to high rents and the decreasing demand for print media as digital media continue to grow in popularity.

Perhaps the biggest flop in central city business in 2011 was Garlic Shack, which was much-anticipated and kept delaying its opening date. When it did open in July, it was to mixed reviews, and by mid-October, it was gone, with no word from the owners.

The unique Hangar 17, a restaurant in a Quonset hut in Midtown, shut down in March. Owner Joey Madrid said the economy cost the business its viability, and workers left with a bitter taste in their mouths, saying their final checks bounced.

Next-door Midtown businesses Aura and Red Lotus also closed in 2011, and Aura was replaced by BarWest Burgers & Wings, while Red Lotus will be replaced by another restaurant, Red Rabbit, in 2012. Aura closed in March, and Red Lotus closed in September.

Despite the popularity of bicycles in Midtown, the bicycle-themed Spin Burger Bar at 16th and K streets wasn’t able to make it, closing in July. The closure, however, opened the space for a new Indian restaurant, which was up and running in December.

The 52-year-old Capitol Aquarium also closed in 2011, calling it quits in July as the owners were unable to find a buyer for the business.

Another veteran business, Brew it Up!, wasn’t able to make it at the corner of 14th and H streets, shutting down in late July. Owner Mike Costello said debt piled up and not enough customers came in to pay the bills, so he had to call it quits.

Not all restaurant closures were due to the economy, with Celestin’s Island Eats & Cajun Cuisine being one example. The 28-year-old business closed when owners Patrick and Phoebe Celestin decided to retire. They said they didn’t want to sell it, and the space reopened in December as The Porch, a Southern-themed restaurant run by the owners of nearby Capitol Garage.

Do you have a favorite business that expanded or closed in 2011? Let us know in the conversation below.

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

Year in review: Up-and-coming R Street

2011-12-28T01:55:25Z

The R Street streetscape improvement project that broke ground in 2010 finished in the fall, and several other changes to the R Street corridor signal it as an up-and-coming district heading into 2012, with more improvements on the way.

Improvements to R Street between 10th and 13th streets came in at less than the allotted funding, allowing the city to add a few more amenities, including 13 more benches for pedestrians.

Other improvements included creating uniform sidewalks, new pavement and new streetlights. Rail lines were left in place in a nod to the area’s history.

The construction stayed on schedule, coming to a close in the fall.

Completion of the first phase is just one step in the process that includes more than 20 blocks of improvements, and The Sacramento Press took a look at what else is in line for the area, including the R Street Market Plaza.

It wasn’t just government-funded infrastructure improvements that brought changes to R Street over the past year.

A popular local eatery, Shoki Ramen House, opened a second location near 12th Street on R Street. The owners told The Sacramento Press that they had always liked the R Street area, so when the space became available, it was a natural choice.

The Fox and Goose Public House, a longtime business at 10th and R streets whose owners applauded the infrastructure improvements, added a patio seating area, allowing customers to eat outside for the first time in its 36 years in business.

The owners of the restaurant took ownership of the Fuller Building in which it is housed, allowing them to convert the front ramps to seating.

A few blocks up R Street – on the heavily trafficked block between 13th and 14th streets – Top This Yogurt closed, allowing Burgers and Brew to significantly expand its draft beer selection.

Co-owner of both businesses Philippe Masoud said the yogurt shop didn’t work in the area, so he expanded Burgers and Brew into the space, using the storage for more beer kegs in a move other local businesspeople said helps strengthen the block’s draw for nightlife.

The Ace of Spades nightclub next door to Burgers and Brew also opened in the beginning of 2011, and numerous bands have played there since, drawing more attention to the R Street corridor.

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

Year in review: Changes to K Street

2011-12-28T01:30:41Z

K Street was a fixture in local news this year, with the most noteworthy event being its reopening to vehicular traffic for the first time since the 1960s – a major part of the city’s plan to revitalize the area. Other revitalization efforts included redevelopment and the moving of the Greyhound station.

The section of K Street between Seventh and 12th streets known as the K Street Mall has long been blighted, and city officials argued that much of that blight was the result of the failed pedestrian mall concept for the area.

That led to a long process of returning it to vehicular traffic, which was well under way by the middle of the year.

By mid-September, there were noticeable changes to the streetscape as crews dug up old paving and prepared the street to handle light rail and cars.

K Street officially reopened to cars on Nov. 12, to much fanfare.

Though it is now legal to drive down the street, Sacramentans have been slow to start using it. In early December, about a month after the street reopened to vehicles, The Sacramento Press asked businesspeople on the street if they had noticed a change. While most said they had not, the general feeling was that it is too soon to tell, and some were hopeful for a revitalized K Street in the near future.

One large-scale redevelopment project is under way on the south side of the 700 block. D&S Development, Inc., which worked to redevelop the historic Maydestone Building at 15th and J streets, partnered with CFY Development, Inc., on the 700 block of K Street.

The $47.7 million project is seen by city officials as a catalyst to turn the street into something the city can be proud of.

The City Council approved the project in July, and in late August, The Sacramento Press took a tour of the buildings that are scheduled to be redeveloped starting in 2012.

Another move in changing the face of K Street was the moving of the Greyhound station from nearby L Street to Richards Boulevard. After the move, police reported seeing approximately 60 percent fewer calls in the area around the station, including K Street, and D&S Development, Inc., representatives concurred.

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

Year in review: Business milestones

2011-12-27T05:29:55Z

The Sacramento Press covered many stories in 2011 of businesses coming and going, but there are a number of Sacramento businesses that celebrated milestones, withstanding the test of time and recessions big and small.

Midtown Italian restaurant Paesanos – Italian for “friends” – has been in business for 15 years, since April 1996. Director of Operations Dana Scarpulla told The Sacramento Press that Midtown has undergone major changes since the restaurant’s founding, and most have been positive.

Pastas, pizzas and salads top the list of favorites at the restaurant, which has since expanded to Paesanos Pronto and a couple other locations. There’s also word of another location opening in 2012.

The Kitchen, owned by husband and wife Randall Selland and Nancy Zimmer, has been in business for 20 years, starting in May of 1991.

Known for its presentation dinners that are highly interactive, The Kitchen caters to an upscale crowd with $125 four-course demonstration meals. Selland is expanding as well, opening another restaurant in El Dorado Hills in mid-January.

Another restaurant in business for 20 years is Ernesto’s Mexican Food. The Midtown eatery weathered recessions by focusing on quality and service, said owner Pauline Jiménez.

It opened in November 1991, and top dishes at the restaurant include tortilla soup, chile rellenos and carnitas. Of course, the margaritas play a big role in the restaurant and bar as well.

Biba Restaurant celebrated its 25th birthday with a reopening and makeover in July.

"Just like a beautiful woman, you don't stay beautiful forever unless you do something," owner Biba Caggiano told The Sacramento Press. "This place needed something: color, other things. I'm very, very, very happy."

Caggiano ws born in Italy, and the name might be familiar to those who watch The Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel, as she hosted more than 100 episodes of “Biba’s Italian Kitchen” on the networks.

The nonprofit cable TV Access Sacramento turned 25 in March, marking a quarter century of covering local life, including entertainment and cultural events as well as high school sports.

Local officials including Assemblyman Roger Dickinson and City Councilman Steve Cohn attended the organization’s birthday party, and Sacramento Press Community Contributor Kati Garner was there to take photos.

Locally owned Lofings Lighting sits in an unobtrusive spot on J Street most noticeable when driving by at night, and the business marked its 50th year in November.

Over the past half-century, the Lofing family has become renowned in the industry for expertise in lighting fixtures and technology, serving both residential and commercial clients across the country. The Lofings routinely test new technology and give input to manufacturers before the products go to market.

The American River Parkway is often called “the jewel” of the region, and for the past 50 years, the Save American River Parkway Association has been working to preserve it and encourage its use by local residents and tourists alike.

The nonprofit group has more than 600 members and keeps tabs on the 23-mile stretch of parkway, which hosts 5 million visitors each year doing everything from bicycling and running to boating.

Are there any other businesses that celebrated milestones this year? Let us know in the conversation below.

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

Downtown Sacramento Christmas Lights Photos

2011-12-23T20:57:51Z

It’s that special time of year on Capitol Mall and Old Sacramento, Christmas lights are up inviting people to walk a few blocks and the Capitol Christmas Trees decked out in all its splendor. Over the last several years, it appears as if more lights have gone up to enrich the overall experience as an inviting destination to visit and enjoy. The Wells Fargo Center has done a fantastic job with a beautiful tree in the lobby and twinkling lights inside and out.

Merry Christmas!

Disclosure: Read more at: http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/ or http://zwahlenimages.com/blog/

I Street Bridge turns 100

2011-12-23T02:16:48Z

The 75-year-old Tower Bridge connecting Sacramento and West Sacramento may be one of the area’s icons, but the more industrial steel-truss I Street Bridge is older – built 100 years ago.

“The I Street Bridge is a very important part of our business today,” said Aaron Hunt, spokesman for the Union Pacific railroad, which owns the bridge. “We run trains across it every day of the year.”

The I Street Bridge is 363 feet long and weighs about 7 million pounds, according to a fact sheet distributed by Union Pacific.

When it was built, the swinging center of the bridge was the heaviest of its type in the world, and though it no longer holds that distinction, it remains the heaviest in the United States, according to the Sacramento Old City Association.

The bridge swings about 90 degrees on a central pedestal that is 42 feet in diameter and 84 feet high. Opening it allows boat traffic on the river, and Hunt said a Union Pacific staffer stays on-site every day to operate it. The swinging operation takes about two and a half minutes, he added.

When the bridge was renovated in 1993, some major components were replaced, including the disc upon which the bridge rotates. The controlling mechanisms were also changed over from direct-current electrical systems to hydraulic ones.

The first bridge on the site was a wagon bridge built in 1858, which was replaced in 1869 by the area’s first railroad bridge, built by the California Pacific Railroad. It, too, allowed for wagon traffic.

Construction on the current span began in 1910 by the American Bridge Company, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, according to Hunt.

Union Pacific took ownership of the bridge when it merged with Southern Pacific in 1996, Hunt said, and the cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento maintain the highway portion of the bridge.

Though dated, the bridge still pulls its weight, handling about 80 trains per day in addition to vehicular traffic on its upper deck.

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

Photo essay: Estelle's Patisserie

2011-12-21T08:39:56Z

French pastries arrived on the corner of Ninth and K streets Dec. 8 when Estelle’s Patisserie opened without fanfare to gauge the market before adjusting and doing a grand opening sometime in January.

“The customers have been so supportive,” said owner Esther Son, whose first name translates to Estelle in French. “I’ve owned other businesses, and this group down here is just so dynamic and supportive.”

The staff of about 12 starts baking as early as 3 a.m., and the bakery offers about 35 items – from fruit tarts, puff pastries and croissants to soups, sandwiches and baguettes.

Cream-filled puff pastries, raspberry and blueberry tarts, buttery croissants and Madeleines in various flavors from chocolate to poppyseed top the pastry selection. Also available are shortbread cookies, caprese sandwiches – tomato, mozzarella and basil on a baguette – and a host of soups and quiches.

All items are made in-house, including sauces.

The most popular items so far have been the croissant sandwiches and the puff pastries, Son said.

Danielle Blacet, a 35-year-old Folsom resident who works across the street from the bakery at a political trade association, said the tomato bisque soup was excellent and reason enough to go back.

“I’m glad to have something here again,” she said, noting that the space previously housed Danielle’s Creperie and La Bou. “People in our office like to try new things, and having this on K Street is great.”

Sacramento real estate developer Kipp Blewett, 46, said he had Estelle’s Patisserie cater an event for him, and he was pleased with the pastries, returning Tuesday afternoon for lunch.

“What Temple is to coffee, Esther (Son) is to pastries,” he said. “We have little pieces of Paris on K Street. Who would have thought?”

Teo Judal, a 65-year-old retired Woodland resident, said he came to the pastry shop looking for a rum baba – a pastry he said is hard to find in Sacramento – but wasn’t able to get one at Estelle’s Patisserie.

“I had the almond tart instead,” he said. “It was good, and I think they have a good location.”

Linda Anderson, a 63-year-old Sacramentan who works with Blacet, has been to the pastry shop multiple times.

“The potato leek soup was the best I’ve ever had, and I make it at home,” she said. “I also had the vegetable quiche, and the crust was impeccable. The quiche was a perfect consistency.”

She said the prices aren’t the cheapest – they range from $1 for a Madeleine cookie to about $4.50 for a fruit tart – but they are a good value for the quality.

“I had the shortbread cookie, and it was the perfect mix of flour, butter and sugar,” she said. “It’s really good, and you can tell they pay a lot of attention to detail.”

Son said she is building up a following for the catering side of the business, with free deliveries throughout downtown Sacramento for orders of $80 or more, and a fee of about $10 for orders less than $80.

The pastry shop is located at Ninth and K streets and is open from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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

Christmas gifts under $20

2011-12-21T06:58:43Z

Christmas is a time of giving and receiving, but the former may prove challenging – especially when you need financially friendly ideas. Even when it’s the thought that counts behind a gift, you still need to look like you’ve thought about it, and socks don’t always leave that impression.

To make this Christmas challenge a bit easier, The Sacramento Press looked at local stores in Midtown that have some fun options, each of them under $20.

The Beat

Location: 1700 J St.
Store hours:
Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

The Beat is an independent music store that sells all genres, new and old. Here, a unique gift can be bought for the music lovers on your Christmas list.

Vinyl records
Suggested for: Lovers and collectors of old music.

Price range: $10 - $20
“Vinyl records transcend all age groups,” said Jeff Tyler, 47, manager of The Beat. He said that a vinyl record is perfect for the dad or grandpa who wants to reminisce their yester-years by listening to the soundtracks of their lives. Tyler asked, “Who does not want to relive their childhood?"

For $16.98, a shopper can give the unique gift of Michael Jackson’s “Farewell My Summer Love” vinyl record. It can be framed, or played on the freshly dusted record player.

In the rare vinyl records section, shoppers can find albums by the likes of The Beatles, The Platters, Green Day and Madonna. Tyler also said that there is a resurgence of interest in vinyl records among teenagers this year.

"The parents are going to know what they are,” said Tyler, “because they played them when they were younger. Grandparents will know, and teenagers are learning."

Band poster
Suggested for: Lovers and collectors of new music.

Price range: $15 - $20
These posters are just as collectible and decorative as the vinyl records above. One example is this 30 inch-by-30 inch 3 Doors Down board poster, sold for $20 and perfect for that special someone.

Metro Electronics

Location: 1831 J St.
Store hours:
Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Metro Electronics is the place for electronic parts. Any geeks who wants to build their own computer can find something they need here. There are no widescreen TVs, video games or iPod accessories. Instead, they offer parts for TVs, radios and other electronic devices, and a wide range of do-it-yourself kits for building radios, burglar alarms, LED displays and other doohickeys.

Roulette wheel
Suggested for: Any teen or adult who’s run out of things to solder.

Price: $19.95
For the adults who love soldering and making objects light up, the store carries LED mini kits, including a roulette wheel. Once built, the LED lights randomly light up a number, much like the ball on the real thing. There are other potential gifts like this for the same price, including a “riding Santa,” with lights that flash in a way to animate Santa on his sleigh.

Tyranomech
Suggested for: The people who keep taking your radio apart so they can put it back together.

Price: $16.95
A solder-less mechanical motorized wooden kit, Tyranomech is perfect for teenagers who enjoy challenges outside of Lego products. Builders follow the instructions to piece this wood dinosaur together, so that it can walk (or really wobble) across your table or counter. Batteries are not included, but there’s enough change with your $20 budget to cover that.

The store’s general manager, Bob May, 58, said that this toy is perfect for kids who want to get into basic robotics, because the kit includes real gears and motors. He also admitted to putting some of these together himself, and said they can make adults feel like kids again.

"They are different," May said. “You can say, ‘I built that’ instead of, ‘I bought that.’ ”

If a dinosaur isn’t quite what you need, there’s also an Automech for the same price, which rolls on wood wheels rather than waddles on wood legs.

Trés Chic Boutiqué

Location: 2228 J St.
Store hours:
Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

A fun and friendly apparel store, Trés Chic Boutiqué has been in operation for 18 years. The owner, Susan Tiesing, 53, is proud of the fact that most of the store's special-occasion dresses are one of a kind. If you shop for something here, you won’t have worry about someone finding and wearing the same dress.

“We want our customers to have something unique and individual,” Tiesing said.

Here are some examples of items they have “in stock” now.

Guitar pick earrings
Suggested for: The girl who needs more casual (but stylish) earrings.

Price: $19.99
The funky guitar pick earrings’ fun and playful design goes well with casual denim outfits, Tiesing said. They come in red, blue and purple – but they won’t be in the store for long.

Scarves
Suggested for: Girls who wanna have fun.

Price: $19.99
This lavender scarf is a great gift for style and weather alike. Made from 100 percent pashmina, the silky material can be worn with casual or formal attire.

Fingerless gloves
Suggested for: Girls who wanna have warm hands.

Price: $15
Fingerless gloves with attached mitten are great for anyone caught texting all the time. The gloves’ fingerless tips make it easy to type when needed, and the attached mitten can be used for additional protection against the winter cold.

Vintage-inspired gloves
Suggested for: Sophisticated women, and those who think they’re sophisticated.

Price: $18
These vintage-inspired gloves are perfect for adults, according to Tiesing, because of their muted color, showing sophistication and maturity. The polyester and cotton materials are stretchable, making them comfortable to wear.

The Book Collector

Location: 1008 24th St.
Store hours:
Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

This used book store has more to offer than today’s world will admit. The store carries more than 20,000 used books, which are mostly under $15, making it a great place to find what your bookworm friends and family want. Here’s a perfect example:

“The Adventures of Peter Cottontail” and “The Adventures of Mr. Mocker”
Suggested for: Young readers and read-to-ers.

Price: $5 each
These old and worn books still have enough life in them for kids to read along, making them great Christmas gifts. Store owner Rachel Hansen said adventure stories of personified animals are classics that kids from the ’40s and ’50s enjoyed, and the kids of today will enjoy, too.

"When a parent gives a child a book,” Hansen said, “then it's not just the gift of the book, but the gift of time."

Christmas is a perfect time for these books, she said, because with bedtime stories, parents and their children can spend that special time together reading the books and enjoying each other’s company.

Peradice

Location: 918 24th St.
Store hours:
Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday noon - 4 p.m.

A card and gift store that opened in June, Peradice carries greeting cards, candles and other home goods. Lighthearted and bright, the store has plenty to offer to its customers.

“Doofus and Darling’s Manners for the Modern Man”
Suggested for: Your guy friend who sometimes doesn’t get it or your boyfriend who could learn a thing or two.

Price: $12
A fun book on a funnier subject, this book tells what it really means to be chivalrous in this day and age. Best used as a joke gift rather than as a manual.

Candle tins
Suggested for: Anyone who needs to relax this Christmas. In other words, anyone.

Price: $8
These scented candle tins come with scents like “coconut milk mango” and “tangerine teakwood.” They’re handy items when you need to cover another scent or finally have enough time to take that long, relaxing bath.

Handmade earrings
Suggested for: Moms, sisters, girlfriends, wives and any jewelry-loving female with pierced ears

Price: $18
These earrings were handmade by local Pam Nichols, a friend to the store Peradice, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Doilies are included with purchase.

Cuffs

Location: 2523 J St.
Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.,
Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Cuffs is a fun place to find both new and vintage clothing. The store has clothes and accessories for men and women, some clothes are fashionable and cute, and some are downright kinky. Let’s start with the kinky.

Toddland underpants
Suggested for: The one you know will laugh the loudest.

Price: $18
These men’s boxers come in playful prints, from owls to tuxedos. Comfortable, practical, and not a reason to smirk.

Vintage ties
Suggested for: Males who plan to look sharp in their suits.

Price: $12
These ties come in different colors and styles, and all are very classy.

“They all have their own back story,” said Kaitlyn Hester, 21, a clerk at Cuffs. “We just don’t know them.”

Mighty wallets
Suggested for: The one who keeps forgetting to pay you by “losing” his wallet.

Price: $15
Their mighty wallets are named for their strength and eco-friendly impact. Children often try to tear the demo wallet, twisting and wringing and biting, yet the wallet stays intact. It’s small and snugly and fits into your pocket while holding your cash. They come with different designs, from “Star Trek” to red flannel.

Mixed Bag

Location: 2405 K St.
Store hours:
Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The self-proclaimed “one-stop gift shop” – for kids, at least. Mixed Bag is packed full of fun toys and goofy joke gifts, quite a few of them falling in the $20 price range. Here’s some of the highlights.

FuzzyFriends slippers
Suggested for: Kids who fit them and fiancés who need them.

Price: $19.95
These silly slippers take the form of ladybugs, bumblebees and other cute animals. They’re great for little ones who want both new slippers and new toys, and in this weather, no one needs to have cold feet.

Sock-It-To-Me socks
Suggested for: The one who’s tired of argyle.

Price: $8.50
Yes, we just went there. But these socks can get away with saying, “I thought of you when I saw these.” With patterns from bicycles to mustaches, these socks give a better connotation to “funky.”

Even if you woke up this morning to find that Christmas is creeping up on you, there’s still time to give. Make that Christmas (shopping) list, and don’t forget to check it twice. The only thing better than finding a gift that keeps on giving, is being that gift yourself.

The article is co-written with Ellen Dominguez

Downtown Construction Photo Update Fall 2011

2011-12-20T04:33:41Z

“Seventh & H" SRO - 7th & H Street, $47.4 million project.
Expected completion date, Spring 2013

626 I Street Rehabilitation Project - $19.4 million.
Expected completion date, Sept. 2012

La Valentina Station - 12th Street between D and E streets, $27 million project.
Expected completion date, summer 2012.

Sutter Medical Center - L & 29th Street, $600 million project.
Expected completion date, late 2012.

Read more at: http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/

Ask Officer Michelle - Unusual Use of ATM Card after a Night of Drinking

2011-12-18T20:18:16Z

Posted by dram13

Hello,

I went out Friday night with some friends and had a bit too much to drink. We took a taxi from the bar and the next day I find out from my bank that over $700 was taken from my account. I had zero money in my wallet and it was shown that money taken out from multiple ATMS before I got home. There are three possibilites I see happening. A) I was guided by the people I was with to take money out while I was intoxicated B) People took my password and card out of my wallet while I was asleep and took money out C) Taxi driver did either A or B. I know that under the law if a girl is intoxicated and a male sleeps with her, it can be considered rape since she was not in the right frame of mind; can the same logic apply to my scenario? My bank is willing to reimburse me but I have to file a police report. Is it reasonable that I do so, at least to find out what happened?

Dear dram13,

There are so many reasons not to get so drunk that you lose control of your faculties – especially for a female. I am glad that you are alright.

Go online at sacpd.org and file a police report. Some banks can provide footage of the ATMs where your card was used, thus exposing which one of your acquaintances used your card. You will also want to annotate the cab company that you used and any specific information about the driver if you can remember, in your report.

Taking advantage of a person who is incapacitated is morally wrong, but it sounds like you don’t have any recollection of the night at all. Do you know if you gave consent to use your ATM card, or did you draw money out before you became impaired? You may regain some of the memories of the evening and hence be able to put some pieces of the puzzle together. Thank you for your post.

Officer Michelle

Expanded bike share program to launch early next year

2011-12-17T01:19:08Z

Midtown’s Ride Your Own Way bicycle share program wrapped up its six-month trial period this week with an average of 20 bicycle rentals per week and plans to significantly expand it under a private company in 2012.

“I think the bike share is a really great program to have in Midtown,” said Midtown Business Association Streetscape Program Manager Niki Fay. “It obviously gives people a way to get around businesses quicker and easier, and the environmental benefits are great.”

The bicycle share program launched in June and provided two locations with six bicycles each that were rented to riders via automated systems. Similar programs are successful in cities such as Washington, D.C., Montreal and Paris.

After a six-month pilot program that saw some vandalism and bicycle theft, MBA and business partners concluded that the system should expand, but under the control of a private business.

The new business, named The Last Mile, will launch in the first quarter of 2012, said founder Aaron Zeff, who also co-owns Priority Parking – which housed the kiosks for the pilot program.

“We learned a lot from the MBA trial, and since MBA doesn’t have the funding ability, we thought we’d try it as a private enterprise to come up with a bike share that would be complementary to our customer base as well as something good for the community.”

The program will use smartphone applications to allow riders to take a bicycle from one area and ride it around the city, dropping it off at any other location, Zeff said. There are plans to have 30 locations with 10 bicycles each, but they will be rolled out slowly throughout the year as the bugs get worked out.

The app will work similar to the way in which Zipcars are rented, he said.

Pricing – though not final – should be around $1 per hour and $10 per day, Zeff said.

“The idea is to promote short use of the bike to get to a destination,” he said. “We don’t want to be competition to a bike rental company for recreational bikers.”

He added that he thinks this is the first program to be privately funded and operated in the country. Most bicycle share programs receive government subsidies or infrastructure, and the end cost of the bicycles can be $6,000 each.

“We’ve drilled that down to under $1,000 because of our system not having infrastructure other than bikes and existing parking facilities,” he said.

Unlike heavy steel bicycles in other cities, bicycles from The Last Mile are all-aluminum three-speeds with internal hub gearing.

The major problems during the pilot program, according to Ikon Cycles owner Adrian Moore – who purchased the bicycles to be used in the pilot program – was that they were targets for thieves because they were not overseen.

To combat that issue, the bicycles will now be housed in parking garages with attendants as well as businesses, so someone can always see them.

“Theft was not a surprise,” Moore said of the pilot program. “The system was not good enough to prevent it.”

Ikon Cycles, near 23rd and J streets, will be one of the early businesses to host a bicycle station in 2012, Zeff said. Another place will be Mexican restaurant Zócalo, where Priority Parking handles valet services, and riders will be able to hand their rented bicycles off to the valets for safekeeping.

“If you have an Internet connection, you can put (a station) in your store,” Zeff said. “It’s a universal locking system, and it’s essentially an iPhone or Android app.”

Initially, the stations will be located in the downtown and Midtown areas, and expansion throughout the city is possible, including stations for college students at Sacramento State.

The Last Mile is named after the problem many users have when using public transit – how to get the first and last mile to their destinations if they are not located near a bus or light rail stop, Zeff said.

With the initial 30 locations to be rolled out slowly, he added that it’s a good opportunity to let the free market influence something for the public good.

“It’s up to the consumer to decide if they want it,” he said.

Fay said she expects the program to be popular, especially with the bicycle culture being a large part of Midtown life.

“The first benefit is how it makes it easier for Midtown residents and visitors to get around town,” she said in an email, adding that other benefits include the air quality of having multimodal transportation and solving the problem of how public transit commuters get from their stops to their final destinations.

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

Ask Officer Michelle - Concerns About Kidnapper out on Parole

2011-12-11T19:11:38Z

Posted by cherylwin

Can I complete a restraining order on someone without providing my location? This is a person who was in prison for kidnapping me years ago and is now free and off parole as of yesterday.

Dear cherylwin,

It must be unnerving for you knowing that the man who once victimized you is out. Here’s what you should do. His parole agent should have already put those conditions on his parole prior to getting out of prison. You may want to call Parole and make sure the condition to stay away from you was added. He must only know your name and you don’t need to supply your address. If you see the man anywhere near you, call the police. If he attempts to contact you via telephone, mail, or text, call the Police Department and his parole agent. He will be detained and his parole agent will promptly be called and his parole will be violated thus sending him back to jail.

In the meantime, let your neighbors know about your situation. They can be a lookout for you when you aren’t there. You might also want to invest in an alarm system. Keep me posted on this.

Officer Michelle

Firewood supplier roundup

2011-12-10T01:14:38Z

As temperatures dip with the approach of winter, Sacramentans are turning to their fireplaces for added warmth. The Sacramento Press checked out a number of vendors who sell and deliver firewood as well as the regulations and safety of burning in your home.

Firewood is usually sold in cords or fractions of cords, and a single cord of wood is stacked 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet and can typically be held in two pickup truck beds.

Firewood vendors and fire officials stressed the need to burn only seasoned wood in fireplaces so it burns at the correct temperature and doesn’t cause damage to chimneys or stoves.

“Only burn approved products – no cardboard or paper products,” said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Bill Mendonca.

He also recommended getting a chimney inspection or cleaning at least once a year to ensure there are no obstructions or layers of creosote buildup – a byproduct of burning wood in fireplaces – that can be a fire hazard.

When it comes to Christmas trees, Mendonca recommended keeping the tree a safe distance from a fireplace so sparks can’t reach it and set it alight. He also emphasized that Christmas trees should not be burned at the end of the Christmas season because they aren’t seasoned, and the high temperatures from quickly burning needles can damage fireplaces and chimneys.

According to Cal Fire, people can cut their own wood with permits obtained through the federal government or in certain Cal Fire forest areas, but the wood needs to be seasoned a year before it is burned.

Once wood is seasoned – let sit in a dry space – it can be stored outside or inside, and it does not need to be covered, but should be dried for 20 minutes before burning.

In the Sacramento Metropolitan area, it is illegal to burn on certain days, so check the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District’s notices before burning.

M&M Firewood & Quality Cookingwood
6217 32nd St., North Highlands
614-9000

Secretary Leticia Mejia said the business has been around for more than 10 years and sells many different types of firewood.

“We have oak, almond and an almond mix, as well as lots of odds and ends,” she said. “A lot of people buy the oak or the almond for smoking meats, and we sell a lot of firewood to downtown restaurants and the public for heating purposes.”

M&M delivers in the Sacramento area, and prices vary depending on location, with delivery fees starting at $44. All firewood sold is seasoned for at least one year.

“We do offer kindling, and we’re open to the public so they can come in and pick up firewood,” Mejia said.

Tony’s Firewood
6000 Auburn Blvd., Citrus Heights
969-9663

Started in 1970 by husband and wife Tony and Connie Dorado, Tony’s Firewood sells oak, walnut, cherry, eucalyptus, cedar, pine and mixed woods, according to Linda Noe, daughter of the Dorados.

“We sell a lot of wood to restaurants as smoking wood and also to homeowners not only with wood-burning fireplaces but with inserts and stoves also,” she said. “We’ve been keeping Sacramento warm since 1970.”

Deliveries of wood are $35, and free delivery is offered in May and June. All wood carried this time of year is seasoned for at least a year. The wood is split and sold in 16-inch lengths with diameters of 5 to 7 inches.

NPC Firewood
8320 Hazel Ave in Orangevale and 11257 S. Ridge St. in Rancho Cordova.
853-9541

Owner Jeff Hadden said NPC Firewood carries a wide range of firewood including the common oaks, cedar and pine.

“We turn some of it into lumber, but most of the firewood we sell is seasoned about a year,” he said. Unseasoned wood is available as well.

NPC Firewood delivers throughout the Sacramento area for a $60 delivery fee for up to a cord.

Pak & Save Firewood
8385 Jackson Road, Sacramento
381-3143

Manager Javier Hernandez said popular types of firewood offered at the business include pine, walnut, almond, white oak and black oak.

All firewood sold is seasoned at least one year.

“We keep our wood covered, so it is always dry and ready to go into the fireplace,” he said. “A lot of our almond wood is used for people who smoke meats, and the rest is usually used for heating.”

Pak & Save delivers in the Sacramento area. Delivery fees start at $50 and vary depending on location.

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

Blame Sally performs at KVIE

2011-12-07T02:30:05Z

Public Broadcasting’s KVIE studios in Sacramento was transformed into a concert venue Saturday night as Blame Sally took the stage for a fundraiser.

This was not your run of the mill fundraiser either. KVIE recorded the performance and will be using the footage to produce a PBS Special, which will ultimately be used in pledge drives across the country and made available in DVD format.

So why choose Blame Sally for such an event? KVIE is using Blame Sally to show women of all ages, middle age in particular, that you can accomplish so much more. In their 30’s and 40’s they put their individual careers on hold to start Blame Sally. As a role model, Blame Sally proves that women in their 30’s and 40’s can get together and form, of all things, a rock band. Let me add – a successful and great sounding rock band.

Not only are they an inspiration to women around the world, but to anyone out there who has thought about walking away from their career to pursue their bliss.

Blame Sally had a large contingent of diehard fans in attendance, with most traveling from the San Francisco Bay Area by car, train and bus. Okay, not so sure if anyone took a bus, but I did talk to someone who took the train from Berkley. It took her four cabs to finally find a driver who knew how to get to the KVIE studios.

This was my first Blame Sally concert, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had listened to some of their music prior to attending the show to see what I was in for, so I knew I was going to enjoy their sound, which I did – immensely.

What I didn’t expect was the relaxing back and forth banter amongst the group. They looked completely at home as no less than eight cameras were rolling, including a boom camera reaching out over the audience zooming in on unsuspecting band members and concert goers alike.

Blame Sally kicked it off with “Big Big Bed” off of their latest album, “A Speeding Ticket and a Valentine.” Pam Delgado was on percussions, Renee Harcourt on guitar/bass, Jeri Jones on guitar/bass and Monica Pasqual on piano and accordion. All band members share the responsibility of lead vocals and switch off as the song dictates.

I totally missed the fact that there was a man playing bass. Rob Strom, who recently joined Blame Sally, could be seen in the background. All I had to do was focus and look beyond all the stunning beauty at the front of the stage. Not to say Rob isn’t stunning, he is – at least when he’s playing with Blame Sally.

The only case of nerves I noticed? As they were a few chords into their second song, Pasqual shouted “Cut!” stating she started off with the wrong chords because she was just noticing all the cameras.

Pasqual didn’t leave it at that either. Just prior to “Orange,” she was ready to go with her accordion at the ready. Only problem was, the song called for keyboards. It was comical as the band members would exchange barbs back and forth during times like this.

They had plenty of time to exchange those barbs too. Why? In between songs Jones and Harcourt would tune their guitars. Okay, Harcourt would sometimes tune her guitar and then wait for Jones to finish tuning hers, but that was all good. During those times it was as if I was at a comedy club with the jokes going back and forth.

Let me see, there were comments about someone’s new hairdo, wardrobe malfunctions, instrument malfunctions and so much more. You’ll have to wait for the DVD.

For their last song, Delgado led the audience through a chorus of do-da’s and da-doo’s or some such nonsense. Did I say nonsense? I don’t think so. The result was nothing short of amazing. She taught the audience their part and explained that everyone was to start as soon as she signaled to them. The audience started right on cue. As the song started to come to a close, the instruments started to slowly die down with the audience still singing. It was a serious goosebump moment. The song? Again, you’re going to have to wait for the DVD!

If you’re in the Bay Area make sure you catch Blame Sally at Berkeley’s Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse on December 9th. They will be touring out of state during January and February, returning to California in March. Their complete schedule can be viewed at http://blamesally.com/shows/

Give them a listen – you’ll be glad you did, and if for some reason you don’t like them? Blame Sally, not me.

The Sacramento Press on 'Insight'

2011-12-07T02:02:03Z

City Council election drama, a potential swap of high school campuses, new businesses and two Sacramento Press contests were all topics I discussed with Jeffrey Callison Tuesday morning on Capital Public Radio’s “Insight” program.

Elections are quite a ways away, but the District 2 City Council race is already heating up as some accuse candidate Kim Mack of using an email list from her time working on the Obama campaign to push for a Strong Mayor initiative for Mayor Kevin Johnson. Mack denies sharing the email list with the Strong Mayor backers. Read more by clicking here.

Another contentious issue in the city right now has to do with education – more specifically education facilities. The Sacramento City Unified School District board floated the idea of swapping Sacramento Charter High School and West Campus – two high schools that sit about two miles apart. Proponents say moving the public West Campus school to the old Sacramento High School facility – which now houses the charter school – would provide a pedestrian-friendly comprehensive school for the area. Opponents say there is no reason to swap them, and moving schools will only put a different set of students in an inadequate facility.

As the ongoing Occupy Sacramento movement stays in the news, one Sacramento Press reader asked Sacramento Police Officer Michelle Lazark in her weekly column about the difference between camping in Cesar Chavez Plaza and in front of stores for deals. Lazark replied that police enforce the no-camping ordinance on public property, but typically don’t do so on private property unless business owners ask them to or there are “No Loitering” signs posted.

A pair of coffee roasters with about a decade of experience each are opening Insight Coffee Roasters, a new coffee bar and roasting house in Southside Park. The duo plans to focus on sustainable coffee, working directly with growers in Latin America and selling only organic milk and sugar in their drinks.

The old Fog Mountain Cafe business in the City Hall Garage will soon be replaced by a barbecue eatery: Big Joe’s BBQ. Fog Mountain closed in April, and the city forgave some of the lease in order to bring Big Joe’s on as soon as possible.

Bringing as much comedy as drama, Sacra-Melo – a musical theater parody group – opened on the Delta King in Old Sacramento in late September. Actors don’t stay strictly to the script, but interact with the audience and work with piano accompaniment to give a show the owners say is unique in the area.

Finally, a pair of contests on The Sacramento Press gives readers the chance to be more interactive with the site and earn some prizes at the same time. “To Catch an Error” is in its second month and gives readers the chance to help us improve the quality of content on the site. For more information on how you can take part – and win a meal at Zócalo – click here. The second contest is the third annual Journalism Open, which runs for the month of January. Is there something you think should be in the news? You have the chance to put it there and win prizes – with the first place winner taking home $600. For more details and rules, click here.

Man on the Street: business after cars on K

2011-12-07T01:50:25Z

It’s been almost one month since cars returned to K Street between Eighth and 12th streets, and The Sacramento Press asked business owners and managers on the former pedestrian mall if they have observed any differences as a result.

To read about the reopening of the K Street Mall to vehicular traffic, click here.

Larry Bethune, 25-year-old shift leader at Quiznos, 902 K St.

“I think it allows a lot more people to know about the different restaurants on K Street,” Bethune said. “It hasn’t increased business yet because there’s nowhere to park. There’s a lot about a block from here with purple fence around it. If they turned that into a parking lot, then having cars on the street would turn into a really great idea.”

Veni Sharma, 63-year-old co-owner of DeRow & Sharma Clothier & Tailors, 916 K St.

“It’s too early to tell, but it’s improved a little bit,” Sharma said. “People are still learning they can drive down here. It’s a positive thing.”

Chuck Karajeh, 51-year-old owner of Midtown Market, 1026 K St.

“There’s been no change so far,” Karajeh said. “I don’t think it’s going to change anything. To me, well, I’ve been here a long time. I don’t think people are going to stop, and there’s no parking. If they had street parking, it would help.”

Chris Dooley, 32-year-old bar manager at Ella Dining Room & Bar, 1131 K St.

“We’re still doing the same, but we have always had a street with cars on it, since we’re on the corner (of 12th and K streets),” Dooley said. “For some, I’m sure bringing cars back has increased business. It definitely makes the street more approachable to pedestrians and families, so it’s more accessible now.”

Jesse Lua, 29-year-old manager of Blimpie Subs & Salads, 1023 K St.

“There’s been no change,” Lua said. “It really hasn’t gotten any traffic at all. I don’t think it’ll do anything without parking. The only traffic I’ve seen is maybe some cabs, but there hasn’t been an accident yet.”

Sid Garcia-Heberger, 46-year-old general manager of the Crest Theatre, 1013 K St.

“I’m seeing increased activity on the street,” Garcia-Heberger said. “Most of the increased activity is on the weekends and at night. I think people are still getting used to it. Once more people know about it, I think it will really help.”

What is your perception of the changes to K Street over the past month, since cars were allowed. Have you driven down the former pedestrian mall? Let us know in the conversation below.

Reunion Tour comes back and wins the Indoor Kickball Championship

2011-12-06T16:07:41Z

In the Xoso Sport & Social League final Indoor Kickball season of the year, and a championship game that featured the regular season's top two teams, #2 Reunion Tour pulled away from #1 Turn Your Head and Cough to win the 2011 Late Fall Indoor Kickball title 18-9.

Playoff night (last night) kicked off with the play-in matchup of #4 Balls to the Wall versus #5 The A-Team. Balls to the Wall (4-4) built a 19-6 lead after four innings but The A-Team (3-5) rallied with three runs in the fifth and eight more in the sixth before coming up short 19-17.

#4 Balls to the Wall advanced to the first semifinal where they faced #1 Turn Your Head and Cough (6-2). After holding Balls to the Wall scoreless for the first three innings, Turn Your Head and Cough steadily built a 16-1 lead going into the bottom of the sixth. Balls to the Wall was able to put six runs on the board before being shut down for a final score of 16-7.

The other playoff semifinal pitted #2 Reunion Tour (6-2) against #3 Gryffindor (5-3). Reunion Tour jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning before running away with the game 18-4 to set up a title showdown with #1 Turn Your Head and Cough.

This season's final presented an opportunity for Turn Your Head and Cough to avenge their only two losses of the season, both at the hands of Reunion Tour, 10-9 and 21-12. With excellent defense played by both sides and a scoreless tie after two innings, the game seemed headed for a low scoring finish. The Reunion Tour offense woke up with four runs in the third inning and tacked on eight more in the fourth with the help of "double damage" to lead 12-5 after four innings. Reunion Tour pushed the score to 18-6 in the top half of the sixth inning before putting away Turn Your Head and Cough by the final score of 18-9.

Cheers to the 2011 Late Fall Champions, Reunion Tour, and to all the teams for a great season! Many of the teams will now be moving over to coed dodgeball or volleyball during the winter months, so we'll see who comes out on top next time...

Disclosure: Nick is the founder of Xoso.

California International Marathon draws huge crowds in 28th year

2011-12-05T04:16:27Z

Early Sunday morning, over 4,000 runners from around the world participated in the California International Marathon, a 26.2-mile race from Folsom to downtown Sacramento. As the runners scaled the greater Sacramento area into the afternoon, hundreds of supporters lined the route carrying signs of support and yelling words of encouragement.

Meadow Bailey, a 34-year-old homemaker from Rancho Cordova, was one of the many who came out to show their support. She said that although this was her first time coming, she had an enjoyable experience.

“Everybody is cheering, and there’s a great sense of unity,” she said.

Starting near Folsom Lake, participants headed east down Oak Avenue. Passing through Orangevale, Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks, runners gradually traveled downhill, a signature element of the CIM that makes it one of the fastest races in the country. Taking Fair Oaks Boulevard all the way into Midtown, runners eventually turned onto L Street, where they raced to the finish line located on the west side of the Capitol. A full map can be found here.

Several events were held concurrently to the marathon. A shorter relay was held where participants worked in teams. Another event, the MaraFUNrun, was a 2.62-mile run for children and families.

The winners of the marathon were recognized at an award ceremony that started at 3 p.m. For the men, Erick Monyene, a 24-year-old from Keller, Texas, came in first place with a total time of 2:11:50. He was followed by 30-year-old Ryan Bak from Bend, Ore., in second place and Joseph Mutinda, 37, from Santa Fe, N.M., in third place. Their times were 2:14:17 and 2:14:53, respectively.

For the women, Abrha Serkalem, a 24-year-old from Eth, took first place with a time of 2:33:40. In second was Atalelech Asfaw, 20, from Albuquerque, N.M., with a time of 2:33:56. In third place was Nuta Olaru, a 41-year-old from Antioch with a time of 2:37:13. A complete list of finishing times can be found here.

As the runners raced toward the Capitol, the streets were lined with many people who came out to show support. Many bands played at several points throughout the race, including folk singer Willie Ames, hip-hop artist Crazy Ballhead and various high school marching bands. As the runners passed, musicians and supporters alike cheered out in their support.

Sara Nylin, a 29-year-old teacher from Rancho Cordova, participated in the marathon for the first time this year. She said if it weren’t for the people who came out in support, she wouldn’t have been able to pull through.

“It’s a big marathon, and there’s a lot of people,” she said. “I had people supporting me, and now I’m supporting my friends as they finish.”

Other people participated in the relay and later stood on the sidelines supporting the marathon runners. Faith Caplan, a 30-year-old teacher from East Sacramento, was one of them.

“The course is nice and the weather is usually beautiful,” Caplan said, adding that this was why she has participated for the last five years.

Tammy Cortopassi, 48, is a medical assistant who lives in Midtown. Having come to watch the race and support the runners for the first time, she said she believes the runners who come in last place deserve the same respect and recognition as those who come in first.

“No one waits for the last person,” she said after most of the runners had passed her spot along Alhambra Boulevard. “The last is just as important as the first.”

Cortopassi’s compassion for all racers was evident all throughout the day. Phrases such as “You can do it!” and “To the finish line!” were yelled by people who were watching the race and others who were simply walking by it.

When the runners reached the finish line, they were greeted with more cheers, lots of water and massages. Sweat darted down many of their foreheads, and others laid down in the grass surrounding the Capitol, catching their breath.

“The race was a lot of fun to watch,” Bailey said. “I’m just glad I wasn’t doing it.”

New coffee bar focuses on community, sustainability

2011-12-05T03:28:28Z

Two Sacramentans with a decade each working in local coffee bars are set to branch out on their own this week as they open Insight Coffee Roasters at Eighth and S streets.

Ben Lance and Lucky Rodrigues met about five years ago when they both worked at Temple Coffee, and their idea of what a coffee business should be is set to open Wednesday – possibly as early as Monday or Tuesday if all goes well.

“We’re opening this to stay in coffee, not just to own something in coffee,” Rodrigues said. “We want to do this our whole lives, and this is a way to stay in it and not earn minimum wage in our 40s.”

The premise of the business is to keep things simple while providing sustainable coffee to the Southside Park area, Lance said.

“Simplicity is the most effective concept,” Lance said. “We’re working directly with coffee growers in El Salvador and Guatemala. We’re actually going down there in a couple of weeks to meet them and see their sustainable business and know that they’re able to put a roof over their families’ heads.”

Working through Atlantic Specialty – a business that connects coffee roasters in the United States with coffee growers – Lance said Insight Coffee will be able to trace where each shipment is coming from and know that it’s not exploitative.

“We want to work with like-minded people,” Rodrigues said. “We’re really into sustainability, and we have a high attention to detail, so it’s nice to work with people who feel the same way.”

In keeping with the simplicity theme, furniture consists of a few couches along the back wall of the roughly 2,000-square-foot cafe area, wooden counters along the windows and a host of wooden tables built by Rodrigues. Chairs in the space are theater seats built in 1918 that used to be in the basement of the Masonic Lodge on J Street.

The space will hold 40 people, and Rodrigues said the emphasis is on community, with large communal tables and an open atmosphere.

Lance said that free Wi-Fi will be offered, but there are only about eight outlets in the seating area.

“We don’t want this to be a place where everyone is clicking away on their laptops and you’re afraid to make a sound,” Lance said. “We want you to play a board game or sit and have a conversation.”

Music will be provided by an old record player, and Lance said he wants to bring the work of local artists in two or three times per month to make use of the extensive wall space.

All the coffee will be French press, and while iced drinks will be available, there aren’t any plans to provide blended iced drinks or smoothies.

A standard cup of coffee will cost $2.25, and the most expensive drinks will be about $4.50.

A unique style of brewing using Chemex coffeemakers will be available, in which coffee is brewed in a hand-blown glass pitcher to the customer’s specifications. The 24-ounce vessel will cost $5 and is meant to be shared.

All milk and sugar in the business will be organic, with the milk being the Crystal organic line, from cows that live near Chico, Lance said.

“It will be reflected in the price, maybe a nickel or 10 cents more per cup, but it’s organic from the start,” he said.

The coffee roaster, in the approximately 2,000-square-foot space behind the cafe, was custom-made in Nevada.

Business hours will be 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. every day, and Lance said if business levels dictate, he will extend them. He said he also plans to bring in live music, with local bands playing two or three nights per week once Insight Coffee is up and running.

Another future addition, Rodrigues said, will be a beer bottle shop.

“We’re just waiting on our license,” he said. “We want to bring in beers from abroad – beers that follow sort of the same idea as our coffee. We want this place to be a mature area where people can lounge and have a drink, without being a bar.”

Insight Coffee Roasters, 1901 Eighth St., will be open from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. every day. The scheduled opening date is Wednesday. For more information, click here.

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

Editorial Note: This story has been updated after it was published. The website link was added.

Ask Officer Michelle - Suspicious Abandoned Vehicles

2011-12-04T22:46:26Z

Posted by bmclemons

Hello Michelle.. Question.. I’m aware of a vehicle which obviously hit something when the driver was drunk not sure if it was a pole or something, but was able to make it back. The car is sitting in an apartment complex garage now for over 3 months and is completely totaled. Shouldn’t this be reported to either DMV or the authorities?

Dear bmclemons,

You could call the police department in your jurisdiction and report it as a suspicious vehicle. The dispatcher will ask you what the license plate is. It may be a stolen vehicle, or a vehicle involved in a crime. If it doesn’t have a plate attached to the vehicle, an officer can still be sent out to check the vehicle identification number (VIN). The VIN will contain all of the vehicle data information.

If it is not listed as stolen, it would be the duty of the property owner to have the vehicle towed from the premises. If it was reported as stolen, the registered owner would be called, and the police would have the vehicle towed to a tow yard from the rotational list.

Thank you for your post.
Officer Michelle

City Hall Garage to get new eatery: Big Joe's BBQ

2011-11-29T03:42:36Z

Flavorful barbecue and hearty sandwiches will be at the top of the menu at Big Joe’s BBQ when it opens its doors in January at the former Fog Mountain Café space at the City Hall Garage.

The City Council is set to grant a five-year lease Tuesday for Big Joe’s BBQ to open at 1000 I St.

According to the city staff report on the new lease, Big Joe’s currently has a successful catering business and plans to offer a variety of BBQ sandwiches – including pork, grilled chicken and tri-tip – with side dishes, and the restaurant will have an outdoor grill.

For five years, Joe “Big Joe” Dunlap operated Big Joe’s BBQ in Citrus Heights, and Dunlap’s partner, Angelo Negrete, has owned Fuddruckers, a family restaurant in Citrus Heights for the past eight years.

Big Joe’s has had a presence at the farmers market at Roosevelt Park at Ninth and Q streets on Tuesdays for more than a year, as well as at the farmers market at Capitol Mall on Thursdays.

This will be a new partnership venture for Negrete and Dunlap, who have known each other for close to eight years.

“We used to eat at each other’s (restaurants),” Dunlap said Monday, “and we became friends. I said I’d never (open another place again), but I guess I allowed him to talk me into it.”

Dunlap said he and Negrete wanted to be downtown where there are a lot of offices – and hungry workers at lunchtime looking for good food.

“We are big on lunch, and our target market is businesspeople,” Dunlap said.

Lunch at Big Joe’s will start with either a half-pound sandwich for $7.99, or $9.99 if a side dish and soda are added.

A 1-pound sandwich will cost $12.99, Dunlap said, and he expects some people will order the larger sandwich and split it to share with a friend.

Sandwiches at Big Joe’s are “just meat, bread and sauce,” Dunlap said. “It’s all about barbecue here.”

Side dishes such as macaroni and cheese, barbecue beans, potato salad or coleslaw will be available for $1.69 each.

Big Joe’s will also offer a portobello mushroom burger for what Dunlap calls “BBQ sinners” – vegetarians.

Dunlap said he expects to be able to open sometime in January if the needed build-up of the storefront can be completed in time. The restaurant will have a soft opening as soon as possible, followed by a larger grand opening later in the month.

Dunlap said a wrought iron fence will be installed around the storefront on both sides to enclose a patio seating area on one side of the door and a large outdoor grill on the other.

In addition to flavorful barbecue fare, fast service is a cornerstone of the operation, Dunlap said.

“We hope to set new standards for lunchtime sandwiches,” Dunlap said. “Everything will be smoked or wood-grilled, and a system (will be) set up to serve as many people as possible in an hour. We have to have fast service.”

At the farmers markets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Dunlap said he regularly serves 300 to 400 people in three hours.

Dunlap said Negrete’s role in the operation will essentially be management and marketing, while Big Joe is the front man and grill master.

“I don’t know anyone that’s going to be doing what we do down there,” Dunlap said. “There’s going to be some good eating.”

In April 2008, James and Judy Harnish opened Fog Mountain Café in the space at City Hall Garage, and three years later, Harnish closed the business – still owing the city more than $133,000 in outstanding rent.

The Harnishes negotiated with the city to surrender all of the equipment in the restaurant to the city – valued at approximately $52,000 – in exchange for the city forgiving the remaining $84,000 of their back rent.

If the city elected to end the Fog Mountain Café lease through litigation, it could take a long time to resolve – time lost for another tenant to take over the space and begin paying rent to the city.

Instead, the city ended the lease and plans to immediately enter into a new lease agreement with Big Joe’s BBQ, Inc.

The city will write off the remaining amount owed from the Harnishes – roughly $84,000 – from the city’s parking fund.

Howard Chan, parking services manager for the city, said negotiating a lease termination that includes accepting equipment in exchange for writing off a remaining amount owed is not a typical situation for the city.

“This is the first time we’ve done this that I’m aware of,” Chan said.

In typical cases where tenants can’t make rent, the city would simply say, “Pay rent or move out,” Chan said.

But in the case of Fog Mountain Café, the state of the economy played a large part, and the city didn’t have a new tenant lined up to move in.

Chan said city representatives from the Economic Development Department and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership worked with Fog Mountain Café to restructure their business plan and to find a way to stay in business and maintain rent payments to the city.

“In the end, it just wasn’t possible,” Chan said. “It just wouldn’t work, and they had to throw in the towel.”

So, the city decided to negotiate the lease termination to free the space as quickly as possible.

“The benefits of having an open, viable business far exceeded letting (a retail space) go dark and not collecting any rent at all,” Chan said.

Fog Mountain Café was paying rent of $2.40 per square foot – the market rate at the time the Harnish family entered into the lease with the city.

Big Joe’s BBQ will pay the current market rent of $1.65 per square foot, making the annual rent to the city just over $40,000.

Chan said the decision to lease to Big Joe’s BBQ is a good one because the restaurant concept has a broad appeal, and it already has a following from the presence in local farmers markets.

“We are excited to get (Dunlap and Negrete),” Chan said. “They have worked well with us to get through the typical hurdles of opening a business.”

Chan said the equipment that the city will receive from Fog Mountain Café will stay on-site for Big Joe’s BBQ to use.

Chan said there had been one other offer for tenancy at the I Street location, but that business’ finance didn’t work out.

“One of the cool things (with Big Joe’s BBQ),” Chan said, “is that, during the lunch hour, he’ll have the BBQ going. It’ll be a pretty good draw. The more variety, the better.”

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

Freshii closes, reopens as Fresca Deli

2011-11-29T01:52:06Z

Freshii, a health-conscious walk-up eatery located at 400 Q St., morphed into Fresca Deli over the holiday weekend in a move the owner said is meant to appeal more to the people who dine in the area.

“Ultimately, that concept didn’t suit the demographic of this area,” said co-owner Eric Heffel, explaining that the adjacent cafeteria in the CalPERS building is always full.

“What we’ve started doing is more sandwiches and hearty soups, but we still have healthy options here,” he added.

The interior looks similar, although Freshii signage has been removed.

At Freshii, customers filled out menu cards to make custom food items, or they could choose from a list. Fresca Deli uses a more standard menu.

The same staff is making the food, and some items, such as the pozole soup and a quesadilla, are their creations. The rest of the recipes came from Heffel’s co-owner, Larry Shield.

“He’s kind of a Texas boy,” Heffel said. “He went back to his roots.”

Grilled cheese with a choice of meats, chicken salad sandwiches, roast beef sandwiches and even a hot meatloaf sandwich are all on the menu. Sandwiches range in price from $4.50 to $8.50, and all are offered as combo meals with soup or sides such as potato salad and coleslaw.

“Nothing on the menu is over 10 bucks, even the combos,” Heffel said. “We had to be really conscious of competing with the cafeteria. We want to provide better food for the same or better price.”

Wraps, grilled burritos, salads and soups are also available, and all the food is purchased from local wholesalers. The Yogurtagogo frozen yogurt is still available.

Soups include pozole – a traditional Mexican soup, cream of tomato basil, Asian lemongrass, and shrimp and corn chowder.

Freshii was open for about eight months, and Heffel said the revenue projections have shown for some time that the concept didn’t work out for the location.

Customers entering the new space, he said, will see a completely different menu, but if they look closer, they will see influences from Freshii.

“We still use brown rice for all of our bowls and our wraps, and we have a number of salads available,” Heffel said.

Monday was the first day the rebranded business was open, and Heffel said it was too soon to determine its success.

“We won’t know until people start coming back,” he said. “Most of our business is to-go orders, so we will see what the feedback is.”

In addition to serving the largely state-employed lunch crowd, Heffel said he wants to make Fresca Deli a local hangout.

With that goal in mind, he brought in a Foosball table, is showing the American Film Institute’s Top 100 films on a TV and, like he did when it was Freshii, will be featuring live local music on the patio.

“When the weather was warmer, we had blues jam sessions every Thursday night for about four months,” he said. “We will be bringing back more local music once it warms up again.”

Heffel said the break from Freshii was straightforward, with no major problems. For a time, catering will not be available, but he said that will change once the deli gets up and running.

The work done over the weekend largely consisted of reorganizing the kitchen area and making sure that the new food being offered could be produced efficiently.

People eating at the restaurant on Monday afternoon said they found it to be convenient and affordable.

“I haven’t tried (Freshii) for a long time, but I like this,” said Amil Chandrasekara, a 40-year-old CalPERS employee. “The price is good, and the food is good.”

Roxane Divol, a 39-year-old consultant from San Francisco, said the prices are good, and the deli is another option for those looking to eat in the area.

“It’s a regular deli,” she said. “It’s nothing fantastic, but the prices are good and it’s convenient.”

Fresca Deli, located at 400 Q St., is open from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

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

Ask Officer Michelle - Camping Ordinance In Front of Stores?

2011-11-28T18:37:40Z

Posted by Jib916

Good Morning Michelle.
I had a question regarding how you plan on handling the occupiers/campers camping in front of best buy and other big box retail stores for black Friday.

If Sacramento has a no tent policy, isn’t it only fair that these peoples camping equipment shall be confiscated, just like the protesters? After all the law is the law.

Any response would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You
Justin Buell

Dear Justin,

The “no tent” policy you are speaking about refers to occupying a camping space on city/county property. When people camp in front of stores in anticipation for stores to open or to get prime tickets at a box office, they are occupying space on private property. We typically don’t enforce the city ordinance on private property unless the business owners have an issue with individuals causing a specific problem. We will enforce the law if the store owners have a “no loitering” sign posted.

There are other issues that go along with the camping ordinances. Sometimes, people bring their children out to camp out. If the conditions are such that it is posing an unsafe environment for a child, officers can enforce the 273 code of the California Penal Code which is basically the code referring to child endangerment. I mean, have you seen the news footage where some people are nearly trampling each other to get inside the store when it opens?

I know that some of the stores are only allowing an allotted number of people in every 15 seconds to alleviate this problem. Thank you for your concern.

Officer Michelle

MidLife GridLife - Shoot Up, Shut Up, Step Up?

2011-11-26T01:44:22Z

I went downtown on Thanksgiving morning and saw people feeding the homeless and it really pissed me off.

It seems to me that feeding the homeless once a year on Thanksgiving is a little like only going to church on Christmas Eve.

But, yes, there is more to this than what you may initially perceive as my Mother Superiority complex.

I need people to stop feeding the homeless on my block. Period.

I work at Quinn Cottages, a program that provides housing for homeless people who are ready to change their lives, to move from the streets and become self-sustaining. Many of them are in recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction.

Many have mental health issues. All of them are committed to change. All of them perform at least 12 hours of community service a month, and most many more than that, closer to 30.Some are in the process of reuniting with children or reestablishing relationships with other loved ones that became broken during months or years of poor decisions.

Quinn Cottages is located on North A Street, just off of 16th Street. Next door, is a shelter program, one of several run by Volunteers of America. Also helping their clients to remain clean, sober, and committed to the positive choices they are making while waiting for more permanent accommodation.

Homeless people not in programs tend to congregate outside on the street anyway. They hang off the curbs, discouraging people from parking. They smoke dope--I know this because when I walk to my car I can smell it—well, I think so, anyway; I’m told it smells like oregano-- they talk trash, and they leave trash.

They throw running shoes up over the power lines to signal the availability of drugs for sale.

Eventually, law enforcement will manage to get them to disperse and things will start to look decent and safe again (although the shoes stay, and I don’t know what the ramifications for actual business practice are).

And then, within a few days or a week—a month at most--cars and vanloads of good Samaritans pull up with food to lure even more of them back to our block.

Yes, Them.

Those people.

It has, at this point, become a game of Them and Us.

I am not a hater of homeless people. I have said before that not only have I spent years hanging out and working with homeless people, but that they are not a category unto themselves: the only thing a lot of homeless people have in common is being designated homeless by the county or not sleeping in a societally sanctioned home.
I’m okay with homeless people. I have a problem with riff raff.

I’m okay with teenagers who like gangster rap. I have a problem with gangsters.

I am not a hater of people who feed homeless people, although I used to cringe at the use of the word “feed” until I saw the frenzied events of which I speak, and it resembles nothing so much as that.

I take issue with the lack of forethought and sensitivity with which these forays into charity work are conducted.

The people who stay at Quinn Cottages and Volunteers of America have made a choice, an often difficult and life-wrenching choice.

Depending on their personal circumstance—shelter v. Transitional Housing—they may have years, months, weeks or minutes of clean time. It might still be taunting them with future failure.

And what do we ask them to do?

Walk a gauntlet.

A gauntlet of syringes, and smoke and sneakers overhead 24/7.

I hear a whisper. A little defiant whisper saying something about “real life.”

But this isn’t real life; this is Early Recovery—from something that sucks, whatever that something was—and it’s hard enough without being tested on the way to your own front door every day. It’s especially challenging for those who weren’t at all sure they’d ever have—or deserve to have—a front door again.

There are people over the past few years who have put forth plans that seemed basically to want to make the homeless vanish, or at least, speculate that if they continued to spin the plans long enough and fast enough, they would run off or be sent somewhere and the problem of unattractive people schlepping about the streets would right itself.

The homeless people are in Roseville and Elk Grove. When enough turn up in Granite Bay and (I know, I know!) Rocklin, and someone petitions for a shelter, that might be the first strong mayoral candidate to succeed in this area—and you go Placer County; just don’t be haters!

But I digress.

I am beginning, as I always suggest people do, with my little corner of the world. I am not proposing that groups stop catering meals for the people on the street. I am not imagining that people will stop smoking or selling drugs or throwing garbage on the streets.

Just our street.

Three blocks down, Loaves & Fishes provides an amazing array of services for homeless and low-income individuals during the week. They are openly non-discriminating about the level of sobriety of their patrons. Organizations could set up there on the weekends when L&F is closed. Or, on weekdays nearby, where the behavior has been deemed unofficially acceptable.

From my perspective, it would also be great if the organizations communicated, so that they didn’t all show up at once, since people can only gorge themselves on so much food and carry so many provisions at one time.

This brings me to my second subtle suggestion: spread the love and joy throughout the year.

I will give you a very different example.

I have worked in two different programs where families are adopted for Christmas, and sometimes for Thanksgiving, as well.

Thanksgiving typically involves donation of the ingredients for a traditional meal, maybe the necessary tools if the kitchen isn’t well stocked. The family drops off bags of food, introduces themselves, asks some questions about the sizes and interested of family members, and says they‘ll see the family around Christmas.

Christmas can be a very different story. Christmas can be crazy.

Think about buying your child that gift you really can’t afford because you know you haven’t been around as much as you wanted to be this past year, and you feel really bad about it, so you want him to be able to have something really cool, because it’s the thing you can do.

Now take your child out and substitute a homeless boy or girl—or five.

Now follow the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be. You’re that child’s mom. You finally have your three years of sobriety/stable mental health. Your kids are working with you again. You have a job and you’re not getting government money anymore. For the first time you’ll be able to pay for your own Christmas! You don’t have credit, because that’s part of what got you in trouble in the first place, but you have cash saved all year just for this purpose.

But as you gather your purchases, the purchases your started out so proud of, you begin to hear their voices…This is the ghetto version, Mom! I asked for the other one, not this one! Is that all? Rather than give a child a Christmas once a year that a family will never be able to match once they're on their own, why not spread your time throughout the year with a family, modeling parenting skills, budgeting, talking about the other meaning in a holiday that doesn't revolve around expensive goods. Instead of throwing all of your money at Thanksgiving, endow or facilitate a monthly or weekly group that a program could otherwise not afford.

Find a program that means something to you, and ask them what they really need. Seriously. A Horton Hears a Who moment: Not only will they appreciate your generocity, but they will take note of and appreciate your empathy--I guarantee it.

Those of us, who work in mental health, recovery, and social services, do appreciate volunteers, and people who give service.

As long as it is a service.

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own." ~Benjamin Disraeli

"You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence is not an event -- it is a habit."

-- Aristotle

More about how you can support the agencies mentioned is available at:

Cottage Housing www.cottagehousing.org

Loaves & Fishes www.sacloaves.org

Volunteers of America www.voa-sac.org

Ask Officer Michelle - Police Arrest Two in Connection with Beating a Mentally Challanged Woman

2011-11-20T22:26:31Z

Posted by ron_lopez2011

Please extend my personal thanks to the officers involved in the arrest of Rasaan Zawadi. I hope you get his accomplices too. That story just bugged me to the core; thank you for what you guys do.

Dear ron_lopez2011,

Thank you Ron! For those of you who aren’t familiar with Rasaan Zawadi, he was one of two bullies who were shown in a viral video taunting and punching a handicapped woman in front of a South Sacramento store. Zawadi was seen harassing and punching the female victim several times. Another suspect, 19-year-old Donnell Wade, who was seen punching the female in the face and knocking her out, was also arrested for the crime.

According to a recent press release, “We received calls from throughout the country inquiring about the investigation. Detectives assigned to the case discovered that patrol officers had responded to an assault call on October 1, 2011, at approximately 12:11 p.m., near Center Parkway and Mack Road. The officers arrived, finding that the suspects had fled the scene and the victim, a 42-year-old female, did not wish for prosecution at that time.”

On November 12, 2011 police were called to the area of Omaha Court and Seyferth Way in South Sacramento regarding a weapons call. Upon arrival Donnell Wade began to run from police. He was taken into custody without incident for his involvement in the attack. The weapons call was not related to Donnell.

The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this suspect to contact Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357) or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.”

City retrofits parking garages, saves $1.1 million

2011-11-19T01:09:31Z

Sacramento is currently replacing lighting in parking garages that will save an estimated $1.1 million over 11 years with no out-of-pocket expenses to the city.

Older, less-efficient fluorescent lighting is currently being replaced by LED lighting, which will cut the energy usage by more than 50 percent, and five of the city’s eight parking garages finished being upgraded about two weeks ago, according to city officials. The other three will be completed in February.

The five completed ones are Capitol Garage (10th and L streets), Downtown Plaza West Garage (Third and L streets), Downtown Plaza Central Garage (Fifth and J streets), City Hall Garage (10th and I streets) and Tower Bridge Garage (Front Street and Capitol Mall).

Max Lofing, of Lofings Lighting on J Street told The Sacramento Press that the city’s move to retrofit parking garage lighting has numerous benefits.

“Not only are they saving on energy costs, but they are also saving on maintenance costs for replacing them when they burn out, since the LEDs last about twice as long as the fluorescents,” he said. “Also, there’s no mercury in LEDs, which is a concern with fluorescent tubes when they are disposed of.”

Lofing, whose company is contracting for the work, said the LEDs also provide better lighting.

“A lot of people think of LEDs as sort of the dim ones that didn’t work really well when they first came out,” he said. “There’s a huge difference in LEDs, depending on which ones you get, and the modern ones do a great job.”

That lighting has added benefits when it comes to safety, according to Sacramento Police Department spokesman Sgt. Andrew Pettit.

“Poor lighting is one of the things that we look at when we see if there’s anything that could be changed when it comes to preventing crime,” he said. “If somebody has poor lighting, that often leads to criminal activity, so I can imagine if lighting was good in a parking garage, then it could serve as a deterrent to crime.”

The cost to retrofit the garages was $1.3 million, and that cost was covered in its entirety, with no out-of-pocket expense to the city, according to a Department of Transportation press release.

Incentives from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District covered $181,000 of the cost, $289,000 came from a rebate from the Energy Technology Assistance Program – administered by the state, and the rest was covered by a federal grant.

City Councilman Steve Cohn, who last year retired as the No. 2 attorney for SMUD, said upgrading to LEDs makes economic sense if they will be in place for a number of years.

“They last longer and use a lot less energy,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense for a renter who is going to leave in six months because of the up-front costs, but for something like the parking garages or people who own their homes, it saves a lot of money.”

He added that the city switched to LEDs in traffic signals several years ago, which cuts on costs but was mainly for safety, given that LEDs show up better in adverse weather conditions than traditional light bulbs.

The current phase of renovation replaces 1,700 fixtures in five parking garages and the city will realize the return on investment in five years, according to a press release, which also estimates that the reduction in energy use is equivalent to planting more than 250,000 carbon-absorbing trees.

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

A Sign in the Window

2011-11-17T06:54:34Z

One walks down 16th Street on the “grid” in Sacramento and comes across two large and empty buildings at the corners of L and K streets. Both once newly operating restaurants in this energetic area have since closed their doors.

The buildings, a common sight for many pedestrians and grid commuters like me, are prominent icons within the mid and downtown areas of Sacramento. The old Firestone building at 16th and K streets with its art deco details and sidewalk-fixed spot lights stands lonesome among the moving traffic and thriving businesses in the suites next door. The contemporary O Street Lofts, built back in 2005, beg for a tenant in their corner, first-floor suite with a wrap-around patio. If they stay vacant what will happen to the positive image that many want in the revitalization of Sacramento?

In mid-2011, after only being open for just a couple of years, California Pizza Kitchen closed its doors, despite an advantageous location within Midtown, due to corporate acquisition and forced closure of many locations. Just a few months later its neighbor, Spin Burger Bar, a concept of the well-known Bistro 33 name, a block away, foundered as well.

With a rough economy and deep recession many restaurants, both corporate and “mom and pop,” saw a huge hit to business in the last couple of years and struggled to stay afloat. It looks like when one door closes another opens in its place, in the case of these two locations, despite the hardships. According to the alcoholic beverage permit transfers posted on their windows, we have new tenants moving in.

A joint-venture between the men behind, de’ Vere’s Irish Pub and MIX Downtown Lounge will be opening at the former C.P.K location at 1132 16th St. Firestone Public House, a sports-themed bar with a full-dining menu boasting American cuisine is scheduled to open early next year.

Along with that will come the new occupant at 1020 16th St., Monsoon Indian Bar and Grill. A joint-venture with building owner, Loftworks and the original, Toronto-based restaurant company. It boasts a budget-friendly lunches and dinners for the growing, Indian-food concepts that don’t have a strong hold in our market as of yet. Eager for holiday sales, it is scheduled to open its doors before the end of the year.

The essence of big city atmosphere, the place you go to make a name for yourself. A place where all it takes is a sign in a window to get people talking. Let’s see how these new ventures prosper within Sacramento’s hustle and bustle.

Disclosure: Employee at another local downtown restaurant and local resident. No connection to either new restaurant opening.

Ruhstaller beer makes Sacramento comeback

2011-11-16T05:49:27Z

A Sacramento entrepreneur is looking to bridge past and present with the resurrection of one of Sacramento’s most-recognized names in beer: Ruhstaller.

J-E Paino, a native San Franciscan who grew up in Houston before moving to Davis for college, settled on the idea of marketing new, California-grown and brewed beer under the classic Ruhstaller name about two years ago, and he officially launched the product Tuesday night at Mulvaney’s B&L, 1215 19th St.

“As I researched Sacramento’s brewing history, the guy that kept coming up over and over again was Ruhstaller,” Paino said Monday.

Frank Ruhstaller left Switzerland for the United States in the mid-1800s, and he made his way to Sacramento, setting up his brewery in the old City Brewery in 1881, Paino said. Shortly after, he became a partner in the Buffalo Brewery.

William Burg, a member of the Sacramento Heritage Board of Directors and other local historical societies, said the Buffalo Brewery was a virtual “Who’s Who” of prominent Sacramento brewers.

“Ruhstaller’s son took over his business and may have run (the Buffalo Brewery) for a while,” Burg said. He added that Ruhstaller was adept at marketing – producing numerous novelty items, plates, mugs and other beer-related merchandise that remain highly collectible today.

Paino said Sacramento was a natural site for brewing around the turn of the century, with hops growing from the area of Campus Commons out to Sloughouse, and the rivers provided ready access to ship all over the region as well as Asia.

Under Paino’s ownership, Ruhstaller is produced in two varieties – the Ruhstaller 1881 and Hop Sac ’11.

“The 1881 is a California red ale,” Paino said, explaining that all the hops are grown in California near the Oregon border. Without any malting houses in California, the undried hops are shipped to Vancouver, Wash., malted, and returned to Sacramento for brewing.

According to Paino, using the hops without drying them gives the beer a unique flavor. Much like wine, in which the drinker can taste the variation in each vintage based on weather conditions, soil and a number of other factors, the 1881 ale gets a unique flavor from California.

The Hop Sac ’11 is an orange-colored ale also made with California hops. Paino said the name is an homage to Sacramento’s history of harvesting hops, which were placed in burlap sacks.

The recipes are not the same as the originals, Paino said, since the original recipes were far different from what is popular today.

Paino said he has been producing the beer for about four months, and he has had to brew it at local breweries – including Hoppy Brewing Co. – when they have space, as he does not yet have a commercial facility.

Patrick Mulvaney, owner of Mulvaney’s B&L restaurant, said Ruhstaller beers have been the most-asked-for brews he carries at the restaurant.

The beers, so far only available on tap, can be found at several local eateries. For a complete list, click here.

Tyler Zurcher, a 31-year-old Sacramento filmmaker, said he was well aware of the Ruhstaller name, having studied Sacramento’s brewing history.

“J-E said he was going to bring back Ruhstaller, and I said, ‘Great, can I try it?’ and it was really good,” Zurcher said. “It’s a unique name that these guys brought back, and I think it’s awesome that they’re doing that.”

Burg said that, from a historian’s standpoint, he is happy to see more interest in an era of Sacramento history that is often overlooked.

“There were 17 or so breweries within the grid, total, before Prohibition,” he said. “People are realizing our history is marketable. For a long time, people assumed no one would have any interest after the Gold Rush and the Transcontinental Railroad, but there is a rich industrial history here.”

Rob Robertson, a 35-year-old software developer from Sacramento, said he isn’t familiar with the history, but he found it interesting after reading a little bit about it on the Ruhstaller website.

“So far, this beer has been at really all the premium places, and it’s really tasty and hoppy,” he said. “It’s hoppalicious.”

Paino said he is happy with the popularity of the beer, with demand outpacing supply. He plans to begin offering the beer in a bottle, possibly in 2012, in addition to kegs.

“When Ruhstaller came to Sacramento, it was a place where you didn’t need to be someone to become someone,” Paino said. “And that’s something that hasn’t changed.”

For more information about Sacramento’s brewing history, Paino and Burg said Ed Carroll’s book, “Sacramento’s Breweries” is a good read.

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

Hundreds gather to celebrate cars returning to K Street

2011-11-14T06:54:21Z

On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of people came to support and honor the decision for cars to return to K Street after 42 years. People rallied behind the development and celebrated the change at the Cars on K opening event. Guests seemed to be in consensus that cars returning to K Street was cause for celebration.

“K Street is the spine of downtown,” Mayor Kevin Johnson said. “By opening it up, we start to get connected again.”

It was all smiles as the first inaugural drive down K Street took place.Over 40 old and new cars paraded down the street while bystanders clapped and cheered as red, white and blue confetti rained down from the tops of surrounding buildings.

“I can remember when cars were on K when I was a little girl. I am happy that they are back,” said Virginia Steele. “After the cars weren’t allowed on K Street, less and less people came and visited. I am glad that we are moving forward again.”

James Brown’s “I Feel Good” blasted through the streets while old and new Chevrolet trucks, Mustangs, Lamborghinis, Camaros and other show cars revved their engines and drove down K Street for the first time.

Johnson rode passenger in a red Ferrari resembling the one from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Families strolled down the street as music and applause filled the surrounding blocks with celebratory noise.

“The vision is to reconnect K Street to the rest of the grid,” said Lisa Martinez, Downtown Sacramento Partnership marketing and outreach director. “This is forward momentum and is a positive step in the right direction for both businesses and the city.”

Families, business owners, politicians and visitors of all ages surrounded the stage at 12th and K streets while Johnson and other local dignitaries spoke about the importance of cars returning to K Street.

With throwback prices, restaurant specials and retail deals at nearly every business on K Street, people flowed in and out of the buildings as if discovering them again for the first time.

“Ideally, I hope that the whole block can be a vibrant walk for someone that wants to experience Sacramento,” said Ernesto Delgado de Tequila, owner of Tequila Museo Mayahuel at 1200 K St. “It connects Old Sacramento to the Convention Center to the Capitol, and we are working to bring some positive energy to this section of town.”

Street performances by a mariachi group, the Sizzling Sirens Burlesque Experience dance troupe, DJ 7evin and many others kept the energy high and the excitement flowing throughout the evening.

“By reopening K Street to cars, there will be a surge of energy in regards to safety and economic growth,” said Maurice Chaney, Economic Development Department’s media and communications specialist.

Performers walked on stilts along K Street as cars continued to circulate. A skate park between Capitol and K streets attracted crowds as skaters of all ages took turns showing off their tricks.

Many guests walked with smart phones in-hand as they participated in a K Street scavenger hunt with prizes that included $100 gift card to Chops, tickets to events like Marilyn’s on K New Year’s Eve Party and a hotel night at the Residence Inn at Capitol Park, Citizen Hotel and the Hyatt Regency .

The Cars on K event was a celebration that honored and marked cars returning to K Street as an important day in the history of Sacramento. K Street is now open to vehicles. Enjoy the ride.

Editorial Note: A spelling correction has been made to this story after it was published.

Local blog tracks restaurants, happy hours

2011-11-11T19:23:33Z

When Darrel Ng moved to Sacramento from San Francisco in 2003, he made it a point to learn where the best happy hour deals were, and as he took more and more interest in the local restaurant scene, he decided to share his findings, launching the blog Cowtown Eats in 2009.

“I used to work at the Capitol, and we were always asking each other who had the best happy hours,” Ng said. “Most of us were from out of town, and it was frustrating trying to find the best value.”

Now a public relations professional for the health industry, Ng said his blog isn’t so much a source of income as a passion for the local dining scene, but he did say it helps fund his happy hour research trips.

Cowtown Eats, which now has about 35,000 page views per month and close to 8,000 unique visitors, has continually updated information about the local restaurant scene, be it Ng’s original writing, posting of daily deal coupons for restaurants or links to stories covered by various local media outlets.

“I post twice a day, and I spend about 45 minutes each night working on those, then I just schedule them for the next day,” Ng said.

As for the name, Ng said he wanted to take the traditionally negative connotation of Sacramento as a “cow town” and turn it into something positive.

One 23-year-old Sacramentan, Chris Odneal, took a path similar to Ng’s, moving to Sacramento from the Bay Area about a year ago to work in the Capitol.

“Most of us move up here from all over the state, and we were looking for places to go,” Odneal said. “Someone suggested Cowtown Eats to me, and we found it to be one of the most useful spots for compiling where all the happy hours are in Sacramento.”

Odneal said he uses it to find happy hours with good value when it comes time to celebrate birthdays or other events.

“It’s a great tool for folks moving into Sacramento and trying to figure out where the best places are,” he said. “You can click on a day of the week and find the best deals out there.”

Ng said he thinks the success of his blog – which lists between 100 and 150 happy hours – is due to the level of detail he provides.

“Some other blogs might have numbers, like they say a certain place carries domestic drafts for $2, but I say exactly which beers they have,” Ng said. “They might do it as a business, but I have a real passion for it, and I think that comes through.”

He added that he focuses on value. While a $2 happy hour deal might sound good, sometimes the food isn’t necessarily worth it, and maybe a $30 meal special at a place that’s traditionally more expensive is a much higher value for the dollar.

Reviewing restaurants is something he does rarely.

“Not everyone has the same palate, and besides, food review sites are a dime a dozen,” Ng said. “If I find something amazing, I’ll post about it, like maybe a seasonal burger at the Mini Burger Truck or something.”

Ng said he learns about new events in a variety of ways, be it simply walking around the city, talking to restaurant owners and workers, or, in some cases, hearing directly from restaurants themselves.

“Some of the ones with more sophisticated marketing teams send me emails when they have something new,” Ng said.

One of those is the Paragary Restaurant Group.

“I think he has a really good readership of kind of that foodie community,” said Callista Wengler, marketing director for the Paragary Restaurant Group. “For us, that’s the ultimate in terms of customers, because if you can get the foodies, there’s a whole network you want to reach out to.”

In addition to sharing ideas with Ng on a professional level, Wengler said she frequently reads Cowtown Eats when she’s looking for something new, as well as to learn about other restaurants.

In the future, Ng said, he plans to create a more permanent logo and updated design for the blog, but he has no specific timeframe for that.

“I’m still kind of surprised so many people read it,” he said with a laugh. “I never knew it would grow like it did, but I’m really enjoying it.”

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

French pastry shop coming to K Street downtown

2011-11-11T01:20:54Z

French desserts will once again be available at the corner of Ninth and K streets downtown as the owner of a popular East Sacramento cupcake shop plans to open Estelle’s Patisserie on Dec. 1 in the building that formerly housed Danielle’s Creperie.

“This has been my lifelong passion,” said owner Esther Son. “I’ve always dreamed of owning a bakery, ever since I was a little girl.”

Though not traditionally trained as a baker, Son said she considers herself self-taught, and she has extensive experience in coming up with recipes and tweaking them until they’re perfect.

Her cupcake shop, Esther’s Cupcakes, has been in business at 2600 Fair Oaks Blvd. for two years.

“We were always coming downtown because we had a lot of clients at the Capitol,” she said. “The politicians and the lobbyists would bring in our cupcakes for gifts at fundraisers, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used to order from us.”

The pastry shop, however, will have a much broader set of goods. Some of the menu items include French macarons, croissants, green tea madeleines, fresh strawberry cakes, puff pastries, French baguettes and even sandwiches such as ham and cheese on a croissant.

Fruit tarts and quiches loaded with vegetables will also be available, and coffee from Temple Coffee will be sold.

Most desserts will be in the $3-$4 range, and Son said customers will be able to get lunch and a drink for about $8.

Though Son is Korean-American, she said she chose to focus on French desserts, starting at the roots, and then modifying them with Asian and American influences.

“The root of all dessert and pastry making is French,” Son said. “Not that American, Asian or Italian styles aren’t as good, but I wanted to go back to the roots and then improvise.”

The name Estelle, she said, is the French version of Esther, so it was a natural choice.

A self-described perfectionist, Son said she and her staff – the patisserie will employ about 10 workers – spent six months perfecting the croissant.

“We boast of our butter croissants,” she said. “We don’t buy pre-mixed or frozen croissants. It’s 100 percent homemade, and there are not many of those in town. It’s really flaky and buttery.”

With a husband who is a physician, Son said that even though her business has a variety of desserts, being health-conscious is still important.

“We need to educate people on what good dessert is,” she said. “Some people are used to Twinkies, and they are so unnaturally sweet and oily, but a dessert doesn’t have to be overwhelming.”

To get away from processed foods and make even a buttery croissant more healthy than the alternative, Son said she focuses on using high-quality ingredients bought from local sources whenever possible.

“We avoid shortening and corn syrup,” she said. “It’s hard to say dessert is healthy, but you can work on it by reducing those kinds of ingredients.”

Also available will be diabetic-friendly and vegan items. There will also be “almost-gluten-free” items, and Son explained that to legally call something gluten-free, it must be produced on separate equipment, which is something she isn’t set up to do.

One of the clients of her other business, Esther’s Cupcakes, is the J. Crew store in Arden Fair Mall.

“We use Esther for her cupcakes for special events for our store clients,” said Manager Sophie Pena. “Her cupcakes are a special, unique treat. They look amazing; they taste amazing. You just look at them, and you can tell they’re hers.”

Pena said she is looking forward to going down to the patisserie and trying Son’s other baked goods once it opens.

The building, at 901 K St., was formerly Danielle’s Creperie. At 3,000 square feet, it has a seating area of about 1,000 square feet that can hold 25-30 people. A few more tables will be put on the fenced-in patio that fronts K Street.

K Street will open to vehicular traffic for the first time since the 1960s on Saturday, and Son said that was one of the reasons she chose to open a downtown location.

“I’m really excited to see the city and urban life turn around, and I want to be a part of this,” she said. “If I can make a little change to the downtown lifestyle, I’ll be so honored.”

That sentiment, according to Downtown Sacramento Partnership Business Recruitment Director Valerie Mamone-Werder, is key to turning around the blighted K Street area that has seen improvement over the past year with the opening of numerous new businesses, including Tequila Museo Myahuel and the nightlife trio of Pizza Rock, District 30 and Dive Bar.

“I think that getting these tenants, these merchants and retailers that really get downtown is refreshing,” she said. “We have a lot of naysayers, but we have people who see downtown for what it is and can be, and she sees what we do have, and what’s coming.”

Having lived in Sacramento for the past 10 years, Son, 34, said she plans to raise her two children, ages 5 and 6, in the area.

Also scheduled for late winter and early spring openings are another cupcake shop in the Westfield Galleria at Roseville Mall and another Estelle’s Patisserie in the Arden area.

“I’m not here to come in and then go out of business in five years,” Son said. “I plan on being here for the long haul.”

Estelle’s Patisserie, 901 K St., will initially be open from 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. on weekdays. If business warrants, Son said, she will stay open on weekends.

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

Capitol Mall design competition winners announced

2011-11-10T07:35:37Z

A pair of landscape architects, including a Sacramento native, took home first place in the Catalyst Capitol Mall Design Competition with a vision of turning the corridor from Tower Bridge to the Capitol into a reborn urban forest.

The competition was put on by the city of Sacramento, the American Institute of Architects and other local organizations, including the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, to help gather ideas to transform Capitol Mall after the state handed it over to city control in 2006.

The winners were announced at an awards ceremony Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo building at 400 Capitol Mall. First place received a $20,000 prize, second place received $10,000 and third place received $5,000.

“We wanted to look at this ecologically,” said Kimberly Garza, who along with Andrew ten Brink submitted the winning design, called Sacramento's Capitol Canopy. “We looked at the current state of the urban canopy, and many of these trees are reaching the end of their lifespans. There needs to be a system to address that, but in a smart way that unfolds across the city.”

Garza grew up in Sacramento, attending high school in Natomas before graduating with a degree in landscape architecture from UC Berkeley. She then went on to Harvard, where she met ten Brink. She currently works in Somerville, Mass., and ten Brink works in New York.

“I was very familiar with the city of Sacramento, and that was what first excited me about the project,” Garza said. “Our project challenges the traditional tree mall design that you typically see.”

Three different plant cultures are envisioned in the design: a pine forest, oak woodlands and a riparian section up against the river.

The design includes a demonstration area with WiFi around the front of the Capitol, a family-friendly gathering area closer to the river with interactive features for kids and a riverfront promenade.

As Capitol Mall nears the Crocker Art Museum, the design includes a sculpture park, and near Interstate 5, a small amphitheater.

“We stayed away from an infrastructure overhaul, and even though there are lots of trees, we made sure to keep the visual corridor from the bridge to the Capitol,” Garza said.

The second-place winner was a four-person team from San Francisco, which submitted a design called River City Promenade.

Geoffrey Barton, an architectural designer on the team, said they took advantage of many of the existing structures and looked to increase transit connectivity, including bicycle lanes and adding a bicycle trail.

To view the winning designs, including the third-place prize and four honorable mention prizes, click here.

One of the honorable mention winners, Sam Wolfgram, received extra recognition by winning the public vote with more than half of the 300 votes submitted through the Catalyst website. His design is called Connect + Preserve.

Wolfgram moved to Sacramento about three years ago from Savannah, Ga., and he said the similarity in the two cities’ grid systems inspired him to bring more bicycle connectivity to the Capitol Mall area.

“I’m also an avid music-goer, and that’s kind of my favorite thing to do in Midtown,” he said. “I designed this map on the front page of my proposal that could be like a music or arts festival map.”

Wolfgram said his design would allow Sacramento to host a decent-sized music festival.

He said he would also add parallel parking to Capitol Mall, which would encourage people to park in front of businesses as well as give it a feel consistent with other areas in the city.

City Councilman Steve Cohn, long a proponent of revamping Capitol Mall, said Wednesday that he was happy that more than 40 professional submissions came in from all over the world.

“This is our signature street,” he said. “It’s probably the most famous street in Sacramento, it’s got the best views on either end with the Capitol and Tower Bridge, and yet any given day, there’s hardly anyone out on the street ... It’s a space that could be so much more.”

Cohn added that bridges across Interstate 5 are currently in the early stages, and that will help connect Old Sacramento – where most tourists go – to other parts of the city via Capitol Mall.

He also said streetcars will eventually be built and will help increase transportation efficiency around Capitol Mall, though not directly on it.

Kris Barkley, competition adviser to the city on behalf of the American Institute of Architects, said that having ideas before gathering the money to finance them is the key, and the Catalyst Capitol Mall Design Competition is the first step in what will eventually be a totally redone corridor that historically served as the gateway to the city.

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

Man on the street: What is your favorite building in Sacramento?

2011-11-10T06:40:22Z

Sacramento is home to many interesting buildings, from the Capitol to the elaborate Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. On Wednesday, The Sacramento Press asked professional architects along with people on the streets what their favorite building is in Sacramento.

Twenty-five-year-old state worker Megan Samuelson said that her favorite building in Sacramento is the Park Tower, located at 980 Ninth St.

“I think it’s clean and simple,” she said.

Samuelson said that she likes how the building is right across from Cesar Chavez Plaza.

“Driving on I-5 south coming into Sacramento, you can see it in the distance,” she said. She added that she thought it is representative of Sacramento’s character.

Local architect Craig Stradley, 51, is an architect for Mogavero Notestine Associates, an architecture firm based in Sacramento. He said that his favorite building in Sacramento is the Memorial Auditorium on J Street.

“I like the fact that it’s kind of a historical gathering spot for the city,” Stradley said.

He said that the building’s strong civic presence and historical importance to Sacramento make it a great piece of Sacramento architecture.

“It reminds you a little bit about the humble beginnings of Sacramento, when that was all we had, when the Memorial Auditorium was the main place that everybody collected,” he said.

Twenty-six-year-old Starbucks employee Elaina Cordova said her favorite building is the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament located on 11th Street between J and K streets.

Cordova, a resident of Midtown, said that she likes the building because of its age and historical relevance.

“It’s overwhelming because it’s so big and exquisite,” she said. “I like it because it’s so spacious.”

Cordova said that while the Cathedral is her favorite, she hopes to explore Sacramento’s architecture more to gain a better understanding of it.

Bruce Monighan, a 62-year-old architect who works at Monighandesign, said his favorite building in Sacramento is the Robert T. Matsui Federal Courthouse on 501 I Street.

“For a very large building, its sense of detail, and articulation is just amazing,” he said.

Monighan said that he thinks the courthouse will be one of the buildings that society will be proud of for the next 100 years, adding that it “responds really well to its physical environment relative to the sun and shade.”

Monighan said he thinks the building shows great civic character as well.

Mike Longstreet, a personal technician for the city of Sacramento, said his favorite building is the Renaissance Tower, at 801 K St., ~~Sacramento Public Library, on 828 I St.~~ , which he described as “the Darth Vader Building.”

“It has an odd top to it,” the 35-year-old said. “It’s unlike any building I’ve ever seen.”

Longstreet said that he is always amused by it when he walks by.

Andrea Kincaid, a 57-year-old architect with Acanthus, said her favorite building is the Elks Tower at 921 11th St.

“It has a bottom, a middle, and a top, which many newer buildings don’t have.”

She also said that the building’s gracious entrance makes it stand out as one of Sacramento’s best-looking buildings.

Stephanie Bobolis, a 56-year-old state worker from Roseville, said her favorite building in Sacramento is the Capitol.

“It’s magnificent,” she said, adding that she loves the building’s majesty and the democracy that it represents.

Bobolis said that one the of the best parts of the building is not the building itself, but the extravagant park that surrounds it.

“The incredible variety of trees create great beauty,” she said.

Fifty-six-year-old self-employed architect Mark Rusconi said his favorite building is The Weatherstone Building at 812 21st Street.

“It’s a classic brick structure that has been modified very slightly with wonderful colors and that great courtyard,” he said.

Rusconi said that the building has a wonderful neighborhood feel to it, which is important considering the building’s location in the northern residential side of Midtown.

“It fits right in,” he said.

Micheline Wilcoxen, a 45-year-old information technology manager who lives downtown, said her favorite building is the Capitol.

Wilcoxen said that she loves the building’s symbolism as it relates to democratic ideals.

“It’s a place where things are supposed to happen,” she said.

Nick Docous, a 53-year-old architect with the firm Lionokas, said that his favorite building is the original Lincoln Plaza building on the corner of Q and Fifth streets.

“It integrates the natural environment into its building,” he said, referring to the plants that hang down from the building’s sides and the trees that grow on top of it.

“It integrated foliage into its design well before people even thought about doing that,” he added.

What’s your favorite building in Sacramento? Answer in the comments below.

Editorial Note: Corrections have been made to this article after it was published.

Ask Officer Michelle - Reporting Suspicious Subjects

2011-11-06T17:11:12Z

Posted by ted bas

Greetings! I enjoy reading these archive articles. Thanks.
In my neighborhood, I suspect 3 individual who are, I believe, are in constant plans to rob empty home. One of them daily eye on certain vehicles which would have left their residence. I believes he communicates this to his partner and then determines who else is left behind on a house they plan to steal from. Yesterday I went out to the area where he usually observes. when he saw me, we walked away like guilty for some reason. Today, he is out there but in a more secluded area, eyeing or in a look out for some vehicle while he talks to his friend in the cell phone. Need your advice. I am willing to help to prevent any crime. Thank you for your help. Incidentally, I usually call the non emergency number, however, this may be trivial. Thanks.

Dear ted bas,

What you should do is call the police department and report a suspicious subject. Be ready to describe the subjects to the dispatcher from head to toe, (ie., height, weight, race, hair color/style, clothing description, etc). If there is a vehicle involved, be ready to describe the car as well. It would be optimum if you had a license plate, but try to get it without putting yourself in any kind of danger.

If there has been an increase of home burglaries in your neighborhood lately, let the dispatcher know that as well. You are probably right. These subjects are doing what we call “casing.” They’re looking for opportunities to victimize people. By calling us, you may be preventing a crime-in-progress. You are to be commended for being such an astute neighbor. If you don’t already have an established Neighborhood Watch group, I would suggest that you start one. There is information on our website at www.sacpd.org on how to establish a Neighborhood Watch.

Officer Michelle

Alleyways of Sacramento receive names, part four

2011-11-05T04:31:15Z

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, The Sacramento Press profiled the alleys in the central city that were formally named on Oct. 11 by an ordinance approved by the City Council. Below is the final installment of the new alley names.

Rice Alley

Curt Pow, the 36-year-old owner of Elixir Bar and Grill, has his business situated on the corner of Rice Alley and 10th Street.

“I’m okay with Rice Alley,” he said, adding that the Asian theme fits into much of the area’s culture.

While Pow said that he believes the names won’t directly help his business, he doesn’t think they will hurt it, either.

“What our area needs right now is retail business,” he said. “The city should allocate more effort for helping businesses rather than naming the alleys.”

Solons Alley

Jeff Standley, a 28-year-old sales associate at the Constantly Growing speciality hydroponic shop located along Solons Alley, said that the naming may help out with bringing more foot traffic into the alleys and then into the stores.

“Generally, people are looking for a main street,” he said. “If you can designate (the alleys) a little better, I assume it will be better for directions.”

Standley said that a name like “Sutter’s Alley” would have been more recognizable and memorable to local residents and that maybe the city should have named it that instead of Solons.

Tomato Alley

Uptown Alley

Dana Nolan, 56, was walking through her neighborhood on the south side of downtown Sacramento near Uptown Alley. She said she wondered why they named the alley “Uptown” since it is so far south.

She added that the names should have been more historically relevant.

“I think it would sort of get a sense of the neighborhood character,” she said. "I can go over to the cemetery and pick seven names just off the top of my head.”

Nolan also said that it adds too many names to a city that has streets with more than one name, like Capitol Avenue and Power Inn Road.

“It’s bad enough that you have to remember that there are three names for M Street,” she said, referring to Capitol Avenue, which becomes Folsom Boulevard.

Victorian Alley

Victoria Grant, 32, and her husband, George, 31, live along Victorian Alley. Victoria Grant is a nurse, and George Grant is in the military on active duty.

Victoria Grant said that naming the alleys would make it easier for people to identify where they are.

But George Grant said that he was less than enthusiastic about the naming.

“It’s just an alley,” he said.

Victoria Grant said that she liked that her name was very similar to the alley’s.

What do you think of the city's names for the alleys? Leave your thoughts in the conversation below.

John G. Hernandez contributed to this story.

Gourmet seafood restaurant coming to downtown Sacramento

2011-11-05T02:01:20Z

Two historical downtown buildings are being refurbished, and they will soon house Blackbird Kitchen & Bar, a seafood restaurant that owner Carina Lampkin said will serve “gourmet food at hipster prices” and is expected to open in December.

The approximately 3,500-square-foot building was formerly two separate buildings, 1013 and 1015 Ninth St., and both date back to the 1930s.

“Blackbird is a compilation of all of my experience so far,” said the 30-year-old Lampkin. “I grew up on the East Coast and spent every summer in Maine. In 2003, I moved to San Francisco and went to culinary school.”

After spending almost a decade cooking at restaurants in San Francisco, Lampkin made the move to Sacramento and partnered with Rachel Kelley, a 27-year-old pastry chef who spent the past four years working at Ella, and Shayne “7evin” Iles, a graphic designer, marketer and DJ who will be the general manager.

While Lampkin isn’t sharing too many details of what the menu will hold, she said the restaurant will feature a variety of fish, including salmon, cod, halibut and mahi-mahi. She said she also loves working with dungeness crab and lobster.

Both Lampkin and Kelley will work in the kitchen, along with other local talent they have recruited.

Oysters – both raw and cooked – will also be on the menu, and non-seafood items such as steak, chicken and pork will be available.

“Our kitchen is basically the same size as our dining room,” Lampkin said. “We have a lot of space to make a lot of different types of food.”

Before Blackbird, the space housed a Thai restaurant.

When it comes to dessert creations, Kelley said she will be using fresh, seasonal ingredients, and her double-chocolate ice cream is one of her favorite dishes.

Prices have not been set, but Lampkin said she wants to provide excellent, affordable food.

“None of us is looking to get rich off of this,” she said. “We know times are hard, and if we break even on our high-cost items like fish, I’ll be happy.”

The owners said they are happy to be in historical buildings.

“The building on the left was Skagg’s Cash Store, the predecessor to Safeway,” 7evin said. “The other one, at 1015 (Ninth St.), was built by the Dean brothers in 1933, the same people who built Memorial Auditorium.”

Setting up in historical buildings at first seemed challenging, as the restaurateurs realized there were restrictions on what they could and could not demolish inside, but in the end, it turned out for the better, Lampkin said.

“When we’re done with the interior, it’s going to be amazing,” she said. “And we’re not three kids coming from the Bay Area with money – we’re doing a lot of the work ourselves. I never expected to be scraping paint, but that’s what we’ve been doing.”

Work on the interior is still under way, and the three partners said they are enjoying designing it but look forward to its completion.

“The great thing about (Lampkin, Kelley and 7evin) is that they have a vision, and yet even with their vision and artistic abilities, they are still willing to listen to the preservation department, and they have truly partnered to make that space pop,” said Valerie Mamone-Werder, business recruitment manager for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.

She added that that section of the city is an important area for economic development, with nearby K Street readying to open to vehicular traffic.

“I think we’ve seen a lot of success from 12th (Street) to 10th Street, and this feels like a natural progression down the street and around the corner, and that’s very exciting,” she said.

For those looking for a preview of the food to come at Blackbird, the restaurant will be participating in a celebration for bringing cars back to K Street scheduled for 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at 12th and K streets.

“We’ll be out there with our fish tacos and a few other things,” Lampkin said.

Looking to do more with the space than simply serve food, Lampkin said a large cocktail selection will be available as well, and art will feature prominently in the space.

“I feel like Sacramento is a true artists’ community,” Lampkin said. “In San Francisco, rent is too expensive to really foster that community, but Sacramento’s arts community is amazing.”

7evin, who works in graphic design and marketing but is also a DJ, said the restaurant will not have any dance space, but DJs will be brought in to perform for the diners.

“It’s not going to just be people with two turntables and a mixer,” he said. “It’s people who are really performers, who are mixing live and really creating art.”

The most noticeable artwork displayed by the restaurant won’t actually be inside. The exterior space will feature a wall painting of 7evin’s graphic rendition of Lampkin’s idea to showcase a flock of blackbirds taking flight from a tree.

Lampkin said that when she woke up after being in a car accident in 2005, she heard the Beatles’ song “Blackbird,” and it stuck with her. Sadly, her close friend did not survive the collision, and Lampkin said she has since learned that many cultures believe the dead communicate with the living through blackbirds.

“I didn’t even know that until after I named the restaurant, but it’s really fitting,” she said.

Initially, the restaurant will be able to seat 50 people, and Lampkin said that after six months of being open, she plans to add another 25 seats.

Sean Kohmescher, owner of Temple Coffee, which has a location across the street, said he is happy to see Blackbird opening.

“I’ve met them quite a few times, and they seem like great people,” he said. “I’ve had their food, and the food was amazing. There’s been so many changes going on downtown, mostly in the last few years with places closing, it’s good to see places opening up.”

Blackbird Kitchen & Bar is located at 1015 Ninth St.

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

Gym, Tan, Dodgeball win first title, and Team AP completes first 3-peat!

2011-11-05T00:00:32Z

Last night featured 150 local young professionals, competing for the right to claim Xoso Dodgeball Champion on their athletic resumes. Another 100 playoff hopefuls had already had their dreams of dodgeball glory fade into the distance. The Xoso Sport & Social League offers two divisions on Thursday evenings, separating veteran "A" league teams from newer "B" league teams.

On the B League side of the gym last night, Gym Tan Dodgeball proved that it doesn't always matter where you're seeded.

The Fall Season of Xoso dodgeball wrapped up last night with an epic night of playoffs and championship matchups. Coming into the night Drinkin' Team (6-2) and Titsburg Feelers (6-2) arrived with the top 2 seeds, while Gym Tan Dodgeball (5-3) and Hookers and Bacon (4-4) had earned the lowest seeds - 5th and 6th respectively.

In the opening round the first matchup contained little drama as Sexual Chocolate and Gym Tan Dodgeball(GTD) were set to square off in a battle of 4-seed vs 5-seed. Sexual Chocolate unfortunately didn't have the minimum number of players and so GTD was awarded a victory by forfeit and advanced to the semifinal round. The other quarterfinal matchup was a different story as the 3-seed, Ball Thugs & Harmony, went to battle against the 6-seed Hookers & Bacon. It was a close fight the entire game as the game progressed: 1-1, 2-1, and finally 3-1 with Hookers & Bacon finally able to distance themselves from Ball Thugs. Ball Thugs were not done however, as they whittled their competition down in the next game. This 5th and deciding game determined the match as time ran out on Ball Thugs, even though they had more players left as time expired, this additional point brought them a 3-2 loss and allowed Hookers & Bacon to complete the upset and move on to face Titsburg Feelers in the semifinals.

The Titsburg Feelers took advantage of their 1st round bye and used their rested arms to welcome Hookers & Bacon to the semifinal round. Hookers & Bacon put up a tough fight by winning 3 games, however the #2 seed proved to be too much and won convincingly 6-3. With their victory Titsburg earned a spot in the Championship game versus the winner of #5-seed Gym Tan and #1-seed Drinking Team. In this other semifinal match the top-seeded Drinking Team had a strong advantage as they battled GTD late into the match with a 3-2 lead, and time winding down at approximately the 4 minute mark. Gym Tan would not give up. GTD successfully tied the match up at 3-3 with just over 2 minutes remaining. With little time on the clock these two teams battled in one final game to determine who would move onto the Championship match. In an exciting and heated contest Gym Tan gutted it out and was able to secure a win in the final game for a 4-3 match victory.

The intensity and stakes only got higher as the Championship Match featured Gym Tan Dodgeball squaring off against the second-seeded Titsburg Feelers. The games in this final match were long and extremely hard-fought as each side knew what was at stake. They battled toe-to-toe for four exhausting matches and in the end were tied at 2-2, due to the Titsburg Feelers having more players on the court as time expired and Gym Tan missing a half-court basket as the whistle blew. The Championship was settled with one final sudden death game. The score was finally settled when the team that seemed to have the most fight in them, Gym Tan Dodgeball, was able to oust the final Titsburg Feeler and claim Xoso Dodgeball Championship status. Gym Tan was able to knock off the #1 AND #2 seeds to truly prove that, in the playoffs, it's anyones game.

Congrats to Gym Tan Dodgeball on their first championship!

On the "A" league side, Team AP survived to win their 3rd straight A League title.

In one of the most tightly contested dodgeball playoffs in recent memory, Team AP was able to secure their 3rd consecutive Thursday dodgeball crown. Usually seeded 1st or 2nd, AP (6-2) finished the regular season in 3rd place and faced the unusual challenge of not having a 1st round playoff bye and instead having to win three matches to clinch the championship. In round 1, AP struggled early against 6th seeded Bat S*** Crazy (2-1-5) before pulling away late to win 5-2. The other round 1 matchup saw 4th seed (o)(o) (4-4) knock off 5th seed Dirty Smurfs (4-4) also by the score of 5-2 to advance.

In the evening's first semifinal, top-seeded and undefeated D3: The Mighty Drunks (8-0) battled (o)(o) in a closer than anticipated match but emerged a 4-2 winner. Semifinal #2 was a tense affair that saw Team AP jump out to a 3-1 lead on a 2nd seeded Kendall's Bridesmaids (7-1) before Kendall's Bridemaids closed the gap to 3-2 and then evened the match at 3-3 by winning a 3-on-3 sudden death round after regulation time had expired. The squads then faced off in an untimed, winner-take-all 8-on-8 game won by AP to set up a championship showdown with longtime rivals D3.

This season's title match between AP and D3 marked the 4th time these rivals have squared off in the playoffs over the last few seasons. A determined D3 played hard to end AP's post-season dominance but was unable to slow down AP as they established a 4-1 lead in the first 20 minutes of the match. Energized by their earlier round scares, AP was in classic form for the championship round marked by their athleticism and unmatched throwing ability. D3 clawed back late to narrow the lead to 4-2 but ran out of time as AP closed out the match 5-2 and celebrated the first three-peat in Xoso history.

Congrats to Team AP!

Disclosure: Nick is the founder of Xoso.

Alleyways of Sacramento receive names, part three

2011-11-04T05:17:27Z

On Oct. 11, the City Council approved an ordinance that officially named the alleys of the central city. On Tuesday and Wednesday, The Sacramento Press highlighted many of these alleys, including their new names and what residents and business owners think of them. More alleyways are included below.

Leistal Alley

Cohn said Leistal Alley is an alley that the city has put resources into renovating.

With a lighted walkway and an upscale pavement job, co-owner of Old Soul Coffee Jason Griest said he hopes that all of the other alleys will soon be similarly renovated.

“We see a lot more foot traffic in the alley now that they’ve renovated it,” the 36-year-old Midtown resident said.

Griest said that he thought a better name for the alley would have been “Old Soul Alley” as an homage to the coffee shop that gives the alley its character and charm.

Matsui Alley

Bombay Bar and Grill is located on Matsui Alley and 21st Street, and Manager Amit Kumar, 35, said that the naming will make it easier for customers to find restaurants located along the alleys.

Kumar also said that naming the alley after someone prominent will help it stand out from some of the other alleys.

Neighbors Alley

Opera Alley

The 17th Street. Commons housing complex is located on Opera Alley.

Louise and David Thompson, two seniors who live near Opera Alley, run the Interfaith Experience, a community outreach group that seeks to unite different churches in the area.

Louise Thompson said that she thinks naming the alleys is a great idea that was long overdue.

But Louise Thompson said that she believes that the city should have looked more into the history and character of the alleys to find the most suitable names for each one.

“There are all kinds of dramas that happen within these alleys,” she said. “If we were to really concentrate on the particular landscapes that create these alleys, then we could be recording history and giving (the alleys) a sense of place.”

David Thompson said that he agreed with his wife.

“There is always history that gets eroded and lost, and naming (the alleys) accordingly would keep that history alive,” he said.

He added that he thinks it would be a good idea to call Opera Alley “Commons Alley,” because of the housing complex.

Powerhouse Alley

Powerhouse Alley runs south of P Street and next to the Fremont Community Garden.

Brandon Louie, a 30-year-old community organizer who lives in Boulevard Park, said that naming the alleys is a good first step in utilizing the space that the alleys provide.

“I think giving the alleys an identity gives us more of an incentive to clean them up,” he said.

But Louie said that he doesn’t want the naming to be just a symbolic gesture and that it is important that Sacramentans take action to redevelop them soon.

Louie said that it would be hard to come up with a better name than “Powerhouse.”

“Maybe The People’s Alley,” he said. “Something a bit more communal.”

Quill Alley

Quill Alley is perhaps one of the busiest alleys in Sacramento, as it is home to the 16th Street light rail station, where many people come into Sacramento from the suburbs.

Ray Thompson, a state worker from Land Park, said that his main concern was that the names be in order alphabetically.

When asked about the name “Quill,” the 48-year-old said that he would have tried another name that better kept up with the history of Sacramento.

“Quill is more like pens or writing,” he said. “I probably would have named it something to do with rail or industry.”

What do you think of the city's names for the alleys? Leave your thoughts in the conversation below.

John G. Hernandez contributed to this story.

More funding for improvements at intermodal facility

2011-11-04T01:35:09Z

The City Council approved $400,000 in funding from new sources Tuesday for upgrades to the Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility project, including energy-efficient lighting and new power cabinets that will help reduce air emissions at the new facility.

The project is being built at the downtown railyards and is currently in the first phase of development. City officials say Phase 1 should be completed by mid-summer 2012.

The project is planned to accommodate rail freight movement, heavy passenger trains, light rail transit and intercity and local buses, according to a city staff report. It will also provide facilities for bicycle and pedestrian transportation modes and – potentially – streetcars and California’s high-speed rail.

Last year, original bids for the project made it too expensive, so it was scaled down and re-bid this year. Some improvements that were part of the original project plan were set aside when the project was scaled down.

The new project plan reserved the possibility that those improvements could be returned to the plan if funding was found.

New sources of funding – specifically grants provided through Sacramento Municipal Utility District and a California Air Resources Board program – will be used to return some of those set-aside improvements to the intermodal project.

The anticipated additional improvements include new lighting with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or walkways, tunnels and station platforms and four wayside power cabinets.

The LEDs will replace the fluorescent lighting in the original project plan.

“There will be more efficient lighting now,” Hinda Chandler, senior architect with the Sacramento Department of Transportation, said Thursday. “The light levels will be better with the LEDs, and the quality is better and brighter.”

Chandler said it will cost less to run the lights at the facility, and they won’t have to replace them as often as fluorescent lighting.

The lighting was budgeted in the project for $150,000, and city staff determined it was eligible for funding through an existing SMUD grant for lighting improvements.

Chandler said that the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) was awarded funds for the power cabinets through the CARB Carl Moyer Grant Program on Oct. 28.

The original project plan called for eight wayside power cabinets, but when the project was scaled back earlier this year, the number of power cabinets was reduced to four. With new funding, the number of cabinets will once again be eight.

Christine Ragsdale, communications director for the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, said the power cabinets work similar to the way shore power is provided to ships at dock.

The ship – or locomotive in this case – essentially plugs into the power outlet (the cabinet) at the station, and, instead of running on diesel fuel, it is powered by cleaner, less-expensive electricity.

The power keeps train systems operable while they are being cleaned and prepared for the next day’s run.

“These are diesel engines that push particulates into the air,” Tim Taylor, division manager at Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, said Thursday.

“Being able to put (the trains) on shore power has an enormous health benefit to the community and a significant benefit in terms of air quality,” Taylor said.

The additional power cabinets cost $400,000, which would be funded 80 percent ($320,000) by the Moyer grant and 20 percent ($80,000) by CCJPA.

Ragsdale said this is the first time Carl Moyer Grant Program funds have been used for this specific purpose anywhere in the state.

“It’s a very creative use for this type of grant,” Ragsdale said. “When it comes to air quality, you get a lot of bang for your buck by getting trains to run cleaner.”

Nearly three tons worth – in the form of annual emission reductions, according Taylor.

“This is a fantastic project that is very good for our air quality,” Taylor said.

Chandler said the new funding is already being used to order the new power cabinets. The LEDs will be installed at a later time when the project gets nearer to completion.

Melissa Corker is a Staff Reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

New Metro Chamber CEO brings business, political experience

2011-11-04T00:25:34Z

Former Assemblyman Roger Niello will be the new CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber starting Jan. 1, coming back to an organization he led in the 1990s as the area struggles to come out of the recession.

“For me, it’s sort of coming full circle, and I find it very exciting that way,” Niello said. “The chamber in a way was sort of my launchpad into politics, and now I’m coming back, still with my business roots, and will be working with the leadership to expand business.”

Niello, who spent a quarter century running retail and auto dealerships with his family’s business, the Niello Auto Group, was elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in a special election in 1999, where he served until November 2004. From 2004-2010, he served as a state assemblyman.

Former CEO Matt Mahood left the Metro Chamber in June. The chamber announced in August that Pat Fong Kushida would be the new CEO, but she never started the position.

Niello said the biggest challenge facing him and the Metro Chamber over the next several years is the economy.

“I wouldn’t say it’s any one particular issue (in the economy),” he said. “We have to look at the shape of the economy and work with other groups in the region in the private sector and the public sector at both the local and state levels.”

A study is currently under way called Next Economy, a public/private revitalization project with the Metro Chamber, the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance (SARTA) and Valley Vision, all nonprofit organizations focused on economic growth.

“The effort is to study the economy, but not so much the study itself as understanding the details of the shape it’s in and getting ideas to take action on growing and expanding businesses,” Niello said. “We need to keep an eye toward small businesses in particular, because that’s where the real growth of the economy comes.”

SARTA CEO Meg Arnold said Thursday that she thinks Niello was a good choice for the position.

“I am really excited and enthusiastic about it,” she said. “He brings a whole range of attributes to the position. Obviously his business experience and his connections in the region and his political experience, but he is also really geared toward partnerships, and that’s what we need – to work together.”

Arnold said she expects to see stronger collaboration between nonprofit organizations, government organizations and businesses going forward.

Martha Lofgren, interim CEO of the Metro Chamber, said Niello’s business experience was “first and foremost” in his selection.

“He’s been a business owner in the Sacramento area for about three decades,” she said. “He obviously has a lot of experience in politics at the local and state levels, and the Metro Chamber always looks at how government affects business.”

She said his history with the organization – serving as president in 1995 – is also a plus.

Niello’s salary was not disclosed, but Lofgren said it is competitive with similar positions in other like-sized nonprofit organizations in the area.

The Metro Chamber has nearly 2,200 member organizations and businesses.

“The chamber is much stronger now than it was in ’95 in all respects,” Niello said, adding that he wants to draw more job diversity to the region. “Government jobs are good, but the percentage we have here is too high, and bringing in more jobs relying on government subsidies, like some of the green industry, isn’t the answer. We need to bring those in, yes, but we also need to grow our smaller businesses, because that’s where wealth comes from.”

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

Boston Takes Over the Naked Lounge This Tuesday

2011-11-03T06:38:39Z

In the mood for a low-country Regina Spektor-meets-Jimmy Buffett-on-whiskey act followed by a Dave Matthews crossed with a beached-out Buddy Holly number? Well, you can... this coming Tuesday, November 8 at the Naked Lounge in downtown Sacramento (1111 H St.), starting at 8:30. This all ages show features two of California's up-and-coming, on-the-scene singer-songwriters, Jo Elless (www.joelless.com) and Mike Macchia & Tyler Canaday (Mike's Lost and Found, http://www.youtube.com/TheMikeMacchia). Midwest and northeastern roots, with a little dixie thrown in for good measure, Jo Elless is a Berklee-trained multi-instrumentalist who arranges her songs for wind orchestra (all of the instruments, of course, she performs herself-- ranging from flutes to tinier flutes to saxophones and various clarinets). Her songs feature musings of foggy, city, subway life and Decemberists-like folk tales of the deserted south. Her latest album, Copley Inbound, received national acclaim, including landing Elless a spot on the cover of the magazine Saxophone Journal. Coincidentally, Boston native Mike Macchia will also perform along with Tyler Canady, in the form of Mike's Lost and Found (it's also his birthday, so join in the party!) follow her with a blend of sultry, acoustic rock sure to get you kickin' back, tapping your toe, and reminding you of past summers in love. It's all this coming Tuesday, November 8 starting at 8:30 at Sacramento's downtown Naked Lounge, 1111 H St. Sacramento CA 95814.

Disclosure: Sacramento music scene columnist

Central city alleys receive names, part two

2011-11-03T03:41:34Z

On Oct. 11, Steve Cohn’s 5-year-old idea to give the alleys of Sacramento their own formal names was finalized, giving them what many residents describe as a new sense of character.

In a continuation of Tuesday’s article, The Sacramento Press has highlighted many local businesses along the alleys and spoke to residents regarding their thoughts on the alleys’ new names.

Fat Alley

Khalid Khan’s liquor store, called Don’s Bottle Shop, is located on Fat Alley and 16th Street. Khan, 60, said that naming the alleys won’t do his business any good.

“I don’t have control over what (the city) wants to do,” he said.

He emphasized that the city should be more focused on finding more direct ways to promote local businesses, and that naming the alleys is a distraction from more important issues.

Government Alley

Sacramento is the capital city of California, and Cohn said that Government Alley’s name is an acknowledgement of the city’s importance in state politics.

Midtown attorney Jan Kaworsky said that while he believes that the effort to name the alleys is worthwhile, he would have chosen different names.

“I probably would have named Government Alley ‘Anti-Government Alley,’ ” he said.

Historic Alley

As the alleys progress further south into Midtown, businesses begin becoming more prevalent on their corners. Old Soul at Weatherstone, one of Sacramento’s popular coffee bars, is located on the corner of Historic Alley along 21st Street.

Jeramy Robinson, 25, is a manager at the coffee bar and lives right by Historic Alley.

“There’s a lot of activity that would benefit from having a name for this alleyway,” he said, referring to the many homes and businesses within the vicinity.

He said that the name “Historic” is very fitting for the alley, especially since Old Soul at Weatherstone is located in the building that housed Sacramento’s first cafe.

Although supportive of the idea, Robinson voiced some concerns about the alley naming.

“It’s a new idea on the grid system,” he said. “It might confuse people that aren’t necessarily familiar with (it).”

When asked what he would have named the alley, Robinson said that he would have given it a name that relates even more closely to Old Soul at Weatherstone.

Improv Alley

Jazz Alley

Jazz Alley spans several busy areas in Sacramento, cutting through the hearts of Downtown and Midtown. Off of 10th Street is Broadacre Coffee, a new coffee bar owned by Justin Kerr, Jacob Elia, Lucas Elia and Andrew Lopez.

Kerr and Elia, 21 and 23, said they think that while the idea to name the alleys had good motives, the names that were chosen are lackluster and uninteresting.

“I think they could have come up with a better name than Jazz Alley,” Kerr said. “I know the process took a long time, but the names are kind of generic.”

Kerr said jokingly that a more appropriate name for Jazz Alley would have been “Java Alley” because of their store’s location.

Elia said that he can see how naming the alleys would aid police in responding to emergencies more quickly.

“If you can say, ‘I’m on Jazz Alley and 10th St.,’ now they know you’re not just somewhere (in between) Ninth and 10th (streets),” he said.

Kayak Alley

Bernice Gamino works at Harv’s Carwash, located on 19th Street and Kayak Alley. The 28-year-old resident of Natomas said that she isn’t confident that naming the alleys will produce positive results.

“I think it might confuse people,” she said. “A lot of people don’t even know that they (named) them, and the names are weird.”

She suggested that naming the alleys after things all Sacramentans would recognize would have been better.

“I would have named it Kings Alley,” she said. “It’s the first thing I think of when I think of ‘K’ and Sacramento.”

Watch for tomorrow’s story that will include more of the alleys.

What do you think of the city's names for the alleys? Leave your thoughts in the conversation below.

John G. Hernandez contributed to this story.

Central city alleys receive names

2011-11-02T06:04:54Z

After initially being proposed five years ago, City Councilman Steve Cohn’s idea to name Sacramento alleys has finally been put into action. On Oct.11, the City Council approved a list of new names for the alleys.

Cohn said that the alleys need names to help residents identify them more easily.

“Instead of saying ‘the alley between L and Capitol,’ you could just say the name of the alley,” he said.

The process for naming the alleys took so long, Cohn said, because it is very complicated.

“It took a while because we had to do a lot of outreach,” he said. "It's part of the rules and regulations for naming streets."

Cohn said that approval was needed from various administrative agencies like the Department of Transportation, the Sacramento Police Department and the U.S. Postal Service. Permission from these agencies was needed to coordinate and integrate the new names without creating duplication or confusion.

All of the alley names begin with the letter of the street they are directly south of. However, there was often disagreement on what words should be used for the naming.

“My original proposal was names of international cities, and some (residents) liked that, but others didn’t,” Cohn said.

To reconcile the differences, he said that city staff asked local neighborhood and business associations, such as the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, what kind of names they would like to see by holding public events throughout 2008 and 2009. Names relating to Sacramento's history and culture were often popular, like Democracy and Jazz.

The proposal was also delayed several times during the past five years.

"It was put on the shelf from time to time," Cohn said. "There wasn't a lot of people working full-time on it."

Cohn said that street signs will not be put up on the alleys anytime soon, especially with their $300 price tag.

“Little by little, as the economy improves and our budget improves, we may go back and appropriate the money,” he said.

The alleys are located in between B and W streets, and many stretch between Third and 30th streets. The first letter in each alley’s name is the same as the street that it is directly south of.

The Sacramento Press high-lighted some of the alleys below.

Blues Alley

Blues Alley is located in the northern part of the city that lies near many industrial buildings and residences.

Saleh Tyebjee, 26, is an engineer who lives in the downtown area. He said that although naming the alleys gives them some much-needed character, the names will ultimately make it more difficult for people to navigate on the grid system.

“It’s one of the nice things about living on the grid,” he said. “You always know where you are. (Naming the alleys) makes it a little more difficult to find your way around.”

Tyebjee said that if he could have named the alley, he would have called it “Grant Alley” because the alley runs right up to Grant Park.

Chinatown Alley

South of Blues Alley is Chinatown Alley, which runs through some of Sacramento’s oldest neighborhoods.

Jeff Laible lives off of Chinatown Alley. The 52-year-old installation mechanic said that he believes naming the alleys will actually help people navigate better throughout the central city.

“It’s not just the alley between C and D,” he said. “If you say ‘Chinatown Alley,’ you know which one it is.”

Laible said that he has no preference when it comes to names for the alleys, as long as everyone actually knows the alleys’ names.

Democracy Alley

Eggplant Alley

Forty-seven-year-old promoter and resident of Eggplant Alley Jerry Perry said that he had trouble understanding how the name “Eggplant” was decided on.

“I cannot believe that they couldn’t find something more relevant historically than the word ‘eggplant,’ ” he said. “(It) sounds like some 1920s cartoon character lives here.”

Perry said that he has lots of ideas for the alley that he thinks would have been more suitable, like “Excellent Alley.”

“I think it would have been more exciting if they had found more historical Sacramento characters,” he said. “A lot of the names they chose are weak.”

The rest of the alleys will be showcased throughout the course of this week.

What do you think of the city's names for the alleys? Leave your thoughts in the conversation below.

John G. Hernandez contributed to this story and created the video.

Food truck ordinance talks postponed

2011-11-02T03:30:50Z

Any decision regarding Sacramento’s controversial food truck ordinance – which currently limits trucks to operating a maximum of 30 minutes in one spot – will have to wait, since a City Council Law and Legislation Committee meeting was canceled Tuesday.

“There’s a lot of stuff to look at in state law, and we’re trying to figure that out,” said Councilman Jay Schenirer, chairman of the committee. “A lot of it is whether it’s just legal or not.”

One of the legal issues is that California Vehicle Code protections on commercial vehicles can arguably be applied to mobile food vendor operations.

Operators of food trucks have been advocating changing the city ordinance for more than a year, saying that the 30-minute time limit keeps them from being able to reasonably do business in city limits.

The inaugural SactoMoFo, a mobile food festival held in Fremont Park in April, was by all accounts a successful event, and since then, a serious push has been under way to revise Sacramento’s ordinance.

But it’s not as easy as doing away with the existing laws.

Some “brick-and-mortar” restaurateurs said they are afraid that allowing food trucks to operate within the city without proper regulation will pose serious threats to their businesses.

“What it comes down to is very real, very human issues,” said Daniel Conway, spokesman for the California Restaurant Association. “It’s a challenging economic time, and all business owners are as acutely aware of their balance sheet as ever.”

He added that he believes mobile food vendors and traditional restaurants can easily coexist.

The Law and Legislation meeting planned for Tuesday could have addressed that, but city officials said they want to make sure any new ordinance has legal merit.

“We’re still moving forward on it,” said Councilman Darrell Fong. “There’s a lot of interest from the different parties involved in this, and it’s going to take all those groups working together: restaurant owners, mobile food trucks and us as a city.”

Conway said the legality of local governments regulating commercial vehicles is murky at best.

“There is some existing case law and appellate law that has found the state vehicle code preempts local ordinances, and therefore local governments are pretty limited in what they can do to regulate commercial vehicles,” he said.

The answer to that question is what stalled the issue in Sacramento Tuesday.

“They really want to make sure they get this right, and I think they really are sincere about setting a model and giving citizens a chance to experience both types of food,” Conway said. “They’re digging deeper than most jurisdictions have.”

According to the staff report for the meeting, the revisions to the ordinance will be addressed in four areas: vending on public right-of-ways; vending on private property and any related zoning issues; hours of operation and/or time limitations; and permitting and operating requirements for mobile food vendors.

Conway added that he doesn’t think the City Council is being complacent and pushing the issue aside, but rather that it has been very busy since April, dealing with issues such as medical marijuana, Occupy Sacramento, backyard chicken coops and the budget.

“I always say, it was being awfully hopeful that we could be able to get it done by the year’s end,” said Catherine Enfield, who operates the Munchie Musings blog and aTwitter account covering Sacramento food trucks.

“Basically, it’s just frustrating,” she said, “but it’s just a setback in the timeline. I’m still very encouraged by what I hear out of City Hall. I’m still very hopeful, you just have to be patient.”

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

"Chocolate Salty Balls" Come Out of Nowhere to Win Recess Championship

2011-10-31T18:39:08Z

In a surprising turn of events, Chocolate Salty Balls emerged as Xoso Sport & Social League's Fall 2011 Recess League champions with a tense 2-1 volleyball victory over previously undefeated Green Dogs and Spam. CSB entered week 8 of the regular season in 4th place but was able to leapfrog over UR FIRED and Drexel Dragons into 2nd place by winning their final week matchup while the other playoff contenders lost.

For the two team playoff, CSB (3-3-2) chose to square off against #1 seed Green Dogs and Spam (8-0) in volleyball as opposed to the other Recess sports (Indoor Kickball and Dodgeball). Despite volleyball being CSB's strength and Green Dogs' weakness, it was Green Dogs that seized game one 21-17. On the verge of elimination, CSB came out strong in game two, winning handily 21-9, and set the stage for winner take all game three. CSB rode their game two momentum to a 15-10 lead and seemed in complete control before Green Dogs rallied to narrow the score to 16-14. Their efforts fell short, however, as CSB was able to rely on great serving to win points late to clinch the championship with a 21-17 game three win.

Disclosure: Written by a member of Xoso Sport & Social League

The Honey Badgers win Xoso's First Softball Championship!

2011-10-28T18:38:07Z

On Sunday, Xoso Sport & Social League concluded the inaugural season of Xoso Coed Softball.

As we've all heard when it comes to the playoffs... anything can happen. On Sunday, "anything" did.

The #1 seeded "We Got The Runs" had rolled through the regular season schedule, ending with an undefeated 8-0 record. In game one, they matched up against the #4 seeded, "Foul Balls and Dirty Bunts" who came in with a 3-5 record. FBaDB were playing shorthanded, but managed to hang in there against a full #1 team. "We Got the Runs" put up the maximum number of runs in the first inning, and lead 9-2 after one. FBaDB managed to get within five runs at the end of the second inning, and battled back to close to within six at games end.

In the other semi-final matchup, #2 "Just the Tip" (6-1-1) faced off against #3 "Honey Badgers" (5-3). The Honey Badgers put up two runs in the first, another four in both the 2nd and 3rd, and added two more in the fourth, to take a 12-4 lead into the final two inning. "Just the Tip" tried to rally back, but ended up falling, 12-6.

The Honey Badgers picked up where they left off in the championship game, putting up seven runs in the first inning. "We Got the Runs" rallied back, and trailed 14-8 after four innings but they just couldn't make up for the first inning outburst. The Honey Badgers came away with the first Xoso Softball Championship with a final score of 14-11.

Disclosure: Nick Berruezo is the founder of Xoso Sport & Social League

Burgers & Brew expands beer selection, restaurant space

2011-10-28T05:12:55Z

Burgers & Brew more than doubled its draft beer selection with the addition of 16 new taps Wednesday, and the R Street restaurant will be debuting its own beer recipes brewed by Sudwerk Brewing in Davis as early as next month.

“It’s a very exciting time to be in the beer industry,” said co-owner Philippe Masoud. “Beer has become the main thing people are drinking, and it is getting as popular as wine has been.”

He said that when he emigrated from Jordan in the early 1980s, the only beers that were widely available in California were the traditional American brews such as Coors and Budweiser, and he has gradually seen the selection grow over the past decades to the current explosion of microbrew and international varieties.

At 1409 R St., the restaurant is in the middle of one of Sacramento’s liveliest nightlife areas, with the block anchored by popular Shady Lady Saloon, R15 and the recently opened Ace of Spades music venue.

For the past two years, Burgers & Brew operated with 12 beer taps, and weekly specials were rotated. Masoud said customers frequently asked for the special beers to be made available longer, but a lack of storage and refrigerator space made that impossible.

“Pliny the Elder is nice to have in stock, since that really has quite a following,” Masoud said.

When the next-door Top This Frozen Yogurt – also owned by Masoud – closed in mid-August, it gave him the opportunity to expand Burgers & Brew, adding a couple hundred square feet and a spacing the tables out and, more importantly, cold storage for enough beer kegs to supply 16 new tap handles.

Seating remains the same, with space for roughly 65-70 people inside.

The new beers on tap are mostly ones that have been featured over the past two years as specials, and they include a number of Belgian beers.

“Most people who really know beer agree that Belgium makes the best beers in the world,” Masoud said. “Our emphasis right now is to focus on the high-end beers.”

New draft beers will include Brother Thelonious, Czechvar, Leffe, Old Rasputin, Karmeliet and Delirium. Prices range from $4.50 - $6 per glass, and the glasses vary in size from 10 ounces to 1 pint.

“We serve them in the glasses they are meant to come in,” Masoud said. “We will also sell the glasses, since those are collectible, and people always ask us about them.”

Previously, glasses were ordered one by one, but with the added, space Masoud said he can order by the case, and even sell them at cost to customers who like to take them home.

Customers who came in for lunch on Thursday – the first day people were seated in the new space – said they were happy to see the expansion.

Melissa Eidson, a Sacramento resident who works for the state, said the restaurant feels more open and well-lit than it previously did.

“I think it’s really good,” she said. “I’ve been here before for lunch, and it’s always been really crowded. It feels more spacious now.”

Crystal Myers, another Sacramento resident and state worker, said she thinks the added selection of beers will make the 1400 block of R Street even more of a destination for nightlife.

“It’s always packed down here, and the more options people have, the better,” she said.

In about a month, the restaurant will be rolling out beers made to its own specifications by Sudwerk Brewing in Davis, where the original Burgers & Brew is located.

Five varieties will eventually be offered: Voodoo Porter, Imperial IPA, Sacrament Abbey Ale, Rapture Imperial Brown and a seasonal selection.

Also beginning next month will be a series of regular beer tastings in the restaurant, made possible with the added space.

“I’d like to do them weekly, so hopefully there is enough demand for that,” Masoud said. “I’ll be putting out fliers when we get ready for that.”

A few menu items have been added over the past year, most notably a lamb burger, but Masoud said that for now the emphasis is on the beer selection, and in addition to the 28 taps, there are roughly 70 bottled beers available.

Thomas Gutchens, production manager for Ace of Spades, said he is happy to see the business doing well.

“I believe that as it expands, more people will obviously show up to the place,” he said. “The restaurant has become a major destination.”

When booking touring bands, Gutchens said, he and his staff always direct them to the various eateries on the block, but Burgers & Brew tends to be the musicians’ favorite.

“They always go to Burgers & Brew, and when they come back through here again, they say they want to go to ‘that burger place,’ and they hurry up and finish their sound checks early so they can go next door,” he added.

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

Is trick-or-treating what it used to be?

2011-10-26T06:02:48Z

Is Halloween what it once was? Events hosted by churches, schools and businesses, as well as parents dropping their children off in wealthy neighborhoods, may have eclipsed the good old-fashioned door-to-door trick-or-treating.

“I think parents are much more cautious than they used to be,” said Lourdes Brown, an office manager at the Capital Heights Academy, an elementary school located at 2520 33 st.

Aveola Abedipe, a teacher at the Phoenix Private Preschool(600 I st.) said that the school offers a Halloween party because parents of preschool children don’t commonly take their kids out on Halloween anymore.

“I think some schools offer parties for children. We host a party with candy and decorations, and it is open to the public as well,” Abedipe said.

Abedipe and William Land Elementary School Receptionist Paula Maran said that another alternative to trick-or-treating is church events.

“River Life Covenant Church (4401 A st.) puts on a Halloween event, and I know of some churches in Midtown that do too,” Maran said.

Children can also go to the mall for candy and haunted fun. Westfield Downtown Plaza will have treats, decorations, a spooky fun house and maze to enjoy on Sunday.

Angela Hassle, a receptionist at the Mustard Seed school for homeless kids, said businesses along J and K streets will be giving out candy to trick-or-treater’s on Monday as well.

“There is a party in the Wells Fargo building. And lots of the stores give out candy,” Abedipe said.

The Hines Corp., the owner of the Wells Fargo building at 400 Capitol Mall, puts on a Halloween party in the Wells Fargo lobby.

"Midtown does a trick-or-treat day," said Washington Elementary School principal Marilyn Collins.

While events may have become a popular alternative to trick-or-treating, some parents still drop their children off in neighborhoods to give them a taste of the real thing.

“Parents will drop off their kids in the ‘Fabulous 40’s’ or East Sacramento because these are nicer neighborhoods than some of the others in town,” Maran said.

The “Fabulous 40’s” is a neighborhood in East Sacramento famous for having some of the largest houses in the city.

“I used to go to the ‘Fabulous 40’s’ thinking they would give out more candy,” said Melissa Krause of the Courtyard Private School. “I think parents take their kids there because they think it’s safer too.”

Collins believes that walking the neighborhood has not gone out of fashion.

"The neighborhoods are still very popular. Some people drive to the 'fab 40's' or Land Park, but most people still go through the neighborhood door-to-door. It just depends on what part of town it is," she said.

But for the best decoration, Maran suggests visiting T and 56th streets.

“T and 56 goes all out and completely decorates the block,” Maran said.

Where do you suggest trick-or-treating this Halloween? Leave your comments below.

Ask Officer Michelle - Shared Duplex Debate Over Medical Marijuana Smoke

2011-10-23T16:38:22Z

Posted by logsmom08

Hi Officer Michelle!

I am a renter in the Sacramento area. I live in a duplex and share the other half of the house with someone who has a ‘medical card’. My neighbors and I share a garage wall in our duplex and I am assuming that they smoke in their garage because when I walk in my garage, the stink about knocks me over. Do I have any rights to ask them to stop smoking in the garage or anywhere where I and my family can smell or be effected by it?

Dear logsmom08,

The best thing you can do about that is to speak with your landlord. Some landlords have their renters sign a marijuana smoking clause now. The law about smoking marijuana regardless if it is for medicinal purposes is that it can’t be smoked in a place where the public has access. Now, even though the garage is a part of his/her residence, it is still a common area to you and your family. If there are children who live in your or your neighbor’s residence, that could also change things.

Medicinal marijuana can be ingested in different ways as well as not to have the smoke permeate into your home, or linger in the garage. If you are on good terms with your neighbor, you may want to ask them to smoke it when you are not home, or suggest that he/she ingest it a different way. Keep me posted.

Officer Michelle

Firestone Public House to open in February

2011-10-22T07:20:07Z

More details are emerging about Firestone Public House, the restaurant and bar that will replace the old California Pizza Kitchen in the Firestone Building at 15th and L streets downtown.

Featuring American-style cuisine and a hefty beer selection with 60 on tap, the business will be a family-friendly restaurant that will also serve as a place to watch sports and have a brew – not a typical sports bar, according to co-owner Mason Wong.

“It’s definitely going to be a full restaurant with a full menu,” Wong said. “We’ll do lunch and dinner, and possibly brunch on Sundays. It will be focused on sports, with a lot of TVs, but it’s not going to have a sports bar look to it.”

The target opening date is sometime in February, and construction is scheduled to start in the next few weeks.

Customers looking for jerseys and sports equipment on the walls won’t find it at Firestone Public House, but Wong said he wants to work out partnerships with the Kings, River Cats and other sports teams and organizations in the area for events.

“We want to have a unique variety of food and some fun appetizers,” he added.

One example of the food is an original-style Philly cheesesteak sandwich, which will be served with the meat on the bun, but the cheese on top of a spatula, which the diner will spread on the sandwich.

Pizzas will also be featured, as the oven from when the space was California Pizza Kitchen is still in place. The popular Korean tacos sold at GoGi’s Korean BBQ will be available as well.

The beer selection will include something for everyone, said co-owner Henry de Vere White.

“It’s going to be everything from American craft brews to Belgian-style beers, the popular domestics, German and English beers,” he said. “There’s 60 tap handles, so there’s lots of room.”

Wong described the interior space as having a San Francisco feel with high ceilings, a rustic stain on the concrete floors and wood elements in the décor.

Wong, who co-owns Mix Downtown and Cafeteria 15L, among others, said that though he and his brothers come from a club background, Firestone Public House won’t be a dance club, and there are no plans for a stage for live entertainment.

“We will have some elements of a club in it,” he said, “mainly with the sound. The sound is going to be really high-quality, and we will turn the music up as the night goes on and we’ll have a more vibrant atmosphere.”

Lisa Martinez, marketing director for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said the block around 15th and L streets is one of the strongest areas downtown, and it will be good to have the open space once again filled with a business.

“This sounds like the kind of place you can bring a date and watch a game,” Martinez said. “It’ll fit in really well.”

Other sports bars nearby include MVP Sports Grill, at 2110 L St., and Shenanigans, 705 J St.

Martinez added that without a sports-themed business right around 15th and L, Firestone Public House will add diversity to the corner.

Wong is partnering with his brothers, Curtis and Alan, and the de Vere White brothers – Henry, Simon and Mark.

“It’s been a good working relationship,” Mason Wong said. “We’ve got three Wongs and three de Veres, and we’ve all been around in Sacramento.”

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

The Sacramento Press on 'Insight'

2011-10-19T01:22:09Z

During The Sacramento Press’ spot on Capital Public Radio’s “Insight” Tuesday morning, host Jeffrey Callison and I discussed the Occupy Sacramento movement, early turns in the upcoming City Council elections, a design competition for Capitol Mall and the arrival of a sailing vessel in Old Sacramento.

With the Occupy Sacramento demonstration well into its second week, protesters are upset that Cesar Chavez Plaza is closed from 11 p.m. - 5 a.m. due to a city ordinance. Sacramento Police Department spokeswoman Laura Peck said Monday that 58 arrests have been made, and the City Council plans to decide whether to allow the protesters to stay in the park after hours, after they went to City Hall last week.

More city politics have been in the news lately, with City Councilman Rob Fong announcing last week that he will not seek another term, instead pursuing a career as a lobbyist. Shortly after the announcement, Steve Hansen, a local activist, announced he will run for the District 4 seat. This will be the first election since District 4 took over most of the central city, which was previously split between three districts.

The former Red Lotus spot on J Street in Midtown has a new tenant, with January being the earliest possible opening date. The currently unnamed business will be a 50/50 mix of restaurant and bar, and it has a special incentive for employees: They will be given a share of the profits.

A few blocks down J Street, the owner of Thai Basil and the upstairs Level Up Lounge wants to add a second-floor deck area so people in the lounge will not have to go down to the street level to smoke, and the deck will also serve as a more permanent roof over the patio seating at Thai Basil. Neighbors raised concerns about added noise, but the Planning Commission approved the project on Thursday.

Federal prosecutors in Southern California have announced that they will go after print, TV and radio advertising for medicinal marijuana, and some Sacramento publications, notably Sacramento News & Review and The Sacramento Bee, have carried those advertisements. SN&R was able to hire more reporters within the past year due to the ads even as general advertising revenues fell across the industry. The Sacramento Bee recently announced its decision to start carrying them. The Sacramento Press has previously reached out to medical marijuana dispensaries for advertising but did not run any advertisements from them. For a timeline on medical marijuana issues in California, click here.

Sacramento received 48 submissions that met the criteria for its Catalyst Capitol Mall Design Competition, which was held to bring international attention to the section of Capitol Mall between Tower Bridge and 10th Street as the city looks for a “big idea” for the space after the state relinquished control of it in 2006. A jury selected the winners, which will be announced Nov. 9. The public can weigh in on the designs as well by clicking here and following the link to the voting page.

Anyone wanting insight into merchant sailing in the 18th century can visit the tall ship Hawaiian Chieftain, docked in Old Sacramento near Tower Bridge until mid-December. Visitors can tour the ship, where crew members will be standing by to answer questions and give history of an era gone by.

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

Local costume shops offer Halloween necessities

2011-10-18T03:50:05Z

On Halloween, we all have the opportunity to be someone else. From nostalgic retro-nurses to bruised and battered zombies, almost everyone will be dressed up for a spooky night of fun, fright and candy. The Sacramento Press rounded up various local costume shops to help you find your perfect Halloween fit.

B-Bop Costumes
1931 L St.
443-2234

Hours:
Monday through Friday 10 a.m - 5 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed Sundays
Hours will be extended as Halloween nears
Rentals: Yes
Sales: Yes

Located in what owner Larry Slaybaugh called “one of the older and more iconic houses in Sacramento,” B-Bop costumes provides customers with an intimate costume-shopping experience. Racks of authentic costumes and clothing sit between walls that are lined with face makeup and costume accessories.

“We have everything you can think of,” Slaybaugh said.

Slaybaugh said that one of B-Bop’s distinguishing factors is that its costumes are real clothes.

“We specialize in 1920s and 1970s vintage,” he said. “All of our costumes are actual clothes from the era. We don’t have much in terms of fake replications.” He said that he believes that the real clothes will allow people to look as authentic as possible.

B-Bop offers both sales and rentals, and prices vary depending on what a customer is looking for. Whether searching for an economical or top-of-the-line outfit, Slaybaugh said that his store is a great place for anyone to find a costume.

Broadway Costumes and Theatrical Supply
3945 Franklin Blvd.
455-6021

Hours:
Monday through Friday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday noon - 4 p.m.
Hours will be extended as Halloween nears
Rentals: Yes
Sales: No

Broadway Costume and Theatrical Supply has more than 3,000 costumes for people to rent, said owner Kathryn Felgenhauer. While the shop does not offer sales, she said that she believes it would be hard for any other costume shop to top its selection.

“We offer just about everything, and it’s all of theatrical quality,” Felgenhauer said.

In addition to the costume selection, which includes everything from animals to period pieces to characters, the rental business also carry a wide selection of makeup and accessories.

“We just (received) a whole bunch of unique moustaches,” Felgenhauer said.

Felgenhauer said that her employees will personally walk customers through the makeup process, which is often a daunting task. She added that the top-of-the-line makeup selection is not only great for Halloween, but for theater productions as well.

With an organized selection of costumes and a helpful staff, Felgenhauer said that she believes that her store can fill everyone’s Halloween costume needs.

Cheap Thrills
1712 L St.
446-4103

Hours:
Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Hours will be extended as Halloween nears
Rentals: Yes
Sales: Yes

After reopening with its original owners in July, co-owner Todd Aylward said that Cheap Thrills is back to offering high-quality costumes that are “whatever you want them to be.” He owns the store with his wife, Sondra Aylward, and also owns the costume store Prevues.

“We have lots of authentic costumes, from Victorian to the 1980s,” he said.

Aylward said that the employees are able to put together crazy costumes for their customers. A wide selection and lots of character give his store a unique feel.

“We strive (for) good customer service,” he said. “We want you to have fun and feel good about yourself at the same time.”

The outside of the building, painted purple and orange, foreshadows the colorful atmosphere that customers will experience inside.

“We’ve got everything you could need here,” Aylward said. With everything from makeup to professional costumes, Cheap Thrills has plenty for customers to choose from.

Prevues
2417 K St.
448-4556

Hours:
Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Hours will be extended as Halloween nears
Rentals: Yes
Sales: Yes

Owner Todd Aylward said that Prevues is the sexy sister store of Cheap Thrills.

“Prevues is pretty outrageous,” he said. “If you want glam or anything out of the ordinary, this is the place to go.”

Prevues caters to a more adult audience than most other costume stores in Sacramento. Selling showgirl and pinup model costumes, Aylward said that it brings a “sexy side” to the local costume market.

Aylward added that Prevues strives for the same high-quality customer service found at Cheap Thrills.

The selection at Prevues is just as wide, only it caters to a more mature audience.

“It’s just another type of costume store,” Aylward said. “If you’re looking for a fun costume store, Prevues is the place you ought to go.”

I Wannabe Costumes
700 4th St.
West Sacramento
371-0901

Hours:
By appointment only, Monday through Sunday
Rentals: Yes
Sales: No

Julia Harrington owns and operates I Wannabe Costumes from the comfort of her own home. While this may seem unconventional, customers would have trouble differentiating her house from any of the other costume shops in Sacramento.

“All of my costumes are very high-quality,” Harrington said, adding that her daughter makes many of the costumes, and the others are either professional-quality or actual clothing from a certain era.

A large variety of costumes are offered, Harrington said. Everything from the entire “Star Wars” cast to “Shrek” and other kids’ cartoon characters are available for rent. Period costumes are also available, from Elizabethan to the Wild West.

Harrington said that while many costume stores charge extra for the necessary accessories, all of her costumes include everything for one flat rate.

“You can build your own costume, and I include everything in one price,” she said.

Harrington also uses her business to do local charity functions, from elementary school history events to community theater productions.

“Costumes provide hands-on learning, and it sticks with the kids,” she said.

I Wannabe Costumes is available by appointment only, but Harrington said that customers will be happy with the costumes that she rents out.

Evangeline’s Costume Mansion
113 K St.
443-2181

Hours
Monday through Sunday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Hours will be extended as Halloween nears
Rentals: No
Sales: Yes

Evangeline’s, an Old Sacramento favorite, has three stories, two of which sell high-quality costumes and wigs, said Manager Jen Kossmann. The store attracts a multitude of customers year-round with its fun and vibrant atmosphere and huge selection.

Kossmann said she credits the ambiance and the enormous selection of goods to the store’s strong sales.

“We are able to carry more than any other costume store,” she said. “It’s more fun than at other stores.”

Customers can take the old-fashioned elevator to the second and third floors, where the costumes are primarily sold. People can try on numerous professional-quality wigs.

“We specialize in having the most,” she added.

Where do you go to shop for costumes in Sacramento? Share your favorite shops in the conversation below.

Capitol Mall design competition winners to be announced Nov. 9

2011-10-18T01:16:33Z

An array of designs submitted as part of the Catalyst Capitol Mall Design Competition in an effort to spark a “big idea” for future enhancement of the corridor from Tower Bridge to 10th Street were reviewed by a jury Oct. 7, and winners will be announced Nov. 9.

While the winner can’t yet be revealed, Kris Barkley, competition adviser to the city on behalf of the American Institute of Architects, described some key assets of the winning proposal.

“The first-place winner, I think, is really, really focused on what I think the people of Sacramento are feeling will work there,” he said. “It’s a tree-centered development that improves the urban canopy we have in Sacramento and brings it more fully into Capitol Mall.”

The competition began earlier this year and is intended to redesign the section of Capitol Mall from Tower Bridge to 10th Street after it was returned to city ownership by the state in 2006.

The first-place design will be awarded $20,000, with $10,000 for second place and $5,000 for third place.

An entrance fee of $200 per design was charged, which covered part of the cost. The total competition budget was $66,500.

With the ongoing economic crisis, Barkley said one aspect any successful design would have is the ability to be built in phases.

“They can be accomplished in smaller chunks to create an overall master plan over a period of years,” he said. “That way, the city can ease into it slowly as funds are available.”

The 48 designs that met the criteria, which can be viewed here, include a wide range of ideas.

One involves removing the center median, moving traffic lanes closer together and widening the existing sidewalks. Another envisions constructing a raised grass walkway, and still others call for the construction of iconic buildings used for myriad purposes.

Barkley said the second-place design divides Capitol Mall into different zones, with some being open plazas as public space and others being quieter.

One of the jurors in the decision-making process was Sacramento Urban Design Manager Bill Crouch, who said the field of entries was varied and made up of quality designs.

“We got a lot of really good, creative submittals,” he said. “There wasn’t one idea that was repeated over and over again.”

For fairness, Crouch said, judging criteria was set from the beginning and applied equally to all submissions, and each submission had a number attached to it instead of a firm so no juror would know whose project he or she was looking at, and therefore would judge it only on the quality.

“I think the public will be really impressed when the winners are announced and there’s an opportunity to view them,” he said. “The public should be encouraged that in a down economic climate, there’s so much international interest. The designs came from all over, and I think that’s a compliment to Sacramento.”

Designs came from all six inhabited continents, including countries as diverse as Iran and Vietnam.

Crouch added that the decision-making process took the better part of a day – even after jurors had reviewed the designs – but by the end, there was a general consensus on which projects deserved first, second and third prize.

The jury was made up of three internationally known design professionals, Crouch, a representative from the state and a Capitol Mall District representative. To view the jurors’ biographies, click here.

“I’m excited that there was interest from all over the world and that we had that number of submissions,” said City Councilman Steve Cohn. “I can’t discuss personal observations because I haven’t had a chance to look at them, but I understand from city staff that we got some very high-quality submittals.”

Cohn added that he looks forward to getting a vision for what the Capitol Mall corridor – including branching off to the Crocker Art Museum and Westfield Downtown Plaza – will look like and start making steps toward realizing that vision.

Other details of the winning designs will not be released before the Nov. 9 announcement, said Marika Rose, spokeswoman for the competition.

The announcements will be made at the Wells Fargo Center, 400 Capitol Mall, in an event that is open to the public, with ticket prices of $25.

“There will be a video presentation to highlight the winners and explain why they were chosen,” Rose said, adding that the video will also give history of Capitol Mall, which was originally considered the gateway to the city.

Members of the pubic can also vote for their favorite design through the Catalyst website.

“I think it’s always interesting to see what comes out of the public viewing of things and makes the process more transparent,” Barkley said. “Anyone can get in and see what’s happening, and it helps them see how the winners were selected.”

Lisa Martinez, marketing director for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said the designs that DSP staffers have had the chance to review look promising.

“We haven’t had a chance to really be able to review every single one of the entries, but from just the few we’ve looked at, there are a lot of great ideas and a lot of creativity coming out,” she said.

Rose described the whole process as smooth.

“It was a pleasure for everyone to work on,” she said. “It was very little investment for the city, and they’ll get a great return on phase-able designs.”

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

Ask Officer Michelle - Citizen Concerned About Neighbors' Pitbulls

2011-10-16T17:43:23Z

Posted by neighborwatch

Hi Michelle,
We recently had new neighbors move in the house behind ours. They have a few dogs, 2 of which are large pit bulls.
The first thing we noticed were the dogs barking for extended periods of time, all hours of the night. The tenants are home, but seem to ignore the barking. Recently we’ve witnessed 3 instances where the largest dog is attacking the other dogs/other possible animals in their backyard. Vicious attacks which leave their deck stained with blood.

The most recent incident involved the woman trying to separate the dogs, and she was thrown to the floor and screaming. I called 911 as I felt her life was in danger. Unfortunately I don’t know what happened next because the police never came to question me. It looks like the dogs may have been taken in by animal control, but I’m not certain.
My big concern is what happens if they return? I have 3 small children who I no longer allow to play in the backyard for fear that the dogs could breach the fence. I am terrified after witnessing a woman being attacked by her own dog.
What type of recourse do I have?
Another factor is suspicious activity surrounding the basement area of their home. Shady characters are lead through their back door to an area of the backyard which I cannot see from my vantage point. We can’t figure out if dog breeding is going on, or drug activity or what? I’m feeling a little out of my league here :)
Any suggestions are appreciated.

Dear Neighborwatch,

It sounds like Animal Control handled the situation. You were right in calling 911 on them. Chances are that once Animal Control takes the dogs, they won’t be coming home. You can call Animal Control (dial 311) and voice your concerns. Since the dogs have already exhibited aggressive behavior, you don’t want to take any chances with 3 small children. If you believe that they are illegally breeding and selling dogs, you would also express that to Animal Control.

As far as the suspicious behavior, you need to be more specific. If you think your neighbors are involved in illegal narcotics, call our Narcotic’s Tip Line at 808-5796. Are there any suspicious smells like chemicals emitting from the residence? Are there people coming and going at all times of the day and night? Have you seen any drugs, scales, packaging materials, money transactions?

It sounds as though you have really strong instincts about this residence, and may very well be right.
Thank you for your post.

Officer Michelle

Local business emphasizes the need to play

2011-10-15T01:14:25Z

A pair of Sacramento entrepreneurs are building a business centered around what they say adults are missing in their lives – play.

Jeff Louie and Chris Chu, both 30, founded Asobuyo in April as a way for like-minded locals to get together, play games, sample food from local businesses and get to know one another.

“We’re all about using play as a mechanism for life change,” Chu said. “When people play, they have better quality of life and less stress.”

Asobuyo is a Japanese word that roughly translates as “let’s play,” Chu said, adding that weekly meetings of Asobuyo members are centered around playing games in groups of four in a fun way to get to know people.

The first event was held at Capsity Offices, 2321 P St., which is a co-working space Louie co-founded. The game was several video clips of Midtown set up in a trivia game similar to “Scene It?” but that proved too difficult to facilitate, with the amount of time involved in producing the video and developing questions.

Now, game evenings are typically spent at local restaurants so the members can bond over food, and some of the restaurants Asobuyo has partnered with are Kupros Bistro, Cafe Lumiere and Old Soul Co.

One game they play is called Superstar, and in it, one member of the group is the superstar, and team members collect myriad facts about the superstar – everything from how many keys he or she has on a key ring to where he or she was born. They then must memorize the facts.

Throughout the night, different questions are asked, and the superstar’s teammates – or “fans” – have to answer correctly, racking up the most correct answers to beat the other teams.

“It’s a good game to play early on so maybe some of the more quiet people get to tell more about themselves,” Louie said.

“We plan our games strategically so they build on each other,” Chu said, adding that over the course of the night, the team that wins the most games is declared the overall winner and receives prizes – which have ranged from cakes and food to gift cards from hosting businesses.

Wendy Duncan, 27, said she enjoyed playing Urban Dictionary Balderdash, in which a definition from the popular website and book “Urban Dictionary” was read, and participants had to guess the word it described.

“I think (Asobuyo) is just a good combination of everything: food, socializing and fun,” she said.

She added that, for her, the biggest benefit has been meeting like-minded people who are interested in having fun and exploring the city.

“I’ve grown up in Sacramento, and I feel like a lot of the locals have a poor image of the city and talk trash about it,” she said. “They say there’s nothing fun to do, but Asobuyo lets us have a lot of fun and get to know the area.”

The business makes its money through some paid events as well as marketing for local businesses.

One upcoming event, scheduled for 2 - 7 p.m. on Oct. 23, is a spy-themed grub crawl and scavenger hunt, Chu said.

“Each spy team will go to each place and complete a mission, then sample some food and meet the owners,” Chu said.

While most events are free, the food crawl and scavenger hunt will cost $35, with $10 being donated to the charity Asian Resources, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing social services in Sacramento, especially to youths with limited English-speaking abilities.

Khonnie Lattasima, 29, said she found out about Asobuyo through the website Yelp while browsing events.

“I emailed them, and it sounded interesting,” she said. “I didn’t really know what it was, and I think it’s something you actually have to experience.”

She added that she enjoys the positive attitudes of everyone involved.

“It breaks down a lot of barriers, and you get to know a lot of people,” she said. “They’ve done a great job. It’s basically a play movement, and they’re building something really positive in the community.”

Louie said he and Chu want to eventually expand beyond Sacramento and create a movement where people see that taking time to play and have fun actually adds to productivity and quality of life.

Future plans involve an option of a paid premium membership and more integration with technology, including some form of mobile app.

“We wanted to start in Sacramento,” he said. “We’re both from Sacramento, and we want people to be proud that there are businesses that want to start up here.”

To contact Asobuyo, visit the company’s website or Facebook page.

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

Calif. Hall of Fame ceremony moves venues

2011-10-14T07:25:13Z

The California Museum’s biggest fundraiser – The California Hall of Fame induction ceremony – is moving from its small setting in the museum auditorium to Memorial Auditorium, increasing seating almost tenfold.

“The museum auditorium doesn’t allow for very many people to attend,” said museum spokeswoman Brenna Hamilton. “We’re now able to have a substantially larger audience so we can invite more people, including 500 museum members, which has never been done before.”

Beginning in 2006, and until last year, the ceremony was held in the museum, where it could seat roughly 260 people. Memorial Auditorium will allow 3,000 attendees.

Memorial Auditorium is especially fitting for this year, Hamilton said, because The Beach Boys are being inducted, and they played their first major concert and recorded a live album at Memorial Auditorium.

Other inductees this year are astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Elizabeth Blackburn, community activist Father Gregory Boyle, GAP founders and philanthropists Doris and Donald Fisher, basketball player Magic Johnson, disability rights advocate Ed Roberts, guitarist Carlos Santana, novelist Amy Tan, and California Supreme Court Justice Roger Traynor.

“I think we have an amazing lineup of inductees this year,” Hamilton said.

With about 60 days until the ceremony on Dec. 8, those looking to snag a seat for the ceremony have the option of purchasing one of two new museum membership levels that grant access to it.

An individual membership for $125 gives the purchaser free admission to the museum with a guest, a 10 percent discount to the museum store and invitations to events and exhibit openings, including the hall of fame ceremony.

A dual membership pass for $250 gives the same benefits to two people and all children under 18 in the household. Tickets to the hall of fame ceremony are limited to two, however.

As a private nonprofit organization that doesn’t receive state funding, Hamilton said the museum relies on the hall of fame induction ceremony to pay for virtually all of its exhibits, operating costs and educational visits to schools.

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

Downtown youth lounge opens with red carpet style

2011-10-13T16:45:36Z

Historic Maydestone building opens after renovation

2011-10-13T01:11:06Z

A 100-year-old building on the border of downtown and Midtown Sacramento officially reopened Wednesday after about a year of renovation work in what proponents said is an example of redevelopment at its best.

More than 100 businesspeople, developers, city staff and government officials were present at the opening of the Maydestone building as Mayor Kevin Johnson cut a chain with bolt cutters in a twist on the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This is something that we’re very proud of in Sacramento,” Johnson said. “(In 1912, the building) had people that lived upstairs who were architects, it had small businesses, there were waiters and waitresses – it was affordable. You fast-forward 100 years, and it’s doing the exact same thing.”

Sacramento-based D&S Development, Inc., handled the $7 million affordable housing project that includes 32 apartments on four floors as well as a basement common room with recreational and relaxation facilities.

Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency Executive Director La Shelle Dozier said the Maydestone’s redevelopment helps Sacramento give off a positive image.

“(Sacramento) shouldn’t be known for coming out of the Memorial Auditorium and seeing vacant and boarded buildings,” she said. “It should be known for projects like the Maydestone.”

Dozier added that similar projects are under way at La Valentina, the Hotel Berry and the 700 block of K Street.

Speaking as a board member for the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District, Rob Kerth said the building is a model for redevelopment with a green focus, as LED lighting is prevalent, solar panels were installed on the roof, heating and air-conditioning systems are energy-efficient, and even the elevator generates power as it descends.

Bay Miry of D&S Development said it was the Maydestone building that brought the downtown developers into redevelopment work in partnership with CFY Development, Inc. The two businesses are currently working on the massive project on the 700 block of K Street.

Johnson spoke in favor of redevelopment – a controversial funding mechanism whose future is currently being determined in the California Supreme Court.

“When you have double-digit unemployment figures, anything we can do to create jobs, and this project produced 200 jobs,” he said. “This is a win, win, win on all accounts.”

The 32 apartments in the building on the corner of 15th and J streets range in size from 300 to 700 square feet, and Miry said they are currently being rented out, with more than 30 applications already received.

Sixteen units are available at $729 per month, 13 in a range from $800 - $1,300 per month and three at about $1,500 per month.

Where possible, Miry previously told The Sacramento Press, original built-in storage, furniture and flooring was retained, keeping the building true to its historical character.

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

Downtown Plaza Ice Rink returns on Nov. 4

2011-10-11T03:29:26Z

On Nov. 4, a festive Sacramento tradition will continue with the opening of the Downtown Plaza Ice Rink. 2011 marks the rink’s 20th anniversary of bringing locals together to celebrate the holidays on ice.

“The rink will bring that New York City ice-skating feel (to) the heart of downtown Sacramento,” said Downtown Sacramento Partnership Marketing Director Lisa Martinez. The rink, located at 7th and K streets, provides locals with the feel of a big city winter.

Martinez said that there is a painstaking process to turn St. Rose of Lima Park into a functional ice-skating rink.

“It takes about three weeks, as long as the weather permits,” she said.

The first step is to lay out a layer of plastic and level the park with sand, Martinez said. After that, the park’s huge air-conditioning unit cools what will be the actual skating rink.

Martinez explained that once cool enough, workers will take a hose and gently spray the surface of the rink until it builds up a layer of frost that turns into ice. This is the ice that people will eventually skate on.

She also said that Sacramento’s relatively warm winter climate can make the task of sustaining the ice a little difficult.

“Once we have an inch or two of ice, we will paint the ice with a white layer … to give it that frosty coating and a nice surface for people to skate on,” she said.

People in the Sacramento area are excited about the rink. Adam Sereno, a resident of Rancho Cordova, said that he has never been ice skating and is looking forward to learning how to do it this year.

“To be honest, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “It’s great that the city puts so much effort into maintaining things like this.”

Martinez said that in the rink’s 20 years, the DSP has had plenty of time to perfect the event.

Every Tuesday, a family skate night will be held, and Martinez said it will create a festive and family-friendly environment.

“We’ve made a commitment to the community to produce a quality holiday event for families,” she added. “We have a 20-year tradition, and we hope to continue it for another 20 years.”

The rink will be open seven days a week from Nov. 4 through Jan. 16. The rink will be open on Monday through Thursday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It will be open on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hours will be extended during December for Christmas break. General admission is $8 for a two hour session, and skates cost $2 to rent.

Video of workers creating ice rink below courtesy of Downtown Sacramento Partnership

Ask Officer Michelle - Video Taping Police on Duty

2011-10-09T14:46:22Z

Posted by GARYA73

Is it illegal to video record an on-duty peace officer?

Dear GARYA73,

In the State of California, it is legal to video tape a peace officer, if you are in public and have a legal right to be there. You must not impede the officer in any way while they are in the course of his/her duties. If a crime scene has been established, members of the public may not cross it, even to film. This may lead to contaminating evidence within the crime scene.

This happens all the time. Everyone has a camera phone or a video recorder and officers are constantly being scrutinized. The other issue is that people often post their videos on social media networks.

I am of the philosophy that if you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, it is not a problem. I however, don’t want to be on a media website without my consent. Public perception is very important, but what people have to understand is the whole picture. Say I get a call for service about a man who is aggressively panhandling and harassing citizens downtown. Say this person is a repeat offender and they have an extensive background with the police. I contact this subject and begin asking him questions about his identity and what he is doing. Say he gets indignant and begins talking about his rights and police harassment. Say a bystander starts taping at that moment before they know the whole situation. This is what concerns me. When things are taken out of context, the public’s perception of the police, based upon the video, is biased.

If the public is going to video a cop while they are in the course of their duties, it should at least be done responsibly.

Thank you for writing.

Officer Michelle

Occupy Sacramento continues after 20 protesters arrested

2011-10-07T23:50:31Z

Authorities said 20 protesters were arrested at about 12:45 a.m. Friday when they refused to leave Cesar Chavez Plaza, the site of the Occupy Sacramento demonstration.

Both police and protesters described the arrests as peaceful.

“They went without any problems or issues,” said Sgt. Andrew Pettit, spokesman for the Sacramento Police Department. “They were booked for failure to disperse after a lawful order.”

Anthony Bondi, a spokesman for Occupy Sacramento, agreed.

“It was completely violence-free,” he said Friday afternoon. “The protesters laid down and chose to be arrested.”

Despite what some protesters said they think was an overbearing police presence, Pettit said units involved were either on patrol already or “flexed” their hours to take part in the arrests.

“We had two SWAT teams, the entertainment team and three graveyard teams,” he said, noting that about 40 officers were involved.

The entertainment team is a unit that normally deals with drunken driving and enforcement of laws associated with entertainment venues such as nightclubs, he added.

The protesters who were arrested were booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail, and Bondi said supporters marched to the jail Friday morning.

“Everyone is out now,” he said. “A couple have come back (to Cesar Chavez Plaza).”

Officers making arrests donned riot helmets, which Bondi said seemed excessive.

“I do believe that the police were a little bit overkill with the riot gear,” he said. “I mean, you can’t get less violent and more peaceful than (the demonstrators) were.”

Pettit acknowledged the nonviolent nature of those arrested but said wearing the gear is a standard procedure to ensure the officers are protected in case the situation turns violent.

“It was a precautionary measure,” he said. “They were nonviolent, but it’s to protect our officers in case someone else comes in and gets aggressive.”

He added that officers carry their riot gear in their vehicles at all times, so no specialized units needed to be called in.

The occupation has been in place since Thursday morning, when Sacramentans took part in the nationwide trend.

One of the common questions raised by those observing the occupation has been what the activists’ objective is – and that’s a question the activists themselves are pondering.

“The general consensus here – and I know it’s incredibly broad and vague – is change,” Bondi said. “Even in the Wall Street protests, over a week or two, there was no definitive list of demands.”

Bondi described Occupy Sacramento as a democracy where no one person is a leader, and objectives are being worked out.

“We’re trying to get more organized at this point,” he said. “I just hope people stick with us.”

Pettit said police will continue to enforce the city’s listed park hours and “no camping” ordinance.

“We are anticipating to stay there and do the same thing again,” he said. “We’ll see if the same people want to be arrested. It’s up to them. Our primary concern is keeping the peace.”

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

Washington Park vandal targets children

2011-10-07T05:19:11Z

A Sacramento vandal has targeted children in a recent string of Washington Park vandalism that involves cut swings and a sawed tetherball pole. The perpetrator is currently unknown.

During the weekend of Sept. 24, someone sawed through one of the parks’ tetherball poles just enough to cause the pole to stand straight until it was used, falling down and nearly landing on a Washington Elementary School student. According to Washington Elementary School Principal Marilyn Collins the student was unharmed.

Martha Damjanovic, a local resident of the area and owner of three buildings in blocks that surround the park, was surprised that she hadn’t noticed the sawing.

“When 14-year-olds jump over the fence in the night to play basketball, we notice them. That sort of thing is common. This isn’t the work of kids. Someone came in and cut through the metal by hand. We would’ve heard power tools,” she said.

Before the cutting of the tetherball pole, school authorities noticed vandalized swings that were cut so that students slipped through the seat when they sat on them.

“We don’t know if they were necessarily targeting students, but definitely children,” Collins said Wednesday.

Damjanovic explained the logistics of the vandalism.

“During school hours, it is locked down for the elementary school children to use,” she said. “After school hours, (the park) is open to the public. Somebody had to have come in and cut through the pole just enough so that when children played it would fall over,” she said.

According to Damjanovic, vandalism is not common in the area.

Collins, on the other hand, seemed less surprised.

“We are in an area that has the potential for something like this to happen,” she said. “There is a rehab center close by, there is transiency, so anything is possible.”

Collins said that the school is combating future vandalism by installing surveillance cameras, and promoting communication between the school and the community.

Damjanovic mentioned a rumor of the school closing the park during non-school hours, but Collins dispelled this.

“We want to maintain the community relationship, but we also want to ensure safety during the school day,” Collins said.

If you have any information regarding the vandal, email Marilyn Collins and contact the police.

Local workers join nationwide movement with Occupy Sacramento

2011-10-07T01:10:23Z

Protesters took to Cesar Chavez Plaza Thursday to fight what they say is the richest 1 percent of Americans controlling 50 percent of the country’s wealth – and they plan to “occupy” Sacramento for at least a week.

“I’m out here to fight for the people so we can get power back from the corporations,” said Neph Garcia, a diesel mechanic from Woodland.

“The 1 percent is making the decisions, and the 99 percent suffers from those,” he added. “We have to be free from corporate decisions. The politicians are pretty much their puppets.”

About 300 protesters with Occupy Sacramento assembled at Cesar Chavez Plaza downtown on Thursday morning before setting off on a march around the Capitol, chanting slogans such as “banks got bailed out, we got sold out.”

Police on horseback and bicycle kept watch over the marchers, occasionally blocking traffic as they crossed streets. Protesters stayed on the sidewalks, as they did not have a permit to demonstrate on the streets.

Christopher MacDonald, a spokesman for Occupy Sacramento, said there is no set time for the occupation to end, and the idea is to raise awareness of the issue as well as stand in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street group and others like it across the country.

Occupy Sacramento is not directly affiliated with other groups around the country, he added.

Sacramento Police Department spokesman Sgt. Andrew Pettit characterized the protests as peaceful, estimating that on Thursday afternoon the number of people demonstrating at the plaza was around 150 or 200.

“They’re obeying the traffic signs and rules, they’re not disturbing businesses and they’re even staying in the crosswalks,” he said.

Earlier in the day, some demonstrators tried to enter a couple of banks, but the doors were locked, and no demonstrators got in, Pettit said.

By Thursday afternoon, no arrests had been made, and no additional police patrols were called in.

“We’re using our existing patrols and diverting some of them downtown,” Pettit said.

Sacramentan Pedro Leon, who operates a printing press for the California Department of Justice, said he came out to show his support for the movement.

“Enough is enough,” he said. “We thought we sent the message when we elected Obama and others, but that message is not being heard.”

Leon said the ultimate goal, as he sees it, is to allow Americans to once again embrace the American Dream.

“It’s no longer what my parents had,” he said. “Then, a father could work and support his family comfortably. Now, you can’t even do that with two incomes.”

Other protesters said they shared the frustration of their compatriots in other cities, with Sacramentan Jacob Mendez, a student assistant, saying the U.S. economy is “one-sided” and characterizing big business as “corporate fascists.”

Sacramento stay-at-home mom and activist Krystin Leonhardt said she is upset that oil companies, banks and big agriculture businesses are “posting record profits” while schools can’t afford supplies.

“I’d like to see our government recognize that they represent us, not corporations with big money,” she said. “People are starting to take power, and they’re realizing there’s power in numbers.”

According to the Associated Press, labor unions joined the fray Wednesday when they gave their support to the activists.

The Local 1000 chapter of the Service Employees International Union supported the Occupy Sacramento movement.

"I encourage everyone to support these demonstrators in Occupy Sacramento and Occupy Wall Street because we need an economy that supports middle class families," Local 1000 President Yvonne R. Walker said in a press release.

"The Occupy Wall Street movement has done a great job of drawing attention to income disparity in this country and the need to create middle class jobs,” she added. “We need to do what we can to support them here in California."

The union represents about 45,000 Sacramento-area workers, and SEIU spokesman Jim Zamora said between 12 and 20 union members were staffing a tent and first aid station throughout the day, handing out water and other items to the protesters.

“It’s not a Democrat or a Republican issue,” said Diana Bennett, a protester from Roseville who works as a bookkeeper. “People are really standing up to the corporate money running this country. We’re fighting to get it back.”

Cesar Chavez Plaza closes at 11 p.m. and reopens at 5 a.m., according to Pettit. Demonstrators may be cited or arrested if they stay in the park while it is closed.

MacDonald said protesters planned to stay in the park and were talking with police on Thursday afternoon.

“We want to work things out,” he said, “but this is a full occupation, so we want to stay.”

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

Rock Allegiance at Power Balance Pavilion

2011-09-27T02:37:28Z

The Rock Allegiance Tour pulled out all the stops for the last night of their summer tour.

Sacramento’s Power Balance Pavilion hosted an unforgettable evening of loud riffs and primordial deafening screams. Seven bands were schedule to perform. Drive A, Crossfade, Red, P.O.D. and Puddle of Mud were scheduled to perform, as well as co-headliners Buckcherry and Papa Roach. Puddle of Mud was unable to attend due to an illness. Me be thinking hangover, but what do I know?

This concert was off the charts with people jumping over barriers to get to the bands and the bands jumping over barriers to get to fans. I didn’t know whether I should be watching the bands or the crowd. Both were entertaining, both were over the top and both were screaming at each other. It was a mess!

Out of all the bands, I think Buckcherry had the best performance of them all. While just as crazy as the other bands, they had a modicum of control to the point of sounding like a real band. Not to rip the other bands, but when these guys are screaming into their mics with their guttural growls and flying through the air like Mighty Mouse on crack, it’s hard to hear them because they’re out of breath - or headbanging with someone in the crowd. It was obvious that absolutely nobody agreed with me, since everyone was screaming and singing along with each and every band.

Once Buckcherry took the stage there were a number of people jumping the barriers, only to be rewarded with the ever so gracious security team greeting them and quietly and politely dragging their sorry arse to the curb. Once Buckcherry jumpstarted the crowd into a renewed frenzy, they passed the baton to Papa Roach to finish the night off in style.

Papa Roach hit the stage in full stride and had heads bopping, fans rocking and people jumping off the stage. It was quite an event and all caught on tape, since Papa Roach was filming their part of the show for a new music video. They even had a $100,000+ camera on a boom moving over the crowd to catch all the action.

This really was a night to remember – such a bestial display of pure testosterone all on one stage. As I was heading home listening to the Backstreet Boys I kept wondering what it would be like to fly around like Mighty Mouse on crack, maybe next time.

Perspectives offers stories for all

2011-09-24T03:21:40Z

Despite running shorter and offering fewer speakers than past years, the Metro Chambers’ 17th annual Perspectives event offered a range of speakers diverse enough to make the morning entertaining and fascinating for all attendees.

Perspectives is an annual event for individuals to see notable political and cultural leaders speak in the Sacramento Convention Center.

This years speakers were Olympian Dara Torres, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, and former CIA Director Robert Gates.

Previous speakers include Condoleezza Rice, Mikael Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher and Elizabeth Dole.

After videos of sponsors, various introductions to the event, and an audio-less video montage of Dara Torres swimming spliced with an interview, the Olympian, author, and TV commentator took the stage and proceeded to describe her unconventional swimming career. She focused mostly on her post-natal decision to swim in the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the age of 41. She came home from Beijing with three silver medals, one of which was due to finishing only .01 seconds behind the winner.

Erin Harris, Director of the American Heart Associations Go Red for Women, said that she found 12 time Olympic medalist and mother the most interesting of the morning.

“As a woman she was very inspiring,” Harris said.

“We all have our own obstacles we have to overcome,” Torres said. “No matter what age you are, there’s always someone helping you.”

Despite sounding trite at times, it was clear that Torres’ intention was earnestness on Friday morning, even momentarily choking up after mentioning the death of her longtime coach.

Following Torres was Twitter co-founder Isaac “Biz” Stone. The 37-year-old entrepreneur promoted creative perseverance by telling stories of starting a lacrosse team at his high school after not being accepted into any of the already organized sports teams, dropping out of college to pursue graphic design after inadvertently getting hired as a designer as a result of secretly placing his own graphic design work in a file of professional pieces at a firm where his actual duties were just moving boxes of books, and developing Twitter despite nearly unanimous skepticism.

“Creativity is a renewable resource,” Stone said. “You as a person have infinite creativity. To succeed spectacularly, be ready to fail spectacularly.”

“Biz was very fun,” said Sacramento Metro Chamber interm president and CEO Martha Clark Logren. “There was positive energy in the room.”

While Torres and Stone spoke candidly and seemed to improvise for the sake of storytelling, Robert Gates, 2006-11 Secretary of Defense, former Director of the CIA and the final speaker of the morning spent much of his time staring down into the podium while speaking about the future of the United States and its relationships with China, North Korea, and Russia.

After beginning with a series of puns such as, “It’s just great to be anywhere but Washington D.C.,” Gates spoke to Perspectives attendees as one might expect the leader of the CIA: direct, confident, and forewarning.

“In the coming years the United States and Asia will become more inextricably linked...It is important for the United States to have a military presence in Asia,” he said.

Although he admitted that he was pessimistic in his CIA days, Gates’ closing remarks suggested a change in his attitude during the years since, “There are no painless solutions to the challenges we face...But regarding the American future I am an incredible optimist.”

KFBK Operations Manager Alan Eisbenson said that Gates was his favorite speaker of the event.

“I thought he had the most interesting information,” Eisbenson said.

Le Butcherettes

2011-09-23T19:01:38Z

Scanning the Harlow’s crowd an hour or so before Le Butcherettes were slated for the stage, you would have found lead singer Terri Gender Bender leaning against a large pillar, her small foot tapping in rhythm with the hard drumming coming from Diciembre Gris, the second opener.

This small metronome action would have been the only outgoing behavior exhibited by Terri, who, off stage, seems quiet, docile and introverted. When approached by fans or curious bystanders, Terri offered the same genuine smile and sweet responses, a reaction surprisingly different from what you would expect to come from a bawdy woman known for her bloody apron uniform.

That is until Ms. Gender Bender got on stage. Quite quickly, drummer Gabe Serbian, bass player Jonathan Hischke and frontwoman Terri Gender Bender transformed what was a quiet, table-seated night at Harlow’s into a frantic mosh pit and interactive musical rock-out.

"Performing lets me get all the demons out,” Terri said.

Her theatrical, but authentic performance included aggressive thrashing about, numerous acrobatic attempts and playing the “trust fall” game where Terri without hesitation, lunged forward, backward, and upside down onto the crowd multiple times.

This dual persona is exactly what Terri tries to express through her artistic project.

“I want to show this shift — the change from domestic housewife who is silent and sweet and who spends her time cleaning the kitchen to this breaking of all feminine duties, to this raging animal release!” Terri said, breaking into Spanish to better express herself.

Jumping off stage wasn’t Terri’s only public interaction. After running through the crowd, singing and shouting, Terri ran out the front door, straight into oncoming traffic on busy J Street, hailing cars and drawing the crowd out behind her. The first car to stop was the Sacramento Police.

A few dance moves and a mad dash back inside, Terri was back on stage with the crowd short on her heels.Soon enough, Terri’s singing was interrupted as she was asked to come outside.

“Umm, sorry, but the police force wants to have a few words with me. Please hold on,” Terri heavily breathed into the microphone.

Minutes passed, and still Terri remained outside, time enough that concerned band members Serbian and Hischke alarmingly shuffled outside too. Onlookers gawked, traffic stopped, and fans shared their frustration.

“C’mon, its artistic expression!” one female yelled.

Eventually Terri was allowed to return to her guitar. Without any sign of anger, she convinced patrons that we should thank the police.

“They look after us and our health,” she said. And then led a screaming frenzy which morphed into possessed rag-doll dancing and spit spraying, scenes only a little short from “The Exorcist.”

But Le Butcherette’s offered a variety of musical compositions. A few, select pieces started slow, with seductive, stand-alone, eerie vocals. But they didnt last long, blasted unexpectedly by fast drums and loud guitars. The energetic ups and downs only added to the musical intensity put on by the trio.

Long-time admirer, Adrienne Beatty shared, “She’s just so nice and sweet. But up there [on stage], its surprising how empowering she is! You get a sense that this is a strong woman-led band.”

Le Butcherettes strong talent has put them on tour with extremely well-know musicians, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Deftones, Iggy and the Stooges, and currently, The Flaming Lips.

“They all are really, really great people. Its been amazing to tour with them. But maybe my favorite has been Deftones. They were just so nice, offering us coffee and joints,” Terri shared bashfully.

Applause goes out to I’m Dirty Too and Diciembre Gris who played alongside Le Butcherettes evening performance.

Catch Le Butcherettes again when they come back to northern Californian this December. In the meantime, head over to Harlow's to see the next fine bands in line.

Broadacre brews up new blends at Temple’s old space

2011-09-23T06:13:54Z

Less than a month after Temple Coffee moved from its 10th Street location, four artisan coffee enthusiasts are taking over the space to open Broadacre Coffee and offer a personalized, one-on-one, cultural take on modern-day cafes.

Brothers Lucas Elia and Jacob Elia – who owned Bloom Coffee in Roseville for three years – and former Bloom Coffee baristas, Andrew Lopez and Justin Kerr, are in the process of setting up their new coffee shop at 1014 10th St., which is slated to open in the next week.

To keep updated on Broadacre Coffee’s progress and find out when the shop will open, check its Twitter and Facebook pages.

“The opportunity just arose, and we really love that area,” Lopez said. “(The) building is just fantastic – it’s an iconic staple of the area.”

Most of the structural aspects of the building will not change, though the four owners have spent a week on renovations and mostly cosmetic changes. The entire renovation process is expected to take one and a half to two weeks.

The owners said they are focusing on brightening up the space, using bright colors and creating a casual atmosphere with a ‘50s and ‘60s, “Mad Men”-esque style.

The benches along the inside walls of the shop, leftover after Temple’s move, will be renovated and reupholstered. There will be tables and banquette seating as well as a lounge area with a couch and chairs.

Free wireless Internet will be provided, and electrical outlets will be available at almost every table.

While customers can come in to get a quick coffee or tea and go, Lucas Elia said that the distinguishing factor of the shop is the personal, one-on-one experience offered to every customer. Every order will be personally completed from start to finish by one barista.

“When you walk in, you’re going to be with us while (we walk) you through the process of the brew and explain where the coffee is from and what hands it (has) passed through,” Lopez said.

“We’re challenging what’s considered normal in coffee,” Kerr said. “More mainstream-wise, (coffee has) become more of a fast food item – you walk into a place, they hit a bunch of buttons on a machine, it spits out your coffee, you take it, and you pay $4 or $5 for it and go.”

For any given cup of coffee, the barista can tell the customer not just the country the beans came from but also the name of the farm where they were grown, the story behind the farmer, the exact lot the beans were grown on, the elevation they grew at, the date the beans were harvested and the background of the beans’ fermentation process.

Broadacre Coffee will carry eight to 10 different coffees at any given time from four different roasters that will rotate and be switched out as new coffees become available.

“We’re going with pretty much whoever we think has good coffee at the time,” Elia said. “It’ll bring a huge influx of coffees to Sacramento that weren’t available before.”

During the grand opening, coffees from four West Coast based roasters will be available: Intelligentsia from Los Angeles; Four Barrel Coffee from San Francisco; Coava Roasters from Portland, Oregon and Verve Coffee Roasters from Santa Cruz.

Customers can choose any of the available coffees to be made with any specific brewing method. Broadacre Coffee offers four distinct brewing methods: Aeropress, a quick and clean method that produces a lighter coffee with less body; French press, a total immersion method that creates a bold, heavy bodied coffee with a punch; V60, a Japanese style method that produces a crisp, clear flavor with very subtle nuances; and Chemex, a German style method that produces a very similar product to that of the V60 method but can make two to three cups in a batch.

Teas from Intelligentsia, sourced directly from the farms, will also be available. Kerr said they also plan to eventually carry herbal teas. They plan to source herbs from a nursery and then dry and cure the leaves to be chopped for the herbal teas and medicines.

All the flavorings and syrups will be made in-house, ranging from homemade vanilla syrup made from Tahitian vanilla beans to lavender syrup made by extracting the lavender in alcohol and diluting the concentrate with simple syrup . Elia said their goal is to create flavors that complement the coffee rather than mask it.

“Coffee is sort of an imperfectable science,” Elia said. “It changes every single day and it’s fun to be able to learn as much as you can about it and use all of the things that you have in your control to try to make the best possible coffee. And then you have to come back tomorrow and do the same thing just as well.”

“It’s more of a craft than it is a commodity item,” Lopez added. “I like to equate it more to beer making or wine making – there’s so much more intricacies that go into it, and not every cup is ever the same.

“When you have a great Guatemalan coffee that tastes like candied oranges,” he said, “it’s mind-blowing. You don’t think of coffee in that sense.”

Broadacre Coffee is located at 1014 10th St. Its hours will be 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. every day after construction is complete.

Sacramento composer uses Kickstarter to educate

2011-09-23T04:18:54Z

Sacramento composer and band leader Harley White, Jr. is writing and arranging “Louis and the Gator,” a New Orleans-style Jazz re-write of Sergie Prokofievs’ musical “Peter and the Wolf.” White will begin to officially promote the project on the fundraising website Kickstarter.com starting Sep. 30.

His goal is to raise $9,000 by Nov. 10 to fund a live performance of “Louis and the Gator,” record a CD featuring his jazz arrangements of Prokofievs’ compositions, produce an interactive educational DVD and write a children's book.

Launched in 2009, Kickstarter.com allows entrepreneurs and artists to post projects and garner funding from investors who can donate any amount from $1 to thousands. By donating their money, these investors are in return promised something from the creator of the project. If the project is not funded by a specified date, no one pays.

“Louis and the Gator” has raised $192 so far. White has 48 days left to reach his goal.

This project is White's attempt at educating adults and children on the history of American music. The story is closely based off of USSR composer Sergei Prokofievs’ “Peter and the Wolf,” a musical about a young boy who captures a wolf and then convinces a group of hunters to take it to a zoo rather than shoot it.

But within this tale of childhood animal empathy is a composer’s desire to educate the Soviet youth on symphonic music.

“‘Peter and the Wolf’ was commissioned by Moscow to help their cultural arts program in the mid 30s,” White said, “to help children understand the four families of instruments that can be found in the symphony orchestra: the percussion family, the reed family, the brass family and the string family.”

Some of Whites’ changes for “Louis and the Gator,” include Louis Armstrong as Peter, famed jazz trumpeter Charlie Parker as the bird and New Orleans’ native alligator in place of the wolf.

The 46-year-old Midtown resident, professional composer and band leader has been involved in music since his childhood. He released two records with Papa’s Culture in the ‘90’s; played on albums by Cake, Blackalicious and Faith Evans; and he plays bass in the Harley White, Jr. Orchestra.

“I respect and honor music education,” he said. “I teach music, but I am not a music teacher in the traditional sense.”

White educates through conversation. This became clear as he spoke about the jazz roots of the wah-wah pedal, a brief biography of musicologist Alan Lomax, and Duke Ellington’s decision to place a microphone closer to the bassist which, White believes, acted as a catalyst for the heavier sound of the music in the 1950s and onwards.

“Louis and the Gator” is his attempt at making this kind of knowledge interesting to the public, and accessible to children.

“I’m doing my part to do programming that people can take their kids to, and that’s still fine art,” White said.

The performance of “Louis and the Gator”will be a completely live, all-ages show. The date and location will depend upon whether or not White gets enough funding.

“The musicians will be in a pit,” White said. “I will be playing bass, and I’m thinking about putting together a dance piece–a modern jazz ballet if you will.”

According to his Kickstarter page, White hopes to eventually tour the country to educate the public on American music, and entertain them too.

Producing the recordings of Whites’ Prokofiev arrangements is Tower of Power keyboardist Roger Smith. Smith has produced albums for Jeff Beck, Gladys Knight, and Willie Nelson among others.

Some of the gifts that White is offering to investors on Kickstarter are tickets to the performance of “Louis and the Gator,” interactive DVD’s, private music lessons and even a catered private Harley White, Jr. Orchestra performance for those who donate $1,000 or more.

For more information, or to donate, go to the “Louis and the Gator” Kickstarter page.

DWB: All things must pass

2011-09-22T00:23:25Z

Well, this is awkward...

Over my nearly three years at The Sacramento Press, I’ve written some nice farewells to folks who’ve left us, and I’ve even had to fire a couple of people. Not what I signed on to do.

But now I find that the tables are turned: I was laid off yesterday as Editor in Chief of The Sacramento Press. It was a cost-cutting measure, done to get this young company to profitability. Not the way I wanted to help get there, but you do what you can. Yikes.

I wasn’t the only one, but that doesn’t really lessen the sting. In some ways, it makes it worse. The other person laid off is media-shy, and I will respect that. But I do want to say that she also worked hard to put Sacramento Press on the map, and used her lifetime of connections and skills in her job running our events, including our workshops and our presence at other events around town. She worked nights, she worked weekends, and she literally built Sacramento Press, supervising the expansion of our little office into our huge office.

We are the last two people you’d expect to be laid off, but we were the first. The reasons were financial, which many will see as a bad sign for the future of The Sacramento Press. Not knowing the intricacies of the company’s finances, I can’t say. But it may be that trimming the budget will make Sacramento Press profitable sooner, and more attractive to potential investors. And that’s all to the good.

As much as one likes to think of oneself as indispensable, truth is, no one really is, as dozens of my friends who used to work with me at The Sacramento Bee know. It turns out New Media isn’t immune to the difficulties Old Media is struggling with. It’s just hard to make a buck these days. These are tough times, especially in Sacramento, and especially in media.

One thing that bugged me when people were being laid off or bought out at The Bee, by the dozens and then into the hundreds, was that people just disappeared, with no explanation. Didn’t seem right, because journalists hold a unique position in the community. We talk to the public, at our best with the public, and over the years, people get to know us, or at least feel like they do. And then suddenly, we just disappear.

I didn’t want to do that here. People identify me with The Sacramento Press – some even think I started it, which is absolutely not true – so I didn’t want to skulk off into the night. Not my style in any case. You all are pretty much stuck with me.

I understand why I was cut – when you’re cutting costs, you cut where it helps the company the most, and I was one of the highest-paid people there – and I want to make it clear that I harbor no ill will towards Ben, Geoff and Joel. These three active founders of The Sacramento Press have given Sacramento an amazing gift, one that more than 1000 writers of all stripes and skills have taken advantage of to express themselves and to fill the gaps in local news coverage when other news outlets are cutting back.

When Ben said he considered me a good friend as he was dumping my ass, I scoffed. But I know he meant it, and the feeling is mutual. I have enjoyed his company, and his perpetual-mind-on-fire, not unlike my own, though Geoff and Joel’s company is a bit less...intense. I’ll probably enjoy Ben’s brainstorm-tirade-lectures even more now that I know that I can tell him I think he’s nuts. He can’t fire me again.

And don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t ALL jokes and hugs and after-hours beer pong. Things were done, decisions made, that I didn’t agree with. I had a lot of room, but I wasn’t in charge, and young people at a young company can make just as many mistakes as old people at an old company. Nobody’s perfect, and mistakes are part of the process. As the old guy at a young company, I made a number of my own.

But I have benefited from the Press as much as anyone in this town, and I’m grateful for all of it. Working here has given my career a whole new dimension that it lacked, provided me a good reason to meet many, many more people in my hometown than I ever thought I’d have the pleasure to know, and allowed me to get on a first name basis with some big shots and some derelicts (sometimes in one person). Above all, it has taught this old dog some pretty good new tricks. If anyone wants to hire me to do them, let’s talk. Arf.

The Sacramento Press will keep going. Too many people have invested too much in it for it not to. Beyond that, it’s just a good idea. But it will take more people in the community spending time on the site, and writing for it, to make it work. Before they hired me, Ben and Geoff and Joel intended it as a community resource, not a place for professional reporters to work. That will likely be its future.

(To Josh Fernandez: I love you, mijo, but you’re missing the point. Let’s have a beer.)

That said, when I came on board, I changed that direction a bit, and the founders went for it, and I think that the young pros I hired – Kathleen Haley, Suzanne Hurt, Jonathan Mendick, Brandon Darnell, Mariel Tagg and Melissa Corker – more than justified the faith we put in them. That core of good journalists has been the bones around which this “paper” has made its name. We don’t have a huge readership, but we have a very engaged one, and it is largely because of the core of good work these people did. I’m proud of every single one of them.

Above all, Managing Editor Colleen Belcher has been a spectacularly good partner in all of this, always ready to do what was asked (or more often, unasked, but needed anyway), organized in ways I’ll never be, and ever-willing to try my crazy ideas. She kept this ship afloat when I was off schmoozing and brainstorming and half-writing editorials and spreading the word and drinking way too many lattes at Naked Coffee...and she will continue to do that into the future. I’ll especially miss that startled look she’d get when I’d call her name and she wondered what the hell I was going to think of next. We were a good team, and I’ll miss her.

But the overarching purpose of The Sacramento Press was always this: To give people in the community, ordinary folks who don’t have journalism degrees or journalism jobs, the opportunity to be heard. That is a noble goal, and a practical one. It is also idealistic – I don’t think I’ve met many more idealistic people than the founders of this company – but as yesterday’s layoffs underline, idealism only gets you so far. The platform is here, but it’s up to the community – the people SacPress calls “community contributors” – to use it and keep making it better.

So...I do tend to go on, but that’s the beauty of being a community contributor: You write for free, but no one tells you what to write, or how long. If you’re a writer, you write. And The Sacramento Press is a place to post it. It doesn’t pay well, but instant gratification is underrated.

Where I’m going next, I have no idea, other than to the unemployment office, which will be a whole new adventure – my first time in 36 years of gainful employment. Getting paid not to work? I could get used to that idea. I may even head out in the old VW van for a couple of weeks and try to remember who I am apart from writing and media and even Sacramento. I’m sure there’s someone there. He might be a hippie.

Sacramento is my home, and I’ll continue to sport around town on my trusty Elektra Amsterdam, drinking the occasional Monkey Knife Fight at the Rubicon, listening to friends play at The Torch, and finally (finally!) getting to the gym.

If you see me, please say hello. I’d love to talk.

Disclosure: David Watts Barton is former Editor in Chief of the Sacramento Press.

Big-name speakers headed to Sacramento

2011-09-21T06:06:15Z

Condoleezza Rice, Lisa Ling and film critic Richard Roeper are some of the speakers who will come to Sacramento for the seventh season of the Sacramento Speakers Tour, which begins Oct. 11 at the Community Center Theater downtown.

“It’s a beneficial community experience, a chance to get up close and personal with nationally known individuals enriching the community for a vast and wide amount of topics,” said Angie Fotiades, a spokeswoman for the tour.

The other speakers are Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough, CNN Political Analyst and former presidential aide David Gergen, and investigative travel reporter Peter Greenberg.

The series will be hosted by former financial news anchor Kelly Brothers.

“I am thrilled to be the MC for the Sacramento Speakers Series!” Brothers said in a prepared statement. “This is a chance for me to engage in a one-on-one conversation with people who have lived lives of great accomplishment. I am really looking forward to the opportunity.”

This will be Brothers’ first year hosting the series, and it will also be the first year it is owned by local attorney Mitchell Ostwald.

Ostwald purchased it from the Bay Area owners after last year’s season in Sacramento because he “did not want to see an educational and entertaining series vanish from the Sacramento community.”

He added that the series gives Sacramentans the chance to hear about a variety of topics from well-known and respected speakers.

Fotiades said feedback in past years has been positive.

“The typical feedback I’ve gotten is people usually join because of our big speakers – last year we had Laura Bush and Tom Brokaw,” she said, “but the reason people renew is they see the lesser-known names are enlightening or really interesting, and they didn’t expect to have such a good time.”

Audience members get the option to submit questions via the Internet or on cards passed out at the speaking engagements, and Brothers leads a Q-and-A session following the speeches, which are usually about an hour, Fotiades said.

What the speakers discuss depends on them, and Fotiades said it isn’t known yet what the topics will be for this season.

Tickets to the speaking engagements can’t be purchased individually, but Fotiades said a subscription to the whole series – all six speakers – is $205 and can be purchased online by clicking here.

With the series opening Oct. 11, the last day to purchase subscriptions to the full course is Oct. 10. After that, prorated subscriptions will be available. All events wil be held at the Community Center Theater, 1301 L St.

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

Ask Officer Michelle - A Personal Assistance Shady Request

2011-09-18T18:01:33Z

Posted by gigglebabe

this may be silly but need some info
My daughter looking for summer work decided to place a ad on craigs list. she received a replay from a guy and said he needed a personal assistant she was all caught up in making her on money she said she would do what ever it was he needed long story short her first task was to take these money orders and cash them , then western union the money, thought it was weird but told her the bank or post office would be able to tell if they were fake well they were, i just want to know that she wont be in trouble for taking them to the post office (they kept them and said they would be turned over to the investigators) and should we contact this person and tell them we got them cashed I for one would like this person caught and dealt with.

Dear gigglebabe,

It sounds to me that your daughter was caught up in a possible counterfeit/money laundering scam.

Personal assistants pick up dry cleaning, groceries and run errands; they do not cash money orders. This man was taking advantage of your daughter. What will happen now is that the postal inspectors will contact your daughter to get more detailed information and corroborate what she told them. They will continue their investigation from there. Since the US Postal Service is now involved, this is a federal investigation and your daughter must be truthful and tell the postal inspector what she knows. I don’t know the extent in which your daughter is involved, the status of this case and I am only responding to information you are giving me.

Meanwhile, if your daughter needs a job, there are more legitimate companies who look to hire personal assistants. Be wary of ads in the back of local free newspapers that advertise for personal assistants or personal escorts. They are often fronts for prostitution. Word of mouth is best, or tell your daughter to place applications marketing her skills to legitimate businesses.

It is great that your daughter is motivated about trying to earn her own way. Hopefully your daughter has learned from this. Thank you for your post.

Officer Michelle

New Spanish Language School Plans to Add Its Sazón to Midtown’s Growing Latino Presence

2011-09-17T07:09:00Z

September 19th will mark the first day of classes for adult students at midtown’s newest addition, CASA de ESPAÑOL. Part gallery, part language center for kids and adults, CASA hopes to add its own sazón (spice) to midtown’s growing Spanish and Latino flavor.

Already speckled with restaurants and galleries like Zocalo, Spanglish, Tapa the World, ArtWork 21, and La Raza Galeria Posada, midtown is beginning to boast a strong Hispanic/Latino presence. CASA de ESPAÑOL intends to contribute to their work by also bringing awareness and love for the diversity and richness within the Latino world.

Disclosure: I am the owner of CASA de ESPANOL.

Hundreds Gather at State Capitol to Celebrate Mexico's Independence Day

2011-09-17T05:48:59Z

Hundreds of people gathered at our state’s capitol Thursday night to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day.

Voices rang proud and flags swayed high, as both the American and the Mexican national anthems were sung in tribute to the mixture of these heritages. Americans of all cultural backgrounds stood in solidarity, reveling in the significance of this day, when, 201 years ago, Mexico waged war against Spanish rule and tyranny.

Still for many, the festivities were more than just remembering what happened two centuries ago, or eating too much of the amazing food provided by Sacramento’s mobile food trucks. Instead, they represented the struggle of Mexican Americans here in the United States in becoming an important and recognized ingredient in America’s melting pot.

As people listened to their favorite ranchera and banda music, wore their craziest or most authentic Mexican outfit, and cried out “Viva México, y Viva los Estados Unidos” (Long live Mexico, and long live the United States), cheers of gratitude and pride echoed everywhere for the great struggle of our ancestors, who fought for equality in this country.

Having the opportunity to celebrate who we are on the steps of California’s great capitol, made the Mexican American struggle and its successes that much more real for all of us there.

Caltrans celebrates rail safety month

2011-09-15T23:47:51Z

September is Amtrak California’s rail safety month. Board members, Caltrans employees, and Senator Carol Liu spoke Thursday at the California State Railroad Museum about California’s rail safety statistics and the future of rail safety.

California has the most railroad fatalities annually in the nation, and has the second most incidents of trespassing.

“Since 2008, 300 people have been killed in railroad accidents just in California,” said Caltrans Chief Deputy Director Richard Land. “Our belief is that tragic incidents like these can be stopped.”

September was dedicated rail safety month in 2009 when California passed resolution No. 10, a bill promoting education of railroad hazards intended to eliminate accidents in the future.

Senator Carol Liu, author of the resolution, said, “Our goal is to educate parents since many trains pass schools. We need to bring down the number of folks trying to beat the train.”

Caltrans demonstrated the necessity of educating the public on rail safety through several tragic stories.

One of these stories was told by Caltrans Maintanence Supervisor Frank Ornelaz II, the final speaker at the event. Ornelaz described an incident in which his father was anxiously rushing home from the dentist (he had been robbed the night before) and was fatally hit while trying to beat an oncoming train.

Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator Pete Aadland described another incident in which a train slammed into a semi-truck that was carrying gasoline and that, according to Aadland, “resulted in a fireball that could be seen for five miles.”

But due to the state’s resolution and Caltrans dedication to safety, fatal incident are on the decline.

Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Board Chair Bob Franklin said “Since 2009 rail accidents have declined steadily...We have also put up fencing along Oakland's Jack London Square, and plan to do the same in other parts of the state.”

Franklin said it takes a train five minutes, or ½ mile, to stop after engaging the brakes.

“Collectively, we can all contribute to railroad safety,” said Ornelaz.

For more information, visit www.amtrak.com or http://www.dot.ca.gov.

Dancers flash mob Capitol Mall

2011-09-15T23:20:15Z

More than 100 downtown workers took part in a flash mob on Capitol Mall at Sixth Street Thursday afternoon that saw choreographed dancing to various songs during the farmers market.

Kam Grant, a nearby worker, said she had fun during the approximately four-minute dance session.

“It’s basically to help promote the Capitol Mall district and promote the businesses here on Capitol Mall,” she said

Practicing was done in small groups, with Grant’s group holding four hour-long practices before Thursday.

Capitol Mall flash mob from Brandon Darnell on Vimeo.

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

Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "downtown"

Council: Parking lease issue won't reach June ballot

Willie's Burgers launches food truck

Ask Officer Michelle - Officers Using Cellphones While Driving

The Republic opens

Stuck In The Middle

Traces of a Native Son: Searching for Clarence Glacken

Blackbird to open by end of February

Mediterranean food coming to K Street

Mikuni celebrates 25 years

Sharif Jewelers to open new location on K Street

10 Reasons Why a 50-Year Parking Agreement is Bad for Sacramento

City celebrates R Street project completion

Local businesses collaborate on coffee-infused beer

Arena headlines State of Downtown discussion

Drewski's combines food truck fare, sports bar

Coyote Tap House to take old Brew it Up! spot

How do bookstores survive in the digital age?

Favorite sandwiches star in new food truck

Ask Officer Michelle - What To Do About a Friend Who's Using Drugs

G Hum Parade through Midtown, Southside Park

The Sacramento Press on 'Insight'

2011 roundup recap

Top 10 stories of 2011

New businesses coming in 2012

Year in review: Food vs. government

Year in review: Business comings and goings

Year in review: Up-and-coming R Street

Year in review: Changes to K Street

Year in review: Business milestones

Downtown Sacramento Christmas Lights Photos

I Street Bridge turns 100

Photo essay: Estelle's Patisserie

Christmas gifts under $20

Downtown Construction Photo Update Fall 2011

Ask Officer Michelle - Unusual Use of ATM Card after a Night of Drinking

Expanded bike share program to launch early next year

Ask Officer Michelle - Concerns About Kidnapper out on Parole

Firewood supplier roundup

Blame Sally performs at KVIE

The Sacramento Press on 'Insight'

Man on the Street: business after cars on K

Reunion Tour comes back and wins the Indoor Kickball Championship

California International Marathon draws huge crowds in 28th year

New coffee bar focuses on community, sustainability

Ask Officer Michelle - Suspicious Abandoned Vehicles

City Hall Garage to get new eatery: Big Joe's BBQ

Freshii closes, reopens as Fresca Deli

Ask Officer Michelle - Camping Ordinance In Front of Stores?

MidLife GridLife - Shoot Up, Shut Up, Step Up?

Ask Officer Michelle - Police Arrest Two in Connection with Beating a Mentally Challanged Woman

City retrofits parking garages, saves $1.1 million

A Sign in the Window

Ruhstaller beer makes Sacramento comeback

Hundreds gather to celebrate cars returning to K Street

Local blog tracks restaurants, happy hours

French pastry shop coming to K Street downtown

Capitol Mall design competition winners announced

Man on the street: What is your favorite building in Sacramento?

Ask Officer Michelle - Reporting Suspicious Subjects

Alleyways of Sacramento receive names, part four

Gourmet seafood restaurant coming to downtown Sacramento

Gym, Tan, Dodgeball win first title, and Team AP completes first 3-peat!

Alleyways of Sacramento receive names, part three

More funding for improvements at intermodal facility

New Metro Chamber CEO brings business, political experience

Boston Takes Over the Naked Lounge This Tuesday

Central city alleys receive names, part two

Central city alleys receive names

Food truck ordinance talks postponed

"Chocolate Salty Balls" Come Out of Nowhere to Win Recess Championship

The Honey Badgers win Xoso's First Softball Championship!

Burgers & Brew expands beer selection, restaurant space

Is trick-or-treating what it used to be?

Ask Officer Michelle - Shared Duplex Debate Over Medical Marijuana Smoke

Firestone Public House to open in February

The Sacramento Press on 'Insight'

Local costume shops offer Halloween necessities

Capitol Mall design competition winners to be announced Nov. 9

Ask Officer Michelle - Citizen Concerned About Neighbors' Pitbulls