Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "downtown sacramento partnership"

Cesar Chavez Memorial Plaza Renovations Coming Soon

2012-01-28T05:02:41Z

After two years of planning and organization, renovations will begin on Feb. 6 for the Cesar Chavez Memorial Plaza. Since its construction 150 years ago, the park has been renovated many times to maintain it and adapt it to the new needs of the public.

“It’s a prominent public space, and I’m looking forward to giving it a facelift,” said J. P. Tindell, park planning and development manager of the Sacramento Department of Parks and Recreation.

Lisa Martinez, marketing director for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP), also said that she looks forward to the “beautification efforts” on the park. The DSP is known for holding many events in the park, including Friday Night Concerts in the Park and the Wednesday Farmers Market.

“The city’s doing their best to make sure the community’s aware of (the renovations),” Martinez said, “and to make sure the business community isn’t negatively impacted.”

The renovations are meant to enhance the park by reducing maintenance and improving the functionality for events like concerts and the Farmers Market. One example is the extension of the walkway from the perimeter sidewalk to the center plaza, which will lengthen the walkway by around a third of its current size and provide direct access to the center plaza from 10th street. Tindell said this part of the park is often used for the beer garden during summer concerts, and replacing turf with walkway will minimize wear and tear on the turf.

Tindell said that this park in particular has more traffic than most in Sacramento, and it has to be renovated more often to compensate. There are three phases of renovations, and while they can be extensive – from placing new benches to raising the stage – Tindell said they want to avoid closing the park.

“We’re not planning on closing it,” Tindell said. “We don’t want to negatively impact the community.”

Tindell said the entire cost of all three phases will be around $800,000. Tindell said that the budget funding comes from the Quimby Act funds, which authorizes local agencies to establish laws requiring new development to pay in-lieu fees for parks. City and state law won’t allow these funds to offset staff operation and maintenance costs.

Tindell added that she and others who’ve planned this for years want to recognize all events held in the park and help them, and help all surrounding businesses as well.

“It’s the front lawn of the City Hall,” Tindell said, “and it should be kept at some level of maintenance.”

The city plans for phases one and two to be completed before concerts begin in May, and phase three should begin toward the end of the year.

Will leasing city garages ruin parking validation?

2012-01-20T18:50:13Z

As the city pursues a potential lessee for the city’s parking inventory, there is an important question to ask: Could the city parking validation program end? If it does, is there a risk of damaging existing businesses – some of which have struggled in the downtown area for years?

According to city parking services manager Howard Chan, Sacramento currently validates parking at city-owned garages for many local businesses and venues, providing an incentive to business owners: They buy the parking at a discount, and they have something to offer patrons as a courtesy.

Merchants buy discounted parking tickets worth $5 of parking for 50 cents each, and the validation is good in any of nine city-owned downtown and Old Sacramento parking garages.

Depending on which garage a shopper uses, that comes out to about two hours of free parking.

In the downtown area, 116 businesses took part in the parking validation program in 2011, according to Chan, bringing in roughly $100,000 in revenue to the city.

Tony Sheppard, co-director of the annual Sacramento Film and Music Festival, said several arts and cultural events that are hosted at venues like the Crest Theatre might be threatened if patrons were not offered validated parking.

“It’s difficult with some arts and cultural events to get people to come from long distances,” Sheppard said Thursday.

“Depending on the time of day, or day of the week, the cost of parking changes,” Sheppard said. “If parking rates go up, validation becomes even more important.”

In an economy where businesses struggle and many come and go, parking validation can be an important incentive for shoppers to go downtown.

If downtown loses the benefit of parking validation, are we championing the cause of one business – an arena for the Kings – at the expense of others downtown?

Assistant City Manager John Dangberg said it’s premature to ask that question.

“In a parking monetization, you go through a lengthy discussion period on the concession agreement,” Dangberg said. “It deals with everything from rates to special events to non-competition – all those get wrapped up in the agreement.”

Once the city gets into those discussions, Dangberg said, then details such as parking validation programs are considered.

Dangberg said, however, that it’s important to remember that any concession agreement is subject to existing agreements – such as parking validation contracts some businesses have with the city already.

“Those are legally binding contracts,” Dangberg said. “They don’t just go away.”

Lisa Martinez, spokeswoman for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said Thursday that the DSP is concerned with maintaining strong customer service for the businesses in the downtown core.

“Parking validation is something that supports the businesses and provides a perk for customers,” Martinez said.

Martinez agreed with Dangberg that it’s too early in the process to know what impact – if any – a parking lessee might have on parking validation programs in the city, but it’s a good idea for business owners to stay aware of the situation.

“There will be opportunity for businesses to weigh in on the process,” Martinez said, “and we encourage them to do that. We’ve also been advocating for (city officials) to consider all the impacts on a private business owner.”

Raelene Trumm, general manager for Westfield Downtown Plaza, said that if the city leases its parking inventory – which would include the parking garage at Downtown Plaza – it would have no real impact on the mall.

“It doesn’t affect us at all,” Trumm said. “We’re covered under contract with the city (for parking validation) until about 2055.”

Trumm said that any change in parking operations at the city level would need to incorporate the plaza’s legally binding contract.

Not all plaza businesses have parking validation as part of their lease, Trumm said, but most permanent tenants in the mall do participate in the validation program.

Other local business owners who take advantage of the city’s validation program say losing it might make a difference in their business.

Nathan Sorgenfrie, a staff member at Chef's Mercantile in Old Sacramento, said that roughly half of the people who come into the store want parking validation – although not all customers knows it is available until it’s offered to them.

“We ask everyone,” Sorgenfrie said Thursday, “and some are surprised by it. But only the first time. When they come back, they usually ask right away.”

Sorgenfrie said that he doesn’t think parking validation is really what drives people to visit Old Sacramento – but it could be the reason they return for a future visit.

Connie Carlson, manager at G. Willikers Toy Emporium in Old Sacramento said her store gives out at least 100 validations a month during busy months – but not every month is that busy, and not every customer needs parking validation.

“I think losing (validation) would make some difference,” Carlson said, “but over time it would be forgotten. It’s a small percentage of our customers.”

While the city is going through the “request for qualifications” process, Dangberg said his office is compiling questions received from interested parties about the city’s parking inventory.

Interestingly, none of the questions received to date address parking validation programs.

It may be too soon to tell what the city’s parking validation program will look like if the city finds a lessee parking operator.

“The question should still be asked,” Sheppard said. “It should at least be on the radar.”

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

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.

The Porch Previewed

2012-01-09T22:16:40Z

Walking up to The Porch people are visually enveloped with a crisp white exterior. Upon entering one will be met with warm shades of brown and cream. The more subdued tones of grey and black provide a strong juxtaposition.

The focus of The Porch for Dine Downtown is Southern fare.

“We offer a specially prepared menu for Dine Downtown,” co-owner Jerry Mitchell said. “The fare we offer here is from Charleston, S.C., injected with California. I just felt it was right for here.”

Hungry patrons start off with the Porch salad, a light buttermilk bleu cheese dressing over roasted beets, apples, pecans and mixed greens.

In the second course, enjoy buttermilk fried chicken, shrimp and grits or blue crab cakes. My dinner date, Melanie Dinos, had the crab cakes on her last visit to The Porch.

“The crab cakes have just enough breading to use as a binder, and they aren’t over-breaded,” Dinos said. “I could put the remoulade on everything."

For those who aren’t sure what remoulade is, think tartar sauce, but better.

With the shrimp and grits dish, micro greens and carrot ribbons add crunch to perfectly cooked shrimp and creamy grits that pair amazingly with crab gravy, wild mushrooms and ham cubes. Bell peppers are prepared in a spicy mixture to add more dimension to the dish.

Finally, the third course wouldn’t be complete without the black bottom crème brûlée. A blackberry sauce is drizzled over fresh whipped cream and the two-tone brûlée. After cracking into a vanilla top layer, chocolate awaits beneath.

Food sustainability is important for the owners of The Porch.

"We try and use as much local product as possible," Mitchell said.

Interested individuals can see where The Porch sources its food from on their website.

Make reservations through Dine Downtown for this and the other 28 participating restaurants.

Dine Downtown kicks off the New Year

2012-01-09T21:59:16Z

The holiday’s are over — now what? How about starting January off right by sampling the best of Sacramento’s dining scene?

Starting today, hungry foodies and food nerds can dine in some of downtown’s favorite hot spots, including the newly opened The Porch Restaurant and Bar, during the annual Dine Downtown Restaurant Week.

Nearly 30 restaurants will offer $30 three-course meals throughout the grid during the next 10 days.

“Dine Downtown gives patrons a chance to relax and treat themselves to a leisurely and delicious three-course meal, at a price that doesn’t break the bank,” said Megan Emmerling, Downtown Sacramento Partnership marketing manager.

“Capitol Garage is known for brunch and lunch,” Capitol Garage and The Porch co-owner Jerry Mitchell said. “We are known for being low brow, but last year we saw a 40 percent increase during Dine Downtown.”

Restaurant owners have found a new challenge in the general population’s interest and knowledge of food.

“It used to be just feed people good food,” Mitchell said. “Now it’s more complicated. People are more aware about sustainability, so it makes it more difficult. We try and use as much local product as possible.”

Last year about 1.3 million dollars was generated in revenue during Dine Downtown.

“Dine Downtown provides restaurants a huge boost at the start of the new year,” DSP executive director Michael Ault said. “We estimate that the event generates just over $1 million in restaurant sales and parking revenue in just 10 days.”

Disclosure: Look for The Porch preview article.

Christmas celebrations, Sacramento-style

2011-12-22T00:43:49Z

As always, Sacramento steps up to the plate with holiday events of all sorts. At Sacramento365.com, we see a lot of events come through the site every day. Though there are myriad options in our Holiday Event section, we've narrowed down the list to 10 to get help you pick your Christmas Eve & Christmas Day festivities.

Christmas Eve Events:
Sure, the night before Christmas should be spent snuggled in bed waiting for Santa Claus, but why not get out and about during the day. Here are some options to keep you entertained around town:

1. Free Admission at Fairytale Town & Sacramento Zoo:
FTT 10am-2pm; Zoo 10am-1:30pm
Treat the kiddies to a day out while both Fairytale Town & the Sacramento Zoo offer free admission to all guests. The Zoo encourages participating in their pajama party, so you needn’t even change

2. Downtown Holiday Ice Rink:
St. Rose of Lima Park, 10am-6pm
Located outdoors near Westfield Downtown Plaza, the Downtown Holiday Ice Rink is the perfect holiday experience for the young and young at heart.

3. It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play:
Capital Stage, 11am
Inspired by the classic American film of the same title, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play is performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast in front of a studio audience.

4. Holiday Film Screenings: It’s a Wonderful Life:
Crest Theatre, 1:30pm, 4:30pm, & 7:30pm
If you can’t make it to Cap Stage’s live performance (see above), you can still catch the original film rendition live on the big screen at the historic Crest Theatre.

5. Theatre of Lights:
Old Sacramento, 6pm & 7:30pm
A symphony of lights, sounds, and visual effects will take the audience back to a time when the beloved poem "The Night Before Christmas" was first introduced in Sacramento in 1857.

Christmas Day Events:
Looking to entertain friends & family in town after your regular traditions are over? Or just looking to get out of the house after so much family time? Sacramento doesn’t disappoint. Here are a few options for

1. Christmas Brunch:
Hyatt Regency, 10am-3pm
Enjoy this holiday season with all of the trimmings. Join for a bountiful buffet brunch featuring breakfast items and traditional holiday favorites.

2. Christmas Day Supper Cruise:
Empress Hornblower, 3:30pm-6:30pm
Join Hornblower for Christmas Day with your family and celebrate the season with a delicious meal, relax and enjoy the holiday. The Cruise includes traditional holiday dishes, festive music, and beautiful views of the Sacramento River.

3. Bah Humbug!:
MiX Downtown, 8:30pm-2am
Get out from under your tree and continue the holiday partying at this special Sunday Circus night. Spend the evening with your "other" family at Mix Downtown!

4. Christmas with Arden Park Roots:
Harlow’s, 9pm
Join reggae/rock/punk band Arden Park Roots for a festive Christmas show.

5. Asylum:
Barcode Nightclub, 9pm-1:30am
Featuring resident DJ Bryan Hawk, Asylum is a night of the best cutting edge goth, industrial, nu-darkwave, EBM dance music.

Find more detail on these events along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Rachael Lankford is the Managing Calendar Editor for Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Winter Sanctuary, Sacramento’s Interfaith Homeless Shelter, Experiencing Critical Funding Gap

2011-11-21T18:59:39Z

Winter Sanctuary, Sacramento’s interfaith, rotating homeless shelter, is currently facing a substantial gap in its budget. The program, which nightly shelters 100 homeless adults, is set to open on December 1st and run through March 31st. However, the program will not be opening on December 1st if the funding gap is not significantly narrowed.

Christie Holderegger, Vice President of Volunteers of America, spoke of the urgent need for this program, “Our neighbors are experiencing homelessness for a variety of reasons and many for the first time. They are looking to us, all of us to help them out of this desperate situation. As a community we can reach and uplift them. We saw hundreds of lives changed last year through Winter Sanctuary, both homeless guests and volunteers.”

Winter Sanctuary began in winter 2010 as a collaborative effort between Sacramento Steps Forward, Volunteers of America and local interfaith congregations. The program brought together local faith congregations, 24 to be exact, who stepped up to host their homeless neighbors and provide shelter, meals, and a welcoming community.

From December through March, a total of 550 unduplicated guests were served through the program, 24 congregations participated and over 2,000 community volunteers lent a hand.

“Winter Sanctuary is truly a successful model of community collaboration at its best. This program demonstrates how constituents from many different areas of our community can come together to help our neighbors,” said Ben Burton, Executive Director of Sacramento Steps Forward.

A volunteer from St. Mark’s United Methodist Church remarked on their experience as a host congregation, “The media constantly bombards us with statistics of the millions of persons in pain and hurting and we have a tendency to throw up our hands and say we can do nothing to make things better. But we had an opportunity in the two periods hosting Winter Sanctuary to affect the lives of a few people in a profound way.”

Yet the funding gap remains, and if not off-set will have an immediate, negative impact on the program’s start date, as well as the 100 homeless folks who could have come inside to escape Sacramento’s cold, wet and rainy winters.

HOW TO GIVE:

Sacramento Steps Forward is encouraging the community to donate. To make a tax-deductible donation, visit their website at SacramentoStepsForward.org and click the red ‘DONATE’ button to be taken to their secure Pay-Pal site.

*We would like to thank the following foundations and donors for supporting Winter Sanctuary: Sacramento Region Community Foundation, the Sierra Health Foundation, the Winn Foundation (with help from Supervisor Phil Serna), the River District, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and the Teichert Foundation. Individual donors have graciously contributed almost $4,000, and Fremont Presbyterian Church contributed $1,500. The Wal-Mart Foundation donated 300 sleeping bags.

Disclosure: Kate Towson is an Americorps VISTA serving with Sacramento Steps Forward.

Local businessman starts effort to 'bring back K Street'

2011-10-17T01:38:35Z

A downtown K Street businessman is turning to other nearby businesses and the community in an effort to jump-start the long-blighted area’s revitalization with the rallying cry: “It's your turn. It's my turn. It's OUR Sacramento.”

Señor Ernesto Delgado de Tequila, owner of Tequila Museo Mayahuel at 1200 K St., wants to start a grassroots campaign encouraging people to come downtown to eat, shop and explore.

“I want to put a call out to people to come here, take a walk and experience downtown,” Delgado said Wednesday. “There is so much here, and people should be part of it.”

Delgado opened his restaurant six months ago on what is arguably the most vibrant section of K Street at the moment.

“We have the IMAX Theatre and The Broiler and Ella on this corner (of K Street),” Delgado said, “and just down the block we have District 30 and Pizza Rock and others. There’s a lot right here.”

According to Lisa Martinez, director of marketing and outreach for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, 20 new businesses have opened in downtown and Old Sacramento since Jan. 1. Five more are expected to open by the end of the year.

But a handful of restaurants isn’t enough to revitalize what years ago was a popular section of downtown, Delgado said.

“We need people to be active on K Street,” Delgado said. “We need foot traffic as much as car traffic.”

The city is opening K Street to cars in November, and large-scale redevelopment projects are in the works on the 700 and 800 blocks of K Street.

Larry Lords, owner of The Broiler, a restaurant across K Street from Tequila Museo Mayahuel, said Wednesday that he “applauds (Delgado’s) effort” to do something positive for the area.

Lords said he is also skeptical about the idea’s success.

“I’m sure he’s getting as anxious as the rest of us are, because this economy is really hurting everyone,” Lords said, “but it might be something better-suited for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership to take the lead on. They do plenty of things like this.”

MIchael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said Friday that he is “excited to hear about what (Delgado) wants to do” for the K Street area.

“We’re supportive of working with the businesses down there,” Ault said, “not just from a business recruitment standpoint, but from an economic standpoint as well.”

Ault said more people coming to K Street is important to the local economy, and he and the DSP are interested in seeing how Delgado and others work together in the effort.

Delgado said his mission to get the community involved in revitalizing a district is not a new idea – but the effort is new to him, so he’s turned for help to neighboring businesses, associations and others who have started similar efforts.

“This is bigger than just one person,” Delgado said. “It’s going to take all of us if anything is going to change for the better.”

Teresa Rocha, executive director for the Greater Broadway Partnership, said Friday that Delgado is “headed in the right direction” with his initiative and she hopes he will keep the idea going.

“The more people like Ernesto who are willing to put time and energy into building up the community, the better,” Rocha said.

The Greater Broadway Partnership was instrumental in the recent revamping of the business corridor along Broadway in Sacramento.

Rocha said she spoke with Delgado last week about his idea for inspiring change on K Street. She gave him some advice based on her experience with the changes on Broadway, including street and sidewalk cleanup efforts, encouraging new businesses to locate there and establishing a property business improvement district.

“I told him to nail down the three main goals that he wants to achieve,” Rocha said, “and then do something that has immediate results.”

Rocha said it will be important to have small successes right away that the effort can build on – longer-term strategies that will help the district in the long run will come easier after that.

“(Delgado) is a new business owner, and he brings a fresh perspective to K Street,” Martinez said.

“There are pockets of activity and pockets of inactivity (on K Street),” Martinez said. “Over the past eight months, we’ve seen a number of new players on the block.”

Martinez said it would be good to see K Street become a dynamic urban center, with more pedestrian activity to spur “the kind of energy you expect on a busy city street.”

Delgado and Martinez both said the movement is in the very early stages, but the concept could go in a number of different directions.

“There are still things to figure out on the concept and deciding who to approach and how to go about making it happen,” Martinez said, “but it’s good to have the passion and energy that Delgado brings.”

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

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

Artober celebrates Sacramento artists

2011-09-03T02:21:20Z

October was officially declared as National Arts and Humanities Month by President Obama back in 2009. Artober is a month-long event starting Oct. 1 that highlights the talents and art resources in Sacramento and celebrates the meaning of the month. It will include local artists, businesses, art walks, festivals, workshops and other special events in Old Sacramento and the downtown area.

Last year, Mayor Kevin Johnson announced that the For Arts’ Sake Coalition would be introducing a new action plan for the Sacramento area. A team of 20 artists and art enthusiasts worked to bring resources together such as getting organizations and businesses involved in the process of making the public aware of the power of the arts. Last year, “Arts Open October” was held, which was a test run and smaller idea of what will be going on this year.

“This is our first year doing it quite like this (bigger than ‘Arts Open October’), and we are trying to rally everyone together, from individual artists to big names like the Mondavi Center,” Artober spokeswoman Veronica Delgado said.

According to Veronica, Sacramento alone holds about 30 museums, a professional ballet company and opera company, music groups and more than 125 theater companies.

“We have different stages of how people are involved,” Delgado said. “We've been sending out letters and making phone calls because we want small and big event supporters. We've also been offering businesses the option of doing an Artober indulge product such as a signature drink or meal.”

The businesses that agree to this will be donating 50 percent of the proceeds to the art organization of their choice, or giving a $200 minimum to it.

“We got enough positive feedback and support to come back and do it again,” Delgado said. “We started with two pages of scheduled events, and now we have almost seven full pages – it's really great that so many people want to jump in and help.”

Some big names that are sponsoring and involved are the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, For Arts’ Sake, Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, Sacramento365, Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Midtown Business Association, the city’s Department of Convention, Culture and Leisure, The Sacramento Bee and the Sacramento News & Review.

“We want individuals to get active also, and we are giving them the option of doing artist 'hot spots.' They can team up with their biggest collector and have an in-home art show. The same goes for musicians. It doesn't have to be big, but if two people bring 10 friends and host it in their backyard, that is giving them a great opportunity to market themselves,” Delgado said.

There is a variety of ways to get involved, and every style of art is included. Fashion designers, singer/songwriters and private dance or theater companies are all welcome.

Clemon Charles, 47, is a local artist who moved from Barbados 20 years ago and has been performing in the United States ever since.

“I'm a very busy singer/songwriter, and I also play guitar,” Charles said.

Charles will be in the global village set up in Old Sacramento on the “Storytellers Stage” (set-up location not yet announced) doing Caribbean-style storytelling for children on Oct. 1 (he does not know his official time yet).

“Children are my favorite (audience), but everybody is welcome,” Charles said. “I do a lot of folk songs with Jamaican and Indian dialects that people won’t understand, so I tell them what I am singing about.”

The World Music and Dance Festival in Old Sacramento will be kicking the month off for the first two days of October.

On Oct. 9, there will be the Arts Open House, which is an entire afternoon of theater performances at the Community Center Theatre that will also include an art fair.

On Oct. 26, Synthia St. James will be the guest artist at the For Arts’ Sake Coalition Meeting at the Guild Theatre located on 2828 35th St. It will be an opportunity for the public to learn about the For Arts’ Sake implementation and hear what’s going on around the region with Artober activities.

The Artober calendar will be finalized in the coming weeks.

“We are not only raising awareness for art, but we are helping local (forms of the) arts build up their potential customer base and giving them the ability to take action into their own hands and make new opportunities for themselves,” Delgado said.

For more information, visit Artober's website or Facebook page.

DWB: Farewell to a good citizen

2011-08-19T00:35:31Z

Many claim to be public servants, but few do work that has as concrete an impact as Ryan Loofbourrow's work has.

No, you didn't vote for him, and you won't see him in the news cutting ribbons, opining on politics or taking credit for this or that civic improvement.

But if you live or visit downtown Sacramento, Loofbourrow's work with the homeless, the mentally ill, public drunks and runaway teens has made the central business district safer, quieter and cleaner for 16 years.

And now he's leaving, for a job in San Diego.

Loofbourrow, who was profiled in The Sacramento Press earlier this year, is the director of community services for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. It has been his job to work with those on the bottom of society, people who nearly everyone else walks past with irritation, pity or fear.

He created and has been been in charge of the yellow-jacketed Downtown Guides, who are scattered around downtown to help answer questions and direct visitors to their destinations, and the blue-jacketed Navigators, who work with serial inebriates and others.

Loofbourrow knows most of the latter by name. He has worked to get public inebriates into the drunk tank, the mentally ill into treatment programs or safe housing, and runaways out of dangerous vacant buildings and into what social services remain after years of budget cuts. His programs are credited with, among other things, reducing the number of serial inebriates by as much as 80 percent since 2005.

The tall, lanky and smiling Loofbourrow combines an openness and accessibility with a no-nonsense demeanor that has served him well with his problematic charges. And he has served Sacramento well.

Perhaps above all, Loofbourrow's expertise lies in his ability to see what the average person can't: That there are different kinds of homelessness, that there are as many personal problems as there are personalities and that everyone should be treated with respect and approached with an optimism that at least SOME help can be given to anyone.

"They are all individuals," he told The Sacramento Press late last year.

Loofbourrow himself is an individual who will be difficult to replace. But through the programs he founded, and the environment he helped create throughout the downtown area, his influence will live on long past his departure.

Friday Night Concert in the Park: see The Nibblers here

2011-07-07T21:42:44Z

Friday night’s concert in the park at Cesar Chavez Plaza features R and B, funk and soul from local sensations The Nibblers. Supporting the headliners will be sets from The Gerald Isaac Pease Combo and The Bellboys.

This week’s show kicks off at around 5 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m.

If you can’t make the show, The Sacramento Press will also be live-streaming video of each band’s performance, which can be found in this article on the day of the show.

Located between Ninth and 10th and I and J streets, this free, all-ages outdoor concert series will run every Friday until Aug. 12. See a full schedule of this season’s lineup here

In its 20th year, Friday Night Concerts in the Park attracts huge crowds of music lovers from all walks of life. Bring the whole family and enjoy fantastic live music, delicious food stands and some of the best people-watching in town. The ever-popular beer garden features local brews and old favorites.

Stop by the Sacramento Press booth, get a balloon for the kids and sign up for our weekly newsletter and weekly local events page, Go.See.Do. You can even rent a blanket to lounge on the lawn while you watch the bands. All blanket rental proceeds will be donated to charity.

To avoid hunting for a spot or parking blocks away from the all the fun, parking is available at the City Hall Garage (10th and I) for $5 after 5 p.m.

Come by and check out the festivities!

Free live streaming by Ustream

Friday Night Concert in the Park: watch Mumbo Gumbo here

2011-06-23T16:26:59Z

Now that summer is finally in full swing, join The Sacramento Press at Cesar Chavez Plaza for Friday Night Concerts in the Park.

Los Blazing Hangovers will open the evening with zesty Latin honky-tonk. Headliners and longtime Northern California favorites, Mumbo Gumbo blend the flavors of Cajun, zydeco, blues, folk and good old rock and roll to create the unique of form of Americana that has kept crowds dancing for 20 years.

This week’s show kicks off at around 5 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m.

Located between Ninth and 10th and I and J streets, this free, all-ages outdoor concert series will run every Friday until Aug. 12. See a full schedule of this season’s lineup here.

Street parking can be a challenge for this Friday night music favorite. To avoid hunting for a spot or parking blocks away from the all the fun, parking is available at the City Hall Garage (10th and I) for $5 after 5 p.m.

In its 20th year, Friday Night Concerts in the Park attracts huge crowds of music lovers from all walks of life. Bring the whole family and enjoy a summer evening full of FREE and fantastic live music, interesting vendors, delicious food stands and some of the best people-watching of the season. The ever-popular beer garden has been expanded for this concert season. Stop by after work and sample a local brew or an old favorite.

This year, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership has launched a new SCVNGR Trek for Concerts in the Park. Download the SCVNGR app before you head out to the show so you can play the “Friday Night Concerts” trek. Complete the challenges to earn points all season long for a chance to win prizes each week.

If you can’t make the show, The Sacramento Press will also be live-streaming video of each band’s performance, which can be found in this article on the day of the show:

Come by and check out the festivities!

Free live streaming by Ustream Free video chat by Ustream

Citizens create 37 redistricting maps

2011-05-24T02:32:31Z

Local groups and individuals created 37 maps by reconfiguring the eight City Council districts as part of the city’s redistricting process.

The number of maps turned into the city for consideration this year marks a significant jump from the 2001 redistricting process, when the public created 13 maps, said Maria MacGunigal, the city’s geographic information system manager.

Residents drew their city maps through the city’s new online redistricting tool. MacGunigal attributes the increased participation in part to the online program.

“The tools were more accessible,” she said.

The city conducted outreach and marketing for the redistricting process, she said.

City Council districts in Sacramento are rearranged with U.S. Census data each decade. The city’s charter says that the deadline for the city to restructure its districts is six months after Census data is released. This year, the deadline will fall in early September, according to city staff.

After 10 years of growth, the city’s districts are no longer even in size. The city’s population jumped from 407,018 in 2000 to 466,488 in 2010. At the current population citywide, 58,311 people should be placed in each of the city’s eight districts, according to city staff.

The 37 maps came from various sources, including neighborhoods and groups representing residents by race or ethnicity.

The African American Leadership Coalition wrote in a statement attached to its map that it aims to “promote voting rights and representation for all Sacramentans while protecting the voting interests and rights of African American communities to elect a representative of choice.”

The coalition also wrote that its map intends to protect neighborhoods and divvy up the districts so they have the same number of people.

In another example, a majority of board members of the East Sacramento Improvement Association submitted a redistricting map. The group said it wants to see a district include River Park, East Sacramento, Midtown and downtown, according to the statement accompanying the map. The current districts have three different City Council members representing East Sacramento, Midtown and downtown.

“It preserves the integrity of traditional neighborhoods and respects groups with shared interests,” the association wrote about its map.

At least two prominent constituencies did not create maps but are still presenting their views to the redistricting committee.

A local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender coalition is advocating for the central city to be represented by one council member.

“We know that we have strong support in the urban core for LGBT issues – that’s split up, (and) we want to put it back together,” according to Rosanna Herber, a community activist involved in the coalition’s effort.

The group also wants the Central City to be joined with one of three other neighborhoods – Land Park, Curtis Park or East Sacramento.

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership also did not draw a map, but told the redistricting committee earlier this month that it would like to see the Central City in one district. The Central City is the heart of a region and a cultural center, said Wendy Hoyt on Monday, representing the partnership.

The citizens’ redistricting advisory committee can decide how it would like to handle the maps the public turned in, according to MacGunigal.

The committee could send one or more of the maps created by the public to the City Council, MacGunigal said. The committee could also create its own map or recommend a combination of ideas from the public maps, she said.

Comments and testimony from the public could affect the committee’s recommendation, MacGunigal said.

On July 12, the advisory committee will make recommendations to the City Council on how the districts should be re-formed. The council will ultimately make the redistricting decisions.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Chamber leader's legacy may be collaborative region

2011-05-18T00:41:20Z

Sacramento Metro Chamber President and CEO Matt Mahood leaves behind a more unified business community as he moves on to take over the helm of the San Jose chamber this summer, colleagues and associates said Tuesday.

Mahood, 45, has a reputation for being upbeat and optimistic, even as he's guided the chamber through the recession. He served as a dynamic leader for the organization and a spokesman for the region on local, state and national level s.

At 6 feet 7 inches, he towers over many of those he works with in business and politics. He's known for being thoughtful and having an even-handed way for approaching issues in the job he's held for nine years.

His most lasting legacy in Sacramento may be his work as a collaboration builder garnering support for crucial policy decisions and economic development efforts.

Mahood became a prominent leader in the effort to stop the Sacramento Kings from leaving and to rally regional support for a new arena. He led a push that gathered more than $10 million in financial support for the Kings from regional businesses if the team stayed another year.

"Matt was a force of nature," said PRIDE Industries President Mike Ziegler, who chaired the chamber's board when they hired Mahood in 2002. "He became a driving force to make this region a better place to live, work and play."

The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce board voted Friday to hire Mahood as president and CEO of that organization. He will remain with the Sacramento Metro Chamber until at least the Fourth of July weekend.

An interim CEO will be chosen to guide the Sacramento Metro Chamber during the search for a new top executive.

As a 36-year-old hired by the chamber in 2002, Mahood didn't have any experience working at a chamber of commerce. But that was seen as an advantage by the chamber's search committee, Ziegler said.

Mahood had worked previously as vice president and general manager of grocery business Webvan.com and district manager at the shipping company BAX Global, as well as with UPS and FedEx.

He lived in Carmichael for four years as a child but mostly grew up in Pleasanton in the East Bay. Mahood is taking the job in San Jose partly so he can live closer to his mother, who just turned 80, and his three sisters. He said he'll miss taking his ski boat and wakeboard out on Folsom Lake with friends and family on hot summer days.

However, Mahood said he also wants to pursue fresh opportunities.

"Nine years is a long time to be in one place, especially at a chamber of commerce," he said. "I am ready for some new challenges in a new community."

Mahood was a champion for the region's economic development. He was instrumental in forging a good working relationship between the chamber, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau, as well as area businesses and other business organizations, and then collaborating on mutually identified priorities, DSP Executive Director Michael Ault said.

"Matt did a tremendous job of not only managing and growing the chamber, but really building a coalition amongst area business organizations," Ault said.

Mahood will help launch the search process for his replacement. He said he's proud of the Metro Chamber's hard-working staff and volunteer leaders and their ability to reach the chamber's goals each year.

Although he'll be leaving, he said he'd like to see the Metro Chamber and its partners build a stronger, more positive "sense of self" and brand for the region after its image has been pummeled by being included on Forbes' list of "most miserable cities" and from stories about high foreclosure rates, unemployment and other government problems.

Mahood said he thinks cities and counties and some nonprofit organizations should collaborate more and even consider consolidating functions to become more efficient and bring taxpayers and other funders more return on investments. He said he'd also like to see the Metro Chamber and partners finalize and put out a regional economic development strategy based on good data, followed by an action plan that will create jobs.

"Housing and construction are not coming back anytime soon, and the state budget mess will continue to hit this region hard," he said.

Many people expressed sadness at Mahood's departure. Mayor Kevin Johnson described Mahood as a "champion" for the business community during the worst economy since the Depression.

"It's worth noting that his final achievement was playing a lead role in organizing the corporate and business community in the successful drive to keep the Kings and NBA in Sacramento," Johnson said in an emailed statement Tuesday. "Our community would not have been able to over-deliver on support and sponsorships without Matt's work, and we will surely miss his leadership."

The San Jose chamber is eagerly awaiting the new opportunities and direction a new president will bring, said the chamber's current president, Pat Dando.

"We also think Matt will bring strong leadership to the chamber – just looking at what his time with the Sacramento chamber produced," she said. "He seems to have a real knack for achieving a collaborative effort in the business community toward the common good."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @SuzanneHurt.

Friday Night Concerts in the Park launches SCVNGR Trek and Concert Deals

2011-05-13T21:46:40Z

Tonight, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) is adding a new twist to the Friday Night Concerts in the Park. Concertgoers can now compete for prizes in a series of challenges and receive special Concert Deals at local businesses on their mobile phones via the SCVNGR app.

Participants start by downloading the free SCVNGR app for iPhone or Android. To play, look for the “Friday Night Concerts” trek and complete a series of quick concert-themed challenges to earn points. Challenges consist of snapping pictures, answering trivia questions, and social check-ins by bumping phones with friends. Challenges will rotate each week throughout the concert series giving players more chances to win.

Downtown businesses are also offering special Concert Deals for event goers with concert wristbands every Friday night via SCVNGR. Participating businesses include 4th Street Grille, Ambrosia Café, Blue Prynt, Dive Bar, Marilyn's on K, Pyramid, and Torch Club.

“It’s our 20th season this year and while we’re sticking to our roots of live local music, SVNGR is a great new addition to the Concerts. It’s a fun platform that will allow people to interact, compete with each other, and win prizes from local businesses,” said Michael Ault, DSP Executive Director. “It’s all the fun of an old-school scavenger hunt with the bells and whistles of Facebook and Foursquare.”

Rock & Roll Tour and Pub Crawl

2011-05-09T09:54:54Z

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) conducts several walking Tours in the downtown area. The walking tours introduce visitors to people, places and events that have created California history. DSP’s mission is to establish downtown Sacramento as a vibrant business, cultural and entertainment destination in Sacramento via private and public partnerships consisting of residents, visitors and investors. This Friday they conducted a Rock & Roll History Tour and Pub Crawl.

The tour began at the corner of 9th and J Streets at one of the entrances to the Concerts in the Park held at Cesar Chavez Plaza. The walk began at 6 in the evening. By this time, Wahnder Lust had begun their set at the first Concerts in the Park event. This year marks the 20th year anniversity of Concerts in the Park and Jerry Perry has been promoting the event for the past 15 years.

The series of walks around downtown Sacramento being offered includes one especially for kids, a Speakeasy tour, a Sacramento architecture and art tour as well as the Rock & Roll History Tour and Pub Crawl. It's a walk that explores the history of Sacramento’s music scene. This tour is still being developed but it will run every Friday until the end of May. The day of the tour may or may not change after that depending on how it develops.

The tour guide for the walk is Shawn Peter who’s been with DSP since 2000. John, who also works for DSP, was on hand for the tour as well. Shawn has been part of the Downtown Walking Tour Program since its inception. Besides his vast knowledge of Sacramento’s Gold Rush-era and historical architecture styles, Shawn is well versed in music and is a member of a band named Single Second. His music knowledge of Sacramento and bands who have played here allow him to discuss many genres and time periods of music. During the tour, performers such as Frank Sinatra, the Beach Boys, the Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Beastie Boys, Tesla, and many others are discussed and how they fit in the Sacramento music scene.

As we started the walking tour Shawn began by saying, “A lot of people seem to think Sacramento is a really boring town where nothing really happens. You know what? It’s quite the opposite really.” Shawn’s personal knowledge of the Sacramento music scene is immense and through the walk it was apparent that this would be an educational and fun walk as we departed from the corner of 9th and J streets.

Shawn talked about the two radio stations that started the music scene in Sacramento. One of the stations was KBFK who Shawn said had a house band that ended up playing for many of the touring acts that came through town including Frank Sinatra, Jack Benny and others. Shawn was very enthusiastic while relating this and other stories.

As we walked down J Street away from 9th we could still hear Wahnder Lust as they continued their set. Shawn related that the other local station that helped the Sacramento music scene was KROY. KFBK and KROY were basically the only two stations, both AM stations, that played popular music. Shaw continued and passed on information spanning the 1920’s to the 50’s and the places where the bands played.

The tour becomes alive with Shawn’s storytelling as he relates stories that helped create the history of rock music in Sacramento and everywhere else. His stories were so intriguing that I feel like I should relay them to the reader in this article but the best part of the tour is the exchange of questions and stories. You kind of have to experience the tour yourself to get the most from it.

As Shawn talked about rock artists we were able to exchange stories about the artists who came from Sacramento as well as those who visited our town. These exchanges during the walk become meaningful as everyone was able to relate to the subject. We talked about the bands that visited Sacramento and the bands that could attribute their success to Sacramento.

The Memorial Auditorium has been one of the primary venues for bands coming through town and if you have a friend that loves music you’ve probably heard of a story about a band that played at the Memorial. How about you, do you have a memory of attending a musical event at the Memorial that left a lasting impression? One of my first recollections of the Memorial was taking a couple of my kids to go see Offspring and Cypress Hill at a show and seeing Scott Pollard while he was the Sacramento Kings at the concert. I’m sure many readers have a memory of their first concert in Sacramento or one that’s memorable.

KZAP, as Shawn tells it, was one of the first Sacramento FM stations and their original station was located within the Elks Tower on 11th and J. At the time KZAP had a free form format where they played everything from Frank Sinatra to Frank Zappa.

As the walk continued on J Street we turned left on 15th. The Memorial Auditorium was on one side of the street and since this is called a Rock and Roll Tour and Pub Crawl, Shawn talked a little about the Torch Club as we entered the first pub of the evening to enjoy a drink.

Shawn talked about Tesla, the Deftones, Cake and other Sacramento area bands. After the Torch Club, we passed by other venues that have moved to their current site from another part of town. Some of these clubs were the Capitol Garage, the Torch Club and others,

Other venues that have hosted music events were the Cattle Club, Lush, Cal Expo, ARCO, the Convention Center, Tower Records, the Crest Theatre and St. Paul's Church among others. Many of the clubs have a rich music venue history that continues to this day. We also discussed the new clubs that have recently opened and host music venues.

A couple of more pubs were visited and many other rock and roll stories were told. As we winded down the tour we talked about how the walk could be improved as well as what can be left out of the tour. The music scene from the 20’s to present came to light as we talked about Sacramento and music during the tour.

It turns out that there's a lot of history in the few blocks that we walked. Shawn Peter was a great guide and is very knowledgeable about the local music scene. He has over 25 years playing music and says that he does about 100 shows a year with his band.

As we came back to Cesar Chavez Park it was apparent how much fun these type of tour/walks can be. It's also a great way of meeting people and getting to know the downtown area as well as some of its pubs.

This tour takes place each Friday evening during the Friday Night Concerts in the Park season and it's scheduled to run from May 6 thru August 12, 2011. Guests must pre-purchase tickets via Event Brite to secure their place in the tour. The tour lasts approximately 2 hours and participants must be 21 years of age or older. Ticket prices does not include the cost of drinks.

Once back at Concerts in the Park there was still time to enjoy more live music. The tour was scheduled to end in time for the headline act and that was the case. Aaron King & The Imperials had already performed and a young lady by the name of Gabriela was playing when we returned to Cesar Chavez Plaza. Gabriela wasn’t on the schedule and after she finished her set the Tattoo Love Dogs came on stage to end the first day of Concerts in the Park for 2011.

Log on to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership website to view other tours and walks being offered as well as to purchase tickets for the Rock and Roll History Tour and Pub Crawl.

Future of Westfield Downtown Plaza in doubt

2011-04-29T00:06:15Z

Will Westfield Downtown Plaza be put up for sale?

According to the Wall Street Journal, Westfield is testing the market for a buyer for the mall, which has been plagued by empty storefronts.

In August, when the mall underwent a remodel, General Manager Russell Dougherty said it was only 65 percent occupied.

Westfield officials did not return phone calls for comment on their plans for the mall this week.

“The Mayor remains committed to working with Westfield and finding ways to make the plaza a viable entity in Sacramento,” said Joaquin McPeek, press secretary for Mayor Kevin Johnson. “At the end of the day, this is such a critical piece of downtown and we’ve all got to work together to see it reach its full potential.”

Johnson has previously said the city is “extremely committed” to reviving the mall.

“I don’t think we’re overly surprised with the announcement,” said Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. “We knew for a long time it wasn’t an asset that was paying off.”

Ault said the mall in the heart of downtown – straddling K Street from Third Street to Seventh Street – is an asset that is too big to let deteriorate, and if it does end up being sold, he said he hopes any potential new owner will be able to revitalize it.

“Westfield is one of the largest mall operators in the world,” he said. “If they didn’t make it work, maybe somebody needs to re-look at what it is.”

That could be an opportunity, to reconfigure it from a shopping mall to more of a mixed-use space including both retail and office space, he said.

But don’t look for it on Craigslist yet.

“At this point, they’ve just hired somebody to see if anybody is interested,” Ault said. “We’re not sure that anybody wants to buy it. We clearly don’t want to see it continue to deteriorate to the point that it starts to impact some of the new development.”

The downtown core has seen some successful recent development, with more on the way.

The trio of nightlife venues a few blocks down K Street, another nearby restaurant opening and the endorsing of the downtown railyards as the site for a new courthouse are spread around the mall.

Another player in the area is Macy’s, which owns its buildings in Downtown Plaza. The two separate downtown Macy’s stores on the plaza compose one of the biggest Macy’s stores in the state, Ault said.

“Macy’s represents a large part of why people continue to shop at Westfield,” Ault said. “No matter what happens at Westfield, we want to make sure we support Macy’s as well.”

Macy’s officials were not available for comment this week.

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

DSP wants central city to be one district

2011-04-15T00:36:50Z

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership is recommending that all of the central city be included in one City Council district as the city undergoes its redistricting process, which must be completed by September.

“We want to affirm the importance of the central city, the heart of our city and our community, and have a collective voice within the central core,” said Wendy Hoyt, chairwoman of the DSP’s redistricting task force.

The DSP worked with a consultant, but anyone in the city can make redistricting maps and submit them. Find out how by clicking here.

Hoyt said the DSP defines the central city as the area bordered by the American River to the north, the Sacramento River to the west, Interstate 80 to the east and Highway 50 to the south.

“We would like to see it be one united council district, one voice,” she said. “That would make up 32,000 of a (roughly 58,000-person) City Council district.”

Currently, portions of the central city are represented by City Council Districts 1 (Angelique Ashby), 3 (Steve Cohn) and 4 (Rob Fong).

Hoyt said central city residents don’t have a majority portion of any of those districts, and they therefore can’t influence policy as well as if they were united.

Darrick Lawson, chair of the political action committee for the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, said he agrees with uniting the central city in one district, but for somewhat different reasons.

“For the gay and LGTB community, our interest is that our voting power not be divided up,” he said.

Most of the chamber’s research, he said, shows that the majority of the gay community and its allies live in the central city.

“We have data that show that’s kind of where we’re best-represented, and communities of interest are not supposed to have their voting power divided,” he said.

Hoyt said the DSP wants to work with other stakeholders in the central city to come up with a new district map that works for other central city interest groups.

Rob Kerth, executive director of the Midtown Business Association, said he could not comment on the DSP’s map, since he does not want to speak for his board – which is developing its own recommendations.

Similar efforts were made 10 years ago, when Hoyt headed DSP, but she said the landscape has totally changed since then.

She mentioned the growth seen in District 1 and added that the population center – according to DSP’s data and consultant – has shifted from the Curtis Park/Land Park area to the C and D street area on the north side of downtown.

“We did not have as strong a voice 10 years ago as we do today, but I also think as an organization we have matured,” she said. “We intend to be a strong voice at the table.”

City Councilman Rob Fong’s district director, Lisa Nava, said Fong thinks the DSP has valid points.

She said Fong thinks the DSP did a good job outlining its objectives, and that the move was expected.

“I don’t think it’s surprising that this is the map they prefer,” she said, adding that Fong is open to hearing more from the DSP and other constituents.

“He’s anxious to see if they come up with anything additional as well,” Nava said.

Hoyt said the DSP is still in the early phases of working with the city through the redistricting process and wants to work with other groups to possibly develop ideas that work for them all.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

More bicycle access coming to downtown

2011-04-13T23:25:28Z

Downtown Sacramento is going to get more bicycle-friendly over the next year and a half, as the City Council gave the nod for the Department of Transportation to begin planning more bicycle lanes for downtown streets Tuesday night.

“The intent of the project is to create bike lanes on some of the most traveled downtown streets,” said Ed Cox, the city’s pedestrian and bicycle coordinator.

The project will be completed in two phases. The first phase involves painting bicycle lanes on a number of streets that are already wide enough to handle the bikeways without losing any lanes or parking spaces, Cox said Wednesday.

“We’re looking at J Street, I Street, Ninth Street, Fifth Street, 10th Street and Capitol Mall,” Cox said. “We’re essentially repainting them to include bike lanes.”

The second phase will involve removing one lane of vehicle traffic from some one-way streets and painting bicycle lanes on both sides of them.

The streets being considered for phase two are Fifth, Ninth, 10th, G and H.

Cox said the bicycle upgrades are going to be very similar to the way Midtown is set up, and with the project being in its earliest phases, no comprehensive traffic flow studies have been completed.

“Based on preliminary assessments, it seems the streets we’ve chosen will not be badly impacted by taking away a lane,” Cox said.

The funds allocated to the project at the City Council meeting Tuesday night amount to $629,000 of Measure A transportation funds. None of the money will come from the general fund, which currently faces an estimated $35 million - $40 million shortfall.

According to the staff report, the addition of bicycle lanes downtown is in line with the city’s long-term goals as decided in 2002.

The project’s timeline is not set, but Cox said he hopes the design will be done in time to piggyback the project on the city’s annual street maintenance so there is no extra construction for drivers to navigate.

That annual street maintenance – which typically consists of sealing or re-laying asphalt – typically takes place in the summer.

Cyclists questioned downtown by The Sacramento Press Wednesday afternoon were in favor of the project.

“I was just thinking about bike lanes,” said Charles Davis-Burkes, who was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk of Fifth Street between J and I streets. “I was wondering what would happen if I got in trouble riding my bike on the sidewalk here, but my knee hurts, and I don’t feel comfortable riding on the street with it like that.”

He added that he thinks designated bicycle lanes would be a safer option than riding among the cars.

Cyclist C. Bradfield said he would feel safer with designated lanes downtown.

“There’s always danger,” he said. “Most of the drivers are pretty polite, but some idiots will all but run you down.”

Bradfield said he is a “big bike advocate” and uses the lanes whenever they’re available.

The bicycle lanes will give added safety and promote using bicycles downtown, said Downtown Sacramento Partnership Marketing Director Lisa Martinez.

“I think in general the Downtown Partnership is very supportive of encouraging people in the central city to use multimodal transportation – on foot, in a car and on a bicycle or public transit,” she said.

She added that being able to share the right of way between cars and bicycles will be better for the city in general.

“This is a good step in getting Sacramento to be seen as bike-friendly and really being able to have that as an amenity,” she said.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Friday Night Concerts in the Park schedule released

2011-04-05T23:27:19Z

Things to count your blessings for in Sacramento:

1. The best that the local music scene has to offer, all played free.

2. A giant beer garden that features the best people watching to be found anywhere in town.

3. The fact that we have now finally gotten to the point where, when people say "we're going to the park tonight," no one asks "you mean the Park Ultra Lounge?" anymore.

Downtown Sacramento Partnership has unveiled the lineup for what is and has always been "the park" in this town, the Friday Night Concerts in the Park series, which has been packing thousands into Cesar Chavez Plaza every Friday summer evening for the last 20 seasons. The series begins Friday, May 6 and runs through August 12.

If you were a patron last year, you probably noticed that the beer garden area is overall much larger, which means shorter lines (woohoo!!) and more room to roam. Concurrently, it was noticable that the sound volume and quality was remarkably better in the ol' beer garden last year, correcting what had always been one of the series' biggest things to quibble over (there isn't much else to complain about).

Hey, we hooch goblins like hearing the music, too...despite all the "OMGs" and ancillary chatter you hear in there.

This year's lineup, courtesy again of long time local promoter Jerry Perry, features the usual "them agains" and a hefty stock of "who deys" with an advertised 29 first time performers and six new headliners, including funk jockeys the Nibblers, rock juggernauts Prieta, and the about to go "KABOOM" Walking Spanish.

Perennial headliners include Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Mumbo Gumbo, and (gotta have em!) the Brodys.

While the series always features all local acts, I've only seen two "cheats" so far: Nicki Bluhm, who resides in San Francisco (but is just too good to ignore), and Agent Ribbons, which currently resides in Austin, TX - but we'll welcome them home with open arms any time.

As began last year, the Downtown Sac Partnership will offer their "Locally Grown, Internationally Known" walking tour that offers a glimpse of the history of live music in Sacramento before each concert, and there are tons of food and drink specials around the neighborhood if you can avoid tearing off that CIP wristband. Details on both are here.

Here is the full lineup for the summer. See y'all at Cesar Chavez...I'll be the guy answering the "who is this band" questions. Hey, DSP, can I get a booth and an "Answer Man" name tag? (OK, I just want beer tickets)

May 6

The Tattooed Love Dogs

Aaron King & The Imperials

Wahnderlust*

May 13

The Golden Cadillacs

Keri Carr*

Miss Lonely Hearts*

May 20

Agent Ribbons

Roman Funerals*

Golden Ghosts*

The Dreaded Diamond*

May 27

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats

The Freebadge Serenaders*

The Afterlife*

June 3

Mick Martin & The Blues Rockers

Tess and Hip Trash*

The Kyle Rowland Band*

June 10

Walking Spanish(*)

Nikki Bluhm*

Island Of Black And White*

Honyock*

June 17

Debora Iyall(*)*

Exquisite Corps*

The Generals

Breaking Glass*

June 24

Mumbo Gumbo

Los Blazing Hangovers

July 1

Kepi Ghoulie Electric

Pets

Dog Party

The Favors*

July 8

The Nibblers(*)

Gerald Pease Combo

The Bell Boys* with James Cavern* and Jesi Naomi*

July 15

The Nickel Slots CD Release(*)

Whiskey & Stitches

Bright Faces*

July 22

Prieta(*)

The Kelps

The Denver Piledrivers*

Jet Black Popes*

July 29

Lite Brite

Mondo Deco*

Simpl3Jack

Jem & Scout*

August 5

Musical Charis (*)

Be Brave Bold Robot*

Adrian Bourgeois

San Kazagaskar*

August 12

The Brodys

Automatic Rival*

A Single Second* CD Release

*29 first time acts
(*) 6 first time headliners

Party in the Park to benefit homeless women & children

2011-03-15T17:20:46Z

This year de Vere’s Irish Pub and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) are teaming up to host Sacramento’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day event at Cesar Chavez Plaza on March 17 and to give back to a good cause. The de Vere’s Party in the Park will benefit Maryhouse, a daytime women and children’s homeless shelter at Loaves and Fishes.

“We started this party years ago to create a signature event for Sacramento and give back to the community that had been so supportive of us as a new business,” said de Vere’s Irish Pub Owner Henry de Vere White. “By moving to a larger venue, we’ll be able to do more for our charity partner Maryhouse and continue our mother’s legacy for their cause.”

The de Vere family’s affiliation with Maryhouse began when de Vere’s mother, Antoinette de Vere White, first got involved with a homeless lunch program over 27 years ago. “We started to talk to the women and children to find out what they did after they had lunch with us, and we realized that they had absolutely nowhere to go. The women had to just walk about with their children, carrying all their belongings,” Antoinette de Vere White, associate director of Maryhouse explained, “So the idea for a place where they could come throughout the day, be indoors, and try and retrieve their lives again seemed like a very essential service.”

Maryhouse Women & Children’s Day Shelter serves as a home address for their clients and provides a place to be during the day. Homeless women and their children can shower, have a meal from the Hot Breakfast Meal Program, and continue education at the Mustard Seed School. Maryhouse also offers mail service and telephones so their guests can contact potential rentals, welfare agents, and family members.

Antoinette, a Maryhouse volunteer since its inception, began working full time for the organization after her children, Mark, Henry, and Simon de Vere White, had grown. “The women are just very special people. The humor and strength that is shown by them, many of whom are just there because of poverty, is tremendous,” Antoinette said. “When you are living paycheck to paycheck, one small thing and it’s all over, and you’re out on the street again. When you are very poor, it is very hard to hold onto a roof over your head.”

Funds raised by the de Vere’s St. Patrick’s Day Party in the Park will be used to purchase vital supplies to keep the day shelter stocked as donations run low. Such items include baby formula, jars of baby food, diapers, warm clothing, blankets and other supplies.

Additionally, proceeds will be used for the organization’s Crisis Fund. According to Antoinette, the Crisis Fund is there to help the most vulnerable women and families when all other resources have been exhausted. The fund is a direct response to the current economic climate and increase incidences of first time homelessness.

“The County of Sacramento has been unable to provide a winter shelter this year for men, women, and children. We set up this fund to help families with small children, as well as ill or elderly women, who have no shelter in bad weather,” Antoinette said, “The fund can provide respite room for those who are ill, transportation for those who need to get to their families, and, if funds are sufficient, an emergency motel room for a family in dire need.”

de Vere’s Irish Pub and DSP hope that moving the event to Cesar Chavez Plaza, a much larger venue than the previous one, will allow the St. Patrick’s Day festivities to make an even bigger impact for Maryhouse.

“Through the DSP’s ongoing homeless outreach efforts, we’ve seen the devastating effects the recession has had on our community. The face of homelessness is changing and sadly this includes more families with children,” said DSP Executive Director Michael Ault. “This event is a opportunity to pull our community together to raise awareness for homelessness and to give back to those in need.”

Admission to the event is $25 and tickets are now on sale at SacStPats.com. The event will feature food from local restaurants and live entertainment throughout the day including Irish dancers, Sacramento Firefighters Pipes and Drums, and live performances by local bands Nine 8ths Irish, Whiskey and Stitches, and the Black-Eyed Dempseys. The evening will end with headliner and San Francisco U2 tribute band, Zoo Station.

The de Vere’s St. Patrick’s Day Party in the Park will end Sacramento’s weeklong celebration which included the Old Sacramento St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 12, Shamrock’n Half Marathon on March 13, St. Baldrick’s Day on March 14 and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at de Vere’s Irish Pub on March 17. For tips for planning your week, hotel specials and more; visit SacStPats.com or follow Twitter @SacStPats..

Sacramento's biggest St. Patrick's Day Party

2011-03-15T15:25:59Z

This year, de Vere’s Irish Pub and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) are teaming up to host Sacramento’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day event at Cesar Chavez Plaza at 10th and J streets on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit Maryhouse, a daytime women’s and children’s homeless shelter at Loaves & Fishes. Maryhouse provides much-needed support and services for this vulnerable population, including the Hot Breakfast Meal Program and crisis management.

“We’re moving our annual block party to the park, but will still host a pub party at de Vere’s on St. Patrick’s Day. By moving to a larger venue, we can do more for our charity partner, Maryhouse,” said de Vere’s Irish Pub co-owner Henry de Vere White. “DSP is a natural partner for Party in the Park because of their experience producing signature events downtown and for their ongoing homeless outreach efforts downtown.”

Admission to the Party in the Park is $20 in advance online and $25 at the door. Admission to the Pub Party is $10. Tickets are for sale at SacStPats.com.

The event will feature food from local restaurants and live entertainment throughout the day, including Irish dancers and the Sacramento Firefighters Pipes and Drums band. Live musical performances begin at 2:30 p.m. and continue throughout the day with Nine 8ths Irish, Whiskey and Stitches and the Black-Eyed Dempseys. The evening will end with headliner and San Francisco U2 tribute band Zoo Station.
The Sacramento Press will be live-streaming video and photos of the event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. See videos of interviews and performances from the bands, event representatives and organizers, the Firefighter Pipe and Drum Corps, Irish dancers and much more.

Photo stream of the event will also be available through Liveshare, a photo-streaming application available for download to your iPhone or Android smart phone. Photos will be uploaded throughout the day right here on The Sacramento Press, de Vere’s Irish Pub’s Facebook page and a special de Vere's St. Partrick’s Day Party in the Park Facebook page, created to provide the photo stream as well as updates and details on the festivities.

Interviewees for the live stream will include, but are not limited to: pub owners Henry and Simon de Vere White, Lisa Martinez of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, a representative of Maryhouse, Vince Koll of Last Call Sacramento and the Guinness Girls and Tulamore Dew Girls.

The de Vere’s St. Patrick’s Day Party in the Park and Pub Party will end Sacramento’s week long celebration, which so far has included the Old Sacramento St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 12, Shamrock’n Half Marathon on March 13 and St. Baldrick’s Day on March 14 . For tips for planning your week, hotel specials and more, visit SacStPats.com or follow us on Twitter @SacStPats.

Free live streaming by Ustream

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Toasting the Irish at Cesar Chavez Park

2011-03-11T01:57:46Z

Sacramento’s St. Patrick’s Day party will be held downtown this year instead of on L Street so the event can accommodate the thousands of expected festivalgoers, according to Lisa Martinez, director of outreach and marketing for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.

The downtown organization and de Vere’s Irish Pub are organizing this year’s de Vere’s St. Patrick’s Day Party in the Park at Cesar Chavez Park from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, March 17.

“Our goal is to create a bigger footprint for the event,” said Martinez, Downtown Sacramento Partnership’s director of outreach and marketing.

From 5 a.m. to midnight on March 17, Ninth Street will be shut down between I and J streets for the event.

Last year’s St. Patrick’s Day event hosted by de Vere’s Irish Pub drew close to 7,000 people, according to the pub’s website.

Holding the event at Cesar Chavez Park at 10th and J streets provides a larger stage area and “more elbow room for our customers,” Martinez said.

More attendees would also mean more funds raised for Maryhouse, a Sacramento women and children’s homeless shelter that will receive 50 percent of the proceeds from the event, Martinez said.

Apart from toasting St. Patty’s Day and Ireland, attractions at the party include Irish dancers, a bagpipe show and several bands, including a U2 cover band from San Francisco called Zoo Station.

The event’s organizers hired 14 Sacramento Police officers to work the event, according to police spokesman Sgt.Norm Leong.

Last Call Sacramento, a designated-driver taxi service, will be at the event to drive any impaired partgoers home free of charge, according to Martinez.

Portable restrooms will be at the park. “We will have plenty of potties for everybody,” Martinez said.

Tickets are $22 online and $25 at the door.

Read more about the event’s attractions here.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Meet Downtown's New K Street

2011-01-13T22:42:24Z

Last night's VIP reception at the new Dive Bar, District 30 and Pizza Rock hopefully is a forecast of the future for the three new development projects. Last night was energizing and packed full of people who moved from one venue to another.

Here are some shots:

District 30 dance club got the VIPs dancing, drinking. and enjoying themselves (above and four below).

Pizza Rock has the semi-truck sticking out of the wall above the bar. It features a special pizza oven that heats to 900 degrees and can cook a pizza in 90 seconds and will also include an Avalon sound system, DJs sitting in the ceiling, Guitar Hero, four pizza ovens and the capacity to churn out 500 pizzas per hour.

Pizza acrobats are on hand to entertain.

George Karpaty, owner of the three new businesses, get in the groove.

William Bevier, one of the VIPs attending, is the owner of Bevier Structural Engineering. His company worked to make the Dive Bar and Pizza Rock safe and sound while sporting a salt water aquarium and the semi-truck.

Bronkar entertained the crowd in front of the venues.

Women acrobats performed in a blown-up bubble.

A mermaid peers at the crowd below from the huge salt water acquarium above the bar.

A supple entertainer twisted around on top of the pianos in the Dive Bar.

Some of the Downtown Sac Partnership staff in the Dive Bar.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

DSP's State of Downtown breakfast

2011-01-12T03:59:53Z

During his opening remarks at Tuesday's State of Downtown breakfast at the Memorial Auditorium, Downtown Sacramento Partnership Executive Director Michael Ault noted that this was the first State of Downtown in several years that wasn't taking place in a hurricane or a flood.

That hyperbole was cold comfort to the several hundred movers and shakers assembled at tables on the auditorium's old hardwood floor. They had come out on a typically gray and bone-chilling January morning for the 15th year of the event. But that was certainly one apt way to sum up the overall feeling of the annual meeting:

It could have been worse.

Because the fact is, it has been worse. For a few years now.

With the bad news continuing on every level of government and with businesses continuing to struggle – walking to the meeting, I spoke with a businessman who decided yesterday to file for bankruptcy – optimism continues to be the only reasonable option.

The overall tone of Tuesday morning's meeting – with speaker Rebecca Ryan, a national authority on demographics and urban trends, and a closing speech by booster-in-chief Mayor Kevin Johnson – was optimistic. And while that optimism may have been forced at times, it was also clear during the two-hour event that there is much to cheer in Sacramento, even in these relatively dark days.

Johnson's talk was characteristically positive, but hardly Pollyanna-ish. Even as he addressed recent troubling news about the Maloof family's financial situation and quoted a recent conversation with NBA commissioner David Stern (who told him that Sacramento is a bellwether of mid-sized NBA markets, but not necessarily in a good way), he reminded those assembled that there is still much being done.

Focusing on the arena process and reminiscing about his childhood trips from Oak Park to a then-vibrant K Street, Johnson was able to point to current victories such as the opening this week of two new venues and a new pizza restaurant on K Street, to the forward movement by the Sacramento First Task Force that is examining arena proposals, and to what seems like the breaking of the logjam around the Railyards project.

The civic accomplishment that won the day – and the annual VIBE (Visionary Icons in Building Excellence) Award – was the $100 million expansion of the Crocker Art Museum. It is an accomplishment so grand, especially in such dire times, as to make forgivable the repeated use of the phrase "world class."

Accepting the VIBE Award was Lial Jones, executive director of the Crocker. (Full disclosure: I was also among those nominated for the VIBE Award.) Jones made a brief acceptance speech, and then it was off to the headliner of the event: Rebecca Ryan, author of "Live First, Work Second" and an expert in the demographic and cultural shift from the Baby Boomers and Generation X to the under-30 Millennial Generation.

Ryan, fit, fiery and dressed in a flashy silk jacket, was a strong speaker. The starting and ending points of her talk focused on a trans-generational question, "What do you want to be homesick for?" and another, implied one that was aimed at the Baby Boomers who dominated the room: "What do we want to leave that will be worth being homesick for?"

Using demographic research done by her Next Generation Consulting firm, reportedly based on some 40,000 interviews, Ryan focused on the need of civic leaders to attract the young “Millennials” with different urban features than those that attracted a previous generation of transplants.

The talk was general but inspirational, and her review of Sacramento's current ability to attract young people was mixed. So mixed, in fact, that when Johnson took the podium after her, he noted that her firm had not included Sacramento in its list of 60 hot cities in the country (she later told me it was actually a list of 20, not 60, cities).

And he called on those assembled to make an effort to make Sacramento the kind of city that would end up on Ryan's list when her firm assembles it again in 2014. Forward, ultimately, is the only direction the Sacramento, downtown or elsewhere, can look.

All photos by Ron Nabity.

Dine Downtown: Kupros Bistro

2011-01-07T22:55:47Z

The Dine Downtown Restaurant Week event opens on Friday for its sixth year and the participating restaurants strive to provide their best each year. The newly opened Kupros Bistro has joined the line-up and offers a fresh option to the event. My wife, Laura, and I are not trained food critics, but we enjoy dining out frequently in the downtown/midtown area. We had not been to Kupros yet, so we jumped at the chance to preview their Dine Downtown menu.

Housed in a recently remodeled 100-year-old craftsman structure that is both stunning and comfy, Kupros Bistro is a dining and architectural experience. It is located at 1217 21st Street, between Capitol Avenue and L Street at the previous location of Cheap Thrills, a vintage clothing and costume shop. (Cheap Thrills has moved a few doors down.) As we walked up the steps to the first floor entrance, I immediately noticed the multi-colored stained glass ceiling over the bar in the center of the room. It was massive. Dark wood dining booths lined each sidewall and one large-screen television was mounted on the back wall, near the kitchen door. Plenty of rich wooden accents were a clear indication that someone had put a lot of work into the renovation of this building.

Kupros Bistro is located in a 100-year-old craftsman building on 21st Street in midtown.

The stained glass ceiling over the bar on the first floor.

Kupros’ owner, Stephen Tokuhama, told us the reconstruction took a little over two years, but the permitting process stretched the entire project out to five years. Kupros Bistro opened for business in August 2010. He chose the name “Kupros” after researching the origins of copper, a prominent metal in the interior design of his building. Copper originated on the island of Cyprus; Kupros is a transliteration of the name Cyprus. Tokuhama hired three different local glass artists to install the extensive stained-glass treatments throughout the structure.

As we climbed the stairs to the second floor, we noticed the sounds of the festive bar downstairs being replaced by low-key lounge/jazz music upstairs. We were seated on the second floor in one of the two small rooms that holds three tables. This seating arrangement gave a quieter, more intimate feeling than the first floor area. Other rooms on the second floor included a cozy sitting area, and a larger room that looked like it could seat about 40-50 people.

The second floor dining areas are intimate and comfortable.

A cozy sitting area on the second floor

The building is absolutely gorgeous, but we came to eat. Our server, Christiana, was very friendly and attentive as we quickly made our selections.

The Dine Downtown menu at Kupros Bistro features two choices for the first course: Baby Lettuce with poached pears, walnuts, maytag blue and a red wine vinaigrette, or Roasted Red and Gold Beets, with chevre, apple, arugula and sherry vinaigrette. Laura selected the baby lettuce and I chose the beets.

The second course offerings are Rabbit Sugo, Coq Au Vin (red wine chicken), Steak Frites or the Fish Du Jour. The fish du jour was pan-seared opah with kumquat chutney, mustard greens and potato croquette. Laura ordered the fish and I opted for the red wine chicken which came with a parsnip potato puree. We were told we could choose our third course of gelatos later. I wondered how many choices we would have with gelato, but was pleasantly surprised when that time came.

The meal included a glass of La Terre wine. As their least expensive wine, the La Terre cabernet was very good.

The first course arrived promptly. Served on chilled plates, the salads were crisp and fresh. The roasted beets were sweet, firm and delicious. Christiana brought us some French bread to accompany the salads, but that didn't slow us down at all. I tried to pace myself, just to be polite. It didn't work - the salad was no match for my appetite.

The Roasted Red and Gold Beets, with chevre, apple, arugula and sherry vinaigrette.

Between courses, Laura and I looked over the regular menu and saw some interesting terms, like "grass-fed beef" and "beer cheese". When Stephen stopped by our table, he told us the chef selects the ingredients carefully from local providers. The dinners are in the $14 - $18 price range and the menu choices will change regularly to reflect seasonal availability of the items.

Our second courses came out and the first thing I noticed was the enticing aroma of the Coq Au Vin. My chicken entree was excellent. It was prepared with bacon, pearl onions and mushrooms. The red wine sauce gave it a nice balance of sweet and savory. The potato puree was very smooth and tasty.

Laura's opah was cooked perfectly. It had a texture similar to halibut and the kumquat chutney gave it a pleasant citrus flavor. Her potato croquette was soft-centered with a thin deep-fried outer shell. It was reminiscent of a large crab cake in appearance. I was a little envious. I kept eyeing the potato puck on Laura's plate. It slowly disappeared, as I expected.

The Fish Du Jour was pan-seared opah with kumquat chutney, mustard greens and potato croquette.

The portion sizes were deceiving; they looked a bit nominal but when we finished we felt fulfilled. Remembering the shelf life of most New Year's resolutions was about seven days, we were thankful the portions were not any larger.

As we finished our main course, the executive chef, Matthew Robinson, visited our table. We asked him about his background and he explained he started cooking at a very early age. He told us, "I've known I wanted to be a chef since I was seven years old. When the other kids were out playing cowboys and Indians, I was in the kitchen, cooking." Before coming to Kupros Bistro, Robinson was sous-chef at Slocum House, Spataro and Waterboy restaurants.

After Matthew left, Christiana told us our choices for gelato. I figured this would be easy. Three choices: vanilla (check), chocolate (check) and chocolate gelato with a chocolate-covered pretzel in porter (Huh? Porter, as in beer? Yup.) My curiosity was rewarded with a tasty dessert. The hand made gelato was smooth and the little porter-basted-pretzel was discovered hiding in the scoops. I cannot imagine how those three ingredients originally met, but it was a pleasant treat.

Handcrafted gelatos with a sprig of mint: there was a little pretzel surprise in the chocolate gelato.

As a new member of the Dine Downtown Restaurant Week, Kupros Bistro should perform well with the veterans. Tokuhama has assembled a combination of feasts. His renovation of the building is a masterpiece and the maturing menu behind Chef Robinson adds up to a sure winner.

Executive Chef Matthew Robinson

Dine Downtown Restaurant Week is sponsored by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and runs through January 16. During the event, 30 restaurants are offering a special three-course dinner menu for $30 per person. For a complete list of participating restaurants and other information, check out the Downtown Sacramento Partnership website.

Photos by Ron Nabity

Downtown Sacramento Partnership's "Dine Downtown Week"

2011-01-06T02:17:48Z

Downtown Sacramento Parternership’s “Dine Downtown Restaurant Week” will begin its sixth year Friday, with 30 participating downtown restaurants each offering special $30 three-course meals through Jan. 16.

DSP Marketing Manager Megan Emmerling said the week is meant to draw visitors and locals on a budget to Sacramento’s finest downtown restaurants.

Last year, the International Downtown Association gave the event its Award of Distinction of Outstanding Achievement. The IDA advocates for livable and vital downtown culture around the world.

When asked how the restaurants have responded about the Dine Downtown weeks DSP marketing manager Megan Emmerling said “participating restaurants said that the week is like 10 Saturday nights during the week.”

This will be Cafeteria 15L’s second Dine Downtown week. Assistant Manager Danielle Meaux said the event brings people in, and the restaurant is definitely busier during the week.

“We’re including a glass of Cupcake Chardonnay or Sawbuck red wine and half-off bottles over $40,” Meaux said.

Bar Supervisor at 3 Fires Lounge Mark Kaniser said it creates a nice buzz for people to come have dinner.

“Last year was great. We had a lot of people come in, we actually had to turn some people away because of seating,” Kaniser said. “It’s also a good thing for people not in Midtown. They come down because of this. They get to experience all the restaurants. People enjoy it.”

3 Fires Lounge
1501 L St.
(916) 267-6823

3 Fires Lounge’s starters are:
Baby spinach salad (pine nuts, chenel goat cheese, dried cranberries and miso vinaigrette) or
Langostino lobster bisque (créme fraiche and basil oil).

The main-course options are:
Seared mahi mahi (pear salsa, garlic mashed potatoes and braised kale),
Braised pork Osso Bucco (creamy risotto, asiago cheese, cranberry apple chutney),
Baked natural herb chicken (roasted fingerling potato with rosemary, seasonal vegetables and pan jus) or
Grilled creekstone Angus New York steak (sautéed broccolini, steak fries and chanterelle mushroom ragout)

Desserts:
Chocolate torte or
Zinfandel poached pear with vanilla ice cream.

Cafeteria 15L
1116 15th St.
(916) 492-1960

To start, Cafeteria 15L is offering:
Butternut squash soup (toasted pumpkin seed pesto) or
Roasted beet salad (bosc pears, arugula, goat cheese and spiced pecans)

The main courses are:
Grilled New York steak (garlic mashed potatoes, wild mushrooms and whiskey peppercorn sauce) or
Seared ahi tuna (sesame crusted, kabocha squash, shiitake mushrooms, baby bok choy and caramel ginger sauce) or
Roasted half chicken (breast with butternut squash, Swiss chard and mushroom jus)

Desserts:
Warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream or
Cranberry bread pudding with pumpkin ice cream.

Capitol Garage
1500 K St.
(916) 444-3633

Capitol Garage will be offering salads for its first course:
House salad (fresh mixed greens with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrot, house-made croutons, manchego cheese and Italian vinaigrette) or
Chipotle Caesar (petite romaine hearts with a mildly spicy chipotle Caesar dressing, fresh avocado, manchego cheese, cilantro, lime and crispy tortilla strips) or
Spinach salad (toasted hazelnuts, applewood smoked bacon, fresh diced Granny Smith apples, cucumber and goat cheese).

The main-course options are:
Crab cake linguini (sautéed cherry tomatoes, prosciutto, garlic and herbs in a lemon cream sauce served with bruschetta bread) or
Jambalaya (grilled prawns, andouille sausage, sweet potatoes, peppers, onions and garlic with a Cajun cream sauce, topped with char-grilled chicken, served with steamed white rice) or
Farmers market pasta (sautéed fresh seasonal vegetables with walnuts and sun-dried tomatoes in a pesto cream sauce served over four-cheese tortellini with bruschetta bread) or
Burrito Vegetariano (large flour tortilla stuffed with rice, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, peppers, onions, garlic and cilantro, topped with tomatillo salsa and melted manchego cheese, served with fresh avocado, pico de gallo and shredded lettuce) or
Jack & Blue (half-pound Angus burger topped with Gorgonzola cheese, Jack Daniel's onions and mushrooms, applewood smoked bacon on a burger bun with mayonnaise and all the “fixins”) or
Leaky Roof (Zoe’s Meats’ roasted turkey breast with caramelized onions, applewood smoked bacon, Gruyere cheese, sliced Granny Smith apples and honey mustard aioli on thick grilled sourdough bread)

Desserts:
Black bottom cheesecake topped with fresh blackberries or
Tiramisu with white chocolate mascarpone mousse and amaretto espresso-soaked lady fingers or
Apple pie with fresh whipped cream

For more information and a full list of participating restaurants visit DSP’s website or call (916) 442-8575.

Sacramento development in 2010

2010-12-30T03:28:33Z

Development in Sacramento suffered some significant setbacks in 2010. But there were modest moves forward as well, making for a mixed picture heading into 2011.

The focus was on five major projects, which included:

1. The Railyards
A suburban Chicago real estate investment firm, the Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, took ownership of most of Sacramento's historic downtown railyards in a courthouse foreclosure auction held in October. Inland foreclosed on the 203-acre Railyards site after then-owner Thomas Enterprises defaulted on nearly $194 million in loans in June. The two sides had been negotiating on a loan extension for several months but failed to agree on terms. Since October, Inland has been working with city, state and independent contractors to keep infrastructure construction going on such projects as the Fifth and Sixth street bridges and railroad track relocation.

The bridges are expected to be done in January. Work on the $60 million railroad track relocation was delayed after bids came in $12 million over budget in May and Thomas defaulted. In August, the City Council approved a track relocation redesign as part of the first phase of the new train station and public transit center being built adjacent to downtown's Sacramento Valley Station. The city delayed seeking new bids for relocation construction from fall 2010 to January. Inland was scheduled to publicly discuss its approach to the site for the first time at a City Council meeting Dec. 14. The presentation was postponed until early January.

2. Sacramento Arena
The city of Sacramento spent a large portion of 2010 trying to find a workable plan to build a new multipurpose arena to house the Sacramento Kings and host music and other events. Seven development teams made brief, public pitches at City Hall in January. Mayor Kevin Johnson formed an arena task force to consider the proposals. The task force recommended three plans as the top contenders in March. In April, the City Council approved an exclusive negotiation agreement with the Sacramento Convergence Team, a group led by developers Gerry Kamilos and David Taylor. That team lost its exclusive negotiating rights in October after failing to sell Cal Expo officials on their idea: to move the state fairgrounds to the area around Arco Arena and to then allow private development of the existing fairgrounds, which would clear the way to build an arena on city-owned property at the downtown railyards. The mayor reopened the process and set a noon Thursday deadline for new and modified proposals.

3. K Street Mall
Movement also took place on K Street Mall. The most important development took place in July, when the Sacramento City Council chose two teams — one led by D & S Development, Inc., and CFY Development, Inc., and the other by Sacramento developer David Taylor — to revitalize the troubled 700 and 800 blocks. Work continued in 2010 on the $4.5 million project by the city and Sacramento Regional Transit to renovate St. Rose of Lima Park and the 700 block streetscape. The City Council also allowed bikes to return to K Street Mall and paved the way for cars to return in 2011.

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership hired a retail recruiter to help reduce vacancies, upgrade the retail mix and support business owners in the 66-block property-based business improvement district. Work also got under way on several new K Street Mall businesses. San Francisco nightclub owner George Karpaty’s crew worked through 2010, and he expects to open Dive Bar, Pizza Rock and District 30 at 1016, 1020 and 1022 K St. in January. Ernesto Delgado also expects to open his Tequila Museo Mayahuel at 12th and K streets in early 2011. Vive Cocina opened in February next to St. Rose of Lima Park

Meanwhile, a grand opening for St. Rose of Lima Park's renovation wasn't held during summer as planned following a conflict that kept the city from turning on the park's new interactive water fountain, or sprayground.

4. Docks Area Riverfront Promenade
In June, the city marked the completion of Pioneer Landing Park and the first phase of the $15 million Docks Area Riverfront Promenade with a ground breaking. The $5.4 million first phase included the park and 1,200 feet of parkway from O Street to R Street. The one-mile promenade is expected to provide a paved path connecting Old Sacramento and Miller Park by 2013 or 2014.

The first phase was paid for with money from State Proposition 40, State Proposition 1B street improvement funds, redevelopment tax increment financing and development impact fees from parks. The city has already applied for nearly $5 million in Proposition 84 grant funding from the state to finance most of the promenade's second phase. The third phase, which would also cost about $5 million, is expected to start in 2013 if funding is available. An estimated $14 million in infrastructure for the Docks Area had been expected to begin between mid-2011 and the start of 2012. The start of infrastructure work is expected to be postponed while the city seeks funding.

Just across I-5 from the Riverfront Promenade and connected by the O Street bridge and refurbished bike and pedestrian viaduct at R Street was the $100 million expansion of the Crocker Art Museum.

5. River District
City staff unveiled the River District Specific Plan, which the City Council is expected to vote on in January. A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new, temporary Greyhound bus terminal in August. The $5.4 million bus station is being built at 420 Richards Blvd. on about 1.75 acres in the Discovery Centre development in the River District. The old Greyhound terminal at Seventh and L streets is expected to close in 2011. The bus terminal will eventually move to the new regional transit facility expected to be built in the Railyards development within eight to 15 years.

Work also continued on Sacramento Regional Transit's new green line from downtown to the River District, and eventually, to the airport. Utilities were relocated, track foundation was laid and some overhead poles to hold wire were installed. The line is expected to open in mid-2011, but no date has been determined. In September, Sacramento's Discovery Museum and its partners sought the community's help in applying for $7 million in state grants to build the Powerhouse Science Center. PG&E readied the site near the vacant 99-year-old PG&E power station on Jibboom Street for construction. Museum officials hope to break ground in late 2011 or early 2012 and open the new museum in late 2013 or early 2014.

First photo by Brandon Darnell. Arena graphic provided by the CORE group. Other photos by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @SuzanneHurt.

DSP program works on homeless issues

2010-12-21T05:11:12Z

Ryan Loofbourrow admits he didn't know anything about the homeless when he became field supervisor for Downtown Sacramento Partnership's Downtown Guides in 1995.

At that time, he believed social service agencies were responsible for handling the homeless and their problems. His attempts to work with people living on the business district's streets involved pointing the way north to Loaves and Fishes.

"That's not how it works," he said recently. "They are all individuals. And it takes a more individualized effort to get them into a more stable living situation."

Loofbourrow found social service programs were spread out and and hard to find, especially for those suffering from mental illness, drug addiction or chronic drunkenness. He also discovered homeless people sent to detox, jail and mental crisis centers against their wills were much harder to work with the next time around.

He created an outreach program, in partnership with a church and nonprofit housing agency, to go out to the streets and parks where homeless people live and help them one-on-one.

The private program now offers Sacramento’s only significant outreach to the homeless.

Within the last two years, providers including Volunteers of America (VOA) and nonprofit mental health organizations lost eight or nine outreach workers due to cuts in Sacramento County funding for homeless programs. Only one or two publicly funded outreach workers are still working, Sacramento Steps Forward Director Tim Brown said.

"The Navigator program is one of the only pieces of outreach that we have left in the whole system," he said.

Loofbourrow directs DSP's Community Services. He oversees the yellow-jacket Downtown Guides and a sister program, the blue-jacket Navigator program, which he began in 2006 to work with the Cathedral Square Homeless Program. The latter was started in 2005 by the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament and its St. Vincent dePaul Society, with help from DSP, Pyramid Alehouse and the California State Association of Counties.

Loofbourrow modeled the Navigator program after a now-disbanded Volunteers of America (VOA) HOPE team that did outreach work with homeless people. Navigators help connect homeless people with the Cathedral Square Homeless Program and a deacon there who helps them get into housing with Sacramento Self Help Housing. That agency can provide followup and case management.

"It's quite a collaboration, actually," Brown said.

Loofbourrow has helped develop a program designed to work with people experiencing different degrees of homelessness – from the incidental homeless, who are temporarily homeless mainly due to circumstances but have a desire to work and live inside; to the episodically homeless who may be in an abusive relationship, have a slight mental health issue or an addiction; to the chronically homeless, plagued by problems with drugs, alcohol and/or mental illness.

Every weekday, a staff of four outreach workers or "Navigators" walk the streets and back alleys of downtown and Midtown to work directly with homeless people. Loofbourrow gets out often as well. Downtown navigators cover an area from Front to 16th streets between H and L streets. A Midtown navigator works from 16th to 29th streets between J and L streets.

Their jobs include asking homeless people to move out of business entries and alleys early each morning, as well as establishing and maintaining daily contact with people. They call in police or paramedics when needed.

On a recent December morning, cold rain dripped down the sides of buildings. A panhandler grabbed recyclable cans from the trash and asked two passing men for money, while another guy talked loudly as he walked slowly past the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The doors of the church stood open despite the chill.

Three navigators – Jvance "J" Stewart, Crystal Jordan and Teresa Olivas – strolled through Cathedral Square. Olivas checked in with a man talking to his "inner stimuli" while Jordan talked to a third man who asked for help getting a small fee waived so he could stay at a single-room occupancy (SRO) building.

An elderly woman, her face hidden under a hood, pushed a cart down K Street Mall after spending the night in an alcove. Navigators checked in with her, but steered clear of a big woman talking to herself and carrying a big, wooden stick in her shopping cart when she shuffled past.

"She's angry," Olivas said. "See that stick? She could hit you. I've seen her throwing belts out in the street. You want to keep a distance when she's like that."

Most Navigators learn on the job. Loofbourrow searches for people with the right combination: outgoing, approachable and patient, yet firm. Navigators must work with people on complex issues. For many, their personal crises come into conflict with business owners and their customers, and others in the downtown environment, over and over again.

Only Olivas has prior experience doing outreach work, in her case, with VOA.

Navigators also act as advocates. They'll accompany people to agencies to get current identification or apply for government benefits. People working at government agencies or nonprofits may not have the training or the patience to help someone who is mentally ill or extremely stressed, Loofbourrow said.

The $175,000 annual budget for the Navigators program covers salaries and uniforms for Jordan, Olivas, Stewart and Tammie Van Hook, who does outreach in Midtown. The money also pays for services, such as bus tickets, clothes, transportation costs and other necessities. Olivas joined the team in late 2010.

DSP funds one Navigator. The others are financed by the Midtown Business Association, Sutter Medical Center and the Central Public Library.

Sacramento County is reported to have at least 1,200 people living on the street and about 3,000 who are homeless at some point each year. Tracking homeless people is such a challenge because their lives are in such flux, Loofbourrow said.

Three Navigators worked with 159 homeless people in the downtown and Midtown coverage areas in 2010. Of those, 19 percent are still active, 29 percent were housed with family or long-term housing, 9 percent in shelters, 18 percent referred to social services, 20 percent left the area, 2 percent were arrested, 2 percent refused service and 1 percent died, he said.

DSP rarely hears from homeless people after they’ve left the area.

Loofbourrow has learned much about the complex problems plaguing the homeless, mentally ill, indigents and addicts. He has helped spearhead efforts to combat these problems. For example, public drunkenness is down 70 to 80 percent downtown since Loofbourrow and the District Attorney's office started a serial inebriate program in 2005. He's worked closely with the DA's community prosecutor to solve recurring problems.

His confidence in the program's individualized approach was cemented when they took on their first client: a woman living in the park who was so seriously mentally ill, she urinated through her clothes on the benches where she sat. Loofbourrow was afraid they wouldn't be able to reach her.

But working closely with her, they got her to social services and into an SRO hotel within two weeks. They helped reunite her with her family a year later.

"That gave me hope," Loofbourrow said. "I thought, 'Wow. If we can help that lady, we can do anything.'

Hip hop music not the problem, panelists say

2010-11-10T02:25:15Z

The key to successful and safe hip hop events in Sacramento is to focus on the music, an expert panel said Tuesday.

Sacramento needs club owners and promoters to give hip hop artists doing good music a chance – working together rationally to overcome stereotypes or solve problems. What the city doesn't need is people who bring turf wars or personal drama into clubs, said hip hop artists, promoters and a historian gathered at the Crest Theatre.

One panelist, rapper B-Smoove, acknowledged that problems can arise if gang enemies who normally don't cross paths suddenly wind up at the same club. He’s established a reputation for hosting problem-free hip hop nights by reminding his audiences that everyone was there for the music, not drugs or violence.

"When it's all about the music, all the B.S. goes by the wayside," said hip hop DJ and promoter Mic Jordan at an event organized by the Midtown Business Association, Downtown Sacramento Partnership and Old Sacramento Business Association.

The panel was part of a series of workshops on nightclub safety and state laws and city regulations for bars and nightclubs. On Nov. 16, the business organizations are hosting the third Pubs, Clubs and Bars Security Training workshop on bar security and operations from 2 - 5 p.m. at the California Military Museum, 1119 Second St.

The free workshops are open to businesses, DJs and club promoters in Old Sacramento, downtown and Midtown.

Hip hop started largely because New York gang lords wanted to create places for their kids to have positive experiences. There may have been war in the streets, but that wasn't allowed at such events, Jordan said.

"They used their muscle to enforce these hip hop events as safe zones," Jordan said. "As artists, that's part of our responsibility. That's what we can do at the clubs."

Panelists discouraged marketing efforts that exploit violence, such as promotional fliers with gunshot holes used recently here by one promoter. Sacramento's hip hop scene has remained largely unrecognized, and artists aren't given opportunities because of problems with violence that have been blamed on the music, they said.

"Our underground music scene is as good as anybody across the board," said Jordan, adding that the city doesn’t have enough club owners who trust artists or have established clientele.

Hip hop educator Michael Benjamin II recommended clubs play more diverse hip hop and use diverse DJs and musicians. The crowds will come for events featuring hip hop’s golden era in the 1980s and 1990s, he said.

"I've never understood a club owner complaining about violence at their club and they're playing all violent music," he said.

Some but not all panelists say troublemakers might be weeded out with dress codes, which could add a more sophisticated vibe inside clubs and prevent gang colors from being worn. Problems might also be prevented by no longer making people line up outside and wait to be chosen to get in, B-Smoove said.

The practice may work in cities like Los Angeles and New York. But here, customers are likely to become unhappy if someone else is allowed in when they’re not, he said.

“In Sacramento, that tactic don't necessarily work,” B-Smoove said.

Some clubs are only concerned about filling up with customers, so they aren't weeding out bad people, said DJ Katz, an underground electronic DJ who joined about 25 other people in the audience. The crowd included bar owners, DJs, promoters, police and security personnel.

"It's desperation time right now. There's crickets," he said.

But Swiff, a musician who does hip hop, rock and R&B, said rules that force people to wear expensive clothing may start more fights because a guy who gets a drink spilled on his expensive shirt will be more angry than if he was just wearing a T-shirt.

The panelists suggested Sacramento clubs hire more security for events. Bouncers should be trained professionals – polite and well-dressed, yet tough when needed, so they themselves don't initiate violence with disrespectful behavior. They should also work at the same clubs repeatedly so they recognize people who've caused problems in the past, panelists said.

Swiff said he's OK with having police officers sitting outside clubs to keep troublemakers or "outside scum" away. What he doesn't want is people leaving one of his events vowing never to return because they're afraid for their lives.

"That's what’s wrong in Sacramento: We're letting the scum beat us," he said.

Workshops tackle safe bar operations

2010-11-05T00:53:02Z

Nightclub safety will be discussed at upcoming workshops offered by local business organizations.

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Midtown Business Association and Old Sacramento Business Association are hosting two sessions this month.They are part of a series aimed at educating bar and restaurant owners and staff about their responsibilities, as well as state laws and city regulations.

The free workshops are open to businesses, DJs and club promoters in Old Sacramento, downtown and Midtown.

Rapper B-Smoove and other experts in Sacramento's hip hop scene recently agreed to lead a panel on managing hip hop nights so that they stay free from the violence that shut down clubs like Elements. Other discussions will tackle many "gray areas" involved with bar operation, entertainment permits and special events, said DSP Director of Community Services Ryan Loofbourrow.

"We plan on doing this on a regular basis, so as trends happen or new regulations take effect, we can include those," he said Thursday. "We want to make sure all of our establishments are up to date on all the procedures."

On Nov. 9, a hip hop panel will talk about how business owners can build successful clubs and reputations by enforcing tight security at the door, banning bad behavior inside clubs and offering "true" hip hop – rather than gangsta rap or other music with violent lyrics, MBA Operations Manager Aja Uranga-Foster said.

B-Smoove will be joined by Michael W. Benjamin II of Low End Theory Collaborative, hip hop club promoter Mike Jordan and Brian "Abs" Washington, a musician, promoter, personal trainer and bouncer. The panel will be held from 1 - 2 p.m. at the Crest Theatre, 1013 K St.

Some bars have stopped offering hip hop events, while others have developed bad reputations and even lost permits or licenses for repeated violence. The panel will discuss how music lyrics and beats can influence mood and behavior inside a club, she said.

Two people were shot and killed outside Elements, 805 15th St., in 2004. Robert Zarco was gunned down in revenge after he shot and killed 26-year-old Elias Sanchez in front of his wife. The club stopped holding hip hop nights after the shooting. Its permit was later revoked. The club was sold and the place reopened as Avalon.

"They're going to talk about how to maintain a high standard and play good hip hop that doesn't just appeal to a 'low-end crowd,' " Foster said. "They themselves (the panelists) don't go out to clubs because they want to hear true hip hop, but they don't like the behavior that is allowed at some clubs."

That panel will be followed by a workshop on responsible beverage service from 2 - 5 p.m. Jerry Jolly, the former director of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, will explain state regulations involving alcohol sales and promotions, how to turn away intoxicated customers and how to communicate with ABC agents.

Another Pubs, Clubs and Bars Security Training workshop will be held on bar security and operations from 2 - 5 p.m. Nov. 16 at the California Military Museum, 1119 Second St. Sacramento Police Sgt. Monty "Max" Maxwell, with the department's entertainment team, will cover city entertainment permits, requirements for security operations, how to recognize people too intoxicated to buy more liquor, fire safety and other issues, Loofbourrow said.

"Bars are responsible for the behavior of customers," he said. "This will help bar operators and security know what to look for."

Photo by Brandon Darnell.

Is Sacramento world-class?

2010-11-01T05:28:17Z

London, Paris, Rome ... Sacramento.

It would be inappropriate to include Sacramento in a list of historically rich, architecturally endowed and characteristically unique places like Europe’s “big three” destinations.

Even on our own continent, the appeal of Sacramento is dwarfed alongside the likes of New York, Chicago or Boston.

Let’s bring it even closer to home, meaning the West Coast or even closer, Northern California. San Francisco or Sacramento? If forced to label one or the other “world-class,” which would it be? Honestly.

It wouldn’t be fair, or accurate, to say that Sacramento has nothing good to offer the world. It offers the world a lot of things, right? Think to yourself, what can only Sacramento give? Not the region. The world. Remember, “world-class” is what we’re after here.

Logically, if a city aspires to achieve world-class status, then the world would be the assessor and bestower of that distinguished honor. No city can claim favor from the world if the world’s not offering up any compliments.

All that said, we’re brought to a very Sacramento-related discussion: What is the definition of “world-class”? And what will it take for Sacramento to be worthy of such a title?

As far as describing what world-class looks like, Sacramento citizens have mixed understandings.

“It means different things to different people,” Michael Ault of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership said.

Temple Coffee barista Briana Poronwicz said it involves “being unique and known for a certain thing.”

“It’s a pointless phrase,” Sacramento historian William Burg said. “It’s something to say to get what you want by making someone feel bad about the place where they live.”

Sacramento Library security guard Abdalgadir Hemaidaln said it has nothing to do with buildings or sports, but rather “morality, ethics and human behavior. These three things make a city world-class.”

With such differing definitions of the phrase, it was no wonder that approaches to making Sacramento more world-class were also unique to the individual, and his or her own needs and wants.

Ault said we need to make it more of a destination by giving people a reason to want to come and visit the city.

“What is the draw we have here?” he asked rhetorically. “Is it the neighborhoods, the retail, the history, the Capitol?”

He said we need to learn from other cities and “focus on what our identity is.”

He said that at times we lack a collective voice, and need more of a focused leadership when it comes to supporting development projects that could make Sacramento more of a destination.

Poronwicz lives in Midtown and said she gravitates toward a place with a lot of culture, adding that she could care less about having a professional basketball team.

“Art is a huge factor,” she said.

While working at Temple Coffee’s location at 10th and J, Poronwicz commented on how out of hand the homeless issue has become. Seeing Sacramento become more world-class would involve better programs for the homeless, she said.

Burg, who has gone as far as starting a “Ban the phrase ‘world-class city’ in Sacramento” Facebook page, said use of the phrase is done with basic advertising thought in mind, by implying that someone is missing something that you can provide for them.

He said the phrase might be used with the best of intentions, “but generally, it doesn’t have any external validity. There’s no metric to identify it. It’s opinion.”

“Essentially, it’s kind of like telling your girlfriend in an offhand way that she’s fat and needs to go on diet,” he said.

He puckishly suggested that use of the phrase in the public sphere should result in a fine.

Sacramentans have heard Mayor Kevin Johnson talk about “making Sacramento a world-class destination.” He recently used the phrase at a press conference introducing the “For Arts Sake” initiative. Johnson uses it when talking about everything from arts to sports to education.

Johnson’s action plan involves “elevating the profile of Sacramento as a destination city,” which falls under the category of, you guessed it, “World Class City.”

It’s not that it’s a bad thing to aspire to become a world-class city, but what does that mean? And if we can’t agree on a definition, then what are even talking about?

Any more Sacramentans willing to chime in?

Downtown conference starts Wednesday

2010-09-29T04:09:44Z

Downtown Sacramento will take the spotlight this week for the California Downtown Association's 2010 annual conference.

The conference, which starts Wednesday and runs through Friday, marks the 15th anniversary of state legislation that allowed property-based improvement districts to finance improvements in business districts. The conference also marks the 15th anniversary of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, created in 1995 as the first such district and led by Michael Ault, said DSP spokeswoman Lisa Martinez.

Local speakers will talk about successes in downtown Sacramento and other nearby districts. Several walking tours will highlight the city's architecture and other elements of its landscape, Martinez said.

At least 170 people working in downtown and business district development and management are expected to talk about their downtowns and discuss new ideas at the conference.

More than 80 cities from tiny Gridley in Butte County to Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco will be represented, said Laura Cole-Rowe, conference coordinator.

The conference, "Striking Gold Downtown," includes sessions on creating walkable communities, organizing successful special events, reinventing downtowns and other topics. A "Nighttime Economy Tour" will take visitors on a tour of Sacramento's "social economy" spots in Old Sacramento, downtown and Midtown.

The keynote speaker is Lynn Weigand, who heads the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation at Portland State University's Center for Transportation Studies. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson will address conference members in an opening plenary session at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Hyatt Regency.

The California Downtown Association is based in Sacramento.

Night photo of Capitol Mall by Kati Garner.

Second Saturday to go the way of Thursday Night Market?

2010-09-19T23:09:08Z

The Sept. 12 shooting has some Sacramentans wondering if the Second Saturday Art Walk is going to go the way of K Street’s Thursday Night Market.

According to Michael Picker, The Thursday Night Market was inspired by an event in San Louis Obispo and was intended to be a small-scale street fair people could stop by on their way home from work, but it grew to attract crowds far larger than anticipated as people went home first, picked up their families and then returned to the market.

Picker, who was chief of staff for Mayor Joe Serna Jr. when Thursday Night Market was introduced, both the Thursday Night Market and Second Saturday Art Walk became victims of their own success.

“Everybody plans for what can go awry,” Picker said, “but sometimes too much goes right, and you get too many people.”

But Rob Kerth, executive director of the Midtown Business Association, said the two events share many things, but they remain different.

“I’m not sure that we’ve got something going wrong here,” Kerth said. “There’s a lot of folks showing up, and they have a good time, and any number of businesses say it’s their most important day of the month.”

The key difference between the two, according to Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership – which produced the Thursday Night Market – is that Second Saturday has a much greater focus and involves the business community more.

“At the end of Thursday Night Markets, many retailers weren’t even open because they weren’t finding it a successful draw to their businesses because their voice wasn’t utilized,” Ault said.

With Second Saturday, Ault said, there is much more focus, and both the business and the community are committed to making it work.

“Second Saturday started off as an event to drive people to art galleries, and it has really evolved into a social scene,” Ault said, “and it’s a wonderful nexus where it’s gone, but we need to figure out how to make it grow and how to grow effectively.”

Picker advised looking into how other major cities handle their big events and see what can be learned from their experience.

Kerth said the MBA has been studying events in other cities, including San Francisco, Old Pasadena and Berkeley, and there are several steps that need to be taken to make Second Saturday a better event.

“We need to get parking out of the neighborhoods so people aren’t walking through them and being noisy and causing problems,” Kerth said, adding that in the future, the MBA will be posting better signage and lighting as well as passing out pamphlets at venues to inform visitors of nearby off-street parking he said many are unaware of.

In an effort to get teens to go home after 10 p.m., Kerth said the MBA is contacting local high schools and encouraging them to get the message out to students.

“We did that this month, and we got a response from about four schools,” Kerth said. “We’re going to push much harder next month ... but we’re not going to get all the kids to go home. We know that.”

It was an over-concentration of teens looking for a social atmosphere that largely contributed to the death of Thursday Night Markets, according to Picker.

“When large groups of teens started showing up, it turned away from being a family event,” Picker said. “That was hard for us. It was a turning point. How do you get teens to go home? If you push them to go home, they want to defy authority.”

Picker said throwing more police at the problem didn’t help, but running street sweepers down the venue did – until resources were stretched too thin.

“I think that’s what’s going on with Second Saturday,” Picker said. “It’s not a crime issue, it’s a population management issue. Unfortunately, this time there was a shooting.”

Kerth acknowledged that the MBA sees problems with the population at the event, which ebbs and flows during the night.

The crowds peak at about 9 p.m., he said, then they drop off until about 11 p.m., when they begin to grow again.

“The chances of a 17-year-old having a good outcome to their night after 10 p.m. goes down,” he said.

Another problem Kerth acknowledged is people drinking on the streets, detailed in this article.

Despite the acknowledged problems with the event, Kerth said Second Saturday is fundamentally different from the Thursday Night Markets in size.

While Thursday Night Markets were confined to an approximately four-block stretch on K Street, Second Saturday ranges all over from Old Sacramento to Alhambra Boulevard and from Broadway to F Street, according to Kerth.

Kerth said the efforts the MBA is making – from educating people about parking to encouraging teens to go home at the 10 p.m. curfew and working to stop the illegal “tailgating” – will not “make a fundamental change, but they’ll head things in the right direction.”

Kerth, Ault and Picker all agreed that there are lessons to be learned from other events, whether they be Thursday Night Markets, Jazz Jubilees, Pacific Rim Festivals or larger events in other cities.

“There’s a lot of community and political will to keep this going forward,” Ault said. “We need to preserve it because it’s a very special entity.”

Picker said that, thinking regionally, downtown and Midtown Sacramento are the “main street” for the area.

“There is a need for people to get together within the Sacramento Valley and be creative and not be constrained by strip malls,” he said. “You’ve got to plan for success, though. Maybe every couple of years you need to shake it up and do something different.”

Kerth said that Second Saturday is far from being just a memory.

“I get asked a lot from folks, ‘Is this the end?’ and my answer has been, ‘Well, I’m still coming down to have fun, are you?’ ” he said. “Rumors of our demise are greatly exaggerated.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Downtown Plaza gets a facelift

2010-08-25T00:16:32Z

Those who have been avoiding Westfield Downtown Plaza might want to take another look.

After kicking off a multimillion-dollar remodeling project last October, the shopping center has a new look and upgraded security. New planters, improved lighting and a more open feel mark a noticeable change to the mall.

“We are going to continue to make as many positive features to this property as we can,” said General Manager Russell Dougherty, adding that there is no set timeline for when the mall will be “done.”

“We think of it as a bunch of small projects,” Dougherty said. “We want to keep it fresh so shoppers will keep coming back.”

Much of the remodel work has focused on making the shopping center feel more open, well-lit and inviting.

Older can lights and standing light fixtures are being replaced by energy-efficient LED lights that provide better lighting in addition to being a green feature.

Shoppers will also notice that the fountains have been removed and replaced with tiled planter boxes created by an artist, with faux turf laid down between them to add color...and have even been used by shoppers for impromptu picnics, Dougherty said.

“The fountains drew a lot of pigeons,” Dougherty said, “but now I haven’t seen a pigeon in the area for six months.”

The once-massive concrete columns supporting the rotunda are now gone – leaving only the steel beams, which have been integrated into the architecture. The bases of the columns are still there, but they now serve as planters.

“It gives improved sight lines for our stores,” Dougherty said. “It also helps with the lighting. We’re using the interesting architecture that makes this site unique, cleaning it up and enhancing it.”

In a move to become more family- and health-friendly, the mall is now smoke-free throughout, and a new kids’ play area is featured in the rotunda.

Dougherty said the remodel has made the space more appealing and increased foot traffic, which he hopes will draw more stores, as the site is currently only about 65 percent occupied.

Another feature to keep customers coming through the doors is a stage featuring live music and hosting a Third Saturday event with the Sacramento News and Review consisting of a fashion show, temporary vendors and live music.

New signage is going up to direct shoppers to the second level, which has the majority of the empty spaces but still boasts numerous stores.

When the 24 Hour Fitness center is finished with its expansion, Dougherty said it will help liven up the second floor, which will likely also host Santa Claus during the holidays.

Security has been addressed, Dougherty said, and the mall has video surveillance as well as other upgrades. He added that Westfield is working with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and the Sacramento Police Department to ensure the mall is a safe place.

“I think overall this is a welcome addition to Downtown Plaza from our perspective, since it’s definitely an attraction point for lots of folks downtown,” said Lisa Martinez, director of marketing and outreach for DSP. “Overall, it makes for a stronger retail area.”

Martinez added that, as a shopper, she notices a lot of the smaller details.

“Some of those smaller details speak volumes that the people care about the center,” she said.

Dougherty said he can’t comment on anything Mayor Kevin Johnson says about possibly selling the shopping center, but he said Westfield manages it no differently than any of its other properties and plans to keep upgrading the mall to keep it fresh.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Streetcar plan explained

2010-07-30T21:32:24Z

A study to map out a streetcar route linking Sacramento to West Sacramento is expected to start this fall, according to city Transportation Department spokeswoman Linda Tucker.

More than $400,000 in funding has been set aside for the study -- $310,000 from federal grant funds obtained earlier this year and $90,000 from local transportation funds, said Azadeh Doherty, a principal planner in the department.

The current plan for the streetcar includes a path in West Sacramento, but does not lay out a route in Sacramento. Under the most recent plan, the streetcar would run from West Sacramento City Hall, across Tower Bridge and stop in Old Sacramento at the foot of the bridge.

The city will consider ideas for a route in Sacramento in the upcoming study.

Tucker provided more detail about the study Wednesday in an e-mail to The Sacramento Press.

The Sacramento Press: Who will conduct this study?

Tucker: The City will conduct the study to explore the best route to serve the most riders on the Sacramento side of the river.

City staff from (the) Department of Transportation and the Economic Development department will co-manage the project with the help of a consultant team. We will post a Request for Qualifications for a consultant sometime in August/September. The study should get going this fall.

SP: Will the public and stakeholders be able to influence this study?

Tucker: Absolutely, there will be opportunities for public input through public meetings and a stakeholder advisory group of Sacramento stakeholders and residents. Key stakeholders are Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), developers, business owners and advocacy groups such as the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Chambers of Commerce on both sides of the river, Regional Transit (which will operate the streetcar), public transit riders, bicycle and walking advocates and Old Sacramento, to name a few.

We’re looking forward to getting started to have the public and experts weigh in. The study will be a companion to our previous studies: the Bikeway Master Plan, Parking Master Plan, Pedestrian Master Plan, General Plan, Regional Transit Master Plan, Township 9 and Railyards.

Once the streetcar study is completed, we will be able to do a comprehensive downtown circulation study next summer that will integrate all that was documented during these other studies completed in recent years.

SP: How will Caltrans be involved in the study?

Tucker: They are a stakeholder as they own the Tower Bridge, which will be the streetcar crossing. However, we do not expect they would have an inordinate amount of involvement merely because the funds passed through them from SACOG to us.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Arts/Downtown Champion to Receive Service Award at Sac Film & Music Festival

2010-07-23T01:08:54Z

There are few people in this town who have consistently done as much to promote film, music, arts and Downtown Sacramento as Sid Heberger, managing partner of the Crest Theatre. Now, after years producing, hosting and promoting multiple film festivals, she is receiving the 4th Annual Film Arts Service Award during the opening ceremonies for the 11th Annual Sacramento Film & Music Festival.

From the Festival Program:

Sid grew up in Sutter Creek developing an early love for film and historic architecture. She moved to Sacramento to attend college and in 1986 became involved in the re-opening of the historic Crest Theatre, leading to a management position two years later. Now CEO of the Crest’s operating company, Sid has overseen multiple renovations of both the marquee and the interior, including selection of historically authentic materials and design components. Sid has produced multiple classic film events, Trash Film Orgy, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Comedy, and the All-Sketch Festival. She co-directs the Jewish Film Festival, hosts and supports multiple other film festivals, serves on the board of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, served on the Mayor’s Arts Initiative Film Committee, and is a Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commissioner. She lives in Land Park with her husband Bill, son Nicolas, and Lhasa-Poo Dusty.

"Our Festival and many others would suffer without the Crest as the perfect downtown venue and Sid is a friend, a supporter, a sponsor, and an amazing resource for an arts organization such as ours" said Festival Founder and Co-Director Nathan Schemel.

Past Film Arts Service Awards recipients include Shawn Sullivan who has a remarkable track record teaching animation at Sheldon High School and watching his students go on to great success at companies such as Pixar, Bill Bronstein who has directed the Tower of Youth film festival for many years and championed the cause of youth filmmakers, and Ron Cooper, Executive Director of Access Sacramento and the force behind 11 years of their "A Place Called Sacramento" screenwriting and filmmaking program.

In a small-world connection, Shawn Sullivan is also credited as a mentor in the success of local performance artist David Garibaldi, who will be performing at this year's Festival on Thursday, July 29th, following a premiere screening of "Walking Dreams," a new documentary about his work. A charity auction of David's work follows the performance and benefits the Friends of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and the Festival.

The Festival opens with a reception catered by Festival Sponsor Rubios at 7pm tomorrow (Friday, July 23rd). The opening remarks and Award presentation are at 8:00pm followed by a screening of the documentary "Official Rejection" about the trials and tribulations of getting an independent film into film festivals. The screening is followed by an after-party at Festival Sponsor Cosmo Cafe.

Full Festival information and ticketing links can be found at www.sacfilm.com/schedule.html.

All-Screening Passes are $60 at the Crest Box Office (a 50% savings over those bought online) or $30 for students. Most individual screening tickets are $10. Opening night tickets that include both parties, the award presentation, and the movie are $15.

Photos:

1) Sid Heberger, recipient of the 2010 Film Arts Service Award

2) Festival mini-poster

3) David Garibaldi, who performs live on July 29th at the Crest Theatre

Disclaimer: Tony Sheppard is Co-Director of the 11th Annual Sacramento Film & Music Festival

Council to choose K Street developers

2010-07-13T02:13:00Z

The Sacramento City Council is set to vote Tuesday night on the developers who will tackle the blighted K Street Mall.

The question before the council is whether to support the recommendation of Mayor Kevin Johnson's ad hoc committee to go with the biggest proposal, which has a "Boqueria" public market as its centerpiece, or to back two other proposals to redevelop the troubled 700 and 800 blocks of K Street on $40 million in city-owned land.

Only one selection committee had been identified in the city's request for qualifications. Last month, that committee recommended the 700 block be redeveloped by D & S Development and CFY Development, with their Promenade on K project estimated at $35.5 million. The committee also recommended the 800 block be redeveloped for an estimated $46 million by Sacramento developer David Taylor and Z Gallerie owner Joe Zeiden. Downtown Sacramento Partnership endorsed those selections.

Johnson's committee, which included City Council members Steve Cohn, Rob Fong and Ray Tretheway, on Thursday announced its preference for the $210 million project by the Sacramento Alliance Team, led by Rubicon Partners, St. Anton Partners and Preferred Capital Advisors. The ad hoc committee was formed to study the proposals in more depth and bring the council members more detail than what they would get at a council meeting, Cohn said.

"The ad hoc commitee of the council went with the more exciting proposal that seemed to have more promise to turn around not just that portion of K Street, but also to rejuvenate downtown with a unique concept," Cohn said. "I think the screening committee was going for the safety of what they thought could get done."

The council will have a challenge making a selection and providing direction to staff and developers Tuesday night, he said.

"It's going to be incumbent on the council to give guidance on tight time frames, and if this thing's not financeable, that we don't let too much time go by before figuring out if it can't be done," he said. "If it can't, then we'll need to fall back to one of the other two that were recommended."

The City Council was initially scheduled to make its selection in May.

The nine-member council must choose between three out of four teams that submitted proposals in March. At least two of those teams have been intensely lobbying the City Council, city staff and the community in the days and weeks prior to the vote.

The D & S and CFY development team — led by D & S partners David Miry and Steve Lebastchi, Miry's son Bay, CFY owner Cyrus Youssefi and his son Ali Youssefi — has sent more than 500 e-mailed petition signatures to the City Council.

On Saturday, they held an online petition drive at Shady Lady, at 1409 R St. So many signatures flooded City Council e-mail boxes that they closed down their project’s website Monday at the city’s request, Miry said.

Representatives from the Sacramento Old City Association, the Environmental Council of Sacramento and local construction trade unions have thrown their support behind the project and are expected at the council meeting. At least eight local business owners with ideas for the 700 block's spaces have voiced support as well, he said.

The D&S team is requesting $16 million in existing city Redevelopment Assistance funds and would invest $1.5 million in cash equity and $18 million in conventional debt to develop the 700 block, Miry said.

That team was "surprised" when the mayor appointed an ad hoc committee to take a second look at the proposals, said D & S official Bay Miry.

"It certainly caught us off guard," he said. "We thought it was a slam dunk once we received the recommendation of the selection committee."

The Mayor's office did not return a phone call seeking comment.

The Rubicon team — the same developers behind the creation of the Citizen Hotel — on Monday provided last-minute information to council members and city staff on numbers contained in the city staff report posted Thursday. Two weeks ago, they held a reception to present the community with more details about their proposal. Representatives from organizations including the California State Board of Food and Agriculture and the California Travel and Tourism Commission have thrown their support behind the team, and individuals have e-mailed through the team's website.

That team's proposal would require $99 million in public subsidies, according to the city staff report, which also identified an $80 million funding gap.

However, the team said the funding gap is $50 million, but sources to fill that gap have been identified as coming from private investment by the food and agriculture industry, state funds and federal funds, and a $13.5 million parking bond. No money would come from the city's general fund, said Project Director J-E Paino of Rubicon Partners.

"The size of the gap is smaller than it appears," he said. "Funding has not been obtained, but funding sources have been identified. We know where we're going to go to get them. But we can't go get them until we get control of the land."

The team would invest more than $122 million in private debt and equity into the project, which calls for $19.6 million in RDA funds. Paino said they expect another $19.5 million to come from project-generated tax increment funds, permits and fees, according to information provided to the city.

The team also proposed a $25 million parking bond, according to the city staff report, which said the city can't undertake that debt. Paino said Monday the team withdrew a request for a $12 million parking bond for the 700 block.

Taylor could not be reached for comment.

Supporters of the development teams are expected to turn out at Tuesday night's council meeting.

SOCA supports the selection committee's recommendations partly because the teams would preserve the historic buildings on the 700 and 800 blocks, including Bel-Vue Apartments, rather than just their facades, said SOCA Board Member Kay Knepprath, past president.

"Both of those proposals are realistic and can happen soon," she said. "We are concerned that the city choose developers who have adequate financing and can make it happen."

The council's dilemma really stems from the existence of such strong proposals, Cohn said.

"What's reflected that you have three out of the four teams being recommended is that we really had excellent proposals," Cohn said. "It's a good problem to have in that it's a tough choice."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter covering business and development for The Sacramento Press.

Study identifies potential economic impact of downtown entertainment & sports complex

2010-06-30T20:21:32Z

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP), in collaboration with a consulting team from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, released a report on the potential economic impacts of an Entertainment and Sports Complex (ESC) in the Railyards earlier this month. The report suggests that a well-integrated complex with parallel investment in Downtown’s core assets, including Old Sacramento, Downtown Plaza, JKL Retail Corridor, and the Convention Center, will maximize economic impact and strengthen the surrounding neighborhood.

“We believe that an Entertainment and Sports Complex belongs Downtown and has the potential to stimulate economic activity,” said DSP Executive Director Michael Ault. “In cities like Denver and Indianapolis, development of these venues has been used as a tool to accelerate and compliment revitalization efforts.”

According to the study, transportation access and connectivity, public safety, and local business development in conjunction with reinvestment in the Downtown District are major factors in the future success of an ESC at the Railyards.

The report cites several case studies of both successes and failures of Downtown ESCs throughout the country. Indianapolis, which used ESC development as part of a long-term downtown revitalization strategy, reported a 78% increase in annual downtown visitors compared to 15 years ago. In contrast, Baltimore failed to connect two sports stadiums at Camden Yards and as a result experienced no additional development or revitalization in nearby neighborhoods.

“As the ESC discussion moves forward, this analysis will be a very effective tool to communicate priorities for future development,” said Ault. “It also supports the case for continued investment in Sacramento’s core assets and the Downtown District.

A full copy of the report is available for download at www.downtownsac.org.

K Street developers endorsed

2010-06-18T05:20:01Z

The Sacramento City Council is scheduled next month to pick the developers who will take on the challenge of rebuilding two blighted blocks of K Street Mall.

A selection committee created by the city has tapped two teams. D & S Development, Inc., and CFY Development, Inc. — led by Cyrus Youssefi — is being recommended to redevelop the 700 block. The group 700-800 K Street, LLC — led by Sacramento developer David Taylor and Z Gallerie owner Joe Zeiden — is being recommended to take on the 800 block, said Beth Tincher, a senior project manager with the city's Economic Development Department.

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership endorsed those selections at a board meeting last week. The two development teams were backed over two others primarily because they had the most secure financing and could start the mixed-use projects the fastest, said DSP Executive Director Michael Ault.

"We heard all four proposals and honestly would tell you we'd be lucky to have any of the proposals," he said. "We did think the two proposals that were identified would be good, solid projects and could move forward pretty quickly."

The proposal for the 700 block focuses on restoring historic storefronts, developing smaller retail spaces in front and creating alley-front housing and a garage in back. A locally operated live music venue would be planned for the historic building that housed a Men's Wearhouse store.

D & S and CFY strengthened their proposal by concentrating on just one block and arranging financial backing. They obtained a commitment letter for a $28 million construction loan from Chase Bank and provided evidence of the availability of equity funds, said D & S Development spokesman Bay Miry.

"While the project needs to be unique and exciting in its vision, equally important is the project's doability and strength," he said. If the council approved their selection, Miry estimated their project could start about six months later, once entitlements and permits were obtained, and be completed in 18 months, which would be about July 2012.

The selection committee included people from the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, the Urban Land Institute, a San Diego redevelopment agency and a professional experienced with redevelopment projects.

However, an ad hoc team made up of Mayor Kevin Johnson and three City Council members, including Steve Cohn and Ray Tretheway, is now also reviewing the four proposals.

The largest proposal came from a team led by Rubicon Partners Inc. and its co-founder Kipp Blewett, who, as DSP chairman, recused himself from weighing in on the proposals at last week's board meeting. Encompassing both blocks, the Rubicon plan would create 100,000 square feet of retail, a 35,000-square foot farmers' market, a 2,000-seat entertainment venue and an artisan alley with live-work walkups for artists.

A council vote has been set for July 13 once city staff make their recommendation, which will be made public the week before. A staff report will outline the list of criteria used in the process, Tincher said.

Getting "doable" projects started soon would benefit the city by enticing other investment, Miry said.

"I think they'd be a catalyst for more projects to happen and help create a renaissance on K Street," he said.

Photos by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter covering business and development for The Sacramento Press.

Local artists to transform Downtown into living gallery

2010-06-11T16:26:55Z

Vacant building or blank canvas? This weekend, local artists in collaboration with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership will blur the line with phantom galleries and temporary public art installations in vacant downtown buildings.

Chalk artists Stephanie Olivera and Jen Cimeglio will transform the façade of 1018 J Street by painting a temporary chalk mural as part of a live Second Saturday show from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The two-panel mural will feature a Japanese theme and span approximately 320 square feet. A new mural will be painted live every Second Saturday throughout the summer to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Chalk It Up! on Labor Day weekend.

Contemporary artists Amber Dias, Sally Worthing and Kelli Trapani will display their latest works as part of a temporary exhibit, Only Time | Reflecting the female perspective. The exhibit will be on display in vacant storefronts at the 800 J Lofts along 8th, 9th and J streets.

“Art is an important part of any city and especially Downtown. I’m happy to promote the arts in any way and make people stop in their normal routine and appreciate their surroundings,” said Dias. “Working in an vacant space wasn’t a challenge. I was able to take unconventional objects in the space like a drop cloth, paint cans and a metal rack and make it into something new. I married my art to the building.”

The installations and mural mark the beginning of West of 16th Street and East of the River – a series of downtown arts-related events and programs that showcases Downtown’s public art, cultural history and architecture through temporary art exhibits, walking tours and artists-in-action events. The series is produced by DSP, the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC), Center for Contemporary Art, Crocker Art Museum and Chalk it Up!, and was inspired by the Mayor’s For Art Sake Initiative.

“We wanted to provide a way to support our identity as an arts-friendly city and affect change with a minimal budget. Using vacant spaces seemed like a natural match,” said DSP Programming Manager Julia Beckner. “Downtown is home to our region’s best public art, museums, theaters and arts groups. We reached out to local arts organizations to develop programs that connect Downtown’s history and cultural amenities.”

In addition to the art exhibit, pedestrians can experience Downtown’s impressive collection of public art and historic architecture on free public art tours presented by the Crocker Art Museum and SMAC. Tours are offered throughout the summer and fall, with special lunchtime chats and Second Saturday tours on topics ranging from the Crocker family legacy to Downtown’s collection of Chicano art. This weekend’s tour focuses on Merle Serlin’s collection at the Cal/EPA building at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 12. For full details on all West of 16th Street and East of the River events, visit http://www.downtownsac.org/secondsaturday.

Downtown walking tour offers snapshot of local music history

2010-05-13T03:11:36Z

Yes, that really did happen here.

The complaints and rumblings about music in Sacramento have been mounting for years: a perceived disconnect between the local music scene and the community, the glaring lack of consistent all-ages music venues in the downtown area and a debilitating middle child syndrome caused by big name touring acts that often pass the Capitol City over for gigs in the Bay Area.

In the face of the retrospective on local music provided by Downtown Sacramento Partnership’s newest walking tour, it becomes hard to find anything to complain about.

Entitled “Locally Grown, Internationally Known: The history of the Sacramento Music Scene,” this hour-long tour offers not only several nuggets of information on Downtown’s musical past, but a sense of where the Sacramento scene is now, and where it wants to go.

The tours run every Friday afternoon beginning at 4 p.m. The walk begins at Cesar Chavez Plaza at the corner of Ninth and J streets, travels east to 15th and J Street, then back up L Street, ending back at Cesar Chavez Plaza at approximately 5 p.m., right at the beginning of the Friday Night Concerts in the Park, a series that runs through Aug. 13. The cost for the tour is $10. As always, the concerts are free.

“Locally Grown, Internationally Known” is the latest offering in the Downtown Partnership’s stock of themed walking tours, a series that also features tours on early Sacramento history, architecture, public art, kid-friendly spots and more.

According to tour guide Shawn Peter, these specialized tours have been running for about a year and a half, ever since the Partnership decided to break up its large-scale walking tour in favor of shorter, more specifically concentrated jaunts.

“Me being a musician, I pretty much know the history (of the local scene) like the back of my hand,” Peter said. “I’ve been sneaking out and going to shows since about 1990, so that’s 20 years of history.

“Mike has been going to concerts since the late ‘60s. We thought, ‘You know, Mike would be the perfect guy to do the rock and roll tour with me,’” he added, referring to fellow tour guide Mike Becklehimer, who joins Peter in leading this newest tour.

Having been with the organization since 2000, Peter is the Downtown Partnership’s original tour guide and is credited with authoring its Early California History tour, according to the organization’s website.

“There’s so much information between the two of us, so it was like, ‘What are we going to talk about, and what would be the basis of the tour?’” said Peter, who has been game-planning this musical stroll with Becklehimer since January.

The tour embarks on J Street with some snippets about Prohibition-era Sacramento music and a bit of retrospective on topics like the KFBK Radio band, which would back up the likes of Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington when they would roll through town.

Peter and Becklehimer will point out several spots of sonic significance that are now masked by retail facades like FedEx Kinko’s, which was once a booming music store, and McCormick & Schmick’s Restaurant in front of the Elks Lodge, which used to house the “free form rock and roll” of the KZAP 98.5 (now 98 Rock) studios.

The tour provides a heavy dose of history on acts that have come through Memorial Auditorium at 15th and J Streets, where Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards once electrocuted himself (it really should be no surprise that he survived it) in 1965 and Ted Nugent made the ceiling rain chips of plaster in 1977 with the teeth-rattling guitar riffs of “Stranglehold.”

There is even some history at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church across the street, where the Grateful Dead once played an impromptu concert in 1968 after a gig at Memorial was cancelled.

If any well-connected tape traders out there have a recording of that show or know where to get one, the folks at DSP want to hear from you.

Peter and Becklehimer also dish up plenty of info on more recent happenings as the tour moves through the corner of 15th and L, the former home of downtown’s most thriving all-age venue, Capitol Garage.

They can tell you where members of the Cramps used to live, direct you to some postage stamp-sized spots where Cake used to play, tell you about the bands that were getting weird with it at Esquire Grill and even show you some footprints made by Kurt Cobain.

It’s a tour that could easily switch gears from a local history lesson to the kind of rock and roll chat session you’d expect to have at a café table or on a barstool with your concert-going buddies. That’s how well Peter and Becklehimer know their stuff.

Using the tour as an interlude to the current happenings in the Sacramento scene, the two guides can also tell you plenty about the bands that will be tuning up their guitars and warming the amps at Cesar Chavez Plaza when the trek wraps up.

“I like to think that people who take this tour will think, ‘Wow, Sac really is a cool place, and it’s not boring,’” Peter said.

“Maybe we can get people not afraid to go to a nightclub that has a live band,” he added. “You may become that band’s next biggest fan. That’s my own personal energy that I’m trying to get across.

“Here’s some bands at Concert in the Park, and they might be playing down the street in a couple weeks - go enjoy yourself.”

For more information on this and other Downtown walking tours, visit the Downtown Partnership’s website at www.downtownsac.org or call (916) 442-8575.

Grocery Outlet to open 17th & Capital

2010-05-11T01:30:51Z

A mom and pop Grocery Outlet is expected to open in Midtown this summer.

An Orange County family is relocating to Sacramento to open a branch of the chain that calls itself the country's largest "extreme-value" grocery retailer. The store is expected to open July 1 in the former Rick's Uptown Market at 17th Street and Capitol Avenue.

Mindi and Ken Admire want to set their store apart from other Grocery Outlets by operating a family-friendly business and really getting to know their customers. Their children, Kristina and Kenneth, a recent college graduate, will be an integral part of that.

"We hope that we stand out as a different model in that we're going to be completely family-oriented," Mindi Admire said. "We want it to be very intimate. Our entire family is involved in running and operating the store."

The renovation is expected to resume as soon as this week. A little more than a month ago, a construction crew hired by Grocery Outlet removed a five-foot-high section of one of two murals on the building's exterior walls. Admire thought the mural section was removed because it needed repair, but she wasn't sure.

Artists behind the Midtown Murals Project have been working for months to protect the 10-year-old market-scene murals, which were commissioned when Rick's Uptown Market opened.

Grocery Outlet has committed to restore both murals, said the chain's spokeswoman, Melissa Porter, who did not comment further.

The chain has been trying to negotiate a contract with the mural's original artist, Michael Stanford. An agreement has not been reached yet.

"We would really like to keep that mural," Admire said. "We're in conversation with corporate and the city. We're trying our very best to keep that mural."

The exterior may feature outdoor produce bins. The store will be smaller than most Grocery Outlets.

The interior will resemble others in the chain. A tile floor was removed, and the underlying concrete floor will be refinished. A new ceiling and state-of-the-art refrigeration and lighting will be installed.

"It's going to be brand new from floor to ceiling and the smell will be gone," she said.

Ken Admire has worked in the grocery industry for 34 years. He managed a Wild Oats Market in Colorado before Whole Foods acquired the natural, organic grocery store chain. The Midtown store will be the first he or the family have owned, Mindi Admire added. The family chose to move to Northern California partly because his grandparents once owned a walnut ranch in this part of the state.

Like other Grocery Outlets, the store will offer brand name goods at deep discounts. Products will change on a daily basis depending on what's available. But the store is also expected to offer a variety of organic foods, fresh produce, vitamins and other natural products, she said.

"It will feel very similar to any other Grocery Outlet," Admire said. "But the atmosphere there will be very different."

The family members' focus on healthy products and personal relationships with customers makes them stand out, and they've just become a sponsor of Downtown Sacramento Partnership's Friday Night Concerts in the Park, said Lisa Martinez, DSP's marketing director.

"If you see Grocery Outlet commercials ... it doesn't capture the essence of this local Midtown store's brand," she said. "They want something special out of this store."

I Heart Art Craft Market Thursdays at Cesar Chavez Plaza

2010-05-06T03:17:13Z

As summer approaches, so do opportunities for more outdoor events. Cesar Chavez Plaza, located on 10th and J streets, is a hot spot for these events because of its convenient location and friendly atmosphere. I Heart Art Craft Market is an event that will take place at the park from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. every Thursday from May 6 through Oct. 28. Put on by the nonprofit Downtown Sacramento Partnership, I Heart Art is an arena of opportunity for the community to come together and showcase their arts and crafts.

“We came up with the idea for I Heart Art at one of our meetings,” Downtown Sacramento Partnership Events manager Annie Stuckert said. It was a collaborative idea of our staff.”

2009 was the first year for Sacramento’s I Heart Art started. Though economically successful, there was only a total of two vendors. This year, that number has doubled.

“It’s not the biggest event, but it is growing...slowly,” Stuckert said.

Ana Apple Designs is returning from last year and specializes in everything from handmade wallets to onesies. According to its website, Ana Apple Designs is known for “quality (and) affordable upcycled goods for quirky ladies, the guys that find them adorable and their delightfully eccentric offspring.”

Providing products that are developmentally fun is Discovery Toys. The other current vendors include Donna’s Crafts and jewelry artist Christine Waligora. All proceeds go to the artists. I Heart Art is a free, all-ages, rain-or-shine event. Community members are welcome to sign up to become a vendors online anytime through Aug. 26.

According to Stuckert, The Downtown Sacramento Partnership is expecting this year to be more successful than last year's in terms of attendance and sales. There are also plans to continue to keep I Heart Art an annual event.

Visit the I Heart Art website here.

Retail recruiter starts downtown

2010-05-05T02:40:50Z

Valerie Mamone-Werder walked K Street Mall on a wet morning last week.

Wrapped in a black trench coat, Downtown Sacramento Partnership's new retail recruiter didn't seem to notice the dark clouds bulging with the day's next rainstorm. She seemed too full of excitement.

"I love all these old buildings," Mamone-Werder said, standing near a corner of 10th and K streets.

She pointed out what's happening near that important spot: the sophisticated vibe The Cosmopolitan cabaret, café and nightclub have brought to a corner once inhabited by Woolworth's, and the work under way nearby to turn a former Hit or Miss clothing store into Dive Bar and Pizza Rock. She also discussed the potential for the empty space between the two businesses that once housed a Rite Aid and the vacant Roos-Atkins Building at 1001 K St., later renamed K Street West.

Mamone-Werder, a former Midtown boutique owner, started April 6 as the property-based improvement district's first retail recruiter. The move to create the position was recommended by Downtown Works, a Washington, D.C., retail consultancy firm that analyzed retail in the J-K-L corridor. The report indicated that downtown needs to improve retail to start thriving again.

Her job will be to help shrink the number of vacancies, upgrade the mix of retail, and support existing business owners within the 66-block business district. At the top of her list will be developing better relationships with business and property owners, developers and brokers.

"It's not just re-tenanting. It's about what we can do to help you as a business owner be more successful," said DSP Executive Director Michael Ault.

Mamone-Werder said her experience as a local retail business owner will allow her to help retail store owners. She has been at her job for a month, but she's lived in Sacramento for 22 years. She owned a women's clothing store called Blush Boutique at 2317 J St. for five years, until closing the store in April 2009.

"I understand what it's like to start from ground zero and build a business," she said.

Mamone-Werder plans to scout out successful retail districts in other areas to see what's working. She's visited Portland's Pearl District and will tour a thriving section of Nashville during a business recruiter's conference later this month.

Another part of her job will be to recruit entrepreneurial business owners with "independent" store models who want to locate in unique, sometimes historic buildings — rather than the kind of chains that set up the exact same store in a mass-saturation retail campaign. She will also help those business owners find space downtown.

She envisions more open-air markets selling fresh food, an independent bookstore, home accessory stores and a variety of unique clothing stores to appeal to various age groups, tastes and incomes. For instance, something like the Lizard Lounge, a Portland clothing store that is as much a hangout as it is a retailer, with a ping-pong table, couches and computers sharing space with clothes racks.

Mamone-Werder will also create an available property database that is more detailed and current than other real estate databases for downtown properties, including CoStar. She's finished viewing all the building exteriors in the district. She's begun meeting with business and property owners and brokers, and touring property interiors to collect more personalized information. She's also recruiting help with keeping the database up to date.

She's just starting to ask for everyone's help to make DSP's vision for downtown a reality.

"I feel like people are waiting for some big 'something' to happen," Mamone-Werder said. "And I don't know if that's going to happen, or if we all need to come together and just take a risk to make it happen."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter covering business and development for The Sacramento Press.

City staff: Cars on K good for business

2010-04-28T22:44:18Z

Now that city leaders have dedicated $2.7 million in funding to add cars to the K Street pedestrian mall, what exactly does the city hope to achieve from the effort? 

Mayor Kevin Johnson and city staffers have said that the move to include cars on K Street would be a boon for business and would also make the street safer. 

Johnson said at a Monday press conference that automobile traffic on K Street — banned since the late 1960s — would create numerous advantages for the city. “It increases visibility for all the retail...stimulates our activity in terms of K Street, and pedestrian malls are a thing of the past,” he said, adding that the cars would also improve public safety on the thoroughfare.

The city plans to make the area bordering Eighth and 12th streets on K Street ready for cars by mid-to-late 2011, said Denise Malvetti, a senior project manager for the city’s Economic Development Department. The estimated $2.7 million construction and design budget for the project comes from local transportation funds for economic development projects, she said.

Funds for the project do not come from the city’s general fund, an April 27 report from the city’s Economic Development and Transportation Departments noted.

The construction part of the project’s budget includes funding for new stop lights and for reprogramming existing stop lights, Malvetti said.

In making their argument for adding cars to K Street, city staffers are citing the work of Downtown Works, a consulting group that wrote a report on downtown issues for the city and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.

“Downtown Works strongly recommends the city of Sacramento follow the direction of dozens of other U.S. cities and re-open K Street to vehicular traffic which will both aid in the reconnection of the grid and enhance the retail viability,” the April 27 staff report states.

Eugene, Chicago and Louisville are some of the cities that have reversed course to add cars to their pedestrian malls, according to the report.

Councilman Steve Cohn said he backed the idea of including cars on K Street, but he raised concerns about an $800,000 portion of the budget that would have otherwise been spent on streets in his district.

Cohn’s concern translated into the following City Council decision: During the city’s budget process, the city will re-examine the project’s funding sources.

Transforming K Street into a pedestrian mall was “a mistake from the beginning,” Cohn said.

Also on Tuesday, K Street business leaders and local organizations that promote economic development spoke in favor of letting people drive their cars on K Street. These supporters included developer David Taylor; Kevin Greene, policy manager for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership; Mike Testa, vice president of communications and public affairs for the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau; Richard Lewis, executive producer of California Musical Theatre; and Sid Garcia-Heberger, operator of the Crest Theatre.

Greene said that cars on the street would boost public safety and be “a key step toward a greater retail viability.”

Downtown resident John Deeter was the lone speaker at the meeting who opposed the idea. He called K Street “a refuge” from cars.

Photo by Suzanne Hurt.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

AECOM move good for city

2010-04-08T05:57:16Z

A Fortune 500 company is consolidating its regional office in Sacramento's central city.

Although moving only two blocks, AECOM's choice to remain here and bring more workers to the city's core is cause for some celebration after many regional and divisional offices shrunk in the last two years, local business leaders said.

"This is an indication that we're heading in the right direction," said Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.

AECOM, headquartered in Los Angeles, merged with the environmental, planning and design firm EDAW in 2006. AECOM added construction, engineering, architecture and high-level project management, as well as a global force of 45,000, to the mix.

The regional office was rebranded in November. Now AECOM has decided to consolidate three local offices, creating its main Sacramento office at a new location at 2020 L St. The building recently got a new lobby, bathrooms and elevators. Refurbishment is also under way on the exterior.

AECOM considered buildings in Midtown, East Sacramento and other areas, including Natomas. The company picked the new Midtown site at a mostly vacant building to practice sustainability and to benefit clients and staff, said Steve Heipel, Sacramento office principal.

"The location provides better opportunities for employees to get to work on foot, by bicycle, or public transportation; is conveniently located relative to many of our local clients; and is close to many amenities, such as restaurants," he said. "The recent redevelopment activities in the vicinity, including refurbishment of the 2020 L St. facility, helped assure us that the Midtown location was a good long-term choice."

About 50 people working at offices in Campus Commons and Gold River will join about 115 employees who will move from EDAW's longtime location at 2022 J St.

While cities like Sacramento are working to attract national companies, the recruitment of regional and divisional offices — as well as their retainment and expansion — is also vital to the city's economic growth, and more likely at this stage and in this economy, said Matt Mahood, president and CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber.

"It would be great if, every year, we could recruit a Fortune 100 or 500 or 1,000 company. The odds of that happening are very slim," he said. "And we would be competing with virtually every other mature metropolitan area in the country."

The growth of businesses like AECOM is critical so the region can catch up to all the housing and retail that already exists here. Housing construction alone clearly can't support the economy or the development of more amenities such as restaurants, culture and entertainment currently being discussed, Ault said.

"It's a good indication when you see a business like that, that clearly has options outside the core, that they're choosing to stay in the central city," Ault said. "We have heard very clearly from employers that are looking at siting facilities within the downtown core — one of the benefits is being close to the amenities and providing a better life for their employees."

As a large national company, AECOM's decision shows confidence in the region's bounce-back ability and the company's prospects for growth here, Mahood added.

"Sacramento's economy has taken a beating in the last two years," he said. "But we are positioning ourselves for recovery."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter covering business and development for The Sacramento Press.

Friday Night Concerts in the Park return May 7

2010-03-30T20:52:21Z

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) has released the 2010 schedule for the Friday Night Concerts in the Park. The free, outdoor concert series will rock Cesar Chavez Plaza (10th and J streets) every Friday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. starting May 7 though August 13.

For the latest concert news, visit www.downtownsac.org/concerts.

2010 CONCERT SCHEDULE*

May 7 - Kepi Ghoulie
The Kelps, Dog Party, Simpl3jack

May 14 - Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
Low Down Dirty Dogs

May 21 - Dance Gavin Dance
Phallucy, Con of Man, Desario

May 28 - Mike Farrell
Aaron King & The Imperials, One Eyed Rhyno

June 4 - Method Echo
The Nibblers, Live Manikin

June 11 - The Nickel Slots
Los Blazing Hangovers
Mae McCoy & The Neon Stars

June 18 - Secretions
The Shruggs, The Four Eyes, The Enlows

June 25 - Mumbo Gumbo
Not An Airplane

July 2 - The New Humans
Sister Crayon, Chelsea Wolfe

July 9 - Izabella
Walking Spanish, Inversions

July 16 - Kate Gaffney
Gerald Pease, Autumn Sky, Juliana Zachariou

July 23 - Lite Brite
Prieta, Musical Charis

July 30 - Whiskey & Stitches
Final Summation, Bastards of Young

August 6 - The Golden Cadillacs
Light Rail, Johnny Guitar Knox & the Soothers

August 13 - The Brodys
The Phantom Jets, This Luxury

*Schedule is subject to change.

Produced by the DSP, the Concerts in the Park attract more than 4,500 fans every Friday night during the 15-week concert series. The event is presented by Budweiser and sponsored by Revolution Wines, CBS 13 and CW 31.

Disclosure: Article submitted by DSP Marketing Manager Jennifer Snyder

Hard Rock Cafe To Close Next Month

2010-02-20T07:50:07Z

The Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Sacramento is closing its doors after 12 years.

The restaurant was an anchor of the troubled Westfield Downtown Plaza, and is the latest casualty of the poor economy, said Mayor Kevin Johnson.

"The Hard Rock closing certainly reflects what is going on with this country and state. It's hitting us very hard," Johnson said at a press conference Friday. "We haven't hit bottom and we haven't come out of it yet, and that's very difficult for all of us."

Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said he just heard about the closing Thursday.

"We are disappointed," he said. "Hard Rock is an iconic property. The destination it represents in Sacramento is definitely something we will miss."

Ault also said that despite the closing of the restaurant, he is encouraged by increasing development in the 700 and 800 blocks of K Street, something that Johnson said is important, along with development of J and L streets.

"We are committed to having a vibrant K Street," Johnson said. "It is very important for the core of our city."

Ault said that Hard Rock Cafe will close next month. The worldwide chain opened a restaurant in Seattle last week, and will open one in Los Angeles next month.

"What Hard Rock is saying to all of us is that in tier-two cities or midsize markets, we're closing," Johnson said. "If you're a top-tier major market, we're opening and expanding."

Johnson said that one of his goals this year is to attract more businesses to the downtown area.

"We're going to be very aggressive to try to attract retail to the downtown plaza as well as J, K and L," he said. "Just sitting on the sidelines and doing nothing is unacceptable. We have to give people a reason to come downtown."

Denver mayor, downtown offer ideas

2010-01-20T05:23:56Z

Denver's mayor was in town Tuesday to talk about downtown arenas and the need for strong mayors — two subjects close to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson's heart.

Building an arena downtown could help reinvigorate Sacramento's core, if the success of Colorado's capital city is an indication, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said during the Downtown Sacramento Partnership's annual State of Downtown Breakfast.

Last week, would-be Sacramento arena developers outlined seven proposals for a new "sports and entertainment center" in response to Johnson's request for such proposals. All but two were proposed to be built downtown. The same day, a Sacramento Superior Court judge issued a tentative ruling that Johnson's "strong mayor" initiative should not be put on the June ballot.

The arena cannot be anywhere but downtown, partnership board Chairman Kipp Blewett said during his organization's 12th annual breakfast. Speaking to 572 people at the Memorial Auditorium, Blewett said he agrees with the Maloofs and National Basketball Association officials, who are saying they want an "urban" arena.

"Are we a city that can do big things? That question will be answered in the next cycle," Blewett said. "The next decade will look nothing like the last one. The success of this decade will not be defined by suburban sprawl."

Hickenlooper has gotten a lot of credit for Denver's renaissance since first being elected in 2003. He was recruited by Johnson and the business improvement district to speak at the event, just days after Hickenlooper announced he is running for governor of Colorado.

Calling Sacramento "almost a sister city" to Denver, he pointed out many similarities he sees between the two, such as their locations near mountains, campaigns to end homelessness and downtowns that contain a shopping plaza, convention center, and city and county administration buildings.

What Sacramento doesn't have is three sports centers downtown. Denver has Mile High Stadium, Pepsi Center and Coors Field. Downtown Denver's revitalization really took off after the first, Coors Field, was built in 1995 two blocks from Union Station, he said. Businesses like his brewpub, also nearby, saw their sales rocket, and a housing boom was launched.

"People saw downtown was a place they wanted to come," Hickenlooper said.

Another similarity between the two cities is that both are based on the "rugged individualism that opened up the West," he said. That spirit has sometimes meant the ones who got ahead were determined by how hard they worked and whether they're willing to collaborate.

Denver, with a population of nearly 600,000, has benefited by collaborating with neighboring suburbs and through Hickenlooper's desire to collaborate with other politicians, he said.

"You can't get that level of cooperation with a city manager-type system," he said. "You can't have a corporation run by a board of directors and the CEO has little power."

Having a strong mayor helped Denver win all three sports centers from the 'burbs, which mostly had the city manager form of government, he said. Denver played the suburbs against each other and got all three.

The strong mayor system also allowed Hickenlooper to hire experienced people who like to work on the cutting edge for his administration.

"That's one of the benefits of strong mayor. It allows you to bring in a talented group of people," he said. "They're able to inject energy and a large amount of entrepreneurship into a bureaucracy."

Calling Hickenlooper a role model, Johnson vowed during his remarks at the event that he and the Sacramento City Council will learn to collaborate more in coming months.

"We are going to work better together than we have ever worked," Johnson said. "We are going to put Sacramento first when it comes to moving forward."

Photos provided by Downtown Sacramento Partnership.

VIBE award to Firestone at downtown breakfast

2009-12-18T05:55:16Z

The Firestone Building on downtown's eastern edge has taken the 2010 V.I.B.E. award, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership announced Thursday.

The award will be presented Jan. 19 to developers Mark and Jim Cordano, Ken Fahn, and George and Betty Wurster during the partnership's 12th annual State of Downtown Breakfast at Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J St.

The 80-year-old building — where Firestone operated a tire station and service center at the corner of 16th and L streets for more than 70 years — now is home to de Vere's Irish Pub, Mix Downtown, Sapporo Grill Japanese Steakhouse and California Pizza Kitchen. A Greek restaurant is reportedly in the works.

The project won the award because the developers made a "dramatic transformation" of a long vacant building without public subsidies and because the restored building contains a variety of strong tenants, according to the partnership.

“The renovation of Firestone Building has made a significant impact downtown,” said DSP Executive Director Michael Ault in a prepared statement. “Not only is the project a great example of adaptive reuse of a historic site, but it also generates energy that complements the thriving entertainment and dining district along 16th Street and L Street.”

The Firestone, at 1531 L St., was among eight buildings nominated for the "Visionary Icons in Building Excellence" award, which recognizes projects, people and efforts that support the business group's goals for improving downtown. Cosmopolitan, at 10th and K streets, won last year.

The building got its name after being constructed in 1929 to house a Firestone tire store. Firestone closed operations there at least five years ago.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper will give the breakfast's keynote speech about his experience with the revitalization of downtown Denver and how government and businesses can collaborate to make Sacramento a "destination city." Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson also will speak.

Tickets are $60 for table seats, $35 for gallery seats. Sales start next week, according to the partnership.

Photos by Ed Fogle of Maverick Photography.

Downtown group creates economic development strategy

2009-12-17T03:31:20Z

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership on Wednesday identified its primary strategy to help drive downtown's economic development for 2010 and beyond.

The business group's board also voted to accept a study of the J-K-L corridor prepared by Downtown Works, a Washington, D.C. retail consultancy firm.

The full and final report was presented at the partnership's annual meeting, held Wednesday morning at the Citizen Hotel.

Within the next month or so, the business group will identify the "core" three to five strategies out of nearly 30 that were approved for 2010 through 2012.

"Probably the most important element that has come out of the study is to restate a concept that has long been considered an important element by the partnership, and that is to focus our efforts in order to maximize their impacts," said Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, in a prepared statement.

Long-term goals include improving people's ability to walk, bike, drive or take public transit throughout downtown and to reconnect the central city grid, with two-way traffic on K Street from Old Sacramento to Midtown, according to a strategy report.

The group's strategy would be to support the identification and improvement of important pedestrian corridors and to support two-way car traffic starting with at least four blocks on K Street Mall and whenever other opportunities present themselves.

K Street is currently closed to traffic or no longer exists in several places, including through the middle of Westfield Downtown Plaza and the Sacramento Convention Center.

Another strategy is to collaborate on the vision and schedule to develop critical downtown assets, including the Downtown Plaza, city-owned parcels in the 700 and 800 blocks of K Street, relocation and replacement of the Greyhound Bus terminal and a downtown sports and entertainment arena.

The partnership wants to encourage "more balanced" housing options to include units that would fit a range of budgets, rather than a majority of single-residency occupancy units as currently exists.

The strategy would include collaborating with the city to improve the process for putting housing in vacant or under-used upper floors of existing buildings.

The group proposes finding funding partners and working with the city to develop a retail recruitment program, which would involve hiring a retail recruiter and developing incentives such as loans and façade grants to bring new retailers to the target area, the J-K-L corridor.

The group also proposes initiating a study of downtown infrastructure including water, sewer, electrical and cable; a new focus on Old Sacramento; maintaining K Street streetscape improvements as a priority and other strategies.

"Given the findings, downtown offers a significant opportunity to the city to invest in enhancing our urban center, which will offer consumers a unique experience not rivaled by other jurisdictions in the region and ultimately bring more revenue to the general fund through increased sales," Ault said.

Retailers hope for best this holiday

2009-12-10T04:28:29Z

Sacramento retailers are still feeling the bitter sting of the recession this holiday season.

Local merchants selling everything from kids' snowshoes to William Shatner's first album are mostly reporting decreased sales — although some say 2009 holiday sales haven't been as dire as predicted.

"I think the holiday season will be a disappointment to most merchants," said Ed Castro, who owns Ed's Threads at 1125 21st St. "I'm not shooting for the moon, so I'm not going to be disappointed."

With the country's economy in its third year of recession, retailers operating downtown and throughout the central city are struggling the same as retailers elsewhere.

Industry-wide, holiday retail sales are forecast to decrease by one percent to $437 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. While that's an improvement over last year's 3.4-percent decrease in holiday sales during the months of November and December, that number lags behind a 10-year average of 3.39 percent holiday growth.

Many local merchants say they'd be happy just to make the same amount of profit as last year. After all, customers are feeling the sting too, business owners said.

"We're hearing from people now that sales are better than they expected, but as good as they want? Probably not," said Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. "I think we're really seeing people just holding their own."

Susan Larson, who's operated a gift store called Mixed Bag in Midtown for 29 years, said she's "cautiously optimistic" after sales have been a little ahead this holiday. The store, located at 2405 K St., stocked with items Larson described as hard to find online, won't show a profit and go into the black until mid-December, she said.

"I don't expect it to be like it was two or three years ago. But still, I'm looking for the slide to stop," she said. "I'm happy if we show a little progress or just are even."

The hottest item in her store has been a "feel-good, silly item" called a ROFFLE, a plush beast that rolls on the floor laughing. All 24 sold the first day they were in the store.

"What that tells me is people are depressed and they're looking for something that makes them feel good," she said.

While November sales were down four percent for Fleet Feet at 2311 J St., the entire year has brought at least a seven percent increase in sales, said Pat Sweeney, who owns the store and national franchise with wife Jan Sweeney.

Trailmix.net, which started as a local outdoor blog and then online store, had its best online sales ever on Cyber Monday, just after Thanksgiving — which owners Mike and Sara Barlow say was because they opened a brick-and-mortar store selling kids' outdoor gear and educational toys focused on nature just six months ago in Old Sacramento.

The store is stocked with things like wooden toboggons, kids' snowshoes and backpacks, Yosemite scavenger hunt maps and astronomical charts. In-store sales over Thanksgiving weekend and Cyber Monday were the best so far, even better than Gold Rush Days, Mike Barlow said. Still, sales are not going as well as they'd like.

"People have been conservative and we can't blame them for that," he said.

Some business owners declined to discuss sales figures. While a few retailers have had bright spots, others are experiencing sizeable decreases.

"What you read about the economy being down 30 to 40 percent is accurate," said Dal Basi, a manager at R5 Records & Video, which Tower Records founder Russ Solomon opened in his former Tower Records store at 16th Street and Broadway. "Sales are not spectacular, and from talking to other people around town, everybody else is in the same boat."

Macy's, Inc., which operates the flagship store in Westfield Downtown Plaza, reported a 6.3 percent decrease in total sales for November, down from $2.324 billion to $2.177 billion. The company expects December sales to be stronger at more than 850 Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores.

On the other end of the retail spectrum, sales at American Popcorn Company's popcorn wagon in Downtown Plaza are down 10 percent from last year, which was already down 15 percent from the year before, said owner Darlene Myers, who began the business with her late husband 25 years ago.

November and December are normally her two best months, but right now, with all the vacant stores in the plaza and K Street Mall, she said she's just trying to hang on to her business. Myers said she's optimistic sales will still pick up.

"Sometimes that last week right beore Christmas, people say, 'What the heck,' " she said. "Everybody caves in and says, 'We're having Christmas no matter what.' "

People buy more cheese popcorn, buttered popcorn and especially carmel corn during the cold winter months, she added.

"It smells like Christmas," Myers said. "If I have the bodies in the mall, I can sell them. All I need is the foot traffic."

To attract more customers in this tough market, retailers are offering sales, discounts and promotional items. They're also spending more time and money on product displays and lighting, Ault said.

"It's causing retailers to be more creative to get people in the door," he said.

Trent Harger, who opened Artworks 21 in Midtown in 2000, recently put up a huge, heart-shaped arched doorway over a gate to draw people to his store, which sells Mexican folk art, his original photos, books and other colorful, eclectic goods at 1812 J St. People have been getting their photos taken under it. Harger believes they may be posing for Christmas cards.

Fleet Feet drew people on Black Friday with a rare sale on electronics, books and sunglasses — items the store doesn't usually put on sale. Mixed Bag is giving away stuffed Christmas bears and snowmen with purchases at a certain amount.

Trailmix.Net is offering guest lecturers and activities for kids. Children and their parents can sit down in the store's workshop and paint reindeer ornaments or make picture frames using twigs and other natural items, Barlow said.

The store is also offering prizes to anyone — kids or adults — who completes a free Old Sacramento scavenger hunt. Most of the prizes are plastic dinosaurs and wooden chips good for a sarsaparilla at River City Saloon. But a ski lift ticket to Sugar Bowl is also buried inside the treasure chest with the other prizes.

At Ed's Threads, Castro draws people in by providing "very personalized" service when people come to shop at the only store in Sacramento dedicated to men's vintage clothing. While business has been a little down from last year, it's been consistent over the long haul, Castro said.

"I can't really complain when people all around me are failing," he said.

A self-described "clothes horse," Castro spends time working with men who come to buy for themselves and women or men who come to buy gifts — which are sweaters and jackets during the holidays. That service has drawn customers through word-of-mouth for 29 years.

"It's a labor of love," he said. "You don't do this for the money. You do it because you enjoy what you're doing."

Photos by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Report: J-K-L focus must be residents

2009-11-19T05:44:13Z

If you build it, they will come.

What's been said about baseball diamonds in Iowa is now being said for downtown Sacramento's future retail market, according to a retail consultancy firm that has just finished a study of the J-K-L corridor.

In this case, "they" represent 72 percent of the greater Sacramento area's 1.65 million population: "urban chic" Sacramentans who own homes in the central city; young, child-free metrorenters; "in style" suburbanites who love the gritty city; long-time residents and new homeowners living just outside the core; and connoisseurs who want the best of everything, said Scott Schuler with Downtown Works of Washington, D.C.

"You have got to draw people from the entire market. The number of people downtown is not enough," Schuler said Wednesday when the firm presented a draft report to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership board, Mayor Kevin Johnson and city employees. The figure is based on demographic and lifestyle data other companies have produced for Sacramento.

The news that Sacramento's historic retail core could thrive once more by catering to residents throughout the region was a surprise to those who have long thought the area should be developed to attract travelers and the most wealthy residents.

"That is enough to support downtown if we have the right kind of market," said DSP Chair Kipp Blewett. "The future of downtown is going to be in the renaissance of the urban core."

While visitors remain important to the economy, they spend much more on food and beverages than retail. In addition, visitors want to experience the real city, Schuler said.

"They want to go where residents go," he said. "You don't market to them."

The city has focused strongly on bringing more nightlife and entertainment to K Street Mall. But the area needs at least as many, and possibly more, day-time uses, said Midge McCauley, also with Downtown Works, which prepared the report for the DSP and the city.

Downtown Works studied groundfloor spaces on J, K and L streets between 7th and 12th streets, and on the sidestreets of 9th to 11th streets in that area. About 18,000 people live downtown in 700 single-residency occupancy hotels and 220 market-rate housing units. The area includes 700 single-residency occupancy units and 220 market-rate housing units. About 18,000 people are estimated to live within a one-mile radius of 9th and J streets — a number the consultants pointed out as too low to support retail in the J-K-L corridor. About 93,000 people work downtown, she said.

Out of 231 total spaces, 57, or 25 percent, are vacant. Many current storefronts are "shabby" and "dated." Sandwich board signs and dead plants, replaced with new landscaping only recently, pull the area down, McCauley said. Obstructed sight lines are another problem, said McCauley, who recommended removing ticket vending machines and ramps

Only 10 percent of the 174 that are occupied are dedicated to selling retail goods. And out of 103 retail spaces that house restaurants, clubs or shops selling goods, Downtown Works identified only 12 percent as desirable enough to keep, she said.

Quality retailers have unique, attractive storefronts with distinctive, eye-level signs and appealing window displays, good merchandise that is well organized and a clean, well-maintained store.

The proposed solution: hire a "retail recruiter" whose job is to find urban pioneers — innovative retail entrepreneurs from near and far willing to open up shop in the city's risky downtown retail corridor. Arm the recruiter with the latest data on available property and financial incentives to lure retailers who agree with the vision to revitalize the area, McCauley said.

Undesirable tenants could be phased out as their contracts come up. The retail mix needs much more variety, such as apparel, outdoor goods, shoes, accessories and home furnishings. The mix should be unique — not something already offered in shopping malls. Independent stores should be focused on first, and chains that aren't overly represented in the market should be considered later, she said.

They recommend allowing cars on the entire K Street Mall, rather than a one- or two-block pilot which people are unlikely to use. The firm also recommends lower-level planters over trees, which they said block sight lines, tear up sidewalks and obstruct signs.

"People love their trees but trees are a retailer's nightmare," McCauley said.

Programs could be developed to offer facade grants and forgiveable loans for businesses that remain for at least five years, with 20 percent of the loans forgiven each year. Downtown Works recommended the first three to five pioneers get loans of $300,000 to $500,000. Other new businesses that fit the vision might get $20,000 to $100,000, McCauley said.

"We know those early deals are often the hardest ones to make," said McCauley, adding that the first deal would take a year to a year and a half if a recruiter began work today.

The DSP board members now must agree on whether to support the recommendations and then vote on formal adoption in December. Blewett said it was too early to discuss funding sources for such programs. However, if the city were to provide $1 to $2 million from the general fund, that could generate much more tax revenue for the city, he said.

Blewett pointed to Sean Kohmescher, who owns Temple coffee and teahouse on 10th Street, as the type of urban pioneer the corridor needs more of.

"He's young. He's entrepreneurial. He's committed to downtown," Blewett said. "Look what he did with a lot of elbow grease and some guts."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Editor's Note: The Sacramento Press editorial department corrected a fact in the above article after the article was published. The original sentence is denoted with strike-through text, with the new sentence proceeding it.

Mayor to host K St. meetings

2009-10-07T04:38:40Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson on Tuesday announced two community meetings to exchange ideas on reviving K Street Mall and Westfield Downtown Plaza, shortly before an independent analysis comes out.

The mayor will meet with business and property owners next Monday, and then with the rest of the public on Oct. 19, as a way to involve the community in the ongoing effort to develop a new strategy for K Street and the rest of the J-K-L corridor, the core of downtown.

"We want to create a new vision," Johnson said in his weekly press conference inside city hall. “We need to re-imagine what downtown looks like.”

The issue has vexed other mayors and city councils. The meetings will be the first such community meetings held by Johnson.

Last spring, the city's Economic Development Department and Downtown Sacramento Partnership hired a Washington, D.C. firm to evaluate K Street Mall's existing retail environment and propose an immediate action plan, after taking into account new realities in the retail industry and the current state of the capital market, said DSP Executive Director Michael Ault.

Midge McCauley and other retail consultants from the firm Downtown Works will present their recommendations to the DSP board next month. Their work cost $80,000, said Johnson's spokesman Joaquin McPeek.

On Oct. 12, the mayor plans to meet with business and property owners, as well as the former owners of defunct businesses. The meeting will give stakeholders from J, K and L streets between Third and 16th streets a chance to share past challenges and current concerns, and give input on possible answers to the area's problems.

"The mayor believes that success cannot be attained unless the entire corridor is involved in the solution," McPeek said.

Johnson said he also wants to make sure they're appreciated.

"I want to thank them for staying and not bailing out on us," he said at the press conference.

At both meetings, the mayor will share his ideas for the area's future. He has engaged in talks with the Downtown Plaza's owner, Westfield Group, the world's largest retail property group, to find out by year's end if the company will invest more or sell its part of the shopping mall.

"I think it's clear the mayor is very focused on wanting to get some resolution on the future of Downtown Plaza," Ault said.

The plaza could face significant change, which could include reopening that section of K Street — as suggested last week during a panel discussion hosted by the Urban Design Alliance of Sacramento.

"I don't think it's surprising to anyone that that mall is in need of a pretty significant renovation or redevelopment," Ault said. "The current situation and status quo is not an option."

However, as the plaza's owner, Westfield Group has to be involved in moving forward, he added.

"This has got to be a team effort for all of us," Ault said.

The mayor will hold a public meeting on Oct. 19 for residents, visitors and people who work in the city. Location and time will be announced later, McPeek said.

"It's open to anyone who wants to come who has great ideas," he said.

Staff reporter Kathleen Haley contributed to this report. Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Dialogue: K St. Mall

2009-10-02T04:16:45Z

Locals with dismal views of K Street Mall might take heart in the optimistic views shared during a Wednesday night panel.

Sacramento may not be a hard urban center like Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston or New York. But the answer to the problems plaguing K Street, from closed streets and empty storefronts to a struggling shopping mall and safety concerns, is not to try to replicate what large cities or the suburbs offer. Emphasizing Sacramento's distinct character is critical to revitalizing K Street and downtown, they said.

"This community has a soft-shoe quality. It's very unique, very friendly, very green," said Ken Kay, an urban designer who runs KenKay Associates in San Francisco. "The authenticity of this place is really the soul of what people want."

He was among the panelists who took part in September's Design Dialogue, "K Street: A Postcard into the Future" at the Crest Theatre, 1013 K St. At least 100 city residents, design professionals, developers, government employees, retailers and others turned out for the event sponsored by the Urban Design Alliance of Sacramento and Downtown Sacramento Partnership. The nearly two-hour question-and-answer session was moderated by Bob Chase, Sacramento County's chief building official.

Opening up K Street and improving links to the riverfront, Old Sacramento and the city's distinct neighborhoods are the hands that can administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the heart of downtown Sacramento, according to panelists discussing the future of K Street Wednesday night.

Ideas that were discussed include eliminating or reconfiguring Westfield Downtown Plaza; allowing cars and bikes back on the currently closed section of K Street; adding colorful old trolleys, creative lighting and more public art; ensuring the central city has good schools; and offering more culture and unique activities such as interactive venues that focus on art or technology.

Downtown needs to capitalize on its two major open spaces: the riverfront and Capitol Mall, Kay said. K Street's "flow" to the river and Old Sacramento, as well as the connectivity between other streets and neighborhoods, needs to be improved. That way, people can easily travel between the heart of K Street and the river, and from downtown to Sacramento's neighborhoods, which are "some of the best traditional neighborhoods in all of Northern California," he said.

"You have a pretty established street on K Street with a huge natural amenity — the river — at the end. You should monopolize on that," he said.

Downtown Plaza interrupts that flow, especially at night when it's closed. An indoor shopping mall like that is "outdated," Kay said.

The Downtown Plaza can't be considered successful, said Midge McCauley, a retail consultant with Downtown Works of Washington, D.C., who's currently preparing a study of K Street Mall for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and the city.

Cities across the country developed indoor shopping malls after those sprouted up in the suburbs. But now those suburban malls are trying to capture the feel of a city by going after a "faux urban" experience, McCauley said.

"Here's the good news: You've got the real thing," she said. "We just have to repopulate it with retailers. But that starts with local and regional retailers. National retailers are not pioneers. They're not going to be the first in."

However, the mix of retailers and the other businesses, activities and amenities must be unique to K Street, rather than copying the suburbs, which has been proven not to work, she added.

The city is working on returning cars — and bikes — to K Street Mall as "one tool" to help bring more potential shoppers to the mall, said John Long, a transportation engineer with DKS Associates of Sacramento.

City planners believe opening two blocks as a pilot project could be done more quickly and at lower cost than other improvements that are being considered to bring retailers back. Businesses want customers to be able to drive by to check out their stores and to be able to drop people off right in front, he said.

In addition, people who are concerned about safety issues on K Street Mall need to be able to drive there first. Allowing cars is seen as the way to get people to K Street who aren't going now — suburbanites who don't work downtown, Long said.

The panelists acknowledged downtown was successful when enough people lived there and that downtown residents are another key to restoring vibrancy. However, Sacramento is "light years" away from having enough downtown residents to "radiate success" there again, McCauley said.

"Any major city, it's still based on the retail culture, as well as the other urban amenities a downtown has to offer," she said.

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Ice rink decision expected Wednesday

2009-09-15T04:52:55Z

The Midtown Business Association is expected to decide Wednesday whether to take on the financial risk to keep Sacramento's holiday ice-skating rink tradition alive this year.

The association is considering building an outdoor rink in Midtown this year to temporarily replace the seasonal rink at St. Rose of Lima Park at 7th and K Streets. That rink won't be built this year due to conflicts with a park renovation.

Neighborhood input is welcome as the MBA board is expected to vote on the matter during its Monthly Board and Community Meeting, which is always open to the public, said Rob Kerth, executive director of the Midtown Business Association. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Sacramento Regional Transit District headquarters, 1400 29th St.

Four Midtown businesses have committed $10,000 total for the rink, which would cost about $250,000 to build, operate and promote from Thanksgiving through Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday.

"That's a lot of money," he said. "Times are tough. But we don't want the tradition to die, and we want to have fun in Midtown."

The MBA is contributing $30,000 and needs at least $20,000 more to make the rink viable. Several large corporations, including some in Midtown, are considering donating another $60,000. But that sponsorship may depend on where the rink is located, which would also be decided at the meeting, Kerth said.

The business association board is considering whether to take the risk on such an expensive event, whose success depends on factors including weather, attendance, ice quality and more. The board must decide whether to hire a contractor and agree to pay $191,000 to build and run the rink.

The rink must have 24,000 paying skaters to take in $190,000 in gate proceeds. Last year, the St. Rose of Lima park rink had only 18,000 skaters, Kerth said. Any money that's lost comes out of a budget for marketing and other events.

The Marshall School/New Era Park Neighborhood Association is considering sending at least one person to the meeting to represent residents' interests and concerns, said group co-chair Bill Burgua.

"We stand with other neighborhood associations to make sure that residential neighborhoods are not negatively impacted — in this case, by parking," he said. "No matter how much commercial is here, Midtown is still primarily residential. They have to be constantly mindful that this is not a central business district."

A renovation of St. Rose of Lima Park that is expected to be completed in November made a rink there impractical, according to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, which will instead use the site in a Carnival of Lights event. The partnership decided that the time needed to build an ice rink and the potential for rain at that time could cause too many problems and limit operational time.

MBA and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership have been working together to possibly erect a rink in Midtown this year. One possible location would be on the street at 20th and J streets, between the Sacramento News & Review and a strip of new businesses in the Mars Building including Azul Mexican Food and Tequila Bar, Peet's Coffee & Tea, and Lounge on 20. Three other sites being considered include on the street at 18th and L streets, or vacant lots at 28th and J streets or 16th and J streets across from Memorial Auditorium.

During the MBA meeting, Kerth will also propose that the group "cobble together" $25,000 to match $25,000 in city funds that could help the business district take part in the Carnival of Lights currently scheduled for downtown and Old Sacramento.

The money would help the organization decorate more trees with lights for the event, which celebrates the Grand Electric Carnival held in Sacramento in 1895. Kerth will propose keeping Midtown trees lit all year.

The MBA will try to work with the city to change current regulations preventing trees from being lit year-round.

"It just would be too heartbreaking to have all those lights up in the trees and shut them off come Jan. 3," he said. "You'd be looking up there hoping they'd come back on next year."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Air show is big business

2009-09-03T03:30:47Z

The California Capital Airshow will bring more than Thunderbirds, Raptors and historic warplanes to the Sacramento area.

The show is expected to draw at least 70,000 spectators and an estimated $7.4 million to the local economy, which would be on par with last year. The fourth annual airshow will be held Sept. 12 and 13 at Mather Airport, the former U.S. Air Force base. Organizers decided to schedule the event in late summer after last year's show was held on a cold, blustery March weekend.

This year, Air Force Week. will be held in various locations around Sacramento the week before the airshow.

Pilots and airplane enthusiasts aren't the only movers and shakers behind the airshow. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, Mather Airport officials and business leaders also have been working to bring the show and its financial benefits to the area.

"This is one of the biggest draws to our region," said developer/business owner Aaron Zeff, as he spent a recent Friday promoting the airshow by flying media representatives and other guests in his yellow Scout seaplane.

Zeff flew F-4 Phantom supersonic jet fighters in the Air Force before becoming a business owner. As a show sponsor, Zeff and staff from his company, Priority Parking, will manage parking for the airshow. The professional parking organization will help maximize space and is expected to help prevent traffic backups on Highway 50, said Darcy Brewer, the airshow's executive director.

From about 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the show will feature aerobatics and other performances in military and civilian planes flown by pilots aged 22 to 88. Nearly 100 planes — including rare aircraft — spanning eight decades of flight will be on display on the airport's tarmac. Those will include PT 17 Stearman biplanes, the Aero L-30 Albatros from the Czech Republic, the U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane, a Coast Guard C-130, a B-52 Stratofortress, the F-22 Raptor and the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

"Our whole mission is to inspire kids of all ages to do something exciting," she said.

For the first time in the civilian airshow's short history, tickets have been sold more than 30 days in advance. Sales began last December. As of Tuesday, $40,000 in tickets had been sold, compared to $5,900 in tickets sold at this same time last year, said Steve Hammond, president and chief executive officer of the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau and an airshow board member.

The show has drawn as many as 100,000 people. While some show organizers believe that record could be broken this year, the visitors bureau believes the recession will keep the number closer to last year's 70,000, he added.

Mather Air Force Base personnel entertained the region with a military airshow for years until the base was decommissioned in 1993. Local residents went without an airshow until California Capital Airshow was launched four years ago as a one-day event. The county board and Sacramento International Airport system leaders wanted to bring an airshow back to Sacramento. They put together a board of directors, which included some pilots, and hired a company to recruit performers for the show.

Turnout at the first airshow was so large, the show became a two-day event the next year. The show has quickly become one of the country's top 40 airshows, in terms of attendance, and is believed to be the biggest in Northern California, said Brewer.

Much of the spending by airshow visitors is expected in Mather and neighboring Rancho Cordova. Already, 600 hotel rooms, primarily in Rancho Cordova, have been booked for visiting pilots such as the Blue Angels, plane crews and attendees, Hammond said.

"Typically, people think of these kinds of things as only impacting hotels and restaurants," he said. "They certainly get the lion's share of the expenditures."

In addition, gas stations around Mather Field will do very well because the airshow has a big "drive-in market," he said. Only 20 percent of the spectators come from outside the greater Sacramento area. Souvenir sellers on show grounds and other area attractions, such as Old Sacramento and museums, will also benefit, he said.

The visitors bureau has helped promote the airshow, booked the hotels and arranged an Aaron Tippin concert at the Capitol Friday, Sept. 11, for Air Force Week. During the show, Hammond will devote his time to talking with show sponsors in the VIP area, to make sure they get the deliverables they were promised for supporting the show and that they're happy enough to sponsor the show next year.

"We want to make sure our sponsors get good value for the money they invest," he said.

Large, regional events like this don't just bring one-time spending to the local economy. They also help the economy over a longer period by creating the kind of visibility that can help attract companies, development and residents, said Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.

"It's media you couldn't afford to purchase," he said. "The airshow is a great regional-identity event. The more we continue to support events like this, the more these events will keep coming back."

General seating tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the gate and free for kids under 13. Reserved seating tickets are $40 for adults, $20 for kids under 13. Parking is $10/vehicle. Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates will provide bike parking.

Airshow tickets include free rides on all light rail trains to/from the Mather Fields/Mills station, and on airshow buses from the station to the airshow gate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information about the airshow, call 876-7568 or go to californiacapitalairshow.com. For more information about Air Force Week, check out airforceweek.af.mil/sacramento.

Photos by Eric Whalen

Benches at I Street Central Library removed

2009-08-08T01:49:20Z

If you go to Sacramento’s Central Library, you’ll see that the I Street sidewalk looks empty. That’s because all the benches are gone.

A library official said the benches were removed in part because they were obstructing the area for disabled patrons. But an advocate for the city’s homeless population disagrees, and thinks the benches were removed because homeless people used them for resting.

All the benches -- there were more than 15 -- were taken away from the library’s sidewalk, according to Don Tucker, director of facilities for the Sacramento Public Library. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department will refinish the old benches and place them in various locations in Sacramento, he said.

Two new benches will arrive at the I Street sidewalk adjacent to the library in two or three weeks. If the library finds that its customers need more than two benches, the library will add more benches, Tucker noted.

The library was receiving feedback from disabled patrons and mothers with babies in strollers that the benches were blocking access to the library, Tucker said. Removing the benches “helps to provide access,” he added.

The library also conducted a survey on the benches about a year-and-a-half ago, according to Tucker. It showed that only 7 percent of the people using the benches were library customers, he said.

“What that told was that we had too many [benches] out here,” Tucker said.

The removal of the benches, and the upcoming replacement of two of them, is part of a beautification effort at the library’s I Street entrance, Tucker explained.

Removing the benches has lead to an increase in the number of bicyclists because it is now easier to access the bicycle racks on I Street, he said. “We’re noting a lot more bikes and bikers using the library, which we’re very pleased about,” Tucker said.

The library did not receive complaints about homeless people on the benches, he said.

Library officials were assured by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership that there were an adequate number of new benches and tables at Cesar Chavez Park for people who used the I Street benches but were not library customers, Tucker said.

But Garren Bratcher, co-director of Loaves & Fishes, said he thinks the reason for the removal of the benches was because homeless people used them.

“It is my belief that they were removed because homeless people use them to rest,” Bratcher said. “Having been at the public library at its peak hours, I’ve never seen any accessibility problems.”

Photos by David Watts Barton

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Carnival of Lights to shine downtown

2009-07-23T00:38:30Z

More than a century after the Grand Electric Carnival lit up the streets of downtown Sacramento, a new event called the Carnival of Lights will set downtown shimmering again for the 2009 holiday season.

The light carnival being arranged by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) will mark the grand re-opening of St. Rose of Lima Park and the 700 block of Seventh Street. Both are currently undergoing renovations that are expected to be finished one week before Thanksgiving.

The Carnival of Lights will make the intersection of Seventh and K streets glow starting on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The event is timed to coincide with the Christmas Tree lighting held at the entrance to Westfield Downtown Plaza.

The carnival, which will run daily through Jan. 3, will replace the ice-skating rink at that location, but only this year, said DSP Director of Marketing Lisa Martinez.

"While we won't have ice, we're trying to create that same magical atmosphere downtown," she said. "The carnival will be a festive environment."

Festivities and holiday lights are also in the works for Midtown. In just one possible development, Midtown Business Association Executive Director Rob Kerth, a member of the family that built and still owns Iceland Skating Rink, is working with the downtown partnership to possibly build the ice-skating rink on a Midtown lot this year.

The ice-skating rink in St. Rose of Lima Park is named for his dad, William John Kerth. The plan will depend on what kind of financial support can be raised for an outdoor holiday rink, which has become a winter tradition for some Sacramentans.

The park's rink, which has operated for 18 years, won't be built this year because the renovation will still be underway in late October. That's when rink construction must start in time for the usual start date on the first Friday in November. Peak skating season for the rink is Thanksgiving through Christmas.

Crews need two weeks of cool, dry weather to build the rink, lay insulation, install coolant-filled pipes and spray the surface with layers of water that will turn into ice, she said.

Starting the week before Thanksgiving means the park's traditional two-and-a-half-month skating season would be shortened by a month. The rink wouldn't be ready in time for the tree lighting. And the cost to build, maintain and dismantle the rink is high.

"It's a significant expense," she said. "As difficult of a choice as it was to not do the ice rink, we're committed to doing it in the future."

This year's Carnival of Lights was inspired by the Grand Electric Carnival. In September 1895, downtown Sacramento was illuminated for the Grand Electric Carnival, which feted the first historic power transmission from the Folsom power house to Sacramento. The power system was built to supply electricity to the city's electric streetcars, businesses and industrial works.

During the electric carnival, so many light bulbs outlined the state Capitol and filled Capitol Park trees that the light could be seen for 50 miles. That night, a parade of sparkling floats carried on streetcars glided down the luminous streets. The spectacle was so festive that Walt Disney Co. later modeled its Electric Light Parade after Sacramento's electric carnival parade.

This year, the goal of the lights carnival is to show off the new public space and to link K Street Mall to other parts of downtown -- and to help drive people to local businesses -- during the holiday season.

"People forget how walkable downtown Sacramento is and how beautiful the architecture is," said Martinez.

The carnival will feature rides including a 30-foot ferris wheel, tents with carnival and video games, activities and visits from Santa Claus.

For the first time, the downtown partnership is developing plans to light up other parts of downtown for the holidays. They're working with property owners, including the city, to get holiday lights installed on buildings and may put up twinkling, energy-efficient LED lights on K, J and L streets. This year's efforts will be continued and built upon in coming years, she said.

"We wanted to create something that would drive people downtown to see what it (the park) looks like and see what it's all about," said Martinez. "With the Grand Electric Carnival, they were celebrating the transmission of power. We're just celebrating the historic qualities of downtown."

Photos courtesy of the Sacramento Public Library's Sacramento Room.

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. She can be reached at 916-804-2856 or suzanne@sacramentopress.com.

Sacramento gets walking this summer

2009-07-12T02:03:16Z

Before this spring, options for walking tours in Downtown Sacramento were very limited; there was only one. However, Downtown Sacramento Partnership has worked tirelessly to create alternative choices for educational strolls around the historically rich Downtown region.

"We used to only have one two-hour walking tour, and we tried to squish everything into that," said marketing manager Jennifer Snyder. "But we have enough Downtown where we were able to separate it into all the different tours. And there's more to come, so there's definitely a lot in the works."

There are currently six one-hour tours being offered, five of which were launched during May of this year. These tours cover a range of topics including Sacramento's history, its architectural styles, public art and growth and redevelopment. These tours were divided and decided on by three tour guides who felt that their knowledge of Sacramento no longer fit into one two-hour session.

"It was a one-size-fits-all type of tour," said Programming Manager Julia Beckner. "And while it was interesting, it was a bit too broad for most people, and the guides found they weren't getting a lot of specific questions. So over the years they've researched those questions and have answers to them, and the outcome of that is now they have so much knowledge that they outgrew just one tour.

"Their knowledge base was so vast and their interest that intense, we were able to dissect our one tour with those broad strokes to get to our new collection of tours, which came from the interests of the guides themselves," she said.

Two tours detailing the religious structures in Sacramento and the city's diverse ethnic groups are set to launch in August, while one specifically targeted for children called "Kids Meet the City" will make it's debut during Kid's Week, beginning this Saturday.

Also a work-in-progress, Synder said a key priority of the tour will be child safety. Because Downtown can get busy during the day, street-crossing will be kept to a minimum, while at the same time trying not to sacrifice too much of the educational aspect.

"Its going to be more focused on where they go, trying not to cross too many streets," Snyder said. "We're going to look at Cezar Chavez Plaza, learn about the Pony Express, John Sutter and California and Sacramento history. It will also be more fun and interactive with the guides for the kids. We're very excited and would love to have people try it out and give us feedback."

While some of the tours released have not garnered much attention, others like "The Art of Terra Cotta" tour and "Art Is All Around Us" have been highly received by the community. According to Beckner, sign-up sheets have filled up fast and frequently for the new tour tandem.

"I think it really attests to the tourists' and the locals' desire for more cultural experiences," Beckner said. "Our general history tour is not a popular as I would have expected, as it seems people are drawn to more specific topics, which has been a bit surprising. "

"The Art of Terra Cotta" discusses the history of the terra cotta art form and the ways in which it has been implemented in the Downtown area. Structures showcasing the art will be visited on the tour, specifically ones built by the Gladding McBean studio in Lincoln, Calif., one of the region's biggest contributers of terra cotta since 1874. The tour is offered Sundays at 1 p.m. or Mondays and Wednesdays at 2 p.m., leaving from Cesar Chavez Plaza at Ninth and J streets.

"Art Is All Around Us" highlights Sacramento's vast collection of art integrated into the Downtown community that is available to the public. Artwork of both local and regional artists will be seen and discussed on the tour, which partners with the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission to give participants a fully comprehensive look at the public art in the Downtown area. It's offered on Tuesdays at 3 p.m., Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and Thursdays at 11 a.m., leaving from the Indo Arch outside of Downtown Plaza at Third and K streets. All tours currently offered are $10, with much of the proceeds going to help keep Sacramento eco-friendly and secure.

"We havent gotten as much exposure as we would have liked, but those who have been exposed to our tours have raved about them and are very pleased with what they've gotten for their $10," Beckner said. "I do feel confident that its a solid program from the response from our tour-takers.

More information on all the tours currently offered by Downtown Sacramento Partnership can be found at www.downtownsac.org.

Free IMAX movies celebrate 10 years

2009-07-07T02:45:46Z

Still haven't seen your first show at the Esquire IMAX Theatre? You no longer have any excuse.

The theater is inviting the public to free showings of the film "Adventures in Wild California" from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 11. The hour-long, large-format film will play every hour on a six-story screen. The theater at 1211 K St. seats 400.

The shows are being offered on a first-come, first-served basis to celebrate the IMAX theater's 10-year anniversary July 8. On Monday, the IMAX theater's role in reviving K Street Mall and the downtown core was lauded during a press conference led by Esquire IMAX Theatre Director Doug Link, Mayor Kevin Johnson and others.

"In just 10 years, the Esquire IMAX Theatre has quickly become an entertainment landmark in Sacramento, and I'm proud that it has been a pioneer of redevelopment on K Street," said the mayor, after getting an NBA star's welcome from nearly 400 children waiting for cake and a free movie through the city's Fourth R Child Care Program.

In 1999, Sacramento developer David Taylor rebuilt the old theater into a state-of-the-art venue for IMAX films as part of the mixed-use Esquire Plaza. He persuaded the Canadian company IMAX Corp. to get involved in the development. Today, the theater is one of only five in the world owned by IMAX Corp.

The Esquire Plaza project helped launch a new phase in the life of K Street Mall, said those who spoke at the press conference.

"Prior to this theater being here, this was one of the most underutilized and under-performing stretches of downtown," said Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, a nonprofit working to improve the city's central business district.

"This was the first project that was part of the first wave of new investment taking place downtown. In urban areas across the U.S., many times it takes pioneers to lead the way," he said. "You can argue IMAX was that pioneer and really should be credited as part of the reason that the growth around it has taken place."

Sacramento's IMAX theater is a "major asset" in efforts to bring conventions and visitors to the city, said Steve Hammond, chief executive officer for the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau. Its existence just steps from the Sacramento Convention Center is cited in all proposals to convention organizers.

The theater has averaged 230,000 moviegoers a year. In 2004, nearly 90,000 of those were fourth graders on school field trips focusing on history. Schoolchildren's attendance has fallen to 60,000 annually since 2004, Link said.

The anniversary celebration is part of an effort to bring more visitors to the theater. Esquire IMAX also is offering a summer-long "dinner and a movie" program: People who eat downtown or in Midtown just need to bring restaurant receipts to the theater and they can see an IMAX movie for $5, or a Hollywood blockbuster like "Star Trek" at $5 off, Link said.

Currently, 320 IMAX-capable theaters operate in 42 countries. About 60 percent are commercial theaters and the rest are used in educational facilities.

The Esquire Theater opened in Sacramento in 1940 and operated until the mid-1980s, Link said. The location served as the legendary nightclub Club Can't Tell and as office space before being shuttered for years.

The city contributed $6 million in public funds to support the Esquire Plaza project and construction of the IMAX theater. In 2005, the late George Tsakopoulos raised the theater's rent by $50,000 a year, Link said. The city agreed to pay that share of the rent for five years.

Saturday, the theater will host the free event to thank the community for its support, said Heather Atherton, the theater's spokesperson.

"It's a great chance to bring the whole family down and enjoy a movie together," she said.

Friday Concerts in the Park: A Bucho good time

2009-06-04T20:51:19Z

Friday Night Concerts in the Park have filled Cesar Chavez Park on 10th and J Streets with jammin' bands since the beginning of May and will continue every Friday night from 5-9 p.m. until August 14. In this storyline, The Sacramento Press will preview the concerts and help provide additional information on the artists and their music.

Friday, June 5

Bucho will headline the concert, with Righteous Movement and Happy Mayfield opening (click each band's name for a link to their MySpace page with music samples).

Bucho consists of singer and guitar player Gerald Pease, bass player Josh Lippi, Ben Schweir on the Hammond B3 and Fender Rhodes keyboards and Derek Taylor on percussion, as well as a horn section -- Leon Moore and Anthony Coleman on trumpets and Roger Cox on sax.

"Bucho bridges the gap between old school soul and horn bands of the past with the youth twist of Hip-Hop energy," according to the band's biography on Dig Music, a local label on which they released their last album Omit the Harsh. Bucho was also recently inducted into the SAMMIE (Sacramento Area Music Award) Hall of fame.

Righteous Movement is a SAMMIE-award-winning five-piece hip-hop collective consisting of four Sacramento emcees and one DJ. The group recently released their first full length LP While You Wait... described on their website as a "balance of party jams, introspective verses and addictive beats."

"If you are from Sacramento, then you’ve most likely seen Righteous but might not be familiar with Happy Mayfield yet," said Adam Saake in a concert review of an April 18 show in Submerge. "Happy Mayfield, a funk band to be reckoned with, is a harmonious marriage between singer/songwriter Lee Bob Watson and The Park [which consists of ex-members of local favorites Bucho]."

"To my delight, I discovered upon viewing the stage that The Park was set up to play with Righteous as well," Saake added.

Righteous Movement emcee TAIS will be collaborating musically with Saake, who is also a drummer, in concert Sunday at the Press Club. TAIS was nominated for a SAMMIE both in the category "Best Emcee" for his solo work and also with his group Righteous Movement for Outstanding Hip-Hop Group.

So those who visit Cesar Chavez Park this Friday will be treated with music from Bucho, and ex-members of Bucho (The Park) as part of Happy Mayfield and maybe even backing hip-hop act Righteous Movement.

Also, according to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, your Friday night festivities can continue if you show your wristband to one of the following businesses. Check out these discounts:

Brew it Up! $4 Drafts, Bacardi, Jack Daniels & 3 Olives cocktails, plus half price appetizers

Fuzio Universal Bistro $3 Drafts, $5 Martinis, plus selection of $3 appetizers

Marilyn's on K $1 off well drinks, $3 Draft Bud Light

Parlare Euro Lounge $3 Domestic beers, $5 wine, $4 assorted appetizers

Pyramid Alehouse $2 Pints of Curveball

Sofia on 11th $3 drafts, $4 wines, $4 wells and & half price appetizers

Table 260 Half off appetizer menu, 10% off dinner, $5 drink special on Sac Soul

Toppingz Pizza inside Image Lounge $2.50 Bud & Bud Light, $4 Jack Daniels, appetizers starting at $1

Sheraton Grand Hotel's PMB Bar $3.50 Bud & Bud Light (bottle or draft), $5 nachos or artichoke dip

Amourath Lounge at Hyatt $1 off Bud, Bud Light, and all appetizers

Citizen Hotel $99/night weekend rate for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in a deluxe king, queen, or dual-double-bed room. This deal is exclusively for the Concerts in the Park, and for information on how to book the room, call the hotel at 916-447-2700.

*Photographs are of Bucho, courtesy Dig Music/Bucho

Weather will determine if ‘Concerts in the Park’ series at Cesar Chavez Plaza begins today

2009-05-01T09:00:58Z

The first scheduled concert of Sacramento's 'Concerts in the Park' series may or may not occur tonight depending on the rain, according to concert organizer Jerry Perry.

The bands Sol Peligro, Retrograde Revolution and La Noche Oskura are scheduled tonight to play the first of 15 series lined up for this summer's concerts, held every Friday evening at Cesar Chavez Plaza. If it rains, Perry said the series will begin next Friday, and an extra concert will be scheduled Friday, August 14, to make up for tomorrow’s cancellation.

This is the 18th year that the Downtown Sacramento Partnership has hosted the concerts, which are free and open to all ages.

The plaza is located at 10th and J Streets and lined with food and jewelry vendors during the performances. There is also a beer garden adjacent to the stage. Perry said that depending on the musicians' set times, the concerts typically begin at 5:30 p.m. and end by 8:30 p.m.

Perry, who has been booking local acts ranging in genre from folk, rock, reggae, blues, acoustic, to punk at the concerts for the past 13 years, said he feels really good about the performances scheduled for this year.

“My thing is always trying to introduce new bands…I love all the new bands that are out there,” Perry said. Perry has 29 first-time acts booked to play the concerts for this summer.

Notable returning performers will include the Brodys, Bucho, Mumbo Gumbo and Agent Ribbons, according to Perry.

Also scheduled to play this year is renowned Sacramento rock band Tesla, whose performance was cancelled last year.*

The partnership's Director of Marketing, Lisa Martinez, said that in addition to a variety of new venues participating in the concert pub crawl after the performances, there will also be a number of new vendors selling food during the concerts.

It's a great event because it's free, and you can usually get food and a drink for under $10," said Martinez.

According to Martinez, 4,000 people attend the summer concerts on a weekly basis, and a total of 67,000 attend the concerts annually.

The concert series will continue for 15 consecutive Fridays at the park until August 7 or August 14, depending on whether or not tonight’s show is cancelled.

For a full list of this year's performing bands, visit http://downtownsac.org/concerts.

* Editor's Note:Tesla is not scheduled to play this year, nor did they play last year, but have played previously.

City Council meeting to determine fate of K Street redevelopment project

2009-03-10T07:57:24Z

Though it seems like an Onion story at first glance, downtown Sacramento's first ever mermaid tank may soon be constructed. Developers now await $8.6 million in funds from the City of Sacramento for the proposed construction of a pizza joint ("Pizza Rock"), a nightclub ("Frisky Rhythm") and a bar with a live mermaid tank ("Dive Bar").

Tuesday, the City Council will hear arguments supporting and opposing the project, brought about when the City of Sacramento sold its interests in the Sheraton Hotel to local developer David Taylor, of David Taylor Interests Inc., promising to set aside some of the proceeds for future David Taylor Interests construction projects like this one. Taylor was approached by San Francisco nightclub owner George Karpaty, who was interested in real estate in Sacramento and who owns the popular Union Square club, Ruby Skye, to work together on the three entertainment venues.

According to Ellen Warner, partner of David Taylor Interests, Inc., Karpaty has told them he's spent over 40 nights over the course of several months visiting establishments in Sacramento to see the types of venues already in place and determine what Sacramento may have a niche for.

The three proposed venues are independent ventures, not chains, and as a compromise to the opponents, each venue will have its own liquor license. According to the Report to the Redevelopment Agency and City Council of the City of Sacramento, Frisky Rhythm, whose name will most likely be changed, will cater to the 30 and over crowd, playing rock, rhythm and blues; Pizza Rock will feature pizza throwing by eight time world champion and chef Tony Gemignani; and Dive Bar will play vintage jazz and ratpack vocals.

From projects such as the US Bank Tower, City Hall, and the Cosmopolitan, David Taylor Interests has brought $325 million in private dollars to Sacramento over the past 25 years, Warner cites.

"Our only business is to promote Sacramento," Warner said, also adding that the project would create 100 jobs for the construction and another 100 jobs once the venues were open.

"We respectfully disagree with the idea that it's not possible to attract more people to downtown. It's an embarrassment for our city that [K Street] has been vacant" for so long, Warner added.

Michael Ault, executive director of the Dowtown Sacramento Partnership, cited in an email interview that a survey was conducted of 5,020 Sacramento-area residents to test whether or not a concentrated district of active urban entertainment would bring new customers. The survey found that 72 percent of respondents would indeed patronize Downtown more if there were more restaurants and entertainment venues to choose from and that 84 percent wanted to see more restaurant and entertainment venues Downtown.

Ault also added that “there are 761,213 people between the ages of 30 and 59 within thirty miles of downtown, making the potential customer base over 550,000 (there are an additional 271,105 between the ages of 20-29).”

Another concern that Ault addressed was the 100,000 downtown office workers who work near K street. He said that these workers “support all businesses downtown and as long as K Street remains blighted, we run the risk of reducing our existing customer base and there by hurting all businesses,” one such agency moved in 2007, as reported in Bob Shallit's column the Bee in 2007 when the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development moved from K Street to R Street because its employees were "fed up with crime and blight."

Business owners and those who live near the project's proposed location at 1016-1022 K Street are torn because in this economy they would like to see the seedy K Street area revitalized. The proposed construction might attract more people to the area, however many fear that it could put other downtown restaurants, clubs and bars out of business.

"It's an issue of timing. This time the economy is so bad, that [other businesses on K Street] worry that they're not going to make it," said Rob Kerth, executive director of the Midtown Business Association and former City Councilmember. He said that about 80 percent of local hospitality businesses are against the construction.

In fact, local business owner Mason Wong of Mason's Restaurant, Ma Jong's Asian Diner, and The Park Ultra Lounge has headed the project's opposition along with members of the Midtown Business Association. At the time of press, there were 355 signatures on the petition against the construction project. Sacramento residents, business owners and employees will protest the construction before the City Council meeting on Tuesday at 5 p.m. outside City Hall.

Matt Haines, owner of the Bistro 33 restaurants in Midtown and Downtown is also opposed to the project. "They've spent $25 million on one corner, 10th and K," he said.

"How is a pizza restaurant going to draw people from out of town? The city is becoming one of our competitors. We're battling day-to-day, it's very hard times. We've been adjusting hours and letting people go. I wish they'd take that money and put it in housing down there," Haines added.

"I don't think a bar, restaurant or nightclub is going to remake K Street; the goal needs to be housing," added Kerth.

According to Ellen Warner of David Taylor Interests, Inc., construction could begin as soon as April if the project is approved.

It should be a very packed house at the City Council meeting on Tuesday night.

A follow-up article will be written after the City Council meeting to report the results.

This article was written in collaboration by Jonathan Mendick and Colleen Belcher.