Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "esquire imax"

World Record for Longest Glow Stick? Perhaps

2010-12-17T21:27:37Z

A group of fans converged on K St last night in to promote the newest TRON movie playing at IMAX and to hopefully set a new Guiness World Record for the longest 'glow stick."

"By the end of the event, 1,485 glowsticks were connected end to end in a continuos wavy snake that stretched five city blocks from the DSP Ice Rink at 7th and K down to 12th and K at the Esquire IMAX Theatre," said Doug Link, Marketing and Operations manager of Esquire IMAX theatre on K St.

Bunches of glow sticks got activated at the start line around 9pm.

The beginning of the half-mile long glow stick.

The sticks got connected to each other and made their way south on K St.

It was a great team effort, especially considering the folks came together for the first time and connected and laid the 1,485 glow sticks from one end of K St to another.

Link and a fan connect glow sticks.

The glow stick had to make a U-turn due to light rail tracks in the intersection of the block near IMAX.

Once the glow sticks were all connected the line was documented by video camera and then they were disconnected and removed.

One hour after the glow stick line creation began, TRON fans assembled in front of IMAX for a group shot, holding the glow sticks used. LInk said IMAX is going to submit the 2,722 feet to the Guiness Book of World Records. They will officially notify Link if it is a World Record within a couple of weeks. For those who couldn't stay for the midnight show, the Esquire IMAX Theatre gave special discount coupons to participants for future shows.

Link said "thank you" to all of their social media followers who came out and helped this event be such a success.

For information on TRON showings, CLICK HERE>>>

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Sacramento celebrates penultimate Harry Potter film with Horcrux Hunt

2010-11-20T00:39:01Z

“Horcrux hunt is on!” tweeted Twitter user pinksteele83 in preparation for the evening.

The Twitter news feeds of Sacramento users were flooded with similar tweets Thursday night as nearly 100 locals participated in the Harry Potter Horcrux Hunt organized by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and Esquire IMAX Theatre.

Participants met at the Downtown Ice Rink at 7th and K streets at 8 p.m. They received seven clues about the location of the horcruxes, the objects that contain a fraction of the evil Lord Voldemort’s soul for which Harry Potter is deemed responsible to destroy in the new film “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1”. Hunters roamed downtown to find Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem and six other horcruxes dispersed among participating businesses. Along with discovering the horcrux, players picked up coupons from each destination.

The scavenger hunt garnered national attention due in large part to its unique social media aspect. Participants were required to have at least one smart phone on each team and a Twitter account. QR barcodes were attached to each horcrux, which participants scanned using a mobile application that automatically tweeted their location and their conquest.

“Apologies in advance for excess nerd-tweeting while I get my horcrux hunt on,” tweeted Twitter user Spoonzine.

Other participants, including those aptly dressed in robes and pointed hats, were less abashed at flaunting their fandom.

Twitter user jlautsch tweeted, “I’ve found Nagini at Crest Theatre” and posed for a picture with the snake horcrux draped around her neck.

The hunt culminated at 11 p.m. at Esquire IMAX Theatre in time for the sold out midnight movie premiere. Those who found all seven objects were entered to win a grand prize of an Esquire IMAX party for 10 and gift cards to the participating scavenger hunt venues, which was won by Adam Gothard. Other raffle winners received Harry Potter posters and T-shirts, and all received Harry Potter temporary tattoos.

“This promotion was so cutting edge,” said Doug Link, Esquire IMAX’s Theatre Director and Senior Consultant. “We had hundreds of Twitter and Facebook posts from participants.”

Hubble 3D awes at IMAX

2010-04-26T02:47:48Z

3D movies - once rare, now increasingly common for big blockbusters - used to be one of IMAX theatres' main claims to fame. That is no longer the case, as mainstream movie theatres adjust to the desire of audiences to see recent films like "Alice in Wonderland" and "Avatar" (both of which also played IMAX theatres) in 3D.

But IMAX theatres will keep their edge as long as they keep showing films like "Hubble 3D", which opened Friday at the Esquire IMAX in downtown Sacramento. Wow.

The 43-minute film, shot with IMAX large-format cameras in earth orbit and through the Hubble space telescope's own all-seeing lens, is literally breath-taking.

The were gasps from the audience throughout the film's length, as the enormous 60 foot tall screen displayed some of the many millions of images the recently-repaired Hubble have brought to earth. Everyone has likely seen a few of these images reprinted in news magazines and specialty publications, or online. But seeing them on the all-encompassing IMAX screen, coming at you in 3D as though you were flying at billions of miles an hour through space, is something that no one with any interested in the universe we live in should miss.

Watching the images unfold, my jaw dropped open, it occured to me that no one can claim to be a truly educated person without having seen this remarkable display of images. They expand one's sense of where we are more than any images I've ever seen. The absurdly-overused word "awesome" comes to mind.

"The most important scientific instrument since Galileo’s original telescope" is how the press materials describe the Hubble, and after seeing this film, one has to agree. OK, nuclear reactors, perhaps. The microchip, sure. But if science means discovery and perspective on who and where we are, the Hubble has to leap into the top.

The film is well-designed. It starts with images from the Hubble's telescope after it was first launched nearly two decades ago, but then shifts into the drama of repairing the telescope, with great shots of space walks and nervous repairs of the telescope. The film succumbs to the IMAX tendency to get focussed on scientific process and to look for interesting characters to pull the viewer in, feature film-style. Remember, IMAX films are largely targeted at school groups.

But those sequences are interesting on their own, and the drama surround the Hubble's launch and repair is compelling. In fact, the entire film is completely engrossing. But space! We want to go back there, and soon enough, the short film is back probing the impossible distances the Hubble can see, all the way out to the edge of the universe, as well as all the way back in time to the earliest years of its formation.

When the film gets back to the visions offered by the new, improved Hubble at the film's conclusion - of stars and galaxies being born, dying or just being their enormous, gorgeous selves - one is swept right back up in this utterly mind-bending film, as the IMAX's 3D cameras aid in creating a deep, complex sense of the universe surrounding us.

I hesitate to try to describe these visions, as words really don't communicate what one sees. Several times during the film, my friend and I turned to each other, our comically-large, Elvis Costello-shaped 3D glasses on our faces, our jaws dropped, as one remarkable vision after another appeared.

Dazzling film audiences is a goal in contemporary movie-making, especially now, in the era of 3D multiplex movies. But IMAX's "Hubble 3D" is several steps beyond razzle dazzle into something that will give viewers not just a thrill, but a sense of how grand, complex and impossibly beautiful the universe we live in really is. "Hubble 3D" won't just entertain, or perhaps even "just" educate; it has the potential to expand consciousness, to offer a perspective that we miss entirely in daily life.

Do not miss "Hubble 3D."

The Esquire IMAX Theatre is located at 1211 K Street on downtown Sacramento's K Street Mall next door to the Sacramento Convention Center. To order reserved seats and for information on showtimes, please call 916/443-IMAX or visit the website at www.imax.com/sacramento.

2nd Saturday weekend doesn't disappoint

2009-07-09T21:14:51Z

Ahhh, yes, it's that time of the month again folks. Second Saturday weekend that is! Although there are great things going on all month long throughout Sacramento, many locals will argue that the second weekend of the month in Sacramento is their favorite time to venture out on the town. In addition to the Art Walk on Saturday, this weekend has a plethora of cool things to check out. And for Sactown, mid-July is looking to bring us some relatively mild weather to boot! Take a look to see if any of these events can lure you to venture out...try something different this week!

Thursday 7.9

Food & Wine: California Grape & Gourmet -- $50 ($70 day of)
Where: Sacramento Convention Center
When: 5:30-8:30pm
Why: A charity event produced by the California State Fair to benefit the Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Fund. This exquisite wine and food tasting event features more than 600 award winning wines and delicious food from nearly 90 of Northern California's best restaurants. Take home a commemorative wine glass and maybe even purchase some of the award winning wines! There will be also be live musical entertainment, an assortment of exceptional cheeses and award winning micro brews (Commercial Cheese and Commercial Craftbrew Competition winners) to enjoy. This is touted by many Sacramentans as “The Best Wine Event in Sacramento” as well it should be!
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Music/Nightlife: DJ Kaskade -- $17 (presale)
Where: The Park Ultralounge
When: 8pm
Why: If you missed him last time, you should really try to make this show. I am not much of an electronic music fan these days but Kaskade really knows how to mix some good music! He’s not your average DJ…
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Music: Beyonce -- $20.75+
Where: Arco Arena
When: 7:30pm
Why: She’s not the best paid celebrity in America under the age of 30 for nothing! Her big debut to fame was back in 1993 (!) with Destiny’s Child, but only after she broke away as a solo act did she really come out of her shell. She is now married to rap superstar Jay-Z and makes over $80 million a year! See what the hype is all about while she’s in town- you’re not likely to leave disappointed.
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Music/Nightlife: Cheese & Olive Oil Pairing -- $45
Where: Cest le Cheese
When: 6:30-8:30pm
Why: Decadent pairings inspired by ancient times. Explore the rich world of artisan cheeses paired with extra virgin olive oils. Laura Martinez, cheese and olive oil connoisseur and author, guides you through California's finest offerings while dipping into timeless and surprising food pairings. Perfectly accompanied by sparkling wine.
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Music/Museum: Night at the Museum featuring the Pyronauts -- $Free w/ admission ($8/7/4)
Where: California Auto Museum
When: 6-9pm
Why: Don’t miss your chance every Thursday during the summer to cruise down to the CA Auto Museum, enjoy the evening, & experience car culture as it comes alive! This Thursday enjoy live music from The Pyronauts, a local surf band who specializes in the sounds of Dick Dale and The Del Tones, The Surfaris, The Ventures and more! Take some time to browse around the museum’s current exhibit “Carved Elegance: Woodies, Wheels, and Waves” while you’re there.
Details: http://www.sacramento365.com/event/detail/39351

Friday 7.10

Music: Concert in the Park -- $Free
Where: Cesar Chavez Park
When: 5pm-9pm
Why: This week features Kate Gaffney & Boulevard Park along with West of Next, Christopher Fairman & The Stilts! If you live and Sacramento and have still not checked out a CIP, you are missing out! Its free family fun that the adults can enjoy too! Afterwards, don’t forget about the weekly concert crawl (Post Concert Specials!!): Show your concert wristband and receive specials at local bars and restaurants. Receive special happy hour deals on food and drinks when you ask for the Concert Crawl Deal.
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Music Festival: Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival --$
Where: Sleeptrain Amphitheatre
When: 2:15pm
Why: The most electrifying carnival to ever hit the summer concert circuit, is back…and bigger. MARILYN MANSON and SLAYER will top the bill on this year’s highly anticipated tour kicking off here in Sacramento! Featuring many of rock’s heaviest bands: Marilyn Manson and Slayer headline joined by Bullet for my Valentine and a special guest; also Trivium, All That Remains, God Forbid and the Jägermeister Battle of the Bands winner, Cannibal Corpse, Job for a Cowboy, Behemoth, Black Dahlia Murder and Whitechapel. In addition to catching a slew of “speaker-shredding performances”, play the newest video games, peruse vendors, attend autograph signing sessions and a host of other interactive activities that will add to the festival experience. Stage sponsor Jägermeister will be sampling their products and providing fun surprises for attendees.
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Special Event: News10 Blood Donor Day-- $Free
Where: News10 Studios
When: 6am & 7pm
Why: The summer months are a critical time for blood banks so we need everyone to be a hero and donate a life saving pint of blood. News10 Blood Donor Day with Delta Blood Bank is the perfect opportunity to do some good, and also have some fun!! Every donor will receive a free t-shirt, as well as a coupon for a pint of ice cream from Baskin Robbins!! In addition, you will also get a coupon for a free cherry limeade at Sonic!! Plus, you can get swabbed to be on the national marrow donor list and the swabbing fee will be waived for this one day only! Thank you for being a hero and helping us save lives. For more information, please visit news10.net.
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Film & Video: MOBS presents, Rock That Uke w/ Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra -- $5
Where: Guild Theatre (2828 35th Street)
When: Screenings, 7:00pm & 9:30pm; Performance, 8:00pm
Why: The screening of "Rock That Uke" will be accompanied by a live performance by Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra! Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra is a Denver based 6 piece chamber-pop band that features ukulele, tuba, trombone, clarinet, glockenspiel, drums, and synth. Additionally, the Director of the film- William Preston Robertson will be in attendance. Robertson has lent his voice to numerous Coen Brothers films and authored the definitive book on the Coen Brothers, "The Big Lebowski: The Making of a Coen Brothers Film!" Come see the movie at 7 and hang around for Ukulele Loki's performance at 8 PM, OR come to see Ukulele Loki at 8 PM and stay for the second screening. About the movie: “A funky, curiously philosophical cinematic love poem that examines the near mystical allure of the four-stringed underdog of the musical world and the recent surge of alternative, post-punk musicians on the American mainland who have taken up the instrument, and have incorporated the ukulele not just into their raucous and irreverent original compositions, but into a counter cultural, post-punk ethos.”
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Music: American Idols Live 2009 Tour -- $40.50+
Where: Arco Arena
When: 7pm
Why: Calling all American Idol fans!! It’s your chance to see your favorite “Idols” live and in person! Only featuring the top 10 contestants: Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Michael Sarver and Scott MacIntyre, this is sure to be a great show. The phenomenon that American Idol has become is sure to be well received here in Sacramento.
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Saturday 7.11

Kids & Families: Downtown Kids Week -- $Various
Where: Saturday 7/11-Saturday 7/18
When: Various
Why: Families from around the region are invited to join in the fun of Downtown Sacramento’s first annual Downtown Kid’s Week. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP), California State Parks, local museums, theatres and restaurants have come together to make Sacramento’s central city the place to be this summer vacation by offering family-friendly events, activities, exhibits and special offers throughout the week.
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Art: Progeny Exhibit w/Artist Talk -- $FREE
Where: 40 Acres Art Gallery
When: 4pm-5pm (Artist talk)
Why: Progeny pairs Deborah Willis and her son, Hank Willis Thomas, in their first official collaboration. Willis is a photographer, educator and curator. Thomas has become known for his stinging critique of advertising and its impact on contemporary life. Consisting of photographs and video, the exhibit is a narrative of their family history, their developments as artists, and the fusion of the two. Exhibit previously shown at the Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, Florida and the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, New York. This will be an excellent opportunity to get the artists’ perspective before the exhibit opens July 14th.
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Music/Art: 2nd Saturday for Families: Gordy Ohliger, the Banjo-ologist -- $Free
Where: Crocker Art Museum
When: 12pm-3pm
Why: The Crocker aims to bring family fun events to the 2nd Saturday lineup! Banjo-ologist Gordy Ohliger will present a heritage you can hear with his movable museum of antique instruments. Toe-tapping, clap-along music, California paintings and hands-on art bring the early years of the Golden State to life. This is a limited seating event so reservations are required.
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Kids & Families: Butterfly Bash -- $6/5/4
Where: Discovery Museum Science & Space Center
When: 12:30pm-3pm
Why: The Discovery Museum hosts many fun and interactive exhibits for your little ones to enjoy. Have any fans at home of these mesmerizing winged insects? There is really no other insect that I can think of to hold such beauty as a butterfly. There will be cases of local & exotic butterflies on display to peruse. How many butterflies can you spot in our butterfly garden? Also, kids will be able to design their very own butterfly ring to wear.
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Film/Video: Esquire IMAX Theatre 10th Anniversary Celebration -- $Free
Where: Esquire IMAX Theatre
When: 10am-5pm
Why: To celebrate the Esquire IMAX Theatre’s 10th anniversary the public is invited to enjoy a free movie this Saturday! Beginning at 10:00 a.m., the Esquire IMAX Theatre will run eight free shows, up to 400 seats each, of the film Wild California! on the hour each hour. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Make sure to get there early!
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Food & Wine: Common Table: AgFest 2009-- $25-100
Where: Freemont Community Garden/Guild Theatre
When: Tours & workshops, 8:30am-3:00pm; Movie, 2:30pm & 4:00pm; Dinner, 5:30pm
Why: Brought to you by Slow Food Sacramento, Common Table is a day of tours and workshops culminating in a sit-down gourmet dinner in the Fremont Community Garden. Benefitting the Sacramento Hunger Coalition and the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition, the goal is to raise awareness about local urban gardening and food programs, as well as to advocate for improved city, county and state food policies that enable more locally grown foods in urban locations. The dinner of fresh, seasonal faire will be catered by Magpie Caters. Dinner speaker Braham Ahmadi of Peoples Grocery in Oakland will share his insights on Innovative Solutions for Food Justice. Additionally, the Avid Reader will be on hand selling a variety of books on gardening and the urban food movement, and a live auction will feature an array of culinary opportunities, including local gourmet restaurants that will offer private dinners, private gardening consultations and an opportunity to dine out with a prominent food critic Blair Anthony Robertson. During the day a variety of workshops will be held relating to community gardening, backyard organic gardening, composting, food gleaning and local food swap programs and a special showing of the movie "FRESH" will be showing at the Guild Theater. "FRESH" celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system.
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Classes & Workshops: Macrobiotics Wellness Class -- $20
Where: Arden Hills Resort & Spa
When: 10:30am
Why: Never heard of a macrobiotics diet before? It’s a low-fat, high fiber approach to foods designed for optimal health and longevity through nutrition. Don’t miss this special “Macrobiotics” class to learn how a simple diet rich in whole grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, vegetables and soy products might be the right approach to improve your diet and overall well being for a longer, more healthful life. We can all use a little dose of healthy habits right?
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Sunday 7.12

Kids & Families: Sacramento Street Scenes -- $Free
Where: Old Sacramento
When: 10am-6pm (Every Sat & Sun through August)
Why: The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation in collaboration with the City of Sacramento is proud to introduce a new Street Scene Program beginning this month. Calling upon the talents of musicians, jugglers, storytellers, re-enactors, volunteer fire fighters, artisans, and even some burros, Old Sacramento will offer free, family-friendly and historically educational entertainment every Saturday and Sunday June through August. This Sunday there will be Storytelling, Children's Games, Bowling- Gold Rush Style, Juggling, & Shootouts!
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Special Event: Antique Fair -- $3 Adults/ Children Free
Where: X & 21Sreets
When: 6:30am-3pm
Why: An Outdoor Antique and Collectible Marketplace held the 2nd Sunday of every month!! Hundreds of antique dealers from throughout Northern California selling furniture, textiles, architectural pieces, jewelry, cultural pieces, china and glassware, garden accessories, rugs, art and collectibles of all kinds will be on hand with their quality goods. Browse around and who knows what sorts of treasures you’ll find!
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Theatre: Much Ado About Nothing~ Sacramento Shakespeare Festival -- $18 General/15 Students
Where: William Land Park
When: Doors: 6:30pm; Curtain: 8pm
Why: This is the 24th season of the Shakespeare Festival in Sacramento! Its recommended that you buy your tickets online to avoid the ticket line. Plus, get free parking by showing your printout to the parking attendant. Don’t hesitate to bring a picnic, low lawn chairs and a blanket and enjoy Shakespeare under the stars!
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Keep in mind that all of these events and many more can can be found on Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events. If you have an event you would like to add to Sacramento365.com, visit the website. Its easy and free to add your events!

Also, if you want to mention an event that I didn't squeeze into this little article- add it to the comments below! Have a great weekend!!