The Save the Eastern Star fundraiser features live music by Sacramento swing jazz favorites Mumbo Gumbo and the discount jazz stylings of the Freebadge Serenaders. Master of ceremonies Matias Bombal will introduce the performers. Locally-produced "Ruhstaller" beer will be available for those over 21. Tickets are $25 in advance via Brown Paper Tickets, $30 the night of the event--Saturday, April 28 at 7 PM. Sacramento’s Eastern Star Hall was built in 1928 as a meeting hall for the Order of the Eastern Star, a Masonic women’s organization. It is one of only four buildings constructed for the Eastern Star organization, and the only one still surviving and in active use. The building was list

An East Sacramento native is taking over the corner building that was home to the original Shakey's Pizza Parlor and later Sweetwater – turning what was most recently The Corner Restaurant & Bar into Clark's Corner. New owner Clark Branscum grew up playing Little League baseball in East Sacramento and chowing down on Shakey's Pizza at 57th and J streets after games. Branscum spent five years in San Francisco, where he was a partner in two Marina District establishments: a restaurant and bar called U Street Lounge on Union Street and Kelley's Tavern on Fillmore Street. Now 30, Branscum recently bought The Corner Restaurant & Bar business and building after the previous owner decided to f

The century-old Maydestone building at the corner of 15th and J streets is scheduled to open in spring or summer to provide 32 apartments to working-wage tenants. “We broke ground a couple of months ago,” said Bay Miry of D&S Development. “We’re building it in four phases of eight units.” The building has four floors for housing and a basement, which will serve as a common area with an exercise room, office spaces and a common kitchen. All units are fully contained with their own kitchens and bathrooms as well. “I’m most excited about two things,” Miry said. “First, we are rehabilitating a major eyesore in a very prominent location. Second, it provides more workforce housing to Midtown

Sacramento's famous little vintage diner, Jim-Denny's, is about to quietly change hands. Regulars and history buffs can breathe a sigh of relief: The buyer plans to keep the 76-year-old landmark restaurant operating right where it is, said broker Dave Herrera of Colliers International. An investor who values the diner's history is purchasing the business and the property at 816 12th St. It's expected to close escrow in the next two weeks. "He had a lot of interest because of the history that the building and business have had, and the impact it's had on all the locals," Herrera said. An agreement was reached within about a week of when the historic diner and restaurant business was mar

On Monday, March 22, the city of Sacramento will host presentations by the four development groups interested in building a project on the 700 and 800 blocks of K Street. This meeting will be held at Old City Hall, 915 I Street, in the 2nd floor hearing room, at 5:30 PM. The four groups who responded to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) include: * Bridge Housing, Saca Development and Bagatelos Development They propose 360 units of housing, a renovated Bel-Vue, 48,000 square feet of office not on Agency property, and 33,000 square feet of retail. * David Taylor, CIM Development, Domus, and Zeiden Properties They propose 110 housing units, including a renovated Bel-Vue, 60,000 square

Nights on K Street will be lit up once again by the colossal Crest Theatre marquee. A four-month restoration of the landmark neon sign wrapped up Friday when the last neon tubes were installed. Theater operators have invited the public to a relighting ceremony at 7:15 p.m. Monday -- just two weeks shy of the Crest's 60th anniversary celebration. "When I saw the first coats of paint, my first reaction was, 'That's really bright,' " said Sid Garcia Heberger, one of four people who operate the Crest. "But once I saw it in the larger context, I realized how well it works together and how right it looks." In May, Heberger and her partners hired YESCO sign company to perform a $213,000 restor

On Tuesday, August 25, the Sacramento City Council will hear a proposal by developers Bob Leach and Parkcrest Development to build a hotel at the corner of 8th and K Street and a parking structure at the corner of 8th and L Street, a project that would require demolition of city landmark the Bel-Vue Apartments and adjacent buildings. The meeting will be held at New City Hall, 915 I Street, at 6:00 PM in the main City Council chambers. The item was originally to be heard at the August 11 meeting of the City Council (see sacramentopress.com/headline/11884/City_to_decide_on_fate_of_BelVue_Apartments_and_Berry_Hotel_today ) but was taken off the agenda at the last minute. According to the sta

On Tuesday, August 11, the Sacramento city council will decide whether to give away the half-block from K to L on 8th Street, containing the Bel-Vue Apartments and several other buildings to developers Bob Leach, Mohammed Mohanna and Parkcrest Development. The land was recently purchased by the city from Mohanna at a price of $18.6 million, and the developers are asking not only for free land but several years of tax-free operation. The net cost to the city will be about $34 million, 25% of the total investment for the project, in return for about 10% of the return. The proposed project is a 300-foot luxury hotel at 8th and K and a parking lot on 8th & L where the Bel-Vue stands. The proje