Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "last week"

Kings win in Trade Deadline saying goodbye to K- Mart and dodging T- Mac

2010-02-21T05:40:03Z

The NBA's Trade Deadline has come and gone this week. Usually during this time, teams are usually trying to acquire big names that will slingshot them into contention for the Finals. Yet this years goal was simple, get rid of those big contracts and in return get expiring ones. 2010's Free Agency list will include names such as Dwayne Wade, and Lebron James to be short without including talent like Chris Bosh or possibly Amare Stoudamire. This week the Kings parted ways with Kevin Martin and were expected to be returned with Tracy Mcgrady. When Mcgrady's agent was not happy with where his client was going he vouched for a three team trade that included the Knicks, where Mcgrady eventually landed.

Q: Wait, so because Mcgrady's agent doesn't want him going to a place that hasn't been competitive since Bush Jr. was in his first term of presidency, we get left with nothing!?

A: Were technically not being left with nothing here, in fact we should actually be THANKING the NBA Gods for once (still doesn't make up for the 02 series). Look, Mcgrady is slow, overweight and is as frail as a potato chip. He can't play above the rim anymore which leaves him with the somewhat mediocre jumpshot he always possesed. The guy got into the All Star Game this year in a voting process reminiscent of my high school class president race. Its not why we would not want Mcgrady but why would we ?

Q: So now we have got rid of Kevin Martin, we put all our chips in the basket for Bosh or somebody big in Free Agency next year, or we get stuck with Tyreke forced to play one on five?

A: In the Movie Cadillac Records, Adrian Brody is sitting outside with his wife and baby daughter next to the record place he just built. He's put all his money into the place and when the wife nags him about being late on the mortage he says its going to work and when she asks him what if it doesn't he looks at her quaintly and says, "I won't let you down". He then procedes to spin the record outside the shop to distract the daughter and the mom. I feel like I'm the wife and our management is Brody, there is a great chance we will not land one of those premiere players in the offseason and the Maloofs are trying to say we can count on them. Really? Can we count on them knowing that a Arena deal isn't close to getting done? That our team will likely be in lottery contention this year? Yet in the meantime though, they have this wheel they're spinning outside to distract us called Tyreke Evans. The Kid is a bonafide superstar in the making thats distracting us from another bad season. He has the body of a mack truck and can score at ease. I can only imagine what he'd be able to do with a Bosh in the post who is able to take pressure off of him. Ahhh to dream......(When you wish..upon a staaaaar.......makes no difference whoooooo youuu aaaaaaaare)

Oscar nominated shorts play at the Crest

2010-02-20T09:42:42Z

Academy Award season is here. On March 7, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present the winners with an Oscar, one of the world's most famous and coveted statues. Categories include Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay. A lesser known category is for short films, animated and live action.

The Crest Theatre, 1013 K St., is showing the Oscar-nominated shorts through Feb. 25. Each program, animated and live action, lasts about one and a half hours. The animated program contains five Oscar-nominated shorts and three bonus shorts. They aren't just pen and pencil animation; claymation and computer animation also are included.

"This is great," said attendee Maggie Williams. "You can't see these shorts anywhere else."

The nominees are from France, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain. Each animated short is in English or has no dialogue.

"I enjoy watching the different views on classic story themes," said viewer Sarah Smith. "The variety is a nice change and seeing anything at the Crest makes the occasion special."

British pair Wallace and Gromit are back with a short about a serial killer who is targeting bakers in a small town. It's the longest of the program, and delightful. Classic Wallace and Gromit humor hits full stride as the two deliver bread listening to "Puppy Love" by Doggy Osmond. Other shorts include "The Lady and the Reaper" from Spain and "French Roast" from France.

Each program, animated and live action, shows twice a day in the main theater on the weekends, once during the week. Showtimes are available on its website.

The Crest opened in 1949, though a theater has stood in the same lot since 1912. The theater re-opened in 1986 after sitting dormant for seven years. Gold leaf decor and high ceilings are a trademark, with marble entryways and a plush, red carpet completing the original look.

Admission is $9.50 general admission, $6 for seniors/students and matinee.

Writer's note: Before the first showing of the shorts, the curtain was raised and lowered in honor of Kathryn Grayson, who died. Grayson was when the Crest opened. She co-starred in the opening movie, "The Midnight Kiss." Grayson also attended the Crest's re-opening in 1986.

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."

K Street Renovation Progress

2010-02-19T22:04:16Z

After months of delay, officials say the K Street renovation project is on course for completion.

The streetscape renovation includes the installation of intersection and gateway elements, lighting, landscaping and benches through the 700 block of K Street.

According to project details posted by the city's Economic Development Department, the project is aimed to enhance the aesthetics and safety of the block, as well as provide for better pedestrian accessibility and increased connectivity.

The makeover, a joint undertaking of the city and Sacramento Regional Transit, was projected to be completed in November, in time for the holidays. However, construction delays forced the Midtown Business Association to relocate Sacramento's seasonal ice-skating rink from its traditional spot at the park to a new location on 20th and J Streets.

"The lengthened construction period has been a result of unanticipated construction delays and weather," said project representative Denise Malvetti. "The park was substantially completed in November prior to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership's Carnival."

The recent weather shift is good news for Downtown pedestrians anxious to see the project completed.

"We have had great weather for over a week and are on track to complete the job in the next couple of months," Malvetti said.

Guide to the online campaign contributions system

2010-02-18T06:26:30Z

Campaign contributions to City Council candidates are not a secret. Citizens can access information about contributions online at the city of Sacramento’s Electronic Filing System.

The city has published campaign contributions online since 2002, said Assistant City Clerk Stephanie Mizuno.

In a Nov. 5 story, The Sacramento Press provided a guide to the city’s online system.

Since then, the city clerk’s office has changed its website. “The navigation is a little bit different,” Mizuno said.

To help the public understand the changes, The Sacramento Press is publishing the following updated guide to the online system.

The city clerk’s website now has two separate links that connect you to campaign contributions statements. These links are titled “Elections” and “Disclosures and Ethics.”

This guide will help you find information through the “Elections” link. Clicking on the “Elections” link takes you to the “City Elections” webpage. From there, you’ll click on a link titled “Campaign Statements and Disclosure.”

Once at the “Campaign Statements and Disclosure” page, click on the link titled “Go to Statements.”

You’ll arrive at a page titled “Welcome to the City of Sacramento Electronic Filing System.” Click on the link titled “Get Started Now” under the “Public Access Portal” section.

You will now be at a page with the following title: “Welcome to the City of Sacramento Public Portal for Campaign Finance Disclosure.” There is a section at the end of this page titled “Browse Candidates & Measures by Election.” Campaign contributions for the June 8, 2010, City Council race are listed under the heading “06/08/2010 Primary Election.”

Click on the “06/08/2010” button to open a section titled “Candidates.” Now, click on the “Candidates” button to see buttons for City Council Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7.

If you click on “City Council D1,” you’ll see the names of City Council candidates Angelique Ashby, Efren Guttierrez and Ray Tretheway.

You’ll also see Lisa Kaplan’s name listed as a candidate for District 1. It appears that Kaplan no longer is running for City Council. She wrote on her Facebook page that she is running for re-election to the Natomas School Board in November. Kaplan did not return two phone calls from The Sacramento Press.

If you click on a candidate’s name, you will go to a page that lists campaign statements. For example, City Council District 1 incumbent Ray Tretheway’s page includes his Form 460.

The 460 form will provide you with the names of contributors and amounts of money donated to candidates. These forms also include figures on candidates’ loans, nonmonetary contributions and expenditures.

By clicking on “View,” next to Tretheway’s Feb. 2 1 460 form, you’ll read that his campaign amassed $79,278 in contributions last year. You also can read that AT&T California Employee Political Action Committee gave $2,500 to Tretheway’s campaign on Dec. 23.

Some of the candidates listed on the city’s online system have not dropped out of the City Council race officially, but have said they are no longer running for office. John Puente and Kasey Cotulla told The Sacramento Press they are leaving the City Council race. Mizuno said Jameel Pugh is no longer running for the City Council District 5 seat. City Councilwoman Lauren Hammond is not running for re-election; she is running for Assemblyman Dave Jones’ 9th District seat.

Photo by Anthony Bento.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Del Delivers A New Message: Something New Is On The Horizon

2010-02-16T20:23:06Z

Over the last few years, the term "hip hop is dead," has been thrown around more than the neighborhood football.

In an age of technology where making a simple beat with a bootlegged audio production application and altering your voice with Auto-Tune in order to sound like T-Pain is enough to get "bedroom rappers/producers/djs" signed, it's no wonder people are beginning to feel like the art is lost. While most people are tossing around this insult to hip hop, few are offering any sort of solution. I say few, because there are some purists out there who are putting in the effort, energy and time to study where hip hop started, where it has been and where it is going.

He calls for something new, offering not complaints, but answers. Del The Funky Homosapien pushes me on to the idea that hip hop is birthing something new.

Hip hop isn't dead. Hip hop isn't evolving. Hip hop is, in fact, influencing and feeding into a new vibe. It’s not another offshoot or recycled sound, but rather something completely fresh. What is it going to sound like? He doesn’t have an answer for this. He just knows that something is brewing in that head of his, and he is using every tool in his box to unlock the doors to all of the answers.

I met up with Del at his hotel room about an hour before his show here in Sacramento on Sunday. Walking into this guy's hotel room is like entering the pro audio department of your local musical instrument retailer. The back corner of the room is nothing but audio production equipment and cables strewn every which direction. Del literally carries a portable studio with him wherever he goes. He is constantly working on ideas for his next album, whether it be a solo project, something with his group Hieroglyphics or one of his many side projects like Deltron 3030.

I gathered pretty quickly that Del isn't much for resting. He is an avid student of music theory and music in general. Del has been in the game for two decades, and progression in art is not a topic that he takes lightly. He studies funk, blues and other genres to better understand that which feeds the beast known as hip hop.

"I learned to play [James Brown's] 'The Funky Drummer' on a drum machine so that I wouldn't have to sample it anymore," he said. Hip Hop was created as a sample-based genre, drawing its influence from the past works of others and building on top of that to become one of the most successful industries in the world. So when artists like Del learn what has been done, instead of just sampling from it, I see something more being developed than ‘hip hop’ as we know it.

Del and I talked for a bit, and he mentioned that he was just getting back from spending two months in the mountains. Between the Winter X Games in Colorado and Utah's Sundance Film Festival, Del has been working hard to keep his presence in the industry known. Well sir, judging by the turnout of the show tailing the interview, I'd say you are doing a great job at that.

Sunday's show at Harlow's on J Street was a wake-up call to the city of Sacramento. There is a love and deep-rooted culture of hip hop here, and it's events like this that bring the people together and feed the movement.

Opening acts like the Boom Bap Bullies worked the already-anxious crowd with the auditory foreplay of a seasoned hip hop act. Offering a diverse soundscape of songs to cover most every base of hip hop lover in the crowd, no one person's neck was left unmoved.

Enter Bukue One. When he speaks, these words don’t fall on deaf ears. Each and every minute Bukue is on stage, he is reaching out to the crowd and grabbing the attention of every soul in the building. It's no wonder to me why Del chooses this as his warm-up act.

It's always been my belief that words are the most valuable currency, and Bukue spends his words wisely, investing them in the minds of a very receptive collective of individuals. Every person in the crowd was left just a little more rich. So at that point, the minds in the crowd were more than awake and definitely firing on ALL cylinders.

Next in the evening's heavy-hitting lineup was Myka 9, and this man is anything but new blood in the arena. This veteran emcee out of Los Angeles, representing Project Blowed, Freestyle Fellowship and Haiku D'Etat is Armed with heavily thought, lightning-fast rhymes, a diverse and eclectic set list and crowd control on the level as other greats like KRS-ONE.

Myka 9 picked up right were Bukue One left off and kept the crowd on its toes. Just like a fresh cup of coffee, Myka 9 showed that he is good to the last drop and had the whole crowd in a frenzy. Looking to the left and to the right, I saw glasses raised, people watching the stage and smiles all around. Off to the left of the stage was an artist painting live on a canvas covered in news paper, and front and center was the B-Boy circle.

Sensory overload occurred! Could all of this have been happening in Sacramento? Oh, yes!

The night was far from over as the evening's headliner took the stage. D-E-L stepped out in full force with a set list spanning old to new. There wasn't much downtime in between songs. Backed by Souls Of Mischief member A-Plus, Del brought a very heavy, very party-oriented set to the city of Sacramento. The B-Boy circle doubled in size, and the crowd participation followed suit. You could feel the energy in the atmosphere all the way through the closing song.

Del capped the night off with the Gorillaz Hit "Clint Eastwood," and the crowd was left "Feelin' Glad." Aside from a double-booking faux pas on behalf of the venue, causing a late start to the evening's events, I'd say that the show went off with out a hitch, and Sacramento was blessed with one very diverse evening of hip hop, positive vibes and an energy that I am sure fed into the next day. I'm looking forward to attending more shows like this in the future, and the good folks at TheMashUp.com are making sure this happens.

*Photos courtesy of Jay Canter, www.jaycanter.com

Sacramento Concerts, Music Events, and The Local Music Scene This Week

2010-02-12T00:36:32Z

Here are some of the concerts and music events happening this weekend and next week in the Sacramento area. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to the www.eMusiConnect.com homepage. Get out and enjoy!!

Concerts, Music Events, and The Sacramento Music Scene This Week:

Sacramento Ballet presents Nine Sinatra Songs Thursday, February 11th – Sunday, February 14th at Sacramento Community Center Theatre. Tickets are $15 - $68.

Saturday, February 13th: Super 90’s Love Jam with Aaron Hall – Al B. Sure – H-Town – Jon B at Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are $48.50 - $68.50.

Saturday, February 13th: 2Nd Saturday features special music & art events at galleries, restaurants, and nightclubs in the Sacramento area. Maps can be found in the current issue of Sacramento News & Review and the Friday Ticket in the Sacramento Bee.

Saturday, February 13th: KSFM presents Naughty Gras! With Cajun food, Zydeco music, and DJ’s on 2 Dance Floors at Cal Expo from 8PM-1:30AM. Tickets are $15ADV/$20Door

Wednesday, February 17th: G-Love & Special Sauce at Harlows. Show starts at 8PM. Tickets are $25 ADV.

Wednesday, February 17th: KSSJ Smooth Jazz presents Jim Brickman. Concert begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $33.00 - $42.50.

New Concerts & Tickets on Sale:

Sunday, April 18th: Los TR3S Tour with Alejandro Fernandez – Joan Sebastian – Marco Antonio Solis at Arco Arena. Tickets are $47.00 - $79.50. On Sale Friday 2/12.

SleepTrain Ampitheatre Country MegaTicket PKGS for 4 Shows Brooks & Dunn - Tim McGraw - Toby Keith - Rascal Flatts. VIP $350.00 - $450.00 and Lawn $80.00. On Sale FRI 2/12.

Sunday, May 9th: Celtic Woman 2nd Show added for 2PM at Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are $38.00 - $70.00. On Sale Now.

Local Music Scene:

Friday, February 12th

Jerry Perry presents One Dying Secret – All The Way Rider - Tank at Old Ironsides 9PM/$7

Kate Gaffney – Sean Kilcoyne – Adam Thompson at Naked Lounge Downtown 8:30PM/$5

The Chop Tops – The Infamous Swanks – The Hypnotic IV at Blue Lamp 9PM/$10

Dave Rude Band – Prieta – Forget About Boston at Marilyns 9PM/$7

The Lonely Kings at The Distillery 10PM/$6

Livin’s Easy Tribute to Sublime – Arden Park Roots at Harlows 10PM/$10

Aces with Chris Cotton at Torch Club 9PM/$7

F*ck Fridays Prom w/Miss Toats – Shaun Slaughter – Jon Droll – Roger Carpio at Townhouse 9PM/$3-$5

Gillian Underwood – Jenney Cooper at Fox & Goose 9PM/$3

CrookOne TGIF at Golden Bear 10PM/No Cover

Devin Farren – Samuel McLeod at Lunas 8PM/$6

DJ Billy Lane at Park Ultra Lounge 10PM

Hearts on Fire with DJ Billy Ruckus 9PM

Saturday, February 13th

Valentines Mardi Gras with Nevada Backwards - Trainwrek Revival - Light Rail at Marilyn’s 8:30PM/$8

Fascination 80’s New Wave Dance Club at Old Ironsides 9PM/$3

Midnight Players at Harlows 8PM/$12

One headlight – Band of Bigfoot – Green Audio at Capitol Garage 9:30PM/$7

Pete Bernhard of The Devil makes Three – Miss Lonely Hearts – Kevin Lee Florence at Blue Lamp 9PM

Delta Wires at The Torch Club 9PM/$8

If I Was Your Girl Price Inspired Show with 7evin – Paisley P at Clubhouse 24 9PM

Dennis Johnson – Mississippi Ramblers at Fox & Goose 9PM/$3

DJ Whores at The Golden Bear 10PM/No Cover

Mix Saturdays with DJ Michael Moss at Mix Downtown 9PM

DJ Jus James at Park Ultra Lounge 10PM

Sunday, February 14th

The Ross Hammond Trio at Naked Coffee Lounge 8PM/$5

Jerry Perry presents Crooning Couple Valentines Show at Old Ironsides 8:30PM/$6

Mind X at Torch Club 8PM/$5

Vivian Lee Dinner Show at 5:30PM & Del The Funky Homosapien at Harlows 10PM/$12

Alex Jenkins Trio at The Shady Lady Saloon 9PM/No Cover

Signs of Soul in Oak Park halted

2010-02-11T21:30:00Z

The City of Sacramento halted efforts to mount Old Soul Co. sign Thursday morning.
Oak Park, Sacramento, CA
February 11, 2010

Excited patrons of the new Old Soul Co. location in Oak Park were eager to see the iconic glistening new sign ready to go up Thursday morning and so was the crew. That eagerness was squelched when a call came to the Alpha Signs' crew, from the city, to halt.

The building at 35th and Broadway is a historical building and though the old Starbucks sign was in the same location, the city won't allow the sign installers to drill new holes in the historic bricks nor is the sign allowed to have any exposed electrical cable. Furthermore, the city wants the sign above the horizontal band of bricks which puts the sign at the level of the 2nd floor apartments rather than the store level where the previous Starbucks sign was located.

Patrons are upset at the "unnecessary hoop jumping" the city is imposing. They pointed out that the well crafted and beautiful sign is a welcome sight over the boarded up building across the street at 3501 Broadway and other "eyesores" in the area. Alpha Signs did the much larger and elaborate sign installation at Guild Theater next door without issue a few years ago. A spokesman for Alpha Signs is hopeful that things will be ironed out shortly and is optimistic that they will be able to install the sign sometime next week.

Ballot proposal aims to stop 9.2 percent city utilities rate hike

2010-02-11T05:03:43Z

A local group that watches public funds hopes to take its complaints over utilities rates to the polls. The Sacramento County Taxpayers League's new ballot proposal seeks to stop a 9.2 percent city utilities rate increase scheduled to start in July.

The proposal follows a Jan. 6 grand jury report saying that the city’s use of utilities funds may conflict with Proposition 218, a state law that dictates how city funds should be used.

The grand jury report claims that money collected from residents' utility bills may have been used to fund other municipal programs. Prop. 218 states that cities can use funds from utilities bills in one way: to cover the costs of delivering utilities services, according to the report.

The league partnered with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association in January to sue the city over the Prop. 218 issue.

“What we have is a department that is utterly out of control and is getting worse by the day,” Craig Powell, chairman of the league's initiative campaign, told The Sacramento Press Wednesday.

The group argues that city residents have faced utilities rates that have been 321 percent higher than the inflation rate over the last nine years.

The league wants to put its “Utilities Rate Hike Rollback Initiative” on the November ballot. In order for the initiative to be certified for the ballot, the group must collect 5,420 signatures of city voters. Powell said the group will use volunteers to collect the signatures.

In addition to halting the 9.2 percent rate increase, the measure would require the city to tie its annual utilities rate increases to the Consumer Price Index, Powell said.

The City Council last June raised rates 9 percent for the 2009/2010 fiscal year. It also decided at that time to approve the 9.2 increase for the 2010/2011 fiscal year.

In June, the Utilities Department said it was experiencing budget woes because of the recession, increased operating costs and new regulatory and environmental requirements. The department also said in June that rates were not raised in the 2008/2009 fiscal year.

Utilities Department spokeswoman Jessica Hess said she and department director Marty Hanneman could not comment on the proposed initiative because they had not seen it.

However, Hess said the City Council will consider a budget presentation in a special meeting Thursday. The presentation includes the analysis from Management Partners Incorporated, a firm with offices in San Jose and Cincinnati, Ohio.

The analysis states that funding for the Utilities Department is “at seriously low levels.” If rate hikes are not made, the department will see “negative fund balances," according to the firm.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

SactoMetro Etsy Street Team

2010-02-11T02:45:03Z

Chances are you’ve heard of Etsy. It’s the world’s most expansive marketplace for handmade and vintage items. With neighborhood networks and a shop-local function, Etsy is revolutionizing the way people shop online. I spoke to artist and team leader of SactoMetro Etsy Street Team, Marianne Bland, about her team of local artists and craftsmen representing the Sacramento area on Etsy.com

Tell me about Sacramento’s Etsy Team

SactoMetro Etsy Street Team has soap makers, painters, people making spiritual items, fine art…just a huge variety of items. We have people doing it to supplement jobs, full-timers, mothers at home school… It's an interesting group of people trying to help each other out and use our team to benefit one another.

And how big is the team?

About 40 people.

How did you come to manage the network?

I’m the team leader, so I oversee people who want to join, keep everyone listed, blog, organize events and things like that. A woman named Betty created the team a few years ago and had difficulties managing so she had to give up on it, but I wanted to keep it going. I think artists typically have a hard time with organization, and I thought I could lend my organizing skills to keep this going. I’m surprised; it's taken on a life of its own.

What is the relationship like between sellers?

The team was created for a few reasons - to get support from each other, to supply help and advise… Everyone has different backgrounds and experiences with this. For example, my grandma was participating in craft shows, and I remember being there with her during pricing and setup. We benefit from these diverse experiences, we share marketing efforts and try to inform people why to shop local and hand-made.

How do you promote each other?

Etsy isn’t just about self-promotion, it's about getting other people excited and feeling that they’re capable! The best stuff out there is handmade because it's quality. It's about individual people who love it and care about it and put their positive energy into it. In this particular economy, where lots of people are being forced to shop at Wal-Mart, I think more and more people are starting to think, What can I do with my own two hands? That’s an amazing, empowering thing. I think lots of people have that creativity… it's just about finding it.

Do you meet for in-person markets?

We organized a craft fair at Regency Park Elementary School in December and plan to do more. We’ve done Second Saturday Art Walks, and some participate in Third Saturday Design Downtown. And we participate in little things here and there.

What does it take to start up an Etsy Profile?

Etsy is easy access to lots of people: people in business, hobbyists... Online, there is a laid-out template. You just create a free username and pay 20 cents to list an item, which stays visible for four months. When you sell something, Etsy receives three and a half percent commission. From an art background, in galleries they take 30-50 percent commission so three and a half percent is really, really affordable. There are several hand-made venues online, but Etsy has the lion’s share, so that’s the main reason people are drawn to it. I’ve shipped to France, England, Canada, all over, and it’s exciting to know that those people have access to what I’ve made.

You’re currently working on an art project.

I’m making a new piece of art every day for a year and blogging about it…I try to keep it snarky, so it’s not just boring art talk.

What inspired the project?

It's something I thought of a couple years ago…a lot of artists do time-based projects. I wanted to force myself to do something creative every day. It’ll help in developing a more solid aesthetic and experiencing what it is to be a professional artist. I’d like to be an art teacher, which is a hard thing to break into. So a year of work will hopefully springboard an opportunity for me.

What motivates you and what burns you out?

Every day I have a mini freak-out moment! The blog has been inspiring to me because my friends and family are paying attention, and I’m now starting to get strangers viewing and commenting. Knowing that other people are looking forward to my posts is a big motivator. If I weren’t engaged in this project, I’d be sitting around waiting for inspiration. Now, I’m forcing myself to see it everywhere. I drove by something with tiles today that I liked…I think I’ll do something with square and tile today. Other artists are also a big inspiration, and Etsy helps with that. It’s easy to be inspired browsing Etsy because there are so many amazing, creative people on there.

To get involved with SactoMetro Etsy, check it out on Twitter or Facebook.

Sheedy, citizens weigh in on Johnson's new strong mayor plan

2010-02-10T07:09:11Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson’s latest strong mayor proposal drew strong reactions from a councilwoman and members of the public even though it was not officially on the City Council agenda.

Johnson’s new strong mayor package was taken off the agenda Tuesday night without explanation from city officials.

Even though the proposal was pulled from the meeting, the council heard comments from several members of the public, pro and con.

Then, Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy spoke of her opposition to Johnson’s plan.

“I think the entire city is suffering from a case of strong mayor fatigue,” she said, adding that the city needs to stop focusing on the issue of a strong mayor form of government. Sheedy suggested focusing instead on the city’s budget and problems with its Utilities and Community Development departments.

Trisha Flynn, an owner of Chops Steakhouse downtown, spoke in favor of Johnson’s proposal, calling the City Council “slow-moving” and “antiquated.”

Carolyn Veal-Hunter also supported Johnson’s plan. “The voters want to be heard in June,” she said.

Meanwhile, Bill Camp, the plaintiff who challenged the original strong mayor initiative in Sacramento Superior Court, said he wanted to see “adequate public vetting” of the new plan.

Matt Kelly, an opponent of Johnson’s original strong mayor initiative, was skeptical about the two-week timeline to complete the proposal.

The proposal is on a two-week timeline because the City Council has a Feb. 23 administrative deadline to complete the measure. The Feb. 23 deadline is for measures that will be placed on the June ballot.

Kelly said two weeks to complete the proposal was “a bit sudden.”

Johnson provided specifics on his new plan at a press conference Tuesday. The mayor said he has ideas but the proposal has not yet been written.

“Yes, we have two weeks left before this has to be on the ballot,” Johnson said. “But this has been debated in our community at a minimum over the last nine (or) ten months, and certainly while I was campaigning.”

Under the new proposal, the mayor would maintain three main elements of the original plan, Johnson said. The new plan would enable the mayor to propose the budget; hire and fire “key personnel”; and have veto powers over specific items. The council would have the power to override the mayor’s veto, he said.

Johnson also said he plans to make key changes. The mayor would not appoint the city attorney and certain city officials. However, the mayor still would appoint the city manager.

Johnson noted that he wants to add language specifying that the mayor’s hiring powers would not extend to all city employees who are not represented by unions. The city’s charter review committee said the original initiative would have allowed the mayor to hire about 800 employees.

Johnson further said he wants to include other elements in the measure, including language creating term limits, an ethics committee and an independent budget analyst.

He also called for adding a “voter reapproval” section to the measure. This means that the new strong mayor form of government would expire after a certain time, Johnson said. Citizens then would vote on keeping or removing the strong mayor government, he added.

Photo by Anthony Bento.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Black Francis coming to Blue Lamp

2010-02-06T03:34:13Z

The Pixies are touring in 2010 … in Australia and Antwerp, Belgium.

If you don’t intend to be in those places and still are kicking yourself for missing the West Coast leg of the Pixies’ 20th anniversary “Doolittle” Tour last in November, all is not lost.

Pixies front man, Charles Thompson a.k.a. Black Francis, will be showing off the growl behind epic hits “Where Is My Mind?” and “Debaser” in a solo acoustic show at the Blue Lamp this weekend.

Black Francis’ music is characterized by recurring biblical references and a folksy country sound. He cites Iggy Pop, Husker Du, The Beach Boys and The Velvet Underground as major influences.

Black Francis, formerly Frank Black, released his first solo album in 1993 during a Pixies hiatus, and has maintained a solo presence.

After recording the 1993 album and another in ’94, Black left his record label and formed Frank Black and the Catholics. He released six albums with the band between 1997 and 2003, which were followed by a best of Frank Black compilation.

In 2003, longstanding rumors and prayers were answered when the Pixies announced plans for an extensive reunion tour.

Francis asserted his autonomy by releasing double album “Frank Black Francis” as the Pixies toured. He will be performing two solo shows in Australia on nights off from the Pixies’ 2010 tour.

Black Francis’s new album, “Non Stop Erotic” is due out March 30th.

Sunday, 9 p.m., Blue Lamp, 1400 Alhambra Blvd. $15. 21+

Jewish Film Festival at the Crest

2010-02-04T03:57:28Z

Break out the yarmulkes. It is time to celebrate the Sacramento Jewish Film Festival's Bar Mitzvah year with its 13th annual Crest Theatre screening.

In 1997, volunteer coordinator Margi Park-Landau teamed up with Crest Theatre manager Sid Heberger to institute the first screening. The turnout was overwhelming.

According to Heberger, now co-director of the festival, the range of this year’s selections were chosen to represent the diversity of Jewish culture.

“The selection process involves looking at other Jewish film festivals from around the globe," she said. "We accept submissions and we also receive titles from film companies around the world including several out of Israel.”

“We read up on the films, watch them as individuals, then commence screenings for ‘Friends of the Festival’ who, through membership, screen with us and give us feedback on the films,” she said.

Maria Victoria Menis' "Camera Obscura", which was nominated for eight Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards, will be screened Saturday at 7 p.m. It tells the story of Gertrudis, a self-conscious ugly duckling, and her life in a colony of Argentinean Jews. Through a chance encounter with a nomadic French photographer, Gertrudis becomes aware of herself for the first time. The film employs surrealist techniques, hand-drawn animation and imagination sequences to tell her story. The entire film is shot on location in Buenos Aires Province.

On Saturday at 9:15 p.m., the Crest will screen “A Matter of Size,” a Hebrew and English comedy directed by Sharon Maymon and Erez Tadmor set in Israel. The three-time Israeli Academy Award-winning film follows four rotund men as they attempt to embrace their size by breaking into the ancient sport of sumo wrestling.

“We weren’t looking for the themes about self-image and accepting yourself for who you are that emerged out of the grouping,” Heberger said. “Almost always, there is a theme that emerges. It happens kind of organically.”

A documentary tribute to Gertrude Berg, creator of sitcom “The Goldbergs,” will be screened at noon on Sunday. Aviva Kempner’s “Yoo-Hoo Mrs. Goldberg” includes archival footage of Berg, the first Best Actress Emmy-winner and the woman described by the film’s tagline as “The Most Famous Woman in America You’ve Never Heard Of."

Heberger describes the documentary as very funny and interesting for its social commentary.

“You get to see how truly prolific she was and how she was really a forerunner to all these wonderful sitcoms we’re familiar with today like 'I Love Lucy', 'Seinfeld', 'The Honeymooners'.”

On Sunday at 2:15 p.m., the festival will wrap up with “Max Minsky and Me,” Anna Justice’s coming-of-age story based on Holly-Jane Rahlen’s novel set in Berlin. The film follows 13-year-old astronomy nerd Nelly Sue Edelmeister as she neglects her Bat Mitzvah studies in order to impress a crush by joining her school’s basketball team. She convinces Max Minsky, son of the local music cafe's Bavarian manager, to help her practice in exchange for academic tutoring.

“We were seeking out a film specifically about being Bar or Bat Mitzvah-ed and 'Max Minsky and Me' is that film,” Herberger said. “It's very near and dear to our hearts because this is our 13th festival year. It’s a Bar Mitzvah!”

Individual tickets are $10 general and $8.50 for seniors/students/”friends of festival.”

Day passes are $18 general and $16 for students/seniors/”friends of festival.”

Festival passes are $34/general and $30 for students/seniors/”friends of festival.”

Tickets are on sale now at the Crest or on tickets.com.

Stockton Boulevard: A Little Saigon in Sacramento

2010-02-04T02:57:20Z

Tuesday night's City Council meeting featured dancing, cheering and even crying. The excitement anticipated the City Council's unanimous vote for the area on Stockton Boulevard between between Riza Avenue and Fruitridge Road to be named Little Saigon.

Councilman Kevin McCarty, whose district includes the one-and-a-half-mile stretch of Little Saigon, proposed the vote to the City Council in January after months of public input from South Sacramento business owners and community members. It's now the city's inaugural cultural district.

Starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, hundreds of Vietnamese and supporters of the campaign for Little Saigon began filling the city council chamber for a pre-council-meeting reception. The group included, among others, a Korean pastor, Vietnam War veterans, monks, several busloads of Vietnamese from South Sacramento, a nine-member Little Saigon committee, councilmen McCarty and Rob Fong as well as Mayor Kevin Johnson.

Many were holding American flags, waving South Vietnamese flags and wearing pins which read "I ♥ Little Saigon."

"This is an important recognition that is long overdue," McCarty said in a conversation before the council meeting. "In the last decade you've seen this stream of revitalization and it's a large part because of these Vietnamese businesses, so calling it Little Saigon is an important thing to do. Having a certain spotlight on this one ethnic group helps bring positive attention."

He also explained that 100 years ago, Stockton Boulevard was a thriving transportation corridor and the main connecting road between Sacramento and Stockton — hence the name.

Rob Fong joined McCarty to speak at the reception. He said before addressing the crowd that this is a completely different deal than an unofficial designation like the "historic Chinatown" between Third and Fifth and along I and J streets.

"Little Saigon is heavily populated with Southeast Asian businesses," he said. "A lot of our Southeast Asian community lives out in that area, and it's a natural positive move for the city of Sacramento."

California State Assemblyman Van Tran from Orange County — the site of the oldest and largest Little Saigon in the U.S. — and SMUD board director Nancy Bui were among the Vietnamese community leaders who spoke to the gatherers in Vietnamese.

Bryan Ngo, a 39-year-old office worker, said he often travels to Stockton Boulevard to get a bite to eat or go shopping, and feels the recognition of Little Saigon is long overdue.

"It's very good for the people around there, and it's time for us to be united," he said. "As soon as I heard about (the campaign) a couple months ago, I volunteered a few hours to help."

Nhon "Neo" Trinh, who has owned Design Copy Print Center on Stockton Boulevard for the last nine years, has seen the growth of the area firsthand.

"It changed a lot," he said. "New buildings and businesses have helped the area grow. Years ago, there was a lot of prostitution, but it's been better since the Vietnamese dominated the area."

But will new signage and the name Little Saigon continue to improve business in the area?

"Yes, it helps and everybody needs it," said Trinh, who is also the fundraising and sponsorship chair on the Little Saigon Committee. "It's branding, so when people think to get Vietnamese or Chinese food, they'll go there. People love the name, and tourists on the highway can see signs for it, too."

Before the City Council's unanimous decision, teary-eyed councilman and Vietnam Veteran Ray Tretheway described what the name meant to him.

"Tonight, you've truly empowered me, and now I know why I was there," he said. "You really captured for me that you're willing to build a legacy with us in America. Thank you."

His statements drew applause from the audience.

An adjacent half mile of Stockton Boulevard is expected to be approved as part of Little Saigon Feb. 9 by Sacramento County supervisors. A Feb. 13 ribbon-cutting ceremony is tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. on the corner of Stockton Boulevard and Riza Avenue to coincide with the Vietnamese New Year (Tết) celebration, said a representative from McCarty's office.

Kathleen Haley contributed to this article.

Super Bowl Spots This Sunday

2010-02-03T05:02:15Z

Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner. If you also have a crotchety dog who bites your friends, a television with a butt, or an aversion to sharing your beer, check out some of these spots on game day.

Hilltop Tavern (4757 Folsom Blvd.) is hosting its second annual Super Bowl Sunday Mac-and-Cheese-Off, where local contestants will be bringing their best dishes to the bar for sampling.

INK Eats & Drinks (2730 N St.) is offering 25-cent wings, $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon beers and $3 drafts.

Mikuni's (1530 J St.) is offering a Super Bowl Sunday prize raffle and all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. Adult tickets cost $30, senior tickets (+55) cost $20.

Old Tavern (1510 20th St.) is hosting a Super Bowl Sunday Chili Cook-off.

Hotshots Billiards (1721 Bell St.) is offering food and beer specials ($1 hot dogs, $1 chili, $1.50 draft beer) 30 minutes before the game, and free pool from 2 to 4 p.m.

Hangar 17 (1630 S St.) and R15 (1431 R St.) are offering drink specials and lots of flat screens.

MVP Sports Grill (1629 Capitol Ave.) is hosting a free viewing party with tri-tip and pizza.

Round Corner Tavern (2333 S St.) is hosting a Super Bowl Sunday potluck; people coming for the game are encouraged to bring a dish.

Woody's Grill (2316 Watt Ave.) is offering all-you-can-eat "Hearty Super Bowl Bites" for $12 per person, 23-ounce "mondo" beer at pint prices and discounts on their signature cocktails.

The MiX Downtown (1531 L St.) is hosting a Big Game Bash with $5 Bowl Bites including sliders, hot wings and super nachos. Drink specials include $15 Corona Buckets.

Torch Club (904 15th St.) is offering drink specials, a complimentary half-time dinner and an after-party featuring The Nibblers (a funky local soul band) at 8 p.m.

Riverside Clubhouse (2633 Riverside Blvd.) is hosting appetizer and drink specials with raffle prizes at every quarter.

Monkey Bar (2730 Capitol Ave.) is offering happy-hour domestic beers and well drinks for $2, festivities including surprises throughout the day from a number of beer distributors, and snacks like quesadillas, pizzettas, calzones and hot dogs.

Pinecove Tavern (502 29th St) is hosting its annual party and potluck with themed shots, a bar swag drawing and drink specials determined by the game score after every quarter of the game (aka drinks as low as 75 cents each).

Or for the less gluttonous, there is also the Super Bowl Sunday 10 k, which begins at 9 a.m. at Sacramento State, costs $30 and includes a tailgate theme complete with beer, brats, wings and pre-game broadcasts.

Tough times ahead for students and professors

2010-02-03T04:40:23Z

With unemployment rising and private college tuition skyrocketing, more and more people are returning to school at all ages. Sacramento State and Sacramento City College have both seen an increase in enrollment despite an increase in fees.

Sacramento State's fees were raised $672 per year. Increased fees doesn't equal a better education. After reaching a compromise with the Board of Trustees, the California State University Employee's Union approved 24 furlough days school wide. These days are designated under the direction of President Alexander Gonzalez and each department head.

With eight campus-wide furlough days, the entire school shuts down. Students are unable to inquire about financial aid or other services, teachers are forbidden from grading or preparing for the next lecture and the administration is banned from work on or off campus.

In essence, students at Sac State are paying 30 percent more per class for 10 percent less class time than in previous years. Teachers are forced to re-tool their lecture plan for the added days off.

"My biggest concern involves students getting into the classes they need for graduation", said Kim Roberts, a psychology professor at Sac State. "There are seniors that only need one class to graduate and they are unable to get into the class needed."

Other problems plague local students as well. Class sizes have swollen to record numbers, forcing students to take fewer units than planned.

"I enrolled on my exact enrollment day and every class I wanted was already closed or wait-listed," City College student Charles Latham said. "I tried around 30 classes and couldn't find a single one. I started the semester wait-listed for eight classes— I got into one."

With a decrease in the amount of instruction days, professors are tailoring their lesson plans for the new schedule. Essays, projects and even finals have all been cut from various classes by the professor. Students are upset about paying more for less class time.

"We are still tested on information they don't have time to teach in class," Sac State senior Kirsten Williams said. "I absolutely believe my education has been effected by furloughs."

Photos by Michael Ramirez

Photo #1: The main enterance to Sac State

Photo #2: Professor Robert's psychology class

City departments in trouble: What is the city manager’s role?

2010-02-02T04:50:28Z

News Analysis

City Manager Ray Kerridge oversees a city government that is struggling with major controversies in its Community Development and Utilities departments.

Council members are reacting to claims in a Jan. 6 grand jury report that the city may be breaking Proposition 218, a state law that mandates how city funds are used.

City officials are also confronting findings from an investigation into the department’s approval last year of 35 permits in a Natomas flood zone. The offices of the city attorney and city manager note in a recent report that the department broke federal rules by approving the permits.

The report lists new issues, including possible violations of city planning rules, that involve the building services division of the development department.

And the Sacramento Bee is reporting that Advantage Demolition & Engineering gained city contracts by allegedly turning in fake paperwork. The city has fired the firm, which was supposed to install water meters, the Bee reported.

While Kerridge runs the city government, Mayor Kevin Johnson and the City Council have not specifically discussed Kerridge’s role in the city’s troubles at recent public meetings.

In the spirit of accountability and transparency that Johnson, the City Council and Kerridge himself have championed, the Sacramento Press wonders: What is Kerridge’s role in current city problems?

The Sacramento Press asked city spokeswoman Amy Williams if Kerridge could answer that question and others in a phone interview on Friday afternoon or Monday morning. Williams said Kerridge was away from the office Friday afternoon and asked The Sacramento Press to e-mail questions to her. Kerridge e-mailed The Sacramento Press with a response Monday morning.

In his e-mail, Kerridge said that he is facing many issues that began before he became city manager in 2006.

“The greater majority of these issues like Proposition 218 predated my administration,” Kerridge said. “Because we have made it a priority to be transparent, when we have discovered these issues, we have addressed them and done it in public. When you do this, there are risks, and it can be very uncomfortable, but it is the right thing to do.”

Kerridge said that problems at city departments are being addressed.

“There are obvious areas that need to be improved and those improvements are being made,” he said. “For instance, multi-level checks and balances have been put in to place to address Community Development’s (front) counter operations. I have always been an advocate for systematic audits on all departments and I still am.”

City Councilman Steve Cohn said that while Kerridge may not have been city manager at the start of some of the Prop. 218 problems, the issues have been ongoing. “He’s certainly responsible for fixing the problem,” Cohn said.

Read the full list of questions and Kerridge’s response at the end of this story.

Johnson on Kerridge's Role

Meanwhile, Johnson is expressing multiple views of Kerridge. Johnson says he supports Kerridge but also says that voters should scrap the city manager position in favor of a strong mayor system.

Johnson acknowledges that Kerridge, as city manager, is ultimately in charge of the city departments facing problems.

He calls himself "a fan" of Kerridge but doesn't criticize him for controversies in the Utilities and Community Development departments under his control.

Johnson’s comments at a Tuesday press conference in Oak Park last week revealed his views of Kerridge.

Johnson openly acknowledges that the city government is facing multiple problems.

“There seems to be a pattern of mismanagement or poor judgement,” Johnson said. “What this does, it creates a sense of cynicism and lack of trust with the public.”

But despite the list of issues with two departments under Kerridge's authority, Johnson expressed his support for the city manager in response to a question from Capital Public Radio's Ben Adler.

“The utilities department falls under the responsibility of Ray Kerridge, so does the planning department,” Adler said to Johnson. “You’ve said repeatedly you’re a really big fan of Ray Kerridge. Has your position changed at all?”

“No, I’m a huge fan of Ray Kerridge,” Johnson responded. Then, in his next comment, Johnson conceded that “all of these things fall, in some shape or form, under his [Kerridge's] jurisdiction.”

“He’s not denying that,” Johnson said.

While Johnson said these problems have occurred under Kerridge's watch, and that Kerridge runs the city government, Johnson did not criticize Kerridge.

Instead, Johnson turned the discussion to argue in support of a strong mayor government. “That’s why I believe very strongly that we can change our form of government to an executive mayor form of government,” he said, noting that decisions and choices would then be made by someone elected by the public.

Johnson further said that a strong mayor would be held accountable by the public. In addition, he said in defense of Kerridge, the city manager must deal with competing visions of council members and the mayor, Johnson said.

“I think Ray Kerridge gets caught in the middle," Johnson said. “He has nine bosses. Who in here would want nine bosses? I mean, you can’t get anything done with nine bosses.”

Questions for Kerridge

The Sacramento Press asked Kerridge for comment on the Prop. 218 issue, the company that the city hired to install water meters and the problems with the Community Development Department. The list of questions follows:

What is your role in these issues?

How much responsibility do you feel you have for these problems?

Referring to current controversies in city departments, Johnson said this week that "all of these things fall, in some shape or form, under his [Kerridge's] jurisdiction." However, he is not publicly criticizing you or faulting you for these problems. Can you comment on that?

What are your plans to make sure these kinds of problems don't happen again?

When Johnson said these things fall under your jurisdiction, he then argued for a strong mayor form of government. In what ways, if any, has the form of government in the city affected these problems?

Are you retiring this year?

Kerridge’s Response

Kerridge provided the following e-mailed response to the questions Monday:

My style of leadership requires transparency and openness in our organization. I have created an environment that encourages change and
challenges us to look at our systems. The greater majority of these issues like Proposition 218 predated my administration. Because we have made it a priority to be transparent, when we have discovered these issues, we have addressed them and done it in public. When you do this, there are risks and it can be very uncomfortable but it is the right thing to do. Improvement is a continuous process and we should never be satisfied with the status quo.

There are obvious areas that need to be improved and those improvements are being made. For instance, multi-level checks and balances have been put in to place to address Community Development’s counter operations. I have always been an advocate for systematic audits on all departments and I still am. I am dedicated to serving this community and the City of Sacramento.

Photos by Anthony Bento.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Contributor agreement revision

2009-04-13T05:36:18Z

We have made a significant change to our contributor agreement. This is the agreement between The Sacramento Press and volunteer contributors who write articles.

The major change is that originally our agreement was structured like a newspaper or magazine. It gave The Sacramento Press an exclusive right to the articles published on The Sacramento Press. Now we share a nonexclusive right with all of our writers. They can remix, use, or even sell their work as they wish.

Original:
In consideration of the availability of the website to post your contribution, you hereby grant to us the sole and exclusive right (including any moral rights) and license throughout the world to produce, adapt, print, publish, copy, store in any medium by electronic means and otherwise exploit the contribution or any part of the contribution or any derivative of the contribution in all languages in every form or format whether now known or hereafter invented, including without limitation print, audio, digital and electronic form and in each case to license others to do any or all of the same. We shall have absolute discretion as to the exercise, sale or other dealing of the rights granted herein. You will retain copyright in the contribution. Consent for you to republish the contribution after the submission of the contribution to us for use in _________________________ without charge shall not be unreasonably withheld.

Revised:
You will retain full copyright in the contribution and nothing herein grants to us any ownership rights in the contribution. Thus, subject to limited grant to us as defined herein, you may produce, adapt, print, publish, copy, or otherwise exploit the contribution or any part of the contribution or any derivative of the contribution at your own discretion anywhere in the world and as any law may provide. However, in consideration of the availability of the website to post your contribution, you hereby grant to us a nonexclusive, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right (including any moral rights) to produce, adapt, print, publish, copy, store in any medium by electronic means and otherwise exploit the contribution or any part of the contribution or any derivative of the contribution in all languages in every form or format whether now known or hereafter invented, including without limitation print, audio, digital and electronic form and in each case to license others to do any or all of the same.

We spoke with several potential contributors who did not feel comfortable with our old contributor agreement. We examined our options with an intellectual property lawyer and feel confident that the revised agreement serves our needs while being more open for our contributors.

The new agreement also allows professional bloggers freedom to cross post on our site.

Please take your time and give us your feedback.