Sacramento's restaurants are a clear reflection of the times, with high-end establishments taking a beating and fast food expected to continue to rise in 2010. As the recession continues, top-tier central city restaurants such as 55 Degrees and Masons have closed or begun transforming into more affordable dining. Similarly high-end chains, such as Ruth's Chris Steak House, just outside the central city, and Morton's The Steakhouse, and celebrated local establishments are reported to be in trouble. Casual restaurants have also been seriously hurt by the economy. But fast-food restaurants like McDonald's are expanding and the demand for "fast-casual" restaurant concepts is exploding. "Eve

As the holidays come to a close, so does the Midtown Ice Skating Rink. Having opened on Nov. 20, Its last day will be Jan. 18. The placement of the ice skating rink was new this year, having moved from St. Rose of Lima Park at Seventh and K streets because of the park's recent renovations. This new location had some businesses worried about how it would affect them since the rink's placement closed down 20th Street between J and K and added strain on parking. Though the new location added a little more traffic congestion, the location has proven to be an overall success. Aja Uranga-Foster from the Midtown Business Association reports that the popularity of the rink has exceeded their ex

A crowd is slowly growing at the holiday ice-skating rink set up in Midtown this year. The number of people skating at the rink's temporary new location was initially small after the rink opened a week ago on a half-block of 20th Street next to J Street. Numbers began growing the closer it got to the start of the holiday season, said Rob Kerth, executive director of the Midtown Business Association. MBA found a new location and sponsors for the rink to replace the rink usually set up at St. Rose of Lima Park at 7th and K streets, in front of Westfield Downtown Plaza. The park was renovated and a Carnival of Lights is being held there this year. The Midtown rink is hoped to bring in $200

Santa Claus will set up shop in Midtown this year. Beginning Saturday, Santa will read stories in his newest regional workshop, set up in a vacant retail space at 1801 L St., Suite 70. The Midtown Business Association and member businesses are sponsoring Santa's Toy Shoppe two or three times per day on weekends and certain other days until Dec. 23. The workshop will be decorated for Christmas and sport an oversized rug where kids can sit and listen to Santa read for half an hour. While some people say Santa is really a retired local law enforcement officer, MBA Executive Director Rob Kerth said that doesn't appear to be true. "I think he actually is Santa," Kerth said. "The beard is re

Rob Kerth has been getting plenty of Zamboni action the last few nights. Midtown Business Association's executive director has been staying up late and going out in the early-morning dark to use the ice groomer to help create an ice-skating rink that opens at 10 a.m. Friday in Midtown. "It's a tremendous amount of work to put up one of these portable rinks," Kerth said Wednesday. "I've been there until 4 in the morning at least five out of the last 10 days." While most business association leaders might not even know how to spell "Zamboni," Kerth not only knows how to drive one, he owns one. And he has the license to drive it. That's because until last year, Kerth owned Ice Unlimited,

Sacramento's holiday ice-skating rink is coming to Midtown this year, thanks to the Midtown Business Association. Members of its board voted Wednesday night to keep the palm-tree-studded capital's winter skating rink tradition alive by having an outdoor rink installed on the street of one the hottest blocks in town — 20th Street from J Street to the alley, between the Marrs Building's new businesses at 1050 20th St. and the Sacramento News & Review (SN&R) across the street. "The ice rink is going ahead," said Rob Kerth, executive director of the Midtown Business Association (MBA) . The vote — nine in favor and eight opposed — illustrated that business owners are not in agreement on the

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 t

The two Midtown alleys stand largely quiet and deserted, except for the occasional rumbling delivery truck and dumpsters crouched behind buildings. The alleys have a hidden, tranquil feel in contrast to busy streets they run between. A third alley holding the entrance to Old Soul coffee house gets more foot traffic and cars heading surreptitiously to and from a state parking garage. So many cars, in fact, that they rob the alley of that serene environment. One group has another vision for what these alleys could become. They see al fresco dining in an upscale restaurant row reminiscent of San Francisco's Belden Street. They see a small, affordable, alley-front condo building that doesn'

Midtown — and its businesses — may be in for more comfort and joy during this year's holiday season. In fact, some areas may start to look more like the North Pole than California's state capital. Santa Claus might set up shop in Sacramento's hippest neighborhood. A Festival of Trees might light up Marshall Park. A holiday ice skating rink might take over an empty lot. It might even snow. Key word here: might. Those ideas fill a wish list drawn up by the Midtown Business Association (MBA), which believes such festivities could attract up to 50,000 customers during what's shaping up to be another dismal holiday spending season nationwide. With the continuing recession, businesses and t

The Bloc Concert Series has been canceled. Paragary marketing director Callista Wengler confirmed today that the series will not continue. It was scheduled to run the last Saturday of each month through September. The Paragary Restaurant Group organized the and ran the first two concerts to earn money for the Marshall Park Fountain Fund Committee. "We'd love to keep doing it, but it's just really expensive, and the costs were just way more than was expected," Wengler said. "The synergy between the outdoor space and the restaurants makes a great entertainment venue for people." Problems such as a lack of communication and organization began before the concert's debut on May 30, the same

Second Saturday has grown in popularity during the past few years, to the point where Sacramento police have asked for citizens' help. Because of declining budgets  and the growing crowds at Second Saturday, there are not enough police available to perform crossing guard duty. To that end, Midtown Business Association Executive Director Rob Kerth sent out the following email: "Hi Folks, Our Sac PD Captain, Dana Matthes, is looking for a few good people to do crossing guard duty on 2nd Saturday. If you've got the urge to help out, or know someone who might, please give her a call at 808-4511. They have a training program to get you all ready. Thanks!"

Many folks were breathing easier Monday after back-to-back events over the weekend in Marshall Park seemed to go off without a hitch. No significant problems were reported, said Sacramento Police Sgt. Norm Leong, the department's spokesman. Neighbors surrounding the park praised the way the Bloc Concert Series' Saturday concert and Sunday's Midfest Summer Celebration were managed by the city and organizers. Paragary Restaurant Group and Lomeli Events managed Saturday's events, while Midtown Business Association (MBA) and T & M Organization for the Arts managed Sunday's. The vibe from Sunday's festival got a special thumbs-up from residents. The park at 915 27th St. came alive with a thr

Despite resident complaints from previous festivals, last-minute scrambling for permits, and tow-away zones on almost every residential street surrounding, Midfest 2009 turned out to be a success. The free two-day festival, held at Midtown’s Marshall Park, was a collision of art, food and entertainment and offered entertainment for all ages. “[Midfest] was held in a great location and wasn’t too crowded. I really like that it went on the whole weekend and there were so many different types of entertainment for everyone,” said Nikki Carlson, a stylist from Land Park’s Artisan Salon who attended Midfest. The festival was sponsored by the Midtown Business Association, who manned many of th

Midfest is happening this weekend after organizers won two permits early Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the event is scheduled to begin. But Sacramento city staff notified organizers that city employees will be on the lookout for code violations after neighborhood residents complained that a previous event wasn't adequately managed. The Bloc Concert Series permit was awarded to Paragary Restaurant Group for the festivities being held in Marshall Park, 915 27th St., from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. A separate permit was issued to the Midtown Business Association (MBA) and T & M Organization for the Arts for Sunday's Midfest Summer Celebration at the park. In the final hours bef

With just days before Midfest is supposed to happen, organizers were still scrambling Wednesday to untangle a mess and meet city requirements for the special events permit. Three days gives enough time to win a permit for the festival being billed as Midfest Summer Celebration in Marshall Park. But after being stung by criticism over its handling of a large Cinco de Mayo event, the city warned organizers Wednesday there's still a chance the event won't happen Saturday and Sunday, said the city and organizers. "The event cannot go on until the permit is issued," said Hindolo Brima, spokesperson for the city's parks and recreation department. "Since this is the next major event after Cinc

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 app

The City of Sacramento Department of Neighborhood Services announces: Vice Mayor Steve Cohn, the City of Sacramento & the Midtown Business Association invites you for a discussion on Midtown Night Life Issues. TONIGHT, Wednesday, December 10th 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Ethel MacLeod Hart Senior Center, Redwood Room East Learn about: ● What constitutes a violation & how to report ● Parking ● Entertainment & Special Event Permits ● Best Practices from other Cities Have your questions answered by: ● City staff ● Police and security ● Business owners ● MBA Please attend this important meeting!

The City of Sacramento Department of Neighborhood Services announces: City of Sacramento’s Annual Gift to Shoppers Downtown and midtown visitors need not pay parking meters on designated days. Shoppers in downtown and midtown Sacramento will once again enjoy free on-street parking during select days of the holiday season. Designed to encourage holiday shoppers to patronize downtown and midtown businesses, the program will be in effect during the post Thanksgiving weekend: all day Saturday, November 29, and Sunday, November 30. (Thanksgiving Day is always a parking meter holiday.) The program will resume during the holiday period beginning Saturday, December 6, through Thursday, December