Where we’re born is more than a location, it’s part of who we are. Where We’re Born, the stage play by Lucy Thurber, is a strikingly simple and honest look at a young woman’s struggle with life change, the desire to and difficulty of leaving the comfort of your home and history—however hurtful it may have been. It is not a story, but a more like a series of snapshots taken during the course of a few days when the relationships and potentially, lives of three people are forever altered. The catalyst for all of this is Lilly (Jessicah Neufeld), on a quasi-vacation from college. She arrives back in the small Western Massachusetts hill town she calls home just as a domestic crisis is unfoldi

2012 marks the tenth anniversary of our region’s premier culinary competition the Sacramento Chef Challenge, and organizers are inviting local restaurants, wineries, breweries and specialty shops to showcase their fare at the June 23rd event. The Sacramento Chef Challenge is a culinary extravaganza featuring two live cooking competitions, lavish food, wine and beer sampling, live music, raffle prizes and more. The event is expected to draw a crowd of over 1000 guests in celebration of INALLIANCE, a local nonprofit that has provided support to people with developmental disabilities for 60 years. “Our vendors draw a huge crowd each year by providing a variety of samples to our guests,” say

Every beginning writer at one time or another has been admonished to “Show me, not tell me,” by a mentor or instructor. If last night’s Revelations 2012 is any indication, theater companies would be wise to follow the example of KOLT Run Creations and take the same advice to heart. Revelations 2012 was a party, a preview, and review, all in a tidy little two-hour time frame. It was a chance for patrons and potentials patrons to appreciate past productions and sneak a peek at what’s ahead in the season to come. Actors from past seasons and the upcoming shows were on hand to present a forty-five minute performance of short scenes that did a brilliant job of showing the flavor of the compa

Sacramento Steps Forward is a non-profit tasked with a critical mission of ending homeless in Sacramento by 2020, serving as a national example of how to end chronic homelessness. Beginning in January 2012, C7group will partner with Sacramento Steps Forward staff and volunteers to implement social business strategy and tactics for their organization. Social media technology increases the number of communication channels available to listen and respond to the community and social business procedures often improve workflow processes. For Sacramento Steps Forward, social business integration plays a dynamic role to fulfill their mission and communicate internally and externally to staff, vol

About 20 people performed in the two performances of the 2011 Holiday Show on Saturday at Iceland Skating Rink and raised over $1,000 to help repair the large roof, the next project to make the rink a year-round facility once again. This is the first ice show since the March 2010 fire. “The performers have been practicing twice a week since the ice rink opened in November,” said Terrie Kerth, daughter of one of the two co-owners. Janelle Cardoso is the director and choreographer of the show. “All the skaters are very technically sound,” said Cardoso. “Most of them have show skating experience.” Towards the end of the hour-long show Carmen Melissa, who was sitting next to the author, s

For anyone who is still looking for unique holiday gift ideas, the Northern California nonprofit INALLIANCE may have just the solution- tickets to the "Sacramento Chef Challenge" at 4:00 p.m. Saturday Friday , June 23, 2012. The well known culinary extravaganza features two live culinary competitions, food sampling, wine and beer tasting, live music, raffle prizes and more! But, the best part is-100% of proceeds go to programs that support people with developmental disabilities! "2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the Sacramento Chef Challenge, which means we will be pulling out all the stops and slashing ticket prices,” says INALLIANCE Executive Director Diana DeRodeff. INALLIANCE prov

Two years ago, Camellia Waldorf School’s Winter Faire was hit by something unexpected: rain. It flooded the parking lots, turned a dry creek into a creek and threatened the good spirits of the day. Participants shifted into the school for cover, while vendors put up their canopies and served hot chocolate and soup. Despite the rain, it was one of the busiest fairs that school has hosted, with reportedly 1,000 visitors. “It didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s feelings,” event co-chair Sarah Rucker said. “It’s a reflection of the norm at Waldorf School. If it were snowing, we’d still have a blast.” This year, the Winter Faire began under a cloudless sky on Saturday, December 10th, on the school

Bridging the gap between male and female bicycle enthusiasts, female mechanics at the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen are helping women learn the technical skills needed to maintain and repair their own bicycles. Bicyclette is an after-hours session hosted by Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen, located at 1915 I St., that is exclusive to women, transgender and female-identified people, according to Andrea Havelaar, 37, outreach coordinator for the shop. The free session is held from 6 - 9 p.m. every third Monday of the month. "In our society, there is the tendency for guys to do things for a woman instead of thinking that she has to do it for herself," mechanic Robin Evans said. The Midtown resident

Tickets for Sacramento’s Premier Culinary competition are on sale just in time for the holiday season! The Sacramento Chef Challenge (previously known as the Celebrity Chef Challenge) features a head to head battle between three professional chefs, and tickets make a great gift for the amateur chef, wine connoisseur or food lover in your life. In 2012, the Sacramento Chef Challenge will be celebrating its tenth year, and in honor of this achievement, organizers are slashing ticket prices, adding new attractions and allowing guests to determine “Whose cuisine reigns supreme!” Chef Challengers will have three hours to prepare and serve a specialty menu based on a surprise theme. Guests wil

I went downtown on Thanksgiving morning and saw people feeding the homeless and it really pissed me off. It seems to me that feeding the homeless once a year on Thanksgiving is a little like only going to church on Christmas Eve. But, yes, there is more to this than what you may initially perceive as my Mother Superiority complex. I need people to stop feeding the homeless on my block. Period. I work at Quinn Cottages, a program that provides housing for homeless people who are ready to change their lives, to move from the streets and become self-sustaining. Many of them are in recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction. Many have mental health issues. All of them are committed to ch

Through their use of Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and other social media tools, many local charities have spread their message, raised funds and increased public awareness of their cause in order to promote social change. In the hopes of spreading their stories and inspiring other philanthropic organizations to do the same, four local charities will be conducting a panel discussion at the Sacramento Social Media Club’s “Social Media Best Practices for Charities” on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Urban Hive. Moderated by Clay Nutting, director of Concepts 4 Charity and account executive for 3Fold Communications, the event will include panelists: Kate Towson, Americorps VISTA with Sacrament

The City Council is considering whether the city of Sacramento will join in the creation of a public-private collaborative agency to address the problems of homelessness in the region – an issue that does not recognize political boundaries. Representatives from the city Neighborhood Services Department and the county Department of Human Assistance presented a report to the City Council Tuesday outlining a plan for creating a joint powers authority to align city and county governments with a nonprofit entity. “The JPA would be the overarching policymaking body,” Sacramento county spokeswoman Kerri Aiello said Tuesday. “Sacramento Steps Forward (a nonprofit corporation) will ultimately be

November is National Adoption Month.  As the nation recognizes this important social issue, counties and communities across California will promote adoption and permanency awareness through activities and events that bring attention to the needs of the over 25,000 children and youth living in foster care throughout the state waiting for families to love and adopt them. November 3, 2011 is National Adoption Awareness Day.  On November 3, 2011, the month-long effort will kick off, raising awareness about the thousands of children in California waiting for families, celebrating those special people who have provided a loving home to children in foster care, and inspiring others to come forw

Día de los Muertos—Day of the Dead--is a Mexican tradition that stems from Meso-American societies, and was heavily influenced during the Spanish Conquest of Mexico in the XIV Century. During Día de los Muertos families create ofrendas (offerings) for loved ones who have passed. Día de los Muertos is observed in various forms throughout the American Continent and is an important pillar of Mexican, Latino and Chicano culture in the United States (La Raza Galeria Posada). Although the Day of the Dead actually falls on November 1st, festivities are being held this weekend by La Raza Galeria Posada in a special location, between J and K, 20th and 21st Streets in Midtown. The central focus i

On Thursday, October 27, from noon to 2 p.m., Sacramento non-profit agency, The Effort will hold a pumpkin carving party and Halloween door decoration contest for their client/residents at the new affordable housing community of Boulevard Court. (5321 Stockton Boulevard). The carving party and decorating contest, like other activities facilitated by staff of The Effort, are held to reinforce a sense of community and ownership. “For many of our residents, this is the first time in many years when they will be able to celebrate any holiday season in their own home,” said Effort CEO Jonathan Porteus, “The simple act of decorating a door in effect says…Come to my house…a major declaration f

[Jim Krall’s six year old daughter has just been kidnapped] ...from her own birthday party in front of his family and friends-and no one seems to care but him. Alone in his devastation, Jim Krall sets out on a nightmarish quest to find his child. This obsession will lead him into a world of Dark Pool investments, DNA manipulation, String Theory, time travel and alternate realities...   It started with Sam. Sam was a graduate of Natomas Charter School. He was bright and creative and bored. He isn’t any of those things anymore. Last year he took his own life. Now he is an inspiration. Rick Gott is an actor. Rick Gott is a teacher. He was Sam’s teacher. He sees a lot of students gra

Are we stifling nonprofit innovation?     Harvard Professor Dan Pallotta, author of a best-selling book on philanthropy, will speak tonight in Sacramento on the invitation of a group of civic leaders who want to “encourage new thinking and increase philanthropic support that will lead to stronger nonprofit organizations in this region.” His books and ideas are described as insightful, pithy and challenging. “We feel Dan can help us stimulate dialog that will lead to more effective charities and an improved quality of life,” said Catherine Connolly, chair of the event organizing committee and past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Pallotta is the chief archite

After several years of planning, Vibe, the new urban youth lounge, will host a party at 5 p.m. on Saturday to celebrate its grand opening. Located at 1725 K St., the center will provide a place for teens to do their homework, socialize and be safe, said Catherine Pentoney, spokeswoman and former chair of Vibe’s Board of Directors. Since 2007, the Vibe Foundation has been raising money to open its youth lounge. The nonprofit organization was founded by Julian Nagler and David Schenirer. “Vibe was a concept that came out of a need in Sacramento for the youth to have productive things to do,” said Nagler, one of Vibe’s co-founders. Nagler said he believes places like the Boys and Girls Clu

Waste Connections, Inc. sponsored and helped fundraise $145,000 during Sierra Forever Families’ seventh annual Golf Classic for Kids tournament at Serrano Country Club on Sept. 12. The funds raised during this year’s tournament will help more than 20 children living in foster care find permanent placements with loving families. This tremendous success of the 2011 tournament would not be as significant without the gracious support of Ron Mittelstaedt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, along with Jerri Hunt, Vice President of Employee Relations, of Waste Connection, Inc. Hunt, who retired from the Board of Directors of Sierra Forever Families in July, served as the four-time Chair of t

As you enter, to the left is the cornerstone collection of Crabshaw Corners and Oasis Ballroom artwork from Roger Shepherd, Jim Carrico, and Jim Ford. Rock enthusiasts may marvel over the nearly complete collection of psychedelia from the Sound Factory. And any native Sacramentan over a certain age will wax nostalgic at the wall of Tower calendar posters on display. Dennis Newhall, founder and curator of the Sacramento Rock and Radio Museum, has assembled and showcased a myriad of rock and radio memorabilia dating back to 1957. Newhall started listening to rock and roll when he was six years old and Hounddog was at the top of the charts. Every inch of his West Sacramento bedroom was cov