Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "old sac"

Windstorm destroys tree, not spirit

2011-12-08T01:06:38Z

A windstorm that destroyed the Christmas tree in Old Sacramento didn’t get the last laugh, as the company that provided the tree worked over several days to replace it out of pocket.

“There is really not a good explanation for what happened to the tree,” said Chris McSwain, district manager for the Old Sacramento Business Association. “The immediate cause is wind damage. I’d say two-thirds to three-fourths of the needles blew off.”

Last weekend’s windstorm might have turned a once-full tree to a skeleton, but that’s when the tree provider, Carlton Christmas Trees from the Redding area, stepped up to replace it.

“They’ve never seen anything like this happen in 40 or 50 years,” McSwain said. “They insisted on replacing it at no additional cost. They even brought people down here to undecorate the old tree and redecorate the new one.”

James Carlton of Carlton Christmas Trees said Wednesday that there was no question of replacing the tree, which sits at 100 K St.

“This is an unprecedented event that was caused because of the storm, and the last thing we wanted to do was see one of our customers deal with something beyond their control and ability to rectify,” he said. “We took it upon ourselves to do everything we could in our power and in a tight time constraint to try to restore it.”

The company, which also supplies trees to Union Square in San Francisco, Jack London Square in Oakland and the Bellagio in Las Vegas, harvests its trees from the area around Mount Shasta.

The first tree was a 60-foot white fir that weighed 7,500 pounds when it was delivered. It cost $13,000 and was paid for by sponsorships from businesses and residents. The new tree, though shorter at 54 feet, still weighs more than 3 tons and is fuller near the top, appearing taller to some, McSwain said.

“It’s bigger than the one at the Capitol, which is around 40 feet, but it’s smaller than the one at the U.S. Capitol, which is about 65 feet,” he added.

Replacing the tree was no small task, Carlton said, adding that all the tree-cutting and hauling equipment had been removed from the mountain, as it was late in the year to be getting large trees in place – something typically done by mid-November.

“We had to first locate a tree, and once we located it, mobilize our equipment to get it up on the mountain, and then we applied a preservative to the tree, and we cut 24 hours after that,” he said. “There’s a lot of logistics that had to occur over a short period of time.”

Workers from Carlton Christmas Trees began removing decorations from the old tree Monday morning, and the new tree arrived on Tuesday morning. They spent Tuesday taking down the old tree and putting up the new one, and Wednesday was spent redecorating the new tree.

“Our goal is to be done by noon (Thursday),” Carlton said Wednesday afternoon.

Video by Chris McSwain

Nick Marks, a 50-year-old Sacramentan who works in fugitive recovery for bail bonds companies, said he thinks the tree company is doing a good job.

“I was here after the storm, and the old tree just looked like it was bent,” he said. “This one’s a lot fuller, and it’s nice that they’re taking care of it for free. It looks really nice.”

The tree is part of the Theatre of Lights show, and Kelsey Leaird, a 23-year-old supervisor at the Steamers bakery and cafe at 101 K St., said it’s important to business.

“It brings in a ton of crowds,” she said, adding that the tree is an important part of the draw.

“The old tree was pretty scraggly after the storm,” she said. “Before, it was a beautiful tree. Unfortunately, we had the huge windstorm, and it fell apart.”

She said the new tree is something to once again be proud of.

“Some people had some ideas to fix the old one, like taking greenery from tree farms and wire-tying it on, but this is a lot better,” she said. “Once the company came out and saw it, they brought a new one in right away.”

McSwain said the unfortunate incident showcased the holiday spirit.

“Carlton is a family-owned business,” he said. “It’s really one of those good business stories about the way businesses really look out for their customers. Some people were calling the old one a ‘Charlie Brown Christmas tree,’ but it’s really about the spirit of Christmas, not the tree. And now we have both.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

The Chef's Olive Mix will bring quality olive oil to Sacramento, owner says

2011-10-29T06:31:31Z

Sacramento will be getting a dose of fresh, quality olive oil by late November, said Lisa Paskaly, owner of the Chef’s Olive Mix in Old Sacramento.

The store, located on the corner of Second and J streets, will be what Paskaly described as an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting room, where customers will be able to sample oils and purchase bottles to take home. Bottles of olive oil, available in three different sizes, will range from $9-$16, and many types will be sold, including over 30 50 different extra virgin olive oils, as well as exotic flavors and organics. They will arranged from mild to medium to intense flavors. Fresh olives, cheeses, salads and hors d’oeuvre plates will also be available.

Paskaly, a former dental hygienist, said that she has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Even in the face of a sluggish economy, she said that she is confident her business will do well.

“If you make it fun and enjoyable, you can do great,” she said. “I hope to be one of those success stories in a down economy.”

Paskaly came to Sacramento from Florida in ~~2005~~ 2009 for work. She said that she loves living here because of Sacramento’s lively and social atmosphere. Living here, she made a wealth of connections and established herself among the professional community.

Earlier in 2011, while visiting the city of San Carlos, Paskaly said she stopped at a small olive oil store, not knowing what to expect.

“It was phenomenal,” Paskaly said. She spoke with the owner, and found out about Veronica Foods, who provided the olive oil for the store. She said that this, along with her new love for Sacramento, helped her decide to open a similar store here.

Veronica Foods is an Oakland-based distribution company that will help Paskaly with many of the aspects of selling olive oil. Owner Veronica Bradley said that her company supplies many stores with their brand of olive oil.

Bradley said that Veronica Foods distributes some of the highest-quality olive oil in the world.

“We understand the significance of fresh when it comes to extra virgin olive oil,” Bradley said. “Fresh trumps everything, including where it was produced.”

Bradley said that to maximize freshness, they get their oil from both the northern and southern hemispheres of the world, depending on which one is in the harvesting season. This allows for new oil every six months as opposed to a whole year. Countries like Australia, Chile and Argentina are producing oil that is just as good, if not better, than that of the Mediterranean region, she added. Only in the past ten years has olive oil been made extensively in these regions.

“Most people have never tasted fresh extra virgin olive oils,” Bradley said.

Both Paskaly and Bradley emphasized the importance of harvesting olives when they are still under-ripe. Bradley said that while this produces less oil, it increases its quality. In addition to this, they have their olives pressed at a lower temperature, which has a similar effect. These methods increase the amount of antioxidants in the oil and lower its level of acidity, two important factors in determining the quality of olive oil. More information on this can be found here.

The olive oil used by Veronica Foods has won several awards, including two awards at the 2011 Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition.

~~Paskaly said that Sacramento doesn’t currently have a place for people to go to get such high-quality olive oil.~~ Olive oil is famous for being rich in polyphenols, considered by many experts to be one of the healthiest antioxidants. She said that while average olive oil has anywhere from 50-300 polyphenols, the oil from Veronica Foods has 600-650. More information on the chemical elements of olive oil can be found here.

Paskaly said that she has big plans for her store. From highlighting local chefs to hosting private movie nights and fundraisers, she said that she wants her store to become very involved in the local community.

By partnering up with local chefs and restaurants in the midtown and downtown areas, Paskaly hopes to bring these areas closer to Old Sacramento.

“Locals don’t want to come to Old Sac, and tourists don’t know to go to Midtown,” she said. “I want to bridge that gap.”

Paskaly said that one of the hardest part of starting her business has been dealing with the building code. Because of its sheer volume, she said that conforming to the codes' standards has forced her to push back her opening, which was originally scheduled to happen in October.

“There’s so much conflicting information and ambiguous language,” she said. “It seems like we just keep digging up different parts of the code that keep putting us on different tracks.”

But despite the setbacks, Paskaly said that she is excited to be opening the business.

“Olive oil is sexy and passionate,” she said. “I (want to) make money at this, but I always believe that you should just do what you really love.”

Editorial Note: Corrections have been made to this article after it was published. The incorrect information has been struck out and the correct information has been added.

Costume shop continues to see strong sales

2011-10-11T01:15:09Z

As about 40 customers browsed Halloween costumes on the second floor of Old Sacramento’s Evangeline’s Costume Mansion Monday, Manager Jen Kossmann remarked that business was slow, as the rain kept people at home.

Costumes for adults have grown in popularity over the past five years, and Kossmann said this year was no exception, with the store expanding its costume mansion opening hours from as early as February. Traditionally, the costume mansion opens around August.

“We’ve just been really busy, and we normally only open (the costume shop) to escort people up in the off season,” Kossmann said. “This year, we had so many people going up there, it just made sense to open it all the time.”

The staff does not track exactly how many costumes are sold – a daunting prospect given that some people piece costumes together, some buy complete sets and others might just buy an accessory – but Kossmann said a rough guess is that the number is “in the tens of thousands.”

The ground floor of the store contains gifts, games and toys, while the second and third floors house the costume mansion and are accessed by an elevator or stairs.

October is the shop’s busiest month, and approximately 75 temporary employees were hired to augment the regular staff of 30 to 40. Extended hours mean the store is now open from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Selling well this year are costumes related to TV shows and movies, as well as a few older ones that have surged for other reasons.

“Stewardess uniforms are really popular this year,” Kossmann said, noting that the TV show “Pan Am,” which features flight attendants, is doing well.

Other favorite costumes this year include zombies, medieval-themed costumes and even a mask modeled after the mobile game “Angry Birds.”

“Gypsy costumes are also really popular this year,” Kossmann said. “I don’t know any real reason for it other than that we have a lot of really cute gypsy costumes this year.”

Despite what might be popular, Kossmann advised those seeking costumes to come in without a set idea of what they want to be and let something in the store inspire them.

“You can get a lab coat for $15 or $20 and maybe add a stethoscope to it for a good costume that’s really cheap, or you can go all out and really customize something,” she said.

She added that people can make zombie costumes as easily as tearing up clothes they already have and then applying makeup.

“Makeup really is what makes a zombie costume,” she said. “There are lots of great videos on YouTube that show you how to do the makeup.”

Lauren Gregory, a 20-year-old Sacramentan, browsed the store Monday trying to decide what she will be for Halloween.

“I have no idea yet,” she said. “I wanted to come here because I read online that it’s haunted and used to be a brothel, and I like that kind of creepy history.”

Kossmann said the upper floors of the Gold Rush-era building were used as a boarding house for a long time and did serve as a brothel-type business at one point.

As far as hauntings, she said she has not personally seen any evidence, but some employees have.

“It’s things like stuff falling or lights going on or off that shouldn’t, or hearing something upstairs when you know you’re the only one there,” she said.

Gregory’s friend, 20-year-old Lisa Jones of Sacramento, said she plans to dress up as a biker.

“I don’t like to do the really girly things for a costume,” she said. “They have a really great selection here.”

Brothers Robert and Max Hernandez, 27 and 30, came up from Stockton to visit the shop because of the selection and the setting – Old Sacramento.

“They’ve got a lot more stuff for the ladies, but it’s a really good shop,” Robert Hernandez said as he perused a wall of pirate costumes.

Max Hernandez added that he comes to Evangeline’s every year.

“The selection is a lot better here than in Stockton,” he said, adding that he will be dressing up as Joker from “Batman.”

Kossmann said shipments are still coming in, and if shoppers don’t see what they want, they should ask.

“We have two floors of inventory, and there’s a lot packed into it,” she said.

Evangeline’s Costume Mansion is located at 113 K St.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Sac World Fest a success

2011-10-04T07:06:26Z

The 4th annual World Music & Dance Festival in Old Sacramento this past weekend featured a wide variety of live music, dance events and ethnic foods, as well as arts and crafts from all parts of the globe.

The main celebration was scheduled Sunday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., although the Spotlight On: India! extravaganza kicked off the weekend’s events on Saturday evening at 6 p.m.

In keeping with Sacramento’s reputation as the most multi-ethically integrated big city in America, performances were turned in by all levels of local talent, from student groups to nationally recognized performers who live in and near the Sacramento area.

Attendees of the event had unrestricted access to visit Passenger Station Stage and the Waterfront Stage all day Sunday. Music and dance performances representing nearly every major cultural group in Sacramento continued nonstop from 10 a.m. until well past their scheduled closing time of 5 p.m.

In addition, performances were featured most of the day at the Old Eagle Theater and outside along Front Street at the Fats City Performance Area. The Global Village held demonstrations of a wide variety of ethnic cooking styles and also had displays of arts and crafts from various corners of the globe.

Anyone looking for a bargain was not disappointed. There was a wide ranging selection of ethnic arts and crafts, jewelry, fine arts and literature available from several dozen vendors who attended the event. The event also featured items and attractions aimed especially for kids including children’s theater, hands-on art projects, face painting, storytellers and traditional toys from various cultures for sale.

“It was an awesome event with a lot of cultural diversity,” stated Gabrielle Overton, who attended the event with her three young children.

“It was a great experience for my kids to get exposed to a variety of music and dance styles from around the world,” stated Overton.

Nationally recognized poet and spoken word artist Terry Moore hosted the Fat City Performance Area during the afternoon from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

“I was thrilled to accept the invitation to bring out some of our regularly featured artists who perform at The Show,” stated Moore in reference to his monthly Afrocentric variety show which features poetry, live music and dance on the last Saturday of each month at the Florin Business Arts Complex in Sacramento.

“Events like the Sac World Fest are part of the reason why Sacramento is a great place to live and raise children,” said Moore.

The Sac World Fest mission statement is, “To showcase the cultural diversity of the Sacramento region through the presentation of an ethnic dance and music festival for all ages, providing an educational and entertaining experience.”

Josie Corrales agreed that the event lived up to its mission.

“I had a great time,” said Corrales. “They had some really great performances that got the audiences involved. I’ll be sure to come back next year.”

SacWorldFest

2011-10-03T18:02:02Z

Dancers and musicians with ties from all over the globe performed in the fourth annual World Music & Dance Festival in Old Sacramento.

There were lots of activities just about everywhere; world class music and dance performances on several stages throughout the venue, educational and interactive experience that teaches children and families about our region’s cultures through hands-on experiences (craft and art activities, dance clinics, and musical instruments), stories, poetry, and talks geared toward youngsters and a learning experience from culinary experts cooked with spices from Around the world.

Here's some of what I saw:

Mermaid Parade in Old Sac

2011-07-17T00:18:07Z

Over 100 nautical-looking folks showed up looking like creatures from the deep blue sea: pirates, lobsters, mermaids, walrus and others.

The Mermaid Parade was a sort of preview for the midnight screening of Humanoids from the Deep, a classic b-horror movie with campy acting and aquatic horror scenes at The Crest.

Here's the some of the creatures on parade today in Old Sac:

Charity Happy Hour Aboard the Delta King

2011-06-06T19:11:41Z

Join WEAVE and TheGridLife.com on June 9th for a charity happy hour aboard the Delta King! Enjoy your favorite drink in a great atmosphere and meet some of this seasons Sacramento Mountain Lions Cheerleaders! There will be LIVE music by Hans Eberbach. This is going to be a good time for a great cause!

Event Info:
1000 Front Street
Sacramento, CA
Thursday, June 9th 2011
6:00PM-8:30PM

Hosted by: TheGridLife.com
Featuring: Sacramento Mountain Lion Cheerleaders and live music by Hans Eberbach

Watch the video on YouTube

Share the event on Facebook

In full disclosure, this article was written by a WEAVE employee in the hopes of spreading the word far and wide. We are grateful to Sacramento Press for this forum to get the word out!

Bagpipers bring Celtic culture, music to parade

2011-03-10T01:22:33Z

Gaelic music filled the air of St. Stephen the First Martyr Parish Tuesday afternoon as the St. Patrick’s Pipe Band of Sacramento prepared for the festivities of the upcoming week.

Youths ranging in age from 8 to 18 practiced everything from marching to timing and rhythm in preparation for St. Patrick’s Day performances at schools and the city’s parade on Saturday, March 12.

The holiday holds a special significance for Sacramento-area Catholics, said Band Manager Matthew White.

“St. Patrick is a co-patron of the Diocese of Sacramento,” he said. “When we formed back in 2005, we wanted to start something for Catholics, and we had a lot of interest (in a bagpipe band).”

Despite being chiefly composed of Catholics, the band is not exclusive, and one of the members is not Catholic.

“All we ask is that they respect our customs,” White said.

The band plays Scottish and Irish songs on Scottish bagpipes. Reeds for the instruments come from Ireland. Some of the songs are cultural tunes that derive from Gaelic chants, and others reflect the instrument’s development by the military.

The marches are in the style used by the military, and many of the tunes come from World War I, when bagpipers would advance with the infantry, facing machine gun fire from enemy trenches, White said.

Some of the songs the band plays are “Minstrel Boy,” “The Wearing of the Green” and “The Bloody Fields of Flanders.”

While the bagpipe is a fitting instrument for a mournful tune, band members also play upbeat music, including jigs.

Pipe Major Charlie Dana, 15, leads the group of pipers in practices and marches.

“I enjoy the different culture the music brings,” he said. “It’s unique, it gives a sense of thrill to the audience when they hear it, it gives a sense of thrill to me, and I find it very electrifying, so to speak.”

Charlie has been playing the bagpipes for three years and joined the band two years ago.

“We marched (in the parade) last year, and it went really well,” he said. “We’re definitely small, but we’ve got a unique sound.”

The band has about 15 members, and White said it has benefits for the youths beyond learning instruments.

“It teaches them leadership, and it gives them camaraderie,” he said. “We let them be as active as possible in making the decisions for the band.”

Matthew Murphy, 17, has been playing drums in the band for about three and a half years.

“The fraternal bond is always nice, having a family here (in the band),” he said.

“I love St. Patrick’s Day, so it will be fun to celebrate the spirit of that all around,” he said. “As a Catholic, I believe in St. Patrick, of course, and I love to celebrate him as a saint, but it’s also a great cultural holiday for me as an Irishman.”

Murphy said the hardest part about marching is generally hearing and communicating within the band. The physical steps are all memorized, but hearing the pipe major can be difficult.

White said visual directions are given by finger commands like hand signals, and the musicians must learn to watch for them and read them.

Noah De La Cruz, 17, has been in the band for three years and said he enjoys playing the pipes and learning new music.

De La Cruz said that when he arrived at the parade last year, he was a little bit late and had to join them while they were already marching.

“What really impressed me was just how professional they looked when I got there,” he said. “I was kind of proud knowing how professional we looked.”

The St. Patrick’s Day parade will be held in Old Sacramento on Saturday, March 12 and will begin at 1 p.m. on Second and L streets. For more information on parade details and the route, click here.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

New Years Eve Old Sac Style

2011-01-02T04:07:39Z

The streets of Old Sac were packed New Years Eve night in anticipation of the fireworks show announcing the year 2011. The Theatre of Lights showcased as well as music and fun things for the kids.

Here's a glimpse of what was happening:

At the conclusion of the Theatre of Lights show on K St. confetti was sprayed onto the crowd.

Kids and their parents enjoyed the evening with food and glow lights.

RadioDisney.com offered contests for the little ones in the Waterfront Tent on Front St (above and below). A youngster tosses a hula-hoop trying to encircle the gal in white at right. On his first try, the hoop caught me, but that didn't count.

Contestants ran across the stage with recyclables across the stage to see who could deposit the most.

The Crescent Club Speakeasy, above and below, celebrated the New Year with Gangsters, Glamour and Gambling. The Roaring 20's style evening's entertainment included a Speakeasy Casino, Ballroom Swing Dancing, Gypsy Jazz, Cabaret, and Burlesque, featuring live music by the notorious Au Brothers Jazz Ensemble from New York.

Tango by the River, above and below, featured the 5-piece tango orchestra QTango at their New Year's Eve Tango Ball. The Black and White event was advertised to last until 4am "or until DJ Kenny Bell kicks us out," Donna Williams, founder, said.

The 9pm fireworks show was a bit less spectacular than the grand finale at midnight, but still impressive.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Tower Bridge turns 75

2010-12-15T01:41:29Z

One of Sacramento’s iconic landmarks, Tower Bridge, celebrates its 75th anniversary Wednesday.

At its inauguration on Dec. 15, 1935, the opening was heralded with the release of about 100 homing pigeons, who carried the news throughout the state.

Although it’s now a lot easier to spread news, Caltrans spokesman Mike Dinger said the bridge operates with the same basic equipment it has for the past three quarters of a century.

“We’ve made some upgrades for safety, but it’s almost all the original equipment,” he said.

Bridge construction began in July of 1934, using some of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal funds for the project, which was estimated to cost $700,000. The final price came in at $994,000.

That price, in today’s dollars, would be $50 million - $60 million, Dinger said, adding that today’s monthly maintenance costs come in at about $24,000.

The project was supposed to be done in November of 1935, but weather pushed the completion date to mid-December.

“They had a really heavy winter that year, and work got delayed,” said Rich Newell, a senior mechanical engineer for Caltrans.

Tower Bridge replaced a bridge on the same spot that had been constructed in 1910 by the Sacramento Northern Railroad, according to a 1936 issue of California Highways and Public Works.

That bridge had been a swinging steel drawbridge, and by the 1930s, it couldn’t handle the amount of traffic efficiently.

Newell said Tower Bridge was built to relieve traffic congestion, which was attributed to choking off commerce from Sacramento during the Great Depression.

According to the 1936 California Highways and Public Works article, in the 25 years that the old bridge had been in use, automobile traffic increased 700 percent in volume and 500 percent in speed, making the cantilevered roadways inadequate.

During construction of the current span, about 1,500 jobs were generated, and all the materials came from California, Dinger and Newell said.

The metal “skin” over the steel frame on the towers was designed to give it an art deco feel, Newell said.

When the bridge opened, it was painted a silver color to represent aluminum, and was later painted “an unfortunate shade of ochre” before being painted the current gold color in the early 2000s, said Bridge Operator Scott Bennett, who has been working on the bridge for about a decade.

The railroad stopped using the bridge in the 1960s, according to Dinger.

Dinger added that the bridge – about 730 feet long – is technically State Route 275, the shortest state highway in California.

Bennett said he raises the bridge about four times per day, but it varies based on river traffic.

When the bridge is raised and lowered – traveling about 1 foot per second – about 5,000,000 pounds are in motion, and it’s all accomplished by the two 100-horsepower electric motors in the control room between the towers.

If electric power goes out, there are backups in place.

Cameras – that Bennett uses to ensure traffic is clear of the bridge – are backed up by the original periscopes in the control room and mirrors on the outside edges of the span. An original 1930s gasoline engine can handle all the heavy lifting.

The bridge’s birthday will be celebrated by Caltrans officials, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and West Sacramento Mayor Chris Cabaldon from 9 - 10 a.m. Wednesday on Promenade Circle behind the nearby Embassy Suites.

At about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, as part of the anniversary celebration, the bridge will be raised to allow the sailing ship “Hawaiian Chieftain” to pass. Bennett said the ship gives rides from Old Sacramento for about three months each year.

“It’s been 75 years, and it’s still doing fine,” Newman said. “It’s a testament to the original engineers.”

Exterior and historic photos courtesy Caltrans. Control room photos by Brandon Darnell, staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Historical reference documents provided by the Center for Sacramento History.

(Speak)Easy skankin

2010-11-23T03:25:12Z

“Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water.” ~W.C. Fields

The 18th Amendment, which banned the sale, manufacture and transportation of alcohol in the United States, was ratified on Jan. 16, 1919.

As a result, drinking in the United States stopped almost completely. Drunk and disorderly behavior went the way of the dodo, crime rates sunk like a turd in a jug and America became an idyllic utopia full of stolid, sober, upright men and women who had finally been saved from that liquid Mephistopheles which had held them captive for so long.

"Is this Heaven?" people were known to ask one another. "No, it's just government-mandated Prohibition" someone would reply, knowingly.

Yeah, I’ve got jokes.

Of course, what really happened is the 18th Amendment created a hugely profitable and violent black market for alcohol where organized crime ran rampant while corrupt law enforcement agencies looked the other way, and otherwise law-abiding citizens were made into de facto criminals.

The drinking continued, unabated, it just went underground, and the speakeasy was born. Underground drinking clubs were everywhere. For every legitimate saloon that was forced to close, a half dozen clandestine establishments sprang up. By midway through "The Roaring Twenties," there were supposedly 100,000 speakeasies in New York City alone.

At any given time during Prohibition, Sacramento, one of the "wettest cities in the union" had 200-plus operating speakeasies. I know this, because last Saturday night I went on The Old Sacramento Speakeasy Tour, offered by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.

I arrived at the River City Saloon 20 minutes before the tour’s scheduled 6 p.m. start. It didn't take long to ascertain who would be guiding the tour. If Shawn Peter’s dapper, striped, not-quite-zoot-suited (But not-quite-not-zoot-suited) appearance wasn't enough to give him away as our fearless leader, the clunky off-white lunchbox (construction worker, not preschooler) sized portable speaker to which he was strapped was.

I introduced myself, and he encouraged me to grab a cocktail while we awaited the rest of the group. I decided on an Irish Coffee, ’cause there had been a sign outside that had said "Irish Coffee" on it, and, apparently, I'm a sheep.

It took me a few minutes to gain the bartender’s attention, so I passed the time by eating peanuts that I found at the bar, because that's what I do to peanuts that I see sitting on bars. Thankfully, the young lady to whom the peanuts belonged was very understanding when she returned to her seat to find a pile of shells in front of me and a half-empty basket in front of her.

By the by, peanuts and Irish Coffees are an awful mix. Just terrible.

At a little after 6 p.m., Shawn gathered us up in the back of the saloon, which, though less than 2 years old, is very reminiscent of how a typical 1920s Sacramento speakeasy would have been.

"Sacramento has always been a drinking town. . ." Shawn began, to assorted hoots and hollers from the gathered throng of about 20 or so men and women, just about all of whom were clutching a drink of some sort. "And it wanted nothing to do with Prohibition."

He went on to give us a brief history of Old Sac and the town’s hate/hate relationship with Prohibition and its total refusal to comply with the federal law.

There was a saying in Prohibition-era Sacramento that "if you couldn't find a drink, you were dumber than a halfwit."

After a fascinating and in-depth (Shawn and partner Mike Munson spent years researching 80-plus-year-old city and police records before beginning to offer tours) history lesson, we left River City and headed around the block to the Speakeasy Lounge, Shawn pointing out locations of interest along the way.

The Speakeasy Lounge is underneath Cafe New Orleans and was an operating speakeasy during Prohibition. It was attached to a series of tunnels that, at the time, went from the waterfront all the way to 12th and J.

Unfortunately, owing to a miscommunication, the bar downstairs was closed. If I had been working, I'd have eschewed the tumbleweeds and crickets in the upstairs dining room for a few minutes in order to fix some cocktails for our raucous group of amateur speakeasy enthusiasts downstairs, but that's just me. I guarantee we would have bought more alcohol in 20 minutes downstairs than they sold upstairs all night.

Did I mention that the Speakeasy Lounge was turned into a dance club in the ’70s, so it mixes a 1920s basement speakeasy setup with 1970s sensibilities (complete with a raised, lighted Plexiglas disco dance floor). When and if it ever opens, (Their "website" is a myspace page that says it's "in" hiatus. I'm not holding my breath) it immediately becomes my favorite bar in Sacramento.

Up next on the tour was the Delta King, which was a floating casino/speakeasy/liquor transport during Prohibition. They used to offer passenger fares to San Francisco. The 10-hour trips would rapidly degenerate into wild parties.

In the ’20s, the bar area would be hidden. Today it is in the Pilothouse, where we mingled with a bunch of hotel residents and visitors eagerly anticipating the Delta King Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre. After a couple of drinks on the Delta King (we had to make up for the aborted trip at the last place), we ventured back out into the dark and stormy night, headed for our final destination of the evening, (and our guide's favorite) the Back Door Lounge.

I'll admit it, this is where my recollection gets a tad fuzzy. I can tell you that it was an operating speakeasy in the ’20s, and it was also a Saltine Cracker Factory. Or maybe it was next to (under? in cahoots with?) a Saltine Cracker Factory. I can tell you that they serve a ridiculously strong cocktail at the Back Door Lounge, and apparently they do a mean breakfast as well.

I can also tell you that if you enjoy a little history with your cocktails, (or a lot of cocktails with your history), you will absolutely love The Old Sacramento Speakeasy Tour. I may do it again next month. I wanna see that dance floor fully operational.

Ghost Tour

2010-10-26T01:09:57Z

Do you like history? How about ghosts? And puns? What about historically significant (and knowledgeable) pun-loving phantasms?

I, for one, am a glutton for punishment. In this case, incorporeal punishment.

I received all that I wanted and more on Friday night at the Old Sacramento Ghost Tour.

Put on by The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation, the Ghost Tour is an hour-long guided stroll around Old Sac that begins and ends at the Eagle Theater.

I arrived at the theater about 10 minutes before the tour was to begin and joined the crowd that was already milling about. Holding court on the theater steps with the rapt attention of a young family was a gentleman who looked eerily similar to the ghost of Charles Crocker, whom I had met on the Old City Cemetery Tour a few months earlier. He assured me that any resemblance was merely coincidental.

At 6:30 we adjourned into the theater itself, past a trio of exceedingly pleasant poltergeists seated in the lobby. One of them was kind enough to point out that the beautiful wooden bar, which he'd caught me admiring, was an original Gold Rush-era piece.

Once we were all seated in the venue, the Charles Crocker doppelganger came rushing up the aisle toward the stage, hollering for what I soon ascertained was his assistant.

It turned out that our friend sold cemetery plots in the New Helvetia Cemetery, and as he frantically informed his mortician/assistant, the New Helvetia Cemetery had just flooded. His assistant looked at him, nonplussed.

"Well, it's not like anyone's going to drown," he offered.

True enough, but it seems that, in order to save a buck, these two hucksters had been burying folks in shallow graves.

In watertight wooden boxes, in very shallow graves.

"It seems our clients have deserted us," the plot seller lamented to the mortician. The formerly (if superficially) interred had taken leave of their plots and been set adrift all over the city. It didn't take long, of course, for our unscrupulous saleswraiths to realize that this cloud had a silver lining. Uninhabited plots are far easier to sell, you see.

The flood took place in January of 1850, and many of the bodies were never recovered.

And thus, the stage was set for the tour. We took a cue from Snagglepuss and exited stage left. On our way out, an exceedingly patient young blond girl provided some further comic relief when she exclaimed to her mother, "That wasn't too long!" To her credit, she took the knowledge that the tour hadn't started yet quite well for a wee one who thinks that she’s done with something.

Outside the theater we met our young tour guide, Ashley. The ghost tour tour guide has to be equal parts historian and straight (wo)man, and belying her youth, she performed admirably on both counts. It's not easy being Bud Abbott to an ethereal Lou Costello, or Larry Appleton to a banshee Balki Bartokomous, but Ashley pulled it off.

Along the way we learned a lot about the colorful, if tragic, history of Old Sac and met myriad specters, many of whom had found their way there from the inconsiderable depths of their not-so-final resting places at New Helvetia Cemetery.

In general, the apparitions are an affable lot, although they have a lot of issues among themselves. (This is the true story...of eight ghosts…picked to haunt Old Sac…to find out what happens...when ghosts stop being polite...and start getting real…)

All in all, the tour was a real treat – fun, funny and informative. And it's a rare event that is legitimately suitable for the whole family: all ages – 3 to 103. And, of course, any family members who may have passed on are especially welcome.

You have a few more chances to catch the Historic Old Sac Ghost Tours. They are offered on Friday and Saturday, and the hour-long tours begin at 6:30 p.m. and run every half hour until 9:00 p.m. Advanced ticket reservation is required.

All images are the "work" of yours truly. If you wish to lavish praise, feel free to send me an email- lindol@gmail.com

The ghosts of Sacramento's past

2010-10-23T01:01:28Z

Do fiendish phantoms haunt the 1850s building at 114 J St. in Old Sacramento?

According to rumors and legend: Yes.

While none of the current tenants claim to have seen otherworldly beings, the stories persist.

“This used to be a restaurant and bar, and the guy who owned it would go out front and barbecue, and his kids would run up to him saying, ‘Daddy, daddy, you have a customer,’ but when he went inside, no one was there,” said JoAnne Peterson, co-owner of Sacramento City Dry Goods.

Another legend, according to Peterson, centers on the spirit of a girl who wanders one of the upper floors.

“She’s very particular about you keeping things neat,” said Peterson, who emphasized that she doesn’t put any credence in the tales. She added that the girl allegedly throws things about if they’re left out of order.

Second- and third-floor tenants didn’t report any sightings, and one claimed he didn’t want to talk to the press about the ghosts because he is currently on good terms with them and doesn’t want to upset them.

Tim Castleman, who owns the Practical Cycle bicycle shop on the ground floor of the building, said he had numerous problems with the alarm system when it was installed earlier this year.

“It was always zone six,” Castleman said. “It’s in the back of the building, on the interior doors.”

The alarm would frequently go off, and Castleman would hustle down to the shop to see if anything was amiss.

“It was nerve-wracking,” he said. “We never could figure it out.”

The false alarms sounded for a couple of months until the third alarm company he used eventually installed a new system and the problems ceased.

Were the false alarms caused by a ghost?

Castleman smiled and shrugged. He said he’s heard the stories of the girl on the upper floors, but he hasn’t seen her.

The building was one of the ones raised on screw jacks following the disastrous flood in 1862, and the job wasn’t done perfectly, as can be seen by looking at the crooked windows in the center of the building’s front.

Photo one is of Elizabeth Pedersen playing the part of the ghost in one of the city’s underground areas now used to store period clothing for a future museum project at Sacramento City Dry Goods.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

A Pirate's Life, Matey ?

2010-10-19T21:02:06Z

The Hawaiian Chieftain had arrived in Old Sacramento just minutes before I got there on Friday, October 15. Leaving Antioch earlier that day, they sailed seven hours to reach Sacramento.

They were hungry and had chores to do before they could call it a day.

So, I captured their end-of-sail work before they were told to 'stand-down', which means you are 'free to do what you wish.'

Six of the crew, four men and two women, secure the sails to the mast. They were way up there!

They all scurried up the rope ladders on each side of the ship to reach the mainsails.

The sails at the bow are secured in place.

Joel Ruud in the stern where maps and navigation tools are kept.

The ship's ropes are secured.

Dinner is prepared.

The mast before the sails were tied down.

The stern's exterior.

The crew in Sacramento are Captain Michael (Jake) Jacobson, Bellingham WA; Mate Nick Williams, Angwill CA; Education Officer Joel Ruud, Las Vegas NV; Bosun Sarah Baker, Bellingham WA; Engineer Don Johnson Eastsound WA; Cook Brandon Webber, Eugene OR; Topman Rachael Protas, Coupeville WA; Topman Rangi Ferris, Port Townsend WA and Topman Cutis Yu University Place WA.

"The Hawaiian Chieftain takes on new crew all the time," said Joel Ruud. "Someone can just stop by and say 'I'd like to sail with you."

They are directed to the ship's website: http://www.historicalseaport.org/ or call 800-200-5239.

Someone thinking they would like to be a crew member can learn what it's like to live on a tall ship for two weeks. If the lifestyle fits, anyone at least 16 years old may stay on as volunteer crew which can lead into becoming a paid crew member. Paid crew positons include the cook, captain, bosun, first mate, engineer, steward and purser.

Ruud, 18, says he's the youngest member in Sacramento. The average age range is 20-25. He says being a crew member is a great way to meet and work alongside interesting people from all over the world.

He explained a typical day aboard the Chieftain.

"The cook has breakfast ready for us around 7:30am." Ruud explained. "We go to the aft cabin for muster, which is our meeting before the day starts."

He says chores for the day include swabbing the deck, cleaning the cabins, ongoing maintenance and, of course, being open for tours while docked.

Once every two weeks is a day off. The Chieftain has 16 bunks, one shower and a washer/dryer on board.

During its stay in Old Sac it will be focused on educational programming, which will include sailing down the Sacramento River for K-12 students, home school groups, church groups, senior groups and youth service groups through Dec. 14.

For Halloween, the Hawaiian Chieftain invites all youthful zombies, inspiring superheroes, glamorous princesses, and piratical minions to drop by for tricks or treats from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31. Admission is free.

The topsail ketch is currently on the Old Sacramento riverfront in Sacramento, just north of the Tower Bridge.

For kids and parents unable to visit in the evening, the ship will be open for walk-on tours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 31. Costumes are encouraged. Hawaiian Chieftain is also taking group reservations for a three-hour educational sailing experience from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. To make reservations on Hawaiian Chieftain, call 800-200-5239.

The ship's homeport is Grays Harbor, Washington.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

The Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority (GHHSA) is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) public development authority based in Aberdeen, Washington that owns and operates the tall ships Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington, the Official Ship of the State of Washington. GHHSA provides educational, vocational, recreational and ambassadorial activities and experiences that promote and preserve the maritime history of Grays Harbor, the Pacific Northwest, and our nation while serving the needs of the community.

Strike gold at Gold Rush Days

2010-09-04T17:34:33Z

Eureka! I struck gold yesterday in Old Sac at Gold Rush Days.

Well, more like the color of silver, tin to be exact.

Tinsmith William Brown is worth his weight in gold. His window into the pre-Gold Rush days of tinning are educational. His tinsmith booth is in the tent city closest to the Railroad Museum.

Step back in time. Stop at his booth. You'll be glad you did! He'll explain the origin of tole painting on tin, as well as the 'tippy-cup' babies drink from after giving up the bottle.

William Brown peers through his wiring down machine used in tinsmithing.

Brown holds a tin coffeepot he created. He and another tinner are the only tinsmiths in the US that make the coffeepot.

Brown uses his wiring down machine to create a groove at the top of a tin can. A wire is placed in the groove and tin is bent around it to create a smooth rounded top. The machine was created in 1845. Brown says everything made with tin includes wire. Tinsmithing is very labor-intensive. The tinsmiths has been plying the trade in America since 1720.

These youngsters check out the cannon while dressed in military uniforms in front of the California State Military Museum.

The tent city on the Embarcadero looks like an army is camping in post-Gold Rush Days.

Reenactors pose for a photo in the pre-Gold Rush Days tent city near the Railroad Museum. A lean-to is set up nearby (below).

You'll find reenactors all over Gold Rush Days(above and two below).

Children play an age-old rope game in the grass in tent city. It's like tug of war for two, perched on a block, with a name I do not know how to spell.

Panning for gold.

Enjoy wagon rides through Gold Rush Days.

A saloon gal guzzles down "alcohol" before a gunfight breaks out.

Visitors to Gold Rush Days come from all over. These folks from Australia and Nova Scotia rest on hay bales along Front St.

More than 200 tons of dirt fill the streets of Old Sacramento as the annual festival "turns back the clock," transforming Sacramento's historic district into a scene straight out of the 1850s. Costumed re-enactors, Wild West gun fights, musicians playing period instruments, and many aspects of life during the Gold Rush will be highlighted during the four-day event.

Featuring: Dancing, Street Dramas, Pony & Wagon Rides, Gold Panning, Period Artifacts, Storytelling, Craft Making, Embarcadero Tent City, Ethnic Village, Period Musicians, Horse-Drawn Carriages & much more!

Gold Rush Days is produced and promoted in cooperation with the City of Sacramento, the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau, California State Parks, the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation, Old Sacramento Historic District Office and the Sacramento History Museum. For more information about Gold Rush Days specifically, or about visiting Sacramento generally, including lodging and attractions.

Hours:

Saturday and Sunday • 11am-7pm

Monday, Labor Day • 11am-4pm

visit www.discovergold.org or call (916) 808-7777.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Gold Rush Days returns to Old Sacramento

2010-09-04T00:12:30Z

Old Sacramento’s streets are once again dirt, and about 150 volunteers are dressed in their best 1850s fashion as the area reverts back to its rich history for Labor Day weekend.

Visitors can rumble down the streets in a horse-drawn carriage, refresh themselves at the Stinking Tent Saloon, pan for gold and then gamble away their findings at one of the more lecherous tents in the frontier tent city that sprung up overnight in front of the Sacramento History Museum on First and I streets.

“I think it’s really important for people now to know about the history that was happening right here in that time period,” said Janessa West, public programs coordinator for the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation.

Gold Rush Days in Old Sacramento has been held for the past 11 years, and West said she expects even higher traffic this year than in years past, since the fair is not open like it has been, having had its dates moved up a month.

Volunteer Jan Bullard, who for the weekend is Addie Carter – gambler and hostess of the Stinking Tent Saloon – said visitors to her tent can partake in “games for all ages, music, prestidigitation (that’s sleight of hand to modern folks) and the best sarsaparilla this side of Donner Pass.”

At noon and 3 p.m. Friday, the Sierra Nevada Mormon pioneers fired off a replica of one of the cannons Sutter’s Fort would have mounted.

“We enjoy discussing early California history with the public, from pre-Gold Rush to the discovery of gold,” said Peter Guilbert, commandant of the pioneers.

On Friday, hundreds of schoolchildren attended the event, including 9-year-old Anna Kirchgater Elementary School student Connor Jacobs, who got a crash course in doing laundry pioneer-style.

“I’m learning a lot about history,” Connor said. “My favorite was the train museum.”

Eddie Douglas, father of one of Connor’s classmates, said he thought the school’s field trip to the event was a great way for the students to learn history firsthand.

Volunteer J.D. Borthwick agreed.

“Bringing the 1850s to the 21st century is a wonderful thing,” he said. “This venue has been going for a decade. It’s a fixture of Labor Day in Sacramento.”

The event is free and open from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday.

Prepaid parking is available for $8 at Tower Garage (near Tower Bridge) and nearby Old Sacramento Garage (entrance on I Street).

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Art and Wine: Second Saturday in Old Sacramento

2010-06-12T17:13:36Z

Against the backdrop of Old Sacramento's historic architecture, participating Old Sacramento businesses will celebrate local art, wine, music and food every Second Saturday, 4-7:00PM.

I have always considered Second Saturday to be a Midtown event. However, over the years I have also heard a growing number of complaints that Second Saturday was becoming less of an art walk and more of a party.

Now Old Sacramento businesses including the Artists Collaborative Gallery, Cafe Americain, Delta King, Fat's Catering, Firehouse Restaurant, Skalet Family Jewlers, Steamers Bakery and Cafe, Taylor's Art and Soul, and Ten 22 have teamed up to bring "Art and Wine" to those who may be disenchanted with what Second Saturday has become in Midtown.

It seems to me that Old Sacramento is trying to appeal to a more mature and affluent audience that prefers Jazz and wine over hip-hop and beer.

Visit OldSacramento.com to find out more.

Note: Practical Cycle is not formally involved with this event, but we do have local art on display from our good friend Kathy Caitano at Artistic Edge.

Sac Sunrise

2009-11-24T18:04:36Z

From the quiet streets of Old Sac, the sun begins its arrival on a chilly morning two days before Thanksgiving.

Watch SacPress for upcoming holiday events happening in Downtown and Old Sacramento. SacPress photo | Kati Garner

Christmas rolls into Old Sac on Disney train

2009-06-19T04:10:56Z

Despite the sweltering temperatures, it will be Christmas in June this weekend in Old Sacramento.

On a 40-city interactive train tour,"Disney's A Christmas Carol" train will be pulling into Old Sacramento Friday through Sunday as a promotion for the upcoming "Disney's A Christmas Carol," which is scheduled to open in November and stars Jim Carrey.

Carolers, Christmas decorations and fake snow will transform the train tracks near the California State Railroad Museum into a winter wonderland for families and children of all ages.

Those who hop aboard the train will be treated to several different exhibit cars highlighting the making of the movie and featuring props and costumes from the film. A sneak preview of the film will be shown in the "3D Tent," and visitors will have the chance to pay a virtual visit to the Charles Dickens Museum in London and see actual artifacts from the museum.

Children can morph their own faces to look like characters from the movie and have the chance to win prizes from Disney and Hewlett Packard, which is providing the technology for the train.

The tour, which began on Memorial Day Weekend in Los Angeles, will come to an end in November at New York's Grand Central Terminal when the film will be shown in Digital 3D and IMAX 3D across the United States.

Visiting the train is free to the public, and for those who wish to visit the museum afterward, the admission box in front will be offering coupons good for two-for-one admissions.

The California State Railroad Museum is located at 111 I St. in Old Sacramento.

The Railroad Museum will have extended hours through the weekend. Hours are 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Sunday.

To follow the train's tour, click here

Live jazz, live fun, live (almost) photos

2009-05-25T23:11:28Z

A few more photos taken as I roamed this year's Jazz Fest!

see more Sac Jazz photos at

:http://a05-b05.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/share.jsp?x=Ndxx.%2AEIv%2A62vlK_fkJAktvHYBfNbpRWQzNKkURZM-tI0ekCuxRWbRtUGlUgK%2563qs-NE1O%3DQlAKJi_N3jkhKJdYXMHj9.A1Gj_4zNusvmTWhUv

Photos | Kati Garner

Sac JazzFest brings it on

2009-05-23T04:13:06Z

This is the first Jazz Fest Jubilee for me. I moved to Sactown three years ago from Washington state.

Six years ago I retired from a weekly newspaper. I was a photojournalist. I make a better photographer than a wordsmith.

I just can't help myself - I just can't stop shooting.

As I meandered through Old Sac today, I found myself smiling. The Jazz Fest had a good feel to it. The volunteers were helpful and excited, it seemed well organized and the music was great.

Hopefully this narrative will tie in with the photos accompanying this;

My first stop was under the freeway. Cornet Chop Suey was playing to a large crowd. They have great syle playing traditional jazz, swing and also the blues.

On Front Street I came upon Sacramento Banjo Band. They strummed 4-string banjos and one fellow was playing an oversized sax.

I soon found myself in Laughs Unlimited, catching the end of JazzFest newcomer Cynthia Douglas. I wished I had gotten there sooner.

Vivian Lee Sextet was up next. Easy on the eyes and ears.

Next I found myself in the lot behind the Firehouse. A man with a big skate key on top of his safari-style hat was directing a motley looking band. Luckily it was the Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band & Temperance Society .

The director told the crowd that they "aren't a marching band with a drinking problem but a drinking band with a marching problem."

These guys sounded top-notch. And their entertainment value was priceless.

And the last band I caught was the California Repercussions. They play loud and fast.

The last act I caught was on the corner of Second and K St.

John F. King II calls himself a one-man percussion band. Using drumsticks he beat his way around the tops of two tables hitting all kinds of things like plastic tubs, cans, pans and cymbals.

I'll be heading back to the JazzFest Sunday and Monday to catch more.

Photos | Kati Garner

Sacramento Makes LA Times "Underrated" Vacation Spot List

2009-04-22T17:57:18Z

Singapore. Kailua, Hawaii. And Sacramento?

Yes, our hometown has made the Los Angeles Times' "most underrated places of the world" list.

Compiled by the newspaper's travel staff, the list includes spots around the world as great places to visit that usually don't make the covers of the glossy travel magazines. But why Sacramento?

The Times says it's a great day trip, full of history and beauty. And the newspaper is right:

Here's an excerpt from the Times http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-underrated19-2009apr19:

Why people ignore it: Just 80 miles from the breezy, self-consciously quaint tourist magnet of San Francisco, Sacramento is anything but. Saddled with hot summers, a dysfunctional legislature and, earlier this year, a Depression-style tent camp, California's capital hardly seems like a weekend getaway.

Why you shouldn't: History, history, history. Sacramento is the real deal: a living museum of 19th-century architecture.

Old Sacramento, a 28-acre state park along the riverfront, is said to contain the greatest concentration of historic buildings in California.

Not far away, the Capitol, a splendid 19th-century edifice replete with elaborate mosaics, has been lovingly restored and can be toured for free.

More than a dozen museums, historic parks and memorials dot the city. They include Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, with a reconstruction of John Sutter's 1839 adobe; the incomparable California State Railroad Museum, housing 20 locomotives dating as far back as the 1860s; the eclectic Crocker Art Museum; the old Governor's Mansion; and the new California Hall of Fame.

Fans of vintage riverboats shouldn't miss the Delta King, a restored 1920s stern wheeler that has been converted into a hotel, lounge and restaurant. The King, a twin to the Delta Queen, which recently suspended overnight excursions, is moored along the Sacramento River.

In this manageable city, which has less than 500,000 residents, everything is so close you can see lots on a day trip, flying round trip and walking or taking buses once you arrive. It's a whirlwind, but fun.

A bit of Argentina lives in the River City

2009-04-22T06:19:51Z

I'm going to be honest with you. I am obsessed with the tango.

The fluid yet intense drama of the music. The passion that emanates out of an utterly technical and complicated piece of choreography. The ebb and flow of two entangled bodies in the throes of dance.

Nestled among the shops of Old Sacramento is a place where the steamy dance halls of Buenos Aires have taken up residence in a local Northern California dance studio.

Tango by the River is the brain child of Donna Williams who founded the dance studio seven years ago as a reaction to her own deep affection for the dance that was born in Argentina during the mid-1800s.

From the regular class instruction on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings to the Argentine Tango Dance Parties known as Milongas held on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, Williams, along with her dance staff, treats her students to an experience that has been described as mystical and sultry.

While I have yet to take my first, rhythmic strides down the hardwood floor, I am thrilled to have found this gem hidden in our fair city. I'm even more delighted by the prospect that the offerings at Tango by the River will provide an exciting and budget-friendly means to indulge my obsession. For a listing of class schedules and pricing I strongly urge all interested parties to visit them on the Web at http://www.rivertango.com/index.html.

The Docks, Part I: The Plan

2008-10-14T07:26:49Z

Have you ever been to the part of the Sacramento River sandwiched between Capital City Freeway and Old Sac? This particular area, dubbed "The Docks," is certainly not the most attractive place to hold a riverside picnic. It is desolate and barren where dirt grows like grass and old generating plants and reservoirs go to die. However, that will change as the city readies itself once again for the Docks Area Project.

On September 30, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed AB 2026, a bill allowing the Department of Parks and Recreation to transfer surplus properties through sale or exchange. This means that the city can now acquire the last three parcels of land it needs to begin Phase I of the project. Once this transfer is made, the city can continue with the Sacramento Docks Area Draft Specific Plan, adopted in January 2008.

The plan outlines the project's goal of creating an urban neighborhood and a publicly accessible riverfront while promoting green and environmentally friendly policies. The city wants to do this by turning the Docks area between the river and Front Street, Capital Mall and I-80, into a mixed-use neighborhood, allowing for the construction of residences, retail and office space, public parks, and a riverside promenade accessible to the surrounding communities.

The most exciting aspect of the Docks project is the riverside promenade, which will extend along the levee from O Street to R Street. Already designed by Walker Macy, the promenade will offer public access to the waterfront, providing a space for regional recreation as well as promoting the river's ecological value. Easily accessible to the surrounding neighborhoods, the promenade will also serve as a link between several different Sacramento communities. For example, Southside Park community members can enjoy easy access to the promenade and the Docks' neighborhood using the proposed bike trail across the R Street Bridge over I-5.

The promenade will also connect the surrounding communities with the Docks' residential neighborhood, which will hold approximately 1,115 units of housing and retail space, at least one park, and a hotel. The three streets between the I-5 and the river - Park Street, River Street, and Front Street - are intended connectors between the Docks' neighborhood and the surrounding neighborhoods. Park Street is set to function as the interior connection between neighboring communities, while River Street will act as the main retail street. Front Street will provide an access road for vehicles, public transit, and bicycles.

However, as with any development project, the Docks Area Project poses some serious foreseeable problems. For example, one problem comes from the Pioneer Reservoir, an overflow receptacle for Sacramento's combined sewer system. The Pioneer Reservoir is situated in the center of the Docks, a prime location perfect for a public park. As of now, the Draft Specific Plan poses two alternate solutions: either relocate the Pioneer Reservoir to another location and make room for the park, or reconstruct it, cap it, and build the park on top of it.

Near the Pioneer Reservoir lies another problem: the area of contaminated soil that once held a PG&E natural gas tank as well as a coal-gas generating plant. And, a lesser problem comes from the Docks' proximity to two noisy freeways, the I-5 and Highway 50. On top of all this, the city still needs to worry about the ever-increasing cost in a period of unstable economy.

How will this issue of cost affect the city of Sacramento, and the residents of its various communities? How will any of these problems affect the neighboring communities? How will this development affect the riverside's neighbors of Southside Park? What kind of retail would benefit the surrounding communities?

For more information, visit www.cityofsacramento.org.